Su Yuanbai had to remind him. "Governor, if you massacre the city, it will attract Meng Shanming's revenge in the Song Nation!"
Luo Zhao grabbed his wrist and said forcefully, "There is no advantage in cowering on the battlefield! Elder Su, even if we don't massacre the city, as long as we take down Yanjing and have a city as hostages, the Song Nation will have a bargaining chip to negotiate with Yan Kingdom! Once the Imperial Court asks us to retreat, we still have to cross the East Domain River. If Meng Shanming seals the river and wastes us here, what will happen when we run out of rations? No matter what the final situation is, we have to fight for enough bargaining chips for the Imperial Court! However, the Imperial Court may not think so. I'm afraid that they will only blindly urge me. Elders, please lend me a hand! "
His words were sincere, and he had an expectant look with blood at the corner of his mouth.
He really needed the support of the three major sects now, and it was easy for him to gain their support because he was the son-in-law of High Heaven Pavilion.
Su, Dong, and Chang exchanged a look and felt that Luo Zhao's words made sense.
…
"Haha, haha …"
Shang Chaozong, who was standing on a hill and looking at the Song Nation in the distance, laughed heartily. He was holding the report of victory from Meng Shanming's side.
In such a short period of time, two million elite soldiers of Song State had been wiped out by Meng Shanming. The crisis of annihilation that Great Yan was facing had finally brought hope to the people. The foundation of Shang Family could be saved. How could he not be happy?
He pointed at the Song army in the distance and said, "Luo Zhao is now caught between a rock and a hard place. Even if he can return alive, he will probably be hit while he is down. This is really retribution. This is really delightful!"
Great Zen Mountain Sect Master Huang Lie clapped his hands excitedly. "Commander Meng is indeed Commander Meng. He is indeed extraordinary. Two million elites were wiped out easily. With six hundred thousand captives, Yanjing's danger can be resolved."
Now that the battle had come to this point and the situation had been reversed, he could finally heave a sigh of relief.
The war could end earlier and Great Zen Mountain's interests in Southern State could be protected. How could they not be relieved?
Speaking of the 600,000 captives, Shang Chaozong lowered his head and looked at the victory report in his hands. He sneered, "Luo Zhao is too arrogant. He actually sent a white horse as a mourning gift. Now that Marshal Meng's gift is on its way, I wonder how Luo Zhao would feel after receiving it."
Speaking of the gift, Huang Lie's mouth couldn't help but twitch. Meng Shan Ming's gift was too domineering, too intimidating!
It was also a bit cruel. They didn't hold back in the slightest, and it was even bloody. It was a big move!
Under Meng Shan Ming's order, he cut off one ear from each of the 600,000 captives and packed them into boxes. He ordered his men to deliver them to Luo Zhao, and they were already on the way!
It was not hard to imagine that once this matter was spread out, the fact that Meng Shan Ming returned six hundred thousand ears as a gift would greatly increase the prestige of the Yan Nation!
However, the two of them did not know that neither the Song Nation's imperial court nor Luo Zhao knew that Meng Shanming had 600,000 captives.
…
In the Yanjing Imperial Palace, the women in the harem were chattering, and it was a mess.
Some news could not be hidden. The Song Nation's army was about to attack Yanjing, and His Majesty was about to retreat. He would bring everyone away today. The nobles of the various branches were all packing their luggage. They didn't want to delay the journey and anger His Majesty before they set off.
"Imperial Concubine, all the courtyards are packing their luggage. Should we pack anything?"
The maidservant, Xiao Hong, returned to the cold and quiet courtyard and reported the situation to Zhou Qing, who was tending to the flowers and grass.
Zhou Qing's hands paused for a moment, and he replied sorrowfully, "What else do we have to pack?"
The two maidservants exchanged looks and lowered their heads sadly. The only belongings here had already been packed. Aside from a few pieces of clothing, there was nothing much to pack. They could pack everything up and take it away when they received the news. It would not be troublesome at all.
Just at this moment, many footsteps came from outside. It seemed like people were running in all directions. There were orderly footsteps and the sound of armor rubbing against each other.
Zhou Qing listened attentively, and Xiao Hong immediately turned around, preparing to see what was going on.
Who knew, when Xiao Hong reached the door, she would be blocked by a few eunuchs. The contents of the tray held by the leader of the eunuchs scared Xiao Hong so much that she retreated.
There was a folded piece of white silk and a flask of wine on the tray. As someone who had lived in the palace for a long time, Xiao Hong was all too clear about what it meant to bring out these things.
As Xiao Hong retreated in horror, she berated, "What do you want?"
The leader of the eunuchs ignored her and carried the items to Zhou Qing. Two eunuchs were guarding the door.
"Greetings, Imperial Consort." The leader of the eunuchs stood before Zhou Qing and bowed respectfully.
Seeing the items in the other party's hands, Zhou Qing was stunned. The scissors in his hands fell to the ground.
The leader of the eunuchs sighed. "Imperial Consort, I will not say too much. I had no choice. Imperial Consort, please choose one of the two items."
Zhou Qing pursed his lips. "Whose orders? Is it the empress? "
The leader of the eunuchs said, "It is the chief steward's orders. I am just following orders. Imperial Consort is a magnanimous person. If I have done anything wrong in the past, I will apologize. I hope that Imperial Consort will not blame me after you reach paradise. "
Zhou Qing smiled bitterly. She knew all too well that no matter how powerful the chief steward, Tian Yu, was in the palace, he would not dare to treat her like this. After all, she was the emperor's woman. Even if Tian Yu was a hundred times more courageous, he would not dare to kill her.
