The Emperor of Northern Chu raised his hand to forbid any pursuit, and with a wave of his hand, ordered that they set up camp on the spot. From the camp to the city gate, it was only a dozen or so miles.
Standing on high ground, you can clearly see the densely packed camps, stretching as far as the eye can see.
Huo Xi stood on the city wall, his face ashen.
"General, the Northern Chu army is growing larger and larger, and they don't linger in battle at all. They stop when the fighting is over, regardless of victory or defeat." The deputy general was somewhat puzzled.
Huo Xi frowned.
"General Huo."
Prime Minister Yan's voice came from behind him. He needed his guards to help him walk and looked apologetic: "I caught a cold due to the change in environment. I didn't know that General Huo had sent someone to ask for help. Please forgive me."
Huo Xi frowned and said unhappily, "Prime Minister Yan's illness has come at just the right time."
"General Huo is brave and skilled in battle. Even without my support, he would surely be able to defeat Northern Chu. Who knew..." Prime Minister Yan deliberately dragged out his words, his tone carrying a hint of disdain, which made Huo Xi's eyebrows almost furrow together.
"However, victory and defeat are common occurrences in war. It's just a matter of winning and losing. Perhaps General Huo is confident and will get his money back with interest next time."
Prime Minister Yan let out a long sigh of relief.
With a smile on his face, Huo Xi almost drew his sword: "Prime Minister Yan, a civil official, should not hold military power. He should hand over the remaining 200,000 troops to me."
Huo Xi opened his palm towards Prime Minister Yan.
"His Majesty has ordered me to take command of these 200,000 troops. How could I dare to disobey?" Prime Minister Yan said dismissively, "General Huo boasts of coming from a military family and is sure to turn the tide. If we continue to suffer defeats, we still have the God of War as our support."
After saying this, Prime Minister Yan ignored Huo Xi's ugly expression, coughed twice, covered his mouth, and turned to leave.
Enraged, Huo Xi slammed his fist into the city wall.
"Old fox!"
Without Prime Minister Yan's support, Huo Xi only had 300,000 troops at his disposal, which was already a disadvantage compared to the million-strong army on the other side.
Huo Xi gritted his teeth: "If the Seventh Prince could fight five against one back then, so can I!"
It's not too late to settle accounts with the Yan family after he wins this battle.
...
Northern Chu
With nothing to do, the Northern Chu Emperor played chess and brewed tea with Zhao Jiahua in the army camp, enjoying himself immensely: "This Empress Yan is quite resilient."
Twenty days have passed, and Empress Yan has yet to make any move to request an antidote.
The feeling of being poisoned every day is unbearable.
Zhao Jiahua smiled and said, "She is different from ordinary women; she can endure what ordinary people cannot."
However, Empress Yan's limit will soon be reached.
Consort Xue has gained great favor and is pregnant. She has captivated the Southern Emperor so much that he has not attended court for several days. Next month, he will also confer upon Consort Xue the title of Imperial Noble Consort.
Although Empress Yan did not care who the Southern Emperor favored, after all these years, the highest rank she held in the inner palace was only that of a concubine.
And there is only one.
The remaining individuals are of low status and easy to manipulate.
Now that the pregnant Consort Xue has suddenly appeared, it's no wonder Empress Yan is anxious.
"They're all outwardly friendly but inwardly at odds. Huo Xi has suffered two defeats and refuses to ask for the antidote for Empress Yan, which has already angered the Yan family. Let's wait and see..."
Fortunately, the Northern Chu Emperor always agreed to Zhao Jiahua's proposals without hesitation, and the other states had no objections.
After all, who wouldn't want to get things done with minimal losses?
With the camps of a million-strong army laid bare outside the city, how could those soldiers not panic upon seeing it?
The longer the delay, the more unstable the morale of the troops in southern Xinjiang will become.
Wait for the right moment, then strike decisively.
Southern Xinjiang is not far from collapse.
"If my cousin were a man, the whole world would be yours." The Emperor of Northern Chu smiled, his face full of admiration.
Zhao Jiahua raised an eyebrow. "A man, huh?"
If she were a man, she would have seized power without hesitation and killed the old emperor of Northern Chu.
The mention of the Northern Chu Emperor was somewhat veiled and not brought up.
A few more days passed
News came from the southern border that Empress Yan was about to set off to return to the capital.
Empress Yan, dragging her ailing body, wanted to return, but Qingzhi tried to stop her several times: "Your Majesty, you cannot withstand a long journey, and you have not yet obtained the antidote."
Snap!
A slap landed on Aokiji's cheek.
"If I don't go back, that vile woman will become empress!" Empress Yan tried to suppress her anger, but she simply couldn't hold back anymore.
News came from Jincheng an hour ago.
The Emperor of Southern Xinjiang bestowed the title of Imperial Noble Consort upon Consort Xue. The Imperial Observatory predicted that the child in the Imperial Noble Consort's womb was the reincarnation of a lucky star, and that once the lucky star was born, the crisis in Southern Xinjiang would be immediately resolved.
She so charmed the emperor of Southern Xinjiang that he almost decided to make the child in the imperial concubine's womb the crown prince.
How could Empress Yan not be anxious?
After walking only a few steps, she swayed and almost fell to the ground, but luckily Aokiji caught her in time.
"Your Majesty, be careful!"
Upon hearing the news, Prime Minister Yan rushed over and stopped Empress Yan, saying, "Wait a little longer; now is not the best time to go back."
"How can I wait? That little wretch lives in my Phoenix Palace, holds my Phoenix Seal, and is practically begging to be called Empress." Empress Yan gritted her teeth, unable to calm down even as she tasted a hint of blood in her mouth.
"What use is it for you to go back like this?" Prime Minister Yan said anxiously. "Once I have power in my hands, the Emperor will definitely be wary. Moreover, that Imperial Noble Consort suddenly appeared. Perhaps it was Zhao Jiahua who arranged it. If you go back, wouldn't you be playing right into his hands?"
One sentence silenced Empress Yan instantly.
Prime Minister Yan continued, "The Second Prince's whereabouts have been exposed. The other side has sent someone to demand that the Emperor allow Huo Xi to lead 50,000 troops to rescue him, or they will kill the Second Prince. You know very well how the Emperor has treated the Second Prince all these years. Once Huo Xi leaves, I will be the one in charge here."
Empress Yan took a deep breath: "Father is absolutely right. How can a piece of flesh in my belly compare to the Second Prince?"
Before long, a guard came to deliver a message that an imperial edict had arrived in Jincheng for Huo Xi. Upon receiving the edict, Huo Xi flew into a rage and almost tore the house down.
Empress Yan scoffed, "He's finally met his end!"
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