"This way, my asking Brother Jing Zhan to deliver the letter has instead inconvenienced him," Yu Mingyue sighed.
Jing Zhan possessed the best martial arts and strategic skills among their group, making him the most suitable person. She had enticed him with benefits, and the matter was indeed not conducted with utmost transparency on her part.
Now that the Northern Army had suffered defeat and General Han was dismissed, there was no talk of merit.
Thinking this, she felt even more sorry for Jing Zhan and for Youyou.
"You don't need to blame yourself. After all, the incident occurred at the Gu family's villa. The Gu family also has a responsibility to protect everyone's safety. Jing Zhan is a member of the Gu family, so it was most appropriate for him to act. He returned well past the hour of Yin, and if he hadn't reported the news, the Northern Army might not have had a chance to fight at all. General Han wouldn't have been dismissed, but beheaded," Xie Jiayan said, not to comfort Yu Mingyue, but stating the facts.
Delaying the battle was a capital offense. Although General Han was dismissed, he saved his life and still had the opportunity to redeem himself. Just as Sixth Lady guessed, General Han would likely be transferred to Youzhou. Regardless, the Han family owed the Gu family a favor.
"Even so, my actions at the time were indeed not entirely forthright. Fortunately, Brother Jing Zhan was magnanimous and did not hold it against me." She would find a suitable opportunity to apologize to him and Youyou again.
"Compassion does not rule an army, and righteousness does not manage wealth. In that situation, decisive action was necessary." If someone else had delivered the letter, they might not have been as quick-witted as Jing Zhan.
If he hadn't pretended to be hunting and circled around Phoenix Mountain, lulling the sentries into a false sense of security, he wouldn't have been able to escape.
The letter was delivered not too late. Although General Han was defeated, he managed to pursue some of the enemy forces.
Han Congsheng had commanded the Northern Army for many years. While there were many sons of officials, the Northern Army's strength should not have been so weak. Such a crushing defeat was no wonder the Emperor was angered.
"Brother Jiayan, will the Seventh Prince and my brother pass by Phoenix Mountain today?"
With the Northern Army's defeat and the missed opportunity, it would be difficult to form a pincer attack and catch the Hanzhong Army from both sides. This would, in turn, put pressure on the Seventh Prince and his entourage.
"I'm afraid not," Xie Jiayan said, choosing his words carefully, not wanting her to be too sad.
"Although they are a victorious army with high morale, the Hanzhong Army has always been fierce. They were able to escape even in last night's situation, so I fear it won't be easy," Yu Mingyue was not as optimistic this time.
The opportunities on the battlefield were fleeting. Last night, a great chance had already been missed.
"The Sage has already sent word to Marquis Guannei and Marquis Chenliu for assistance, blocking the eastern and western escape routes. Once the Hanzhong Army leaves Hanzhong, they will lose their greatest advantage of being easily defensible. It will be difficult for them to return," Xie Jiayan chuckled.
Xiao Changgong had endured hardship in Hanzhong for most of his life and was unlikely to be impatient. She wondered how Wang Ningqing had persuaded Xiao Changgong to emerge.
"If Xiao Changgong dares to emerge, I fear he has further plans," Yu Mingyue guessed.
In the storybooks, the protagonists were Xiao Che and Su Wanqing. The descriptions of the supporting character Xiao Changgong were only brief.
Xiao Changgong was the late Emperor's cousin. He had helped the late Emperor conquer half the empire and had conquered the most difficult territory of Hanzhong, his merits being unparalleled.
The Sage also greatly respected this cousin and was quite lenient towards him.
Xiao Changgong was not someone easily swayed. What reason could have suddenly caused him to rebel?
Xie Jiayan was silent for a moment: "I fear only Wang Ningqing knows, besides Xiao Changgong."
Wang Ningqing had encroached upon political power and had incited several feudal lords to rebel. The Wang family was likely doomed this time.
They could only blame their insatiable greed and lack of restraint.
However...
Last night, Liaokong had already escorted them out of the city overnight. They must have passed the capital's territory by now, and all worldly troubles would have nothing to do with her.