HLnovel Chapter 213 Threat
Chapter 213 Threat
"Young master, you're awake?"
Su Fuying stepped out of the tent. Outside, a dark mass of soldiers in black armor stood on a high platform, directing the drills. The soldier leader immediately jogged over to inquire.
"Do not bother me."
Just as the soldier was about to leave, Su Fuying asked again, "When will your master return?"
"The king goes to war, and will not return until he is victorious."
The soldier's eyes were resolute, and his voice was neither humble nor arrogant, which made Su Fuying's brow twitch. "Has any letter been sent back?"
"Not yet."
"Ready your horse."
Su Fuying frowned, a slight tightness gripping her heart.
As previously mentioned, Xiao Yuheng only had 30,000 Black Armor Guards left, and the number currently stationed here is estimated to be around 10,000.
Bei Li was now fully prepared for a powerful attack; the ten thousand men he had taken with him were likely...
"Yes."
The soldier commander bowed slightly in response, then turned and led Bai Hong over.
Ma'anshan.
A deafening sound of horses' hooves approached from afar, making the ground tremble slightly.
Shouts of battle rose from all sides, the entire wilderness filled with the ear-piercing sounds of clashing swords, the deafening roar mixed with screams of agony, and a heavy stench of blood permeated the air. The scene was desolate, the earth stained with blood.
Su Fuying stood on horseback, looking down at the battle situation in the valley below.
Soldiers from the Northern Li army poured into the entrances and exits at both ends of Ma'anshan, their voices rising incessantly.
The soldiers trapped inside, fighting fiercely, were dressed in the clothing of the Southern Xia Kingdom. Most of them were wounded and kept waving their aching arms as if unwilling to give up.
They formed a circle, and the character "Pei" could be faintly seen on the tattered flag.
One by one, the soldiers in front fell, and others rushed forward with swords raised behind them. The sounds of fighting and the clang of clashing weapons resounded through the heavens and the earth. Everywhere one looked was a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood, a sight that sent chills down one's spine.
Su Fuying couldn't help but tighten her grip on the reins. Suddenly, Bai Hong beneath her began pacing restlessly.
It also emitted a series of hisses. Su Fuying looked down at it in confusion. Bai Hong's body was facing the mountain in front of it, and its emotions became more agitated.
As if sensing something, Su Fuying looked in the direction it was pointing, and a tall horse slowly walked up the highest mountain peak.
The horse has a glossy coat and well-defined muscles, making it appear both strong and agile.
A tall and upright man sat on the horse.
His armor gleamed in the sunlight, the meticulously crafted plates tightly joined together, protecting every inch of his skin while showcasing the general's nobility and majesty.
The armor may also be engraved with family crests or symbols of victory, with every detail revealing the general's glory and achievements.
His hair was tied high at the back of his head, he wore a golden crown, and his helmet was placed in front of his chest. Behind him, a wide cloak fluttered in the wind, its fiery red color dancing in the wind like flames.
The man seemed to have seen her too, turned his head and looked straight at her. Their eyes met, and they were speechless for a moment.
Beijing.
"Your Majesty, the King of Gaoliang's actions are nothing short of a blatant and undisguised threat! We absolutely cannot grant him this unreasonable request!"
An old minister, his face full of anger and righteous indignation, said.
“That’s right, Your Majesty! The Eldest Princess is currently in the capital, and she is our greatest protection. If we were to so easily agree to the King of Gao Liang's demands, we would truly be helpless in the future!”
Another minister immediately echoed this sentiment, his tone filled with anxiety and worry.
"Your Majesty, please consider this carefully and do not act rashly!"
Another minister bowed and earnestly offered his advice.
"Your Majesty, please reconsider your actions!"
The other ministers all shouted in unison, their voices echoing throughout the imperial study.
At that moment, a bright yellow figure was seen pacing back and forth anxiously in front of the table, like an ant on a hot pan.
The emperor frowned deeply, his eyebrows almost twisted into a pretzel shape.
Clearly, he was caught in a dilemma, unsure of what to do in the face of this difficult situation.
It turns out that this very morning, the King of Gaoliang unexpectedly sent an envoy to claim that he wanted to bring the eldest princess to live in his fiefdom.
Even worse, according to the latest news, at this very moment, the entire army of 300,000 under the command of the King of Gaoliang is fully armed and has already marched towards the capital without the emperor's order.
As everyone knows, the eldest princess, being the emperor's younger sister by the same mother, has always been an important bargaining chip in keeping the Gao Liang king in check.
If the eldest princess is taken away now, the consequences would be unimaginable...
If the eldest princess is really sent away, the capital will be in grave danger.
"Grand Tutor, what do you think?"
The emperor, dressed in a bright yellow dragon robe and looking anxious, was pacing back and forth in the imperial study. Suddenly, he stopped, turned around abruptly, and stared intently at Ren Zhong, who had been standing silently to the side with his head bowed the whole time.
Upon hearing the emperor's question, Ren Zhong slowly raised his head, took a step forward, respectfully bowed, and replied in a steady voice:
"Your Majesty, this old minister believes that we should follow the advice of the King of Gaoliang and first escort the Princess safely out of the capital."
As soon as Ren Zhong finished speaking, the already tense atmosphere in the Imperial Study instantly became completely silent, as if you could clearly hear a pin drop.
The dozen or so respected senior officials kneeling on the ground all raised their heads slightly, looking at Ren Zhong with surprise.
The first to lose his temper was General Ji, who had a fiery temper.
Not long ago, when the eldest princess entered the palace to pay homage by imperial decree, an assassin was found among her entourage!
The situation was extremely critical. Thanks to General Ji's selfless protection of the emperor, he fought desperately against the assassin and ultimately succeeded in repelling him, thus protecting the emperor's safety.
For this reason, General Ji was promoted directly to the rank of a third-grade official and was recently appointed as the Left and Right Vice Censors-in-Chief.
Perhaps it was the first broom sweeping clean after taking office, or perhaps it was his sense of accomplishment, but General Ji spoke with significantly more confidence than before, and even his upright posture seemed more robust.
Faced with Ren Zhong's suggestion, General Ji could no longer remain silent. His eyes widened in anger, and he shouted:
"Grand Tutor Ren, don't you know exactly what you just said?"
His words made no attempt to hide his dissatisfaction and doubt towards Ren Zhong.
Ren Zhong never expected that a mere third-rank official would dare to openly contradict him, the Grand Tutor, in front of so many colleagues and the Emperor. He was immediately displeased, and a barely perceptible hint of anger flashed in his already somewhat cloudy old eyes.
Ji Bailin's previously strong aura deflated instantly, like a punctured balloon, leaving him looking somewhat listless. However, his lips continued to murmur incessantly:
"Grand Tutor Ren, are you aware that once we send the Princess away, if the King of Gao Liang were to lead his army to the gates of the capital one day, what countermeasures would we be able to take to deal with such a crisis?"
However, Ren Zhong merely narrowed his eyes slightly and coldly replied, "Do you think that if the Princess isn't sent away, the King of Gaoliang's massive army will obediently lay down their weapons and bow down to His Majesty?"
Ren Zhong's merciless words were like a thunderclap, exploding in the court and silencing all the ministers present.