Chapter 116: Urgent Report from the Border 2
On the 20th day of the twelfth lunar month, with the Lunar New Year approaching, the capital city was gradually filled with a festive atmosphere. Government offices and yamen began to close for the holidays, and the streets were bustling with people buying New Year's goods. The occasional sound of firecrackers set off by children added to the liveliness of this ancient capital.
However, this peaceful atmosphere was abruptly shattered by a military report delivered by express courier.
At the exact hour of Chen (7-9 AM), just as the palace gates opened, a blood-soaked, foaming-at-the-mouth post horse carrying a messenger with three blood-stained feathers stuck in his back rushed into Zhuque Avenue, neighing all the way towards the imperial city. The messenger tumbled off the saddle, and with his last strength shouted, "Urgent report from the northern border! The Rong and Di tribes have invaded!" before fainting.
The news spread like wildfire, reaching every corner of the court and the public in an instant. The civil and military officials, who were just about to adjourn the court, were urgently summoned back to the Xuanzheng Hall. Even the Grand Tutor, who had been recuperating from illness for many days, was helped to the hall. The atmosphere inside was as heavy as ice; the emperor on the dragon throne had a livid face, and the veins on the back of his hand, gripping the military report, bulged.
"All of you, take a look!" The emperor's voice suppressed thunderous rage as he slammed the military report onto his desk. "The Northern Rong, with their wolfish ambitions, have torn up the alliance, amassed 200,000 iron cavalry, and taken advantage of our relaxed state at the year's end to breach two garrison cities! Yunzhou is in grave danger!"
The eunuch quickly circulated the copied military report. A collective gasp and suppressed gasps filled the hall. The report, written in blood, described the ferocity of the Northern Rong cavalry, the desperate struggle of the border soldiers against overwhelming odds, the fall of cities, and the massacre of civilians… If Yunzhou fell, the northern border would be wide open, and the consequences would be unimaginable!
"Your Majesty! The Northern Rong are going too far! I request that troops be dispatched immediately to aid Yunzhou, strike the barbarians hard, and uphold our national prestige!" An old general with a fiery temper stepped forward first, his voice booming and filled with chilling killing intent.
"Absolutely not!" A white-haired old minister in the civil service trembled as he objected. "The year-end is approaching, the weather is freezing, and the transport of supplies is difficult. To send troops now would be disadvantageous in terms of both timing and terrain! We should focus on holding our ground and wait for the spring to warm up before planning a counterattack!"
"Hold firm? Are we just going to stand by and watch the Northern Rong's iron hooves trample our Great Zhou territory and slaughter our Great Zhou people? Does Lord Wang know that the military report says that there are already rivers of blood outside Yunzhou City!" The generals were filled with indignation.
“If we rashly send out troops and fall into the enemy’s trap of luring them deep into our territory, we will suffer heavy losses. Who will bear the consequences? The national treasury is empty and cannot withstand such a drain!” The civil officials, on the other hand, were more concerned about the overall situation and logistics.
Inside the Xuanzheng Hall, the two factions, advocating war and defense, argued incessantly, their voices growing louder and louder, almost escalating into a full-blown argument. The emperor on the dragon throne frowned, but his gaze involuntarily fell upon the figure at the very front of the ranks of military officers—the Duke of Zhenguo, Gu Yangui, who had remained silent throughout.
Dressed in his purple ducal robes, Gu Yangui stood tall and straight like a pine tree, appearing remarkably calm amidst the clamor. His eyelids were slightly lowered, as if he were carefully reading a copy of a military report, or perhaps deep in thought. But only the Minister of War, who was closest to him, could see that Gu Yangui's fingertips, gripping the paper tightly, were slightly white from the force.
No one understood the Northern Border and the Northern Rong better than Gu Yangui. He had fought there for ten years, personally driving the Northern Rong royal court back to the northern desert and forcing them to sign a humiliating treaty. He was familiar with every pass there and understood the tactical style of the Northern Rong cavalry. The descriptions in the military reports instantly allowed him to sketch the battlefield situation in his mind—the Northern Rong's attack this time was not a small-scale harassment, but a well-prepared and determined force. Yunzhou's terrain was unique; if it could not be recaptured quickly, the entire Northern Border defense line would be put on the defensive.
