Chapter 1244 - 1080: The Army Has Arrived
Chapter 1244: Chapter 1080: The Army Has Arrived
The waiter spoke animatedly, and with a thud he sat opposite Gu Chengyu, immediately receiving a warning glance from Ming Mo across the table.
Feeling a bit unsure, he quickly stood up. Oh dear! He almost forgot his place.
However, Gu Chengyu didn’t have the energy to pay attention to him; his mind was a bit restless.
The Crown Prince has ascended the throne and changed the era name to Guanghui! The Dayan Dynasty is now experiencing its third Emperor.
After pondering for a while, Gu Chengyu cleared his throat, "Any other news?"
The waiter, shedding his earlier restraint, regained his spirit.
"There is indeed another major event! It is said that several days ago, near the borders of Liu Han Mansion and Hentian Prefecture, a battle between two armies occurred. Tens of thousands of soldiers, countless casualties, blood flowed like rivers! In this Dynasty, except at the border, there has never been such a large-scale battle. It alarmed the court and officers from the two prefectures, but unfortunately, they arrived too late, alas!"
"Imagine, these soldiers did not perish on the battlefield for conquest but due to a civil war—truly, it’s such a needless death!"
The waiter sighed with infinite emotion, though he didn’t truly understand these matters, merely parroting gossip he heard from guests staying at the inn.
"Do you know who the people involved were?" The waiter suddenly leaned closer mysteriously, only to be intercepted by Ming Mo.
Ming Mo’s temple throbbed with veins popping; he’d made a mistake! This waiter was completely oblivious. Previously he seemed decent enough, but now his true colors are showing.
Being a chatterbox was one thing, but he kept inching towards the master. Apart from those close, the master never allowed anyone near enough to touch.
After another fierce warning glance at the waiter, watching him become much more obedient, Ming Mo retracted his harsh gaze.
"Speaking of this, it’s an astonishing revelation! Did you know Prince Gong has rebelled?" The waiter looked expectantly at Gu Chengyu, regretting it a bit when Gu Chengyu nodded. This was absolutely explosive news, and he wanted to see a surprised expression.
"One of the parties involved was Prince Gong, who reportedly also kidnapped the Empress. Our Dayan Dynasty places great importance on filial piety. For the past few days, even private school teachers have been outraged about this matter. Such treachery is simply unworthy of being human, even more so of being part of the Imperial Family. Prince Gong’s reputation has become utterly tainted!"
Ming Mo coughed lightly; this waiter surely could talk. If he didn’t intervene, goodness knows where this conversation might veer off to.
"Oh! And the opposing force was led by a certain General, reportedly fighting to rescue the Empress. Regrettably, Prince Gong had been prepared, ambushing them unexpectedly. That General’s army was thoroughly routed, losing over ten thousand elite soldiers out of the twenty thousand brought along—what a pity! The brutality of the battle is beyond our imagination!"
After arranging the bedding, Ming Yan couldn’t help but roll his eyes, "You speak as if you were there yourself, how do you know so much?"
The waiter suddenly faltered, "Many guests lodging here discuss it! Some are traders who travel widely, their information is exceptionally well-connected. But with such a mix of people staying here, I cannot say for certain whether this is true or false. Didn’t the young master ask me to speak about fresh news? I’m just relaying what I’ve heard, how could I distinguish truth from fiction?"
The waiter squeezed the silver in his sleeve, explaining a bit aggrievedly.
Gu Chengyu smiled slightly, "Then do you happen to know the outcome between the Prince and the General? Are both still alive?"
"Need it be said? Prince Gong was well-prepared, so naturally, Prince Gong won, and the General was utterly defeated! It’s said he was severely injured and escorted back to the Capital. Though, likely he’ll face reprimand upon return!"
After pondering briefly and dispatching the waiter, Gu Chengyu then went to bathe.
Sitting in the steaming bath barrel, Gu Chengyu couldn’t help but sigh and subsequently contemplated his next plans.
It seems Prince Gong has already gone to the border without encountering them, likely taking a different route. And his purpose at the border mainly remains investigating who might be colluding with Da Xing; regarding Prince Gong’s affair, he feels it’s better not to meddle.
Prince Gong couldn’t have planned this so carefully in such a short time, indicating long-harbored rebellious intent.
Since Prince Gong has decided to rebel, it implies he lacks neither troops nor finances. From observing Prince Gong’s conduct, he seemed extremely ruthless, proven by the prior bandit case.
To become an Emperor, a certain iron-blooded style is indeed necessary, but one must also care for the people. If the aim justifies disregarding people’s lives, how would the populace trust the court?
Benevolent governance is indispensable! Though the new Emperor fits this aspect, regrettably his actions still lack decisiveness. If only he could combine both! Wouldn’t that be wonderful?
Regrettably, there is no perfect person in this world; everyone, including himself, has shortcomings.
Currently, his worry is being unable to reach the border before chaos erupts. Since Prince Gong has initiated a rebellion and the new Emperor has just been appointed, the Dynasty’s governance remains unstable—it’s an opportune time to seize cities.
As the carriage traveled further north, the colder it became, a chill enough to cause shivers.
Gu Chengyu harnessed all his Inner Strength to loosen his tightly wrapped cloak slightly. Even wearing an extra fox fur cape, he still felt a bit cold.
Drawing up the carriage window’s curtain, he looked towards the snowy plains and the towering snow-capped mountains ahead, shrouded in mist. After a month-long journey, he was finally nearing the destination.
"Master! Ahead is Wujun Prefecture, should we rest there for a bit?" They hadn’t found either an inn or station to rest properly for several days, and Ming Mo felt he was almost growing lice.
Beyond Wujun Prefecture was Prince Jing’s fief in Fengqing Prefecture, and further ahead was Yumen Pass, with the master’s senior brother located at Yuhe Pass before it.
"Very well!" Gu Chengyu also felt somewhat fatigued, especially this close to the border. It’s advisable not to rashly approach Yuhe Pass before inquiring about the current situation here.
The carriage rolled slowly towards the city gates, and seeing the long queue at the entrance, Gu Chengyu instructed Ming Mo to present the document. After all, his trip to the border wasn’t a secret; he came as an Imperial Censor openly, no need for concealment.
"Run! The army’s attacking!"
Originally, Gu Chengyu was quietly waiting for entry to the Capital, when unexpectedly someone shouted, causing the crowd to descend into chaos.
The city gates turned into pandemonium, and the guards were flustered, "Close the gates! Quickly!"
The horse was scared, while Gu Chengyu struggled to steady himself inside the carriage. He pulled the curtains to see the chaos outside, knitting his brow.
"Wait! My master hasn’t entered the city yet, let him pass!" Ming Mo raised the document, yelling fiercely at the soldiers, as Ming Yan swiftly climbed onto the harness, attempting to calm the horse.