Chapter 1733: Shangguan Wan'er's abnormality

"Have you heard? Today in Changancheng, black-armored cavalry reported three times in one day, all rushing into Changancheng on fast horses, looking serious, and heading straight for the Imperial Palace!"

"Three emergency military reports in one day, could the situation at the front be worrying?"

"It must be. Our Da Qian and those bastard Xiongnu have a national feud. The previous great victories and news of great success were all spread throughout Changancheng immediately. This must mean the war situation is not good, or even... a crushing defeat!"

"Alas! His Majesty was impulsive. Prime Minister Gao's previous great victory, turning the Hexi region upside down, was enough. How could he be so reckless and underestimate the enemy?"

"Do you not want to live? You dare to discuss even His Majesty?"

Inside Changancheng, with three emergency military reports from the front entering the palace within one day, and no news of a great victory, it instantly caused a noisy discussion among the commoners.

A sense of panic and eerie atmosphere was spreading at a terrifying speed...

The Imperial Palace.

Imperial Study.

"Report!"

"Emergency military situation in the Hexi region!"

"Report!"

"Emergency military situation in Shanglin Commandery!"

"Report!"

"Emergency military situation in the Xuanshui River Bend!"

Within one day, accompanied by the urgent voices of the black-armored soldiers, three memorials were delivered to Wu Zhao's dragon desk.

Wu Zhao opened them to look.

That noble face became increasingly gloomy.

"Your Majesty, drink some ginseng soup. You haven't eaten all day; your health is paramount!"

Shangguan Wan'er brought a bowl of ginseng soup and spoke with a face full of worry.

"Wan'er, put it aside. I have no appetite right now."

Wu Zhao, wearing a wide black and red dragon robe, said with slight irritability.

Shangguan Wan'er placed the brewed ginseng soup to the side and couldn't help but say, "Your Majesty, is the situation at the front very bad?"

Wu Zhao sat on the dragon chair, closed her phoenix eyes, and rubbed her throbbing temples.

She spoke slowly, "The situation is not optimistic!"

"Three armies, all bad news!"

"In Shanglin Commandery, Grand General Wang Zhong encountered the main force of the Xiongnu Left Worthy King. Five thousand men encountered fifty thousand Xiongnu cavalry and engaged in a bloody battle!"

"This battle lasted for a day and a night. Old General Wang suffered terribly; of his five thousand men, three thousand died in battle. Fortunately, it wasn't far from Shanglin Commandery, and reinforcements arrived in time, otherwise, the entire army would have been wiped out."

"I didn't expect Old General Wang's luck to be so heaven-defying this time—five thousand men, and infantry at that, encountering the main force of the Left Worthy King!"

"This battle is my fault!"

Hearing this, Shangguan Wan'er was extremely surprised.

Five thousand men encountering fifty thousand Xiongnu—this luck was truly something!

Even if Wu Zhao didn't say it, she could imagine the tragedy of this battle.

"Your Majesty, what about the Xuanshui River Bend and Mount Canglan?" Shangguan Wan'er continued to ask.

Wu Zhao slowed her tone and replied, "General Qin and the Duke of Protection were supposed to launch a great maneuver in the Xuanshui River Bend, but they encountered the main force of the Xiongnu Right Worthy King."

"The two sides engaged in slaughter; our army lost one thousand three hundred men, and thousands were injured, while the Xiongnu also suffered over four thousand casualties!"

Shangguan Wan'er's expression was solemn.

Da Qian's military equipment was overwhelming compared to the Xiongnu; one Da Qian soldier being worth three or five Hu soldiers was by no means an exaggeration.

Therefore, this loss ratio was not an advantage, but a disadvantage!

"What about Old General Lu?"

"Old General Lu's situation is even less optimistic. According to the established plan, Old General Lu crossed Mount Canglan and killed his way into the Hexi region!"

"But King Langya and King Zhenyue arrived very quickly, gathering twelve thousand troops and encircling Old General Lu!"

"Twelve thousand?"

Shangguan Wan'er felt her scalp go numb.

"What about Prime Minister Gao? Can Prime Minister Gao arrive in time?" Shangguan Wan'er asked.

Wu Zhao opened her eyes, her phoenix eyes looking through the window in the direction of the Hexi region.

She shook her head and said, "I don't know. There has been no military report from Prime Minister Gao yet."

"The last military report was eighteen days ago, stating that Prime Minister Gao had arrived at the core quicksand area of the Sudan Desert!"

"Since then, there has been no news."

Shangguan Wan'er fell silent, but still comforted Wu Zhao, "Your Majesty, perhaps Prime Minister Gao has already killed his way into Hexi, but we just don't know?"

"Alas!"

Wu Zhao sighed long.

"Old General Lu stated in his letter that it was too late, the army's grain was running low, and Prime Minister Gao definitely couldn't make it. Now they can only burn the boats and fight to break out of the Xiongnu encirclement."

"If they break out, that's fine, but if they don't and are swallowed by King Langya and King Zhenyue, then even if Prime Minister Gao has killed his way into the rear, I fear it will be extremely dangerous..."

"Looking at it now, the situation is extremely unfavorable for our Da Qian!"

For a time.

The large Imperial Study was silent.

Shangguan Wan'er lowered her head, her heart in chaos.

"The peace faction in the court was already extremely dissatisfied with Your Majesty's unauthorized dispatch of three armies to war with the Xiongnu."

"Now that the news is spreading, I fear they will submit memorials one after another in these few days to pressure Your Majesty..."

Wu Zhao's face was cold, and murderous intent flashed in her eyes.

"This Da Qian is my world, not theirs. What I want to do, why do I need their approval?"

Shangguan Wan'er sighed in her heart.

Although that was said, since ancient times, most commoners were ignorant, not to mention governing the country, they didn't even know a single character; it had always been the Emperor and the scholar-officials governing the world together. ===== CHAPTER 1735 =====