Great Zhou Wensheng

Chapter 240 The Imperial Court is in an uproar! A pillar of the nation!
Luoyang, Zichen Palace.

During the routine court assembly of the Great Zhou Dynasty, the Golden Palace was devoid of its usual solemnity and reverence, instead filled with an oppressive atmosphere as if a storm was brewing.

The air was thick and still, and even the eunuchs standing at the corner of the hall with their whisks in hand held their breath.

Empress Wu Mingyue sat high on the Nine-Dragon Throne, the twelve-tasseled white jade beaded curtain swaying slightly, casting shadows of varying depths on her exquisite face.

No one could see the emotions in her eyes; all they felt was that each silent tap of her slender fingers resting on the rosewood dragon throne was like a heavy hammer striking the hearts of the ministers.

"The war in the northern frontier is at a stalemate, and the national treasury is running low on funds and provisions. My esteemed ministers, do you have any good strategies to report?"

Her voice was calm and even, yet it sent a chill down the spines of the prince and his courtiers.

Who doesn't know that the real focus of today's court assembly is Jiang Xingzhou, who is thousands of miles away and serves as the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue and a Hanlin Academician, overseeing the military and political affairs of the northern frontier!

The three prime ministers of the three provinces—Chen Shaoqing, the Grand Secretary; Guo Zheng, the Grand Secretary; and Wei Min, the Minister of State—who held the reins of power in the empire, all remained remarkably silent at this moment.

They stood at the very front beneath the steps, like three ancient stone statues, eyes looking down at their noses, noses looking into their hearts, as if the undercurrents within the palace had nothing to do with them.

This unusual silence is itself the most dangerous signal.

The seasoned officials understood that the collective silence of the three high-ranking officials meant that the emperor's will was unpredictable and the situation was unclear. Speaking out at this moment, whether attacking or defending, could backfire.

However, many mid-level officials misinterpreted this silence as a form of tacit approval.

In particular, those nobles, corrupt officials, and their cronies who had their accounts investigated and their property confiscated by Jiang Xingzhou with ruthless methods suffered heavy losses, lost face, and hated Jiang Xingzhou to the core.

Jiang Xingzhou is now far away in the northern frontier, his fate unknown, while his sharpest "claw" left in the court—the Imperial Censor Zhang Ji—has recently become somewhat quiet due to losing his support.

This made them feel that the time for revenge had come.

Xu Shilong, the Vice Minister of Rites, had long been deeply involved with the interests of the Jiangnan Grand Canal and the Salt and Iron Group. At this moment, he could no longer hold back and took the lead in stepping forward.

His official robes trembled slightly as he bowed, and his voice carried a carefully crafted air of deep sorrow:
"Your Majesty! I have something to tell you!"

He took a deep breath, as if bearing the heavy weight of the nation's fate, and spoke slowly and painfully: "Jiang Xingzhou, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue and a Hanlin Academician, achieved early success, and his actions in Mizhou Prefecture of the Northern Frontier Circuit are truly a dangerous sign of reckless militarism!"

These words caused a slight commotion inside the hall.

Many officials either stroked their beards and nodded, or exchanged glances with their colleagues, a tacit understanding spreading in the air.

Xu Shilong glanced at the throne and saw the Empress's figure behind the beaded curtain, as still as a mountain, showing no intention of reprimanding him. His courage swelled, and his voice suddenly rose, each word like a hammer blow:
"Your Majesty is wise! The Snow Wolf Kingdom has been a long-standing threat to the northern border, with 100,000 archers, who are extremely fierce!"

According to the old and wise strategy of governing the country, this battle should have relied on the strong city and deep moat of Mizhou, defending instead of attacking, steadily and surely, gradually wearing down the wolf demons' morale, and waiting for their troops to be exhausted before making a slow advance.

This is the surest way to win every battle; even if it takes several years, it will ensure the nation's safety!

"However, Vice Minister Jiang disregarded this sound strategy, rashly provoked conflict on the border, and took the initiative to seek war!"
His Majesty!

How could a war of such scale be a mere contest of scholarly pride?

How much grain and fodder will the Ministry of Revenue urgently need to allocate for his willful act?
How many laborers need to be conscripted from the prefectures and counties along the way?
How many years of accumulated national funds of my Great Zhou Dynasty will this cost us?!

He became more and more agitated as he spoke, raising his arm slightly as if he could already see the national treasury being emptied rapidly amidst the flames of war. His voice was almost hoarse: "Such a rapid and swift advance, if not intentionally designed to exhaust the people and waste resources, and shake the foundations of the nation, I truly cannot think otherwise!"

"I implore Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly and issue a stern decree immediately, ordering the riverboats to change course to prevent an irreparable disaster!"

Immediately afterward, Wang Min, a senior official in the Ministry of Works, stepped forward.

His family was related by marriage to Pan Yu, the transport commissioner of the Jiangnan Grand Canal who had already had his property confiscated, and their interests were deeply intertwined. His tone was even more sharp at this moment.

“Minister Xu’s words are heartfelt! Your Majesty, Jiang Xingzhou is clearly using the pretext of auditing accounts in the Ministry of Revenue to eliminate dissidents!”

He shook his arms slightly, his official robes rustling, and said with great distress, "Pan Yu of Jiangnan, Zhao Gang of Bashu, and Zhang Ba of Guanzhong, which one of them was not a pillar of the court who served for more than ten years? Even if there are some flaws in the accounts, we should remember their hard work and correct them gradually."

How could one act like Jiang Xingzhou, fabricating evidence and confiscating property and exterminating entire families at the drop of a hat?

Nowadays, which official in the two capitals and thirteen provinces is not living in fear, lest the imperial guards knock on their door tomorrow?

This is not the way to govern a country; it is clearly the abuse of imperial decrees, causing chaos and disorder in the court!

"Wang Langzhong's words are truly enlightening!"

An imperial censor from the Censorate immediately echoed his sentiments.

He had always been at odds with Zhang Ji, and now, seeing the wind blowing, his tone was full of incitement:
"Jiang Xingzhou waged wars of aggression in the northern frontier and ruthlessly amassed wealth in the imperial court!"
The huge sums of money confiscated were all poured into the war on the frontier. Did they ever care about the suffering of the people in the Central Plains who had to pay taxes?
The mainland is now impoverished; if this trend is continued, it will likely lead to popular rebellion and shake the very foundation of the nation!

In an instant, in the Golden Palace, accusations of "excessive military spending," "abuse of power," "officials living in misery," and "people living in misery" rose and fell, weaving together into a surging wave of voices.

