Chen Tang Pass was completely controlled by Xian Yue. News of this was immediately reported to Her Majesty the Empress, and the entire imperial court was shocked. The seven kingdoms were also astonished that Xian Yue, with only one hundred thousand troops, had breached Chen Tang Pass, which was defended by nearly three hundred thousand soldiers. Their advance was like breaking bamboo, and in less than a month, Chen Tang Pass had fallen.
The entire Dan Feng Kingdom was in turmoil. The Empress and her ministers debated countermeasures all night. During this time, rumors began to spread that the Imperial Consort of Dan Feng was still a malevolent influence, and it was because of him that their Dan Feng Kingdom was so vulnerable. In extreme panic, people lost all reason.
These rumors first originated among the common people, then slowly spread to the civil and military officials in the court, and finally reached the ears of the Empress.
At this point, a minister stepped forward and advised, "With such a wicked influence, the nation will not be preserved. I implore Her Majesty to issue an decree ordering the execution of this man who brings disaster."
The Empress did not believe such talk from common sorcerers. However, the recent major defeat at Chen Tang Pass meant that Hua Wenbo bore inescapable responsibility. The Empress was furious, and coupled with the daily pleas from her ministers to execute Hua Wenbo, she became increasingly agitated and uneasy.
At this moment, the Fifth Princess, Ji Meng, stepped forward and calmly declared that she was willing to lead troops to Huacheng and reclaim Chen Tang Pass.
The Fifth Princess, Ji Meng, was quite cunning and skilled in martial arts. This time, she obtained permission to lead troops to Huacheng to recapture Chen Tang Pass. If she succeeded in this endeavor, it was likely that a profound change would occur in the Empress's heart.
Ji Meng knew that the Empress valued capability above all else and did not question the means. On that day, when Ji Xue killed Ji Feng, the Empress had admired her intelligence and spared her life. Therefore, this time, she was determined to show the Empress that she was more suitable to be the Empress of Dan Feng than Ji Xue.
Furthermore, the rumors were spreading virulently among the populace.
It was rumored that the commander leading Xian Yue was still the Empress, a woman with not only astonishing strategies but also formidable weapons.
However, Ji Meng was no pushover. She enjoyed engaging with intelligent women, and so she would face her.
The Empress granted Ji Meng's request, allocating fifty thousand troops from the Ministry of War to her. She was ordered to proceed to Huacheng and, together with Ji Xue, reclaim Chen Tang Pass. They must not lose Chen Tang Pass, for if it were lost, they would likely suffer a string of defeats.
Ji Meng led fifty thousand troops to Huacheng and merged them with Ji Xue's forces, bringing the total to over one hundred thousand.
In the grand hall of the official yamen in Huacheng, the atmosphere was tense and frigid. The officials of Huacheng, seated below, wiped sweat from their brows and secretly cast glances at the Crown Princess Ji Xue, seated above, and the Princess Ji Meng, seated below. These two royal daughters were locked in a cold, uncompromising stare, with conflict seemingly imminent.
The officials below sighed inwardly. This was a time for unity against a common enemy, why couldn't these two women cooperate? Their internal squabbling was precisely why Chen Tang Pass had been lost.
"Imperial Sister, Mother Empress has ordered me to bring fifty thousand troops to retake Chen Tang Pass, so Imperial Sister should cede command of the main forces to me. Your loss of Chen Tang Pass and nearly one hundred fifty thousand troops is sufficient proof of your inadequacy in handling affairs," Ji Meng said.
Upon hearing Ji Meng's words, Ji Xue's face, as expected, turned from red to white, and then to an ashen hue. She abruptly stood up, breathing heavily, and angrily pointed at Ji Meng.
"Fifth Sister, how dare you! You must remember that this is my responsibility as Crown Princess. Mother Empress sent you with fifty thousand troops to assist us in reclaiming Chen Tang Pass, not to snatch credit."
How could Ji Xue not understand Ji Meng's intentions? She wanted to regain the Empress's attention with this battle, and she would never allow her to succeed.
She had been waiting for the Imperial Consort to arrive, and then, together with Shi Cheng, they would launch a pincer attack to reclaim Chen Tang Pass. If Chen Tang Pass were lost, coupled with the heavy casualties of soldiers, her position as Crown Princess would likely be truly precarious.
Therefore, she was determined to reclaim Chen Tang Pass and atone for her mistakes.
However, Ji Meng did not fear her. She sprang up from her chair and spoke with arrogant ferocity, "If Imperial Sister does not relinquish military command, I will not act."
As Ji Meng finished speaking, the faces of the officials in Huacheng turned grim and resentful. The nation was in peril, yet these two sisters continued to quarrel endlessly. They should be cooperating to reclaim Chen Tang Pass, otherwise, neither of them would fare well before the Empress.
The Prefect of Huacheng abruptly stood up, looked at Ji Xue, then at Ji Meng, and finally spoke calmly.
"Your Highness the Crown Princess, we must now find a way to reclaim Chen Tang Pass. If we do not retake Chen Tang Pass, I fear that Xian Yue's troops will soon target Huacheng."
This was everyone's most urgent concern. So many troops had been stationed at Chen Tang Pass, yet they couldn't stop those people. Huacheng was much smaller and closer to Chen Tang Pass. If the Crown Princess and the Fifth Princess did not work together, Huacheng might also be lost, let alone reclaiming Chen Tang Pass.
Ji Xue listened to the Prefect's words and frowned in thought.
Currently, Chen Tang Pass was lost, and they only had seventy to eighty thousand troops. Ji Meng's reinforcements could not be immediately utilized, and Hua Wenbo had not yet returned. It was not the time to dispatch troops.
For now, they could only wait for Hua Wenbo's return. As long as he could persuade the people of Huang Yuan Kingdom, they would be able to counterattack.
"Let's wait. I am making arrangements," Ji Xue said.
"What arrangements can you make?" Ji Meng asked disdainfully, with extreme sarcasm. In the past, Ji Meng would not have dared to speak to Ji Xue in such a manner, as she was the Crown Princess and the future Empress of Dan Feng. However, after the battle at Chen Tang Pass, she might not be the ideal candidate in the Empress's eyes. This was because the Empress had not ordered her to bring troops to assist Ji Xue, but had decreed that she must reclaim Chen Tang Pass, indicating extreme dissatisfaction with Ji Xue. It was only a matter of time before she was deposed.
"You?"
Ji Xue was enraged by Ji Meng's tone, and the two began to quarrel again. The officials of Huacheng, seeing this situation, were overwhelmed. The Prefect of Huacheng immediately led his subordinates to stand up, saying, "Your subordinates bid farewell."
It was better for them to figure out a solution themselves. The officials quickly withdrew, leaving only Yu Jiao, the main general of Chen Tang Pass, seated alone below, looking with desolate eyes at her superiors above.
They were only concerned with their own interests and never considered the welfare of the people of Dan Feng. So many lives had been lost, yet they showed no grief. Compared to their cold-blooded indifference, she thought the marshal of Xian Yue was much more merciful.
Since she had entered Chen Tang Pass, she had ordered that no harm should befall any civilian, which had elevated Xian Yue's standing in the hearts of the populace. Yet, their own side was not making preparations for remediation and was instead embroiled in disputes.
In the study of Chen Tang Pass.
Qing Yao and Yin Xuan sat under the lamp, researching the current situation. They had captured Chen Tang Pass but had not seen Hua Wenbo. He seemed to have vanished into thin air. However, they believed he would not simply abandon them. Therefore, it was possible that he had gone to seek reinforcements, but from where?