xymnovel Chapter 237 The Imperial Court Shaken
Chapter 237 The Imperial Court Shaken
Just as the Luzhou formation collapsed completely, and the western Yanzhou battlefield was about to slip out of control.
At this moment, in the imperial court of the Great Qian Dynasty, the first rays of dawn shone, and the magnificent palace appeared even more solemn and dignified under the morning sun.
Emperor Si Xiaofei sat on the dragon throne, wearing a bright yellow dragon robe embroidered with nine golden dragons of different shapes, symbolizing his supreme status as the emperor.
The palace lanterns in the imperial court were still lit, but they could not conceal the solemn and heavy atmosphere.
The court officials, dressed in their official robes, stood solemnly on both sides. Their faces no longer held their usual composure and calmness; instead, they showed undisguised panic and anxiety.
At this moment, Si Xiaofei, who sat at the head of the table, sat on the dragon throne with a horribly gloomy face and eyes flashing with anger and unease.
He held the jade seal tightly in his hand, but the jade seal, which originally symbolized supreme power, now seemed to have become extremely heavy.
The courtiers seemed to breathe cautiously, as if afraid of breaking the tranquility.
Suddenly, a loud voice shattered the tranquility: "Speak if you have something to say, otherwise the court is dismissed."
The high-pitched voice unique to the eunuchs of the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs, like a sharp sword, instantly shattered the tranquility of the court.
Just then, a general covered in dust stumbled out, his face filled with terror and despair.
"Your Majesty, the entire Luzhou battlefield has collapsed. Our army has suffered a crushing defeat, with only a small force led by General Yin Yuanxun clinging to the pass and barely surviving. I implore Your Majesty to make a swift decision!"
"The Yellow Turban rebels are advancing with unstoppable momentum, having already occupied most of Luzhou's territory and are now marching directly towards our Qianzhou."
He knelt down before the emperor with a thud, his voice trembling as he spoke.
These words immediately caused an uproar in the imperial court.
The court officials began to discuss the matter, their faces showing panic.
They knew that once Yin Yuanxun in the south fell again, dozens of Yellow Turban troops would march straight in.
The Great Qian Dynasty is facing annihilation.
Emperor Si Xiaofei suddenly stood up, his eyes blazing with fury as he glared at the kneeling general.
"The entire Luzhou battlefield has collapsed? How is that possible?"
"Didn't our Great Qian have hundreds of thousands of troops stationed in Luzhou? How could they be so easily defeated?"
Looking at the disheveled general below, Si Xiaofei shouted sternly.
"Your Majesty, please calm your anger. That Yellow Turban rebel Meng Zhang is a brilliant strategist."
"Furthermore, they concealed another heavy cavalry force and also drew several Yellow Turban warriors from Wuzhou to assist in the battle. Our army was caught off guard and suffered heavy losses."
"Although General Yin Yuanxun's troops were brave and skilled in battle, they were outnumbered and could only barely hold out by relying on the passes."
The general lowered his head, not daring to meet the emperor's wrath, and said in a trembling voice.
Si Xiaofei took a deep breath, trying to calm the anger in his heart.
"What about the war in Yan Prefecture? Has the situation improved?"
He forced himself to calm down and asked in a deep voice.
"Your Majesty, the situation in Yan Prefecture is also... not optimistic. The governor of Yan Prefecture has sent several memorials requesting reinforcements, asking Your Majesty to send troops immediately."
""
Another minister stepped forward shakily, his face also filled with worry and unease, and reported in a low voice.
Si Xiaofei felt a sudden dizziness, and he had to grip the armrests of the throne to keep his balance.
He took a deep breath and forcibly suppressed the anger in his heart.
At this moment, any anger or blame will be of no use; the key is to come up with a solution as soon as possible to turn the tide.
He looked around and asked in a deep voice, "What good strategies do you gentlemen have?"
A hush fell over the imperial court.
The courtiers lowered their heads in thought, but none dared to speak.
They knew that any suggestion at this moment could determine the life or death of the Great Qian Dynasty, and the consequences of a mistake would be unimaginable.
"His Majesty!"
A military general stepped forward, his voice loud and firm, "The war in Yanzhou is now critical. I believe we should transfer the Cangzhou army of the Crown Prince of Yun in the east to support Yanzhou and deal with the King of Yan."
"The Cangzhou army under the command of that Prince Yun is now brave and skilled in battle, with many war gods gathered. They should be able to turn the tide of the war."
These words immediately sparked a murmur of discussion in the imperial court.
The courtiers whispered amongst themselves, seemingly weighing the feasibility of the proposal.
"Your Majesty, you are mistaken!"
"To send the Crown Prince of Yun's Cangzhou army into the pass to provide support is clearly a disastrous policy for the country!"
However, at that moment, another civil official stepped forward, his face filled with anger and dissatisfaction.
His voice was loud and powerful, instantly drowning out the discussions in the court.
"The three kings of different surnames have always been of one mind and have advanced and retreated together."
"The Yun, Yan, and Ye families have been on good terms for generations and are related by marriage. Now that the war in Yan Province is about to get out of control, wouldn't sending the Yun Prince's army to attack the Yan Prince only increase the uncertainty?"
"If the Crown Prince of Yun were to harbor any ill intentions, it would be a catastrophic disaster for the Great Qian Dynasty!"
"Isn't this like inviting a wolf into the house?"
He glared at the military officer and continued speaking.
His words struck the court like a hammer blow, shocking everyone.
The court officials all lowered their heads, seemingly considering the weight of these words.
The military officer's face turned bright red. He clenched his fists, seemingly wanting to refute but unable to find the right words.
He glared at the civil official, his eyes flashing with anger and resentment.
Si Xiaofei took a deep breath. He knew that although the civil official's words were harsh, they were true.
The three kings of different surnames held a pivotal position in the Great Qian Dynasty, and their alliance had far-reaching consequences.
Sending the Crown Prince of Yun's army to attack the King of Yan was indeed a risky move.
A slight misstep could lead to unpredictable consequences.
"His Majesty!"
Just then, another military general stepped forward, his voice filled with anxiety and worry: "The war in Yan Province is imminent; we can no longer hesitate!"
Si Xiaofei frowned, his heart filled with contradictions and struggles as he looked at the court officials.
At this moment, the court fell silent once again, with the officials waiting for Si Xiaofei's decision.
As the atmosphere grew increasingly tense, Prime Minister Kang Zhengjie slowly stepped out of the ranks.
He wore a dark blue court robe and a jade crown. His face was calm, and his eyes revealed wisdom and decisiveness.
His appearance seemed to bring a sense of stability to the court.
Kang Zhengjie looked around, took a deep breath, and then said loudly, "Your Majesty, esteemed officials, please hear what I have to say."
His voice was loud and powerful, instantly drowning out the discussions in the court.
"The war in Yanzhou is now critical, and it is imperative to send troops to provide support."
"However, we cannot ignore the Crown Prince of Yun in the east."
"However, I have a plan that may temporarily solve this urgent problem."
Kang Zhengjie paused for a moment, then continued, "Not long ago, the Great Qian Dynasty formed a marriage alliance with the Prince of Yun, establishing a strong bond between them."
"Now that the Crown Prince of Yun has become the son-in-law of the Great Qian Dynasty, he should not betray his promise and turn against us at this time."
"Therefore, we do not need to be too wary of the Cang and Yun prefectures to the east for the time being."