Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 77: Thunder
“It’s already the fourth quarter of the hour (10 o’clock). What’s happening with the Cai Kingdom?” Kong Yingzhi led the five hundred elite soldiers of the Kong family, anxiously waiting in the Qingshui River Valley.
Suddenly, a late-stage foundation-level guard rushed over in a panic. “Young master, it’s bad! We need to run!”
“What’s going on?” Kong Yingzhi was still in a daze.
The guard didn’t have time to explain; he grabbed Kong Yingzhi and pulled him to flee. As soon as Kong Yingzhi climbed over the hill, he heard loud banging sounds behind him, along with the sounds of intense fighting.
“Uncle Guo, what’s happening? Did the Cai Kingdom fail?” Kong Yingzhi looked at the guard, but to his shock, the guard had slumped over and died.
“Uncle Guo!” Kong Yingzhi was startled and, turning around, found two fist-sized bloody holes in the back of Uncle Guo’s body, which was already a mess of flesh and blood.
Kong Yingzhi was stunned. He quickly picked up Uncle Guo’s corpse and fled for his life.
Meanwhile, the battle soon came to an end; Beichen Yuqing checked each body. “One of the main figures escaped!”
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“I’ll go after him!” Liu Lei was about to chase after him.
Beichen Yuqing stopped him. “There’s no need. If we pursue further, we’ll be entering the area of Zhongshan County. The mountains are high and the forests dense; there’s no way to catch up. Besides, it’s not the right time to completely sever ties with the Kong family. Even if we catch that person, we’ll have to let him go.”
“Why?” Liu Lei was confused.
Beichen Yuqing smiled wryly. “Killing his brother and son is one thing. If we kill his son too, Kong Donglai will go mad. Moreover, we still need the Kong family’s cooperation for something. We must protect these corpses; they are important evidence.”
Liu Lei looked at Beichen Yuqing and suddenly sighed, “What do you strategists think about all day?”
“Strategies!” Beichen Yuqing laughed heartily and led the way out of the valley.
————
When An Yang achieved an unprecedented great victory, the second wave of messengers sent by Li Liang once again flew to Wuyang.
“Enemy forces are unprecedentedly strong, with nearly fifty thousand soldiers and over fifty war artifacts?!”
This news completely ignited a commotion in the court. His Majesty the Emperor was truly at a loss. Just as Xu Ren had evaluated, this Emperor lacked the true qualities of a ruler and became flustered when faced with major events.
“Your Majesty, I will go to provide assistance immediately!” Fu Minghui said again.
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“Not so, Your Majesty!” Kong Xiang interrupted once more. “Since the State of Cai has mobilized over fifty war artifacts, it is clear they have greater ambitions! If it were merely An Yang, they wouldn’t make such a fuss. I fear this is Cai’s strategy to lure the tiger from its mountain. Once the defenses of the imperial capital are weakened, the true main force of Cai will undoubtedly invade from the north.
In my humble opinion, we should have Pingjun, Zhongshan, and Lüliang assist in the defense. An Yang can be abandoned, but we cannot take risks with the imperial capital!”
Kong Xiang’s words were splendid! His Majesty the Emperor was once again at a loss.
Wang Chuan sneered, coldly watching Kong Xiang’s performance. Then he glanced at Li Yulong, his eyes brimming with unspoken glee—none of your two sons will be coming back! Hmph!
Li Yulong began to feel anxious, but for a moment, he could not find a good excuse to counter. Moreover, as a civil official, it was indeed inconvenient for him to speak on military matters.
In the end, His Majesty the Emperor finally ordered Fu Minghui to continue guarding Wuyang City. He also issued orders for Pingjun, Zhongshan, and Lüliang to jointly defend An Yang.
After the court session ended, Wang Chuan approached Li Yulong again. “Lord Li, I believe both of your sons will return safely. However, a person like Kong Xiang, who disregards the big picture, cannot remain in the Grand Tutor position any longer; we need someone who cares about the country and the people.”
Li Yulong certainly understood Wang Chuan’s intentions—this guy wants to become the Grand Tutor. However, at that moment, Li Yulong had no time to concern himself with these matters and hurriedly rushed home.
By noon, a shadow appeared in Li Yulong’s study.
“How is it?” Li Yulong asked nervously.
