"Your Majesty, urgent news from the front!"
Eunuch Nian ran to Banyanxuan in a hurry, and Emperor Xuan put down the teacup he had just picked up.
He took the urgent letter, unfolded it, and suddenly frowned.
"On March 19th, 5,000 men from the Divine Sword Independent Division attacked Desolate Court.
On March 20th, the First and Second Armies of the Divine Sword met at Xiaoheyuan, totaling 130,000 troops. However, Earl Ding'an sent 40,000 troops to Huangting, leaving only 90,000 to confront the 500,000 troops led by Prince Tuoba Yu of Huangguo across the river.
On March 23, the Battle of Xiaoheyuan broke out. In just half a day, the 500,000-strong army of the Huang Kingdom was defeated.
On March 20th, the Divine Sword Independent Division broke through the Desolate Court, occupied Buckingham Palace, and captured Tuoba Feng, the king of the Desolate Kingdom.
There are only more than 200,000 Tiandao soldiers left in the Wilderness Country, and they are retreating.
Ding'an Bo appeared in the battle of Xiaoheyuan, safe and sound.
Peng Chengwu's troops seemed to have surrendered to the Divine Sword Army, and were ordered by Ding'an Earl to go to Cangying City before the Battle of Xiaoheyuan began.
The situation in the Desolate Country is hopeless, and Xiyu Tower is closely monitoring Earl Ding'an's subsequent movements."
He read it carefully three times, gently placed the information on the table, then picked up the tea and took a sip.
Fu Xiaoguan left Beijing on the tenth day of the first lunar month, and on the twenty-third day of March, he had pacified the Huang Kingdom!
Excluding the journey, it only took him nearly two months!
The 90,000-strong Divine Sword Army defeated the 50-strong army of the Desolate Country in half a day... Emperor Xuan laughed at himself and shook his head. The Divine Sword Army once again shocked the world, but the honor no longer belonged to the Yu Dynasty.
Fu Xiaoguan is not dead!
Instead, Peng Chengwu rebelled against me.
Then he must know everything behind this. Will his sword be pointed at Yu Chao next?
If I had cooperated with Fu Xiaoguan to fight this battle, should I go to Huangguo in person now to announce that such a vast territory belongs to my Yu Dynasty?
He really accomplished the great task of expanding the territory, but that territory... had nothing to do with the Yu Dynasty.
The Wu Dynasty will occupy the Huang State. In order to rule the Huang State, the Wu Dynasty must occupy the Yi State.
In this way, a situation of being surrounded on three sides was formed.
Surrounded by the Wu Dynasty, the Yu Dynasty became meat on the chopping board. As long as Fu Xiaoguan wanted, he could easily take it and eat it.
The culprit who caused the current situation is Peng Chengwu!
Emperor Xuan took a deep breath and his eyes were cold.
If Peng Chengwu could cooperate with the 500,000 barbarian troops, totaling more than 700,000 people, he could tire out the 90,000 people of the Divine Sword Army to death, and there would be no way Fu Xiaoguan would survive.
He should have been very angry, but at this moment he was not angry, but rather very calm.
"Remember to remind me before leaving court tomorrow that I need to issue a secret imperial decree to General Peng..." He stood up with his hands on the tea table without putting the information away. "Let's go to Yan Beixi's house for a drink."
The imperial edict given to Peng Chengwu actually had no meaning. Since he had defected to Fu Xiaoguan, it meant that he had become the general of the Wu Dynasty, and the 200,000 border troops had also become soldiers of the Wu Dynasty!
Sitting in the dragon chariot, Emperor Xuan opened the curtain and looked at the last ray of red light in the sky.
But this decree still had to be issued because he needed to give an explanation to the civil and military officials in the court and the people of the Yu Dynasty.
This son-in-law is really powerful. What kind of benefits did he promise Peng Chengwu to persuade him to defect?
