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墨書 Inktalez
Sometimes, a person may feel an unusual familiarity with something, yet that is not the reality; it is merely an illusion. This sensation arises from an inner desire that stimulates the cerebral cortex, blurring the lines between longing and reality.
Ye Xiaohan believed that Gu Bei was experiencing such a situation now.
He gazed at the stunningly beautiful Bai Rong'er, feeling a sense of surprise. In that moment, a desire emerged within him—one he hadn't even realized he possessed—leading to a sense of déjà vu.
Gu Bei tried to explain, but he genuinely had forgotten. However, Ye Xiaohan continued to express her refusal to listen. Eventually, Gu Bei had no choice but to admit his mistake, acknowledging that he had never truly seen Bai Rong'er before; it was all just an illusion.
In the end, there was no conclusion to this matter, but it was just trivialities. At first, Ye Xiaohan felt a twinge of jealousy; after all, this was Gu Bei's first display of interest in another woman in front of her.
However, she quickly brushed it aside. Bai Rong'er was indeed extraordinarily beautiful; even Ye Xiaohan found herself stealing glances at her. It was only natural for Gu Bei to be attracted to her; his taste was perfectly normal.
Moreover, she had no energy to dwell on such matters as significant events were unfolding in the Court.
For a long time, the south had been unstable. It made sense; for Gu Bei to gain fame as a military general, it could not possibly be during a peaceful era.
In the north, near the imperial city, things were somewhat better under the emperor's suppression. However, in the south, where the High Emperor was far away, matters became much more complicated.
The southern regions were plagued by banditry.
Especially in some remote mountainous areas where management was challenging due to their distance. The local customs were fierce and the terrain rugged; any disturbance could leave people restless at night, living in constant fear.
Not long ago, a region reported an outbreak of banditry.
Initially, the court did not pay much attention. Such incidents occurred every year and had never truly ceased; they had grown accustomed to it. Although local forces were insufficient to effectively combat the bandits, the court had its means of suppression.
With local authorities helpless, they reported to the court. Upon receiving the news, the court quickly dispatched troops to quell the unrest.
Though not many—only two thousand soldiers who were not elite forces but rather garrisoned troops from nearby areas—they should have easily dealt with a mere few hundred bandits.
As everyone awaited good news from the front lines, they instead received shocking news: the army had been defeated by the bandits.
While defeat itself wasn't extraordinary—everyone makes mistakes and horses stumble—no one could guarantee victory every time.
However, this time, the situation was far more serious.
The bandits not only defeated the army but also executed two thousand soldiers on the spot, hanging their heads at the foot of the mountain where the bandits resided.
When the news arrived, it sent shockwaves through both the court and the common people.
Upon hearing this, the Emperor was furious.
"A mere few hundred bandits have annihilated my regular army! What are you all doing? What have those troops been training for all this time?"
The ministers knelt in the Golden Throne Hall, not daring to make a sound. The defeat was so humiliating that everyone felt a deep sense of shock and shame.
After cursing the useless officials, the Emperor's hatred turned towards the bandits.
"These bandits are inhumane, leaving not a single survivor! Such vile scoundrels, devoid of morality and overflowing with evil, do not deserve to live in this world!"
The Emperor's anger burned hotter, and he immediately made another decision to send more troops to suppress them.
This time, he dispatched three thousand soldiers, determined to crush the bandits on their own ground.
However, before the Emperor's previous fury had subsided, urgent reports came from the south that the latest three thousand soldiers had once again been completely wiped out.
In just a short span, five thousand soldiers had been lost. The Emperor's face changed with rage; without hesitation, he continued to send more troops, vowing to hang the bandit leader's head at the city gate for all to see for three days!
Yet despite his anger, things did not improve. The army was sent out time and again—five times in total—but there was no success. Instead, the imperial army suffered severe losses and was left in a state of utter disgrace.
"Smack!"
The memorial was thrown harshly to the ground as the Emperor glared at the sea of officials kneeling before him, unable to contain his fury.
