Our family has been rebelling for generations, and you've become the top scholar in the imperia

"Knock knock knock!"

Beijing.

It was noon.

When pedestrians on the street heard the bells ringing from the imperial city, they all froze in place.

"Why are they ringing the bell all of a sudden? Has something terrible happened?"

"Nine bells, what great news has come? The last time the bells were struck nine times was when the Crown Prince was being appointed. Could it be that His Majesty has given birth to another son?"

"That can't be it, right? Aren't we at war with the grasslands lately? Could it be that news has come back from the grasslands?"

The meaning of the bells in the imperial city varies depending on the number of rings.

Nine sounds!

This means it's a good thing.

This matter concerns the imperial court and is a good thing for the Great Zhou Dynasty.

And it's a great thing; otherwise, there would be no need to knock nine times.

Countless people are speculating about what great thing it is that allows them to defend the border.

It shouldn't be necessary to knock nine times.

In the cabinet.

Upon hearing the bell, Grand Tutor Wang and his companions hurriedly left the house and stood in the courtyard, listening intently to the sound.

"Gentlemen, the sound of the nine bells, if nothing unexpected happens, should mean that news has come back from the border. It's a great victory, otherwise the Emperor wouldn't have issued an order to strike the nine bells. We need to go to the palace as soon as possible, defend Pingsha Pass, and discuss how to negotiate with the grasslands next."

One of the older ministers stroked his beard and said with a look of delight.

Don't think about it.

Pingsha Pass must have won.

However... the Emperor is indeed willful. He only managed to defend Pingsha Pass, yet he was willing to strike the bell nine times.

"Now that we've held the border, it's natural to talk to the grasslands. Since we couldn't breach the border, things will be much easier to negotiate. I think reducing the annual silver allowance to 20,000 taels would be sufficient, and some of the trade subsidies can also be cancelled. Let's go, let's go! I reckon the officials from the Six Ministries are already on their way to the palace. We shouldn't delay!"

Grand Tutor Wang remained silent.

Instead, he frowned, deep in thought about the matter.

Nine bells!

It shouldn't be too much to defend Pingsha Pass, right?

However, having lost last time, if they can hold on this time, the Emperor will be overjoyed and might indeed ring the nine bells.

"We need to mention the matter of the border commander later. Ding Yitao cannot be allowed to live. We need to get the Emperor to issue an order as soon as possible to arrest him. We should first check if the casualties at Pingsha Pass are heavy. It would be best if we could control Ding Yitao."

As he walked toward the palace, Grand Tutor Wang gave instructions in a low voice.

The Nanjing Forestry Party is just another partisan struggle.

It is also impossible for them to cooperate with those who plot rebellion.

However, there are several border prefectures and many officials involved, so this matter needs to be discussed carefully.

And then...

Now that we can confirm that Pingsha Pass has been defended, Qin Feng's official position will likely be promoted. According to past patterns, he could be sent out to a remote area to wield significant power.

The more he thought about it, the more uncertain Grand Tutor Wang felt.

Recently, he has been sending people to inquire about the places that Qin Feng has managed.

West Ward has now firmly surpassed East Ward, boasting a wide variety of shops and is still expanding.

Xishan Coal Mine has a stable business, and there has never been a problem with the daily coal supply.

They even invented a kind of honeycomb briquette, and the Grand Tutor's Mansion purchased a lot of it. It was more economical than before, and there was no waste. If sealed properly, it could burn all night without going out.

For ordinary people, this is much cheaper than burning charcoal or wood directly.

Then there's the business of wooden tracks.

To be honest, this business deal was something Grand Tutor Wang hadn't expected. Qin Feng had joined forces with the nobles of the capital and was laying wooden tracks to connect the canal ferry crossing.

If this item is laid out, the transportation time can be reduced from two days to less than one day.

This is great news.

"Ugh!"

Grand Tutor Wang hadn't decided what to do with Qin Feng yet, but one thing was certain: the Nanlin Party couldn't continue targeting Qin Feng.

