Chapter 130: Public Opinion in the Capital

Jinling City.

Recently, news of Yan Wang defeating the Beidi people and capturing Kutu alive has been spreading like wildfire throughout the Imperial Court.

To the ministers in the court, the fact that Yan Wang defeated the Beidi people is still somewhat believable.

But they dare not believe that Yan Wang captured Kutu alive.

After arguing for several days, they decided to have Yan Wang send Kutu to Jingshi.

More than a decade ago, the relationship between the Great Song and the Beidi was not as hostile as it is today.

Kutu once came to Jingshi to pay tribute as a Beidi envoy.

Therefore, the ministers in the court vaguely remember Kutu's appearance.

If the person Yan Wang captured is truly Kutu, they would naturally have nothing to say.

Of course.

Many court officials had actually confirmed the fact that Yan Wang captured Kutu through various channels.

It is just that a lowly Yan Wang, an unfavored Imperial Prince, makes them, or those behind them, feel uneasy.

At a time when Yan Wang has achieved great merit and received rewards, they always want to find some trouble for him.

At the same time, while they feel excited about this matter, they also feel exceptionally fearful.

Kutu is not an ordinary Beidi person, nor is he an average wolf-warrior.

Back then, the Beidi Khan ordered a city to be slaughtered because of the death of a few wolf-warriors.

They dare not imagine what kind of reaction the Beidi Khan will have now that the Great Song has captured Kutu.

Based on these two considerations, they advised Zhao Heng to immediately have Kutu and the two Beidi wolf-warriors escorted to Jinling.

Nan Shufang.

Dou Wei stood below the steps, and Zhao Heng was reading a memorial.

"Your Majesty, Mo Di violated the imperial decree and sent troops to Yan Commandery without authorization; this is simply disregarding the imperial decree. Your subject believes he should be stripped of his position as the Yanguan garrison general, and a new general should be chosen to replace him," Dou Wei said.

Last time Mo Di went to Yan Commandery privately, it provoked much criticism from the entire court.

After the Yuan Family's memorial was submitted, he immediately impeached Mo Di, but it was suppressed by Zhao Heng.

Now that Mo Di has committed a major taboo, he naturally cannot let go of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

However, he is not doing this for the Yuan Family.

Rather, it is to add a boost to his nephew, the Third Prince.

If he could have his own people guard Yanguan, the Third Prince's influence in the court would be greatly enhanced.

The position of Crown Prince would then not be far from him.

Zhao Heng frowned and threw down the memorial in his hand.

This was the memorial submitted by Yuan Li, which spoke of Mo Di's unauthorized deployment of troops this time.

"I am already aware of this matter." Zhao Heng picked up another memorial.

Since the news of Yan Wang's great victory reached Jingshi, the court has become clamorous.

Some say Yan Wang falsified his merits, some say Yan Wang capturing Kutu is just a fabrication, and others say Yan Wang deliberately provoked the Beidi people, angering them into invading the south.

And besides Yan Wang, the one who received the most criticism was Mo Di.

The memorials impeaching him flew toward his study like snowflakes.

As for these ministers submitting memorials, he naturally understood their purpose.

It was nothing more than wanting to replace the Yanguan garrison general with their own people.

It is just that although he is lazy regarding court affairs, he is not stupid.

To hand over this top-tier strategic pass of the world to someone not under his own control,

would he still be able to sleep?

Therefore, he secretly had a trusted minister submit a memorial, pushing all the blame onto Mo Di's son, Mo Yu.

"This memorial states that the matter of leading troops to Yan Commandery was entirely an impulsive act by Mo Yu. I have already sent people to Yanguan; if it is true, I will immediately strip Mo Yu of his position. If it was Mo Di's doing, we shall consider it then," Zhao Heng said.

Upon hearing this, Dou Wei was slightly disappointed.

That old fox Mo Di is too cunning.

He likely already anticipated that he would be attacked by the court today when he let Mo Yu go to Yan Commandery.

