Chapter 191: Jing Sheng Di: No One Knows How Many Injuries Zi Jie Has Suffered!

"Your Majesty will allocate all the treasury silver for the northwest, and also demands that the palace cut personnel expenses."

"But without silver to follow the imperial physician's request to specially prepare this qi‑tonifying, blood‑nourishing dish, even if Your Majesty does it out of a heartfelt regard for Zi Jie, the meal should still be properly prepared."

Zhou Huang Hou, to soothe Jing Sheng Di's mind, unusually made a teasing remark.

No matter how strained the palace finances are, they cannot do without her and Jing Sheng Di's expenses for food and clothing.

Jing Sheng Di's expression warmed a bit at the words; he also has great confidence in Jia Jing, and he took the porcelain bowl handed over by Zhou Huang Hou.

He said in a deep voice:

"Zi Tong is right! Zi Jie is my champion marquis, loyal and capable; I trust he can win, and I will fully support him in this battle."

"Counting the days, he should be nearing Yu Lin Cheng by now; I wonder how the battle ahead is going!"

"A few days ago, an urgent report from Yu Lin Wei Cheng said that eighty thousand Northern Yuan troops were besieging the city; the situation was urgent."

"But in the past few days the news suddenly stopped, and we don't know whether Yu Lin Cheng held out!"

"If Yu Lin Cheng falls, the Northern Yuan forces will march straight into the Central Plains, and the northwest war will be in a bad situation!"

Jing Sheng Di's words carried a hint of worry.

Although he trusts Jia Jing can win, he really cannot trust the Yu Lin Cheng defender, Ji An Marquis; that fellow Jingnan Wuxun once caused him a lifelong unforgettable huge loss.

According to his and the ministers' analysis, Yu Lin Cheng's high walls are thick, grain stores are ample, and holding for several months poses no problem.

But Jing Sheng Di knows well that Jingnan Wuxun cannot be judged by ordinary logic.

Lord Cao Li Longneng could stage a farcical scene of flinging open the city gates and having a Taoist defend the city, which led to Yongning Fortress being breached by the False Qing, and tens of thousands of troops being almost entirely lost.

If Jingnan Wuxun can pull off such absurd, laughable, inconceivable deeds, who knows what fresh tricks Marquis Ji An might devise!

If Yu Lin Cheng falls before Jia Jing rushes there, the northwest campaign will be hard to fight!

Zhou Huang Hou, while serving Jing Sheng Di his meal, gently comforted him:

"Your Majesty, rest assured, the northwest front has countless capable ministers and fine generals; they will surely defeat the enemy, and perhaps the good news is already on its way."

Jing Sheng Di was taken aback by Zhou Huang Hou's words, then smiled and teased:

"Zi Tong just now told me not to be impatient, yet now I am the one getting impatient!"

"Zi Jie has probably just arrived at Yu Lin Cheng; how could there be such swift victory news!"

"War is a matter of life and death, of survival; it is a gravely serious national affair, not something so easy!"

"The Imperial City Office has already reported; this time the Northern side's commander is their Grand Secretariat and Wanhu Chief, Tuo Tuo Bu Hua."

"He is not an easy opponent; he has many times caused the Da Han Empire to suffer setbacks in northwest battles, and must not be underestimated."

"Even with Zi Jie's martial prowess and strategy, defeating him may not be easy!"

These days Jing Sheng Di has had the Imperial City Office closely monitor the northwest war, with daily reports, so he knows the details very clearly.

He trusts Jia Jing's ability and bravery, but to say the good news is already on the way is fanciful, baseless talk!

He thought himself already impatient, yet he didn't expect Zhou Huang Hou to be even more eager.

However, those in the harem do not understand the hardships of war; such frivolous words are, after all, normal.

As Jing Sheng Di finished speaking, before Zhou Huang Hou could reply, an inner monitor rushed in from outside the hall, shouting:

"Northwest carrier pigeon urgent report!"

Xia Shouzhong, hearing this, hurried out to take the paper slip from the monitor, turned back, and said:

"Your Majesty, the Imperial City Office has sent a carrier pigeon dispatch from Marquis Jingwu."

