Chapter 497

Based on Father's opinion, will Marquis Jingguo definitely win this battle? Zhang Ruo'ai asked, somewhat doubtful.

Victory is certain! Zhang Tingyu said firmly.

Since Jia Zi Jie dares to let Lan Yu hold command, he must have his plans!

But... how great the victory will be and how long it will take is hard to say; if I estimate, as long as the Prince of Nan'an gathers his troops and holds the city, even if Lan Yu has many troops, wanting to swallow Nan'an in one go will not be easy.

... We must first fight a few battles, clear the outer Guard Posts, then force him into a decisive battle; back and forth, it will take at least a month or two, so for now we can just watch and wait.

During this time, he also needs to swiftly implement the capital inspection.

We can't have the capital region's military reform nearly half-successful while our capital inspection yields no results; that would make us look rather incompetent!

Zhang Ruo'ai was about to speak again when suddenly a 'boom' sounded from afar, like a shop setting off firecrackers early, followed by another, then another.

To the east and south, the intermittent firecracker sounds actually joined together into a continuous stretch.

Faintly, voices could also be heard, coming from far away; at first they were as thin as mosquitoes, then gradually, like a rising tide, they spread over the night sky outside the window.

Zhang Ruo'ai jumped up, took a few steps to the window, and flung it wide open.

The outside wind swept in the moonlight and waves of indistinct yet clear cheers:

Great victory! Great victory! Jizhou City great victory!

Father! Is it Jizhou City's great victory? So late—could there be news from the front? Zhang Ruo'ai turned sharply, his face full of disbelief.

Zhang Tingyu also rose, his expression slightly changing; he walked to the window, listened for a moment, then turned and called to the outer room:

Someone, go outside and ask what's going on.

Not long after, the mansion's steward reported from outside the gate:

Sir, the Twelve Division Camp crushed the Prince of Nan'an at Jizhou City! It's said they won the battle this evening, the Prince of Nan'an was captured on the battlefield, and the Prince of Dongping who tried to flee was also seized. Now the Office of Transmission is announcing the victory before the Hall of Administration, and the populace is flooding the streets.

Zhang Tingyu leaned on the window frame, silent for a long time.

Outside the window, the moonlight was clear as silver, yet it could not overcome the growing clamor filling the city.

Along the main street, people successively lit lanterns, shouting loudly 'Jizhou City great victory!' The sound spread from east to west, wave after wave rising higher.

Zhang Ruo'ai's expression changed, then he exclaimed excitedly: 'Father, you were right!'

Zhang Tingyu, however, did not smile.

He slowly turned, returned to sit by the chair, lightly rubbed the rim of his teacup twice with his fingertips, then gave a soft, self-mocking sigh and said:

I guessed the beginning right, but I didn't estimate this ending.

One day! Actually only one day and the victory report arrived!

He lifted his head, gazing at the moon outside the window growing ever rounder, his expression sinking into thought, and murmured:

I don't know whether it's because Jia Zi Jie's talent for knowing people and employing them well is too strong...

... or whether the Prince of Nan'an's past battle reports were inflated, making him an amateur at war...

Bei Jing Prince's Mansion, inner study.

Outside the window, the mid-autumn moon had risen to the eaves, its light clear as frost, casting the shadows of a few slender bamboo stalks beneath the corridor onto the window paper, scattered and sparse.

Shui Rong sat in the chair behind the desk, one hand supporting his chin, the other unconsciously tapping the jade paperweight on the desk.

On the desk lay several copies of military reports and market rumors transcribed by his disciples today; he flipped two pages, pushed them aside, let out a long sigh, and said softly:

Zi Jie has been a bit overconfident this time! I also know the Twelve Division Camp is the elite troops he personally trained, but even the finest troops depend on who commands them.

Lan Yu, whom I had never heard of before, suddenly received the great seal; although the Prince of Nan'an hasn't had any particularly outstanding military achievements these years, he is still someone who has actually commanded troops.

If this battle is lost, the capital region's gates will be flung open, with no obstruction outside Shenjing City; then, how will our family fare?

Zhen Shi sat opposite him, peeling a pomelo by candlelight.

Her scallion-white fingers slowly tore away the pith, placing each segment of flesh into a small celadon dish.

Hearing this, she smiled faintly and said softly:

My lord, this is worry causing confusion; in my view, Marquis Jingguo possesses deep strategy, takes one step while seeing three, and never fights a battle without certainty.

His daring to employ Lan Yu shows Lan Yu must have extraordinary ability; don't you, my lord, observe Marquis Jingguo's rise—has he ever undertaken something without a plan? Has he ever fought a losing battle?

Lady Zhen also enjoys reading reports and books at home normally; regarding Marquis Jingguo's deeds, thanks to the sisters in Jinling often inquiring, she has repeatedly learned about them!

