Jiuxi

Chapter 571 569 [Enjoy a glass of wine before you die]

The victory at Yongqiu was a great success with remarkable results.

The armies of Qi and Jing deployed a total of more than 230,000 troops, and the Jing army, as the defeated party, suffered extremely heavy losses.

Most of the Laocheng Army, Dingbai Army and Fangcheng Army suffered casualties. The cavalry of the Zhongyi Army and Changsheng Army were bitten off severely by the Feiyu Army of Da Qi and the Dingbei Army when they were subsequently covering the main force's retreat. Only the Xiashan Army cavalry under Qing Yugong were able to maintain a relatively neat formation because of their extremely tenacious will, thus retaining most of the troops.

After more than two days of statistics, it was found that more than 50,000 Jing troops were killed in this battle, the number of wounded was incalculable, and the number of abandoned horses and supplies was innumerable.

The various units of the Qi army also suffered losses to varying degrees, with a total of more than 21,000 people killed and more than 16,000 wounded.

The most important significance of this great victory does not lie in the specific number of casualties, but in the fact that the Qi army finally proved that it has the ability to defeat the Jing army head-on in a large-scale confrontation in the field.

From the time Yang Guangyuan was unjustly killed 20 years ago to today, this was the first time that the Qi army won a decisive battle in the field.

The only two previous victories were the Mengshan victory where Li Tianrun assembled a large number of troops and set up an ambush to kill more than 10,000 Jing troops, and the Lei Ze victory was a similar situation.

This time the Qi army won the battle outside Yongqiu City, and the opponent was the famous general Qing Yugong of Jing State. This was enough to wash away the shame of the past twenty years. At the same time, it would completely change the situation between Qi and Jing. The era when the Jing army was able to dominate the land of Jiangbei was gone forever.

In short, the offensive and defensive situations are different.

There were military camps all over the outside of Yongqiu City, and several elite troops who were responsible for pursuing the defeated Jing army had also returned. The place was filled with an exciting atmosphere of celebration.

More than ten riders set out from the camp, each riding three horses, and headed south along the official road.

The mountains and rivers are vast, running day and night.

Baimaquan, Qinghe County, and Boxing City.

Pass Mengshan and enter Pingjiang.

The Hengjiang River is a natural moat with vast waves.

Leaving Jingzhou, entering Daozhou, and advancing into Xinzhou.

The spring scenery in the south of the Yangtze River is picturesque.

There were seven groups of knights and hundreds of divine horses along the way.

Yongjia City is already in sight.

When they reached the outer perimeter of the north gate, the soldiers guarding the city cast wary glances at the dozen or so knights. The leader then raised his red feather high and shouted in unison with his comrades behind him.

"A great victory in Yongqiu, 50,000 Jing troops were slain in battle!"

The noisy area near the city gate suddenly became quiet, with only the shouts of more than a dozen knights coming from far away.

"A great victory in Yongqiu, 50,000 Jing troops were slain in battle!"

The captain of the North Gate jumped out suddenly, waving his hands and saying, "Get out of the way, everyone!"

There was a hustle and bustle, and the people waiting to enter or exit the city gate hurriedly made way to the side of the road, watching more than a dozen knights galloping past. At this time, their emotions of surprise and excitement exploded.

No matter whether everyone present was a stranger or familiar with each other, they all couldn't help but shout loudly and then hugged each other tightly.

This sentiment swept across the city like a hurricane as more than a dozen knights crossed the main street of the capital from north to south.

The capital was shaken.

Countless people took to the streets, scholars and men of letters were ecstatic, and even the usually hated idlers shouted with great pride.

Da Qi has been waiting for this great victory for twenty years.

How many twenty years are there in a person’s life?
Those white-haired old men burst into tears and could not help but kowtow towards the direction of the imperial palace in the south, shouting "Holy Emperor".

More than ten knights had a smooth journey and came straight to the square outside Henan Gate in the north of the imperial city.

Not long after, the palace eunuch Lu Shizhou came quickly with a group of eunuchs, took the wax-sealed victory report from the leading knight, listened to Lu Chen's instructions, and then hurried back.

Unlike the cheers and excitement in other parts of the capital, the atmosphere in the palace was very solemn.

No matter it was the eunuch following behind Lu Shizhou, or the imperial guards on duty in various places, even though they were quite happy when they heard the news of the great victory in Jiangbei, their expressions were still very solemn.

Even the area within a few miles outside the palace was under martial law.

Especially when you come to the harem, the gloomy atmosphere permeates everywhere, as if even the air has become stagnant.

Even though there is a gentle breeze, it cannot dispel the heaviness that is as real as substance.

When they arrived outside the Wenhe Hall, all the eunuchs stopped and Lu Shizhou walked in alone.

Dozens of ministers gathered in the outer hall, including the heads of the six ministries, two academies, nine temples, and seven academies.

Lu Shizhou faced the gazes of the crowd and said softly, "My Lords, there is a victory report from Jiangbei. Our army defeated the main force of the Jing army outside Yongqiu City and killed 50,000 of them."

If it were any other time, this group of important officials would have certainly been delighted, but at this moment they remained silent. Many of them had expressions of joy and obvious sadness on their faces, and they could be said to be overwhelmed with mixed feelings of sadness and joy.

Lu Shizhou sighed silently in his heart and continued walking towards the inner hall.

The inner hall is much quieter than the outer hall. Only a few important officials are here, including the two prime ministers Li Daoyan and Xue Nanting, the imperial censor Chu Huaizhong, the weaving bureau supervisor Qin Zheng, the military ministers Han Zhongjie and Shen Yulai, and the chief physician of the Imperial Hospital Gui Qiuliang.

