Chapter 697: Looks Like We Won't Have to Flee After All

If the capital itself were lost, it would be an unprecedented event in the entire history of Great Yan, a humiliation beyond measure. Shang Jianxiong needed a fig leaf. After considering one candidate after another, only Shang Yongzhong was truly suitable: he was both a Prince of the imperial clan and Yan's Grand Marshal, the man responsible for military affairs.

Having Shang Yongzhong remain behind to resist the enemy would provide an explanation both at home and abroad, whether as a matter of appearances or substance. Who could be more suitable than he?

Tong Mo and Gao Jiancheng understood the Emperor's intentions. Behind Shang Yongzhong's back, the two jointly recommended him. When Shang Yongzhong learned of it, he nearly had his soul frightened out of him and almost went straight to offer greetings to the ancestors of Tong Mo and Gao Jiancheng. But he also understood that those two had merely gone with the current. The true decision still rested in the Emperor's hands.

How could he dare stay behind to fight? That was courting death.

He went to the Emperor and tried to decline, but Shang Jianxiong refused to allow it.

Shang Jianxiong told him that his family would be protected and taken away with the imperial household, so he need have no worries behind him and could devote himself to defending the capital. Yet no matter how Shang Yongzhong listened, it sounded suspiciously like his family had been taken hostage.

Shang Jianxiong also told him that merely remaining behind to defend Yanjing would count as merit. It would allow him to redeem his past offenses through service, and his previous mistakes would no longer be pursued.

With the Emperor speaking so plainly, Shang Yongzhong understood that he had no road left to retreat along. At a time like this, the Emperor was like a wild beast—easy to enrage, and liable to devour a man.

Forced into a corner, Shang Yongzhong could only agree. He even had to brace himself and stabilize the morale of the troops staying behind, telling them that he himself was still here, there was nothing to fear, reinforcements would arrive soon, and so on.

That was one of the reasons His Majesty had left him to hold the capital.

There was no helping it. Shang Jianxiong had seized control of Shang Yongzhong's family at the first opportunity. Let him try refusing and see what happened. His previous military failures, which had harmed the state, provided the perfect excuse for a slaughter.

And so Shang Yongzhong truly was weeping with joy now. Tears of happiness shone in his eyes. At last there was a chance he might escape this calamity.

Holding the victory report in both hands, he presented it for Shang Jianxiong's imperial inspection.

Shang Jianxiong showed no intention of taking it. He looked at Shang Yongzhong coldly.

"Do you think this is the victory report We need? Can it make Song's army withdraw? This is Shang Chaozong's victory report, isn't it?"

When he spoke Shang Chaozong's name, his teeth were almost grinding.

Until the very end, Shang Jianxiong had continued clinging to one final thread of hope.

But that last hope had now shattered completely.

Shang Chaozong's one hundred thousand iron cavalry had accompanied Song's army all along.

Shang Jianxiong had waited until the very end without seeing the slightest sign that Shang Chaozong intended to attack Song's troops. He had been forced to prepare to flee Yanjing.

Shang Chaozong was plainly determined to sit by and watch the Emperor of Great Yan abandon his capital and run in panic.

He had given Shang Jianxiong hope, then let that hope break apart before his eyes.

To Shang Jianxiong, what could have been more cruel?

At this moment, he hated Shang Chaozong to the bone.

Smack!

Shang Yongzhong slapped a hand against his forehead.

He realized he had failed to explain himself clearly and caused the Emperor to misunderstand.

He hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, it isn't only that Song's two million elite river-defense troops were annihilated. We also captured six hundred thousand prisoners! Meng Shanming captured six hundred thousand elite Song soldiers alive. With those six hundred thousand prisoners in our hands, we have bargaining chips for negotiation!"

"Your Majesty, what state could simply ignore six hundred thousand of its own elite troops? So long as we hold those prisoners, how would Song's army dare continue attacking our capital?"

At those words, the coldness on Shang Jianxiong's face began to melt.

Like Tian Yu beside him, he looked astonished.

Shang Jianxiong almost seemed not to believe it.

"The armies were fighting, and these were elite Song troops. In such a short time, could he really capture six hundred thousand prisoners?"

As he spoke, he snatched the victory report from Shang Yongzhong's hands and opened it.

Shang Yongzhong clicked his tongue repeatedly.

