Reborn and returned, sisters swapped

Chapter 169 Power Struggles Within the Imperial Court

Gu Jinyan smiled slightly, her brows less troubled and more confident. She slowly said, "Actually, without General Bai's cooperation, I would not have been able to succeed in today's battle."

I have benefited greatly from fighting alongside you.

Bai Nishang smiled gently, a hint of tenderness flashing in her eyes, as if looking at herself when she first went to the battlefield: "Jinyan, you will understand in the future that there is glory in fighting alone on the battlefield."

But having reliable comrades to help is the greatest blessing.

May we one day sail together through thick and thin, protecting this land together.

Gu Jinyan was deeply moved, his eyes filled with respect and gratitude.

She raised her glass and said slowly, "If General Bai were to accompany me, Jin Yan would be willing to go through fire and water to protect this land together."

Bai Nishang clinked glasses with her and smiled, saying, "The people of Hesha City are able to live in peace and prosperity because of generals like you."

We fought for this, and that is how we can have a clear conscience.

The two drank their drinks in one gulp, looked at each other, and seemed to have become comrades with a deep understanding during their conversation.

At this moment, they are not just generals, but also soulmates.

At the end of the banquet, Zhao Lingfeng raised his glass once again and said to everyone, "Tonight, let us toast to the future of Hesha City, and to every warrior who fights for freedom!"

The crowd cheered, and everyone drank their fill. The strong liquor burned in their chests, as if the flames of victory were deeply imprinted in everyone's hearts.

As the night grew quiet, the celebration gradually dispersed, and the soldiers and civilians left one after another with satisfied smiles.

Bai Nishang stood on the city wall, gazing at the city illuminated by the firelight, her heart filled with pride and a sense of responsibility.

Gu Jinyan stood beside her, silently gazing at the night sky. The two stood side by side, their hearts in perfect harmony without needing to speak.

"The future of Hesha City still needs our joint protection," Gu Jinyan said softly, his eyes shining with determination.

“That’s right.” Bai Nishang nodded, looking towards the distant horizon. “We will spare no effort to defend this land.”

……

Meanwhile, Gu Jinyan's secret letter was successfully delivered to Gu Yuande.

After reading the letter, the mature and prudent senior official's expression changed abruptly, and the letter in his hand trembled slightly.

He originally thought that the shortage of supplies in Hesha City was just a mistake by the Ministry of Revenue, but he never expected that there was such a conspiracy against Hesha City hidden behind it.

The two names mentioned in the secret letter—Du Chengliang and Wang Chengyi—were both powerful officials with considerable positions in the court.

The term "Tiger Clan" indicates that these people not only colluded with enemy troops on the border, but also attempted to isolate Hesha City at a crucial moment and put it to death.

Gu Yuande knew that if this matter were confirmed, not only would Hesha City be in imminent danger, but it might also involve a power struggle within the imperial court.

He immediately decided to stop tolerating it.

At the court assembly, all the officials gathered, and the emperor and his ministers discussed matters as usual.

Gu Yuande stood solemnly in the ranks. After the officials finished presenting their memorials, he stepped forward and bowed to the emperor.

His tone was calm, but it concealed a thunderous force: "Your Majesty, I have something to report, which concerns the safety of the border and the life and death of Hesha City."

Upon hearing this, the court fell silent instantly, and everyone's attention was focused on this highly respected old minister.

Gu Yuande took out the secret letter from his sleeve, raised it above his head, and presented it to the emperor.

At the same time, he said loudly, "Hesha City has repeatedly requested military funds for months, but has yet to receive approval."

I initially thought it was due to the complexity of affairs, but unexpectedly, I recently received a secret letter revealing that someone in the court was colluding with the enemy's "Tiger Clan," deliberately withholding military supplies and attempting to plunge Hesha City into a desperate situation.

As soon as he finished speaking, the entire court erupted in uproar.

The officials looked at each other and whispered among themselves.

