It's the end of June, the hottest time of summer.
Jianzhou, Imperial City, Qinzheng Hall.
The atmosphere at today's morning court was very depressing. All the ministers dared not breathe and were sweating profusely.
"Aren't they all usually so eloquent? Why are they all playing dumb today?"
Emperor Chongde slammed the front-line military report onto the dragon desk and angrily spoke to the ministers kneeling in the hall.
Prime Minister Liu Yangfeng bowed and said:
"Your Majesty, in my humble opinion, the Hanlan Kingdom was severely defeated by our army this time!
Although they had temporarily withdrawn their troops, they did not return to Yecheng, the capital of Hanlan Kingdom.
Instead, they are entrenched on the front line of the Ru River and have not sent any envoys to our dynasty to negotiate peace!
Maybe it's just a delaying tactic!
Are they waiting for our troops to retreat and then come back to harass us again?"
He paused, then continued, "And General Si Junshan returned to the capital at this time?
I am afraid that if the commander leaves at this critical moment, the morale of the army will be shaken!
We have finally achieved a great victory, but we are going to throw it all away! "
"Then what should we do according to the old Prime Minister?" The one who spoke was the Escort Cavalry General, Lei Ling.
"The soldier who delivered the message said that General Si was hit by four arrows!
Are we going to let the seriously injured general continue to suffer on the front lines with a lack of medical care just to delay the war and wait for Hanlan Nation to negotiate peace?!"
As a military general, he couldn't stand the nagging of literati the most!
Just by talking, he can easily wipe out the achievements they fought so hard for on the battlefield. It's really hateful!
He couldn't help but say:
"If something were to happen to a pillar of the country like General Si, wouldn't that just play into the hands of the Hanlan people's evil plan?"
Since it was a matter of border war, no one dared to take responsibility, and no one in the court dared to speak for a while.
The Third Prince Qi Nanyan cupped his fists and said:
"Father, I believe that General Si has already won this battle, but he is currently seriously injured and cannot be delayed.
We really shouldn't let Han Lan's delaying tactics lead to anything happening to the General."
"Father, please send some brave and experienced generals to the front lines to take over the defense.
I think after the heavy damage suffered in this battle, the enemy will definitely not dare to launch a large-scale attack in the short term!
If they delay the withdrawal now, I think it’s just for show.”
"Since we have won this battle, why not take the initiative and send an envoy to Hanlan Country to discuss a truce?"
"In this way, we can not only seize the initiative, but also take the opportunity to explore the true trends within the other country's government.
Furthermore, it can conceal the news of General Si's return to the court."
His voice was soft and neither anxious nor impatient, which made people feel comfortable listening to it.
"The Third Prince is absolutely right!
"I'm willing to go to the front lines and replace General Si to serve our country." A general stepped forward and asked for permission.
"In this battle at Xuefeng Mountain, General Si annihilated over 40,000 of Hanlan Nation's most valiant Feiyu soldiers!
Although, unfortunately, the commander-in-chief of the Feiyu Army, Yuan Shuhuai, escaped, this battle also greatly enhanced the prestige of our dynasty!
"I believe the court should generously reward General Si and the soldiers on the front lines!" General Lei Ling glanced at Liu Yangfeng, then bowed to Emperor Chongde and spoke.
"That's exactly what I was thinking. General Si really deserves a reward.
But how should we reward them? What are your suggestions, my dear ministers?"
Emperor Chongde looked around at all the princes and finally stopped in front of the third prince.
In the capital, the General's Mansion and Heyunyuan.
An old woman was sitting on the couch in front of the window with her eyes squinting, her brows slightly furrowed, and she seemed to be thinking about something.
She was wearing a gorgeous crimson purple dress and looked to be about sixty years old.
She had a pair of slender almond-shaped eyes, which made her look very shrewd, and her hair was combed neatly.
But the royal blue headband she wore made her complexion look even darker and grayer.
This person was none other than Si Jinxing's biological grandmother, the old lady of General Si's mansion.
She raised her hand and pressed her brow, then said to Madam Lu beside her, "Tell me, is this true?"
“It must be serious!
When the eldest lady came to pay her respects just now, the Third Prince must have heard it with his own ears in the court, so it must be correct!
This is a great thing!"
As Madam Lu spoke, she squatted down and gently pressed her legs, saying:
"It looks like it's going to rain again. Your legs are starting to hurt again."
The old lady waved her hand, not letting anyone press it:
"It's an old problem, nothing serious."
She sighed again and said, "The general will be arriving in Beijing soon. Send someone to bring that girl back in the next two days.
Although, she is ugly and will definitely not be chosen.
But you have to stay at home, otherwise it will be bad if it gets out."
"I think these past two years in the other courtyard have taught her a lesson, and she will be more cautious in the future."
Madam Lu withdrew her hand, raised her lowered gaze, glanced at the old lady with her eyes slightly closed, and said:
"Yes, I will arrange it right away."
Just a lesson?
That was twenty lashes of the cane!
Nanny Lu has been with the old lady for more than forty years, but she is becoming increasingly unable to understand her master.
She shook her head slightly, turned and walked out.
Heyunyuan fell silent, but Lihuayuan not far away was very noisy.
"Grandmother wants to take Si Jinxing back home?
Mother, I don’t want her to come back. That girl is timid all day long and is really boring!
Every time I see her, it's like seeing a mouse. It's really annoying!" Si Jinyun slumped over the table without any image.
She turned her head and muttered to Zhou beside her:
"I don't know why my eldest sister came back to inform us about this. It's really annoying!"
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