"Actually, it's a good thing for us this time. The Northern Desert is holding back the main forces of the imperial court."
"Isn't Mr. Tan worried that the Northern Desert will win? If so, wouldn't the first thing I do after ascending the throne be to surrender to the Northern Desert? "Shang Junyue was unhappy.
"How can those arrogant people of the Northern Desert compare to the Northern Desert Army? Maybe the Northern Desert Army will also celebrate your success," Mr. Tan said.
"Mr. Tan seems to know the people of the Northern Desert very well?" Shang Junlin asked casually.
"I've had some dealings with them. Your Highness doesn't have to worry about that. Even if we lose, we can just give the Northern Desert back to them."
Shang Junyue didn't say anything else. He had seen how the previous emperor was cursed by the people of Dahuan for giving up the Northern Desert. Even if such a day really came, he would never let this crime fall on his head.
As if reading his mind, Mr. Tan continued, "Even if you have to give up Su Bei when the time comes, so what? This war wasn't started because of you. When the time comes, you'll be the victor. Is it hard to change the world's views?"
"Mr. Tan is right. Are we still waiting? Can Mr. Tan tell us what we are waiting for? "King Yue didn't want to be an ignorant person.
"Of course, we are waiting for someone who can help us win." Mr. Tan didn't want to say more.
The army sent by the imperial court didn't just surround Hanzhou and do nothing. Before they set off, they were specifically told that the enemy might not only be in Hanzhou City, but also in other places.
Therefore, in addition to the army surrounding the city, the general in charge of quelling the rebellion also sent out some people to look for suspicious people.
Especially in the west.
Hanzhou was a vast place. Only the west side was backed by rolling mountains. The army that entered Hanzhou City had entered through this place.
The mountains were sparsely populated, making it easy for people to hide.
The war with Hanzhou was in a stalemate. On the other side, after receiving orders from the imperial court, the garrisons surrounded King Yue's fief and waited for the imperial court to send people over.
"Which minister does Your Majesty plan to send to Yuezhou?" In the warm bedroom, Shen Yu took off his thick cloak and handed it to the servant beside him.
He and Shang Junlin had just come in from the outside. Compared to the cold outside, the temperature inside the hall was a little higher.
In consideration of Shen Yu's health, the fire in Yuzhang Palace burned more vigorously than in other palaces.
"Xun Zhao." Shang Junlin took off his coat and sat down beside the soft couch.
Xun Zhao, Lord Xun, had made a great contribution in the Subei incident. After returning to the imperial court with Fang Jun, he took over Fang Jun's original position. Shang Junlin trusted him a lot, so he was the most suitable person to handle this matter.
"Lord Xun, you are a meticulous person. I think you will be able to handle the matters in Yuezhou well."
The palace servants brought hot tea for the two of them. Shen Yu picked up a cup. After drinking it, his whole body warmed up.
"I originally wanted to send Fang Jun over, but there were too many things in the imperial court at the end of the year. Before I could say anything, I was stopped by the Prime Minister."
Fang Jun had finally entered the cabinet. The Prime Minister didn't want him to be sent away again. There were so many things to be done in the imperial court. If Fang Jun went to handle the matters in Yuezhou, he would have to deal with all the big and small matters.
"The Prime Minister finally found someone who could handle the government affairs with him. Your Majesty, please don't make things difficult for him." Shen Yu chuckled.
"He and Fang Jun both recommended Xun Chao, and I did not object. Although he had made a great contribution to the matter of Su Bei, what he had done with those people in the middle was also an undeniable fact. There were always people in the imperial court who refused to let go of this point." Shang Junlin pulled the man's wrist and pulled him into his embrace.
"Your Majesty, don't you know what these officials are thinking? They just think that Official Xun is blocking their way. They can find fault even if there's nothing wrong. It's good that he's going to Yuezhou this time to solve the matter there. If it can be solved perfectly, there won't be so many people in the imperial court who won't let go of his past. "
"I think so too. The Prime Minister and Fang Jun must have considered this when they brought it up."
After receiving the imperial edict, Xun Zhao didn't stay in the imperial court for long. He immediately brought people to Yuezhou. Other than Xun Zhao, Shang Junlin also sent a few officials to accompany him. Some were from aristocratic families and some were from poor families.
It was unknown whether it was a coincidence or not, but among these people, most of them were officials who went to Subei with Fang Jun.
This trip wasn't completely safe. Although the King of Yuezhou wasn't in Yuezhou, he had stayed in his fief for so many years. It was inevitable that he left some backup plans. One of the reasons why Xun Zhao and the others went was to solve any hidden dangers that might appear.
"Your Majesty, there's a report from Subei. The Subei Army has won a great victory. The Northern Desert has surrendered!" Eunuch Meng walked in excitedly.
Soon, the imperial court received the letter of surrender from the Northern Desert.
"That's great. God bless Dahuan!"
Although they had long known that the Northern Su Army would emerge victorious in this battle, receiving the news of victory was not the same as guessing. Before the dust settled, any accidents could happen.
It was different now. The war with the Northern Desert was over. The result was set. There wouldn't be any more accidents.
In the morning court, the officials were overjoyed. Ever since they learned that the King of Yuezhou had raised an army, they could finally relax.
If the Subei Army wasn't tied down by the Northern Desert, it would be extremely difficult for the King of Yuezhou to succeed.
