Chapter 93: To Fight or Not to Fight
In the main hall.
Emperor Liang gazed at the memorial in his hand, suppressing the excitement in his heart.
It was truly too shocking; Emperor Liang almost fainted with joy.
Fortunately, he was sitting on the dragon throne now, otherwise, his legs might have turned to jelly and unable to stand.
This heaven-shattering victory instantly reversed the border disadvantage of Great Liang, severely crippling Northern Wei's arrangements for Mount Nanyue.
It caused Northern Wei's plan to cross the river and besiege the city to die in its infancy.
It bought Great Liang at least ten years to recuperate.
With this time, Great Liang could restore its national strength and contend with them again. By then, who would win and who would lose remained unknown.
A single battle annihilated 150,000 elite enemy troops.
And without losing a single soldier.
Three battle reports arrived simultaneously on Emperor Liang's desk.
Among them, the supervising censor's report was brief, recording what he saw and heard. Although the text was sparse, it elevated Wen Yue's status.
The commander's memorial, while requesting commendation for Wen Yue, subtly embedded criticisms, implying Wen Yue's disregard for orders and acting on his own will.
It also emphasized how he had personally dispatched Wen Yue to defeat three thousand cavalry, and subsequently obtained intelligence.
He had intended to send a more stable general, but Wen Yue, eager for glory, had caused a scene before leading the troops into battle. Fortunately, the final outcome was still within his control.
Finally, under his command, 150,000 enemy troops were defeated.
Upon reading the report, Emperor Liang frowned slightly, then picked up the vice-commander's memorial.
The Annan Marquis's memorial was also very well-written. It was hard to imagine that bearded giant having such delicate handwriting.
Although not explicitly stated, the memorial mostly praised Wen Yue and explained the general situation of the matter.
It directly told Emperor Liang that Geng Lie was not a good commander; this person's temperament was volatile and easily angered, yet also fickle. If he were employed, the situation at Tong Pass would not improve significantly.
The Annan Marquis was a master of warfare, but when it came to wielding a pen, he was indeed no match for the literati.
Why did he read the supervising censor's report first? Because the supervising censor was a palace insider, the emperor's household slave. Whether it was a literati official or an aristocrat, they were all subjects. How could a subject be more trustworthy than a household slave?
So Emperor Liang first read the household slave's memorial, then the commander's, and then asked the vice-commander.
Combining the three, he pieced together a general understanding of the situation.
The probability of all three lying simultaneously was too small. Even if two of them were lying, one could still let the emperor know some specific details.
If one person was lying, the other two could also restrain and compensate.
Emperor Liang looked at Gao Quan, who stood respectfully beside him, and praised, "My dear companion, Wen Yue is truly an unparalleled strategist."
"Who would have thought he would discover the encampment of the Northern Wei army?"
"He even rode through the snowy night for over two hundred li, breached the Luo River embankment, and the heavenly flood submerged 150,000 elite troops."
"Given the weather that day, even if few drowned, at least half would have frozen to death."
"He is truly a pillar of the nation!"
Emperor Liang, who usually kept his emotions in check and spoke little, was today eloquent and openly praised Wen Yue.
Gao Quan quickly chimed in: "It is all thanks to Your Majesty's boundless blessings and keen eye for heroes, and your deep understanding of the border situation."
"Had you not promoted him, Wen Yue would still be barely surviving in his manor."
This flattery pleased Emperor Liang immensely, and his smile broadened.
Although Gao Quan wore a smile, he secretly thought how close they had come to disaster.
If the supervising censor hadn't been his man, Wen Yue would surely have been sabotaged by Geng Lie this time.
When Emperor Liang was reading the memorial just now, Gao Quan had glanced at it.
The way Geng Lie had written that memorial made his scalp tingle and his hair stand on end; he still hadn't calmed down.
As they spoke, the three Grand Chancellors had already entered the deliberative hall.
Emperor Liang's expression immediately became solemn.
"Your subjects respectfully greet Your Majesty."
The three Grand Chancellors spoke in unison, bowing as they offered their greetings.
"Be at ease."
Emperor Liang waved his hand calmly and said, "Grant seats to my three beloved ministers."
The three Grand Chancellors, the youngest of whom appeared to be at least sixty years old, were all old foxes. They knew without a doubt why Emperor Liang had summoned them to the deliberative hall at this time.
However, all three remained composed; none of them spoke first.
"A great victory at Tong Pass, do my three beloved ministers know of it?"
"Your subjects have just heard of it."