Countless gazes, some filled with righteous indignation, some with fear, and some with resentment, swept over Zhang Ji, the Censor-in-Chief, who stood in the ranks with a livid face—Jiang Xingzhou's most steadfast ally in the court.

At this moment, he stood alone at the forefront of the tide, as if he were about to be swallowed up by the huge wave of criticism at any moment.

The Imperial Censor Zhang Ji's face was ashen, his chest heaving violently, and the ivory tablet in his hand was almost cracked from being gripped so tightly.

He tried several times to step forward and speak up for Jiang Xingzhou, who was far away in the northern frontier.

But when his gaze fell upon the blurry yet majestic figure on the throne, and the three prime ministers of His Majesty remained as silent as clay sculptures, his boiling blood seemed to be instantly drenched in ice water.

He knew that in the treacherous Zichen Palace, without Jiang Xingzhou's keen insight into people's hearts and his courage to turn the tide, if he spoke rashly, not only would he fail to salvage the situation, but he would also give others a handle to use against him, allowing the flames of criticism to burn even brighter.

He clenched his teeth and swallowed back the words that were about to come out, only his white knuckles betraying the turbulent emotions raging within him.

Just as the clamor of "militarism" and "disaster to the country" was about to become an overwhelming force, Empress Wu Mingyue finally made a subtle move on the Nine Dragon Throne.

She merely raised her eyelids slightly, and the twelve-tasseled white jade beaded curtain rustled almost inaudibly.

The gaze from behind the beaded curtain, as clear and cold as Kunlun snowmelt, slowly swept over the faces below, some passionate, some indignant, and some fearful.

There was no reprimand, no questioning, and not even a trace of emotional fluctuation.

However, this silent gaze seemed to carry immense pressure, causing the noisy hall to quickly quiet down, circle by circle, centered on her.

Finally, only a deathly silence remained, so deep that even the sound of each other breathing could be clearly heard.

Everyone was on edge.

What is the meaning behind His Majesty's silence?

Is it to take this opportunity to teach Jiang Xingzhou, who has achieved great merit and acted ruthlessly, a lesson and to appease the indignant court officials?

Or... is an even more earth-shattering storm brewing?
Everyone held their breath, awaiting the final, decisive decree from the emperor.

Empress Wu Mingyue sat upright on the nine-tiered imperial steps. Her phoenix eyes, behind the beaded curtain, swept over the ministers below who were speaking passionately and expressing their deep sorrow. A chill rose in her heart, and even a trace of... unspeakable weariness.

How could she not see through these high-sounding words?
Those seemingly patriotic concerns, how could she, as the ruler of a country, not have deeper considerations?

The Snow Wolf Kingdom harbors wolfish ambitions and has been lying low in the northern frontier for many years, its power growing stronger day by day.

Continuing with the previous policy of appeasement and appeasement would be tantamount to raising a tiger to cause future trouble.

Once they have fully integrated the various tribes of the grasslands and their military might is directed south, war will surely break out, causing immense suffering and devastation. The loss of national strength will be more than ten times what it is today.
Jiang Xingzhou's foresight was precisely the depth of her concerns.

As for his ruthless investigations and confiscations of property in the Ministry of Revenue, which amassed wealth and grain, his actions seemed cruel and inhumane, thus affecting the interests of countless ministers.

However, this was actually a last resort to raise huge amounts of military funds for the war in the northern frontier as quickly as possible without shaking the foundation of the country or increasing taxes on the people!

All of this turmoil stemmed from her tacit approval, or even her behind-the-scenes instruction.

Without sufficient food, supplies and weapons, are we supposed to send our soldiers to fight those bloodthirsty wolf demons on empty stomachs with rusty blades?

Looking across the entire court, besides Jiang Xingzhou, who else has the courage and skill to stir up that complex hornet's nest of interests and truly ensure a continuous flow of money and supplies to the northern frontier?

However, the heart of an emperor is as precarious as walking on thin ice.

Her vision must transcend the immediate gains and losses on the battlefield, and her concerns must encompass the balance of the entire world.

The hint of worry hidden beneath his calm expression did not stem from distrust of Jiang Xingzhou's abilities, but rather from a profound understanding of the unknown war situation and the complex political landscape.

The war in the north was ultimately a struggle for national destiny.

Jiang Xingzhou's personal visit to the front lines meant that he had tied his own fate to that of the nation.

If we win this battle, the fate of the world will be sealed.
However, if it suffers a setback or gets bogged down in a quagmire of bloodshed and devastation, it will be an unbearable burden for the Great Zhou, which has just experienced internal turmoil among the vassal kings and urgently needs to recuperate.

Will the national treasury be able to support it at that time?
Will public sentiment waver?
What kind of waves will these forces, which are currently silent or attacking, stir up?
How will she face the possible situation, and how will she protect the "sharpest weapon of the nation" who has implemented new policies and cleansed her of deep-seated problems?
All of this carries far greater weight than the clamor and accusations within the palace.

What worried her even more was the surging undercurrent beneath the surface of the water.

The silence of those powerful families and local magnates who had their wealth and power cut off by Jiang Xingzhou with swift and decisive measures in the court was merely the calm before the storm. How could she not know the resentment and anger that had been building up in their hearts?

And those regional princes who, despite the previous reduction of their power and the enfeoffment of their fiefdoms, still held considerable military power and outwardly obeyed but inwardly defied the central government's edicts, were now like jackals on the grasslands, coldly observing the war situation in the northern frontier.

This battle was no longer a simple border defense; it was a high-stakes gamble concerning the very foundation of the nation and the dignity of the emperor.

If the war in the northern frontier goes smoothly and the army returns in triumph, they will naturally be able to use their formidable martial prowess to deter all villains, thoroughly solidify the new policies implemented by her and Jiang Xingzhou, and the imperial power will be at its zenith.

However, once the war is thwarted, or even just reaches a stalemate, these potential enemies will immediately sense an opportunity and launch a joint attack under the pretext of "wasting manpower and resources" or "being incompetent and misleading the country".

They openly questioned her decisions as empress and even challenged the foundation of the Wu Zhou imperial power.

At that time, internal and external troubles will be intertwined, and the situation will become uncontrollable.

"Hey……"

A barely perceptible sigh echoed in the deepest part of the Empress's heart.

The difficulty of being a ruler lies in the fact that at the top of the nine-layered palace, no one can truly share the mountain-like burden and loneliness.

She admired Jiang Xingzhou's exceptional talent and fearless courage, and was willing to shield him from the criticism and attacks from the court, giving him her utmost trust and support.

But all the risks and costs behind this gamble will ultimately have to be borne by her, the emperor.