Jing Sheng Di looked at the paper slip in Xia Shouzhong's hand, his expression clouded, slowly set down his porcelain bowl, and took it.

Jing Sheng Di was somewhat reluctant to open it.

As he just told Zhou Huang Hou, the northwest war cannot conclude so quickly; how could news arrive at this moment?

If it were merely Jia Jing's routine report, a carrier pigeon dispatch would not be used.

The court has few carrier pigeons in the northwest, and they would not be used for unimportant messages.

Could it be that Yu Lin Cheng truly fell to Northern Yuan troops? Is this a defeat report from the front?

If so, it would indeed be dire!

Jing Sheng Di steadied himself, slowly opened the paper slip; the information inside had not been seen by anyone, the sealed seal still intact.

At first glance, it was dense and lengthy, with many characters.

Jing Sheng Di carefully read it from start to finish.

His expression shifted from anxiety to astonishment, then to excitement, and finally to exhilaration.

Then his face flushed bright red, his joy unmistakable.

Jia Jing's carrier pigeon dispatch simply listed four matters.

First, Marquis Ji An abandoned the city and fled, betraying the emperor's grace, and should be prosecuted by the court.

Second, the Northern Yuan army suffered a crushing defeat under the Da Han Empire soldiers' sacrifice; Tuo Tuo Bu Hua was killed, Crown Prince Ba Ya'er was captured, and the Northern Yuan forces have been completely routed.

Third, concerning the Jin merchants colluding with the enemy and treason, many illegal acts have been reported; Jing Sheng Di is asked to adjudicate.

Fourth, as usual, it inquires about Jing Sheng Di's health, recent sleep and diet, and advises him not to overexert himself.

Jing Sheng Di merely glanced coldly at the first and third items, focusing on the second and fourth.

After reading, he couldn't help but read it again from start to finish, laughing heartily:

"Zi Jie led a light cavalry to Yu Lin Cheng; yesterday morning the south gate of Yu Lin Cheng was breached, the situation critical, and after weighing the odds, Zi Jie led two thousand light cavalry to charge an enemy formation of over fifty thousand."

"In this battle, Zi Jie's bravery was unstoppable; he beheaded a general, seized a banner, shot and killed Northern Yuan commander Tuo Tuo Bu Hua, and captured Crown Prince Ba Ya'er."

"Our Da Han Empire soldiers also fought valiantly, endured hardships, and ultimately dealt a massive defeat to the enemy, annihilating over twenty thousand and capturing four thousand."

"Not only did we hold Yu Lin Cheng, but in a single battle we completely scattered the tens of thousands of Northern Yuan troops invading this time."

"After this engagement, only Chaotic Evil and False Qing forces remain in the northwest, greatly increasing our chances of victory."

By the end, Jing Sheng Di's eyes were even a bit reddened.

Thinking of these days, constantly being questioned and secretly slandered by court officials.

Also thinking of Jia Jing, who spared no hardship rushing to the northwest, facing the Northern Yuan's army of over fifty thousand, with two thousand light cavalry willingly braving arrows and stones, bathing in blood, fighting fiercely, beheading generals and capturing flags—such hardship.

He couldn't help but sigh and say:

"Zi Jie lives up to my expectations; he is truly the pillar of the state! I don't know how to cherish him enough to not disappoint heaven and earth and the gods!"

"I don't know whether Zi Jie was wounded in this battle; how is his condition?"

Emperor Jing Sheng inevitably felt worried; he knew without even thinking that defeating over fifty thousand with only two thousand was how difficult a task.

Besides his happiness, he couldn't help but worry about Jia Jing's safety.

"I don't know how many wounds Jia Jing sustained in such fierce fighting, whether he suffered any serious injury!"

Although Jia Jing didn't mention his own injury in the reports, Emperor Jing Sheng thought this was reporting good news but not bad.

Zi Jie must be afraid that I would worry, so he sensibly didn't mention it, and instead politely inquired about my dragon body condition.

Such a loyal subject must absolutely not come to harm.