Chapter 335: A Sudden Turn of Events
The civil and military officials of the court argued incessantly, while the envoy from Qi Nation maintained an air of arrogance throughout.
When it came to national power, Qi Nation was undeniably the reigning hegemon. Although the Li Imperial Family of the previous Tang Dynasty had once ushered in an era of unparalleled prosperity with vassal states paying homage, those glorious days were now but a distant memory.
As an envoy of Qi Nation, his back was always straight no matter which country he visited.
“Your subject has something to say.” At that moment, another figure stepped forward.
The loud bickering among the officials subsided somewhat, for the man who had spoken was Dong Wenyun, the newly appointed Jingdu Prefect. Currently basking in the Emperor’s Grace, his words carried immense weight in shaping the present situation.
“What opinion does beloved minister Dong have?” Emperor Jing raised his eyebrows slightly as he spoke.
Dong Wenyun, standing with solemnity, declared, “Every inch of land within our Jing Nation must be defended. The ancestral teachings left by the Grand Progenitor cannot be altered.”
With just a single sentence, Dong Wenyun stepped back, yet his stance was clear and unwavering.
Inside the court, many officials furrowed their brows.
Dong Wenyun, coming from humble origins, was not aligned with any faction within the court. By voicing his position now, he had directly opposed the Shouhe faction, which advocated for peace.
An elderly official with a head full of white hair spoke gravely: “Qi Nation’s military strength is formidable. If this standoff continues, it will not be to Jing Nation’s advantage. Our Imperial Treasury is already depleted and cannot sustain further warfare. If the fighting drags on, who knows how many soldiers will be separated from their families, or how many wives will lose their husbands. I urge Your Majesty to reconsider!”
“Nonsense! Qi Nation harbors the heart of a tiger and wolf. If we give in once, there will be a second time. What will you do then? Keep retreating?” an old general angrily retorted.
In just a few short exchanges, the court was once again descending into chaos, resembling more of a marketplace than an imperial audience.
Disappointment flickered across Emperor Jing’s face. Within the court stood countless officials of exceptional talent, yet when confronted with a genuine crisis, not one could help alleviate his burdens.
As Dong Wenyun had said, the ancestral teachings of the Grand Progenitor could not be discarded. The Tang Dynasty’s Li Imperial Family had once commanded such awe that their orders went unchallenged across all nations. When would such a scene ever unfold under his reign?
Coughing lightly, Emperor Jing felt his chest tighten. Looking at the disorderly scene before him, a sense of desolation arose in his heart. His asthma was worsening, and he knew that the time left to him was growing short.
Suddenly, a ghost-like figure appeared outside the hall doors. In just a few swift movements, the shadow was at Emperor Jing’s side.
It was Chang De, who leaned close to whisper a few words in the emperor’s ear. Emperor Jing’s head shot up, his eyes gleaming brightly as he exclaimed, “Is this true?”
Chang De nodded and replied, “The messenger traveled tirelessly for days to deliver this triumphant report. As soon as he entered the palace, he fainted and has already been handed over to the Imperial Medical Bureau.”
Reaching into his robe, Chang De retrieved an item and presented it to Emperor Jing, saying, “This is the victory report. The fire seal is intact. I ask Your Majesty to take a look.”
When the report was handed to Emperor Jing, he could no longer contain his eagerness. He tore it open and scanned its contents.
“Excellent!” After swiftly reading through the message and seeing the official seal of the Grand General at the end, Emperor Jing slapped the table and burst into laughter, repeatedly exclaiming, “Excellent!”
The civil and military officials all raised their heads, unsure of what joyous news could make the emperor so elated during such a tense moment.
“You may be a Qi Nation envoy, but within my Jing Nation’s borders, you must abide by our laws. This matter shall be handed over to the Ministry of Justice for investigation and dealt with according to the law!” Emperor Jing stood and turned to the young censor who had spoken earlier, asking, “What is your name?”
The young censor, still recovering from a scolding by his superior, froze in place upon hearing the emperor’s question.
“The emperor is speaking to you. Why do you not respond?” An elderly official beside him gave his sleeve a tug, though inwardly he was puzzled. The emperor’s decision to let the Ministry of Justice handle the matter implied severe punishment for the Qi Nation envoy. Yet, just moments ago, His Majesty had seemed to deliberately avoid addressing the issue. Why the sudden shift?
“Your subject is named Song Lang,” the young censor hurriedly replied.
“Very well. As a censor tasked with oversight, you must uphold justice and abide by the law…”
The court officials were bewildered. The emperor, who had been avoiding discussion of the pressing national crisis, was now lavishing praise on a mere junior censor. What on earth was going on?
The Qi Nation envoy turned pale, utterly confused by the abrupt turn of events. What had that shadowy figure shown Emperor Jing? Could it be…?
“No, impossible. Absolutely impossible…” As these thoughts raced through his mind, palace guards, acting on a silent command, took him away.
“Your Majesty, the envoy’s position is highly sensitive. You must not—” Representing the face of a nation, the envoy’s punishment over a minor incident would be a great insult to Qi Nation. An elderly minister’s expression shifted as he prepared to speak, but Emperor Jing impatiently waved him off, saying, “A great victory has been achieved at the border! Our Jing Nation soldiers have defeated Qi Nation’s army of one hundred thousand, slaying thirty thousand, capturing twenty thousand, and scattering the rest in a humiliating retreat. Grand General Xu Dingyuan seized the opportunity to press forward, capturing two cities in succession…”
As the emperor’s words resounded, the officials’ expressions shifted dramatically, leaving them stunned.
Their first thought was disbelief.
Since when had Qi Nation’s invincible army become so feeble? Not only had Jing Nation won, but it had won a decisive victory, capturing two cities. Were Qi Nation’s defenders simply there to eat? How on earth had this happened?
The officials, both civil and military, knew Jing Nation’s military strength all too well. This defied all logic! Even the generals found it hard to believe.
At this moment, whether part of the peace faction or the war faction, everyone had the same thought: Could the emperor be joking?
But even the most incompetent ruler would not jest about something so serious.
The murmurs of disbelief gradually turned into thunderous cheers as they read the victory report with their own eyes. The jubilant roar was so loud it nearly lifted the roof of the Golden Hall.
The officials, still struggling to calm their racing hearts, returned home that night only to spread the news far and wide from the capital.
That evening, the emperor hosted a grand banquet in the palace, lifting the curfew in Jingdu for three days. Everywhere, the streets were filled with a sea of jubilant cheers.
For the first time, Jing Nation’s citizens could walk with their heads held high. Never before had they felt such pride and dignity, boasting loudly of their nation’s military prowess.
Tales quickly grew exaggerated: how five thousand soldiers crushed Qi Nation’s million-strong army, how Grand General Xu Dingyuan was a deity incarnate, summoning divine troops to scatter the enemy in disarray…
This was the greatest triumph in Jing Nation’s history since its founding. The city’s taverns stayed open all night. Scholars and warriors alike could be found in the same humble establishments, composing poems, raising cups of wine, and breaking into impromptu sword dances.
In these days of celebration, the Qi Nation citizens residing in Jingdu did not dare step outside their homes.
Li Yi learned from the Princess herself that the Qi Nation envoy was now recuperating at the Ministry of Rites. It would be at least ten days or half a month before he could leave his bed.
From this, it was clear: throughout history, those who traveled too fast never came to a good end.