The Rebirth of Han Yuxi

Chapter 0576 Defeat (2)

Yuxi asked with a faint smile, ”Is there any news from Nancheng?” Based on the battle reports from two days ago, the performance of the army sent to suppress the rebellion was truly unimpressive. If the Northwest Army had been sent, it wouldnʼt have mattered if they had only matched the rebels in numbers. Even if the rebels had set up traps, they would still have wiped them out.

Yun Qingʼs face darkened as he brought up the matter, ”Bao Xiaofan was assassinated, and the entire anti-rebel army has been annihilated.”

”Ah...” Yuxi gasped in shock and asked, ”How could this happen? How could the entire army be wiped out?” Even if there were initial setbacks, it shouldnʼt have ended in such a catastrophic defeat.

Yun Qing relayed to Yuxi what the spies had reported to him.

Yuxi was silent for a long time before she spoke. ”To avenge Yang Duoming, Fu Qingluo really went all out.” How could Fu Qingluo use herself as bait? If she failed, she would lose her life. If she succeeded, her reputation might be damaged. What was Fu Qingluo thinking? She seemed to care nothing about her dignity or reputation.

When Yun Qing heard this, he asked, ”How can you be so sure that woman is Fu Qingluo?” Even he hadnʼt considered who that woman might be.

Yuxi replied, ”I might be wrong.”But in her heart, she was pretty sure that the chances of her being wrong were slim. Bao Xiaofan was a notorious womaniser who had been with countless women. An ordinary woman wouldnʼt have been able to lure him in. Only someone like Fu Qingluo—stunningly beautiful and flamboyant—could make him lose control. Yet Fu Qingluo was willing to go to such lengths to avenge Yang Duoming. Yuxi couldnʼt help but be curious about Yang Duoming. What kind of man could make Fu Qingluo so devoted?

Yun Qingʼs impression of Yang Duoming became even more terrible. He said, ”He would even send his own wife into danger to take revenge? Completely shameless.”

Yuxi shook her head. ”Itʼs too early to draw any conclusions. You know Fu Qingluoʼs temperament, donʼt you? If this was Yang Duomingʼs idea, she probably wouldnʼt have gone along with it.” Fu Qingluo was the kind of person who would rebel against forceful pressure but would insist on doing something if others tried to dissuade her. Yuxi even suspected that Fu Qingluo might have taken this action without Yang Duomingʼs knowledge. Of course, if it turned out to be Yang Duomingʼs idea, then Fu Qingluoʼs judgment of character was truly terrible.

Yun Qing didnʼt enjoy discussing Yang Duoming or Fu Qingluo; he disliked both of them. He said, ”In less than half a month, the number of insurgents has grown to 20,000. At this rate, the rebellion will continue to spread. Iʼm worried that if the numbers get too big, we wonʼt be able to control the situation.”

Yuxi nodded in agreement. That was indeed a concern. If the insurgents grew to 30,000 or 50,000, it wouldnʼt be a big problem. But if their numbers swelled to 100,000 or 200,000, even if the Northwest Army could defeat them, it would come at a heavy cost—something Yuxi was unwilling to see happen. She suggested, ”Letʼs send someone to make contact with Yang Duoming and find out Peng Liangongʼs intentions.” In a rebellion, the leader was the most critical factor. If Peng Liangong was a visionary with strategic acumen and capable advisors by his side, then he would be a serious threat. But if Peng Liangong was short-sighted and only interested in immediate gains, then there was little to worry about.

After considering for a moment, Yun Qing said, ”This time, we canʼt have our people openly approach Yang Duoming again.” The contact would have to be made in secret.

Yuxi nodded and remarked, ”Fu Tianlei is going to face a lot of trouble. You should let him prepare for it.” Ji Xuan had served as the Governor-General of the Northwest for many years and undoubtedly had his own intelligence network. It wouldnʼt be difficult for him to find out that it was Fu Qingluo who had assassinated Bao Xiaofan. When that happens, Fu Tianlei will inevitably be implicated. Even they (Yun Qing and Yuxi), husband and wife, would be suspected. However, since they were already involved, it wouldnʼt make much difference if they were suspected. Still, it was hard to imagine how Fu Tianlei would feel once he realised he had been dragged into this mess by his own sister.