Ignoring the commotion among the officials, Gu Yuande coldly glanced at Du Chengliang, the Minister of Revenue, and Wang Chengyi, the Vice Minister of War.

The two men's faces turned ashen instantly, their eyes darting around, clearly not expecting the secret letter to be exposed so suddenly.

Gu Yuande spoke again, his voice carrying an undeniable question: "Du Chengliang! Wang Chengyi! Is Hesha City a place that the imperial court can abandon at will? If the battle in the city is lost, how will the consequences be dealt with?"

You are secretly colluding with the enemy, exchanging supplies and resources. Is this truly for the benefit of the court, or for your own selfish gain?

Du Chengliang hurriedly defended himself: "Lord Gu, this is absolutely impossible! The origin of this letter is unknown. If it was forged by the enemy to frame someone, how could we believe it so easily?"

Gu Yuande snorted coldly and retorted mercilessly: "The contents of this letter are completely consistent with the fact that Hesha City is short of supplies. How can it be a forgery?"

Besides, without evidence, how dare I publicly accuse someone in court?!

Wang Chengyi tried to deflect the question: "If there is any misunderstanding, we will investigate further before making a decision. Hesha City will not be abandoned under any circumstances..."

Gu Yuande interrupted sharply: "You have been colluding with the enemy and withholding supplies, yet you still try to argue your way out of it?"

"If we investigate further, we'll likely miss our chance to win!" He turned to the emperor, his tone grave. "Your Majesty, Hesha City is in imminent danger. If we fail to provide timely support, the court will bear the infamy of losing a besieged city."

The emperor frowned, remained silent for a long time, and then lowered his head to carefully read the secret letter.

The secret letter not only concerned border military affairs, but also hinted that someone in the court was deliberately plotting to weaken the defenses of Hesha City.

If this matter is not dealt with promptly, it will not only endanger the safety of the city, but may also shake the morale of the army and affect the stability of the imperial court.

Under the tense gaze of his ministers, the emperor finally spoke: "This matter is of great importance. Immediately conduct a thorough investigation into the allocation of supplies by the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of War."

If the allegations are verified, everyone involved will be dealt with according to the law.

As for the military supplies for Hesha City, they must be replenished immediately to ensure the city's safety.

Du Chengliang and Wang Chengyi turned pale and dared not offer any further explanation.

Seeing the emperor's decisive action, Gu Yuande breathed a slight sigh of relief, but his face remained stern.

After the court assembly ended, Gu Yuande slowly walked out of the palace gate, but he was not completely at ease.

Although the secret letter had been made public and the emperor had issued an order to investigate, he knew that this was only the tip of the iceberg of the conspiracy.

Late at night, the candlelight flickered in the council hall of Hersha City, illuminating the slightly tired yet determined expressions of everyone present.

The sounds of people celebrating could be faintly heard outside the council chamber windows, while the atmosphere inside was solemn and dignified.

Zhao Lingfeng glanced around at the people sitting at the table, his voice low and firm: "Hesha City has regained peace, and the people are able to live in peace because they trust us."

But this is just the beginning; the real test is the rebuilding.

The city walls are severely damaged, and the enemy could return at any time; the people's hearts are not yet at peace.

He looked at Bai Nishang, nodded, and gestured for her to continue.

Bai Nishang sat to Zhao Lingfeng's right, her expression calm and firm: "I suggest prioritizing the repair of the city wall."

Although Hesha City has been liberated, enemy forces are lurking in the surrounding area, and our victory will be in grave danger if we do not strengthen our defenses.

Her tone revealed an unwavering determination, as if repairing the city's defenses was the most urgent task.

Qi Rui'an sat at the other end of the table, a civil official of Hesha City.

His expression was particularly solemn: "General Zhao, General Bai, I understand your concerns, but at this moment we have limited resources."

After the war, the city's granaries were empty, and the people suffered greatly.

The people are living in poverty; if we invest all our resources in city defense, I fear we will find it difficult to maintain internal order.

