"What did you say? General Zhen Dong, Wang Wei, has been defeated?"
"Damn it, wasn't he supposed to just tie down the enemy? How did he get into a fight? Is he out of his mind?"
Chu Chen was so angry he cursed.
He never expected that after spending a few days recruiting new soldiers and arranging training, the front line would suffer a defeat, losing thirty thousand troops and a month's worth of grain.
What's more, the two counties that had partially evacuated could no longer continue their retreat.
Each with two thousand county soldiers, they retreated back into the city, frantically sending for help.
The yamen was filled with officials and generals.
Princess Xin Yue, Chu Chen, and all the officials and generals present looked at the news with disbelief.
Wang Wei, who held the position of General Zhen Dong, a third-rank official, was not a sycophant who rose through connections. Yet, a man with at least ten years of combat experience like him was defeated so easily, and he didn't even escape.
The subordinates of General Zhen Dong looked grim, but their superior's defeat was a fact. They could only endure the scolding from the eunuch by the princess's side.
"What do we do now?"
Princess Xin Yue looked at the generals in armor in a panic, hoping they would come up with a plan.
After much discussion and deliberation, there was no result. Instead, they started arguing.
"Shut up, all of you!"
Chu Chen roared, "At a time like this, you're still arguing in front of Her Highness the Princess! What kind of conduct is this?"
The gloom of defeat, coupled with the accumulated anger from the bickering, made the scolded officials and generals furious.
Gao Le angrily said, "Eunuch Chu, you are just a eunuch. What right do you have to interrupt our discussion of strategies? Do you understand military and state affairs? Do you know how to lead troops into battle? You only need to serve the Princess well!"
"Hahaha, are you discussing strategies? You look like vendors selling vegetables in a market. If you're so knowledgeable, why can't you come up with anything after discussing for so long? If you're so knowledgeable, why did your superior lose thirty thousand troops in a few days? Why don't you fly to the heavens?"
"You scoundrel!"
"How dare you!"
The generals were even more enraged. Those with explosive tempers wanted to punch Chu Chen, but Gao Le stopped them.
Suppressing his anger, Gao Le looked at Princess Xin Yue, cupped his hands, and said, "Your Highness Fifth, you have seen the situation. We need some time to discuss strategies. Can you control Eunuch Chu and stop him from causing trouble?"
"We guarantee Your Highness that we will defend Dongyang County to the death and will not let the enemy set foot in Dongyang County. We will protect Your Highness's safety even at the cost of our lives."
"Your Highness, I believe these generals cannot do it. The enemy has at least over a hundred thousand troops. Given their performance, it's questionable whether they can hold out for two months with only twenty thousand border troops and over thirty thousand able-bodied men."
"I believe the military command should be handed over to me. I am confident that I can repel all invading enemies."
Chu Chen also directly ignored Gao Le and cupped his hands towards Princess Xin Yue, shamelessly demanding military power.
"Hahaha, you, a eunuch, dare to boast and want military power? You can't even protect your own genitals, and you want to protect Dongyang City?"
"Your Highness Fifth, you must not believe the words of a eunuch."
Gao Le completely dropped all pretense and resorted to personal attacks.
Princess Xin Yue felt a headache coming on. She waved her hand and shouted, "Stop arguing for now. Let this princess think."
Immediately, Chu Chen and the generals and officials below fell silent, awaiting her decision.
A moment later, Princess Xin Yue asked, "Everyone, if we defend Dongyang County to the death, how confident are you of holding it? How do you plan to rescue the military and civilians in the other two counties?"
"Replying to Your Highness Fifth, with the current troops and able-bodied men, if we only defend Dongyang County, I am eighty percent confident of holding it for two months. After two months, when the heavy snow arrives, the enemy will retreat on their own."
Gao Le answered the first question with confidence, but then said with some difficulty, "As for Pingyang County and Anzhi County, we can only order them to find their own ways to hold on. We must concentrate our forces to defend Dongyang County. We have no extra troops to help them."
Princess Xin Yue frowned and looked at Chu Chen, "What about you, Xiao Chenzi? If you were in charge of the military, how would you handle it?"
"Your Highness Fifth, absolutely not. He's a eunuch and doesn't understand anything."
"Shut up! I didn't ask you."
Before Gao Le could finish his shout, Princess Xin Yue interrupted him fiercely.
"Xiao Chenzi, you speak."
"Your Highness, I do not intend to defend Dongyang County, because Dongyang County is bound to fall. Therefore, I plan to lead tens of thousands of troops to defend Pingyang County and Anzhi County while also defeating the enemy head-on."
As soon as Chu Chen finished speaking, Gao Le said dismissively, "Simply preposterous. Even General Zhen Dong, with over ten years of combat experience and thirty thousand border troops, was defeated. You, a mere eunuch, leading tens of thousands of troops, claim you can defeat the enemy that defeated General Zhen Dong? Who do you think you are? A god of war reborn?"
"Your Highness, this eunuch is simply deceiving you. It's likely that during the battle, he will defect and exchange Your Highness for wealth and status, and continue to be a eunuch in the State of Chen."
"You absolutely must not believe the words of a eunuch who only knows how to flatter. You should believe what we, the veteran generals, say."
After Gao Le finished speaking, he knelt on the ground.
The officials and generals behind him also knelt down and pleaded.
Princess Xin Yue frowned, not looking at them, and stared at Chu Chen sternly, "Xiao Chenzi, this is a matter of military and state affairs. Even General Zhen Dong was defeated. Are you truly confident?"
"I am absolutely confident."
"Bullshit! If you're confident, then say it. Don't tell me you don't even have a plan. I'd rather believe a sow can climb a tree than believe a eunuch can fight!"
Gao Le said, looking up angrily.
Princess Xin Yue looked at him with expectation.
"I cannot say it for now because I am not sure if anyone present, due to the defeat, might be secretly colluding with the enemy. If my plan is leaked, then we will be truly finished."
Chu Chen looked directly into Princess Xin Yue's eyes without flinching.
"Your Highness Fifth, do you hear what this damned eunuch is saying? He dares to say that among us loyal subjects who have fought for the country, there are those who would collude with the enemy and betray the nation! This is a slander against us generals!"
"I implore Your Highness to uphold justice for us and execute this eunuch who spreads poisonous lies!"
The officials and generals behind Gao Le echoed his sentiments.
"I am not spreading poisonous lies. In terms of military matters, all of you kneeling here are garbage. None of you understand better than I do! If you don't believe me, we can have a competition."
Chu Chen knew that without demonstrating some ability, it would be difficult to gain command.
"A competition? We're not afraid of you, a damned eunuch."
"Say, how do you want to compete?"
Gao Le stood up, amused by the absurdity.