Chapter 125: The Shock of the Officials

After a short while, the Court Hall was filled with people, and the officials remaining in Luoyang had all arrived.

When everyone had gathered, Xun Yu and a few others exchanged glances, and Xun Yu stepped out from the ranks.

After scanning the crowd with a glance, he slowly began to speak:

"Esteemed gentlemen, I have gathered you today because there is a momentous good news to tell you all."

Xun Yu paused here, and after seeing the crowd's curious expressions, he continued:

"His Majesty ordered the Dark Guard to bring the good news; the battle report says that His Majesty has successfully captured both Liangzhou and Bingzhou, and will soon return the army to the capital!"

After speaking loudly, Xun Yu looked at the crowd with excitement; even though he already knew the good news, he could not help feeling moved at this moment.

And those who arrived later, upon hearing Xun Yu finish, also wore excited faces and began to chatter indiscreetly.

"Lord Xun Yu, is this really true? Did His Majesty truly capture the two provinces in such a short time?"

An official could not contain himself and shouted at Xun Yu in disbelief.

Seeing the one who spoke up, Xun Yu couldn't help but be displeased: "Lord Hua Xin, what do you mean? This is a battle report personally delivered by the Shadow Guard on His Majesty's orders; how could it be false?"

It turned out that the one who shouted was the Assistant Secretary Hua Xin, who, in actual history, was a moderately famous figure.

However, after Liu Bian came to power, he heavily employed the outstanding figures from actual history.

They belong to the top tier of talent; someone like Hua Xin, under Liu Bian, is considered a second‑tier figure.

Moreover, he is the kind who ranks relatively lower.

"Lord Xun Yu, I have no such intention; it's just that for a moment I find it hard to accept this explosive news."

"I ask Lord Xun Yu and all the esteemed gentlemen not to blame me for my indiscretion!"

Seeing Xun Yu's displeased expression, Hua Xin hurriedly and anxiously explained:

"Wen Ruo, since Hua Xin's action was unintentional, let it be!"

"Please read the details of the battle report to the fellow officials, so they won't speculate wildly!"

At this moment, Yuan Kui, serving as Grand Tutor, stepped forward to act as a mediator and comforted Xun Yu:

"Hua Xin could make a big or small deal of this, and since he is a disciple of Yuan Kui, he would certainly find a way to excuse him with a couple of sentences."

"Moreover, it's not a big matter; even when reported to His Majesty, it's a harmless affair."

"Lord Yuan is absolutely right, Wen Ruo, let this matter be settled; Hua Xin was just overly excited for a moment!"

"Exactly, let's not quarrel with Hua Xin over this; we should first read the battle report!"

"Indeed, indeed!"

As Yuan Kui's words fell, Grand Commandant Yang Biao, Master of Ceremonies Wang Yun, and others also addressed Xun Yu.

"Since all the esteemed gentlemen have spoken, I cannot be the villain; let this matter be dropped!"

"Lord Hua Xin, please think thrice before speaking in the future!"

Seeing the crowd plead on Hua Xin's behalf, Xun Yu immediately let it be.

He only gave Hua Xin a brief warning.

Upon hearing this, Hua Xin was overjoyed and hurriedly thanked the crowd.

"Thank you, Lord Xun Yu; I also thank all the esteemed gentlemen!"

The crowd, after hearing his words, simply gave him a friendly smile.

Then Xun Yu continued:

"Then let me read the battle report that His Majesty sent to the esteemed gentlemen!"

The crowd, after hearing, all clasped their fists in salute to him:

"Much obliged, Lord Xun!"

Xun Yu, upon hearing this, gave a slight nod to the crowd, opened the battle report in his hand, and began reading it aloud.

"I, Jia Xu, by His Majesty's command, shall report the state of our army to the esteemed gentlemen."

Indeed, this battle report was personally written by Jia Xu under Liu Bian's orders and delivered to Luoyang by the Dark Guard.

