Chapter 791: Slapping One's Own Face

He lowered his head and walked straight to the banquet official who arranged this feast, whispering a few words into his ear.

The banquet official's expression changed instantly.

He bowed and went to Yuan Guangyi's side, knelt down, and whispered softly.

Yuan Guangyi's hand holding the wine cup paused slightly: "Urgent military report?"

He raised his hand and gave a gentle wave.

The banquet official understood and clapped his hands.

The dancing maidens and musicians stopped and hurried out.

The inner attendant outside the door, seeing them walk away, fell to the ground, his voice trembling: "Reporting, General, the Fiery Nation and Goryeo armies, about a hundred thousand strong, have already landed on the coast!"

As the words fell, Feiyun Pavilion fell silent in an instant.

Immediately, Wu Tian Xinsheng's wine cup clanged onto the table, spilling wine across the seat.

Yi Tiao Jianliang closed his eyes, his mouth twitching slightly.

Song Yong Zhenjiu wore a blank expression, but his hand clenched the fan on his lap.

Feng Yuan Liangxin glanced at Yuan Guangyi, then glanced at An Bei Taichin, lowered his eyelids, his thoughts racing.

An Bei Taichin's whole body stiffened, his smug grin solidifying into a dead gray.

Yuan Guangyi remained silent for a long while, then slowly lifted his eyes, scanning the ministers, finally his gaze settled on An Bei Taichin's face.

His voice was unusually calm: "Lord An Bei, didn't you say they were all buried beneath the sea?"

An Bei Taichin remained on the ground, his forehead corner pressed against the cold tatami, cold sweat streaming down his hairline, his mind buzzing.

Over a hundred thousand enemy troops landing? How could that be possible?

Last night he had clearly seen in the black jade scepter that the waves rose like mountains, rain poured down, and not a single ship's shadow could be seen on the sea surface.

Such massive storm, even the largest warship couldn't endure an hour.

It must be some misunderstanding! Right!

He took a deep breath, slowly straightened his torso, his voice as steady as possible: "General, last night the typhoon was massive, thunder and rain clashed, and indeed no ships were visible on the sea surface."

"I, based on what I saw then, judged that the enemy forces had all sunk, and only then dared to report to you."

"The urgent report just now... I think it must have been caused by some reason, leading to a false report."

"I earnestly request the General to send swift horses again to verify the truth."

Yuan Guangyi looked at him for a moment; he had just awarded him, and to retract it immediately would be like changing orders from morning to evening—slapping himself in the face.

He slightly nodded: "Your point is reasonable; matters of military intelligence must be handled cautiously."

"Men! Dispatch swift horses, go to the coast and verify as soon as possible."

Feng Yuan Liangxin, still on the ground, said: "General, please order them to investigate how the enemy forces landed on the coast."

Yuan Guangyi nodded, looking toward the outside: "Did you hear that?"

"Yes." The close attendant outside received the order and hurried away.

Feiyun Pavilion fell into dead silence.

No one lifted their cups, no one moved their chopsticks, not even anyone dared to raise their heads.

Everyone sat upright and solemn, eyes fixed on the wine cups before them, unmoving.

Yuan Guangyi slowly scanned the seat, lifted his wine cup, took a sip, gently placed it back on the table: "It's late night; today's banquet ends here."

He said calmly: "Lord Feng Yuan, Lord Yi Tiao, Song Yong, and Wu Tian—four of you stay. The rest, withdraw."

"Yes." The others simultaneously bowed and saluted.

Those who could leave were all granted a pardon, and they knelt and retreated in single file, exiting one after another.

An Bei Taichin understood in his heart that the General's words meant he was being excluded from the center of power.

After everyone else withdrew, he then faced Yuan Guangyi and performed a deep bow again: "I obey!"

Having said that, he did not stand, hoping to hear the General's voice trying to retain him.

But Yuan Guangyi's face remained expressionless, silent.

An Bei Taichin waited a moment, gritted his teeth, knelt and stepped back a few paces, bowed again, and slowly retreated.

The paper door gently closed behind him.

Yuan Guangyi asked: "The enemy has landed; what should we do now?"

