Upon hearing Gao Qingyun's question, the students all shook their heads blankly: "Sir, what are you saying? We didn't hear anything."
Gao Qingyun turned his head in confusion, and faint shouts of "Long live the Emperor!" could still be heard in the distance.
He hesitated for a moment, then stopped worrying about it.
"I guess someone bought a new TV and is watching dramas on speakerphone."
"Seriously, can't dogs playing music out loud just die?"
This was even more outrageous, and none of the students present could understand it.
But they weren't surprised by it.
Gao Qingyun said a lot of strange things.
However, the sounds from afar gradually faded away, and Gao Qingyun stopped thinking about it.
"Alright students, it's time for your favorite math class."
The students immediately groaned, "Ugh, it's math class again!"
Meanwhile, Zhu Youjian sat in the convoy returning to the palace and let out a long sigh.
"Thank goodness you reminded me, otherwise I would have almost forgotten about this matter."
When the procession returned to the palace, the people still followed the emperor, ignoring the ministers' ashen faces and shouting "Long live the emperor!" as if their lives depended on it.
Zhu Youjian was still smug and completely unaware of the problem.
Wang Chengen suddenly spoke up: "Your Majesty, if this sound gets into the palace and Master Gao hears it... how will you explain it?"
Zhu Youjian then realized what was happening and immediately ordered the Embroidered Uniform Guard to persuade the people to go home.
"It's getting late, you should all go home quickly, don't let your livelihood be disrupted."
If the Imperial Guards had said this at any other time, the people would have thought they were just crocodile tears.
But now...
The people exchanged glances.
"Our Emperor is truly remarkable! Not only is he capable of winning battles, but he has even managed to make the Imperial Guards more amiable!"
"Long live the Emperor!"
However, to be honest, they were still somewhat afraid of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.
After a few random cheers, they gradually dispersed.
That's why the sounds Gao Qingyun heard gradually disappeared.
Wang Chengen smiled and said, "Your Majesty, in fact, this servant thinks that you should have made some preparations and subtly inquired about Master Gao's intentions."
"Slowly make him realize that this is the Ming Dynasty."
Upon hearing this, Zhu Youjian nodded slightly: "I will remember it, but let's discuss this matter later."
Soon, the large group of people arrived in front of the palace.
Zhu Youjian led Li Ruolian and Qin Liangyu into the palace, then asked curiously, "Where is Li Zicheng?"
Li Ruolian gave a wry smile.
"Your Majesty, ever since that boy killed the enemy chieftain, he's become obsessed with cannons and spends all his time with them."
"They simply refuse to come out."
"Your Majesty, please don't be angry."
Zhu Youjian waved his hand dismissively.
"How could I be angry? Even if I didn't care about Master Gao, I wouldn't be angry just because of the great contribution he made this time."
At this point, Zhu Youjian asked seriously, "Can we confirm that the one killed by the cannon fire this time was Huang Taiji?"
Li Ruolian gently shook her head.
"This humble general is not sure either. Although your Italian cannons may not be able to completely destroy dozens of miles in one shot, they are indeed incredibly powerful."
"The Jurchen leader who was leading the army was blown to pieces by a cannon shot, and there were hardly any fragments of his armor left."
Zhu Youjian pressed further, "What did the prisoner say?"
At this point, Qin Liangyu took over the conversation.
"Your Majesty, most of the prisoners say that the dead man is Huang Taiji."
"But...but since there are no corpses, this humble general dares not report the military situation falsely."
Zhu Youjian laughed heartily.
"Good, good, you are all very good."
"As for whether the dead person was Huang Taiji or not... well, this matter will be investigated sooner or later, and I will reward you then."
He walked back to the dragon throne, sat down, and then smiled at the assembled officials in the hall.
"My esteemed ministers, I recall that not long ago, someone said that the court had actually suffered a defeat?"
"My memory is a bit bad; I've forgotten who said that."
"I wonder if anyone will step forward to claim it?"
If the Donglin Party were still in power, even in such a difficult situation, there would definitely be people who would stand up and stubbornly deny it.
However, after the Donglin Party collapsed, these ministers in the court, although not entirely of one mind with Zhu Youjian, still held considerable power.
But those who didn't stubbornly persist in their actions are no longer around.
For a long time after Zhu Youjian finished speaking, no one in the court stood up.
The young emperor burst into laughter.
"Haha, it's good that no one claims it, I'm too lazy to investigate."
The more he said he wouldn't pursue the matter, the more unpleasant the expressions on the faces of the ministers present became.
The uglier their expressions were, the happier Zhu Youjian felt.
After a long while, he coughed once.
"Ministry of War, Ministry of Personnel, General Li and General Qin have rendered great service this time. How should they be rewarded?"
The two ministers stepped forward, exchanged a glance, and said in unison:
"Both generals should be promoted; this matter can be decided by His Majesty."
Zhu Youjian nodded in satisfaction and then looked at Bi Ziyan.
How much silver can the Ministry of Revenue provide?
"I will reward the two generals and their soldiers handsomely."
Bi Ziyan was silent for a moment, then shook his head and said, "Your Majesty, the Ministry of Revenue does have a surplus, but if it is rewarded to the two generals and their soldiers..."
"Then the Ministry of Revenue will have nothing left. If the Yellow River suffers another disaster this year, and Shaanxi and Gansu experience another drought, then there will be no way to deal with it."
"Your Majesty, I still wish to request that you allocate some silver from the Imperial Treasury..."
Zhu Youjian chuckled.
"Let's discuss this matter later and give out the rewards first. As for the Ministry of Revenue... there will be silver."
He cut off Bi Ziyan's words, then looked at the assembled officials and asked them:
"After this battle, the myth of the Jurchens' invincibility has been shattered!"
"I have made up my mind to prepare to pacify Liaodong."
"What good strategies do you, my esteemed ministers, have to offer me?"
Upon hearing this, the courtiers inwardly grumbled, "When did the Jurchens become an invincible force?"
"At this time last year, Yuan Chonghuan was still fighting off the Jurchens in Ningyuan."
However, Luo Yangxing was secretly laughing.
"Isn't this 'invincible' stuff something Master Gao always talks about in class?"
"It seems His Majesty is quite a good student."
Seeing that the ministers were silent and Luo Yangxing was secretly laughing, Zhu Youjian noticed that the ministers were not speaking.
So they called his name directly.
"Commander Luo, do you perhaps have a brilliant plan?"
Luo Yangxing felt remorseful, but forced himself to walk out.
"Your Majesty, I have no good solution."
Zhu Youjian sneered, "Then what are you laughing at!"
Luo Yangxing quickly replied, "I have heard that Governor Yuan recently wrote a memorial outlining his strategy for pacifying Liaodong over the next five years."
"Now I'm truly happy for His Majesty!"
Upon hearing this, Zhu Youjian's expression turned even more unpleasant.
"Hmph, what nonsense about pacifying Liaodong in five years!"
During this time, he had already inquired about Yuan Chonghuan from Gao Qingyun.
I know this person is a bit ambitious but lacks practical skills; he claims he can pacify Liaodong in five years.
The following year, the Jurchens bypassed the capital via Mongolia and besieged it, causing great alarm in the Ming Dynasty.
Because they did not have a good grasp of the Jurchens' movements, some people in the court spoke ill of Yuan Chonghuan.
This led to him quickly following in Wei Zhongxian's footsteps and being executed by slow slicing.
That's why Zhu Youjian was so unhappy.
"My esteemed ministers, do you have any other plans?"
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