"In this Liangzhou campaign, our army deployed the Liangzhou Corps, fifty thousand soldiers, and the Xiyuan Eight Captains, twenty thousand soldiers, totaling seventy thousand troops."

"It lasted forty‑six days, and with the help of Governor Ma Teng of Wu Wei, we successfully captured the four commanderies formerly held by Dong Zhuo."

"In Jincheng Commandery, Han Sui raised forty thousand troops and covertly colluded with the Qiang, including Che Liji, forming a rebel force of sixty thousand."

"Fortunately, the Dark Guard intercepted the information; General Ma Teng set an ambush and annihilated the Qiang tribe led by E He, twenty thousand strong, and in this battle slayed Han Sui's son‑in‑law Yan Xing."

"Moreover, Han Sui was later captured alive by Ma Teng's forces in the subsequent war."

"At the same time, because Che Liji of the Qiang dared to send troops to aid Han Sui and covet our Han lands, His Majesty was enraged and dispatched Ma Teng, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and others to cleanse the Liangzhou Qiang completely."

"Now the Qiang Great King of Liangzhou, Che Liji, and the Qiang leaders and armies have been almost entirely slain."

"And over a hundred thousand Qiang civilians, His Majesty, unwilling to cause further slaughter, demoted them to slaves; after ten years of labor for the Han Empire, they may be converted into Third‑Class Citizens of the Han Empire."

……

"That concludes the entire course of this war; His Majesty will soon return the army to the capital."

"I urge the esteemed gentlemen of the Court to make preparations early."

As Xun Yu's stirring voice fell, the entire Grand Hall fell silent.

Xun Yu looked around, and saw the crowd with mouths slightly agape in shock, their expressions full of amazement.

"Esteemed gentlemen!"

Seeing the crowd immersed in awe, Xun Yu couldn't help but speak out:

"Hahaha, truly Heaven blesses the Han, His Majesty is mighty!"

Xun Yu's shout awakened the stunned officials.

Seeing Tian Feng regain his senses, he immediately knelt down and shouted excitedly at the top of his voice.

"Hahaha, truly Heaven blesses the Han, His Majesty is mighty!"

"Your Majesty is mighty!"

Tian Feng's shout directly ignited the officials' emotions, and they all excitedly followed with loud cries.

After the crowd cheered for a while, Wang Yun trembled and majestically came before the officials and said excitedly:

"Colleagues, please hear an old man's words!"

When the officials saw that it was Master of Ceremonies Wang Yun speaking, they all fell silent.

After falling silent, the officials respectfully said to Wang Yun:

"Master of Ceremonies, please speak!"

Seeing the officials' attitude, Wang Yun smiled with satisfaction.

To be honest, since Liu Bian took power, his days have also been glorious.

Especially earlier, Liu Bian ordered him to forge the Three Treasures of the Horse and to handle Sweet Potato cultivation in the Sili region.

Back then, using the Marrow Cleansing Pill that Liu Bian had granted him, he entered the Literary Dao Tongsheng First Heaven in one step.

But it let him swagger for a long time.

Even now, Yuan Kui, Yang Biao, and the other Old Ministers, when they look at him, still occasionally show envy in their eyes.

"Colleagues, Your Majesty has achieved such a great victory; we ought to proclaim it widely."

"First, so that the Han Dynasty's people can also rejoice."

"Second, it can let the Tian Xia Marquis know the authority of our Imperial Court."

"I wonder what the esteemed gentlemen think of the old man's proposal?"

After Wang Yun finished speaking, he looked at the officials with a smiling face.

"Master of Ceremonies, what you said is indeed correct; I concur!"

Regarding Wang Yun's proposal, Xun Yu was the first to voice agreement.

After all, having achieved such a great victory, we must certainly proclaim it properly.

Those who can stand here all have some talent, and they clearly understand the benefits involved.

Therefore, regarding Wang Yun's proposal, they have no reason to refuse, and they all shouted in unison:

"Master of Ceremonies, what you said is indeed correct; we also concur!"