Jianing 45th Year, July 10th, the battle report reached the Capital.
State Preceptor Li Xuanzhen led three million troops advancing east with the Eastern Mansion Army to crusade against the Shenmiao enemies, but the Royal Army was completely annihilated outside Lu'an City, State Preceptor Li Xuanzhen is missing, and Shenmiao enemies have occupied Eastern Capital Luo'an!
The court in Shengjing was weighed down by a heavy silence.
Sitting on the Imperial Throne, Emperor Chengtian Dongfang Xinghe tightly grasped the battle report in his hand, his expression grim, veins standing out in anger.
My three million troops... gone?
Those weren't three million pigs, how could they all disappear in just a few days?
And even the Eastern Mansion Army, second only to the Capital Camp... is gone too?
As an Emperor, Dongfang Xinghe naturally understood that Li Xuanzhen's main aim was not the Shenmiao Dynasty, but the person behind King Qin Dongfang Xinglan, yet the outco?
Did that person single-handedly slaughtered a million troops?
Is that possible?
Such a thing...
Dongfang Xinghe's thoughts suddenly halted; if the person behind King Qin truly was the Divine Emperor Tedi, it wouldn't be impossible to massacre this Emperor's million troops...
But Li Xuanzhen said the person was rely a martial artist stronger than a Martial God, how could it be Emperor Tedi?
If it truly was Emperor Tedi, would Li Xuanzhen dare to act?
But if it wasn't Emperor Tedi, how could that person single-handedly kill a million troops?
By the Shenmiao Dynasty?
Impossible!
Though the Shenmiao Dynasty claims a million, the troops that can march north are surely less than a million, how could they defeat Li Xuanzhen's nearly four million troops?
But if not this, how could a Martial God massacre several million troops?
Dongfang Xinghe felt his mind was a chaotic ss, as if it would explode; a kind of unprecedented despair gradually enveloped his heart.
At other tis, losing a few million troops would be just that, but under the current circumstances, without these few million troops, how could he defend against King Qin occupying half the territories, how to expel the Shenmiao Dynasty from Eastern Capital Luo'an?
Especially since he had previously refused King Qin Dongfang Xinglan's proposal to join forces against the enemy...
Now with a million troops utterly annihilated, setting aside how this might drastically affect his reputation among the populace, at this court today, fear arises there will erge many dissenting ministers.
Thinking of these, Dongfang Xinghe's body couldn't help but tremble slightly uncontrollably, for he didn't believe his sister, after capturing Shengjing, would leave him a way out...
Upon this thought, resentnt toward Li Xuanzhen uncontrollably surfaced in Dongfang Xinghe's eyes, anger at his past confidences claiming certain victory, now leading to this?
Though he is missing, such a ss must be cleaned by himself, moreover... it cannot be cleaned!
Dongfang Xinghe took a deep breath; why isn't there a Divine Envoy helping him?
"Zhong Aiqing." Suppressing the panic within, Dongfang Xinghe looked at the Vice Chief of the Cabinet Zhong Wenhan, his tone much gentler than usual: "Given the current disarray of the court, does Aiqing have any good strategies?"
After a pause, his gaze swept across the hundreds of officials: "Do any other Aiqing have good strategies?"
Silence ensued.
Those who learned of the eastern line's outco all felt despair, many harbored considerable displeasure towards Emperor Chengtian.
At first, You Majesty said the State Preceptor led one million troops eastward, but not that he led three million, plus tens of thousands from the Eastern Mansion Army... nearly four million elite troops disintegrating quickly, how to fight?
Especially since you with confidence refused King Qin's proposal to join forces against the enemy!
Good strategy?
Better make ands by humbling yourself at Shengjing's gates, welcoming King Qin to the throne.
But considering this possibility, they couldn't help but recall King Qin's reforms in the south.
King Qin targets not just money from aristocratic families, but lives... With King Qin invading, who among them, apart from a few incorruptible officials, could escape her purges?
But if they don't submit, seems they'd still face purges...
Cannot submit to the Shenmiao Dynasty, can they?
On the throne, Dongfang Xinghe watched the silent civil and military officials, his smile gradually freezing; tightening his grip on the Dragon Chair's arms, just as he was about to speak, Vice Chief of the Cabinet Ren Yunpeng stepped forward.
"Your Majesty, given the current situation, why not first abandon the defense lines along Longjiang's coast, and retract the battle lines..."
"Governor Ren," Zhong Wenhan gave Ren Yunpeng a sideways glance: "Are you suggesting letting the Qin Army march north?"
"Though King Qin is a rebel, she has the welfare of the nation at heart!" At this point, Ren Yunpeng also disregards Emperor Chengtian still seated on the throne, speaking bluntly: "If Minister Bai breaches the dyke, King Qin would have to expend considerable manpower and resources to handle the disaster and resettle refugees.
In this situation, if Emperor Yuanhua personally leads a western expedition, do you wish to repeat the past sha of relocating the capital?"
Ren Yunpeng's eyes were sharp: "Moreover, now that the Qin King has taken West Huang City, if relocating the capital, where would it go?"
"Your Majesty!" Ren Yunpeng again looked at Emperor Chengtian: "The Capital cannot be relocated, relocating the capital would undermine the state foundation, since King Qin originally proposed alliance against the enemies, it could be utilized to let King Qin's troops mount an eastern expedition against Shenmiao, thus not only can Luo'an be reclaid, it also further weakens King Qin's forces!
Emperor Yuanhua's defeat of Li Xuanzhen's million troops must have dealt considerable losses, though it might allow King Qin to occupy the eastern part of the Dynasty, it's better than Yuanhua's forces advancing on the Capital!"
Dongfang Xinghe listened to Ren Yunpeng's words, nodding gently from ti to ti; he knew better that Li Xuanzhen wasn't defeated by the Shenmiao Dynasty, so Shenmiao Dynasty likely didn't suffer great losses, letting King Qin advance eastward indeed offers a way out.
At least, it buys him ti to train a new army.
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