"What do I keep you for? A mere few hundred bandits have cost me nearly ten thousand soldiers! What is going on here? After raising an army for a thousand days, am I now unable to use you even for a single day?"
The officials exchanged glances, their hearts swirling with uncertainty.
This time, the Bandits were truly unexpected, far stronger than ordinary outlaws.
Gu Rong saw this tragedy as a significant opportunity.
With such a major incident occurring, Gu Bei, as the Grand General, could not escape responsibility. Everyone had witnessed the brutality of the Bandits; it was almost certain death for those who ventured forth. If he recommended Gu Bei to suppress them, it would be an incredibly rare chance to frame him.
If Gu Bei met the same fate as the Soldiers before him and fell at the hands of the Bandits, it would be ideal. Even if he managed to return by some stroke of luck, it would still be a great joke if a Grand General was beaten to a pulp by a few outlaws.
In this way, Gu Bei's reputation in Court and among the common people would plummet. At that point, one could only wonder if the Emperor would continue to favor Gu Bei!
The more Gu Rong thought about it, the more feasible the idea became. Unable to contain himself any longer, he stepped forward and spoke up.
"Your Majesty, I believe this matter is of great importance. It has become known throughout the land; if the court cannot suppress this chaos, those Bandits will become even more arrogant, thinking that our Court is powerless against them. If this continues, I fear that other villains will follow suit and cause great disorder!"
Gu Rong spoke earnestly and sincerely, wearing a look of concern for the nation and its people, as if he genuinely worried for the court and the common folk.
The Emperor glanced at Gu Rong and asked, "What does Gu Ai Qing think?"
Gu Rong had been waiting for this question from the Emperor. He quickly replied, "I believe we must not let those who wreak havoc go unpunished; we must eradicate them completely! Since ordinary troops are insufficient, we should send elite forces to ensure that we wipe out the Bandits!"
"Your words resonate deeply with me," the Emperor nodded. "If such Bandits are not eliminated, I fear there will be endless troubles ahead. Who do you think should go to suppress them successfully?"
A cold smile briefly flickered across Gu Rong's lips before disappearing as he spoke with righteous fervor: "When it comes to leading troops into battle, if the Invincible General is not considered number one, who would dare boast? I believe we should send our nation's finest General Gu Bei to suppress them; only then can we ensure their complete eradication and serve as a warning to other restless regions!"
It must be said that sending Gu Bei out was indeed Gu Rong's selfish desire to use this opportunity to create more trouble for him. However, based on actual circumstances, Gu Bei was indeed the most suitable candidate.
He had established his own reputation in warfare with countless victories under his belt and was praised as a God of War at a young age.
Sending him to suppress this group of Bandits would not only minimize losses but also serve as a warning to others—killing the chicken to scare the monkey—ensuring that other Bandits would think twice before acting recklessly.
A few Bandits causing trouble would hardly catch the court's attention. What they truly cared about was the potential chaos that could arise if the situation escalated.
Once public sentiment turned chaotic, it would inevitably lead to significant adverse effects. If someone with ill intentions took advantage of this opportunity to sow discord, it could result in severe conflict.
For instance, a rebellion.
Once war broke out, it would be difficult to resolve the situation quickly, leading to immense losses.
As the emperor, how could he possibly wish to see such a scenario unfold? Only by maintaining peace and stability could he sit securely on the Dragon Throne.
The emperor scanned the room and asked, "Are there any other suggestions from you, my loyal ministers?"
The Officials responded in unison, "We believe that Lord Gu is absolutely correct! This battle requires General Gu to take action to demonstrate our court's might!"
"Mm." The emperor nodded and turned to Gu Bei: "Gu Ai Qing, what are your thoughts?"
The question seemed pointless.
With the Officials recommending him, the emperor had already shown his approval; how could Gu Bei oppose it?
Even though Gu Bei was worried about Ye Xiaohan and the six siblings, fearing that if he left, those with ulterior motives might take advantage of the situation to harm them.
However, imperial orders were not to be disobeyed. Since the emperor had already posed the question, Gu Bei had no choice but to comply, despite his concerns.
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