Yun Qing said, ”Better not tell him for now. Even if the Imperial Court follows up on this matter, itʼll be months before they take any action.” By then, the situation would have completely changed, and there would be nothing for them to fear.

Yuxi acknowledged this with a hum, ”I wonder how the court will react when they find out that the entire force of 30,000 sent to suppress the rebellion has been annihilated.”

Yun Qing looked at Yuxi and said, ”There is rebellion in the southwest, and things are not peaceful in Minnan. Liaodong is only temporarily calm, and the internal strife in the northwest that can only be resolved internally.. But when I see how poorly the local troops have performed in this campaign, I am deeply concerned.”

Yuxi gave Yun Qing a strange look. Wasnʼt it a good thing that the local troops in the northwest were weak? Why did he seem so disappointed, as if he blamed them for falling short of his expectations? Well, it was typical of Yun Qing to approach things from the perspective of his current position.

Realising his mistake, Yun Qing was about to say something when a servant reported that General Zhao had arrived. Yun Qing said, ”If General Zhao has come to see me, it must be important. Iʼll go check it out.”

Yuxi replied, ”Go ahead and see what itʼs about!”

As Yun Qing left the room, he noticed that Zaozao was still sobbing uncontrollably. He turned to Zijin and said, ”Take Zaozao inside.” Then, without another word, he left in quick strides.

When Zaozao saw that her father wasnʼt paying attention to her, she cried even louder. Helpless, Zijin carried the tearful child back into the room and said to Yuxi, ”Madam, I really canʼt take this anymore.” From the moment she carried Zaozao outside until now, Zaozao hadnʼt stopped crying. Her stamina for crying was truly astonishing.

Yuxi spoke to Zaozao, ”Stop crying, and Iʼll wash your face. If you keep crying, I wonʼt wash your face, and you can let everyone laugh at your dirty little face.”

Zaozao didnʼt understand what those words meant, but she could sense that her mother was unhappy. She whimpered, ”Mom, hug…”

Yuxi wasnʼt against everyone showing their love for her daughter, but she was also worried that they were being too indulgent with Zaozao, which might make her uncontrollable in the future. While she was reluctant to pick her up directly, she had Zijin place Zaozao on the couch. Yuxi then sat down beside her and finally let her sit on her lap. Taking the towel Shiliu had handed her, she wiped Zaozaoʼs face, saying, ”You little rascal.” What kind of girl constantly got herself so dirty? She wasnʼt even two years old yet—what would she be like at six or seven?

Zijin, unaware of what Yuxi was thinking, chuckled as she commented, ”Madam, itʼs only in front of you that Zaozao behaves so well.” At other times, she was an incredibly energetic little rascal. Mama Qu almost had a nervous breakdown because of her.

Yuxi gently patted Zaozaoʼs head and said, ”Children are very sensitive.” Though she seemed strict on the surface, her love for Zaozao was no less than Yun Qingʼs.

Zijin laughed. ”I want to have a daughter too someday.” Seeing how much Zaozao clung to Yuxi despite her strictness, Zijin thought that daughters were indeed more lovable.

Yuxi smiled and replied, ”You will.” Once things settled down next year, Zijin wouldnʼt have to hold off on having children out of concern for her.

The annihilation of the Northwest Anti-Rebel Army infuriated the Emperor. Although there were occasional uprisings in the southwest and Fujian, they were still within control. But in the Northwest, the situation had spiralled out of control.

Grand Chancellor Yu stepped forward and proposed that the Emperor dispatch troops from the central army to suppress the rebellion. Ji Xuan was incapable of warfare, and his subordinates were even worse. In that case, it would be better to send someone more competent.

