The Empress's No.1 Lackey

Chapter 995 - 561: Reporting to Your Majesty, Commander Zhao Captures Yongjia Prefecture City Without a Single Casualty

The misunderstanding between the two sides was resolved, and the surrender followed naturally.

After hearing this nearly "fairytale" story, the entire court of officials was left dumbfounded.

Just like that? They weren’t fools, so they quickly understood that this explanation surely left out many details.

However...

It wasn’t important.

What was important was that Chaos Suppression Grand Commander Zhao Douan had successfully occupied Yongjia City and won over the great general Zhao Shixiong.

This would undoubtedly turn the tide of the entire Huai River region, and even the whole Yu Country!

Incredible!

The Deputy Secretariat Envoy of the Privy Council sat in stunned silence, his eyes full of disbelief.

The Minister of War dropped his cup, letting the splashed tea soak his official robes, muttering continuously, "How did he do it... how did he do it..."

Yuann Li’s handsome face was also slightly dazed, his deep gaze studying the White-faced Arresting Officer.

Sun Lianying and Ma Yan both stared intently at the disguised Zhao Douan, suppressing the urge to pull him back for a thorough inquiry!

And the rest of the civil servants were equally overwhelmed by this huge surprise:

"Hahaha... Heaven bless Yu Country, Heaven bless Your Majesty!" The Minister of Rites laughed, stood up, and gestured exaggeratedly toward the Empress: "A great victory on the Western Front, the court’s crisis is resolved!"

The Minister of Personnel, seeing this, also reacted and jumped up, his face flushed with excitement: "Commander Zhao has conquered another city, achieving great merit; this is a joy for Your Majesty, a joy for Yu Country!"

The other ministers also gradually realized and loudly offered their congratulations.

The oppressive atmosphere was suddenly dissipated!

Zhao Shixiong revolted!

Anyone with a functioning brain could understand what this meant.

This was almost equivalent to neutralizing half of the Yunfu Rebel Army, and next, as long as Zhao Shixiong joined forces with the Five Army Camp to move south, it was highly likely that they would push Mu Prince Xu Jingtang back to Yunfu Road.

Reclaiming half of the Huai River under the control of the Yunfu Rebel Army!

How could the ministers not be joyful? How could they not be elated?

Only the ministers belonging to the military faction felt the most complicated emotions.

Especially recalling that not long ago, they were praising Xue Shence, subtly belittling Zhao Douan, attempting to elevate the status of the military faction.

But the slap came so quickly that they were caught completely off guard.

Xue Shence’s great victory on the Eastern Front, capturing three counties with emptied granaries, seemed impressive, but at significant cost.

Meanwhile, Zhao Douan quietly, without sacrificing a single soldier, turned the entire Huai River battle situation around.

The difference in scale was worlds apart.

"Haha, after today, let’s see who in the capital dares to say Junior Guardian Zhao isn’t up to Xue Shence?" An official from the Imperial Faction proudly puffed out his chest.

"Junior Guardian Zhao wasn’t wrong; he indeed isn’t adept at commanding and fighting, but what he didn’t say is... victory isn’t only won on the battlefield..."

Someone sighed.

Even on the rare brilliant visage of Xu Zhenguan, a flush of joy surged, a result of joy, as she struggled to suppress her wildly curling mouth, striving to appear composed, she gestured with her hand: "On this festive day, Mr. Zhao has shown great consideration."

She added, "Return to the palace, all of you should follow me back to the palace for a council meeting!"

With such a significant event occurring, how could they have the heart to appreciate the scenery? The court would certainly need to make a series of corresponding adjustments next.

All the ministers gathered their emotions, stood up, and followed.

"White-faced Arresting Officer, come to the palace later, I have details to ask you," Xu Zhenguan turned her head and said to the White-faced Arresting Officer.

Zhao Douan understood the implications, the details of the defection would surely reach Zhenbao’s ears.

He lowered his gaze and cupped his hands: "As you command."

...

...

Midway up the mountain.

The climax of the Literary Society among the pavilions finally concluded, with Zhao Douan’s "Farewell to Dong Da" garnering the most attention during the Golden Autumn Gathering.

The evaluations by scholars like Han Zhou quickly spread this poem among the crowd.

Yet, amid the grudging admiration of the literary brilliance of Zhao Douan among these scholars, some noticed changes on the mountaintop:

"Look, what is happening on the Gancao Platform? Why is the Empress and the ministers hastily descending the mountain?"

Countless eyes looked over.

Suddenly someone said, "I saw it, the White-faced Arresting Officer just left for Gancao Platform. He mentioned bringing back military news from Junior Guardian Zhao, so he must be reporting to the Holy Emperor. Could there be news from the front lines?"

Upon hearing this, the crowd couldn’t sit still. The news from the front lines concerned everyone’s safety.

Han Zhou’s expression changed slightly, even his beloved "Farewell to Dong Da" lost its appeal, so he hurriedly handed the poem to Mr. Dong and quickly made his way toward the ministers to gather news.

Mr. Dong finally retrieved his poem from these scholars’ hands, carefully folding it and tucking it into his sleeve.

In the crowd, Haitang and Zhang Han unexpectedly emerged and asked Jinyi members like Qian Kerou, "Has anything significant happened at the front?"

The young secretaries were equally confused, shaking their heads in unison, "My lord... we don’t know."

What use are you then... Haitang pursed her lips and followed the crowd, trailing behind Han Zhou and the other scholars, wanting to find out the truth.

In a moment.

The news of Zhao Shixiong’s surrender spread like wildfire through the crowd.

Those who heard the news were overjoyed.

Only the group that had recently driven opinions, exalting Xue Shence and disparaging Zhao Douan, collectively fell silent.

It was as if they had been slapped from a distance, their cheeks burning with pain.

Chen Siye stood in the crowd, muttering, "How could it be... he’s just a martial artist, it’s one thing for his poetry to be so remarkable, but how did he also take Yongjia?"

Beside him, the Chief Steward of the Privy Council looked even more dejected: "How could the Secretariat Envoy be outdone by him? Why is that Zhao fellow so lucky..."

Indeed, many could only resentfully think that Zhao Douan’s success was sheer outrageous luck, with Zhao Shixiong willingly defecting into his arms.