However, once the arrow is released, there's no turning back!

Thinking of this, Empress Wu Mingyue's eyes suddenly narrowed, like a cold star exploding. All her momentary hesitation and deep-seated worries were completely suppressed by an overwhelming and irresistible determination.

Instead, it is the coldness and ruthlessness of the supreme ruler who has established the dynasty.

Since she has chosen Jiang Xingzhou, the sharpest and most dangerous sword in the world, she must firmly believe that he can cut through the most solid predicament in front of her for herself and for the Great Zhou Dynasty!

Even if there are mountains of knives and seas of fire, or bottomless abysses ahead, Wu Mingyue is willing to gamble with the emperor's authority and prestige to fight for this sliver of hope!
Because clinging to the status quo and maintaining that seemingly stable but actually deeply entrenched situation is the real form of slow death and the greatest irresponsibility towards the country and its people!

Empress Wu Mingyue slowly raised her eyelids, her gaze piercing through the twelve-tasseled white jade beaded curtain, sweeping across the assembled officials below the imperial steps, each with their own distinct expression. Her voice regained its usual composure and majesty, revealing not a trace of emotion:
"Minister Xu, my fellow officials, I am well aware of your concern for the country."

She paused briefly, and the air in the entire hall seemed to freeze. Then, her tone abruptly turned sharp, carrying an undeniable force of determination, like the clinking of metal, resounding and powerful:
"However, the war in the northern frontier is related to the rise and fall of the Great Zhou Dynasty, and is by no means comparable to ordinary border disputes!"
Jiang Xingzhou's every move in Mizhou Prefecture, whether it was settling accounts, procuring supplies, or making decisions on the battlefield, was fundamentally for resisting the enemy and defending the country, and should not be subject to any arbitrary criticism!

"As for the outcome of this battle and how long it will take..."

The Empress's voice softened slightly here, yet it revealed a profound and calm understanding of the overall situation and the future: "It is not too late to discuss this in detail after the military reports from the border arrive before the Emperor."

Her gaze suddenly sharpened, like an icicle piercing a warm curtain, and she declared, word by word, with crystal clarity:
"During this period, anyone who dares to speak ill of the commander-in-chief, spread rumors, or undermine morale... regardless of rank or title, will be punished according to the law without exception!"

These words, once spoken, were like a stabilizing force that suddenly quelled the surging waves, instantly suppressing all whispers and restless activity.

Inside the golden hall, there was absolute silence; even breathing became cautious. Xu Shilong and the others were slightly pale, bowing even lower, daring not to utter another word.

The Empress demonstrated her stance in the most direct and forceful way: unconditionally support Jiang Xingzhou, and let the final outcome of the battle determine everything!
She staked the fate of the Great Zhou Dynasty and the stability of her own throne on that snowy border town tens of thousands of miles away, and on that scholar in a blue robe who braved the mountains of corpses and seas of blood.

At this moment, all she could do was to stabilize the court in the deepest part of Luoyang, clear away all obstacles and slander, so that the soldiers on the front lines could focus on slaying demons without distraction.

This is the greatest trust and entrustment a monarch can place on his subjects.

Empress Wu Mingyue spoke, establishing the ironclad rule that "anyone who speaks ill of the commander-in-chief or undermines the morale of the army shall be punished according to the law." The scorching air in the Golden Palace seemed to freeze instantly, plunging into a deathly silence.

Just moments before, Xu Shilong, the Vice Minister of Rites, and others had been speaking passionately and with great sorrow, but their expressions changed almost imperceptibly, and they fell silent as if they were roosters being choked.

These veteran officials, who have weathered decades of ups and downs in the political arena, are all shrewd and experienced individuals.

Their collective attack today was not naively hoping to bring down Jiang Xingzhou, who was enjoying the Emperor's favor and wielding power bestowed by His Majesty, with just a few words of advice—that would be like an ant trying to shake a tree, a pipe dream.

This move was actually a carefully planned "test the waters".

Firstly, it was to test the Empress's true attitude towards Jiang Xingzhou's risky battle in the northern frontier, and to see just how resolute she was and where her patience would end.

The answer is now clear: His Majesty's support is unwavering and will not waver in the short term.

Therefore, a head-on confrontation is the worst possible strategy.

The second, and even more insidious, step is to plant seeds of public opinion in advance.

The accusations of "exhausting the nation's resources," "draining the national treasury," and "popular resentment" were openly proclaimed in the highest hall of the court, and through the mouths of the officials attending the court meeting today, they quickly spread throughout the officialdom of Luoyang and even reached the local areas.

He preemptively created an image in the minds of the people that "Jiang Xingzhou was willing to gamble the fate of the nation for his own personal gain, which would lead to endless troubles."

Their calculations were cold and shrewd: wars in the northern frontier have always been a bloodbath.

The Snow Wolf Kingdom's 100,000 wolf riders are incredibly fierce, and holding onto the strategic passes is already their limit. How dare Jiang Xingzhou take the initiative to seek a decisive battle?
This is clearly a risky and desperate move that leads to certain death!
If the war at the front encounters any setback, even if it is just a slowdown, these "prophecies" they have sown today will immediately become the sharpest daggers.

At that time, public opinion will surge back with accusations such as "We have long advised Your Majesty, but Your Majesty did not listen" and "Jiang Xingzhou has indeed ruined the country's affairs." They will then be able to stand on the moral high ground of "concern for the country and the people" and calmly settle scores with Jiang Xingzhou.

At that time, Jiang Xingzhou, having lost the protection of the Holy Heart, will be nothing more than fish on a chopping board!

The power struggles in the imperial court are never the petty squabbles of vulgar women, but rather bloodless schemes and plots.

The real storm may only be beginning to brew.

All eyes were now on the north, awaiting the military report that would determine the fate of countless people.

If the war drags on and becomes stalemate, and no decisive victory is achieved within three to five months, or even if news of one or two setbacks arrives...

At that time, the enormous military expenditures consumed daily, like flowing water, will transform from the cornerstone supporting the war into the last straw that breaks the camel's back.

Once the Ministry of Revenue is running out of money and supplies and reports requesting reinforcements flood the palace like snowflakes, even the most steadfast Emperor's support will inevitably breed doubt and anxiety under the pressure of reality.

A prolonged period of attrition is something no monarch can tolerate.

That will be the best time for them to truly exert their strength and launch a concerted attack!
His Majesty's attitude is now clear, and his wrath is unpredictable. Jumping too high or rushing too far could easily backfire, making us the "chicken" to be killed as a warning to others. Patience is the only way to ensure long-term success.

