Zhang San, please behave yourself!
Chapter 630 - 579: We Can’t Let the Tujue People Continue to Be Arrogant!

Chapter 630: Chapter 579: We Can’t Let the Tujue People Continue to Be Arrogant!

Inside the palace, there was silence.

Only one official read out the urgent report Mei Fei had just sent back.

"Today, the Tujue armies attacked in vast numbers, their forces amounting to hundreds of thousands. Though the Shuofang Army was brave and fierce, they were yet hard-pressed to stand against the ferocity of the northern barbarians. Fortunately, due to their diligent training in the past, they managed to retreat in one piece from under the hooves of the Tujue. However, the Lingwu Army was unable to withstand the Tujue forces and quickly collapsed, I’m afraid all the generals in the army met with misfortune. When the Imperial Court dispatched the main army to reinforce them, it also posthumously promoted the generals of the Lingwu Army to console the spirits of the Three Armies."

After the official finished reading the newly received report, he looked up proudly at Kaihuang, who was sitting above with a cold expression.

At that moment, King Jin gave a signal to his own people behind him, and immediately someone stepped forward and asked, "Shouldn’t this urgent report have been sent to the Ministry of War? Why did you, an Imperial Censor, bring it in?"

The Imperial Censor said proudly, "I was supposed to be off for these three days. Yet, when I went out, I encountered a soldier with severe wounds carrying such an important report, and so I rushed back to present this matter!"

Actually, this report was sent by Mei Fei to the Crown Prince’s side.

The Crown Prince realized that warfare was erupting again in the Great Sui, but he did not have many generals under his command, and it didn’t help that King Jin, Yang Quan, who had earned distinguished military merits during the overthrow of Southern Chen, was lingering in Daxing City and refusing to leave.

The Crown Prince had already become wary of this brother who perennially stayed in the capital without leaving.

Thus, he too needed to extend his hand into the military.

Coincidentally, at this time Mei Fei felt that he also needed some support from the Crown Prince, so he sent the report over.

Now the report was presented by an Imperial Censor under the Crown Prince.

On one hand, this could prove the Imperial Censor’s diligence, which would undoubtedly earn Kaihuang’s commendation.

On the other hand, it could also indirectly highlight the incompetence of the Ministry of War.

Then, let the Imperial Censors launch another attack on the Ministry of War, allowing the Crown Prince to gradually place his own people within the Ministry of War.

Afterward, he would send some of his own forces among the reinforcements, and half of the credit for this battle would fall into his own pocket.

At this moment, the official who had just stood up sneered.

This official was from the Ministry of War and also one of King Jin’s men.

He presented a report, holding it up with both hands and speaking softly, "Your Majesty Kaihuang, your humble official also has a report here, sent back by Changsun Bubai of the Lingwu Army. The report mentions..."

Here, the official turned his head to look at the proud face of the Imperial Censor.

"Lingwu Army’s Military Envoy Changsun Bubai criticizes Shuofang Army’s commander Mei Fei. After learning of the Tujue’s arrival, he took it upon himself to lead the Shuofang Army southward, without engaging with the Tujue, retreated without a fight!"

"This caused the Tujue forces to advance deep into our territory, and even allowed five thousand of their elite cavalry to flank and attack the Lingwu Army. Fortunately, the Town Martial Office at the northern outpost of Longyun Path, commanding a large number of Martial Artists from Longyun Path, united to withstand and annihilate the Tujue’s five thousand elite cavalry, thus protecting the flank of the Lingwu Army and preventing their total annihilation due to the Shuofang Army’s misconduct."

"Later, Changsun Bubai, after learning that the Shuofang Army had retreated without a fight, not only kept it a secret from the Lingwu Army but also failed to inform the local areas of the warfare. This caused the civilians to be exposed to the Tujue’s imminent advancement. Thus, the Lingwu Army had no choice but to defend with a small part of their forces against the Tujue’s attacks, abandoning the direction of the Great Wall, while protecting the surrounding civilians and officials as they retreated southward."

