The Prodigal Son

After the officials from the court rushed over, Zhao Luan sent someone to summon Qin Yu into the imperial study.

Zhao Luan briefly explained the current situation to his ministers and then asked for their opinions.

Upon learning of the fall of Zhubei City, the court officials were both angry and anxious.

Shuozhou is in grave danger!

Zhenzhou is in grave danger!

"What is Xue Chengdao good for? He's the Minister of War personally overseeing the operation, and he still lost Zhubei City?"

"That's not how it works. Lord Xue and Marquis Zhaoyi had made preparations in advance, but Bei Qi came prepared, and even Tuoba Liuyun made a move. They had already done their best!"

"Now is not the time to talk about these things. Everyone knows the consequences of the fall of Zhubei City. We should be discussing what to do next."

"Yes! Your humble servant suggests that we agree with Lord Xue's opinion: since Shuozhou cannot be defended, we should retreat to Zhenzhou!"

"How do we know we can't hold it if we don't defend it? If we lose Zhubei City, are we going to abandon the entire Shuozhou? What's the point of the imperial court having an army?"

"You make it sound so easy, but do you know the price we'll have to pay to defend Shuozhou? If our dynasty pays a heavy price and still can't hold Shuozhou, and we don't have enough troops to follow up, Zhenzhou will inevitably fall as well!"

"Right now, the court should make a choice: first, preserve Zhenzhou, and then consider defending Shuozhou!"

"That makes sense! After the army retreats to Zhenzhou, it can utilize the advantageous terrain between Meiling and the Tianmai Mountain range to deploy its defenses!"

"The imperial court must prepare for a protracted war of attrition with Northern Qi along the borders of Shuo and Zhen prefectures..."

The ministers all expressed their opinions.

Most people agreed with Xue Chengdao's opinion.

Anyone with even a little military knowledge knows that holding Shuozhou right now is extremely difficult!

If we stubbornly defend Shuozhou, it will ultimately lead to heavy losses, and Zhenzhou will surely be lost!

Even the fortress of Ironwall City, a forward stronghold of Weizhou, could fall!

If even Iron Wall City falls, the Northern Qi army will have to fight all the way to Dieguan!

Listening to the suggestions of his ministers, Zhao Luan couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

It seems we really have to retreat to Zhenzhou!

I'm unwilling, but...

We still need to consider the overall situation!

"Your Majesty, in my humble opinion, the only viable option at present is to retreat to Zhenzhou!"

Gao Yi advised Zhao Luan again, "Now is not the time to worry about the gains and losses of a single city or territory. Losing Shuozhou is better than suffering heavy losses and not only failing to hold Shuozhou, but also losing Zhenzhou!"

Su Yu agreed, saying, "Prime Minister Gao is right! Your Majesty, please make a decision as soon as possible to prevent our dynasty from suffering even greater losses!"

"Yes! Your Majesty, please make a decision quickly!"

Ministers who advocated retreating to Zhenzhou offered their advice and persuasion.

"Then let's retreat to Zhenzhou!"

Zhao Luan finally made a decision: "Shangguan, draft the imperial edict!"

"Order Xue Chengdao and Qian Zhui to retreat to Zhenzhou as soon as possible and establish a defense along the front lines of Zhenzhou!"

"Order Luo Yu of Iron Wall City to send 15,000 troops to escort two months' worth of provisions for an army of 50,000 to the garrison of Zhenzhou within twenty days!"

"Xue Chengdao is hereby appointed to temporarily assume the post of General of the Northwest, overseeing all military and political affairs of the three prefectures of Shuo, Zhen, and Wei..."

Upon hearing Zhao Luan's words, the assembled officials were shocked.

After the fall of Zhubei City, Zhao Luan not only did not punish Xue Chengdao, but also appointed him to take charge of the military and political affairs of the three northwestern prefectures.

After a brief moment of distraction, Gao Yi, disregarding Zhao Luan's ongoing decree, hurriedly interrupted, "Your Majesty, you mustn't!"

"Why not?"

Zhao Luan frowned and looked at Gao Yi.

Gao Yi advised, "Xue Chengdao, as the Minister of War, personally commanded Zhubei City, yet still allowed it to fall, forcing the imperial army to retreat to Zhenzhou. His Majesty's decision not to punish him is already an act of boundless grace! If he were to be appointed to oversee the military and political affairs of the three northwestern prefectures, it would likely be difficult to gain the support of the people!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

One official chimed in, "If rewards and punishments are clearly defined, and those who commit offenses are rewarded, how can the soldiers still have any will to fight or lose?"