Peng Chengwu was already the general of the Yu Dynasty. Could it be that Fu Xiaoguan gave Peng Chengwu the position of the Grand Marshal of the Wu Dynasty's army?
Yes, when he returned to the Wu Dynasty and ascended the throne as emperor, his first priority was to gain control of military power.
Peng Chengwu is well versed in military tactics and skilled in strategy, and Fu Xiaoguan needs such a person.
He let out a long sigh, lowered the curtains, and the last ray of sunset disappeared into the sky.
He didn't know that at this moment, Peng Chengwu was leading more than 200,000 northern border troops, galloping across the vast snowfield to fight the last battle of their lives!
Just to atone for sins.
And the last dignity as a soldier!
…
…
"I didn't know Your Majesty was coming, and I failed to greet you. I beg Your Majesty's forgiveness!"
Emperor Xuan entered the Yan Mansion and said, "I just had this idea on a whim... What are they doing in your mansion?"
Yan Beixi's heart tightened, and he quickly said, "Qingming Festival is approaching, and I have retired. I am thinking of returning to my hometown to worship my ancestors."
"Oh..." Emperor Xuan gave Yan Beixi a meaningful look. "That's as I should. Ask the kitchen to prepare a few side dishes. I came to ask you for a glass of wine."
"That would be great, Your Majesty, please..."
Yan Beixi ushered Emperor Xuan into his study, where the emperor and his minister sat facing each other. Yan Beixi brewed a pot of fresh tea, and Emperor Xuan looked around.
This study was no different from the one he had seen before, except for two more words on the wall:
One reads, "Be the first to worry about the world's worries, and the last to rejoice in the world's happiness."
The other is "As light as autumn water, yet rich in poverty; as gentle as spring breeze, yet peaceful and tranquil."
Emperor Xuan knew that the first piece of calligraphy was what Fu Xiaoguan had said, but he had never seen the second piece of calligraphy.
"As calm as autumn water, as gentle as spring breeze... You've really cultivated a good mood."
Yan Beixi stroked his long beard and smiled, "I just wrote it casually to show off my elegance."
He did not say that the second half of the calligraphy was written by Fu Xiaoguan, and he cannot mention the three words Fu Xiaoguan now!
"The words come from the heart. The first one is a portrait of your life, and the second one... you seem to have let it go, but I feel so depressed."
Yan Beixi was startled, and Emperor Xuan continued slowly, "I came to see you today because, firstly, I really want to have a few drinks with you, and secondly... I have something private to discuss with you."
"Your Majesty, if you wish to drink with me, you may summon me to the palace at any time. I intend to spend the rest of my life in Jinling. After all, I have lived here for decades and am accustomed to everything here..."
He poured a cup of tea for Emperor Xuan and subtly revealed his feelings in his words to dispel Emperor Xuan's suspicion.
"I am your Majesty's subject. Although I have retired, I am still your Majesty's subject. May I ask what personal matters your Majesty may have?"
Emperor Xuan raised his teacup and glanced meaningfully at Yan Beixi, then said with a smile, "The Crown Prince is already twenty years old this year. I think it's time to confer the title of Crown Princess. The Yu Dynasty will eventually be handed over to the Crown Prince. After I abdicate in two or three years, you can hug your grandson, right?"
"This is a great thing! May I ask, Your Majesty, do you have a candidate in mind?"
Emperor Xuan took a sip of tea and put down the cup. "Before leaving the palace, Empress Shang told me that... the best candidate for Crown Princess is Yan Qingyi, the granddaughter of Prime Minister Yan. What do you think, Prime Minister Yan?"
Yan Beixi was suddenly startled. Yan Qingyi was Yan Shidao's youngest daughter and Yan Xiwen's younger sister. She was exactly fifteen years old this year and was supposed to set off for Fan State tomorrow.
Emperor Xuan happened to propose to make Yan Qingyi the Crown Princess at this time...!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
