Chapter 528
【Indeed. They had thought Beili would be a tough nut to crack, but who could have guessed that their commander and prince would do something so absurd and practically deliver their heads to Dayan?
Wei Qingyi’s army of one hundred and fifty thousand and the army of one hundred thousand under the command of Marquis Wuying of Beili were both thoroughly crushed by the Dayan army—or rather, by Dayan’s firearms—in their very first battle.】
“Firearms and cold weapons aren’t even in the same league. If Dayan couldn’t win by an overwhelming margin under these circumstances, they’d be utterly useless.”
【Of all their opponents, the Dongyi people are still the easiest to deal with. Dayan had barely more than thirty thousand naval troops, yet they chased the Dongyi army of over a hundred thousand all over the mountains and plains.
Now all four islands belong to Dayan. Even today, the other four kingdoms still haven’t learned that Dongyi has been destroyed. That is the advantage of being isolated on an island—the news is difficult to get out.】
“Since Dayan has taken Dongyi, it’s time to dig up the gold mine!”
To this day, Yue Fuguang still had not told the officials of Dayan where Gaozu’s treasure was hidden. She felt that Dayan was wealthy enough for now and truly had no need to touch that reserve fund.
【War is ultimately a contest of money and logistics. It hasn’t even been half a year, yet Dayan’s overflowing treasury has already been drained considerably. You have no idea—recently, all of Emperor Mingxi’s anxiety has been caused by his worries over money.】
Yue Fuguang divided the bright red apples on the table between Toffee and Milk Tea. “Dayan’s treasury can hold out for another six months of war. Isn’t he panicking a little too early?”
【Let him panic. It’s not as if he dares come ask Master.】
“I’m not actually going to leave him without military funds. The sooner they unify the continent, the sooner we can complete our mission.”
It was a mutually beneficial arrangement. Yue Fuguang had no intention of deliberately making things difficult for Emperor Mingxi, nor did she want to let the soldiers fighting for their lives on the front lines suffer.
【There’s also trouble brewing in Nanzhao.】
“What happened? Tell me quickly.” Life was so comfortable now. When she did not have to run around acting as a human sprinkler, her days were filled with the simple joy of teasing cats and playing with foxes.
【Nanzhao’s new emperor has ascended the throne and immediately carried out a massive purge of the court, uprooting the forces of the other princes and princesses.
Lan Xuancheng slaughtered so many people in the capital of Nanzhao that the streets nearly ran red with blood. Behind his back, the people of Nanzhao have taken to calling this month the Blood Moon.】
“Did the other princes and princesses simply let him kill them without resisting?”
【Of course they resisted. That is why the streets ran red with blood. Every side suffered casualties. But in the end, the emperor possesses the moral high ground. Regardless of how he came to power, most people will still support the emperor as the legitimate ruler.】
“What happened to those princes and princesses?”
【The new emperor originally intended to send them away to take up their fiefs. Now, however, they have all either been thrown into the imperial prison or placed under house arrest in their own residences.】
“With Nanyue on the verge of destruction, Nanzhao should be thinking about how to save itself. Yet the first thing this new emperor did after taking the throne was eliminate his rivals. This emperor… is difficult to assess! Still, his rise to power is good news for Dayan.”
News of Nanzhao’s Blood Moon soon reached the ears of Dayan’s court as well. Lan Xuan'er, who had already been preparing to return to Nanzhao, hesitated when she heard it.
Gan Tang, now the Sixth Princess Consort of Dayan, heard the news from the Sixth Prince. She did not dare delay for even a moment and hurried to the diplomatic residence at the Office of State Ceremonies.
“Xuan'er, listen to me. You cannot return to Nanzhao.” Gan Tang pulled her down to sit and earnestly tried to persuade her. “Once you go back, even if you have no desire for the throne, do you think the new emperor will believe you?”
Lan Xuan'er shook her head. “My second brother appears broad-minded, but in truth, he is extremely petty and vindictive. Mother has always favored me, and I’m sure he has kept that resentment in his heart.”
Gan Tang wore an expression that said she had expected as much. “Exactly. If you go back, you’ll either be thrown into the imperial prison or placed under house arrest.
“And you actually believed the edict summoning you home?”
Lan Xuan'er continued shaking her head. “If I had truly believed it, I would have returned the moment I received it. Why would I have waited until now?”
Perhaps Mother really had wanted to summon her home, but someone had clearly tampered with the matter. Although the edict was convincing enough to pass for genuine, Lan Xuan'er had still noticed something amiss. That was why she had delayed her departure until today.
“But Sister Tang, the world doesn’t know the edict is false. If I refuse to obey it, what will the people of Nanzhao think? How will the historians record it?” If they accused her of colluding with Dayan and plotting treason, the charge would be too grave for her to bear!
“If I don’t go back, won’t that simply prove the accusation true?”
Lan Xuan'er wanted to live, but she did not want to spend the rest of her life bearing such a disgrace. She would rather die with her innocence intact.
Gan Tang glared at her and lightly tapped her on the forehead. “You fool! You’re willing to throw your life away for a little empty reputation?
“History is written by the victors. Lan Xuancheng can write you down as a traitorous princess only if he manages to become the victor!”
A mocking smile curved Gan Tang’s lips. “Nanyue is about to fall. Tell me, how long do you think Nanzhao can withstand Dayan’s gunpowder?”
At the mention of gunpowder, Lan Xuan'er’s face instantly turned deathly pale. She had personally witnessed the destructive power of an explosion.
“My people in Nanzhao…”
She covered her face, tears spilling through the gaps between her fingers. “They had only just managed to survive the drought and the floods. And now they must suffer the devastation of war!”
Gan Tang gently patted her shoulder. “You should be grateful that the Divine Maiden ultimately took pity on the suffering people of Nanzhao. Otherwise, many would have died either in the floods or from the epidemic. How could there have been any chance for them to endure the suffering of war afterward?”
Lan Xuan'er nodded. Whenever she thought about it, her feelings were complicated. Yue Fuguang had always watched coldly from the sidelines as Nanzhao endured drought and floods.
Yet, in the end, she had still been unable to remain completely unmoved. Before the great rains came, she had issued a warning. Though no one knew who had first spread it throughout Nanzhao, it had truly saved many lives.
Then, once the floods had receded and an epidemic was about to break out, she had sent down sweet dew that cured disease. She had shown Nanzhao great kindness.
Gan Tang handed her a silk handkerchief. “Listen to your sister. Don’t go back. In the end, Nanzhao will certainly follow in Nanyue’s footsteps—and may fall even faster than Nanyue did.”
Lan Xuan'er stared at her with wide eyes. She saw little regret on Gan Tang’s face. In the end, she held back a sigh and had to admit, “The Nanzhao army is somewhat lacking.”
It could not compare with Nanyue’s, much less with the army of Dayan as it was now.