Chapter 733
Silly child, as long as you live, your father will be at ease!
Gongsun Kang smiled and stretched his arms.
"You are very kind, my dear minister. I feel refreshed and my blood is flowing smoothly. I am much better now, thanks to the imperial physician's medicine and your care."
Seeing this, Li Xu was completely relieved, a relieved smile appearing on his face. He then spoke:
"It's good that Your Majesty is alright. By the way, Your Majesty, yesterday I ordered Hu Yue to lead two thousand elite cavalry to meet the Crown Prince. Judging by the time, Hu Yue's troops should be ready to escort the Crown Prince back to the capital soon."
"To meet Yuan'er?"
Upon hearing this, Gongsun Kang's smile froze instantly, and a look of bewilderment flashed in his eyes.
He seemed to hear some unfamiliar words, and immediately became excited, grabbing Li Xu's arm:
"What's wrong with Kang'er? What happened to Kang'er? Why are you going to meet him?"
He seemed to have no memory of yesterday's events, as if he had amnesia.
Li Xu was startled by Gongsun Kang's sudden reaction and asked:
"Your Majesty, don't you remember what happened last night?"
He never expected that Gongsun Kang would forget what happened yesterday, and a sense of worry immediately arose in his heart.
Could it be that Your Majesty has lost your memory due to yesterday's blow?
Gongsun Kang frowned and shook his head vigorously:
"Last night? What happened last night? I only remember hosting a banquet for my ministers yesterday, and then I was quite tired. I can't remember anything else."
He tried hard to recall as he spoke, but his mind was blank. The shocking events in the main hall yesterday and the news of the army's annihilation seemed as if they had never happened.
Li Xu's expression gradually became serious.
He was stunned for a moment, but quickly recovered.
It seems that Your Majesty was thrown into disarray by the sudden and severe blow you suffered yesterday, and has therefore temporarily forgotten what happened yesterday.
So he composed himself and slowly began to speak:
"Your Majesty, an urgent report came from the front last night. Scouts reported that General Xu's 40,000-strong army clashed with the Han army at Huyang City, and ultimately... was completely annihilated."
When he said the words "total annihilation," Li Xu deliberately slowed down his speech, staring intently at Gongsun Kang's expression, afraid that he would be provoked again and become so angry that he would lose his temper.
Upon hearing this, Gongsun Kang stiffened abruptly, and the color drained from his face.
He stared blankly at Li Xu, speechless for a long time. After a while, he suddenly came to his senses and asked excitedly:
"What did you say? Forty thousand troops wiped out? How is that possible! Huyang City is strategically located, easy to defend and difficult to attack!"
"Xu Kuo is a veteran of many battles. How could the Han army possibly capture Huyang City and cause our 40,000 soldiers to die in battle?"
Gongsun Kang's face was somber as he looked up at Li Xu, who stood below the steps:
"What were the losses of the Han army?"
Li Xu bowed deeply.
"Your Majesty, the Han army suffered almost no losses."
Gongsun Kang sat up straight, his eyes filled with shock.
The Liao army rushed to the aid, but did not harm a single Han soldier.
Before he could recover, Li Xu continued his report:
"The news is accurate. Before the Crown Prince led his army to Huyang City, the city had already been easily captured by the Han army."
"After our reinforcements arrived, the Crown Prince was anxious to retake the city and rashly organized the first wave of attacks, resulting in the loss of nearly 10,000 troops in one battle."
"If it weren't for General Xu Kuo's decisive action and desperate intervention, the Crown Prince might have already met with misfortune."
Gongsun Kang's heart clenched instantly, all his resentment replaced by worry:
"What about Kang'er? How is he doing right now?"
"The crown prince was seriously wounded by the Han army."
Before Li Xu could finish speaking, Gongsun Kang had already stood up in a rage and shouted:
"Kang'er is seriously injured? If Kang'er suffers even the slightest harm, I will surely raze Han land to the ground, destroy the Han kingdom, and pay with blood!"
Seeing that Gongsun Kang was furious, Li Xu immediately knelt down and kowtowed:
"Your Majesty, please calm down! I haven't finished speaking. Although the Crown Prince is seriously injured, he is not in mortal danger and has been treated properly."
This reassuring remark caused Gongsun Kang's tense body to relax abruptly, a thin layer of sweat breaking out on his back. His tone softened slightly:
"Explain the reasons in detail."
Li Xu rose and continued his report:
"Upon seeing that the Crown Prince was injured, Xu Kuo immediately selected elite guards to escort the Crown Prince back to Xiangping without delay."
"The Crown Prince and his entourage are currently on their way back. Last night, I dispatched a fast horse to meet them on the way and ensure the Crown Prince's safety."
Upon hearing this, Gongsun Kang finally felt relieved and asked:
"Has anyone sent back from the person who was supposed to meet you?"
"No news has been sent yet,"
Li Xu bowed and reported:
"But according to the itinerary, the support team and the prince's party should have already met up by now, and they should arrive in Xiangping soon."
Gongsun Kang then shouted:
"Pass down the order: any news of the Crown Prince, day or night, must be reported to me immediately without the slightest delay."
