Chapter 414: with translation of chapter title

When the Emperor said this, everyone stood up.

He waved his hand: "Please sit. I am not speaking falsely; treacherous ministers occupy high positions while loyal ministers have nowhere to stand, and I bear responsibility without excuse."

Upon returning to Jingcheng and restoring order, the first thing I will announce to the world is to clear the name of Ning Prince's Mansion and of all the soldiers who fought in bloodshed at the frontier.

The honor and compensation due must not be lacking in the slightest.

Those filthy accusations splashed on you, I will make them lick back, mouthful by mouthful!

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Only then did everyone reseat themselves.

Xiao Yuanhang said: "Your Majesty places trust in me; I would die ten thousand times to repay it!"

Although our forces suffered heavy losses in today's battle, we still have fifty thousand able-bodied soldiers.

The rebel army has lost more than half its forces; the remainder has lost its courage and will likely be unable to attack again in the near future.

Currently the two armies face off, appearing evenly matched, but in reality our troops' morale is high while the bandits are panicked.

Good! Xiao Jieyun's eyes flashed with brilliance. "Yuanhang, you truly are the war god of our Lie Kingdom! In this battle you have achieved another great merit."

He furrowed his brows: "What worries me most now is the provisions for this army of tens of thousands."

Please rest assured, Your Majesty. Xiao Yuanhang stroked his daughter's head. "The matter of provisions has been fully planned."

Oh?

Xiao Yuanhang briefly explained the assistance of the Xiling Horse Band and the former dynasty's treasure hidden in Luoying Gully.

The first batch of provisions escorted by Horse Band chief Xie Guzhou will arrive within two days.

The wealth in that treasure is enough to sustain the army for several years.

Xiao Jieyun burst into loud laughter: "Good! Yuanhang, Tuan Tuan truly lives up to being the Immortal Envoy of our Lie Kingdom! She is also our kingdom's lucky star!"

This secret of the former dynasty lay dormant for years, yet her trip to the Northwest brought it back to light.

It actually resolved my urgent crisis just like that! Truly astonishing fortune!

Tuan Tuan, embarrassed by the praise, turned and buried herself in her father's embrace.

After laughing, Xiao Jieyun looked at Gongsun Yue: "Gongsun Yue."

Gongsun Yue trembled all over and quickly rose: "Your Majesty."

For your great merit in this frontier battle, I permit you to no longer be a hostage of Da Xia.

Gongsun Yue snapped his head up, incredulous: "Me, I will no longer be a hostage?"

Tuan Tuan happily ran over and took his hand: "Exactly! Imperial Uncle said so! Xiao Yueyue, you don't need to worry anymore!"

Gongsun Yue looked at her, his eyes reddening: "I am no longer a hostage; I and my Mother Consort can now live openly and honorably!"

Xiao Jieyun looked at the two little dumplings: "Gongsun Yue, are you willing to continue residing in Ning Prince's Mansion?"

Gongsun Yue nodded repeatedly: "Yes! I wish to be together with Tuan Tuan!"

The Emperor nodded: "Very well, then I permit you to reside long-term in Ning Prince's Mansion, continuing as Tuan Tuan's companion-reader."

After returning to the capital, I will bestow upon you a golden plaque titled 'Mingyi Tongzi' to manifest your merit in understanding great righteousness.

Gongsun Yue knelt respectfully, performed a great bow: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your great favor!"

Two days later, the first batch of provisions from the Horse Band arrived. Xiao Yuanhang asked Xie Guzhou: "Now the demand for provisions is greater; I wonder if the Horse Band can still transport them?"

Xie Guzhou laughed heartily: "Prince, do not underestimate my Xiling Horse Band! I will have them set aside other business and devote themselves to transporting provisions for you."

Xiao Yuanhang clasped his fists: "Many thanks, chief, for your righteousness!"

Soon, the news of defeat at Luoyan Slope reached Jingcheng.

Trash! A bunch of trash!

Prince Qing's veins bulged on his forehead, his eyes filled with bloodshot: "One hundred twenty thousand! An entire army of one hundred twenty thousand!"