Shui Rong gave a bitter smile, shook his head, and said:

I naturally know Zi Jie is no ordinary person; otherwise I wouldn't have so openly taken his side in court!

But this Lan Yu... sigh, it's strange; Zi Jie always handles matters meticulously, yet after dismissing the Prince of Nan'an and the Prince of Dongping that day, he didn't assign anyone to watch them, letting them swagger out of the city—isn't that letting the tiger return to the mountain?

Lady Zhen pushed the peeled pomelo toward Shui Rong, then picked up a handkerchief to wipe her fingers; her smooth, jade-like countenance remained calm, her pink lips moved slightly, and she said with a faint smile:

Do you really think, my lord, that without Marquis Jingguo's tacit approval, the Prince of Nan'an could escape from that iron‑bucket-like Shenjing City?

What is the Imperial City Service for? Could they lose people under Marquis Jingguo's very eyelids? Say that aloud—would you yourself believe it?

Shui Rong's expression shifted slightly, he pondered, and said:

You mean... Zi Jie deliberately let them go?

Eight or nine times out of ten. Lady Zhen lifted her teacup, took a small sip, her cool, beautiful face showing contemplation, and she said unhurriedly:

Marquis Jingguo always acts either not at all, or with thunderous force when he does; I think he doesn't fear the Prince of Nan'an leaving, but fears him not leaving.

If he leaves, it becomes rebellion, allowing us to suppress him openly and justly; if he stays in the city, he becomes a royal kinsman of the court, making it improper to move against him directly.

I also figured this out after repeatedly thinking it over at home; Marquis Jingguo's conduct toward the Princess of Nan'an that day was unusually abnormal, as if he were deliberately applying pressure.

So, my lord, put your mind at ease; since Marquis Jingguo dares to let the tiger out of the cage, he must have already prepared the cage to trap the tiger.

In this battle, the Prince of Nan'an cannot win.

She said this, her eyes flickering slightly, her tone carrying a hint of certainty she herself hadn't noticed, and she sighed:

Someone like him—possessing courage and strategy, decisive in killing, never acting impulsively... plus his entire bearing and demeanor—is truly something I have never seen before!

I must say, although they had only met once, Marquis Jingguo left Lady Zhen with a very deep impression.

Especially that profound phrase 'point and stir the void,' which made her turn it over in her mind again and again!

Shui Rong listened, entranced; after a moment, his expression gradually eased, and he was about to say, "You only saw him once, yet you trust him more than I do."

Suddenly hearing hurried footsteps outside the courtyard, the steward's voice came from outside the door:

"Your Highness! Princess! Great joy! Jizhou has won a great victory!"

Shui Rong's hand trembled, the wide‑mouth tea cup nearly tipping over; he sprang to his feet and said, "Come in and speak quickly!"

The steward pushed the door open and entered, his face showing excitement he could not suppress:

"Your Highness, a fast horse just arrived with news: General Lan Yu crushed the rebel army of the Prince of Nan'an west of Jizhou City, the Prince of Nan'an was captured on the battlefield, the Heir Apparent of Dongping fled the city but was caught after less than a few dozen li, the Communications Bureau has already begun sending victory reports, and the whole city is in an uproar!"

Shui Rong stared for a moment, then overjoyed, he slammed his palm on the table and exclaimed excitedly:

"Excellent! Excellent! Well fought! Zi Jie truly knows how to employ people; this Lan Yu… Lan Yu is also a talent for command!"

He paced in place for two steps, then turned back to look at Zhen, who remained seated in her chair, smiling rather sentimentally, and said:

"Princess, you were right on the mark; Zi Jie indeed never undertakes anything without certainty. From marching out to reporting victory, how many days did this battle take?"

"The Prince of Nan'an gathered over a hundred thousand troops at Jizhou, yet couldn't even hold out a day—what a joke! And it made me worry needlessly for a whole day and night!"

Zhen smiled, pursing her lips; warmth and beauty in her brows and eyes, a similar gladness suffusing her, she pushed the peeled pomelo toward Prince Bei Jing once more and said softly:

"I said it before: the Duke of Jingguo is a man of broad vision; my lord, from now on you should trust him a bit more!"

Recalling his heroic bearing seen that day, I couldn't help but sigh; such heroes whose fame spreads across the world—how could they be looked down upon!

Although my husband holds a princely rank, he is merely of average talent; we must still keep close to such outstanding individuals!

Shui Rong picked up a segment of pomelo, smiled and replied, but a faint, indescribable taste suddenly rose in his heart.

He lifted his eyes to Zhen, seeing her brows and eyes curved, under the lamplight bearing a different kind of radiant charm.

He couldn't help but ponder how his wife, usually so dignified and composed, would never ordinarily praise an outsider man like this.

But since returning from Rong Qing Tang that day, she hardly speaks three sentences without mentioning the Duke of Jingguo.

Now speaking of him, her praise overflows, every sentence firm, as if she trusts him even more than she does her own husband!

This…