Chen Yu, however, disagreed. He stepped forward and suggested, ”Your Majesty, the failure of this campaign was due to underestimating the enemy. I believe that if Governor-General Ji personally leads the troops to suppress the rebellion, he will surely wipe out the rebels.” Having fully recovered from his injuries, Chen Yu remained a trusted confidant of the Emperor. His defeat in battle had not diminished his standing in the eyes of the Emperor.

The officials from the Song faction naturally supported Ji Xuan taking charge of the suppression. The debate continued until the Emperor himself had to make the final decision.

After much deliberation, the Emperor ultimately decided that Ji Xuan should lead the troops to put down the rebellion. As the Governor-General of the Northwest, this was already part of his responsibility. Moreover, the Emperor was also wary of Ji Xuan defying him. He worried that any general he sent to be under Ji Xuanʼs command would meet the same fate as Chen Yu.

Grand Chancellor Yu expressed his deep concern, ”Your Majesty, if Ji Xuan fails again, the situation will spiral completely out of control.” If Ji Xuan were to die, the Northwest would truly descend into chaos.

Chen Yu stepped forward and countered, ”Grand Chancellor Yuʼs words are a bit alarmist. How could Governor-General Ji fail when he is personally leading the campaign?” Even if he were to fall, the Northwest wouldnʼt be in turmoil. There were still 100,000 Northwest Army troops in the border city. As long as Yun Qing was ordered to lead them, the rebels would be quickly wiped out.

The Emperor declared, ”Let Ji Xuan lead the troops to eliminate this group of rebels.” With the Emperorʼs final decision, no one else dared to object further.

Chen Yu returned to the Marquisʼ residence and said to Marquis Taining, ”Father, the Emperor has issued an edict for Ji Xuan to lead the troops to eliminate the rebels.”

Marquis Tainingʼs expression remained unchanged as he looked at Chen Yu and asked, ”What are you planning to do?” His sonʼs support for Ji Xuan in suppressing the rebellion clearly had an ulterior motive.

Chen Yuʼs face darkened as he said, ”Father, I want revenge.”

Marquis Taining sighed lightly and said, ”Yu-er, we cannot bring disaster upon ourselves just for personal vengeance.”

Chen Yu replied coldly, ”Father, the Imperial Edict was issued by the Emperor and has nothing to do with us. Besides, even if Ji Xuan fails to crush the rebellion again, the Northwest Army can still be deployed. Once they take action, the rebels will be wiped out.”

Marquis Taining considered the matter and asked, ”Have you thought about what will happen if Yun Qing sends troops and then refuses to withdraw them?”

Chen Yu had already contemplated this possibility and replied, ”Father, Yun Qing may have the talent of a general, but he does not have the ability to govern the Northwest. No matter how capable Han Shi is, she cannot manage the Northwest as a woman. At worst, if Yun Qing refuses to withdraw his troops, it would simply mean a change in who controls the Northwest. That doesnʼt concern us much.” He would rather see Yun Qing in control of the Northwest than let Ji Xuan continue to roam free.

Marquis Taining sighed again, ”Have you made up your mind?” Seeing his son so consumed by gloom since his return weighed heavily on him as well.

Chen Yu nodded and said, ”Father, I have made my decision.”

Seeing this, Marquis Taining said nothing more. ”If youʼve decided, then do as you wish.” He knew he couldnʼt stop him, so he might as well let him proceed.

However, one of the advisors expressed his concern to Marquis Taining. ”My Lord, Han Shi is an extremely ambitious person. If Yun Qing truly gains control of the Northwest, the consequences could be disastrous.” The problem was not only Han Shiʼs ambition but also her competence. With Yun Qingʼs military prowess and their combined abilities, the pair could pose a serious threat to the empireʼs stability in the future.

Marquis Taining showed no sign of worry when he said, ”This is not something we need to worry about. I believe the Emperor will take care of it.” If Yun Qing were to lead troops, the Emperor would undoubtedly take measures to eliminate Han Shi as a potential threat. Therefore, it wasnʼt his problem to solve.