Chapter 639
Chapter 639
Nangong Ao was extremely anxious. Though he was loyal to the King, a victory in this war would inevitably send the Crown Prince’s faction soaring to its zenith. While one couldn't say the King was a setting sun, he was already over fifty years old. In contrast, the Crown Prince was like the rising morning sun. Furthermore, the greatest problem was that the Nangong family had a fatal weakness that the Zhu Clan held over them.
General Zhu Lin continued.
“Lord Emissary, the war in the Southern Ou Nation has entered a new phase. I believe that at a time like this, having His Highness the Crown Prince come to preside in person would boost the soldiers’ morale and inspire the people. This old man has fought battle after battle, and my body and mind are exhausted. I cannot hold on any longer. I fear I can no longer take on the duty of defending the Southern Ou capital. Why don't you, the Marquis of Zhenbei, take on that responsibility as well?”
Zhu Lin’s words were incredibly blunt.
‘Lord Nangong Ao, are you displeased with the idea of His Highness the Crown Prince coming to the Southern Ou Nation to oversee the entire campaign? Are you worried he will steal your merits? If so, shall we give all the credit to you?’
Upon hearing this, Nangong Ao, perhaps feeling he had no path of retreat left, immediately stood and said, “What are you saying, General Zhu? You both have a point. At such a crucial time, we cannot afford to be complacent. We must endure this hardship to ensure the complete annihilation of the Kun army’s main force. At a time like this, it would be best for His Highness the Crown Prince to command the army. I, too, agree!”
General Zhu Lin laughed heartily.
“As expected of the Marquis of Zhenbei, a true pillar of the nation. Then, how about the three of us jointly submit a memorial to His Majesty the King?”
How could Nangong Ao refuse in this situation? Soon, the three of them jointly drafted a memorial. They reported the situation to the King and simultaneously requested that the Crown Prince be dispatched to command the entire campaign and ensure the annihilation of the Kun army.
* * *
Was it perhaps due to excessive stress? The King’s symptoms of Parkinson's syndrome had become slightly more pronounced recently. When his hands were empty, he couldn't stop them from trembling. To hide it, he always had to be holding something. He had been extremely anxious lately. The war in the Southern Ou Nation had been raging for a month, and for the first two weeks especially, only bad news had arrived. Like Zhu Rong, Ning Yuanxian had been startled multiple times a day, overcome with a deep sense of doubt about himself and the State of Yue.
‘Is the Kun army truly that formidable? With a mere hundred thousand men, they nearly captured the capital of the Southern Ou Nation?’
One report, in particular, had stated that the western wall of the Southern Ou capital had nearly fallen. Reading that dispatch, Ning Yuanxian had felt his entire body turn to ice. He knew with absolute clarity that the Southern Ou capital was the most crucial stronghold on the battlefield; its fall would mean defeat in the war. Fortunately, Zhu Lin and Nangong Ao had managed to hold it.
After that came a long period of waiting. All forms of entertainment were banned, not just in the capital but within the palace as well. The Queen Dowager ate only two meals of porridge a day and spent all her time in the Buddhist hall, praying for victory on the front lines. All eunuchs and court ladies had to walk without making the slightest sound; to disturb the royals could cost them their lives. The entire palace and capital were in a state of extreme suppression, yet beneath the surface, rumors grew more intense, impossible to completely stamp out no matter the crackdown. Everyone knew that if the war in the Southern Ou Nation was lost, the King of Chu’s two hundred eighty thousand-strong army would descend upon Tianxi Province like a mad horde. That would spell a truly fatal disaster for the State of Yue.
Ning Yuanxian missed Shen Lang terribly; not a day went by that he didn't think of his return. The thought became even more acute whenever he saw Ning Zheng's outstanding capabilities. Nevertheless, he desperately wanted to win this war. He knew that a victory in the Southern Ou Nation meant Shen Lang’s path of return would be thoroughly cut off, but he was the monarch of the State of Yue. The fate of Yue was more important than Shen Lang’s return.
‘Shen Lang, that damnable rascal, how much fun must he be having in Xuanwu City? Heavens, oh gods and spirits, protect us. Please let the State of Yue overcome this calamity and achieve victory on the Southern Ou battlefield!’
Consort Bian doted on Ning Zheng. She too understood deeply that a victory would solidify the Crown Prince’s position, making Ning Zheng’s hopes of becoming the successor all but impossible. But considering the position of her husband, Ning Yuanxian, she too yearned for victory.
“Oh spirits, please protect us! Let us be victorious in the war with the Southern Ou Nation…”
The Queen Dowager’s prayers echoed from a corner of the Buddhist hall, yet her voice seemed to resound throughout the entire palace. Just then, a group of elite warriors galloped northward at a frantic pace.
“Urgent dispatch, urgent dispatch! A great victory on the Southern Ou battlefield!”
The chiliarch of the Xuanwu Gate guard in the capital was Nan Yi. Gao Duhuan had already been promoted to commander of the Imperial Guard, and all ten Nan brothers had been promoted from centurions to chiliarchs. Hearing the messenger’s cry, Nan Yi’s heart trembled, but for a moment, he couldn't tell if he was happy or sad. His fate was already firmly tied to Ning Zheng, and a victory in the Southern Ou Nation meant the path to the throne for Ning Zheng would become bleak.
“Urgent dispatch. A complete victory on the Southern Ou battlefield!”
Watching the column of cavalry messengers draw closer, Nan Yi roared, “Open the gate, open the gate!”
The Xuanwu Gate slowly creaked open, and the cavalry charged through, beginning to shout at the top of their lungs.
“A victory report, a victory report! Our State of Yue has won a great victory on the Southern Ou battlefield!”
“A victory report, a victory report!”