"Bullshit!"

Gong Nanxing, the Left Vice Minister of War, immediately retorted, "Bei Qi's preparations this time are meticulous, and with a powerful figure like Tuoba Liuyun assisting them, anyone else would likely be unable to defend Zhubei City! His Majesty's decision not to blame the soldiers and to appoint Lord Xue to oversee the military and political affairs of the three northwestern prefectures will surely move the soldiers to tears of gratitude, inspiring them to fight to the death for the court!"

The official immediately retorted, "If we reward those who have committed offenses instead of punishing them, how can we win people's hearts? Who will take responsibility if the soldiers become lax?"

Gong Nanxing was about to start cursing when Zhao Luan suddenly shouted to stop him.

"That's enough!"

Zhao Luan raised his eyes and swept them over the assembled officials. "Punishment is a matter for after the war! Right now, the priority is to defend Zhenzhou! My mind is made up, and I will not say more!"

She knew that many people coveted Xue Chengdao's military power and were counting on her to severely punish him.

She won't fall for that!

She also believed that Xue Chengdao and Qian Zhui had indeed done their best.

As Zhao Luan finished speaking, Gao Yi and the others, though unwilling, could not say anything more.

Zhao Luan remained silent for a moment before continuing to issue the decree.

After issuing the decree, Zhao Luan looked at Gao Yi and said, "The Ministry of Revenue must quickly mobilize funds and grain to send to Iron Wall City in preparation for any eventuality!"

"yes!"

Gao Yi accepted the order, "However, Your Majesty, with heavy snow in many places this time, it will probably take a lot of time to deliver money and provisions to Iron Wall City."

"Within one month!"

Zhao Luan set a deadline and, without waiting for Gao Yi to speak further, continued, "Now that Northern Qi has restarted the war, our dynasty must be fully prepared! The Ministry of War shall begin taking stock of military supplies immediately, and the Ministry of Works shall expand its artisan pool to forge more armor and weapons. Specific details shall be jointly drafted with the Ministry of War and submitted within three days!"

"yes!"

Feng Shinan and Gong Nanxing accepted the order at the same time.

Zhao Luan exhaled a breath of stale air. "Regarding the war in Shuozhou, do my esteemed ministers have any further suggestions?"

"This old minister has another suggestion!"

Su Yu stepped forward. "Your Majesty, although the imperial army is about to withdraw from Shuozhou, the combined effects of the war and the snow disaster will inevitably cause great harm to the people of Shuozhou..."

"I have already thought about this."

Zhao Luan interrupted Su Yu, "I will issue another imperial edict to Xue Chengdao, ordering him to evacuate as many people from Shuozhou to Zhenzhou as possible!"

An imperial edict?

Su Yu was slightly taken aback, but then he understood.

Zhao Luan issued this order to Xue Chengdao orally because he did not want to put too much pressure on Xue Chengdao.

While evacuating the civilians is important, preserving the army's fighting strength to defend Zhenzhou is even more important!

How to weigh the pros and cons is up to Xue Chengdao himself!

"Your Majesty is wise!"

Su Yu bowed slightly and retreated.

"Aren't you going to offer any suggestions?"

Zhao Luan once again surveyed the assembled officials.

The ministers looked at each other and then fell silent.

After a moment's thought, Gong Nanxing stepped forward and said, "I have no suggestions regarding the war in Shuozhou, but I do have other suggestions!"

"Speak!"

Zhao Luan's voice carried a hint of weariness.

With a worried expression, Gong Nanxing said, "Now that war has reignited between our dynasty and Northern Qi, the imperial court's military expenditure will likely need to be increased!"

Military spending!

Upon hearing these two words, Gao Yi, who also held the position of Minister of Revenue, immediately frowned: "Lord Gong, all you want is money! The imperial court's military budget for this year has already reached twenty million taels of silver. If we increase military spending further, the national treasury will be emptied!"

"This is a matter for the Ministry of Revenue! I'm just stating the facts!" Gong Nanxing turned his face away decisively.

The Ministry of Revenue is not under his jurisdiction!

In any case, military spending is mostly insufficient!

As for where the silver comes from, that's a matter for the Ministry of Revenue!