Today's court assembly was summoned on short notice.
Two nights ago, rumors spread throughout the capital of an "eight hundred li emergency courier entering the palace at night," and these rumors were confirmed to be true.
This meant there was urgent news from the north.
Therefore, everyone in court clearly understood what today's agenda would be.
What surprised many ministers, however, was that the Sixth Prince—who had practically been invisible until now—also ascended to the hall today.
"I hear His Majesty conferred the rank of Commander of the Five Offices upon the Sixth Prince yesterday," someone whispered to Minister Sun.
"Is that so." Minister Sun nodded, his expression calm.
But the other princes participating in the assembly all felt somewhat uneasy about his arrival.
The Prince of Zhongping in particular stared pensively at Wei Wusheng, his expression grave.
All under heaven knew that His Majesty regarded Wei Wusheng as inauspicious. Aside from the two deceased princes, of the remaining seven, six had been enfeoffed as princes, yet he alone still held no title whatsoever.
Could today's assembly be related to him?
Seeing the Prince of Zhongping continuously watching him, Wei Wusheng smiled faintly and offered a bow.
The Prince of Zhongping nodded slightly, then faced forward and looked no more.
This type of assembly could only be attended by court officials of the fourth rank and above (including those of the fourth rank from the bottom).
Civil and military officials stood separately, one to the left, one to the right.
Great Yu honored the left.
Therefore, the left was headed by Duke of Li Wu Qing, while the right was headed by Minister Sun.
Four princes stood even closer, positioned before the imperial presence.
The Second Prince, Prince of Jin, Wei Yixuan, courtesy name Ziyu.
The Fourth Prince, Prince of Wu, Wei Yiyun, courtesy name Zisheng.
The Seventh Prince, Prince of Zhongping, Wei Yiyuan, courtesy name Zishang.
The Sixth Prince, Wei Wusheng.
Among them, the First Prince—the late Crown Prince—and the Fifth Prince, Prince of Ning, had both perished in the previous "Crown Prince Rebellion Case."
The Third Prince, Prince of Su, was often ill and basically never attended court assemblies.
The Eighth Prince, Prince of Jiangling Wei Yixing, loved military campaigns. Though only sixteen, he was quite valiant, stationed with troops at the Yangzhou frontier alongside Duke Zhang Ping, deterring the false emperor of Southern Yue, Sun Tuo.
As for the Ninth Prince Wei Yixun, being only nine years old, he generally did not participate in court assemblies.
Therefore, in current court politics, regarding the undercurrent of the succession struggle, there were really only the Prince of Jin faction and the Prince of Wu faction.
As for this Wei Wusheng, even after being promoted to Commander of the Five Offices, he was still just a useless prick.
No one took him seriously.
Except for Sima Yu, who went rigid the moment he saw Wei Wusheng.
After all officials had gathered and arranged themselves according to rank, the Emperor entered the great hall shortly after.
"His Majesty arrives—"
As the ceremonial eunuch proclaimed loudly, all officials knelt in obeisance.
Slowly, he sat upon the dragon throne and said mildly, "Rise."
The officials then stood.
Looking at the assembled officials, the Emperor lowered his head slightly, his expression amiable as he asked with a smile, "The examinations were held some days ago—did all your sons pass?"
As his words fell, those whose sons had passed all revealed smiles.
Those whose sons had failed lowered their heads in shame, feeling utterly wretched.
"Among the examination candidates, whose household ranked highest?" the Emperor asked teasingly.
Then everyone turned to face Song Jing.
The two colleagues flanking Song Jing also hastily stepped aside, highlighting him.
"Oh, it's Minister Song's child?" said the Emperor.
Minister Sun's face darkened, and unlike the others, he did not turn to look at Song Jing.
Song Jing responded with some embarrassment: "Replying to Your Majesty, this subject's unworthy son Song Shi'an did indeed achieve jieyuan."
"And first place in both subjects, no less," someone added.