"Your Majesty, we respectfully obey your decree."

Xu Shilong and the others responded in unison, their tone respectful and calm. They bowed obediently and quietly retreated back to their assigned ranks. Their faces showed no trace of the agitation and dissatisfaction they had displayed during the earlier argument, as if they had completely accepted the judgment of Heaven.

Their posture was respectful, as if the fierce words they had spoken moments before, pointing their swords at the northern frontier and denouncing Jiang Xingzhou, were nothing more than a collective hallucination.

The next topic of the court assembly quickly shifted to routine administrative matters such as canal dredging and farming. Discussions continued, responses flowed smoothly, and everything proceeded as planned.

However, every official who had a place in the palace knew perfectly well that this was merely the calm before the storm.

Beneath the calm surface of the imperial court, deadly undercurrents have begun to surge and swirl.

Countless eyes, some bright and some dim, are silently, anxiously, or coldly gazing northward.

How many of them were genuinely praying for the triumphant return of the royal army?
Very few.

Many others, however, were patiently waiting—waiting for the "stalemate" or "defeat" they anticipated, waiting for the subtle turning point when His Majesty's patience ran out and his attitude softened.

After all, for them, who are conservative and have a large foundation, time always seems to be on their side.

They can afford to wait and lose sporadic battles, but the king on the throne and the "sharp blade" far away in the north may not be able to afford this protracted war for the fate and prestige of the nation.

At this delicate moment when undercurrents were swirling and all parties harbored their own ulterior motives—

"Report!!!! Urgent dispatch from 800 li!"

"Military intelligence from the northern frontier! A major victory at Mizhou Prefecture!!!"

A hoarse shout, yet filled with explosive ecstasy, shattered the false tranquility of the Golden Palace like a thunderclap, assaulting everyone's eardrums with overwhelming force as it approached from afar!

A courier carrying three scarlet feathers and covered in blood and dust staggered into the hall, seemingly breaking through all obstacles.

Completely disregarding court etiquette, he scrambled and rolled across the gleaming gold brick floor until he reached the steps of the imperial palace. There, he suddenly slid to his knees several feet away, and with the last of his strength, he held up a military report stained with mud and dark red blood, still bearing the sealant.

His voice trembled violently with extreme excitement, exhaustion, and unbelievable ecstasy, yet every word struck like a hammer blow to everyone's heart:
"Your Majesty! Heaven blesses the Great Zhou! A great victory has been achieved at Mizhou Prefecture! Minister Jiang... Minister Jiang, he..."

Empress Wu Mingyue, who was sitting high on the dragon throne, suddenly leaned forward slightly, her twelve-tasseled white jade beaded curtain swaying violently. Then, her phoenix eyes suddenly burst out with a blazing light, like lightning cleaving through the fog in the dark night.

She didn't even wait for the eunuch to relay the message, and shouted urgently, her voice tense without her even realizing it: "Speak! No need for formalities, report it immediately!"

The courier took a deep breath, as if he wanted to shout out this earth-shattering news with all his might:
"On the evening of the day Jiang Shilang arrived in Mizhou City, he and Prefect Xue Chonghu led only a thousand elite cavalrymen out of the city to launch a counterattack against the vanguard of the Snow Wolf Kingdom's army of 100,000!"

"Amidst a vast army, he slew the eldest prince of the Snow Wolf Kingdom!"

"Subsequently, Vice Minister Jiang took up his brush on the spot and composed the poem 'Jiang Cheng Zi: Hunting in Mizhou,' and the poem was completed... The poem was a national treasure!"
His talent soared to the heavens, drawing the brilliance of the Big Dipper, summoning the heroic spirit of Sun Quan, a divine general of the Three Kingdoms, to aid him in battle, and even the phantom of Feng Tang, the angel of the Han Dynasty, bearing an imperial edict to proclaim the might of Heaven!

"Even more... he shot an arrow that pierced the sun, killing the great demon king of the Snow Wolf Kingdom right in front of the two armies!"

"With the Demon King dead, the Wolf Army was instantly annihilated and collapsed completely!"
Taking advantage of the situation, Prefect Xue led a thousand cavalry in a counterattack. Minister of War Tang Xiujin decisively ordered a full-scale attack, coordinating with the city's soldiers and civilians from within and without, to launch a decisive battle!

"After a night of bloody fighting, the entire army of the Snow Wolf Kingdom, numbering 100,000, has been annihilated beneath the walls of Mizhou! Not a single one has escaped!"

"boom--!"

Every word uttered by the courier was like a heavy hammer, carrying the blood and fire of the northern frontier and thunder, slamming into the hearts of every court official!

Dead!

Absolute silence!
The entire Golden Palace fell into an extreme, chilling silence in an instant!

It was as if they were shrouded in an invisible spell of silence.

The air froze, time stood still, and even the sound of breathing disappeared.

All the thoughts and calculations that were just running through their minds were shattered in the face of this series of earth-shattering victories.

Everyone's expressions were frozen, forming an almost comical distortion.

Just moments ago, Xu Shilong, the Vice Minister of Rites, had been heartbroken and appeared to be a loyal minister. Now, his mouth was wide open, big enough to fit an egg. The carefully maintained expression of concern for the country on his face shattered completely, leaving only utter bewilderment and a stunned silence that defied all reason.

Other officials, both high and low, who had openly or covertly echoed the sentiment and were already prepared with lines for "settling scores later," bulged their eyes, their faces drained of color instantly, turning ashen white, and many even swayed slightly, almost unable to stand.

Even the three purple-robed prime ministers, who had been sitting calmly and seemingly detached from worldly affairs, could no longer maintain their composure. They suddenly opened their eyes, and unprecedented shock flashed in their cloudy old eyes as they stared intently at the courier kneeling on the ground!

This...how is this possible? !
Jiang Xingzhou... how long has he been in Mizhou?
All told, it only took a few hours!
That very evening?

That was the Snow Wolf Kingdom's 100,000-strong main force, infamous for its terror that had plagued the northern frontier for decades and cost the Great Zhou countless sums of money, provisions, and lives!

It's not 100,000 pigs and sheep waiting to be slaughtered!

Its great demon king is even comparable to a great Confucian scholar of the human race!
Just like that... vanished into thin air?

Or should we annihilate them all? Leave no one behind?

Every war in the northern frontier has been protracted and drawn out.
With both sides entrenched in a stalemate, small-scale clashes continued, and the logistical supply lines were long. Without several years and the depletion of half the national treasury, it would be impossible to achieve a decisive victory.