Normally, they were not supposed to shout so openly. The messengers were to ride to the palace at top speed, report the victory to King Ning Yuanxian first, and only then would it be announced to the world. However, driven by a peculiar impulse, the messengers shouted madly all the way to the palace. Everywhere they passed, the news of a complete victory on the Southern Ou battlefield began to spread. In an instant, the entire capital erupted. The city, which had been suppressed into silence for months, was plunged into a sea of joy. Countless citizens rushed out of their homes, celebrating wildly and desperately.
“The State of Yue has won a complete victory! A complete victory! Long live His Majesty, long live!”
Ordinarily, the city guard should have maintained order and sent these people home. According to wartime regulations, any gathering of more than thirty people without the approval of the Admiralty was illegal. But seeing the deliriously happy crowd, the guards made no move to restrain them.
* * *
“Your Majesty, joyous news!”
One after another, the inner gates of the palace swung open, and the messenger cavalry galloped straight into the grand hall, completely unimpeded.
“Reporting to Your Majesty. We have achieved a complete victory in quelling the rebellion in the Southern Ou Nation! The Kun army’s hundred thousand-strong force has hastily retreated with fewer than forty thousand men remaining.”
The court session had been proceeding in a stifling atmosphere. When the messenger burst in and announced the victory, the officials were momentarily stunned into a daze before erupting in wild joy.
‘Has the news of victory finally arrived?’
The Crown Prince’s heart surged.
‘This day has finally come!’
Chancellor Zhu Hongzhu’s face instantly flushed red, his breathing becoming ragged.
‘It was not easy to get here. The Zhu Clan poured immense resources into securing this hard-won victory. We paid with vast sums of money and political capital, but it was all worth it!’
Crown Prince Ning Yi immediately fell to his knees and exclaimed, “Father, congratulations!”
Zhu Hongzhu also knelt and said, “Your Majesty, congratulations!”
Soon, all the officials in the grand hall knelt in unison and cried out, “Your Majesty, congratulations!”
Though their words were for His Majesty, in their hearts they were shouting, ‘Your Highness the Crown Prince, congratulations!’ A great victory on the Southern Ou battlefield meant the Crown Prince’s position was now unshakeable.
Upon hearing the news, King Ning Yuanxian was overjoyed, even ecstatic.
‘We won? We actually won? It’s good that we won, very good!’
His gaze then shifted to the Crown Prince. For a fleeting moment, an expression of utter arrogance flashed in the Crown Prince's eyes before he quickly concealed it. But Ning Yuanxian had seen it.
‘This victory is mine, but the greatest beneficiary is indeed the Crown Prince.’
For the past few months, he had been propping up the Third Prince, Ning Zheng, while suppressing the Crown Prince. And now, was the Crown Prince finally free to spread his wings? Ning Yuanxian couldn't help but glance at Ning Zheng. He had once been short and plump, but now he was gaunt. He had truly poured his heart and soul into this war, enduring humiliation for the greater good and sharing the burdens of the state and its monarch. He had never once uttered a word of complaint about the hardship.
‘A good son. What a pity.’
But winning this war was better than losing. King Ning Yuanxian composed himself and laughed heartily.
“All of you, rise! This wonderful news must be reported to the Queen Dowager immediately and proclaimed to the world, so that we may share this joy with the people. Zhu Lin, Ning Luo, Nangong Ao, Zhu Rong—you have all worked hard!”
The officials bowed once more in celebration.
“Your Majesty, congratulations!”
Then, the leader of the messengers reported, “Your Majesty, Princess Ning Luo, General Zhu Lin, and General Nangong Ao have submitted a joint memorial!”
King Ning Yuanxian’s eyes narrowed.
‘So, it has come. They truly don’t let up for a moment.’
But Ning Yuanxian still sounded pleased as he said, “Present it. Quickly!”
The warrior presented the memorial to the Grand Eunuch, Li Zhun. After inspecting it, Li Zhun presented it to the King. Ning Yuanxian opened the memorial. In truth, he already knew what it would say. It would be a request for the Crown Prince to be stationed on the Southern Ou battlefield, allowing him to reap the greatest fruits of victory. Ning Yuanxian said with a smile,
“Zhu Lin, Ning Luo, and Nangong Ao have written a joint memorial. They say the situation in the Southern Ou Nation has entered a new phase, transitioning from defense to offense. They say they must endure the hardship one more time to decisively eliminate the main forces of the Kun army and ensure lasting peace for the Southern Ou Nation. Therefore, they must now wage a campaign of encirclement and annihilation. Bring the map!”
Several eunuchs brought a large map and hung it on the wall. Ning Yuanxian continued, “The forty thousand remnants of the Kun army have retreated to Blackwater Stronghold. This place has been abandoned for twenty years and lies in the westernmost territory of the Southern Ou Nation. They wish to launch a major annihilation and encirclement campaign to thoroughly crush the Kun army and the Great Southern Kingdom he established! These three have requested that the Crown Prince be stationed in the Southern Ou Nation to command the war and the deployment of supplies. What are your opinions, ministers? Ning Yi, do you wish to go?”
Crown Prince Ning Yi replied, “I wish to share my father’s burdens. I would not shrink from boiling water or burning fire!”
* * *
Being closer to the battlefield, Shen Lang had received the news of the victory in the Southern Ou Nation even before the King. He couldn't help but be impressed. The Kun army was truly formidable. It was true that he had nearly taken the Southern Ou capital at first. At that time, he had genuinely given his all to capture it. But when it became clear he could not breach the city, he immediately abandoned the idea and executed his original strategy: luring the snake out of its cave. The plan was exceedingly simple, but to pull it off, Kun had to pay an enormous price and act his part to the absolute limit. No, it couldn't even be called acting; he had used himself as bait, staging a drama of life and death.