"Here!"
Li Xu bowed and accepted the order, then said:
"If Your Majesty has no further instructions, I will take my leave and go to oversee the preparations for the meeting."
...
On the official road outside Xiangping City, a heavily guarded carriage sped along, and from inside came Gongsun Yuan's weak inquiry:
"Hu Yue, how much longer until we reach Xiangping?"
Outside the carriage, Hu Yue, the commander of the personal guards, hurriedly lifted the side curtain of the carriage and whispered his report:
"Your Highness, at the current speed, we will arrive at Xiangping City Gate in another four hours."
Gongsun Yuan remained silent, closed his eyes, and said no more.
At this moment, he could only lie on the soft cushions inside the carriage with difficulty. The wound on his back stretched from his left shoulder all the way to his waist. Even though the skin and flesh were wrapped in thick bandages, the severity of the injury was still evident.
The medical officer had already warned that although the bandage was properly applied, there was a risk of tearing if he moved even slightly, so he could only remain in a bent-over position.
Fortunately, the road surface was smooth and there were no severe bumps, which prevented the wound from worsening.
...
The atmosphere inside the Han army camp in Huyang City was quite somber.
Xiao He sat in the main seat, his gaze fixed on the map on the table.
Generals such as Ma Su and Fei Yi sat on either side.
The scout was kneeling on one knee, reporting the facts of the town that he had gathered.
A moment later, the scout finished reporting, bowed, and quietly left the tent.
Only Xiao He and a group of core generals remained inside the tent.
Xiao He raised his hand and stroked the mark of Fangcheng on the map, then glanced at the crowd:
"Gentlemen, what the scout just described is the complete picture of Fangcheng. What are your thoughts on this?"
Ma Su spoke first, his tone grave:
"General, although the Liao army does not have many regular troops stationed in Fangcheng, the hidden forces within the city should not be underestimated."
"The city is full of powerful local magnates and their private armies are well-equipped and their combat strength far exceeds that of the regular garrison. If our army rashly launches a strong attack, it will inevitably provoke a desperate counterattack from them, and our army will likely suffer heavy losses."
Fei Yi frowned slightly and slowly added:
“You Chang is absolutely right. These private soldiers are all confidants of powerful local magnates, familiar with the terrain of Fangcheng’s streets and alleys. Their counterattack is fierce and they are not easy to defeat.”
Xiao He nodded slowly, and then said:
"What you all say is true. Fangcheng is an important trading hub in Liaodong, with numerous merchants who wield considerable influence."
"If our army launches a strong attack, it will inevitably affect the shops in the city and cut off the merchants' source of income. These people are only interested in profit and will surely collude with the powerful and wealthy to resist our army."
After a slight pause, Xiao He changed the subject:
"But on the other hand, merchants are inherently profit-driven and disregard morality. If we can offer them benefits, ensure their trade is not affected, and even allow them to gain greater profits than before, do you think they will turn to our army and abandon the Liao army and the powerful families in the city?" Upon hearing this, everyone in the tent was stunned and instantly understood Xiao He's plan.
Using incentives to divide the forces within Fangcheng and capture the city effortlessly would minimize the Han army's losses far more effectively than a direct assault.
Seeing that everyone understood, Xiao He slowly spoke:
"The key now is to select a capable persuader. This person must be eloquent, insightful about the psychology of merchants, and have extraordinary courage to go deep into the heart of the city and persuade those powerful figures to submit to our army."
"Gentlemen, do you have any suitable candidates to recommend?"
The tent fell into a deathly silence.
The generals looked at each other, all showing signs of difficulty.
As the commander-in-chief of the Han army, Xiao He absolutely could not risk entering the city himself.
Generals like Deng Ai and Guan Xing were all brave warriors on the battlefield, accustomed to fighting in armor, but they were lacking in negotiation and persuasion skills, so naturally no one took the initiative to respond.
For a moment, silence filled the tent.
Just when everyone was at a loss, a steady voice broke the silence:
"Grand Marshal, why don't you let me go?"
Everyone looked over at the sound and saw that it was Fei Yi who had taken the initiative to stand up and volunteer.
Xiao He frowned slightly: "Do you know that the situation in Fangcheng is complicated, with powerful figures everywhere? This trip is extremely dangerous, and a slight mistake could mean never returning?"
Fei Yi met Xiao He's gaze, his tone resolute:
“I am aware of the dangers involved, but at this juncture, I am the best candidate to go to Fangcheng as an envoy.”
“How come you see?”
Xiao He leaned slightly forward and asked another question.
Fei Yi remained calm and said:
"First of all, this trip must be carried out in secrecy, and few people should be able to recognize the person's face."
"Although I have a reputation that is well-known throughout the world, I have been fighting alongside the Grand Marshal for many years and rarely appear alone. Very few people know what I look like, so it is not easy to expose my identity."
"Secondly, the lobbyist must be eloquent, adept at maneuvering, and able to understand the thoughts of merchants and powerful figures. This is precisely my strength, and I am not exaggerating."
