Eunuch Fu hurriedly took the battle report handed over by the Imperial Guards. Just as he was about to walk towards the person on the dragon throne, he heard the person say, "Read it aloud to the public."
The worst-case scenario is that Huazhou City is defeated and falls.
It's not that we lack confidence in Gong's army, but rather that Yunwu Kingdom has repeatedly invaded over the years, each time with a probing intent. If they succeed, they succeed; if not, they rest for a few years before continuing.
So this time, they must have made more thorough preparations.
If the enemy has mobilized more troops this time, it's not impossible for them to succeed.
Regardless of what the battle report contains, let the civil and military officials hear the results directly!
At worst, we can gather our own troops and retake the city at all costs.
The fact that I am incapable of expanding the territory established by the late emperor, and that I lack such ambition, does not mean that I am an incompetent ruler. However, if I cannot defend this territory and instead allow it to be seized by other countries, then I am indeed an incompetent emperor!
At this moment, Eunuch Fu was also very nervous. He calmed himself down and unwrapped the layers of outer shell and the final sealing wax seal from the battle report in his hand.
"Your Majesty, the Yunwu Kingdom has launched another attack. Your subject, Gong Wei, led his troops to meet the enemy and successfully repelled them. Taking advantage of the victory, we captured the enemy's Red Willow City in one fell swoop. I acted without Your Majesty's permission and took the enemy city without authorization. I beg Your Majesty to punish me, for the crime lies solely with me..."
Inside the main hall, the civil and military officials, who were originally prepared to hear bad news with heavy hearts, and Emperor Jiade, were a little confused as they listened. They could understand that the enemy army had been successfully repelled, and they also understood what it meant to capture the enemy country's Red Willow City, but when put together, it was a little confusing.
"Show it to me," Emperor Jiade said urgently.
Upon hearing this, Eunuch Fu hurriedly presented the battle report to the emperor's desk.
The officials dared not breathe, holding their breath and craning their necks to stare intently at His Majesty, who was holding the battle report and whose expression grew more and more excited as he read it.
"Good, good, good, Gong Wei, the soldiers of the garrison in Huazhou City are all excellent." Emperor Jiade read the battle report carefully twice more before slamming his hand on the table and exclaiming excitedly.
I never expected this to be such a pleasant surprise.
This battle report is good news!
At this moment, the civil and military officials confirmed that what they had just heard was true. Not only had Huazhou City not fallen, but Gong Wei had actually led his army to capture the enemy city.
"It should have been done long ago, otherwise they would really think that our Fengliang Kingdom is a pushover."
"Hmph, just because we're not showing our power doesn't mean we're pushovers."
"This is what they mean by 'those who do many evil deeds will surely perish'; they deserve it."
Inside the main hall, the excited civil and military officials were in an uproar; this was truly exhilarating.
Moreover, why is General Gong asking for punishment? He has rendered a great service!
"Your Majesty, an urgent report has arrived saying there is also a private letter for Your Majesty." After the voices inside the hall had quieted down a bit, the person responsible for reporting spoke again from outside the door.
The hall immediately fell silent. A private message? It must be General Gong trying to explain to His Majesty in detail the reasons for conquering the enemy city!
It definitely needs to be explained in more detail elsewhere; it's such a big deal.
"Then why not present them together?" Emperor Jiade asked, frowning.
"Your Majesty, it wasn't written by General Gong. The signature is Hong Xiaoduo, so..." the person who reported said.
"Hmm? Hong Xiaoduo, Hong Xiaoniangzi?" Emperor Jiade was also very puzzled.
Hong Xiaoduo would write to him, which would normally make him very happy, since he was the one who wanted to keep him as an official.
But now it's not that I'm unhappy, it's just that I'm very puzzled as to why the letter that Miss Hong wrote to me wasn't delivered by Minister Wei, but was sent together with the urgent report from the border.
Is Lady Hong at the border? In Huazhou City, where war is raging? Has she taken a group of children to travel to that war zone?
Emperor Jiade didn't speak, but glanced at Eunuch Fu. Eunuch Fu immediately understood, walked to the entrance of the main hall, took the private letter, and handed it to His Majesty.
Generally speaking, let alone ordinary people, even officials of status outside the capital could not and would not write letters directly to His Majesty.
There were designated people who would examine and select the candidates, and then compile a list, which would be handed to His Majesty by an eunuch. His Majesty would then decide whether to look at it and which candidates to look at.
However, Eunuch Fu knew that although this Miss Hong was a commoner and a young, unmarried woman, she was someone His Majesty valued highly.
The officials were no strangers to Lady Hong, especially Wei Junpei. Upon hearing that the letter was written by Hong Xiaoduo, he couldn't help but take a few steps toward His Majesty, then reluctantly stopped and stared intently at His Majesty's expression and reaction.
In terms of friendship, Xiaoduo should be the closest to me, but she has never written me a letter. Now she is writing to the emperor from the border where there is war, and it is being sent along with an urgent war report. The contents of the letter are definitely not just ordinary reminiscing.
Considering her fearless nature, Gong Wei's conquest of the enemy city must have been inextricably linked to her, right?
For some reason, Wei Junpei suddenly had this thought.
Dong Xiang, who was standing not far from Wei Junpei, was also lost in thought.
Her son was in the Northwest Army, not far from Huazhou City. If Hong Xiaoniangzi was in Huazhou City, her son would definitely try to see her and the children if he knew.
In the army, one cannot ask for leave at will, especially when there is fighting in the nearby Huazhou area. But what kind of person is my son? If I don't give him leave, he might sneak out on his own!
This chapter is not finished, please click the next page to continue reading!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com