Chapter 293: Chapter 293
In the twelfth month of the fifth year of Jiayou, Western Xia invaded Yanzhou once again, likely because their financial routes had been completely severed.
This invasion was exceptionally fierce.
However, contrary to everyone's expectations, this war that was expected to be protracted and even brutal ended with surprising speed.
With their side having overwhelming advantages in equipment, morale, generals, and even overall military quality across the board...
In less than half a month, news of a great victory came from the Song-Xia border.
Most importantly, listening to the words in the victory report...
What? Our mere thirty thousand elite troops completely annihilated eighty thousand enemy troops and captured twenty thousand prisoners. They even pursued the victory deep into enemy territory, and have now gathered reinforcements to lead a large army all the way to Ganzhou.
Is this still our Great Song Dynasty?
However, glancing at His Majesty at the front who showed no surprise whatsoever, all the ministers silently closed their mouths again.
Just at that moment, Prefect Lü of Yanzhou submitted a memorial stating that Western Xia had sent envoys and seemed to have intentions for peace talks.
In the imperial court, casually tossing the peace negotiation letter aside, An Ning still wore a warm smile on her face, but her words were quite different:
"You fight when you want to fight, you negotiate peace when you want peace. What, does this insignificant barren little country actually think our Great Song is weak and easy to bully?"
After speaking, without paying attention to the varying expressions of the ministers below. As the emperor, An Ning not only showed no intention of ceasing hostilities, but even immediately and calmly sent another large shipment of provisions to the front lines, and ordered all reinforcement troops to arrive as quickly as possible.
As these commands were issued one after another, everything went incredibly smoothly. The court was full of cunning individuals, and who couldn't see what was happening now!
Moreover, Your Majesty, you're in Bianjing - is it serious that you can so effortlessly command knowledge of Western Xia's terrain, internal politics and economy, and even the various generals and military equipment situation?
The corners of all the ministers' mouths twitched again.
"Our emperor isn't acting on a whim at all - he clearly had plans all along!"
After the morning court ended, the ministers led by Lord Fan couldn't help but sigh.
They said this one truly didn't act unless acting decisively - when he moved, it was with overwhelming force.
"The current emperor and the previous emperor are really..."
Simply put, you could say their temperaments and methods were completely different in every aspect.
"But today, why do I feel there's something indescribable about His Majesty..."
On the way back, a sharp-eyed young minister couldn't help but stroke his chin.
It felt like, how to put it, his figure seemed somewhat different from usual.
"What difference? What could possibly be different about our emperor? Don't recklessly speculate about the sovereign!"
Not far away, a middle-aged man wearing purple official robes and a straight-cornered headscarf immediately scolded.
Clearly not taking this seriously.
As an eyewitness to that night's rebellion, plus being one of the unlucky ones involved, leaving other matters aside, how formidable His Majesty's martial prowess was, he and his colleagues knew perfectly well.
Moreover, in these years since ascending the throne, the current emperor hadn't even caught a common cold, showing his extraordinary constitution.
Privately, some ministers had even discreetly discussed whether His Majesty had somehow managed to practice some legendary internal martial arts.
Because they were so overly confident about His Majesty's physical condition, when news came at the beginning of the new year that His Majesty was pregnant, all the ministers were completely stunned.
What, pregnant! Who's pregnant!
His Majesty is pregnant!!!
Like a depth charge heavily striking the water's surface, all the ministers looked at each other, unable to regain their composure for a long time.
"Wait, His Majesty is pregnant, this child..."
Most importantly, His Majesty's harem doesn't have anyone yet, right? The father of this child...
All the ministers looked at each other once again.
Several hours later, in Zichen Palace
The ministers led by Minister Ouyang had been waiting for a long time. However, looking at the figure at the front wearing cobalt blue wide sleeves, with an especially natural expression - if not for the clearly visible bulging abdomen below, no one would have guessed this was a pregnant person.
Even experienced elders like several senior officials barely managed to regain their composure at this moment. In the end, it was Han Qi who reacted first, saying with a worried expression:
"Does Your Majesty feel any physical discomfort?"
That's right, under the huge shock, everyone quickly came to their senses.
What's important now is the child? Or some random father? It's His Majesty! Childbirth is like passing through the gates of hell for women - if something were to happen...
All the ministers couldn't help but frown:
Although His Majesty's methods are somewhat severe, unlike previous emperors who emphasized benevolence, if we search our hearts, promoting improved seeds, eliminating harsh taxes, streamlining the military, even willing to spend from his personal treasury to exempt people from corvée labor...
In just five years, there are already true signs of a prosperous age.
His reputation among the common people is especially high.
Even Western Xia, which had troubled several generations, is now completely within his grasp.
Everyone understands that with these achievements, future historical records will definitely include this emperor, even making the entire Great Song court a prominent chapter.
All of us here will also be among the founders of this legendary prosperous age.
In short, both publicly and privately, at this moment, no one wanted anything to happen to the emperor before them.
Seeing their thoughts, An Ning quickly smiled and said:
"Gentlemen, rest assured. My health has always been good, and I would never put myself in danger. As for other matters..."
An Ning chuckled lightly again:
"All you ministers need to know is that this child is my son - that is sufficient!"
Somehow, this was exactly what you'd expect from His Majesty.
They weren't surprised at all...
All the ministers exchanged glances, then quickly bowed in agreement.
Wait, these ministers are accepting this so smoothly?
"Why wouldn't they?" Lightly biting the red fruit handed to her lips, An Ning chuckled:
"Not to mention that with my temperament, their opinions can't change anything. Do you think those people would want an imperial consort, a bunch of imperial relatives, or even the future emperor's father pressing down on them, potentially causing chaos in the court later?"
Ethical principles? Rules and etiquette.
When it comes to their own vital interests, no one would be foolish.
That's true... the system nodded. The imperial family, after all, was originally the least rule-bound.
In early May, Su Shi, who had just completed his duties as inspection commissioner and finally returned to the capital, no sooner set foot in Bianjing than he heard the news that His Majesty was pregnant.
Pregnant, His Majesty... thinking of a certain friend...
Well then, without even having time to change his clothes, Su Zizhan hurriedly went to the Zhang residence.
Especially when he saw his friend who had only returned late at night, looking somewhat haggard, his heart sank.
He immediately pulled him aside to comfort him:
"Zihou, in this life, it's like fleeting flowing water - there will always be too many things we cannot obtain, people we cannot have."
"Besides, Zihou, you probably don't know - after going out this time, I've come to realize how many people throughout the land admire His Majesty. Those who are disappointed in this matter are definitely not just you alone. Oh, right!" The visitor suddenly slapped his forehead:
"I heard Zihou has been fond of studying chess skills lately. This is a rare book I specially brought you from my travels over the years!"