As the head of the military, it was his duty to protect the country and drive out foreign invaders. Many of the soldiers in the north were his former subordinates, and the border people had lined the streets to bid them farewell in triumph. Now that they were fighting a bloody battle, how could he sit comfortably in the capital?
Personally… his gaze involuntarily drifted through the windows of the main hall towards the direction of the Duke of Zhenguo's residence. His Wanrou, carrying his child, had just experienced a fright, her pregnancy just beginning to stabilize, and she needed his protection. He had promised to safeguard her; if he left the capital now, her return date uncertain, and the battlefield was a place of indiscriminate violence… how could he possibly leave her unattended?
On one side lay the fate of his nation, on the other, his wife and children. Loyalty and personal feelings tore at his heart like two immense forces. He could even feel many gazes, some open, some subtle, fixed upon him—some expectant, some scrutinizing, some probing. Everyone knew that if a swift victory was needed to stabilize the northern border, Duke Zhenguo, Gu Yangui, was the best, perhaps even the only, choice.
"Enough!" The emperor finally spoke, interrupting the ministers' argument. His voice carried an undeniable authority. "The northern border is in grave danger. Is this the time for you to quarrel? Duke Zhenguo."
Gu Yangui's heart tightened, he suppressed all his emotions, stepped forward and bowed: "Your subject is here."
"What's your opinion on the military situation in the North?" The emperor's gaze was sharp as he looked directly at him.
Gu Yangui raised his head, his eyes regaining their usual calm and sharpness, and said loudly, "Your Majesty, the Northern Rong have gathered a large army this time and launched a surprise attack on us at the end of the year, intending to win a quick battle and disrupt our border defenses. Yunzhou is strategically important and must be recaptured as soon as possible. If we wait until they have established a foothold and used the winter to strengthen their defenses, our army will inevitably pay a greater price when we attack again next spring."
He did not directly express his willingness to fight, but the meaning in his words was very clear: we must fight, and we must fight quickly.
The emperor pondered for a moment, then looked at the other senior ministers: "In your opinion, if we were to send troops, who would be the most suitable commander?"
A brief silence fell over the hall. Several seasoned generals, experienced enough to warrant a glance, exchanged uneasy looks, but none dared to utter a sound. The Northern Rong were fierce, and this battle was of paramount importance; the outcome was uncertain. Defeat would not only ruin their lifelong reputations but could also implicate their entire families.
At this moment, an imperial censor who had never been on good terms with Gu Yangui suddenly stepped forward: "Your Majesty, I believe that the Duke of Zhenguo has swept across the northern border, has rich experience in fighting enemies, and his reputation is enough to intimidate the Rong and Di tribes. He is truly the only candidate to lead the army!"
These words drew attention back to Gu Yangui, with some agreeing, some worried, and some gloating. Everyone knew this was a heavy burden, and also a huge trap.
Gu Yangui felt those gazes and sneered inwardly. He knew some people couldn't wait for him to leave the capital, while others wanted to see how he would choose between national affairs and family matters. He bowed again, his voice as steady as a mountain:
"Your Majesty, I am willing to go."
There were no grand and impassioned vows, only three simple words, yet they carried immense weight. The hall fell silent instantly, everyone staring at that tall and imposing figure.
The emperor gazed intently at him, a complex expression flickering in his eyes. He was, of course, aware of the situation at Gu Yangui's residence. "Minister Gu, I know of your household..."
"National affairs are of utmost importance." Gu Yangui interrupted the emperor, his tone resolute. "I will make some arrangements and the troops can be mustered and dispatched within three days."
As the bell tolled to signal the end of court, the officials left the Xuanzheng Hall, each with their own thoughts. Gu Yangui walked at the very front, his steps still steady, but only he knew that his heart was pounding heavily with worry for the impending farewell and his longing for his distant home in the capital.
He looked up at the gray sky, the cold wind whipping up snowflakes that stung his face, chilling him to the bone.
The flames of war have been lit in the North. And he is about to depart for the land he once protected, leaving behind the deepest attachment of his life. The choice has been made; there is no turning back.
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