Chapter 267: Chapter 267

The battle report has finally arrived!

The Crown Prince stood up abruptly: "Bring it over quickly."

Zheng Chen also stood up.

A moment later, after reading the battle report, the expressions of the Crown Prince and the Young Master changed dramatically.

"The Heroic Guard Camp had just entered the borders of Pingzhou and was immediately ambushed. They fought in haste and suffered a crushing defeat! More than thirteen hundred soldiers were killed in battle, and over four hundred were lightly or seriously wounded!"

The bad news on the battle report was truly shocking.

"The Heroic Guard Camp was actually defeated!" The Crown Prince, furious, threw the battle report onto the ground with force: "Damn it! I must go ask Prime Minister Wang what to do next!"

Zheng Chen’s face also looked extremely grim.

In the past, the northern region of Da Liang indeed experienced frequent civil unrest and warfare. Tan Sheng, who proclaimed himself King of Pingzhou, was indeed the first to rise in rebellion and declare himself king.

However, the court sent troops to quell the rebellion, and quickly killed Tan Sheng, suppressing the revolt. He knew this well, so he never considered Tan Sheng a threat.

Who would have thought that General Wei, leading twenty thousand elite soldiers, would suffer a crushing defeat as soon as they entered Pingzhou? The sudden change was truly alarming.

Zheng Chen quickly composed himself and reached out to restrain the irate Crown Prince: "Your Highness, do not act rashly. Before this battle report was sent to the Eastern Palace, it must have been delivered to Zhaohai Palace. Prime Minister Wang is surely no less angry than Your Highness."

"Your Highness need not rush to question Prime Minister Wang; first see what he has to say."

The Crown Prince snorted coldly, his face livid as he left the study.

Upon hearing the news, Wang Jin, Li Boyuan, and Jiang Yi, who were also in the Eastern Palace, all hurried over. Each of them wore a solemn expression. For origınal chapters go to 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭•𝔣𝔦𝔯𝔢•𝓷𝓮𝓽

The court’s deployment of troops to quell the rebellion, resulting in defeat in the first battle, was truly humiliating. More importantly, the power of the rebellious troops in Pingzhou far exceeded expectations.

The Crown Prince glanced at Wang Jin, his voice taut: "I am going to Zhaohai Palace, you all come along."

Wang Jin felt a chill in his heart and bowed in acknowledgment.

Zheng Chen secretly curled his lips into a subtle smile.

In Zhaohai Palace, Prime Minister Wang, who had received the news earlier, was even angrier than the Crown Prince.

It was he who handpicked and appointed General Wei, and it was he who strongly recommended sending troops to Pingzhou. Now that General Wei had suffered a crushing defeat, he, as the Prime Minister, also felt humiliated and disgraced.

Prime Minister Wang bowed beside Emperor Taikang’s Dragon Couch, pleading for forgiveness.

Emperor Taikang frowned and said with difficulty, "This matter is not the Prime Minister’s fault."

Prime Minister Wang looked deeply pained and self-reproachful: "It is my failure in judgment. This Wei Peng has truly failed the Emperor’s trust, causing the court to lose face."

"However, changing generals before a battle is a great taboo. The Heroic Guard Camp has suffered nearly two thousand casualties, yet there are still eighteen thousand elite troops remaining. I request the Emperor to issue an edict to send reinforcements, and to command General Wei to swiftly lead the troops to pacify Pingzhou."

As soon as he finished speaking, the Crown Prince entered with a group of reading companions.

The Crown Prince, harboring anger, spoke to Prime Minister Wang without his usual courtesy: "Prime Minister Wang is advocating for reinforcements. Can you guarantee that General Wei will win the battle? If we suffer more defeats, not only will the rebellion not be quelled, but who knows how many of the court’s costly Heroic Guard Camp soldiers will be buried in Pingzhou."

Prime Minister Wang’s brows twitched as he looked at the Crown Prince: "Your Highness, are you questioning this old minister’s judgment or doubting my loyalty?"

"I earnestly hope that General Wei can quell the rebellion soon, which is why I suggest sending reinforcements. Otherwise, we would need to change generals unexpectedly. At that time, if morale becomes unstable and we suffer further defeats, who would be responsible?"

