"The messenger is outside now."
"Why aren't you coming over here!" Zhao Huan quickly stood up. "No, I'll go out with you!"
After saying that, Zhao Huan strode out.
Han Shizhong, Yue Fei, and other generals went out with Zhao Huan.
Zhao Huan strode through the corridor and quickly arrived in front of the imperial palace.
The snow fell heavier and heavier, and the messenger soldier stood motionless in the wind and snow.
When the emperor emerged, he struggled to move his frozen body and presented a command flag, stained with congealed blood. A soldier choked out, "Your Majesty, our army... our army has won a great victory..."
He bowed, but his body was too stiff, and he fell forward.
Zhao Huan quickly went over and helped the soldier up.
Wang Kuian rushed over immediately: "Your Majesty is the supreme ruler, a divine being bestowed upon you, this is unacceptable..."
Zhao Huan helped the soldier up. The soldier hadn't slept for a day and a night, looked haggard, had injuries, and his lips were completely detached, but his eyes showed great excitement.
But two lines of tears could no longer be held back and burst forth: "Your Majesty, of the 70,000 soldiers of the Lanyue Army, 55,000 have died in battle! Your Majesty, Commander Wu is seriously wounded. He sent me here to plead guilty. Although we won this time, it was a Pyrrhic victory!"
Zhao Huan was moved upon hearing this and said with concern, "You are all pillars of our Great Song Dynasty, serving the country and the emperor. What crime have you committed?"
"Guards, quickly send him away to rest. Wang Kui'an, immediately send Physician Hu to Shentang Fort to treat Wu Jie's injuries. If anything happens to Wu Jie, make him bring his head to me!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Zhao Huan took the banner; the blood on it had long since congealed.
He unfurled the flag, its crimson hue fluttering in the wind and snow.
The other generals were also moved.
Zhao Huan took a deep breath, furrowed his brows, and spoke in a booming voice, but with a touch of tragic grandeur: "This banner was dyed red with the blood of my good sons. For the peace of the country, they forged the sword of the nation with their flesh and blood to protect the people of my Great Song. I swear to the heavens that I will not return until I have conquered the Helan Mountains!"
The emperor's voice was powerful and resonant, its echo lingering long afterward.
The generals shouted, "Long live the Emperor! Long live the Song Dynasty!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
