It has been a long time since the soldiers who rushed to report the news shouted and swaggered like this.
According to the rules, great victory must be reported along the way.
It's just that there is nothing good to report in the period before and after.
In fact, this is not a great victory strictly speaking, but it is enough to be called a great victory for any officers and soldiers of the Zhou Dynasty after they penetrated deep into the Jin people's territory and still led their troops back without dying.
The street was in a state of excitement because of the news. Princess Jiuli, who was in her high-walled house, put down her needlework and listened attentively.
"What's going on outside?" she asked.
The princess likes to ask outside questions more and more.
But how do they know what's going on outside? The girls and servants lowered their heads.
"I'll ask you," a servant said. Just as she was about to walk out, Lu Yunqi walked in.
"Outside, report the victory." He replied directly.
The girls and servants bowed their heads and retreated, while Princess Jiuli looked happy.
"Good news?" she asked.
"Duke Cheng Guo is not dead." Lu Yunqi said.
He got the news earlier than the anxious soldiers, just when Cheng Guogong and others entered Dingzhou.
Naturally, he immediately reported the news to the emperor.
The emperor couldn't tell how he felt after hearing this.
"Should I be happy or unhappy?" he said.
He seemed to be talking to himself.
There was not even a eunuch in the room, only Lu Yunqi.
"Why isn't he dead?" The emperor looked at Lu Yunqi and frowned.
Obviously this news did not make him happy.
His expression was gloomy, and he did not hide his anxiety. He did not have the gentle and kind face that the ministers were familiar with.
The emperor in front of Lu Yunqi was different from the emperor in front of his courtiers.
"Because His Majesty hasn't let him die yet." Lu Yunqi replied.
The emperor looked at him and laughed.
"That's right." He said, "He can't die before I let him die."
After that, the eunuch's shrill joyful voice came from outside.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, I am so happy."
The emperor waved his hand to Lu Yunqi, who lowered his head and stepped back, watching the palace open wide and the eunuch rushing in holding a report.
"… Duke Cheng Guo returned alive."
“….We have arrived in Dingzhou…”
The emperor made a joyful inquiry and hurriedly ordered to summon the ministers.
The ministers in the official office came upon hearing the summons, and the palace became even noisier.
"...We lost thousands of troops! This is the crime of greed for war!"
"...You can't say that. The Jin people are so powerful that there is nothing they can do if they lose their troops..."
"..That's all Duke Cheng's fault. It's not easy to raise troops and easy to wear out. His Majesty asked him to avoid fighting again and again, but he refused to listen..."
Listening to the indignation of the officials, the emperor looked a little happy and agitated.
"No matter what, it's good for people to live." He said.
"Your Majesty is so kind." A minister immediately said, "It is because your Majesty is so kind that Duke Cheng becomes more and more confident."
"Okay, stop arguing." The emperor patted Long An, "Since everything is fine, the most important thing now is to deal with the aftermath."
"Yes, let's wait until Duke Cheng comes back to talk about anything." Huang Cheng, who had been silent, also said.
When it comes to dealing with the aftermath, there is a lot to do with rewards and punishments, and the officials in the hall once again expressed their opinions.
Lu Yunqi had already exited the palace, signaled the eunuch to close the palace door to isolate the noise, turned and walked away.
Naturally, he would not tell Princess Jiuli these things. Instead, he only heard Lu Yunqi say that Duke Cheng was still alive, and a smile appeared on Princess Jiuli's face.
"Good people should live long," she said.
"Actually, it's all the same." Lu Yunqi said, "Sooner or later, you will die."
"Although you will die sooner or later, death and death can be different." Princess Jiuli said.
"It's nothing different." Lu Yunqi said calmly.
Princess Jiuli did not argue anymore, lowered her head and continued sewing.
Lu Yunqi did not turn around and leave, but stood there and looked at the flower she was embroidering that seemed to be endless.
"The princess doesn't ask for news about Miss Jun?" he said.
Princess Jiuli stopped sewing and smiled.
"No news is good news," she said.
……………………….
But for many people, the news about Duke Cheng is really great news.
When it was rumored that Duke Cheng had died in battle, the people in the south were panicked and cried, while the people in the north were sad and cried loudly.
After losing Duke Cheng, the whole Northland was in a state of gloom and gloom. There was even a group of officers and soldiers at the border of Xiongzhou who fled without fighting when they encountered the Jin soldiers.
The officers and soldiers all fled, and the people even decided to drag their families and head south.
Of course, Mrs. Cheng Guogong did not leave, and she was not as sad as everyone imagined. Her expression was indifferent, and it seemed that she had not heard the news of the death of Duke Cheng Guo at all.
"There's nothing sad about death." She said to the little girl beside her, "Everyone will die, it's not a big deal."
But no one wants to die, the little girl thought to herself.
