“His Majesty is wise.” The ministers bowed respectfully, not daring to argue.
Given the current court situation, besides ordering garrison troops from various regions to come to the capital for relief, there was no other feasible solution.
However, with the great distances involved, travel would inevitably be delayed for some time. During this period, it was uncertain whether Ji Zeyu and Gao Wenliang could withstand the iron hooves of the Tatar cavalry.
“Your Majesty.” At this moment, an elderly minister stepped forward and declared loudly: “This minister requests Your Majesty’s gracious permission to recall Prince Zhongshun to the capital to assume command of the Huben Army. Prince Zhongshun is brave and skilled in battle. Together with Duke Dingguo, their combined prowess will surely break the Tatars’ deadlock!”
With one person daring to step forward with this proposal, others immediately came forward to voice their agreement.
Li Qitian’s brows furrowed tightly, veins bulging at his temples.
Again this argument, again asking him to recall Pang Xiao! Did they think his kingdom couldn’t be defended without Pang Xiao? Was he the only one brave and skilled in battle? He had plenty of military generals under his command—did they all together not match a single Pang Zhixi?
Li Qitian remained silent.
Immediately, those skilled at reading imperial intentions stepped forward to refute: “Prince Zhongshun has a history of repeatedly defying imperial orders. Your Majesty’s mercy in not pursuing this matter has only emboldened him further. Now in the south, under the guise of disaster relief, he searches everywhere for grain and supplies, taking this opportunity to monopolize grain routes, leaving the court without supplies for the front lines. His intentions deserve death!”
“This minister agrees! This minister believes Prince Zhongshun harbors wolfish ambitions and ulterior motives. Recalling him now would be inviting a wolf into the house, very likely causing Great Zhou’s forces to face enemies on both fronts!”
As soon as these words were spoken, military generals who greatly admired Pang Xiao immediately stepped forward, their voices thunderous in rebuttal: “You, who only knows how to hide behind others—have you ever fought in battle? Have you seen the cruelty of the battlefield? If you were really sent to battle, you’d probably wet yourself in fear, you coward! What qualifications do you have to slander Prince Zhongshun! Prince Zhongshun made tremendous contributions to establishing Great Zhou. He is honest, loyal, and utterly devoted to Your Majesty. It’s all you petty people stirring up trouble behind the scenes, repeatedly sowing discord and spreading rumors! Slandering Prince Zhongshun and driving a wedge between Your Majesty and your ministers—what are your true intentions!”
The civil official trembled with anger: “How dare you be so insolent in the Golden Throne Hall! Your Majesty is wise and will make all decisions himself. How could a few words from others influence him? Speaking like this shows you think too little of Your Majesty!”
…
Li Qitian’s brows remained tightly furrowed. Hearing his subordinates arguing again over Pang Xiao, his heart grew increasingly irritated. He wished he could have all these troublemakers dragged out and executed.
He hadn’t wanted Pang Xiao to have contact with the Huben Army or regain military authority. Yet doing simple disaster relief, he had somehow created such a stir—clearly deliberately opposing him!
His large-scale grain purchases in the south had left the forces resisting the Tatars without food. Now he had created such威势, making the southern people praise him endlessly. Li Qitian was truly about to be driven to madness with rage.
“Silence!”
Unable to bear it any longer, Li Qitian roared angrily.
The Golden Throne Hall fell quiet again, with everyone cautiously bowing their heads and saying in unison: “Your Majesty, please calm your anger.”
“Calm down, calm down!” Li Qitian stood up angrily, pacing back and forth with his hands behind his back. “The Tatars are almost upon us—do all my ministers only know how to argue in the court hall? If the Tatars truly break into the capital, it won’t just be I who suffers, but also all your families, and all the people in the city!
“Once the country falls and families are destroyed, with Tatar iron hooves trampling through the capital straight to the Central Plains, all the people will be shrouded under the shadow of those iron hooves. They will be slaughtered and enslaved!”
Li Qitian spoke with righteous indignation, his words clear and forceful: “I absolutely will not allow such a thing to happen. I will not retreat a single step but will defend the capital, becoming Great Zhou’s final line of defense!”
“Your Majesty is benevolent!” The ministers kowtowed one after another, and some were even moved to tears.
Li Qitian’s tone softened slightly: “As for Prince Zhongshun, the southern disaster situation is severe. Disaster relief is also helping me pacify southern unrest. Prince Zhongshun has exceptional abilities—whether placed in the south or north, he has irreplaceable value.”
“Yes!” The ministers bowed. How could anyone not understand? Li Qitian clearly didn’t want Pang Xiao to have military authority!
Some elderly ministers secretly shook their heads and sighed. They didn’t know where His Majesty got such confidence. The Tatars now had Lu Heng’s financial support, and both Si Qin and Lu Heng were skilled strategists. Ji Zeyu alone leading one hundred thousand troops, struggling to hold on under conditions lacking supply support, was already difficult enough—let alone having Gao Wenliang constantly interfering beside him.
At this time, they were retreating step by step, almost back to the capital, yet His Majesty remained blindly confident, thinking he too was an emperor who fought on horseback and could defend the capital…
Some elderly ministers were almost moved to tears.
Under such turbulent court conditions, the people’s future days would only become more bitter.
After the grand court assembly, Li Qitian’s edict was drafted by the cabinet. After Li Qitian reviewed it, copies were distributed throughout the nation.
Within half a month, imperial relief armies from various regions had assembled. Even though Li Qitian had clearly stated “bring your own supplies” in the imperial edict, for the stability of the realm and to prevent the Central Plains peoples from being ruled by foreign tribes, forces from various regions still rushed toward the capital.