"First in both subjects?" The Emperor feigned surprise and nodded approvingly before asking again, "And isn't there another one called... Song Ce? Did he pass?"
"Replying to Your Majesty, he also managed to pass," Song Jing nodded with difficulty.
"Only in his teens and he passed too?" The Emperor expressed amazement while raising his finger slightly and addressing everyone: "Minister Song is truly well-read—such exemplary instruction of his sons."
"Indeed, indeed—"
The others echoed in agreement, quite envious.
If he could produce two jinshi sons, that would be even more remarkable.
"This subject thanks Your Majesty for the praise. I shall certainly discipline them strictly and ensure they do not slacken or grow idle, but exert themselves fully in service to the nation."
"Good, good." After the Emperor nodded, he turned to Minister Sun and asked, "Zhongzhi, what of your son?"
"Replying to Your Majesty, my foolish son achieved sub-yuan," Minister Sun responded.
"That's also quite good."
After showing him reasonable courtesy as well, the Emperor concluded the pleasantries: "Well then, let us begin with the agenda."
Ceremonial Eunuch Xi immediately read aloud the military dispatch from Liang Prefecture.
As they listened, the smiles on everyone's faces completely blackened.
Making the earlier warm-up seem particularly awkward.
"Left General Zhao Xiang has withdrawn to Shuofeng with eight thousand remnant troops, rallied his remaining forces, and awaits the court's orders."
After reading the final sentence, everyone became exceptionally heavy-hearted.
Not merely shocked.
The very foundation of the nation had been shaken.
Maintaining his composure, the Emperor said: "Beloved ministers, let us discuss this."
After the Emperor initiated discussion, the elderly Sun Yan angrily thundered with heartfelt pain: "That wretch Zhao Xiang! In less than a month, tens of thousands of troops were lost—is this the conduct of a general who understands warfare?"
"..."
At this rebuke, Marquis Xun Zhao Lun tottered to the center, tears streaming down his face at some point, and kowtowed: "Zhao Xiang has lost troops and squandered forces, placing Northern Liang in peril. This old subject is willing to die in atonement."
"Don't be so quick to seek death at every turn."
The Emperor sighed helplessly, then ordered eunuchs to help Marquis Xun Zhao Lun up and return him to his position.
"Your Majesty."
At this moment, military officer Chen Kefu also stepped forward, accusingly saying: "Wuwei still has several months' worth of provisions. Even if Ji Yuan besieges without attacking, the consumption would be enormous. Zhao Xiang's reckless advance was purely for glory. Now he has placed all of Liang Prefecture in a passive position. If he is not severely punished, I fear it will damage the morale of officers and soldiers."
Although civil and military officials stood in opposing positions, this did not mean the two sides were adversaries.
Essentially, it was still a confrontation between the meritorious nobility and the gentry cliques.
The nobility also had civil officials, and the gentry side also had military generals.
It was just that absolute military and political power remained in the hands of the Qin Prefecture meritorious nobility.
"Then what should be done?" the Emperor asked.
Someone said: "Zhao Xiang should be demoted to centurion, to charge into battle and serve on the front lines to atone."
Following this, Xia Chun stepped forward, clasped his fists with both hands, knelt on one knee and said: "This general is willing to replace Zhao Xiang."
As soon as he finished speaking, Minister of the Court of Judicial Review Chen Ling coldly mocked: "Does General Xia feel his previous defeat was too small and wishes to make it bigger this time?"
"..."
Xia Chun's face instantly flushed red. Clenching his fists tightly, he said furiously: "If I do not achieve victory, I am willing to die in atonement!"
"General Xia's death is a small matter, but Liang Prefecture being taken by that Ji Yuan is a great matter indeed," Grand Secretary Sun Kang of the Imperial Academy also taunted.
"Then what do you say should be done? You go fight!"
Having wanted to redeem his reputation as the "defeat general," Xia Chun, humiliated like this, completely lost his temper.