The Snow Wolf Army was cunning as foxes, adept at guerrilla warfare, and would flee far away when defeated, leaving the Great Zhou army exhausted and suffering greatly.

From His Majesty down to the Six Ministries, the entire court was prepared for a war that would last for years and be extremely costly…

But now… this courier actually says that from the time Jiang Xingzhou arrived until the Snow Wolf Kingdom's 100,000-strong army was completely wiped out, it only took one evening, one night battle?!

This is no ordinary military victory; it's a mythical feat!
It is a military miracle worthy of being recorded in history and passed down through the ages!

The deathly silence lasted for several breaths before being broken by a hissing sound of gasping for breath.

Immediately afterwards, a torrent of suppressed gasps, instinctive doubts, and incredulous whispers erupted within the Golden Hall like a flood bursting its banks:

"Impossible! Absolutely impossible! To annihilate 100,000 wolf soldiers in one night?"
Slaying the Snow Wolf King?
Have these battle reports been verified repeatedly?
Could this be a ruse by the enemy?!

"A poem to pacify the nation?"
Another poem to bolster the nation's defense was composed right before the battle?
It also triggered the Starshine Heroes?

"Could it be that Minister Jiang... he is truly the reincarnation of the God of Literature, a literary sage descended to earth?!"

“One thousand to one hundred thousand?

Or should we take the initiative?

This... Xue Chonghu is from a distinguished family with a long history of military achievements, and he is well-versed in military strategy. How could he agree to such a risky move?

Unless... unless Minister Jiang truly possesses unfathomable supernatural abilities!

The entire imperial court was in complete chaos.

All composure and poise were shattered by the overwhelming news.

The "stalemate" they were waiting for did not come; instead, they were met with an epic victory that swept through the land and defied everyone's expectations!
Empress Wu Mingyue, seated on the dragon throne, took in the myriad expressions of the officials below.

She slowly, very slowly, leaned back onto the dragon throne, her fingertips turning slightly white from the effort, but behind the beaded curtain, the corners of her mouth couldn't help but curve into a breathtaking arc.

That arc contained a sense of relief, a triumphant air, and boundless admiration and pride for the scholar in blue robes in the distance!

Jiang Xingzhou won!
The Great Zhou has won!

She, Wu Mingyue, won the gamble!

This thunderous strike not only shattered the external enemy, but also sent all the potential demons and monsters in the imperial court flying into a panic!

She took a deep breath, forcefully suppressing the equally turbulent excitement churning within her chest.

She knew that from this moment on, the political landscape of the court would be completely changed.

Just as the ministers were stunned by the news of "total annihilation" and "slaying the wolf king in battle," and some ministers were still subconsciously searching for a last consolation or a point of counterattack—the casualty figures of the Great Zhou army might be the last straw they could grasp to deny the perfection of this victory.

An official from the Ministry of Revenue, who had a long-standing feud with Jiang Xingzhou's faction, asked the crucial question in a trembling voice, tinged with resentment and a last glimmer of hope. His voice sounded particularly jarring in the silent hall:
"Even if the results are brilliant and worthy of being recorded in history, how many casualties have our army suffered? How many casualties have our Mizhou Prefecture army suffered?"

Killing 100,000 fierce wolf soldiers must have been a Pyrrhic victory, right?

"Among the soldiers of Mizhou, those who sacrificed their lives for the country, I fear... no less than seventy or eighty thousand?"

This problem, like a piece of driftwood desperately clinging to by a drowning person, instantly attracted the attention of all the court officials, especially those who still harbored resentment.

Yes, as the art of war says, "To kill a thousand enemies, you will lose eight hundred of your own." How could such a brilliant, even dreamlike, victory not come at a heavy price?

If the garrison in Mizhou also suffered heavy casualties, then the "value" of this great victory would be diminished, and accusations of "exhausting the country's resources" and "depleting national strength" might be redeemed somewhat in the future.

All eyes, filled with final scrutiny, doubt, and a barely perceptible glimmer of hope, once again focused on the travel-worn Eagle Scout kneeling on the ground.

However, to everyone's surprise, the scout's face showed no trace of sorrow, but instead flushed with an almost absurd, proud excitement.

He even straightened his back, which had been hunched over from exhaustion, in full view of everyone, and answered loudly and clearly, his voice even louder and clearer than when he announced the victory, with an indescribable pride:

"Reporting to Your Excellency! In this battle, our army suffered a total of 137 dead and wounded, with approximately 400 wounded, some seriously and some lightly!"

He paused, seemingly savoring the number that even he found unbelievable, then added a statement powerful enough to shatter the morale of the entire court:

"Furthermore, according to Prefect Xue's battle report, most of the hundreds of wounded were injured during the final pursuit of the routed enemy, when our soldiers were in high spirits and their horses were galloping too fast, causing them to fall from their horses or be slightly grazed by friendly fire!"

"Casualties from direct, close-quarters combat with the wolf soldiers... were negligible, less than a hundred!"

"..."

Nima!

Dead!

More than a hundred were killed in action?

Hundreds injured?
Most of the injuries were from falling off horses during the pursuit?!

This...this is no longer a national war of conquering cities and seizing territory!
This is nothing short of a saint descending to earth, delivering a devastating blow to ants!
Compared to the monumental achievement of annihilating 100,000 wolf soldiers in one fell swoop, this insignificant loss is like a speck of dust in the vast starry sky.

This cannot be described as a "pyrrhic victory" or a "great victory"; it is a "zero casualty" myth that is enough to rewrite the classic military texts!
It is a strategic miracle that can only be described in the most absurd and unrestrained folk tales!

A deathly silence, more thorough, more profound, and more chilling to the bone than when they had just heard "annihilate the 100,000 wolf troops," instantly froze the entire Golden Palace like an invisible frost!
The expressions of the officials froze completely on their faces, their mouths slightly open and their eyes vacant, as if they had all been frozen in place by an ancient powerful being.

This is a perfect battle that could not even exist in the sacred texts!
Any attempt to discredit this victory from the perspective of "losses" seems so ridiculous and so powerless in the face of these figures!
Jiang Xingzhou's move not only did not "exhaust the nation's strength," but also solved the long-standing problem in the northern border region—the Snow Wolf Demon Kingdom—once and for all at almost zero cost, saving the court military expenses that could amount to tens of millions of taels in the future!

“Ss ...

It was unclear which minister was the first to gasp in shock, but the sound was so clear and sharp in the deathly silence that it pierced the eardrums.

Immediately, as if a dam had burst, uncontrollable gasps rose and fell from every corner of the hall!