To attack Xiao Jieyun's seventy thousand remnants, they were beaten down to fewer than sixty thousand!

What about Lu Yi? That trash Lu Yi?

The messenger trembled, lowering his head further: "Your Highness, General Lu… he was beheaded by Ning Prince amid the ten thousand troops, his head taken."

"Hah," Prince Qing gasped, as if his throat were clenched, "What about the Blood Blade?"

The messenger prostrated: "We failed, we lost. Those who returned said that several experts appeared beside the Emperor, preventing us from seizing it."

And the Imperial Seal?

Also, we failed to obtain it.

Chen Wang, idly twirling the tea lid, spoke lightly: "I told you before not to underestimate Xiao Yuanhang."

He is a fierce tiger who just crawled out of the mountains of corpses and seas of blood in the northern frontier.

If it weren't for him beheading the commander before the battle, how could those one hundred twenty thousand have suffered such a crushing defeat?

Prince Qing flew into a rage: "Then what about the Blood Blade? Didn't the Supreme Honor say they never fail?"

We sent fifteen top-tier experts; even if they couldn't kill Xiao Jieyun, they should have retrieved the Imperial Seal!

When did the Emperor's entourage gain so many capable people?

Chen Wang set down his tea cup, straightened his expression: "This is exactly where we missed our calculation."

Once the Emperor has Xiao Yuanhang as this blade by his side, we must re-evaluate our plans.

Plotting? Prince Qing paced back and forth irritably: "How are we to plot?"

What a fine Xiao Yuanhang! He is truly loyal and devoted to the Emperor, neglecting his own elderly mother, wife, and children, rushing desperately to rescue the sovereign!

He suddenly stopped, eyes blazing with fury: "Since he is so loyal to king and country, able to abandon his wife, children, and elders, then I will compel him to return to the capital!"

Chen Wang frowned slightly: "What do you intend?"

Prince Qing shouted sternly: "Come here!"

Present!

He hurried to the Dragon Desk, picked up his brush, and as he wrote he said:

"Traitor Xiao Yuanhang, after his defeat and flight, in order to save his own life, unleashed his troops to wreak havoc, plundered the prefecture, and slaughtered the common folk! He left the red wilderness of Xibei for a hundred li, with starving corpses everywhere!"

He paused, a triumphant grimace on his face: "His crimes are boundless, inciting the wrath of both heaven and man! To quell the heavens' anger, to steady the people's hearts, it shall be decided at…"

He thought for a moment, calculated the time, and continued writing: "In thirty days, at the third quarter of the noon hour, outside Zhengyang Gate, we shall publicly execute his family members, a proper and solemn punishment, to appease the world!"

He glanced over, satisfied, handed it to the attendant who entered: "Copy this imperial edict several times, affix the Regent King seals of my and Prince Chen, and paste them on all nine gates of Jingcheng!"

"Send swift horses to Xibei again, deliver them personally to Xiao Yuanhang's Main Camp!"

"Yes!"

Prince Qing inhaled deeply; only now, having learned of the defeat, his lingering resentment eased considerably:

"Brother Wang, tell me, can our loyal and righteous Prince Ning, after seeing this, still sit firmly within the army and devote himself wholeheartedly to Xiao Jieyun's cause?"

Prince Chen clapped his hands and said, "An excellent plan! Once Xiao Yuanhang departs, the troops' morale will surely crumble."

"Then our forces' chances of victory will greatly increase."

"Thirty days… when he sees the imperial edict and leads his army from Luoyan Slope back to the capital, even at the fastest it will take twenty days; the time is just enough, and then you and I can lie in wait, catching him off guard."

"If he endures the pain and does not return, hehe, a commander who can even abandon his own kin—how will the soldiers view him then? Who would still be willing to die for him?"

"Exactly!" Prince Qing's eyes flashed with ferocity, "I intend to put him in a dilemma, his courage torn asunder!"

"Send the orders down; after the imperial edict is posted, dispatch more scouts to keep a tight watch on Xiao Jieyun's Main Camp for me!"

"Once we detect Xiao Yuanhang leaving the camp, our army will immediately pour out like a swarm, crushing those fifty thousand starving corpses for me!"

"Yes!"