"Civil officials assist the state, military generals defend the borders."
Looking coldly at Xia Chun, Minister Sun scolded: "What kind of talk is this? Should this old man take up sword and spear to fight that Qi bandit in close combat—would that be right?"
One sentence from Sun Yan completely shut Xia Chun down.
He lowered his head, not daring to act presumptuously again.
The meritorious nobility faction could only feel angry but dared not speak.
Going against the wind, they couldn't win this fight.
"Your Majesty, this general is willing to issue a military pledge," Xia Chun said.
But having a stain he absolutely had to wash away, Xia Chun knelt and kowtowed, his voice trembling.
"We'll discuss this further, discuss further."
The Emperor did not take the bait, ordering him to rise and return to his position before resuming the court assembly.
So this is what a court assembly is like...
Experiencing this for the first time, Wei Wusheng felt it was a bit too intense.
At this moment, Marquis of Liangzhong, Rear General Xiao Qun spoke up: "Wuwei is certain to fall, and Shuofeng cannot be held either. This subject suggests withdrawing our forces, burning the city, implementing scorched earth tactics, evacuating the common people of the Northern Liang valley southward, and defending the remainder of Liang Prefecture. Otherwise, we'll merely waste elite troops in vain."
Anyone with eyes could see that Northern Liang had no possibility of being held.
Unlike the "defeat general" Xia Chun and Marquis Xun Zhao Lun whose son had been defeated, Marquis of Liangzhong was both meritorious nobility and a renowned general and important minister—generally no one would criticize him.
Actually, no one directly criticized Zhao Lun either, but calling him "that wretch Zhao Xiang" was no different from insulting him.
"Duke of Li, what do you think?" the Emperor asked.
Everyone looked toward the Duke of Li, this leader of the meritorious nobility. Slowly, he spoke: "General Xiao can go supervise Liang Prefecture and confront Ji Yuan after Northern Liang possibly falls. But Shuofeng cannot be lightly abandoned. On the contrary, the court should do everything possible to save it... Otherwise, if military morale is lost, the hearts of the people will scatter as well."
When he said this, the nobility understood—he wanted Zhao Xiang dead.
This contradicted the meritorious nobility faction's intention to "protect Zhao Xiang."
Indeed, the nobility were in conflict with the gentry, locked in irreconcilable opposition.
But the leader of the nobility did not necessarily completely favor his own people.
What the Duke of Li needed to consider was the realm of Great Yu.
For the sake of the state, he could also yield benefits to the Jiangnan aristocratic families.
Knowing his son would basically not survive, Zhao Lun couldn't help but shed tears, choking with sobs.
"Then let General Xiao serve as Governor-General, and Minister of the Court of Judicial Review Chen as Regional Inspector to defend Liang Prefecture," the Emperor decided.
"This subject obeys the command," they said in unison.
Both accepted the decree simultaneously.
Hearing this, the expressions of Minister Sun and the others, though not obviously changed, did relax somewhat.
The military and political power of the region was now split evenly between nobility and gentry.
Before this, such a thing would have been quite unlikely.
With the former Regional Inspector demoted and the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review elevated to Regional Inspector, Sun Heng, who served as Right Monitor in the Court of Judicial Review, could also advance a step.
This was the concession of benefits.
"Of course, Shuofeng absolutely cannot be yielded."
After roughly determining the strategy, the Emperor issued directives for smaller campaigns: "Even if it's difficult to defend, even if it cannot be defended, We of Great Yu will not yield an inch of territory. We also want all under heaven to see Our determination to resist Qi."
After the Emperor finished speaking, Wei Wusheng walked to the center.
Witnessing this scene, Director of the Imperial Observatory Sima Yu glanced at Wei Wusheng, then looked up at the Son of Heaven in shock, a chill running through his heart.
Your Majesty has never forgotten about eliminating the traitorous son from his dream!