Crown Prince Li Zongben stood solemnly in front of the bed, while Empress Xu and the crown prince's biological mother, Concubine Liu Shuben, stood behind the bed.

On the dragon couch, the Great Qi Emperor Li Duan looked haggard with sunken cheeks, but his eyes were still clear.

The long-term illness made him extremely thin.

Lu Shizhou knelt forward and said in a trembling voice: "Your Majesty, our army defeated the main force of the Jing army outside Yongqiu City and killed 50,000 of them! The Jing army was defeated and fled. The border is stable and the country is safe!"

The eyes of the important officials suddenly lit up.

Li Duan looked at him quietly and exhaled slowly.

It felt like I had been holding this breath for fifteen years.

He smiled slightly, and there was a hint of relief in his smile.

Li Daoyan was the first to say, "God bless Da Qi, God bless your majesty! The soldiers have lived up to your grace, and the people of Da Qi are united as one. I congratulate your majesty!"

"Congratulations, Your Majesty!"

Everyone bowed and saluted.

"Flat body."

Li Duan nodded, and then said to the prince: "I said that I will not leave you a mess."

The prince knelt beside the couch and said earnestly: "Father, I have always believed this."

Li Duan wanted to raise his hand, but found that he was so weak that he couldn't even lift his hand. The prince hurriedly supported his skinny hand and helped him point to Empress Xu and Concubine Liu behind the bed.

Li Duan calmed his emotions and said slowly: "After you ascend the throne, you must respect the two queen dowagers as you did when I was here."

The prince said quickly, "I will serve the Queen and Mother with all my heart and will not slack off for even a day. Please rest assured, Father."

The two noble ladies in palace dresses had already cried until their eyes were red, but they dared not make a sound.

Ever since the eldest prince died young, Queen Xu seemed like a different person.

No matter what, that was her flesh and blood after all. Although she did favor the third prince more in the past, when the eldest prince passed away in front of her, the sadness was enough to tear her heart apart.

Now that the emperor was seriously ill, she looked back at the past and could not help but feel grief-stricken. She said in grief, "Your Majesty..."

Li Duan looked up at his first wife, and memories that had long been dormant suddenly flooded into his mind.

At that time, he was just an unpopular prince with a noble status but no way to realize his ambitions. It was his wife who tried every means to relieve his depression and mobilized all the power of her family to keep him away from Heluo.

If not, how could he have escaped and achieved his imperial career?
During the first few years after he ascended the throne, he was trembling with fear every day. It was Queen Xu who gave him a warm haven and supported him through the most difficult years.

"Ugh……"

Li Duan sighed softly and said, "Don't be sad, Queen. Take care of yourself."

Queen Xu's tears were like beads falling from a broken string. In front of several important ministers, she could not say more details and could only cry.

Concubine Liu Shufei has always been introverted and quiet, and at this moment her eyes were red. She supported the trembling Empress Xu, and looked at the extremely weak emperor lying on the couch, her eyes full of reluctance and sadness.

Li Duan calmed down a little and said to the prince, "Bring some wine."

The prince was slightly stunned.

Li Duan forced a smile and said, "The victory in Yongqiu was not easy to come by, and it was inseparable from their hard work. Please toast to them on my behalf."

The prince suddenly understood.

During a period of national mourning, marriage and funerals are prohibited, and banquets are even less allowed. However, it would be a bit meaningless if such a great victory could not be celebrated with wine.

He raised his hand to wipe away the tears on his face, stood up, looked at Lu Shizhou and said, "Bring some wine and cups."

"Yes, Your Highness."

Lu Shizhou hurriedly left the inner hall, and soon he and several eunuchs came in carrying wine jugs and several cups.

Li Duan added: "You hold the pot yourself."

"Yes, Father."

The prince agreed, and then walked to the left prime minister Li Daoyan, holding the pot and pouring wine.

Li Daoyan took the wine glass with both hands, bowed his head and said: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for the wine!"

Then came Xue Nanting, Chu Huaizhong, Han Zhongjie, Shen Yulai, and even Qin Zheng was no exception.

Everyone held their wine glasses in both hands and looked at the emperor on the couch.

Li Duan looked at them one by one and said softly, "This cup of wine is for all the nobles who have worked hard for the Great Qi. Without your hard work, no matter how many ambitions I have, they are just like a tree without roots. If I were not sick and had only this breath left, I would drink with all the nobles. I will let the Crown Prince drink this cup of wine for me to the loyal people of the Great Qi."

The prince bowed his head to everyone and drank the cup.

Everyone returned the gift and drank it all in one gulp.

Everyone had tears in their eyes.

Li Duan smiled and said, "Prince."

"My son is here."

"Send me to Guanyuntai."

The prince couldn't help but hesitate. Everyone could see that the emperor was dying, especially after hearing the urgent news of the great victory in Yongqiu. He finally didn't have to hold on any longer, and his face had a bit of deathly look on its face.

Li Daoyan saw this and said, "Your Highness, just follow His Majesty's words."

The prince took a deep breath, bowed and said, "Yes, Father."

He, Empress Xu and Concubine Liu changed the emperor's clothes. This was the first time in more than two months that the emperor wore a black dragon robe. The robe was tailored to fit the body, but it looked empty.

The prince noticed this detail and felt a sudden pain in his heart.

The emperor, the man he once had to look up to and who stood tall and proud, was now as thin and light as a feather.

He bit his lips tightly, trying not to cry out.

Because his father was still smiling.

As if death was not something to be feared.

(End of this chapter)