The Crown Prince, momentarily unnerved, instinctively turned to look at Emperor Taikang on the Dragon Couch.

Emperor Taikang said nothing, signaling with his gaze for the Crown Prince to hold his tongue.

The Crown Prince begrudgingly fell silent.

Wang Jin, watching from the side, felt his heart race.

The Crown Prince is the heir, the future Emperor of Da Liang. With his father being so overbearing, how could the Crown Prince feel content? When the Crown Prince ascends the throne in the future, will his father still maintain his position as Prime Minister securely?

Prime Minister Wang turned and bowed to Emperor Taikang: "I request the Emperor to issue a decree summoning the Six Ministers and military generals to the palace to discuss reinforcement matters."

"Granted!" Emperor Taikang’s words were succinct: "The Crown Prince will issue the decree on my behalf."

The Crown Prince bowed in acknowledgment.

An hour later, a group of senior court officials entered Zhaohai Palace with solemn expressions.

This urgent military council meeting proceeded very smoothly. Out of respect for Prime Minister Wang’s reputation, the ministers refrained from harshly criticizing General Wei’s defeat. The reinforcement proposal was quickly approved.

General Du led the remaining thirty thousand elite soldiers of the Heroic Guard Camp to assist in Pingzhou.

Minister Ji of the Ministry of Revenue, his expression grim, went to the Ministry of Revenue office to calculate funds. Meanwhile, Duke An, the Minister of War, was tasked with preparing military supplies, grappling with a headache no less severe than Minister Ji’s.

The other ministers also felt far from pleased.

Seeing that the Emperor’s health was deteriorating day by day, the northern Da Liang was suffering from consecutive droughts and turmoil. The rebels had proclaimed themselves kings, and the people of Pingzhou were actually supporting the insurgents, eager to report to them in secret. Otherwise, how could the insurgents so accurately ambush and attack, leading to General Wei’s defeat?

That evening, Duke An was busy until midnight, returning to his residence with a weary face.

Then, he saw Zheng Chen waiting in the study.

Duke An, having worked tirelessly for half the night, found his throat so dry he could barely speak.

Zheng Chen poured a cup of warm tea and handed it to Duke An. Duke An took it casually and drank it down in one gulp, clearing his throat slightly: "Why are you not staying in the Eastern Palace? Why have you returned?"

Zheng Chen said in a low voice, "I indeed have an urgent matter."

Although young, Zheng Chen was exceptionally wise, calm, sharp, and perceptive. Duke An was quite proud of his eldest son and often heeded his advice. Upon hearing this, he said, "Speak your mind."

Zheng Chen first dismissed everyone else and then whispered a few words into Duke An’s ear.

Duke An was utterly shocked, staring at Zheng Chen for a long moment without speaking.

It was as if he was seeing his young son’s true face for the first time.

Zheng Chen’s expression remained calm, allowing Duke An to stare intently at him: "I know it’s hard for Father to accept at first. However, this is indeed our best opportunity."

"The Emperor’s health is failing, and he won’t last much longer. Between the Empress Dowager, Father, and Prime Minister Wang, the Emperor trusts and relies on Prime Minister Wang more. Currently, in court, everything is decided by Prime Minister Wang. At this rate, our Zheng Family’s chances of rising again are slim to none."

"Now, with the Heroic Guard Camp defeated, Prime Minister Wang cannot escape blame. As long as General Wei continues to suffer defeats and even loses Pingzhou completely, Prime Minister Wang will be the instigator, having to bear the heavy responsibility for the lost land."

Duke An, still in shock, instinctively responded: "But that’s an entire province, with tens of thousands of elite soldiers from the Heroic Guard Camp, all the elite of Da Liang..."

"Lost territories can be reclaimed later." Zheng Chen’s expression turned cold, his voice icy: "From General Wei to General Du in the Heroic Guard Camp, they’re all Prime Minister Wang’s men. By using the rebels’ hand to eliminate the Heroic Guard Camp, it’s equivalent to cutting off one of Prime Minister Wang’s arms."

"Please, Father, consider carefully and make a swift decision!"