They had long since made up their minds that this time, no matter how great their military achievements upon their return, they would not venture out again. It was simply too dangerous, and the entire journey had been spent either traveling or training. They had never endured so much hardship since childhood.
Although most of them followed their general's command and continued drinking, a small number felt that their great general had a point. If the enemy were to launch a surprise attack, they would be left to die. The thought of their wives and children waiting for them back home instantly made the wine in their hands taste less appealing. Despite the organization’s assurances and others’ encouragement, some simply dared not drink anymore. The others immediately found him boring and no longer wished to engage with him.
Half-dreaming, half-awake, they suddenly heard their teacher shouting "kill." Some thought they were dreaming, pricked up their ears, pinched their thighs, and suddenly woke up. They quickly threw on some clothes, grabbed their weapons, and those who could escape, fled.
The young master of the Ningyuan Marquis's mansion had already led his men to resist, but the morale of the army had collapsed. Seeing everyone retreat, he knew the situation was hopeless and withdrew with a heavy heart.
After leaving the county, the county official looked at everyone's disheveled state, his heart aching. He immediately began to take stock of the remaining soldiers. This count revealed a grave problem: many sons of noble families had not even exited the county town. Their fate was foreseeable. The thought of his father's meticulous instructions before their departure sent a shiver down his spine.
However, if he were to lead another rescue party, to be honest, he was not inclined to bother with those arrogant individuals. On the other hand, he was not confident he could drive out the enemy. His own life was also precious, and sacrificing it for them seemed too unworthy.
The general, personally appointed by Prince Ping and now a captive, nodded with satisfaction. The imperial court's faction, led by the young master of the Ningyuan Marquis's mansion, had arrived with fifty thousand troops for judgment. Upon receiving the news, they had specifically laid a trap, waiting for them to fall into it.
They were gravely mistaken to believe Prince Ping's army was in disarray and lacked discipline. The prince had made extensive preparations for this day. In a politically clear era, such actions would be suicidal. But everyone knew the suffering of the common people was unbearable, and the court's control over the regions was virtually nonexistent. As a chaotic era loomed, whoever seized the initiative might ascend to the throne. To not make preparations early would be foolish.
They deliberately feigned panic and fled rampantly, still appearing somewhat disheveled, but in reality, their losses were very small. Once they fled beyond the county official, they rejoined the main army, hiding in the shadows to observe carefully and seek opportunities.
They had long heard that the young master of the Ningyuan Marquis's mansion played a crucial role on the northern battlefield, enforcing strict discipline and exhibiting military brilliance in his campaigns. They dared not confront him head-on, and were surprised to learn that his subordinates were so diverse. When their men received news that the enemy was preparing to attack in large numbers, they were astonished, thinking it was a trap to lure them in. After careful investigation, however, they realized they were overthinking. To numb their senses, Prince Ping's subordinates had spared no expense, bringing out all their prized liquors and transporting them, jar by jar, to the barracks and the city walls.
As soon as the wine jars were opened, a rich aroma filled the air, causing everyone to involuntarily swallow. They had been away from the capital for some time and were craving such fare. Although they knew drinking today violated military discipline, with so many noble sons leading the way, the blame would be spread thin. Everyone wanted to indulge themselves for once.
Little did they know that such indulgence would lead to their throats being slit in their sleep. When their informants deemed the time right, they quickly waved flags on the city walls. Many of the soldiers who received the news fought valiantly, but seeing that their great general had already fled, they no longer struggled fruitlessly, prioritizing their own lives. Of course, those who were drunk as dead weights not only failed to escape but were also unconscious. The rebel commander, viewing this as a sign of their army's indiscipline and fearing they might corrupt his own soldiers, directly ordered them to be killed, giving them no chance to become prisoners.
Although the young master of the Ningyuan Marquis's mansion was deeply resentful, he could only lead these remnants of his army north. The Emperor, upon hearing the news, was furious. He berated the Ningyuan Marquis loudly. The other four families, upon learning that their descendants had not returned, and although they knew their own kin had made mistakes, believed that since the young master of the Ningyuan Marquis's mansion was the great general who led them out of Jincheng, he should have brought them all back safely and not fled alone. They thus harbored deep hatred for him.
The Ningyuan Marquis, sensing their ill will, secretly lamented his situation. Although he knew his future on the imperial court would be fraught with difficulty, he considered his son's life more important. At worst, he could resign and return home. His eldest son was his pride and joy; without this incident, his future would have been boundless. Had he known, he would have found a way to refuse the mission for his son.
The moment he stepped into the capital, a rope was placed around his neck. Listening to the reprimands from his grandson and the punishment of dismissal, his heart remained calm and unperturbed. He had long known that his return to the capital would not be peaceful and had prepared himself mentally for the worst-case scenario.
The unfavorable start to the campaign infuriated the Emperor. He wondered who could be sent to suppress the rebels in the south. He had truly placed high hopes on the young master of the Ningyuan family, as his subordinate had never caused any trouble on the northern front for years. How could he fail in the south? Was the enemy not as formidable as rumored? This, coupled with his disappointment, brought a slight sense of relief. He feared not those with mere showy skills, but those with true talent who opposed him.
Upon learning of the military defeat in the south, Wu Caiwei frowned and quickly approached Yang Hanye.
"You're telling me to accelerate our grain acquisition efforts, to buy as much as we can?" he asked, looking with surprise at the serious expression on his wife's face.
Did she have such little faith in the imperial court? Although the imperial army had been defeated in the last engagement, everyone believed it was due to their carelessness. In all their years of warfare, such a thing had never been heard of. With a different general leading some fresh troops, such an event would surely not happen again. In their eyes, Prince Ping defying the court was akin to a moth flying into a flame. They were confident the court would defeat Prince Ping's forces. To think that his wife was now telling him to buy up all the grain suggested she believed the court would surely lose this war.
"Yes, buy as much as you can. If possible, have your subordinates begin acquiring grain in various regions of the north. I believe soon, grain will become a scarce commodity, and you won't be able to buy it even if you want to." Although Yang Hanye was not the one destined to ascend the throne, in the years to come, there would be rebel forces everywhere, and the court would be unable to attend to everything, leaving very little grain in the market. Yang Wang's faction also had a considerable number of soldiers who needed sustenance. For them to have the ability to protect themselves in the future, they had to expand their influence, and grain was of utmost importance. It was not too early to start preparing now.