An elderly and distinguished official, Duke Meng, with white hair and beard, and armor hanging loosely on his body to show that he had not forgotten military preparedness, suddenly pounded his chest with his fist, and turbid tears gushed out, winding down along the deep wrinkles.

He faced north and shouted hoarsely, "Heaven has eyes! Our ancestors have protected us! I have guarded the border for forty years, with thirteen arrow and knife wounds on my body! I have never... never dared to imagine that I would have this day! This is the descent of the gods, a sign of the prosperity of our Great Zhou!"

"No...impossible...this is absolutely impossible..."

The official from the Ministry of Revenue who had raised the question earlier instantly lost all color in his face, as if all his energy had been drained away. He staggered and almost collapsed to the ground if his colleague hadn't instinctively supported him.

His lips trembled, but he could no longer utter a single word.

The last piece of driftwood he relied on to struggle, the last bit of luck he tried to use to maintain his dignity and stance, was crushed to ashes in the face of these absurd yet confirmed figures from the military newspaper.

Since the founding of the Great Zhou Dynasty, it has fought against the demon kingdom in the north, quelled rebellions in the south, and suppressed barbarian troubles in the west. Every major battle that determined the fate of the nation was a victory built on mountains of corpses and seas of blood.
Behind every triumphant return, there are countless families mourning and weeping.
Never before has there been such a... battle that swept through enemy lines and secured victory without shedding a drop of blood?!
This has completely transcended their understanding of the word "war" and entered the realm of myth and legend!

At that very moment, everyone suddenly realized an even more terrifying truth:

The protagonist who created this myth—Jiang Xingzhou—will now enjoy an astonishing level of prestige in the military and popularity among the people.

And how deep is the emperor's trust and reliance on the dragon throne?

Empress Wu Mingyue, seated on the dragon throne, couldn't help but tremble slightly upon hearing the numbers "over a hundred dead and several hundred wounded."

Beneath the wide sleeves of her robe, her slender yet powerful fingers suddenly tightened, almost leaving fingerprints on the armrests of the gilded dragon throne!

This casualty ratio has exceeded her most extreme imagination of "victory"!
After the initial shock subsided like a receding tide, an indescribable surge of warmth rushed into my heart!

She could no longer sit still and suddenly stood up!

wow-

The twelve-tasseled white jade beaded curtain shook and collided violently due to this sudden movement, making a crisp sound, and finally briefly revealed the stunningly beautiful face behind the curtain.

At this moment, his usually dignified face was filled with unbelievable joy and excitement, as if he had finally been able to relieve the burden he had carried for so many years!
Those phoenix eyes shone brightly, like stars exploding!

She anticipated that crossing the river by boat would stabilize the situation in the northern border region, and even secretly hoped that he could win a brilliant victory, giving her and the court a chance to catch their breath.

But she never imagined that the victory would come so swiftly and so completely!
This was not a battle of repulsion at all; it was clearly an epic battle won with overwhelming force on the northern frontier, a battle powerful enough to destroy a country and capture its king!
Such a "perfect" victory, bordering on unreal, has significance that transcends the purely military level.

This is an absolute political trump card, a sharp sword capable of cutting through all shackles!

With this tremendous achievement, she will have unprecedented confidence and legitimacy to implement new policies, rectify officialdom, and suppress any forces that dare to hinder her in the future!
The victory report sent by Jiang Xingzhou was more valuable than hundreds of thousands of elite troops!
"Good! Good! Good!"

The Empress said "Good" three times in a row. At first, her voice trembled slightly due to extreme excitement, but each time it became louder and more determined than the last, eventually transforming into soaring pride and unquestionable imperial majesty, which resonated throughout the Golden Palace!
"May Heaven bless the Great Zhou! Minister Jiang is truly my right-hand man and the pillar of the nation! This battle has displayed our national power beyond the Great Wall and secured peace in the northern frontier!"

As she finished speaking, her sharp, icy eyes, as deep as the vast starry sky, [followed by a series of seemingly random characters.]

He suddenly swept his gaze across the steps below the imperial palace, his eyes like invisible blades, precisely slashing at Xu Shilong and the others who had been jumping around the most excitedly and speaking the most vehemently!

There was no trace of the restraint and deliberation in that gaze anymore; only a chilling scrutiny and an icy sense of oppression remained!
"Xu Aiqing,"

The Empress's voice was not loud, but each word was like an ice bead falling onto a jade plate, clearly reaching the ears of every trembling minister: "You were just now speaking with concern for the country and its people, and with great eloquence... Now, what else do you have to say?"

Xu Shilong and the others were already pale as paper, sweating profusely, and their bodies were trembling like fallen leaves in the autumn wind.

Sweeping across them with the Empress's icy gaze, the group felt their knees buckle and they all collapsed to their knees with a thud, their foreheads pressed against the cold floor tiles, having lost all courage to even look up.

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty... We... We are foolish... We have spoken recklessly... We deserve to die..."

Xu Shilong's voice was broken and intermittent, filled with desperate fear.

All his calculations and reliance on others became a pale, laughable, and utterly vulnerable joke in the face of that miraculous victory report!

Jiang Xingzhou not only won, but won so decisively and irrefutably!
With an epic victory worthy of being recorded in history and shining through the ages, he completely crushed and turned all doubts, all attacks, and all undercurrents into dust!
At this moment, no one in the entire court, regardless of their thoughts, dared to utter the slightest dissent.

The only things filling the hall were the endless shock of this miraculous battle, and the deep fear and absolute awe felt towards Minister Jiang, who was far away in the northern frontier but already held immense power in the court, and the young empress on the dragon throne who had risen to power by taking advantage of the situation and whose prestige was even greater than before!

Inside the Golden Palace, the extreme shock and deathly silence brought by the earth-shattering victory news had not yet completely dissipated, and the air was still filled with the smell of gunpowder and power.

At this critical juncture of transition between the old and the new atmosphere,

A figure, like a cheetah that had been lying in wait for a long time, or a sharp sword drawn from its sheath, suddenly stepped out from the ranks of civil officials!
It was none other than Zhang Ji, the Imperial Censor, Jiang Xingzhou's most steadfast ally and sharpest henchman in the court!
At this moment, Zhang Ji was completely different from the man who had to endure and feel resentful when everyone was attacking Jiang Xingzhou.

He stood as straight as a poplar in the north, as if he were about to exhale all the pent-up emotions he had endured.

His face was slightly flushed with extreme excitement and pent-up righteous indignation. His eyes shone brightly, radiating a cold light. He first swept his gaze across Xu Shilong and the other pale-faced officials like a steel blade scraping their bones, and finally turned to the Empress on the throne. He bowed deeply, his voice resounding through the roof tiles:

"Your subject, Zhang Ji, the Imperial Censor, has a memorial to present!"