She had already guessed who the chief steward was referring to. She smiled bitterly and said, "I am going on my way. I only have one request: to see His Majesty one last time and allow me to bid farewell to His Majesty."
The leader of the eunuchs shook his head and said, "No! The Imperial Army has already sealed off all the passageways outside. No one is allowed to enter or leave without permission, not even Imperial Consort. "
Tears welled up in Zhou Qing's eyes. "I want to know why I am not allowed to be killed? Can't you let this consort die knowing? "
The leader of the eunuchs hesitated for a while and finally sighed. "I believe that Imperial Consort has heard that the Song army is about to attack the capital. To make it easier to evacuate, we cannot bring everyone with us. The chief steward is thinking for His Majesty's sake. There are many beauties in the harem. If they are all mixed in with the temporarily retreating army, their numbers will be too conspicuous. It will be indecent and affect the morale of the people. If we leave Imperial Consort and the others behind, we might be afraid that the enemy troops will desecrate Imperial Consort once the city is breached. The chief steward is really doing this out of good intentions. Do not blame him. You will not be alone on your journey. There are other consorts accompanying you! "
So that was the case. Tears welled up in Zhou Qing's eyes. She shook her head and choked with sobs. "His Majesty is too heartless. I have completely forgotten my previous gentleness."
Zhou Qing had no choice but to take the two items on the tray. She only hated her father for dying so early. If her authoritative father, Zhou Shouxian, were still around, the emperor would not dare to treat her like this.
"Imperial Consort, let's depart as soon as possible," the leader of the eunuchs urged.
Zhou Qing slowly reached out and grabbed a piece of white silk from the tray. Then, she slowly turned and walked into the room, looking dejected.
"Imperial Consort!" Two maids cried and tried to stop her, but they were held down by two eunuchs.
The sorrowful Zhou Qing moved too slowly. When she returned to the room and saw that the roof beam did not move for a long time, the leader of the eunuchs became impatient and waved his hand. "We still have to rush to the next house. This matter cannot be delayed. Help Imperial Consort and send her on her way!"
One of the eunuchs snatched the white silk from Zhou Qing's hands and pulled over a stool to stand on. He threw the white silk over the beam and tied both ends into a knot.
Zhou Qing's body felt light and she found herself being carried up by a eunuch. Cooperating with the eunuch standing on the stool, they wrapped the white silk around her neck.
The two eunuchs loosened their grip. One stepped back, while the other jumped off the stool and kicked it over. Only Zhou Qing was left hanging on the beam, kicking her legs and struggling.
"Imperial Consort!" The two maids who had been held back outside the door cried out in grief.
Unexpectedly, the eunuchs turned around and held down the two maids, opening their mouths.
The leader of the eunuchs poured the poisoned wine in his hand and said coldly in front of the two maids, "I'm afraid that no one will take care of Imperial Consort on her way. You two go accompany Imperial Consort. Remember to serve Imperial Consort well."
The two maids were terrified. The leader of the eunuchs poured two cups of poisoned wine into their mouths without any hesitation. Another eunuch covered their mouths to prevent them from spitting it out.
The two maids quickly tensed up and their bodies twitched.
On the beam, Zhou Qing also gradually could not move. Two streams of tears ran down her face and her eyes were filled with despair. She thought of her glorious days, when His Majesty the Emperor doted on her so much that even Her Majesty the Empress had to give in to her. Luxury was like a dream, and the past was like smoke!
The leader of the eunuchs looked back at the people on the beam. "Leave two people here. Come find me after confirming that they are all dead. The rest of you, follow me to the next house." With that, he left in a hurry.
It didn't take long before many of the beams in the entire harem were hung with swaying corpses or fallen on the ground with black and blue faces.
Standing on the pavilion in the harem, listening to the pleading and crying sounds in the harem, the Sect Leader of Spirit Sword Mountain, Meng Xuan, closed his eyes and expressionless. Even if he knew about this kind of thing, he would not intervene.
Not far away, the Empress led a group of harem beauties out. All the beauties' faces were ugly, including the Empress, who were all frightened.
Even many of the maids around the Empress were suddenly dealt with. Except for the Empress who could bring four maids, the rest of the consorts could only bring two maids each. The rest were all sent on their way, right in front of their eyes. How could this group of nobles not be afraid? They were scared to death.
A group of eunuchs who had been sent to various places to carry out their evil deeds soon gathered together and gathered in a courtyard to report.
Who knew that as soon as they arrived, a group of imperial guards surrounded them. A group of archers emerged from the upper floor. Under the whizzing rain of arrows, the screaming eunuchs fell to the ground. Blood gushed out, including the few eunuchs who had attacked Zhou Qing before.
After that, the imperial guards surrounded the corpses, not sparing a single one...
The main hall was empty, except for Shang Jianxiong who was sitting on the dragon throne.
Chief Steward Tian Yu quickly entered, walked up the side steps, came to Shang Jianxiong's side, and whispered, "The nobles are on their way, and the servants who were rude to the nobles have been dealt with. Your Majesty, it's getting late, you can give the order to set off. "
Shang Jianxiong, whose facial muscles were slightly squirming, got up, left the dragon throne, and walked down the steps. Tian Yu followed him from the side.
As soon as the two of them reached the entrance of the main hall, they heard someone shouting from outside, "Victory! Victory! Your Majesty, victory! "
They saw the Commander-in-Chief, Shang Yongzhong, waving the victory report and rushing up the steps in a hurry, gasping for breath as he reported the good news. "Your Majesty, our army has achieved a great victory. The two million elites of the Song Country were completely wiped out!"
He was so happy that he almost cried. Damn, the emperor asked him to lead one hundred thousand troops to defend the capital and fight the enemy to the end. He had no choice but to agree.
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