Fang Yun stood in the Golden Palace and listened quietly to General Li's account of what had happened.
The northwest, north and northeast of Jing State are collectively called the three sides. The soldiers of these three sides are not only the most elite soldiers of Jing State, but also among the strongest in the entire human race.
After the defeat on three sides, only tens of thousands of veterans were left out of the million-strong army and they retreated to the Sanlian Battle Fort to recuperate. Most of the soldiers in the Sanlian Battle Fort were new recruits who had not participated in the war.
Those hundreds of thousands of veterans were the last elite of Jing State and also the last spark of fire.
Since yesterday, the barbarians have surrounded the city on three sides and left one side open, leaving the Sanlian War Fort a way to escape to the south. This is an extremely vicious plot. Not only will it demoralize the new soldiers of the Sanlian War Fort and make them lose their interest in defense, it may even turn the siege into a pursuit, which is even more deadly.
The most vicious thing is that the barbarians want to turn the Sanlian Battle Fort into a bottomless pit and a meat grinder, so that the Jing Kingdom’s army will continue to come to support from afar, and then continue to strangle the Jing Kingdom’s manpower here. After that, they can easily break through Ning'an County and Yuyang Pass, march straight into the capital.
Nowadays, there are 20 million barbarians gathered outside the Sanlian Battle Fort alone. Among them, six of the ten most elite tribes of the barbarians are here, there are fifty-four great barbarian kings, and countless barbarian kings. Even if Jing Kingdom goes all out, it cannot contend. It can either flee or rely on the most powerful capital to fight to the death.
In other places, the barbarian tribes burned, killed, looted, and had begun to march towards Ning'an City.
After the main force of the barbarians broke through the three consecutive battle forts, all the barbarian troops would gather outside the city of Ning'an.
The military strength of Jing State is limited now. Apart from the capital, it can only try its best to protect Ning'an City and Yuyang Pass, because Jing State's national strength has been exhausted over the years and it is simply unable to protect two places at once.
For the current Jing State, Ning'an City is more important than Yuyang Pass.
Even ordinary scholars who do not understand military tactics have seen that the battle outside Ning'an City will determine the future survival of Jing State.
The current battle outside the Sanlian Battle Fort is the prelude to the Battle of Ning'an.
If it were an ordinary war, the Grand Marshal's Office and the monarch could decide everything, and other civil officials could only intervene. But the current war involves all aspects, and the Left Prime Minister's faction took the opportunity to stir up trouble, but it was impossible to eliminate the Left Prime Minister's faction at this time.
There was polarization in Jing State, whether it was scholars or ordinary people. Some people insisted on resisting the barbarians and believed that Jing State still had hope, but there were also quite a few people who believed that Jing State was bound to fail and advocated retreat, either fleeing to Wu State or Qing State, and finally asking the Holy Academy for help.
Now, the struggle in the court has reached a fever pitch, and the pro-war faction and the pro-escape faction have already torn their faces apart.
Fang Yun frowned and looked at the officials who were arguing endlessly. Ten officials were accusing each other. At first, only two people were arguing in pairs. Later, those who had spare energy would occasionally accuse others. This scene seemed ridiculous to outsiders, but it was the most common thing in the court.
"The capital is the foundation of a country and cannot be abandoned!"
“The foundation of a country is its people. If the people are there, the country will not perish!”
"If the capital is lost, the people's hearts will be gone. If there is no heart, how can we talk about the people?"
"The world is not just Jingguo. As long as the Holy Court exists, the human race exists. As long as the human race exists, the people's hearts will exist."
"In that case, please invite Minister He to take up his post at the Holy Academy. The people of Jing State do not need to congratulate Hanlin."
"You are wrong. Military strategists defend their country with knowledge, while we strategists use knowledge to keep the country safe. There are thousands of ways to keep the country safe and the people safe, and you are not the only one who has this view!"
Eclectic scholars have always had a wide range of interests, absorbed the strengths of various schools, and are eloquent. Even if they are in a weak position in the court, they will never suffer a loss verbally.
The left prime minister's party has been able to remain in the court until now, and has declined but not fallen.