Feng Yuan Liangxin, still kneeling, said: "General, although the enemy has landed, their footing is still unstable."

"If they were still at sea last night, and today they broke through the two stone walls I set up on the coast, they must have used heavy artillery such as cannons to blast them down."

"If that is indeed the case, the heavy weapons they used for the siege would have consumed massive resources, making this moment an excellent opportunity for a counterattack."

"I think we should strike with heavy troops, suppressing them on the beach so they cannot move."

"Heavy troops?" Yi Tiao Jianliang slowly opened, his tone full of sarcasm, "Lord Feng Yuan, when you commanded a hundred thousand troops in Goryeo, you were still completely annihilated by the Fiery Nation."

"Now you still want how many men and horses for a counterattack? Are you trying to exhaust the General's treasury?"

"Lord Yi Tiao, your words are off; now our army backs a fortified city, supplies are abundant, reinforcements endless, how could we be compared to Goryeo?"

"Fortified city?" Song Yong Zhenjiu sneered, "Lord Feng Yuan, the two stone walls you built on the beach, touted as as solid as gold soup, where are they now?"

He turned to Yuan Guangyi, knelt and saluted: "General, I think we should first thoroughly investigate Lord An Bei Taichin's crime of falsifying military reports."

"Lord Song Yong," Feng Yuan Liangxin cut in before the General could speak, "Master An Bei's yin-yang arts in Japan have no equal."

"It is because the Fiery Nation Immortal Envoy's methods are too powerful that he made today's mistake."

"With a great enemy before us, instead of pursuing blame, better to let him atone by achieving merit."

"\"Lord Feng Yuan does protect well, \" Song Yong Zhenjiu said coldly, \"Are you perhaps afraid that without Master An Bei, no one would testify for you? \""

Wu Tian Xinsheng had sat silently at the far end, and now suddenly knelt, and when he lifted his head his eyes blazed: "General! I am willing to follow Lord Feng Yuan into battle and slay the enemy!"

Yuan Guangyi was silent for a moment: "Lord Yi Tiao, draft the document yourself and transmit the Grand General's decree."

Lie and Goryeo have invaded our territory and already landed on the west bank.

Those who receive an annual tribute of five hundred stone or more must, within five days of receiving this order, lead their troops to the Sickle Storehouse to serve the king.

He paused: "This time, for those who go out to battle in service of the king, their land and annual tribute will be doubled. Those who behead enemies will be rewarded ten taels."

Those who fail to arrive on time will be deemed to have abandoned the warrior's oath; their land will be confiscated and their entire clan executed.

Yi Tiao Jianliang knelt and performed the salute: "I obey the command."

Yuan Guangyi continued: "Song Yongzhenjiu, the provisions and arms supply of all domains, the allocation of military equipment, shall be under your coordination; there must be no mistake."

Song Yongzhenjiu bowed and said: "I receive the command."

The assembled forces," Yuan Guangyi looked at Teng Yuan Liangxin, "are all under the command of Lord Teng Yuan.

Lord Teng Yuan, if you can win this battle, the commander-in-chief will send you again on an expedition against Goryeo, and will submit a memorial to the emperor, issuing an edict to appoint you as the lord of Goryeo.

Teng Yuan Liangxin's eyes shone: "I will surely not disappoint the general's expectations!"

Wu Tian," Yuan Guangyi turned to Wu Tian Xinsheng, "if you can obtain the head of the war god of Lie state, the commander-in-chief will bestow upon you the title of the foremost warrior of the Wu Tian clan in the Eastern Ocean.

Wu Tian Xinsheng's face suddenly flushed red with excitement, unable to hold back hot tears.

The foremost warrior of the Eastern Ocean!

Is this not the highest honor of a warrior that he has long dreamed of?

He bowed with both hands to the ground, his voice choking: "Thank you, commander!"

Yuan Guangyi thought for a moment: "Lord Teng Yuan, tomorrow you go to the Bureau of Yin and Yang to deliver the order."

Order An Bei Taiqin to atone through merit, sparing no cost, and bring the head of the Lie state Immortal Envoy to the commander-in-chief.

If he cannot do it, then perhaps it is time for the Bureau of Yin and Yang and the An clan to make way for the worthy.

Yes!