Outside the window, Pei Yanqi and Feng Xiao were reporting in a low voice.
"Your Majesty, Your Highness the Crown Prince," Pei Yanqi clasped his fists and said, "We have successfully taken over the city defenses of Yanchuan, Qingzhou, and Yuecheng. These three cities originally had our officials from the Great Sheng Dynasty. Now, we only need to let them resume their original positions, which won't cause much trouble."
Feng Xiao quickly added, "The granary in Qingzhou has been opened. There is enough grain to settle the refugees from Yanchuan and Yuecheng. General Guo and General Hu are overseeing this matter."
"The wharf in Yuecheng was damaged, but fortunately, the warehouses are intact," Pei Yanqi said calmly. "Yiyi is leading the merchant group to rebuild it with the local military and civilians. The trade route in Shou'an has been reopened, and the timber from Dayi Mountain is being transported continuously. I believe it will return to normal soon."
"However, Longji Pass..."
Both of them suddenly paused, and the air instantly became tense.
As soon as the words "Longji Pass" came out, the surrounding air seemed to be filled with the smell of blood, weighing heavily on everyone's hearts.
All the battles in the southern border this time were relatively smooth - only Longji Pass was extremely fierce.
This city was located on a cliff, with natural barriers behind it. It was easy to defend but difficult to attack. Therefore, Anluo had invested a large amount of manpower and material resources there, turning the whole city into an impregnable fortress. They even massacred almost all the people from the Great Sheng Dynasty inside...
In addition, Anluo had sent Wugu Shu to lead 50,000 rattan - armored soldiers to guard there. These soldiers were invulnerable to swords and guns, and fire and water - making Longji Pass the hardest bone to crack in the entire southern border.
The deal between Xiao Jingnan and Anluo's national teacher, Ananda, was for him to wipe out Wugu Shu's rattan - armored soldiers so that Ananda could act freely in the royal city.
Xiao Jingnan had achieved it - at the cost of 8,000 casualties among the former troops of the Xiao family.
The whole valley seemed to be filled with blood. There were severed limbs and corpses everywhere. Even Xiao Jingnan himself had been hit by a rolling log falling from Longji Pass and almost lost his life...
Fortunately, with Jiang Xiaohuan's deadly poison, they had found the right opportunity to kill Wugu Shu at one stroke and finally captured Longji Pass.
"Bring back the remains of the fallen soldiers... and bury them properly," Xiao Jingnan said softly, but every word was tinged with blood.
This victory was bought with the lives of 8,000 loyal souls.
The former troops of the Xiao family were the most loyal and brave... There were only 100,000 of these passionate young men left. Now, nearly one - tenth of them had been buried in the land of the southern border by him, their commander - in - chief...
Zhao Yanke showed a look of不忍 on his face.
He said in a solemn tone, "Lord Xiao... After I return to the capital, I will definitely give a generous pension and hold a state funeral for them. I will also build a shrine for the heroic spirits so that future generations will always remember these loyal souls who died for the country..."
"Your Majesty..."
Xiao Jingnan's voice was hoarse. When he turned his head, his pitch - black eyes were as calm as a deep pool, showing no sign of waves.
The setting sun was like blood, gilding him with a layer of red gold. It made the unhealed scar on his cheek even more shocking - it was a mark left by Longji Pass.
"To be wrapped in horsehide and buried in the green mountains..." He looked at the blood - red sunset in the distance and said softly, as if talking to himself, "This is the best destination for a soldier."
Pei Yanqi and Feng Xiao were silent for a while before bowing their heads and answering, "Yes."
"One more thing," Feng Xiao hesitated for a moment and then said, "The Kang father and son are still locked in the prison in Shou'an. We will set off for Shou'an tomorrow. What should we do with these two people?"
Xiao Jingnan frowned slightly but didn't say a word. Instead, he looked at Zhao Yanke.
Zhao Yanke waved his sleeve robe and said boldly, "Why are you looking at me? It was you who said you wanted to lock them up in the first place. Now you remember me?"
Xiao Jingnan's expression remained unchanged. "I originally wanted to consult Your Majesty's opinion out of respect. Now it seems unnecessary."
He turned his face and said seriously, "In my opinion, we should continue to detain them, and no one should be allowed to visit them."
"The secret letters of Kang Chuanyi's communication with Anluo and the ledger of his arms dealing... Now Ananda has given them all to me. After we escort them back to the capital, we will immediately hold a joint trial by the three judicial departments, presided over by Prime Minister Fang. This will be enough to cut off the Queen Mother's arm!"
"This is exactly what I wanted to ask..." Pei Yanqi frowned slightly and said, "It's not difficult to escort them back to the capital. The difficult part is, how should we write the military report?"
"Our army has won a great victory. How should we spread this news back to the capital? If the good news from the army arrives in the capital first, the Queen Mother will surely send a secret message to inquire about the Kang father and son. At that time, how should we respond?"
This was indeed a difficult problem.
If they told the truth, saying, "Your Majesty, the Queen Mother, we locked up your father and nephew from the very beginning. We didn't let your Kang family participate in the battle against Anluo at all..." The Queen Mother would surely be furious and set up a net in the capital waiting for them!
By then, when they entered the capital, they wouldn't even be able to get promoted. They would be lucky if they didn't lose their heads...
But if they didn't tell the truth, it would be a crime of deceiving the emperor!
If they failed to bring down the Queen Mother this time and she investigated later, they would still be in big trouble...
"Don't send the good news," Xiao Jingnan said in a deep voice. "Let the messenger go ahead first. Your Majesty's carriage will follow, and then the army will march northward in a grand and ostentatious manner. Make as much noise as possible!"
"Let all the people in the world see with their own eyes that their emperor has personally led the army on a campaign, won a great victory, and recovered the six cities in the southern border in one fell swoop!"
"You mean..." Feng Xiao's eyes lit up.
"Exactly!" Xiao Jingnan's lips curled slightly, and his phoenix eyes were full of sharpness.
"We will publicize this victory widely. Let the people all over the world see what a brave and war - capable emperor they have! As soon as he took action, he solved the problem that had troubled the Great Sheng Dynasty for twenty years!"
"Where the will of the people lies, the Queen Mother will surely be caught off guard!"
"Right, right!" Hearing this, Zhao Yanke clapped his hands happily. "That's right. I am so brave and war - capable!"
- Isn't it true?
The day before the Anluo army retreated, in the afternoon when he and Wanxin returned from Dayi Mountain, General Guo hung the dragon flag of the emperor's personal expedition on the city tower of Yanchuan.
The bright yellow satin fluttered in the twilight, reflecting the shocked faces of the people below the city.
Only then did the residents of Yanchuan know that the young master who had been busy treating the wounded with them every day was actually the current emperor!
As soon as this news spread, it caused quite a stir!
Like a stone thrown into a lake, the praise and admiration for Zhao Yanke spread like wildfire and swept through every street and alley in Yanchuan overnight.
Some people said that he was diligent in governance and not afraid of death.
Some people said that he was approachable and led by example.
Some people said that he was resourceful and had great talents and strategies.
Some people even swore that they had seen a golden dragon emerging from the emperor's fingertips, which was why Yanchuan City had remained safe and sound in the war.