The imperial party once tried every means to replace the Left Prime Minister, but found that no one could match the Left Prime Minister's layout. No one below the Grand Secretary could serve as the Left Prime Minister, and the Grand Secretaries nowadays are either too old or lack the qualifications. Those Grand Secretaries who could have competed with the Left Prime Minister are either preparing to attack the great scholars or have already become great scholars and cannot threaten the position of the Left Prime Minister at all.
Fang Yun thanked General Li and sat there quietly, thinking about how to save Jing State and how to save Zhang Poyue.
Suddenly, the Minister of Rites, Sai Zhixue, coughed lightly and said, "You have been arguing for a few days, and you must be tired. Since Fang Xusheng has returned, we should listen to his opinion."
Those who were arguing reluctantly shut up.
Minister of Personnel Gu Mingzhou said: "Saint Fang Xu has a broad vision, he can calm the ten colds, and suppress the Jiao Saint. The trivial matters of Jing Kingdom are not worth his attention. In my opinion, Saint Fang Xu should continue to practice and prepare for the battle between the two worlds. As for the battle of Jing Kingdom, I will not bother you."
"What the ancient minister said is true. Fang Xusheng, you are already the Lord of Blood Ray and the Lord of the Yangtze River. If nothing unexpected happens, you will also become the Lord of the Ten Colds. In the future, the kings will need to bow down to you when they see you. After all, the two sides of the Yangtze River only recognize the Lord of the Yangtze River, not the emperors of the six countries."
"You are in a high position now, so be careful with your words and actions, otherwise there will always be villains who will slander you and say that you want to seize a country and become the king yourself!"
"Fang Yun is the Dragon of All Worlds, how can he travel in Jing Country?"
Everyone in the Left Prime Minister's faction flattered him, leaving the Emperor's faction speechless and unable to do anything but watch.
Since the Imperial Party and Fang Yun were originally solid allies, they could not come out and deny Fang Yun at this time. However, the officials of the Left Prime Minister's party praised Fang Yun in name only, but in fact they had sinister intentions and were trying to sow discord.
Fang Yun glanced coldly at the officials of Zuo Xiang's party. Those officials wanted to continue speaking, but they could not resist the majesty in Fang Yun's eyes. It was like seeing the master of a world or the lord of a river. Their hearts were seen through, and they instinctively shut their mouths.
"I am the governor-general of the two states and the King of Bingji, and I am still a minister of the Jing Kingdom. Why do you say this? As for plotting against the Jing Kingdom, plotting to come and confront the Demon Saint Langlu head-on, or giving up the holy way because of the pressure of national destiny? If you continue to speak rudely like this, this saint will have to let you see what the Lord of the Yangtze River is! What the Lord of the Blood Light is!" Fang Yun's tone was flat, but full of strong self-confidence.
The officials from the left prime minister's party looked at each other, and no one dared to refute.
In the past, these officials could use sweet words and make unreasonable demands, but now, Fang Yun even dared to destroy the inheritance of Jiao Sheng Palace. If they continue to repeatedly harass him on one thing, Fang Yun will really turn against them.
The current Left Prime Minister can no longer suppress Fang Yun, who is also a Grand Secretary.
The atmosphere in the Golden Palace suddenly changed. The atmosphere of the Zuo Xiang and his party, which had been so arrogant before, suddenly disappeared. Fang Yun seemed to have become the master of this place, looking down on the world.
Jingjun breathed a sigh of relief, a faint smile appearing on his face.
When the civil and military officials saw this scene, they gradually relaxed. They looked at Fang Yun and finally understood that Fang Yun was no longer the same person as before. He was no longer the Fang Yun who had to use all means to clip the wings of the Left Prime Minister, but a powerful leader who could overwhelm all of the Left Prime Minister's faction with his own strength.
Jing Jun said: "If you, my dear Fang, take a liking to this throne, I will follow the example of the ancient sages and abdicate."
Fang Yun smiled at Jing Jun and said, "Why, Jing State is in trouble, and you, a stubborn disciple, want to quit?"
Jing Jun immediately frowned and said, "I'm a little tired."
"Sit down even if you are tired!"
"The disciple will remember the words of the master."
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