Chapter 168

"I did not send you to annihilate the Xiongnu? How did Tu'an surrender?"

Ying Su inquired!

He was still rather interested in the matter of Tu'an's surrender!

Li Yuanba said:

"When I arrived at Taiyuan, the Xiongnu army was less than fifty li from Taiyuan. I learned they were setting up camp, preparing to attack Taiyuan the next day, so I charged straight at them!"

"From Taiyuan I fought my way all the way to Yan Sect Pass, and along the way, I strictly followed the Emperor's orders — every Xiongnu I saw, I killed!"

"When I reached the Great Wall, I happened to see some soldiers looting the border pass, so I killed them on the spot. During the pursuit, I learned they were Tu'an people, so I simply struck at them, determined to wipe out Tu'an!"

"When the King of Tu'an saw me coming, he was so terrified he dropped to his knees and kowtowed on the spot, declaring his willingness to submit to Great Qin, and saying he had prepared a dowry and the like, to send Princess Princess Yushu over, as a sign of Tu'an's sincerity in seeking peace!"

Li Yuanba spoke, recounting.

And the moment these words left his mouth, Ying Su could picture the whole scene in his mind!

At that moment, the Xiongnu army was setting up camp outside Taiyuan city, when suddenly Li Yuanba, mounted on his Wanli Yanyun Zhao, charged in!

One hammer per strike, smashing countless Xiongnu soldiers into pulp!

When he chased them to the vicinity of the Great Wall, he happened to see Tu'an soldiers picking through the scraps left behind by the Xiongnu, so he simply struck at them.

He fought his way all the way to the Kingdom of Tu'an.

When had the King of Tu'an ever seen such a fierce warrior!

He was so terrified he dropped to his knees and surrendered on the spot!

Ying Su thought as he listened, and praised:

"Li Xuanba is unmatched under heaven!"

He praised him without cease.

But the group in the court was scared out of their wits.

Many people looked at Li Yuanba with eyes full of awe and dread!

One must remember — this was the very god of slaughter who had just butchered six hundred thousand Xiongnu!

But some others snorted coldly, indicating they did not believe a word of it!

What horse can travel ten thousand li in a day and eight thousand at night!

And kill six hundred thousand?

If he could kill six hundred thousand, that would be a miracle!

"Just wait and see. In a few days, when the Tu'an princess does not come, Ying Su will say the King of Tu'an broke his word!"

At this moment, several people below were secretly whispering and snickering!

Ying Su took all of this in, but said nothing more about it!

Laugh, laugh — in a while, you won't be able to laugh anymore!

He had already noted these men down, and was already thinking about how to deal with them later!

Just then, suddenly, Li Yuanba pulled two memorials from his bosom, and said respectfully to Ying Su:

"These are two letters that Prince Prince Fusu asked me to bring back — one to be given to the Emperor, and one to be given to the First Emperor!"

"Oh?"

"My elder brother sent me a letter?"

Ying Su said happily, and took the letters!

However… he did not read them. Instead, he tossed this letter aside for the moment, and handed the other letter to Chong Xin: "Go deliver this letter to my father!"

"Then… gentlemen, is there anything else to report?"

Ying Su inquired. Today's court session had already concluded long before Li Yuanba returned.

Had Li Yuanba not returned, today's court session would have ended long ago!

Now, he looked toward the assembly.

The assembly, however, exchanged uncertain glances, feeling there was nothing further to report!

"Since there is nothing, then the court is dismissed!"

After speaking, Ying Su rose at once, about to leave!

However, just as he was about to go, suddenly someone called out:

"Your Majesty, wait!"

"Oh?"

Ying Su looked toward him!

That man bowed to Ying Su and said: "Your subject, the son of Commandant of Langzhong and Neishi Teng — Neishi Dun — has a matter he cannot understand, and begs Your Majesty the Emperor to enlighten me!"

"What is it?"

Ying Su inquired!

Neishi Dun bowed and said:

"Your Majesty the Emperor, may I ask — in the battle to annihilate Xiang Yu, who deserves the first credit?"

"Your subject learned from the First Emperor that the defeat of Xiang Yu's army was achieved through the joint efforts of Meng Wu, General Meng Tian, and Wang Ben — only through their combined efforts was Xiang Yu's army driven back!"

"But in the New Emperor's proclamation, it is said that Li Yuanba alone killed more than three hundred thousand of Xiang Yu's troops!"

"If Li Yuanba alone killed more than three hundred thousand of Xiang Yu's troops, then may I ask — what did the three generals Meng Wu, Wang Ben, and Meng Yi actually do?"

"Besides this, there is also the matter of Li Yuanba slaughtering six hundred thousand Xiongnu. Whether this is true or not, your subject does not know. However… since the Eldest Young Master has sent a letter, would Your Majesty the Emperor permit us to examine the letter to verify its authenticity?"

"If it is genuine, then it proves that Li Yuanba truly did go to Taiyuan!"

"And if it is not, then it means there are treacherous villains in this court — villains who have clouded Your Majesty's ears — and I beg Your Majesty to root them out!"

He spoke, saying this.

And the moment these words were spoken, instantly, everyone's eyes lit up brightly!

Neishi Dun!

Another descendant of a merit-maker of founding Qin who takes a dislike to Ying Su.

But... thinking about it, it is understandable!

You, Li Yuanba, killed over three hundred thousand alone first, then six hundred thousand; does this not make the generals of Qin appear incompetent?

This almost touched the cake of all the generals of Qin!

If one does not demand an explanation at this moment, where will the martial generals of Qin have any status in the court thereafter?

Therefore, one must stand out and speak.

But at the same time, the crowd grew excited!

Because they already felt that a good show was about to unfold!

And as Ying Su looked at Neishi Dun, he discovered that at this very moment, although only Neishi Dun was speaking, behind him stood countless martial generals!

Among them were Meng Yi and Zhang Han, descendants of Biao Gong, descendants of Xin Sheng, and even Xiang Lei, a founding martial general!

These people are all martial generals!

They may have no ties with the nobility, but... Li Yuanba's ability to fight so well indeed touched upon their interests!

Ying Su understood them!

But... he had absolutely no thought of indulging them!

He directly called out: "Feng Quji, Li Si, Wang Wan, Wei Liao, are you four familiar with the handwriting of the Eldest Young Master?"

The four stepped forward: "Familiar!"

Ying Su said: "Then you four shall compare the handwriting!"

After Ying Su finished speaking, he directly ordered Chongxin to hand over the letter!

And regarding these four, the crowd had nothing to say!

Although Li Si had gotten somewhat closer to Ying Su and might be currying favor with the new Emperor!

But... Feng Quji, Wei Liao, and Wang Wan, these three were staunch supporters of the First Emperor!

Just two days ago, the First Emperor had summoned them!

During the campaign where Wang Jian attacked Xianyang City, these three had even offered strategies and plans!

Therefore, the crowd had great faith in Feng Quji, Wei Liao, and Wang Wan!

Even Neishi Dun, Xiang Lei, and a group of martial generals had nothing to say!

And regarding the handwriting of the Eldest Young Master, the four were absolutely familiar with it.

With just one glance, the four bowed to Ying Su: "Absolutely true!"

"What?"