In the former capital, Pang Xiao, Yun Yancai, and the newly appointed Commander Feng, who led the one hundred thousand Pingnan Army stationed in the south, all received the imperial edict.
Commander Feng had been ordered to lead the one hundred thousand Pingnan Army to guard between Great Zhou and Southern Yan. His position was already leisurely, and since the Pingnan Army had been trained by Pang Xiao and was well-disciplined, and Commander Feng had previously served under Pang Xiao, he immediately rushed to the former capital to consult with Pang Xiao upon receiving the edict.
“Your Highness! The capital is in crisis! The Tatars have actually bullied their way to our capital—this is absolutely intolerable! Just give the word, and our one hundred thousand Pingnan Army will immediately follow Your Highness north. I refuse to believe that we brave men can’t beat those Tatar brutes!”
Pang Xiao laughed heartily and patted Commander Feng’s shoulder: “Brother Feng is still so forthright. Yes, Great Zhou has plenty of good men willing to give their all for the country. Overthrowing the tyrant of Northern Ji was our own business, but if foreign tribes want to invade, they’d better consider whether they have the strength!”
Commander Feng was stirred to boiling passion and nodded repeatedly: “Your Highness speaks truly!” Then he thought of something troubling: “Fighting is all well and good—our brothers fear neither death nor hardship, not one of them is a coward. But His Majesty ordered us to bring our own supplies, which truly puts us in a difficult position. Your Highness, what should we do?”
Pang Xiao smiled bitterly, then spoke with renewed vigor: “What should we do? Even if we have to drink cold water and eat clay all the way, we must rush back to defend the capital. We’ve encountered such times—can we abandon Great Zhou and not rescue His Majesty because of these reasons?”
“Your Highness is right!” Commander Feng nodded repeatedly.
Yun Yancai also sat in the hall participating in the discussion. Having heard Pang Xiao and Commander Feng’s conversation clearly, he gained deep understanding of Pang Xiao’s prestige in the military.
It seemed that even though he had long been away from the Pingnan Army, Pang Xiao’s influence within it remained considerable. And among the Huben Army he had personally trained, it went without saying.
No wonder the Qiu family valued Pang Xiao so highly.
Pang Xiao seemed to notice Yun Yancai only then and smiled: “Governor Yun has worked too hard on disaster relief these days. But with His Majesty’s edict for imperial relief, this prince must rush back to the capital. Hereafter, disaster relief matters will have to be entrusted to you, Governor.”
Yun Yancai quickly stood and said: “Your Highness speaks too seriously. The grain and supplies Your Highness purchased have been arriving continuously, plus the grain sent from the Princess Consort’s estates—it’s enough for the people to survive this winter. Your Highness’s noble character, using your own silver to feed the people while refusing to take credit, truly moves this humble official with your nobility.”
“Governor Yun is truly too kind.” Pang Xiao waved his hands modestly. “What this prince has done is far from enough. Now that Great Zhou’s fate hangs in the balance, this prince must rush back to the capital. All matters great and small in the former capital region are entrusted to Governor Yun.”
“These are all within this humble official’s duties.” Yun Yancai bowed.
After exchanging pleasantries with Yun Yancai, Pang Xiao told Commander Feng: “Go tell the brothers to prepare themselves and await orders to break camp and depart. Everyone should bring provisions first—along the way, this prince will find ways to keep everyone fed!”
“We naturally trust Your Highness.” Commander Feng bowed to Pang Xiao and left quickly.
Pang Xiao pondered for a moment, then hurried back to the Qin residence.
Though the weather in the south was still cold, it was far milder than the capital. Pang Xiao could manage with just a cloak over his thin outer robe, while Qin Yining was wrapped in a fur-collared cloak, huddled under blankets.
A charcoal brazier burned in the room, yet Qin Yining still felt somewhat cold. She sat sideways by the step-up bed, letting Bingtang take her pulse.
“Though only half a month has passed, this time the pulse is very clear.” Bingtang’s face showed joy as she smiled: “The Princess Consort’s pulse flows smoothly like rolling pearls, round and responsive—it’s clearly a pregnancy pulse. Congratulations, Princess Consort, you are indeed with child!”
Ji Yun, Han Xiao, and Zi Yuan nearby couldn’t help but smile.
Qin Yining also smiled joyfully. After Pang Xiao had taken that medicine, she could finally confirm her pregnancy pulse and be certain that Pang Xiao’s body was unharmed.
“Congratulations, Princess Consort!” Ji Yun led the servants in bowing.
Qin Yining smiled and acknowledged them, raising her slender, pale hand to wave. Just as she was about to speak, she heard a young maid outside loudly greeting: “Your Highness!”
The curtain lifted, and Pang Xiao entered while unfastening his cloak and walking around the screen. Seeing Qin Yining’s eyes and brows full of smiles, and the servants all beaming with joy, he couldn’t help asking: “What’s happened? What good news has everyone so happy?”
Bingtang smiled and stepped forward: “Congratulations, Your Highness. The Princess Consort is one month pregnant.”
“Congratulations, Your Highness.” The servants bowed again.
Pang Xiao stood by the bed, staring blankly at Qin Yining as if stunned, unsure where to put his hands and feet.
“You’re saying Yining is pregnant?”
Qin Yining feigned anger and snorted: “Judging by Your Highness’s expression, you don’t seem very pleased.”
“No, how could I… I’m so happy I can barely contain myself! We’re going to have a third child! This is truly tremendous news!” After processing these words, Pang Xiao was so overjoyed he nearly jumped up.