"That's not necessarily true. Some people are really willing to die." Mrs. Yu said with a smile.
The news came at this time, and Liang Chengdong rushed in and his excited voice changed its tone.
"It is absolutely true that we have arrived in Dingzhou," he said.
Ever since Miss Jun led the army back to Hejian Mansion without seeing them, everyone became suspicious and sent people to inquire about it. They said that there was no trace of Miss Jun and others in Bazhou. Everyone guessed this.
But I still can't believe it, it's so shocking.
Although everyone was surprised when Cheng Guogong led his army to invade the Jin people's territory, they thought it was acceptable. After all, it was Cheng Guogong, but a woman also ran away with the Shun'an army. Is this simply... a death wish?
I didn't expect that she actually did it.
Mrs. Yu's expression was complicated, she seemed excited and sad, she spoke a thousand words but finally just sighed.
"This child," she said.
"Are we rushing to Dingzhou now?" Liang Chengdong asked excitedly, "The prince should have already gone."
Pacing back and forth again.
"I don't know how injured the Duke is."
Mrs. Yu smiled.
"There's nothing to worry about," she said, "Miss Jun is here."
……………………………….
At this time, a large camp was stationed in Anyangkou, Tang County, Dingzhou, and soldiers and horses were constantly coming and going, but many people were stopped outside, including Dingzhou Bingbeidao and other civilian and military generals.
"Cheng Guozheng is recuperating from his injuries and cannot be disturbed." The guard stationed outside the camp said with a dull expression.
The officials in Bingbeidao were a little angry about this, but firstly there was Duke Cheng Guo inside, and secondly the troops in the camp looked particularly fierce, so they had to give up.
"Could it be that Duke Cheng Guo is not only seriously injured, but also dead?"
Officials discussed it privately in hushed tones.
Otherwise, why not see you?
"It is said that the wife of Prince Chengguo led the troops and rescued him."
"Really or not? I've never heard of Cheng Guo Gong's son getting married."
Although they were refused entry to the camp, these officials did not leave, but were waiting not far away. In addition to the officials and soldiers, there were also some ordinary-looking but extraordinary people mixed in among them.
"Your people." Lei Zhonglian withdrew his gaze and looked at Jin Shiba beside him.
Although the five Jin Yiba guards were more or less injured, their lives were not in danger. They were still wearing armor and looked no different from the soldiers around them.
When Jin Shiba heard this, he looked cold and ignored him.
"These people can't come in, so you'd better be honest and don't have any evil intentions." Lei Zhonglian said, "Otherwise, I'll lock you up for another half a year."
"What can I hide, and what can I hide?" Jin Shiba said coldly.
While they were talking here, there was another commotion outside the camp, as if someone was about to come in again.
"Oh, why can't I come in?"
A man's loud voice shouted.
"Don't you know who I am?"
Hearing this voice, Lei Zhonglian knew who it was without even looking at him, and he couldn't help but look a little excited.
"...I am the crown prince of Chengguo."
Since he was the eldest son of Duke Cheng, he would not be blocked. The officials who followed him looked at Zhu Zan and rushed in without stopping their horses.
"Where's my dad?"
"Where's my mother?"
"Where is my wife?"
"Where is the Crown Prince's wife?"
The loud sound immediately filled the quiet military camp, making the whole world seem to be heating up.
Following this shout, a tent opened and a woman came out.
"Who is looking for the Crown Prince's wife?" she asked loudly.
Zhu Zan saw it from the corner of his eye and immediately ran over.
The woman had her face covered, she was in her teens, and she was playing with a whip.
Is this the prince's wife? She is indeed a martial artist, and she only plays with weapons.
Zhu Zan's thoughts flashed through his mind, and the smile on his face grew wider.
"I," he said, "I am your husband..."
Before he finished speaking, he saw someone lift the curtain and come out.
She has a bright spring shirt and a graceful figure. She lowers her head slightly because she is about to leave the curtain. Her black hair is thick and there is a pearl flower on her head.
"Husband, you are here." She had already said.
So this is it...Zhu Zan curled his lips inwardly, feeling the peeping eyes from behind, and the expression on his face became even more intense.
"Mom..." he shouted loudly and got off his horse.
The woman raised her head and looked over, smiling slightly.
Seeing this smile, Zhu Zan felt weak.
"ah.."
The sound of "lady's son" turned into a cry of "ah", and the man fell off his horse with a thud.
Miss Jun pursed her lips and smiled.
"Husband, my mother is not here. She is on her way from Hejian Mansion." She looked at Zhu Zan in front of her with crooked eyes, "Don't worry, everything is fine with my mother-in-law."
Zhu Zan grabbed the reins and leaned on the horse with an expression as if he had seen a ghost.
"My mother." He blurted out again. (To be continued)