strictlysupreme Chapter 100 Rebellious Officials of the Former Dynasty 31
Chapter 100 Rebellious Officials of the Former Dynasty 31
The officials, both high and low, who were left behind looked at each other, their eyes filled with shock and astonishment.
The princess, the commander of the troops.
They understand both words, but why don't they understand them when they're put together?
"Hurry up and follow me." Lord Gao glanced coldly at these useless fellows and quickly followed Xiao Yao's footsteps.
He was in a bad mood at the moment. In his opinion, this Prince Rui was a complete fool. When he came to his place, he was just being fooled by him.
As long as the money is enough, the power is still theirs.
But now it seems he was too optimistic.
The fact that this person was at the mansion a few days ago was definitely not just due to illness!
Thinking about what he had done over the years, taking advantage of the vastness of the sky and the distance of the road, a chill ran down his spine.
If Prince Rui discovers this...
Why not strike first?
The northern desert is bitterly cold, and so many people die there every year. What's so strange about a prince dying there?
With officials of all ranks taking the blame, the emperor wouldn't really lose the hearts of his border troops; he could simply retire and live out his days in peace!
He's made enough money over the years, it's time for him to enjoy it!
In a short while, a wicked plan popped into Gao Daren's mind, but he still wore a warm smile on his face: "Your Highness is very talented. What's with that expression? Smile!"
The others remained silent, all managing only forced smiles.
What good is great talent?
If we easily provoke a war, and it really provokes those barbarians who only dare to probe and plunder to come south, wouldn't the emperor find out that they are embezzling military pay and drinking the blood of soldiers?
Their heads aren't as sharp as the emperor's sword!
No, after today's events are over, we must go to Lord Gao's residence to discuss important matters!
Several officials glanced at Lord Gao casually, and seeing him nod slightly, they straightened their wide robes and headed towards the city gate.
When they arrived at the city gate, they were surprised to find that more than a dozen border generals and officers were also there.
Some of them still had the marks of a hangover on their faces, while others stared coldly at the wine jugs.
Seeing this discordant scene, the civil official couldn't help but shake his head.
Military officers are no good. If they were civil officials, such disobedient people would never appear here.
Those people who often clashed with them were still "sick" at home at the moment.
The generals were also completely bewildered. They were sound asleep in the arms of their concubines when they were summoned by Prince Rui's men to welcome some triumphant army.
Where did this large army come from?
They are the ones who manage the army, how come they don't know about this?
Disturbing my peaceful sleep, what nonsense!
Xiao Yao's gaze swept over the officials, large and small, with their varying expressions, and he stood silently in front of the city gate, staring at the open space outside.
As the sun rose higher, the common people, restrained by the soldiers and only allowed to pass through a small side gate, watched the officials being punished with standing, wondering what kind of show they were putting on.
What's wrong? Tired of the good life? Want to try what it's like to stand guard at the city gate?
The officials, drained by wine and meat, kept wiping the sweat from their brows; their backs were also soaked.
Sun Gaoshuo, the garrison commander of the border army camp, coughed suddenly under Gao Daren's seemingly casual gaze. When Xiao Yao looked over, he said, "Your Highness, the sun is so bright. Why don't you let everyone go back and rest first? We can come and greet the army when it returns."
Perhaps because he was used to being disrespectful in the border regions, his words now carried a hint of sarcasm.
Xiao Yao smiled good-naturedly: "Lord Sun, please wait a little longer, there's no rush."
Sun Gaoshuo: "But..."
"Or you can be the prince? And take the surname Xiao?" Xiao Yao looked at the general with a smile, watching his face turn from red to pale, and he repeatedly said that he dared not.
"Report!" At midday, a scout rode up and said, "The army is to return to the city immediately!"
Without needing his report, the crowd saw the billowing dust in the distance.
Due to agriculture, animal husbandry, and human life, areas near cities have always been the most severely desertified regions.
Moreover, autumn in the northern desert is typically a golden yellow, with sandstorms coming one after another.
Now, as the officials looked at the rolling yellow sand, if it weren't for the scouts who had told them beforehand that it was the scene of the princess leading her entourage back, they would have thought it was a sandstorm.
"May I ask Your Highness, how many men did the Princess Consort lead to pursue the enemy?" Sun Gaoshuo asked, looking at the distant smoke and dust with suspicion.
Although he had been weakened by wine and women, he still possessed the instincts of a general.
This smoke and dust couldn't have been produced without tens of thousands of people!
"A thousand people."
Hearing Xiao Yao's calm reply, his expression changed: "Not good! Enemy attack!"
In his view, sending a thousand men and returning with ten thousand meant they had suffered a defeat, were surrounded and driven back to attack the city!
Otherwise, it couldn't be that some princess whose name I've never even heard of brought back so many people with only a thousand men, could it?
He is not a fool!
"Quickly, escort the prince back to the city!" he shouted, leading the way towards the back of the city gate: "Close the gate! Archers, prepare!"
However, when he turned around, he saw the cold, imposing Imperial Guards blocking his way.
Those men's long swords had been drawn at some point, forcing him to take no step back.
The same scene unfolded behind other officials of all ranks in Tongzhou.
Several military officers who were at odds with Sun Gaoshuo glanced at this scene and quietly approached Xiao Yao, only to be stopped by Lu An.
"Everyone, stop."
Looking at the smiling eunuch, someone said in a deep voice, "It's dangerous outside the city. We must protect the prince."
Lu An shook his head: "There is no danger, please rest assured, gentlemen."
The princess's letter arrived in the city last night, explaining the ins and outs of the war in detail.
Otherwise, this scene wouldn't exist today.
Remembering his master's instructions, the chief eunuch subtly drew his sword.
He glanced at the unfortunate few who had been ostracized and chuckled, "Gentlemen, step aside and watch closely."
The generals looked at each other in bewilderment, and soon they saw a vague...sheep-like figure?
What appeared before them first was not people, but a flock of sheep that had traveled for several days and eaten all the withered grass and leaves along the way!
Behind those sheep were slaves driving the flock, and some well-behaved captives.
Next came the wounded soldiers being carried by prisoners.
At the very back of the column were the cavalrymen, each riding four men.
The crowd stared in disbelief at the cavalrymen who were riding on several warhorses.
Our dynasty is short of horses. Even with Your Majesty's all-out efforts to develop animal husbandry in the Hetao Horse Ranch in the Northwest, we have only managed to arm the northern deserts to an average of one horse for every one and a half people.
Among them were elite soldiers who rode two horses each.
Therefore, after removing logistical support and minimizing any shortcomings, it can be said that nearly 20% of the cavalry had no horses to ride.
But how come each of these soldiers has so many horses?