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The shadow spoke with a tone full of information, “Great victory, the situation is as follows…”
Li Yulong listened in stunned silence, and after a long time, he finally burst into laughter. “Very good, very good! Wang Chuan, you still want to be the Grand Tutor? Dream on!”
Soon after, Li Yulong called for Yang Zhong. “Yang Zhong, take this letter to the Grand Tutor’s residence, and make sure to personally hand it over to Grand Tutor Kong Xiang!”
“Yes.”
Yang Zhong was quick, and in less than a moment, the letter was delivered to Kong Xiang’s hands. Kong Xiang felt suspicious but ultimately opened the envelope, only to find a blank piece of paper.
“A blank piece of paper?”
Not to mention Kong Xiang; even Yang Zhong was confused when he saw it. However, he firmly assured himself that he definitely hadn’t switched it out.
After Yang Zhong left, Kong Xiang stared at the blank paper for a long time and suddenly awoke with realization—an empty promise!
This blank paper represented an empty promise! The reason it was a blank sheet instead of an empty envelope meant—your foundation can still be preserved.
Putting it all together, it read: Your Kong family is busy to the point of peril; do you want to preserve your legacy? Collaborate with me, Li Yulong! Give me whatever I want!
Kong Xiang clenched the blank paper, his hands trembling with veins bulging. After a long time, he finally sighed and sat down in his chair, feeling defeated and exhausted.
By evening, the imperial capital erupted in chaos, noise filling the air.
As the steward approached Kong Xiang, he couldn’t help but smile bitterly. “Is it about the great victory at An Yang?”
“Uh… Master, you truly have foresight,” the steward replied, filled with admiration.
“Foresight? Ha…” Kong Xiang could only laugh bitterly.
The Emperor had held court three times that day: once at midnight, once in the morning, and again in the evening. But His Majesty’s expression was excellent. Before the officials, the Emperor personally announced the battle results:
“Li Xian annihilated four thousand of the Cai nation’s Imperial Forest Army in the Huangshi Valley, with only the General escaping.
In the defense of An Yang, the first battle killed over seventeen thousand enemies, chasing the retreating soldiers for more than thirty miles.
In the second battle, we killed over nine thousand seven hundred pursuing troops.
In total, about thirty-three thousand enemies were beheaded in three battles, reducing the southeastern garrison of the Cai nation by seventy percent, rendering them unable to launch an attack for three years.
On our side, we suffered one thousand five hundred and forty-eight casualties.
A great victory! An unprecedented great victory! This is the largest victory in the past thirty years, and it is a true victory!”
The officials were stunned, especially Wang Chuan, as if struck by a stick, left momentarily at a loss for how to think.
Kong Xiang suddenly stood up. “Your Majesty, this old minister is guilty. I have just received news that Yao Jianye has colluded with the enemy, secretly allowing four thousand elite troops of the Cai nation to enter the border, nearly causing a disaster.
Please allow this old minister to retire to my hometown.”
At this moment, the Emperor was in a good mood and jokingly said, “I permit it. However, I have one last question for the Grand Minister: who do you think can serve as a minister to assist the country?”
Kong Xiang sighed and replied, “Thank you for your trust, Your Majesty. Looking at the current court, the wise man is Prime Minister Ouyang Wubing, and the capable one is Inspector Li Yulong. For military matters, we have Grand Commandant Yuan Yong. As long as Your Majesty values these three, the empire will be safe for twenty years.”
“Hmm. Very well. Li Yulong, starting today, you will be my Minister of State. I entrust you with your first task: the factory for one hundred thousand looms has been completed, and you must help me manage it well.”
Upon hearing this, Li Yulong sighed inwardly, thinking about the state of a nation in decline, yet he replied, “Yes.”
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The Emperor then looked at the Prime Minister. “Prime Minister, what punishment should Yao Jianye receive?”
“Confiscate his property and exterminate his clan!”
“Hmm. Who do you think can take over the position of Governor of Kaiping County?”
After a moment of hesitation, the Prime Minister replied, “None other than Li Liang. With the momentum of victory, Li Liang will surely be able to swiftly reorganize Kaiping County and eliminate hidden dangers, ensuring the northeastern border of the Great Xia is secure.”
“Good, then summon Yao Jianye back. Confiscate his property and exterminate his clan. Appoint Li Liang as the Governor of Kaiping County and promote him to oversee An Yang.”