"Exactly! Still, one has to admit that old cripple Meng Shanming truly knows how to fight. After breaking through Song's river defenses, he led their army around in circles until they were completely confused, then drew them into his trap. He breached the dike and borrowed the waters of an entire river. At the Qunluo Mountains, he swept Song's army away without spending a single soldier. Afterward, it was like picking beans from the ground—he gathered up six hundred thousand prisoners and even seized Song's grain and fodder for supplies."

"Your Majesty, looking at it now, Meng Shanming truly did have his reasons for insisting on attacking Song. So this was the vicious move he had hidden behind everything. It really is formidable. And now, with those six hundred thousand prisoners..."

"Shut your mouth!" Shang Jianxiong lifted his eyes slightly and rebuked him in a deep voice. "Whose side are you on?"

Tian Yu, standing nearby, also gave Shang Yongzhong a peculiar look.

This Prince seemed to have become a little too happy. He could not even control his mouth anymore.

Still, Tian Yu could understand.

There was a chance to escape disaster, after all.

"Uh..."

Shang Yongzhong froze.

When he came back to himself, a cold sweat broke over him. He nearly slapped himself across the face.

He had become so giddy with relief that he was actually speaking well of Shang Chaozong's side.

He hurriedly lowered his head and shut his mouth.

Inside, however, he remained excited.

His life might be saved.

Otherwise he truly would have had to die for the state.

With Shang Yongzhong no longer chattering, Shang Jianxiong finally read the victory report carefully from beginning to end.

The scale of the victory truly was far beyond his expectations.

They had actually captured six hundred thousand prisoners.

"Negotiate with Song?" Shang Jianxiong murmured, as though speaking to himself.

Shang Yongzhong nodded repeatedly.

"Your Majesty, summon Song's envoy at once and order Song's army to withdraw immediately! With those six hundred thousand prisoners in our hands, and with Song's western defensive line already broken while its interior stands empty beneath Meng Shanming's threat, Song will have no choice but to agree!"

Song's envoy was still in Yanjing.

No matter how fiercely the two states fought, envoys were not executed simply because war had begun. Certain matters still had to be communicated between states through diplomatic representatives, so an envoy was not lightly touched.

He could therefore be summoned at any time.

Shang Jianxiong hesitated.

"Will Meng Shanming hand over those six hundred thousand prisoners?"

Shang Yongzhong looked surprised.

"Not hand them over? What is he going to do with them, eat them?"

"Meng Shanming was already short of grain and fodder. Is he going to feed another six hundred thousand prisoners?"

"He cannot possibly slaughter all six hundred thousand, can he?"

"Besides, the three major sects are still there. Do the three sects not want the two states to cease hostilities? Do they truly intend to fight Song to mutual destruction and let Han reap the benefit?"

"Your Majesty can speak to Meng Xuan and have the three major sects put pressure on Shang Chaozong and Meng Shanming. The three sects will certainly agree!"

Shang Jianxiong thought it over and found the argument reasonable.

He looked toward Tian Yu.

Tian Yu gave a slight nod, plainly agreeing with Shang Yongzhong's judgment.

Shang Jianxiong turned and strode away.

At the same time, he ordered, "Have the Grand Minister of Works and the Grand Minister of the Masses come to the Imperial Study to discuss matters."

Tian Yu immediately summoned a eunuch and passed down the order.

Shang Jianxiong himself was going to see Meng Xuan first.

To prevent any unexpected change, he wanted Meng Xuan to notify the three major sects and ensure the six hundred thousand prisoners remained firmly under their control.

He had not gone far from the court buildings when a group of women emerged from the rear-palace direction, led by the Empress.

Every one of them still looked badly shaken.

At the sight, Shang Jianxiong stopped.

His gaze moved away from the women and toward the rear palace beyond them.

His breathing became heavy.

His cheeks darkened.

Shang Yongzhong still did not know what had happened in the rear palace.

Something like that would never have been announced beforehand. At most, word might leak afterward.

So he only noticed that the Emperor's complexion had become rather ugly.

When Tian Yu saw the Empress and the other women, his own expression became grim as well.

The victory report had arrived too late.

If there was no longer any need to abandon Yanjing, then the beauties of the rear palace had already been executed for nothing.

How could His Majesty possibly feel?

Tian Yu understood Shang Jianxiong's mood better than anyone.

Shang Jianxiong's cheeks tightened.

Then he simply ignored the Empress and the other palace women and continued onward.

Tian Yu, by contrast, hurried over to the Empress.

After paying his respects, he lowered his voice.