He paused deliberately, like the brief calm before a storm, to ensure that the terrified gazes of the "defeated generals" and the attention of his colleagues were fixed on him.

Immediately, his tone rose sharply, each word like a javelin or dagger, carrying a chilling, murderous aura:
"Your Majesty! The news of victory in the northern frontier has arrived. The evidence is irrefutable, and facts speak louder than words!"

"Lord Jiang Xingzhou, entrusted with a critical mission, disregarded his personal safety and went to the northern frontier, where he killed the enemy chieftain amidst ten thousand troops, wiped out the enemy's territory in one fell swoop, and annihilated the 100,000-strong army of the Snow Wolf Kingdom!"
This battle has demonstrated our national power to the world and brought peace to our northern border!

This is an unparalleled achievement! Lord Jiang is truly a pillar of our Great Zhou Dynasty, a beam of gold supporting the sea!

Before he finished speaking, he whirled around, his arm like a halberd on the battlefield, carrying a resolute air, pointing directly at Xu Shilong, the Vice Minister of Rites, and others who had been jumping the loudest moments before but were now trembling like leaves, and demanded an answer in a stern voice, as loud as thunder:

"Indeed! Just as Lord Jiang and the loyal and brave soldiers of our Great Zhou were fighting bloody battles on the border, risking their lives for the country!"

"Such despicable people, in this solemn temple, disregard the worries of the emperor and father, ignore the urgency of the border, and spout nonsense to frame loyal and virtuous officials!"
They slandered Jiang Zemin as "militaristic and extortionate"!
The viciousness of their words and the wickedness of their intentions are utterly outrageous!

Zhang Ji took a deep breath, as if inhaling the lingering smoke and killing intent of the entire northern frontier battlefield.

His gaze, like two icy bolts of lightning, locked onto the deathly pale-faced Xu Shilong, and he asked the question he had long planned, a question that would plunge the other man into an abyss from which he would never be able to escape:

"I dare to ask my colleagues!"
"Why are Vice Minister Xu and his ilk so impatient, launching such a massive attack on the commander-in-chief and undermining the foundation of the nation while our army's victory is still uncertain and our soldiers are shedding blood on the front lines? What exactly are their intentions?!"

His voice echoed throughout the Golden Palace, each word striking the hearts of the crowd like a heavy hammer blow.

Before anyone could react, his voice rose again, like a thunderclap splitting the sky:
"What exactly are they trying to do to undermine our Great Zhou, demoralize our troops, and hope for our defeat?"

"Or……"

Zhang Ji's voice suddenly turned chilling and piercing, each word deliberate and deliberate, like the guillotine slowly rising on the guillotine, "...They are actually in cahoots with the Snow Wolf Kingdom, colluding with the demons and barbarians, attempting to frame the pillars of our Great Zhou, destroy our Great Wall in the north, so that the demon and barbarian cavalry can drive straight in?!"
They are not unaware of the dangers of war; rather, they are hoping for our army to suffer a defeat and for the border to fall into ruin!
They were not genuinely advising the country, but rather attempting to use this opportunity to overthrow the pillars of the state, satisfy their own selfish desires, and disrupt the order of the court!

"If it weren't for the timely arrival of the swift messenger's report today, wouldn't the slanderous words of such treacherous villains have truly deceived His Majesty, chilled the blood of the border soldiers, and destroyed the pillars of our Great Zhou?!"

"Colluding with demons and barbarians!"

These four words were no longer just ordinary political criticisms, but like a thunderbolt from the heavens, carrying the blood and fire of treason and the stench of genocide, they exploded in the solemn and majestic Golden Palace!

This goes far beyond mere political disagreement or false impeachment; it is an unforgivable crime of treason!
It is an accusation that could lead to the extermination of nine generations of one's family and eternal damnation!

Censor-in-Chief Zhang Ji pressed on relentlessly, his words like knives, each one striking at the most vulnerable points of Xu Shilong and his comrades:

He turned to the Empress again, bowed deeply, and said in a sorrowful yet resolute voice: "Your Majesty! Unclear rewards and punishments are a grave taboo for the nation! Without distinguishing between the loyal and the treacherous, the court will be difficult to govern!"

"Your Majesty, I humbly request that you immediately issue an edict to severely punish these petty villains who have confused the court and slandered meritorious officials, so as to set the record straight, comfort the meritorious officials, and demonstrate Your Majesty's holy virtue of clear rewards and punishments!"

Zhang Ji's memorial, leveraging the momentum of the great victory and with the force of thunder and lightning, directly nailed Xu Shilong and others to the pillar of shame for "being jealous of the virtuous and capable and confusing the court"!

Every word they uttered to attack Jiang Xingzhou just now has now become a boulder that bounces back and is enough to crush them completely!
The entire court was filled with a chilling aura of killing intent!
Everyone understood that Jiang Xingzhou's victory was not only military, but also the beginning of a complete political purge!
Zhang Ji was the first strike of the purge!

"Om-!"

The hall erupted in chaos! The shock of the great victory had not yet subsided when it was swept up by an even more intense political storm!
All the officials, regardless of faction, were stunned by Zhang Ji's merciless and deadly counterattack that went straight to the heart of the matter!

Once this label is attached to you, it's not just a matter of dismissing you from your post or removing you from your duties!
"What Minister Zhang said is entirely reasonable! I second that opinion!"

"Your Majesty! Xu Shilong, Wang Min, and their ilk are despicable!"

To sow discord and disrupt the court at this critical juncture of national war is either foolish or wicked! Your Majesty, I implore you to thoroughly investigate whether he has colluded with the enemy!

This trend must not be allowed to continue!
The soldiers on the front lines fought to the death.

However, treacherous officials in the rear are attacking him!

If they are not severely punished, who will dare to fight to the death for His Majesty and the court in the future?

Your Majesty, I impeach Xu Shilong and others for framing meritorious officials; their intentions are sinister!

There was absolutely no need for Zhang Ji to say anything more or even hint at it.

Officials who were already dissatisfied with Xu's faction, opportunists with keen sense of smell who were eager to take sides, and especially the censors and officials under Zhang Ji who were like a group of sharks smelling blood, all stepped forward and attacked him en masse!
In an instant, impeachment calls rose and fell, like a tsunami that completely overwhelmed Xu Shilong and others who were ashen-faced.

Their pent-up anger, fueled by Jiang Xingzhou's overwhelming victory, now manifested in a deluge of memorials and righteous rebukes.