He paused, lowered his voice slightly, and said with a hint of suppressed helplessness, "I suggest that we take coercive measures and requisition some grain from each household first, so as to ensure the effective progress of the reconstruction work."

Zhao Lingfeng frowned slightly upon hearing this.

He knew that Qi Rui'an's proposal was not logically wrong, but that forceful measures could easily arouse public resentment and affect long-term development.

After a moment of thought, he slowly spoke: "Official Qi's suggestion is not entirely unreasonable, but the people of Hesha City have just suffered from the ravages of war. If we apply more pressure, it may cause unrest among the people."

He glanced at Gu Jinyan, secretly wondering how the young general would handle the argument.

Gu Jinyan listened quietly, but now he was beginning to feel confused.

She was a promising young woman, and although she had been through the war, she seemed somewhat hesitant when facing ordinary people.

She finally mustered the courage to speak, her voice tinged with naivety and unease: "Lord Qi, the people of Hesha City have endured much suffering, and the oppression in their hearts has not yet subsided."

If we requisition grain by force again, I'm afraid it will only breed resentment among them.

She paused for a moment, then looked at Zhao Lingfeng and Bai Nishang with a resolute gaze: "I believe that we should prioritize pacifying the people and providing some basic assistance, and then gradually arrange for the repair of the city's defenses."

With their support, the road to reconstruction will be much smoother.

When Qi Rui'an heard Gu Jinyan's suggestion, a hint of disdain flashed in his eyes. He thought to himself that she was too young and lacked understanding of the complex situation.

But he concealed his contempt and calmly retorted, "General Gu, your goodwill is admirable, but the situation cannot be delayed."

If indecisiveness prevents timely repairs to the city's defenses, how can the safety of the people be guaranteed should the enemy attack?

Qi Rui'an turned his head slightly and glanced at Zhao Lingfeng, trying to discern his inclination.

At this moment, he was not entirely loyal to and trusted them, but was constantly weighing the pros and cons and putting his personal interests first.

Zhao Lingfeng sensed the tense atmosphere of the argument, coughed lightly, and said in a steady tone: "Both Qi Wenguan's and General Gu's views have their merits."

The reconstruction of Hersha requires the support of the people, as well as a solid defense.

We should not adopt overly harsh measures, but we also cannot ignore the necessity of city defense.

After a moment's thought, he made a decision: "I've decided to allocate a portion of the existing resources for the repair of the city's defenses."

At the same time, the people were mobilized to participate in labor, and grain subsidies were given according to their contributions.

We want the people to see the changes we bring, not the oppression we exert.

Gu Jinyan breathed a sigh of relief and admired Zhao Lingfeng's decision. She secretly resolved to better balance public sentiment and needs in practical tasks.

She glanced at Bai Nishang secretly, as if seeking support. Bai Nishang nodded slightly, giving her an encouraging look.

Bai Nishang secretly breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing Zhao Lingfeng's decision; she did not like forceful methods.

Although she was focused on the battlefield, she also cared deeply about the well-being of ordinary people.

She admired Zhao Lingfeng's judgment more and more, while at the same time becoming somewhat wary of Qi Rui'an's stubbornness.

Although Qi Rui'an was dissatisfied with Zhao Lingfeng's decision, he still had no choice but to obey.

However, his wavering on his stance deepened.

After the meeting ended, Zhao Lingfeng gazed at the dim candlelight, pondering the future path of Hesha City.

Bai Nishang quietly stepped forward and whispered to him, "General Zhao, Qi Wenguan's stance does not seem entirely stable. I'm afraid he may not be completely reliable on the road to reconstruction in the future."

Zhao Lingfeng nodded slightly, a hint of determination in his eyes: "I will pay close attention."

The road to rebuilding Hersha is long and arduous; we can only hope that we can work together to overcome these difficulties.

At dawn, before the mist had completely dissipated, Gu Jinyan stood in the central square of Hesha City with several trusted confidants and dozens of soldiers.