"Master, what are we waiting for?" Jiang Yan asked, unable to contain himself as the night deepened with no sign of Han Mo returning to the post station.
"For the good news!" Han Mo replied, pouring himself another cup of wine.
"Good news? Commander Han and the others?" Jiang Yan asked, taken aback.
"Exactly. Success or failure rests on their luck!" Han Mo took a deep breath and drained his wine cup.
Watching the closed city gates, Jiang Yan's heart sank. If tens of thousands of soldiers couldn't resolve the situation, could their mere thousands succeed?
Just as Han Mo was about to leave, the rapid clatter of hooves suddenly echoed from outside the city gates.
"Muzhou Victory! Two thousand enemies slain, rebel leader Fang La captured!"
"Muzhou Victory! Two thousand enemies slain, rebel leader Fang La captured!"
"Muzhou Victory! Two thousand enemies slain, rebel leader Fang La captured!"
The soldiers' shouts of victory pierced through the city gates.
"They did it! Master, they did it!" Jiang Yan exclaimed, his excitement palpable at the news from outside.
"Someone, help me change. We're going to the Pacification Commissioner's Office!" Han Mo wiped a tear from his eye and gave the order.
"Yes!"
"Muzhou Victory! Two thousand enemies slain, rebel leader Fang La captured!"
"Muzhou Victory! Two thousand enemies slain, rebel leader Fang La captured!"
"Muzhou Victory! Two thousand enemies slain, rebel leader Fang La captured!"
As the city gates creaked open, a group of five ragged soldiers, carrying a banner with the Han character, were escorted by the guards towards the Pacification Commissioner's Office. Their hoarse voices cut through the night, and after a moment of silence, the entire city of Suzhou erupted into a joyous celebration.
Women who had worried about their next meal, men who had just fallen asleep after a long day's work, children still dreaming of candy skewers... countless citizens poured into the streets. Fang La had been captured, the war was finally over.
"What's all that noise outside?" Zhao Zhen asked impatiently from within the Pacification Commissioner's Office.
"Your Highness, great joy! Congratulations, Your Highness!" The attendant outside rushed in, beaming with delight at Zhao Zhen's voice.
"What did you say? What great joy?" Zhao Zhen felt a sense of unease after hearing the attendant's words.
"Muzhou Victory! Two thousand enemies slain, rebel leader Fang La captured! Your Highness, your great merit is achieved!" The attendant finished speaking, awaiting his reward.
"Get out!" Zhao Zhen's expression darkened upon receiving confirmation. Those few thousand men had actually won?
"Your Highness?" The attendant looked at Zhao Zhen in confusion. Normally, wouldn't there be immediate rewards for such joyous news?
"Get out!"
"Huh?"
"Go!" The attendant quickly retreated, bewildered by Zhao Zhen's furious outburst.
Tens of thousands of troops had surrounded the rebels without attacking, only for Han Mo's eight thousand men to snatch the victory. Zhao Zhen felt as if he had swallowed a fly. Where was the formidable enemy they had spoken of, the one the imperial army couldn't approach? This wasn't the script he had expected! With Fang La captured, how could he continue his role as the Pacification Commissioner of the Southeast Circuit? Without Fang La, how could he maintain his strategy of profiting from the rebellion?
"Your Highness!" Zhao Zhen's temper was interrupted by Zong Ying's voice from outside. Even with his immense anger, Zhao Zhen had to suppress it upon hearing Zong Ying.
"Congratulations, Your Highness! Muzhou Victory, two thousand enemies slain, rebel leader Fang La captured, Your Highness's great merit is achieved, the rebellion is quelled!"
"Congratulations, Your Highness, great merit achieved, rebellion quelled!" The officials from the Pacification Commissioner's Office, whether aware of the details or not, bowed and offered their congratulations. Hearing their voices and seeing the smile on Zong Ying's face, Zhao Zhen felt as if he had eaten three pounds of cow dung.
"Where is the messenger? Who captured Fang La?" Han Mo asked from within the crowd, a sense of vindication washing over him as he observed Zhao Zhen's stiff smile. Wasn't this precisely why he had traveled all this way?
"Bring him up!" Zong Ying quickly gave the order at Han Mo's question. Soon, several soldiers carried in a ragged man from outside. The blood-soaked clothes and the travel-worn face spoke volumes about the difficulty of the victory.
"Under whose command are you?" Zhao Zhen asked patiently, despite his inner turmoil.
"Reporting to Your Highness, I am a squad leader under the command of General Han Shizhong, Righteous Warrior Grand Master!" The man's strong voice made Han Mo sigh inwardly. So young! Why such a robust voice at a time like this? He should be gravely wounded, on the verge of death! If it weren't for the public scrutiny, he would have loved to guide the young man, to teach him about weakness!
"Han Shizhong?"
"He is a subordinate general under my command!" Han Mo stepped forward with a smile as Zhao Zhen pondered. All eyes turned to Han Mo once more. Even if some had suspected something, they hesitated to speak now.
"Brother Han, you have given this humble prince a great gift! Guards, reward him! Reward him handsomely!" Zhao Zhen gave Han Mo a complex look before resuming his smile. Regardless of whether his sincerity was genuine, his words prompted the officials of the Pacification Commissioner's Office to join the celebratory mood. Whatever their original intentions, with the war won, their merits were secured. After such a long struggle, a positive outcome had finally been achieved, and everyone was beaming with joy.
"Your Highness, you don't seem very happy tonight!" Han Mo stepped forward, speaking softly to Zhao Zhen amidst the celebrations.
"Oh? Really?" Zhao Zhen found himself in an awkward position.
"Perhaps I was mistaken! But with the success of this campaign, have you thought about your next steps, Your Highness?" Zhao Zhen wished he could slap Han Mo at this moment. Why was this fellow bringing up such sensitive matters?
"Does this prince need to think about that? Hasn't Brother Han already thought of everything for me?" However, his rationality quickly led him to make the most beneficial decision for himself.
"Your Highness, after tonight, I fear you will become a target!" Han Mo said with a smile, observing Zhao Zhen's slightly forced smile.
"With Brother Han's protection, this prince fears nothing!"
"Your Highness is too kind! Han Mo is merely a scholar; to overcome obstacles for Your Highness, we must rely on these soldiers who have fought through blood and battle!"