"Now the Lingwu Army’s southern retreat aims for Li City. Should the Tujue forces reach Li City, the Lingwu Army will pledge to hold their ground to the death. If the Tujue’s target is elsewhere, the Lingwu Army, after regrouping, will launch a proactive attack and battle the Tujue fiercely!"

Upon hearing this, the Imperial Censor was completely dumbstruck.

Because Changsun Bubai’s report was entirely different from what Mei Fei had sent!

And it seemed more likely that Changsun Bubai’s account was the truth.

But how could he possibly admit to this?

"Nonsense! Mei Fei is the Deputy Military Commander-in-Chief of Longyun Path; can his word not outweigh that of a mere Military Envoy?"

At that moment, Pei Shouqi from the Ministry of War stepped forward.

"Reporting to Kaihuang, here is a war report from Jin River Path."

"Veteran General Yuchi An personally reported that the Tujue Khan, Aikan Shetou, leading the Tujue’s vast army as the Left Vanguard Army, has launched a sudden attack on Jin River Path. Fortunately, the Lingwu Army had informed them in advance, allowing Jin River Path to be prepared, and successfully fended off the Tujue’s assault. However, due to the Shuofang Army abandoning the Great Wall defense zone, it allowed Tujue Khan Aikan Shetou to dispatch troops to stealthily attack from the flank, causing heavy losses to the Jin River Path’s army."

"General Wang Junwu led the troops to resist the Tujue’s unexpected flank attack, preventing the Jin River Path’s army from being severely damaged."

"Yet now, the Jin River Path’s army has suffered severe damages. They can only refuse to defend the Great Wall and block the Tujue’s vast army at the border between Jin River Path and Longyun Path, preventing the Tujue’s troops from advancing into Jin River Path."

"Currently, Tujue Khan Aikan Shetou appears to have the tendency to lead his vast army westward from Longyun Path for an invasion."

Upon hearing this, everyone in the Imperial Court understood the situation.

If the three armies had all moved north to defend the Great Wall, they might have been able to hold it.

But the central Shuofang Army retreated without fighting, not only causing the Lingwu Army to fail in holding the battle line but also causing Jin River Path to suffer alongside them.

To make matters worse, Changsun Bubai of the Lingwu Army had not died, which ruined Mei Fei’s original plan to lay the blame on a "dead man."

At this moment, everyone observing Kaihuang’s expression saw it was extremely somber.

Many knew that Kaihuang was a person who greatly valued old loyalties.

Originally everyone who had sided with him and even helped him before he became Kaihuang received numerous benefits.

Even though the Zheng Family and Liu Family had some inadequacies, Kaihuang still granted them wealth and honor as due.

This was also true for Mei Fei. With Mei Fei’s capabilities, let alone serving as the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Longyun Path, he would scarcely manage well even as a Deputy General of the military.

His rise to the current position was entirely because of Kaihuang’s trust.

Now that the battle had turned out this way, how could Kaihuang not be furious!

Yet everyone also knew that Kaihuang was very concerned about his reputation; he also feared that by executing Mei Fei, some might think he was turning on the "heroes" who had assisted him in the past.

At this moment, Kaihuang too was in a dilemma.

What should he do with Mei Fei, to execute or to execute?

Just then, the Crown Prince stood up.

"Father, your son believes that Mei Fei deserves to die."

Upon hearing the Crown Prince’s words, many were taken aback, especially the Imperial Censor.

He was aware that Mei Fei was planning to side with the Crown Prince, so why would the Crown Prince betray Mei Fei now?

Then, the Crown Prince said, "However, now is the time to employ every available man. Rather than executing him, let Mei Fei redeem his faults with meritorious deeds. After all, the great battle has just begun, and at this time, it is inappropriate to execute a major general!"

Hearing this, the expression on Kaihuang’s face softened considerably.

"Seeing as this time the Tujue under Khan Sharlobi himself is leading the troops and has divided his forces into five paths to attack Great Sui, Great Sui has absolutely no reason to be courteous to them!"

"This battle, I shall command in person!"

"We cannot allow the Tujue people to continue their arrogance!"