Chapter 376: Chapter 376 - 376: Battle Report

Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations

The citizens of the border city were already used to sandstorms. Although there had been a lot of them recently, fortunately, the scale was not big and did not affect their lives. Moreover, the sand brought by these sandstorms was very different from before. In the past, it was dry yellow sand that ran away when the wind blew. This time, they seemed to feel that the color of the land at their doorstep had darkened after the sandstorm.

Without the Xiongnu people doing evil and benefiting from farming and selling sheep, the commoners were in a good mood, so they did not pay much attention to it. Only Xiaoxiao often paced in the empty space with her hands behind her back—

This was not an ordinary sandstorm. This was a special sandstorm, hahahaha!

Initially, she was worried that the commoners would not be able to make the seeds grow. Now, hehehe.

She only had to wait for the Imperial Capital to send a letter to make a final decision on the Xiongnu war. Then, she, her parents, and Little Big Brother would have completed their mission perfectly and could happily return home together!

In the Imperial Capital’s court, the civil and military officials were expressing their opinions.

Someone said, “Third Prince is young and energetic. He won by luck this time, but what about the next time? We can’t entrust the fate of Great Xia to that illusory luck, right?”

Some said, “It’s said that a desperate enemy should not be pursued. Xiongnu has already been defeated and this matter is over. Why does the Third Prince have to chase after them all the way to the border city?”

Someone said, “This is great. We’ve really fallen out with Xiongnu. In the beginning, we could still negotiate, but now, we really can’t!”

Without saying a word, the Emperor sat on the dragon throne and let them talk.

A general couldn’t stand it anymore. “According to you, the Xiongnu people have repeatedly offended Great Xia. Not only should we not fight them back, but we should also let them marry another of our princess with a smile and let them waste her youth? Are they worthy? Are we sick?”

The few civil officials who had spoken just now stammered. They felt that it was very embarrassing to be said that they had outspoken by a rough man, but they could not find any words to retort. After a long time, they said, “Third Prince can’t ignore the lives of the soldiers for his military merits. Why must we fight and attack Xiongnu Border City when it can clearly be resolved peacefully? How many people will die!”

Premier Shen glanced at the person who spoke. “Did Official Liu think before he spoke? As long as you think about it in your mind, you can’t say the words ‘resolved peacefully’.”

“Is this the first year that Xiongnu invaded our Great Xia? When did they stop? After we take a step back, do you think they will take a step back or continue to jump around and step on our face to find our bottom line?”

“Marriage? I remember that Official Liu has an unmarried daughter in her prime, right? Why don’t you let your daughter go?”

Official Liu said reflexively, “No, no, no way!”

Premier Shen sneered. “Why? His Majesty’s princess can marry the Xiongnu, but your daughter can’t. Is your Liu Family’s daughter more noble than the princess? Your daughter isn’t even willing, so what right do you have to ask the princess to marry?”

Official Liu’s mind raced. “No, no. It’s just that my daughter’s status is low. Even if she goes, I’m afraid she will make the other party think that our Great Xia doesn’t value her enough. Moreover, the princesses were born in the royal family and have read a lot of poetry since they were young. They understand the righteousness and understand that they should take on the heavy responsibility of the country.”

A new young official also laughed at this moment. Official Liu shouted angrily, “What are you laughing at!”

The young official was neither servile nor overbearing. “I’m laughing that our vast country is being bullied at our doorstep, yet not only do some people not dare to hit back, but they also want to send the noble princess over to beg for mercy. They would send her there to be humiliated. They’re even worried that the status of the person sent to be humiliated is not high enough. This is simply the biggest joke in the world!”

“What do you mean by reading a lot of books and understanding righteousness? Why? If they won’t marry those executioners who killed the people of Great Xia, they’ll have studied for nothing for so many years, don’t understand logic and don’t have a country in their hearts?”

Premier Shen was full of mockery. “Official Liu is so magnanimous. It’s really a waste of your talent to be a civil official. Why don’t you just change your clothes and go to the temple to sit and let others worship you as a Bodhisattva?”

Official Liu was speechless. Prime Minister Yan coughed lightly, and immediately, someone rushed forward. “You can’t say that. Everything has to be done properly. Didn’t we agree to provide the provisions and horses to let the Third Prince defeat the enemy? But since he has already succeeded, why must he go deep into Xiongnu?”

“My fellow officials are just feeling sorry for the soldiers who lost their lives because of this.”

Premier Shen continued to retort, “Feeling sorry? The soldiers have been stationed there for many years and have never been rich in rations. Why didn’t Official Xie feel sad when they starved and froze? Why didn’t anyone feel sad when everyone was eating and drinking happily every day?”

Official Xie was unconvinced. “Then I’m a civil servant. I can’t help with the war at the border. I’ve never seen Premier Shen donate your assets to help with the war!”

As soon as he said this, Prime Minister Yan knew that he was in trouble. As expected, Premier Shen raised his eyebrows high and adjusted his clothes before saying, “I’m ashamed. I’m honest and clear-minded. Although I’m not stingy with my family’s wealth, it’s only a drop in the bucket. Fortunately, I gave birth to a useful son and found a high-yielding new rice seed. According to the production of that rice seed, in just three years, no one in Great Xia, be it the commoners or the garrison soldiers, will go hungry!”

They had lost. As long as the new rice seed appeared, their Yan Family would lose completely!

Prime Minister Yan gritted his teeth and heard Premier Shen say smugly, “Ah, right, Your Majesty. A few days ago, I received a letter from Xijiang County saying that those rice seeds are growing well. In a few months, it will be another great harvest!”

The Emperor’s ugly face finally relaxed.

At this moment, Official Xie couldn’t help but mutter, “Premier Shen also knows that the harvest is next year. He hasn’t seen the harvest yet. What’s there to brag about?”

At this moment, someone shouted outside the door—

“Report! Your Majesty, the battle report has arrived! Xiongnu has been defeated. They asked to make peace!”

The Emperor seemed to be in a dream and was stunned for a long time. Premier Shen was the first to smile. “Official Xie, did you hear that? Great Xia won, and Xiongnu lost.” He especially emphasized, “What just happened is now.”

With that, he lifted his official robe. “Congratulations, Your Majesty. The heavens have blessed our Great Xia!”

Official Xie was speechless.

“Congratulations, Your Majesty. God bless Great Xia!”

The officials echoed in the hall, but no one knew what they were thinking.

It was unknown who could not bear to see Premier Shen and the others in high spirits, but they insisted on ruining the atmosphere at this time. “Your Majesty, even though the Third Prince was lucky to win this time, we can’t act so rashly in the future. After all, there’s no food production at the border. We can’t help at all when we really fight. We have to travel a long way to send food over. It’s exhausting and costly.”

The Emperor frowned again. He suspected that this group of Imperial Censors had not grown their brains when they were born. They did not know what was good for them at all. He was so happy. Did they have to make things difficult for him at this time?

At this moment, Premier Shen coughed lightly and said with a smile that made the Yan party panic, “Ah, speaking of which, I almost forgot. Your Majesty, I have good news to tell you..”