When a wall falls, everyone pushes it down; when a drum is broken, everyone beats it! Just a moment ago they dared to speak eloquently, but now they have become traitors to the country, hated by everyone!
Xu Shilong and the others were already terrified, their bodies trembling like withered leaves in the cold wind. Cold sweat instantly soaked through their heavy court robes, and their legs went weak, almost collapsing to their knees.

They opened their mouths, making hoarse, bellowing sounds in their throats, as if trying to shout their protests and cry out for justice.

But they were devastated to find that, in the face of such an epic victory, all their previous concerns and accusations of "loyalty to the emperor and patriotism" had become pale, laughable, and fatal evidence!

The enormous accusation of "colluding with demons and barbarians" that Zhang Ji pinned on them was like a mountain pressing down on them, leaving them speechless and feeling as if they had fallen into an icy abyss, their very souls trembling with fear!
They knew that their political lives, and even their lives and fortunes, had come to an end at this moment.

All of this was because the man far away in the northern frontier won a victory they could never have dreamed of.

In the imperial court, at the very front of the line, stood the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, Wei Min, whose hair and beard were all white and who held the highest rank. At this moment, he lowered his eyelids, as if he were an old monk in deep meditation. However, his heart was in turmoil, and a chilling fear ran up his spine to the top of his head!

He was so relieved he almost wanted to shout, "That was close! That was close!"

Did he not express his dissatisfaction with Jiang Xingzhou's growing power just now?

Why not take advantage of the crowd's momentum to give that increasingly arrogant young man, who is about to enter the central government of the Three Provinces and Six Ministries, a warning?

But the almost instinctive keen intuition honed through years of ups and downs in officialdom...

At the last moment, he swallowed back the question that was about to spill out, choosing instead to remain silent and observe the situation.

At this moment, he was incredibly grateful for the caution he had developed from walking on the edge of a knife!
If he had been swayed by his emotions and couldn't help but jump out and echo Xu Shilong's words, then the name of Minister Wei Min would probably be added to the list of those being targeted by Zhang Ji's mad dog and that group of bloodthirsty censors!
That would be an abyss from which there is no return!

He secretly glanced at Chen Shaoqing, the Grand Secretary, and Guo Zheng, the Vice Minister of the Chancellery, both also members of the cabinet but always expressionless and like clay sculptures. He immediately understood, thinking to himself:

"Hmph, those two old foxes are even more cunning than I am! They probably have the same idea, sensing danger and that's why they're holding back..."

True top politicians will never easily gamble without absolute certainty.

On her throne, Empress Wu Mingyue took in the ever-changing winds and the myriad aspects of life below.

She clearly saw the relief of Wei Min and others, the despair of Xu's faction, and the excitement of Zhang Ji and others, the Imperial Censor.

She couldn't help but sneer inwardly; these people's thoughts and schemes had long been exposed to her.

At this moment, the tide is in my hands!
She needs to use Zhang Ji and the Censorate—a newly tempered, incredibly sharp blade—to carry out a thorough cleansing!

We must not only reward meritorious officials and consolidate the country, but also take this opportunity to purge the court and thoroughly remove these useless and troublesome individuals who are good at nothing but internal strife!
She spoke slowly, her voice icy and devoid of any human emotion, yet it contained the absolute will of an emperor and the majesty of life and death, instantly silencing all the noise in the hall:

"What Minister Zhang reported concerns the foundation of the nation and is of great importance."

The soldiers of the northern frontier fought bloody battles, risking their lives, to achieve today's world-renowned feat!

How can we allow someone in the imperial court to spread falsehoods, sway the morale of the army, and frame loyal and virtuous officials?

"Go!"

The Empress's words were like thunderbolts: "Strip Xu Shilong, Vice Minister of Rites; Wang Min, Director of the Ministry of Works; Zhao Qian, Supervising Secretary of the Ministry of War, and all the others of their official positions and titles, strip them of their official robes, and imprison them in the Imperial Prison under strict guard!"

"The Ministry of Justice, the Court of Judicial Review, together with the Censorate, shall conduct a thorough interrogation and investigate to the end!"

We must find out why they are so eager to maliciously attack our commander-in-chief while our troops are engaged in fierce fighting on the front lines!
Is there something else going on behind this? Is there any treason involved?

"Your Majesty! I am innocent! My loyalty is as clear as the sun and moon, Your Majesty!"

"Your Majesty, please have mercy! I know I was wrong! I was just confused for a moment!"

Xu Shilong and the others let out desperate howls and pleas for mercy, like dying beasts, but it was all in vain.

The fierce, heavily armored palace guards had already stepped forward and, without any mercy, grabbed these high-ranking officials who had been so arrogant just moments before. Under the deathly silence and countless complex gazes, they dragged them out of the Golden Palace like dead dogs.

The sound of the official robe scraping against the cold floor tiles was jarring and chilling.

The Empress took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil within her caused by this exhilarating victory and the consolidation of her power.

Her gaze, sharp as a torch, slowly swept over the disoriented, trembling officials below. Her voice carried an undeniable certainty and a triumphant exhilaration, setting the final tone for today's grand spectacle:

"Did all of you see it? Did all of you hear it?"

"This battle was a complete victory! A crushing defeat! It was not a fluke, but a testament to our genuine national strength and military might!"

"Jiang Aiqing, with a thousand cavalry, defeated a hundred thousand wolf soldiers, and suffered negligible casualties himself!"

Such achievements are unprecedented and worthy of being recorded in history!

"Issue my decree:"

Her voice was resolute, echoing in the silent hall: "In the battle of the Northern Frontier, all meritorious soldiers shall be rewarded according to their merits. This must be done fairly, quickly, and severely, without any delay or deduction!"
Fallen soldiers will receive preferential treatment and their families will also be honored!

"Immediately select a highly respected official as the Pacification Envoy, to carry my imperial rewards, and travel to Mizhou Prefecture to reward the three armies and demonstrate the Emperor's grace!"

"Retreat!"

Without giving anyone a chance to react or speak, the Empress abruptly stood up, her bright yellow dragon robe drawing a resolute and majestic arc.

Under the still bewildered, awe-inspiring, and even fearful gazes of the civil and military officials, he turned and left, leaving only the clear, ringing sound of the twelve jade beads colliding echoing in the empty hall.

A storm seemed to have subsided for the time being, but everyone understood that a deeper and more intense power shift in the Great Zhou court had only just begun.

And that name, far away in the northern frontier—Jiang Xingzhou. His prestige and influence in the imperial court were already at their zenith, unstoppable.

(End of this chapter)