webnovelfull Chapter 711: Xilin's Defeat
Chapter 711: Xilin's Defeat
After staying in place for two days, the Xilin and Beiyang teams set off again.
Because Xiao Yue was still unconscious, many people in the Beiyang team were dissatisfied with Xilin's eagerness to travel.
However, Murong Yu said that further delay would be detrimental to Xiao Yue's injuries. Now that they have reached the border between the two countries, once they arrive in Xilin, there will naturally be the best doctors to treat Xiao Yue.
After Murong Yu said this, the people of Beiyang could no longer object.
At the junction of Beiyang and Xilin, Jiang Suining and Shen Yanxi watched the team going away.
"Now that we have reached Xilin, it will be inconvenient for us to follow them." Shen Yanxi said.
"Then is there anyone in Xilin who can continue to keep an eye on Xiao Yue? We promised her that we would ensure her safety."
"Don't worry. The two countries have been wary of each other for many years. Naturally, there are Beiyang spies in Xilin. As for Xiao Yue, she has already arrived in Xilin. What she knows is no longer a threat to Murong Yu. On the contrary, she may be able to be used by Xilin in the future, so Murong Yu will not take her life easily."
Jiang Suining knew that what Shen Yanxi said made sense, so he nodded and said, "That's the best, but we still have to find a way to rescue the people before Xilin finds out about the problem with the defense map."
"Yes." Shen Yanxi held Jiang Suining's hand. "Xiao Yue has already sent people to protect her secretly. Once there is a chance, she will be rescued. And we should set off back to the imperial city now."
The setting sun in the sky was blood-red, and Xilin's team had disappeared in the afterglow.
Jiang Suining, Shen Yanxi and the others also turned around and rode away, heading back towards the Beiyang Imperial City.
Three months later, Beiyang Imperial City.
When the news came that Xilin raided the border and the two countries had declared war, Jiang Suining was discussing things with Wei Yao in the Girls' Academy.
Looking at Lu Yan who brought the news, Wei Yao was stunned, "Is the war really going to start?"
"The war has already started. The news just sent back is confirmed." Lu Yan said.
Wei Yao couldn't help but frown, "Although we are far away in the imperial city, we shouldn't be affected even if a war breaks out, but it will be hard for the people at the border."
"As for those soldiers, we just hope that we can successfully repel Xilin and never let the war prolong." Lu Yan said.
After they finished speaking, they both looked at Jiang Suining. Seeing that she looked calm, Wei Yao asked, "Suining, aren't you worried?"
Jiang Suining shook his head, "Beiyang will win."
Some wars require bloody fights on the battlefield to decide the outcome.
In some wars, all the efforts are made before the war begins, and the outcome may have already been determined when the war breaks out.
The biggest battle in this war was completed several months ago.
Xilin was coming with great force, and the court officials who were unaware of the defense map were all worried.
However, the war ended much faster than they expected.
The Xilin Kingdom arranged its troops according to the defense map brought back by Murong Yu, intending to catch Beiyang off guard, but unexpectedly, it fell into encirclement instead.
In just three days, Xilin's elite troops were trapped, their morale was greatly reduced, and the subsequent reinforcements were also ambushed by Beiyang. By the time they realized that there was a problem with the defense map, it was too late.
Not only was Xilin's seemingly fierce attack defeated by Beiyang in one fell swoop, but Beiyang's border troops also took the opportunity to counterattack, catching Xilin off guard and capturing three cities in one fell swoop.
The war lasted only a month and ended with Xilin's surrender and request for peace talks.
When the news reached Beiyang Imperial City, everyone in the court and the country rejoiced.
Those court officials who were originally worried about not being able to resist Xilin's attack began to hope that Beiyang's soldiers would be able to pursue the victory and completely defeat Xilin.
In the imperial study, Emperor Xiao looked at the memorials piled up in front of him, almost all of which hoped that Emperor Xiao would order the continuation of the attack on Xilin.
"As you can see, most of the court officials now hope to attack Xilin. I want to know what you think."
Shen Yanxi, Pei Zhaozhi and several other court officials stood in the imperial study.
Someone spoke first: "Your Majesty, what the court officials said is not entirely unreasonable. This time, it was Xilin that started the war first. Now even if Beiyang pursues the victory, there is no problem in both emotion and reason. Even if Xilin is destroyed, it is their own fault."
"That's not the case. Although we in Beiyang have the upper hand now, Xilin's strength should not be underestimated. If we continue to fight, the outcome is still unknown."
"Sir Wang, how can we do this and help others to become more powerful and destroy our own prestige?"
"That's right. Xilin has evil ambitions and took the initiative to provoke the war. Why should we in Beiyang agree to their surrender and peace talks now?"
"But if the war continues, the people will suffer in the end..."
Several court officials were arguing, and Emperor Xiao looked at Shen Yanxi and Pei Zhaozhi, who had remained silent.
"What do you two think?"
Pei Zhaozhi had not understood Emperor Xiao's actions until after the war broke out, when he learned the whole story from Shen Yanxi.
At this moment, facing Emperor Xiao's question, he bowed his hands and said thoughtfully: "Your Majesty, I agree with what you said. It was indeed Xilin who provoked the war first, and now they have surrendered in a hurry, hoping to negotiate. If we agree to it just like that, it would be too easy for them."
"Yes, that's it!"
"But..." Pei Zhaozhi continued, "Lord Wang's concerns are not without reason. Xilin's strength is indeed not to be underestimated. The reason they were able to win in a short period of time this time was mainly because they fell into a trap due to the deployment map, and the border army's counterattack caught them off guard. Once they come to their senses and really try their best to fight Beiyang, the war may fall into a stalemate, and Beiyang may not be able to advance straight into Xilin."
"Lord Pei also said that it is not necessarily possible, which means it is not completely impossible. Now such a good opportunity is in front of us. If we miss it, it may be difficult to have such a good opportunity again in the future!" After the courtier who advocated war finished speaking, he looked at Shen Yanxi who was standing next to Pei Zhaozhi, "Lord Prime Minister, what do you think?"
They have already heard about the defense map. Prime Minister Shen has put a lot of effort into it, and he probably doesn't want it to end here.
Everyone's eyes were focused on Shen Yanxi, and Emperor Xiao was also looking at him.
"Mr. Shen, you have made great contributions in this deployment of the defense map. Do you agree with the other ministers and want to advocate the battle?"
"Your Majesty, I agree with what you have said, but I advocate peace."
"Mr. Prime Minister, this is a rare opportunity. If..."
"It is indeed a rare opportunity. If the war continues, Beiyang may indeed win. However, such a victory is achieved at the cost of the people's displacement and the bloodshed and sacrifice of the soldiers."
"But throughout history, there has never been a war without bloodshed and sacrifice. It is the fate of soldiers to shed blood on the battlefield!"
Shen Yanxi glanced at the courtier who was speaking, "If this moment is to resist foreign enemies and defend the country, such sacrifices are naturally inevitable. But if we still go to war while maintaining peace and avoiding fighting, why should we let the soldiers shed blood on the battlefield?"