Finally, those who go to negotiate must have a certain degree of decision-making power in order to stabilize the situation.
"Although I am not as high-ranking or powerful as the Grand Marshal, I still hold a place in the Han army and am qualified to negotiate on equal footing with the powerful families of Fangcheng."
"Therefore, I humbly request the Grand Marshal to grant me permission to proceed to Fangcheng."
These words were all reasonable, and the generals all showed their agreement after hearing them.
Xiao He lowered his head in silence, lost in thought.
Fei Yi was right; there was indeed no one more suitable than him at the moment.
A short while later, Xiao He raised his head and his gaze fell on Fei Yi's face.
He sighed softly and spoke slowly:
"Wenwei, I'll leave this matter to you. Once you enter the city, be sure to act carefully and do not act rashly."
Seeing Xiao He agree, Fei Yi felt relieved and immediately bowed in greeting:
"Thank you for your permission, Grand Marshal. I will certainly live up to your expectations and not fail in my duty."
Xiao He waved his hand and gave the order in a deep voice:
"By order of Sima, a banquet will be held tonight to bid farewell to Wenwei, and he will set off for Fangcheng early tomorrow morning."
All the generals accepted the order in unison.
Before long, the noisy camp quieted down, leaving only Xiao, Ma Su, and Fei Yi.
Ma Su looked at Fei Yi and said:
“Wenwei, this mission is extremely dangerous. You don’t need to volunteer so readily. It’s not too late to reconsider.”
Fei Yi smiled faintly and asked Ma Su in return:
"Youchang, why don't you tell me, besides your subordinates, are there any better candidates right now?"
Ma Su was speechless.
He knew in his heart that Fei Yi's words were true; looking at everyone in the tent, no one was more suitable for this trip than Fei Yi.
Even though he was worried, he couldn't find a reason to refute it.
Xiao He patted Fei Yi on the shoulder and said with some advice:
"Wenwei, after entering the city, be careful in everything you do. If things don't look right, don't force it and leave immediately."
"In my heart, your life is far more important than the success or failure of the mission."
Fei Yi felt a warmth in his heart and bowed again:
"Thank you for your concern, Grand Marshal. I will certainly remember your instructions and think carefully before acting."
Xiao He nodded, his voice firm and resolute:
"I am giving you seven days. Whether the matter succeeds or not, you must return on time."
"If you do not send back any news within ten days, I, the commander, will personally lead my army to raze Fangcheng to the ground and avenge you!"
This trust and confidence strengthened Fei Yi's resolve, and he nodded emphatically:
"Your subordinate will certainly live up to the Grand Marshal's high expectations, and will surely fulfill his mission and return safely."
...
Outside the gates of Xiangping, an escort team was slowly approaching.
Gongsun Kang, along with Li Xu and other officials, had been waiting at the city gate, their eyes frequently gazing into the distance, hoping for Gongsun Yuan's return.
At the very front of the group, Hu Yue, dressed in military uniform, looked on guard, his eyes scanning the surroundings with vigilance.
Behind them was a heavily guarded carriage.
Gongsun Yuan was inside the carriage.
The escort team slowly approached the city gate and finally arrived at the foot of the city, stopping in front of Gongsun Kang and his entourage.
Li Xu hurriedly stepped forward and bowed to Hu Yue:
"General Hu, you've had a long and arduous journey. Did you encounter any dangers? Is His Highness alright?"
Inside the carriage, Gongsun Yuan was struggling to lie down. Upon hearing Li Xu's familiar voice, he immediately called out:
"Is this Prime Minister Li? This young master is here!"
Upon hearing this, Li Xu quickly turned towards the carriage:
"This old minister is here to respectfully welcome the Crown Prince back to the capital!"
The accompanying soldiers and officials also clasped their hands and shouted in unison:
"Welcome back to the capital, Your Highness! Welcome back to the capital, Your Highness!"
Having confirmed that he had safely returned to Xiangping City and met his father, Gongsun Yuan finally felt a huge weight lifted from his heart.
"Help this young master out of the carriage."
The guards carefully lifted the carriage curtain and helped Gongsun Yuan slowly lean out.
When he looked up, the first thing he saw in front of the crowd was Gongsun Kang, whose face was full of worry and whose temples were slightly gray. Tears welled up in his eyes:
"Father... Your son is incompetent, suffering heavy losses and serious injuries, failing to live up to your expectations..."
Gongsun Kang looked at his son, who was covered in wounds and extremely weak, and was filled with mixed emotions.
A thousand words were stuck in my throat, and I didn't know how to begin.
He stepped forward, his hand trembling as he reached out, but fearing he might hurt Gongsun Yuan's wound, he only gently patted his arm.
After a long silence, Gongsun Kang finally spoke:
"Silly child, don't talk nonsense. As long as you come back safely, that's more important than anything else. Nothing else matters."
Upon hearing this, Gongsun Yuan's guilt and unease vanished instantly, leaving only a feeling of warmth.
Supported by his guards and others, Gongsun Yuan slowly walked into the palace, following Gongsun Kang. (End of Chapter)