The next day, the people's newspaper reported about this.
"I knew the Subei Army would win. That's great. They should beat the Northern Desert people!"
"I heard that the Northern Desert people swore to show us who's boss. But in the end, they were beaten to the ground by the Subei Army."
"They've been beaten before. Who gave them the confidence to beat the Subei Army?"
"Will the imperial court ask the Northern Desert people for compensation? Back then, the Northern Desert asked for the entire Subei. If you ask me, they should compensate us with a piece of land. "
"It's not just the Subei Army. They emptied half of the national treasury."
"If we ask for compensation, won't it be ungentlemanly?"
"What's the point of being gentlemanly? Of course, the benefits are the most important. When they asked for compensation, they didn't say it was ungentlemanly."
"That's right, that's right."
The imperial court was also debating about this matter.
The Northern Desert had submitted a letter of surrender. That was all there was to it. Other than that, there was nothing else.
"We can't just let it go." The Prime Minister stood up. "If we let it go this time, won't the Northern Desert think that it has nothing to do with us losing the war? They won't have to pay any price anyway. Won't they be able to invade the Subei Army whenever they want in the future?"
"Even if that's the case, we're a great country. We can't lower our price and ask for compensation."
"Why not?" The Minister of Revenue glared at the speaker. "Do you really think we won't lose anything if we win? Do you want me to list out everything one by one and show you how much we've spent on this war? "
After that, the Minister of Revenue began to read out the bill without waiting for the speaker's response.
No matter the time, the consumption of war was huge. If it weren't for the new model of disaster relief this year, the Northern Desert people's plan might have succeeded.
The consumption of war was no less than that of disaster relief. If the national treasury was depleted in advance because of the disaster relief, this war could drag Dahuan's economy to death.
After the Minister of Revenue finished reading, no one in the imperial court objected.
Fang Jun also stood up. "Even if it's for deterrence, we still need the other party to compensate. If they don't pay anything, the Northern Desert can invade whenever they want in the future. This is the only time they've felt pain. If they want to start a war again, they'll think twice."
"Lord Fang is right. Otherwise, won't people think that Dahuan is easy to bully? They can attack whenever they want. Even if we lose the war, we won't lose anything. "
The imperial court's opinion immediately shifted to the side of asking for compensation from the Northern Desert.
Shang Junlin sat on the dragon throne. Seeing that they were almost done quarreling, he opened his mouth and said, "Minister of Revenue, calculate the losses this time first, and then discuss the specific compensation with the Prime Minister and a few other ministers."
"I accept the decree." The Minister of Revenue cupped his hands.
Next, they discussed the matter of rewards based on their contributions. Since they had won the battle, they should be promoted and rewarded. None of it should be left out.
Shang Junlin had always been generous to his soldiers. He treated them well and rewarded them well. For example, this time, he directly promoted a young man who had just joined the Northern Desert army and had won several beautiful battles.
The ministers were used to Shang Junlin's generosity in this regard. No one stood up at this time to make him unhappy.
After the court, Shang Junlin left a few ministers behind to discuss matters in the imperial study.
"I think the grassland next to the Northern Desert is good. What do you think, Prime Minister?"
The Prime Minister knew what he meant. "I also think it's good. Dahuan lacks a grassland like this."
The other ministers also expressed their opinions.
Seeing that the ministers understood his meaning, Shang Junlin was satisfied. "First, make a general plan of compensation and then show it to me."
"I will obey."
Because of the surrender of the Northern Desert, the imperial court was busy again. On the way out of the palace, the Prime Minister was once again glad that he had left Fang Jun behind. Otherwise, these things would be all on him. Now, at least he had Fang Jun to bear the burden.
When Shang Junlin came out, it was drizzling outside. Eunuch Meng quickly came over with an umbrella. "Your Majesty, are you going directly to Yuzhang Palace?"
"Yes."
The palace servant brought a cloak. Shang Junlin put it on and stepped into the rain.
Shen Yu was painting.
With just a few strokes, the man's figure fell on the paper.
The sky was gray, the earth was scorched black, and the flames of war spread. Only the man stood with a sword.
The flag fell and the flagpole was broken. Bright red blood splattered on it, becoming the only color in the painting.
Shen Yu painted the picture in his mind little by little.
The man in the painting didn't show his face. He was wearing a black armor and a black iron mask.
Shen Yu lowered his head and used a very thin silver line to draw patterns on the mask.
When Shang Junlin came in, he didn't let the palace servant report. Eunuch Meng stood outside the door with a cloak and an umbrella. He didn't follow him.
Steady footsteps broke the silence in the room.
Shen Yu finished the last stroke and looked up.
A man in a black imperial robe walked towards him and gradually merged with the man in armor in the painting. The blurry face under the mask instantly became clear.
"What is A Yu painting?" Shang Junlin walked over.
"I'm painting Your Majesty." Shen Yu put the brush on the brush holder.
Shang Junlin walked over and looked at Shen Yu for a while. Then he looked at the painting.
"Why is it me wearing a mask?"
"Your Majesty, don't you think it's very mysterious and beautiful?"
Shang Junlin said thoughtfully, "So A Yu likes it like this. I'll ask someone to make the same mask for you."
"Wearing a mask." Shang Junlin walked slowly behind Shen Yu and whispered in his ear, "Will A Yu be more excited?"
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