"Your Majesty, please have the noble ladies wait here for the moment."

The Empress asked nervously, "Has something changed?"

Tian Yu shook his head.

He could not explain yet.

Everything still depended on whether the three major sects agreed. Only then could they decide whether to remain.

The Empress had just witnessed the brutal executions throughout the rear palace.

When Tian Yu refused to explain, she did not dare ask further questions.

Tian Yu saluted and withdrew, hurrying after Shang Jianxiong.

...

The discussion with Meng Xuan went smoothly.

Meng Xuan had received the victory report almost at the same time.

He knew the matter of the six hundred thousand prisoners was genuine.

If Yanjing could be preserved, naturally it should be preserved.

A ceasefire between the two states that kept Yan intact directly concerned the interests of the three major sects.

Of course he agreed.

Meng Xuan accepted readily.

Once the matter with the three major sects had been settled, Shang Jianxiong met Tong Mo and Gao Jiancheng.

After discussing the matter, they immediately summoned Song's envoy, Qian Liansheng.

At first, Qian Liansheng still carried himself arrogantly.

Song's armies held the advantage and had pressed Yan beneath them, after all.

Yan's battlefield report had been sent directly from the front.

Song's report of the defeat, however, had gone straight back to the Song court and had not immediately been forwarded to Qian Liansheng.

So when Qian Liansheng learned from Yan that Song's army had suffered a crushing defeat and that six hundred thousand Song soldiers had been taken prisoner, he was stunned.

He had no authority to decide the conditions Yan proposed.

He asked for time to report the matter upward and verify the truth for himself, then hurried away.

...

"My lord, why have you come back? The household is already prepared. We can leave at any time."

Outside the Gao residence, Gao Jiancheng stepped down from his carriage after returning from the palace.

Fan Zhuan, the household steward, immediately came forward to receive him.

Gao Jiancheng had already said he would accompany the imperial household in its withdrawal.

Seeing him return unexpectedly, Fan Zhuan assumed he was worried about the preparations at home and gave him a quick report.

"There is no problem now. Looks like we won't have to flee after all. Tell everyone to return to normal."

Leaving those words behind, Gao Jiancheng went into the inner residence.

"Uh..."

Fan Zhuan stared after him.

Then he obeyed, turning to order the household to put away everything they had packed.

When Gao Jiancheng returned to his study, he stepped through the door and nearly thought he had entered the wrong room.

The place was almost empty.

Only after a moment did he realize that the study had probably been cleared in preparation for departure.

The table and chairs were still present.

At least they had not intended to carry those away.

Gao Jiancheng walked behind the desk and sat down.

Fan Zhuan entered after him and asked, "My lord, what happened?"

As he spoke, he drew a sheet of paper from his sleeve.

Gao Jiancheng leaned back in his chair and shook his head with a rueful smile.

"That Meng Shanming truly is formidable. To think he could fight a war to this point."

"In one battle, he chopped off one of Song's legs and nearly took half its life."

"Now Meng Shanming holds six hundred thousand elite Song soldiers as prisoners. With bargaining chips like that in hand, Song has little choice but to withdraw."

"So Yanjing should be safe. We no longer need to flee."

As he spoke, he stroked his beard.

An unusual gleam flashed in his eyes.

After this battle, Gao Jiancheng had begun to realize that the wager he had been forced to place in secret might have landed exactly where it should.

It was worth waiting to see what came next.

Fan Zhuan paused.

Then he offered the paper with both hands and lowered his voice.

"Master Dao just sent a message. It concerns those very six hundred thousand prisoners. He wants to know whether they should be killed or spared, and asks for my lord's opinion."

"Killed?"

Gao Jiancheng was startled.

Master Dao, Master Dao, do not frighten me like this, he thought.

Everyone here had just abandoned preparations to flee Yanjing.

If those six hundred thousand prisoners were suddenly slaughtered, what would there even be left to negotiate with Song about?

Everyone in the capital would calmly remain in place, only for Song's army to come attacking after all.

By then, they might not even be able to escape.

Wouldn't Master Dao be sending half the capital straight into a pit, the Gao family included?

Gao Jiancheng knew perfectly well how much influence Niu Youdao held over Meng Shanming.

If Niu Youdao truly resolved to begin a mass slaughter, everyone in Yanjing would be in serious trouble.

He hurriedly took the secret letter and began reading, wanting to see exactly what Niu Youdao meant.

[End of Chapter 697]