"Your Majesty, Xie Kuan has returned." Just then, Liang Cheng's voice sounded outside the door.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Heng stood up immediately, his voice trembling slightly, "Have Kutu and the two Beidi wolf-warriors been brought here?"

"Yes, Your Majesty, and Yan Wang even specially dispatched one thousand Cavalry to escort them," Liang Cheng said.

Seeing Zhao Heng so excited, Dou Wei bowed and said, "Congratulations, Your Majesty. This time Yan Wang has captured the Beidi Nine Kings; it truly boosts our national prestige."

Zhao Heng laughed heartily. Since the loss of the Ningjin Dusi, there have been few things in these years that could make him happy.

"My dear minister, accompany me to see if it is indeed that Kutu from back then." Zhao Heng strode out of the study.

Remembering something, he said to Liang Cheng, "You go now and notify the nobles and ministers."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Liang Cheng went off happily.

At this time.

Xie Kuan and Chen Hu were waiting outside the Meridian Gate.

The Yan Commandery Cavalry in Silver Armor formed a sharp contrast with the Imperial Guards in red military uniforms and black Armor.

Many Jingshi commoners pointed at the Yan Commandery Cavalry.

"Chen, how does Jingshi compare to Yancheng?" Xie Kuan looked at Chen Hu, with a hint of showing off to a country bumpkin.

Throughout the journey, this Chen was reticent and rarely spoke to him.

This made him, accustomed to flattery, slightly displeased.

"It is naturally more prosperous than Yan Commandery," Chen Hu said.

He had to admit this point; the north-south avenues of the Capital City were a hundred meters wide, several times those of Yan Commandery.

Even on such wide streets, the flow of people was like a river, with a constant stream of carriages and horses.

Moreover, not a single pedestrian on the street wore hempen clothes; the lowest quality was cotton cloth, which was indeed far more affluent compared to the households in Yan Commandery that did not even have trousers.

"Hahaha..." Xie Kuan laughed complacently, "Although the Capital City is wealthy, in the region of Jiangnan, such affluent cities are scattered like stars."

Then his eyes flickered, "That impoverished Yan Commandery has nothing worth lingering over. If Chen is willing, I can recommend Chen to remain in the Capital City as an official or a general from now on, how about it?"

Chen Hu's gaze suddenly turned sharp, "A son does not despise his mother for being ugly, and a dog does not despise its home for being poor. Chen Hu is dull, but I understand this principle. If everyone in Yan Commandery were greedy for wealth and forgot the duty of defending the land, how could there be today's great victory?"

Xie Kuan was rendered speechless by Chen Hu, gave a dry laugh, and said nothing more.

At this moment, a royal carriage was seen coming out from the city gate.

Xie Kuan immediately dismounted and knelt on one knee; this was the Emperor arriving.

Chen Hu grew up in Yan Commandery and had never seen such a spectacle, but seeing Xie Kuan act this way, he knew it was likely the Emperor who had come.

He also dismounted and led the Cavalry to kneel on one knee.

The royal carriage stopped in front of the two, and Zhao Heng stepped down with the support of Liang Cheng.

"Long live, long live, long, long live our Emperor," Xie Kuan shouted aloud.

"Rise," Zhao Heng waved his hand and cast his gaze toward Chen Hu.

These Cavalry were each wearing fine silver Armor, and the soldiers were all robust; such momentum did not lose to his Imperial Guards.

He thought to himself, if all of Yan Wang's soldiers were like this, it was no wonder they could defeat the Northern Di.

Dou Wei was attending by the side of the royal carriage, and he was even more surprised than Zhao Heng.

He had once gone to the border to supervise the battle and was familiar with military affairs.

The layman watches the excitement, while the expert watches the technique.

Zhao Heng saw the fine Armor, but what he saw was the craftsmanship of the Armor.

In the current Ministry of Armaments of the Great Song, there was no one who could make the plates of the Scale Armor with such uniform thickness.

And for Yan Wang to be able to produce such superior Armor in that bitter, cold place was truly astonishing.