vrcanaries Chapter 770: Chu State Panic
Chapter 770: Chu State Panic
The complete annihilation of the Chu navy also meant that the Yan army had no more obstacles to its southward advance, and its momentum to sweep across the world was unstoppable.
The Yan army cheered and the warships retreated, slowly returning to the port for repairs.
Pang Lei came from the flagship to the small boat, took the small boat to the shore, strode to the viewing platform, knelt on one knee and said,
"Your Majesty, the Great Yan Navy has fulfilled its mission and completely annihilated the enemy!"
Yan Fuyao smiled and said,
"Well, it's worth it for your unremitting efforts in shipbuilding and soldier training over the past four months.
In this battle, our Great Yan Navy played an indispensable role, and I will definitely reward them according to their merits.
Follow me back to the city and hold a celebration banquet!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty, General!"
The emperor, the two kings, and the generals came down from the viewing platform and rushed towards the city.
Pang Lei took a few steps forward, then suddenly turned back, looking at the messy river surface, and muttered,
"Arrogant Zhou Yun, you... finally fell at my hands."
……
The news of the navy's complete annihilation was quickly sent back to Yingdu by a messenger from the navy camp via carrier pigeon.
Early the next morning, before the morning court session began, the emperor and his court officials received the news.
Emperor Xiong Ren of Chu was an emperor in his forties who had been on the throne for twenty years. He could not be considered incompetent nor diligent in governing the country. He was just an ordinary emperor, a mediocre ruler.
But being able to sit on the throne of the emperor, facing absolute power and temptations from all sides, and being able to not kill or give life, indulge in wine and sex, and not be cruel or foolish, is already very impressive.
Xiong Ren was also clear about his position. He knew that he had no ability to expand territory, nor did he have the courage to reform the new policies. He was only good at maintaining a balance between the complicated forces of aristocrats and court officials, but he did not have any grand ambitions.
In his opinion, the main thing is for him to become emperor step by step, then train the prince to be a talented person and give him more experience. After his death, he can let the prince succeed to the throne and pass on the Chu royal family.
But God doesn't fulfill people's wishes.
The Yan State in the north, which had no sense of existence, suddenly emerged, formed alliances, and wiped out the most powerful Kun State in the north.
Afterwards, he destroyed Qi, took Liang, and divided his troops into two groups to annex Wei and Qin. By now, Chuan had been destroyed.
In the blink of an eye, he, a mediocre king, was about to become a king who lost his country.
Xiong Ren suffers from insomnia every day, tossing and turning and unable to fall asleep.
It was early morning and I finally fell asleep.
At dawn, he was awakened by a palace maid who gave him a "good news".
"Your Majesty, urgent news from the north: our navy has been completely annihilated, and Zhou Yun has been killed in battle."
Hearing this, Xiong Ren shuddered instantly, his eyes widened in disbelief, and then his whole body seemed to have lost all strength. He sat down on the bed and fell on the concubine.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty!"
The concubine was terrified and quickly supported Xiong Ren, calling out anxiously, and then angrily scolded the palace maid who came to help,
"Slut, look at what you've done to the Emperor. Your entire clan wouldn't have enough heads to lose. Why don't you go call the imperial physician!"
The palace maid didn't know why she was blamed for this matter. It wasn't her who lost the battle. Moreover, the expedited military report was delivered eight hundred miles away. According to the rules, no matter what the emperor was doing, it had to be reported immediately.
Not to mention sleeping, even if she is making a baby, she has to interrupt the process to report.
How can this be blamed on her?
But the master is the master, and the servant is the servant. All the mistakes are the servant's fault. How can the master be wrong?
Just as the palace maid was about to rush to call the imperial physician, Xiong Ren suddenly said weakly,
"Quick, pass the order to convene a court meeting and summon all civil and military officials."
"As ordered."
The concubines also hurriedly shouted,
"Don't forget to summon the imperial physician!"
"Your Majesty, it will take time for the ministers to arrive. Please let the imperial physician examine you first. It will not be too late to attend the court meeting later."
"I know. Just ask the imperial physician to give it two injections."
A moment later, the imperial physician arrived and gave Xiong Ren acupuncture to clear his meridians. Only then did Xiong Ren feel much better.
"Your Majesty, you are so angry! You must not get angry any longer, or your condition will worsen."
"I have to be angry. When the country is in danger, how can I not be furious?"
Xiong Ren put on the dragon robe and came to the court.
All the civil and military officials in the court had gathered and were whispering to each other, their faces full of anxiety.
Xiong Ren sat on the dragon throne, accepted the worship of all officials, and said,
"My dear ministers, urgent news has arrived from the north: our navy has been completely annihilated, and Zhou Yun bravely sacrificed his life.
The 800,000-strong Yan army has probably already begun crossing the river. Let's discuss what we should do.
The general stood up and said,
"Your Majesty, Zhou Yun is incompetent and has high aspirations. He caused the annihilation of our Great Chu Navy and deserves severe punishment..."
"Oh, that's enough."
Xiong Ren frowned and said impatiently,
"It's already this late, and you're still obsessed with your factional disputes. Why are you punishing someone harshly when they're already dead?
Although Zhou Yun lost, he also showed the blood and backbone of us Chu people!
He died fighting for his country, what's wrong with that?
I'm not asking you to point fingers at anyone, but to think of a solution and what to do."
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone fell silent, looking at each other.
The Emperor of Chu at this time was no different from the Emperor of Qi, the Emperor of Wei, the Emperor of Qin, and the Emperor of Sichuan.
Every emperor who was about to be besieged by the Yan army felt the same way.
despair!
The only options left for him were to surrender or escape.
I feel a little unwilling to surrender.
Escape, where can you escape to?
But ministers, you still have to say what needs to be said.
A minister stood up and said,
"Your Majesty, the Yan army is powerful, while ours is weak. I believe we should avoid their attack, bide our time, and conserve our strength before planning a decisive battle with the Yan army."
Xiong Ren nodded and said,
"Well said. Don't say it next time. Avoid the enemy's sharp edge and bide your time. Does the Yan army give you time to bide your time?
Jingzhou is only 600 miles away from Yingdu. At 600 miles, the Yan army can arrive there in less than half a month.
Where are you going to bide your time?"
Another minister stood up and said,
“Your Majesty is right. The Yan army has a full 800,000 troops, while our army only has 200,000 central troops left.
It is unwise to confront the enemy head-on.
I think we should move the capital."
"Moving the capital again?"
Xiong Ren frowned. The Chu State had the habit of moving its capital, and wherever the court went, that place was called Yingdu.
"Where are we moving to this time?"
"Your Majesty, I believe we should move south to Yongzhou County, which is on the border between our country and the Qian Kingdom.
The Qian Kingdom has vast territory and abundant resources, and has many elite soldiers and generals.
Although they lost 400,000 troops, they still had 800,000 central troops in the country, 400,000 of them on the border alone, and another 200,000 local troops in various places.
We can ask for help from the Qian Kingdom court, ask them to send reinforcements to the border, join forces with our army, and fight a decisive battle with the Yan army.
This is the only way to survive."