"We do not yet know the specific details."
Emperor Liang gestured with his eyes, and Gao Quan quickly handed the victory report to the three Grand Chancellors.
The more the three read, the more startled they became. They too had not expected such a great victory.
They exchanged glances, seeing shock in each other's eyes, but also a deep sense of worry.
However, at this moment, everyone could see that Emperor Liang was in high spirits, and none wished to dampen his enthusiasm.
They quickly offered congratulations.
"It is all thanks to Your Majesty's brilliant command."
"Congratulations to Your Majesty, congratulations to Great Liang."
"Your Majesty defends and expands our territory; this great victory truly reflects Your Majesty's civil and martial achievements."
Emperor Liang's lips curled into an unconscious smile, then he spoke with grand ambition: "I intend to dispatch an additional 100,000 troops to retake the entire Mount Nanyue in one fell swoop."
"What do my beloved ministers think?"
The three wore expressions that clearly said, "As expected."
This victory had clearly stirred Emperor Liang's ambitions, making him feel that he could once again contend with Northern Wei.
"Your Majesty, the rewards and punishments for military merits still need to be handled. Furthermore, we need to inquire about the border situation with General Wen."
"The national treasury is empty; this great victory allows our people of Great Liang to recuperate."
"..."
"This battle might serve as a bargaining chip for peace talks."
Although their words were not outright opposition, their tone implied no support for Emperor Liang's intentions.
While knowing this would be the outcome, and Emperor Liang also understood that he was being hot-headed, giving up just like that would be too much of a pity. In his view, they could press their advantage.
Emperor Liang pondered: "If we allocate from the Imperial Treasury..."
"Your Majesty, please reconsider."
...
The deliberative hall was brightly lit.
The Internal Rectitude Office, however, was exceptionally quiet.
Even in the main hall, only a few candles were lit, and eerie shadows enveloped most of Zheng Zhong's body.
Zheng Zhong felt as if he had fallen into an ice cave.
He was going to die.
He clearly felt His Majesty's alienation. In the past, he had held a superior position over Gao Quan, and no matter what the matter, His Majesty would include him. But this time, he was left out, and only Gao Quan was taken to the deliberative hall.
Not eliminating Wen Yue had, in just three months, allowed him to grow into a major threat.
Now, it wasn't Gao Quan supporting Wen Yue; it was the other way around.
If they waited any longer, until Wen Yue fully matured, the repercussions would be endless.
Wen Yue's strength was at least that of an Innate Grandmaster.
Because Mister Shen had once killed a Grandmaster, and now Mister Shen was missing, it was highly possible he had been killed by Wen Yue.
"Godfather."
The eunuch An Ze walked in with small, hurried steps, softly calling out as he knelt.
"Are there any exploitable opportunities?" Zheng Zhong's voice was utterly cold.
He was not willing to accept defeat.
Even if there were no opportunities, he would have to create them himself.
An Ze respectfully said: "Godfather's foresight is divine, and Heaven is not against us."
"Three months ago, when the expedition set out, Wen Yue transferred a group of Embroidered Guardss from the Southern Office."
"What about this matter?"
"There was once a Baihu Commander in the Southern Office's Embroidered Guards named Xiang Hu."
"After Xiang Hu's death, Tietou became the leader of that small group."
"And when Tietou led a group of Embroidered Guards to join Wen Yue, Qianhu Commander Wang Zhi disappeared. The initial assessment is that he died."
Zheng Zhong frowned, listening carefully as his godson reported the trivial matters.
Regardless of whether that group of people killed him or not, if they wanted to find an opportunity now, it had to be that they killed him.
However, Zheng Zhong shook his head slightly and said, "Although killing a Qianhu Commander is a serious crime, pinning it on them won't be enough to condemn Wen Yue."
A dead Qianhu Commander was not a big deal at all.
If Wen Yue pushed Tietou forward as a scapegoat, this matter would not affect Wen Yue.
Furthermore, the person was only missing. If they ultimately failed to condemn Wen Yue, the situation would be very unfavorable for them.
"Godfather, you may not know this, but this Qianhu Commander's name is Wang Zhi."
"He is the brother-in-law of Geng Lie, the Vice Minister of War."
Zheng Zhong's eyes widened abruptly, his breathing grew heavy, and he urgently said: "Really?!"
"Absolutely true."
Zheng Zhong suddenly stood up, laughing loudly.
"Hahahaha."
"Good, good."
"With this additional link, Wen Yue is dead."
"Prepare the writing materials."
(Chapter End)