This time, assisting in guarding the border is a great achievement, and it has completely secured his position in the court.

With the help of officials from the border prefectures, cooperating with Qin Feng would be the most suitable path for the Nanlin Party.

It should be understood that after Pingsha Pass was successfully defended, Qin Feng could not return to the capital directly. The rewards would have to be sent to the border, and the other side would need to stabilize their troops and settle them down before returning.

To put it bluntly, right now, in the entire border region, besides Ding Yitao who has troops, only Qin Feng can command them.

Go to the palace.

Zhou Zhengde changed his clothes and sat on it with a big smile on his face.

Besides the news they brought back.

He had already read the letters from Qin Feng and General Gou, which clearly described the situation at Pingsha Pass and how it was defended.

but.

There was one thing that surprised Zhou Zhengde.

He always felt that Qin Feng, a civil official, would have a hard time getting along with General Gou.

Unexpectedly, their letters were filled with praise for each other.

General Gou said that Qin Feng was a master strategist who was willing to offend officials in border prefectures to secure enough provisions. He slept for only two hours a day, and when attacking cities, he personally led his men to climb the city walls and fight against wild boars. The schemes of setting fires and poisoning were all devised by Qin Feng.

The praise in Qin Feng is even more unbearable to read. It says that General Gou, despite his advanced age, still has ambitions and is willing to fight wild boars to defend the city. He is upright and incorruptible and has strict military discipline. If it weren't for the old general in charge, Ping Sha Pass would definitely not have been able to be defended.

The only thing they have in common.

Both letters were written about the death of the wild boar-skinned warhorse.

In order to raid the camp and burn the grain, two cartloads of poison were added to the water source, resulting in the death of a large number of wild boar-hide warhorses.

but.

These warhorses were nothing compared to the destruction of the Alitan tribe.

The imperial court will no longer need to spend annual tribute silver, and the trade market will return to the hands of the Great Zhou. How many warhorses can be bought with this freed-up silver?

"Your Majesty, we, your humble servants, pay our respects!"

"Rise!"

Numerous officials entered the imperial palace one after another.

Looking down at the officials below, Zhou Zhengde smiled and waved.

"Jiuzhong, I'm sure you've already guessed what it is. Indeed, news of victory from the border has arrived today. After several days of fierce fighting with Wild Boar Skin, we have successfully defended Pingsha Pass!"

All the ministers below wore expressions of "I knew it!"

Pingsha Pass was successfully defended.

With winter approaching, Wild Boarskin's attack on Pingsha Pass has failed, and many people are likely to die this year.

"Your Majesty, has any news been sent back from Pingsha Pass? Could it be that the wild boar hide has already retreated? And they've stopped besieging Pingsha Pass?"

One of the officials felt something was wrong; the timing didn't match up.

Even if they can't take it, Wild Boarskin will still besiege Pingsha Pass. After all, winter is coming, and Wild Boarskin will come to steal grain and food for the winter.

It's impossible to back down easily.

The wild boar skin has shed in just a few days?

These words were spoken.

Many officials nodded, but they were also puzzled by the matter.

This also applies to Grand Tutor Wang.

Could it be that after holding out for a few days, they deliberately sent someone out of the city to secretly send a message back first?

"The Alitan tribe suffered a devastating defeat, with over 8,000 heads chopped off by the Pingsha Pass garrison. All eight chieftains of the main tribes were captured and will soon be escorted to the capital. Alitan, with fewer than a thousand personal guards, fled to the grasslands!"

"After this battle, the Alitan tribe will pose no further threat!"

"Distribute the battle report to all my ministers so they can take a close look!"

quiet!

The entire court was eerily quiet.

Even several senior cabinet ministers had their mouths slightly agape, looking as if they had misheard!

Eight thousand?

Killed eight thousand enemies?

The Alitan tribe, even when united, only had 10,000 soldiers, which meant they were wiped out.

How is that possible?