Chapter 70: A Great Victory that Shocked the Zhou Ministers
Qianlong’s last words were almost a scream, his voice cracking with fear. The atmosphere in the hall turned icy, and everyone’s scalps prickled as they stared at him in disbelief.
How could this be possible?
They could scarcely believe what they had just heard. Four-hundred-thousand strong army, including the supposedly invincible Iron Pagoda Army, utterly defeated?
Fu Cha Fu Heng, Yin Jishan, and the other ministers were too stunned to speak.
Qianlong, visibly shaken, could barely hold the secret letter.
“Impossible, absolutely impossible!” He opened the letter again, his eyes bloodshot.
“My 400,000 strong army, how could they not match the Zhou? I must have read it wrong!”
His voice dropped to a mutter, a near-frantic edge creeping in. This was the foundation of his Qing Dynasty, a force built over decades. How could they lose nearly 70% in a single battle?
He clutched the letter, his pupils dilating as he read it over and over, every figure on the page like a knife twisting into his heart. Two hundred thousand lost. Each casualty was a cut to his soul.
He began to tremble, his face ashen, eyes bloodshot and fixed on the letter. His hand instinctively reached for his chest.
The Empress Fu Cha leaned close, concern etched on her face.
Before she could finish, Qianlong spat out a mouthful of blood, his vision darkening. He collapsed sideways, and the Empress let out a scream.
Fu Cha Fu Heng, Yin Jishan, and the other ministers widened their eyes in shock.
Great Zhou – Council Hall
“Your Majesty, a victory report! A victory report!” A guard stumbled in, clutching a letter.
The gathered ministers looked up in surprise. A report of victory? So soon?
Wu Zhao, seated on the dragon throne, looked intrigued, her phoenix eyes glimmering. Shangguan Wan’er quickly stepped forward, opened the letter. After a quick glance, her normally composed face lit up.
“Your Majesty, General Heichi reports that our army has annihilated 200,000 enemy troops, captured 80,000 and completely destroyed the Iron Pagoda Army.”
A collective gasp rippled through the hall. Zhangjia Agui had been completely crippled.
Xu Jingzong, Wei Yuanzhong, and the others exchanged gleeful glances. Great Zhou had achieved a glorious victory. Even Wu Zhao’s usually cold expression softened with a smile.
“Good, good, good,” the Empress repeated, her excitement apparent.
Shangguan Wan’er handed her the letter, and Wu Zhao examined it, noting the detailed descriptions of the battle. Her curiosity piqued as her gaze shifted to Yang Yi.
“Minister Yang, when did you send a strategy bag to Heichi Changzhi? And did it contain a plan?”
The ministers turned to Yang Yi, equally curious. They knew of his suicide squad, but this plan was unexpected.
Wei Yuanzhong asked, “Minister Yang, what other ingenious strategy did you give Heichi Changzhi?”
Yang Yi replied calmly, “Minister Wei, you give me too much credit. It was a simple trick.”
“I merely suggested that Heichi Changzhi tie explosives to the Qing prisoners and send them toward the Qing camp. The Qing army, unfamiliar with our explosives, likely wouldn’t be suspicious seeing their comrades returning. Once the prisoners neared the camp, we’d use flaming arrows to ignite the explosives; turning them all into minced meat. That’s all.”
The hall fell silent.
Wei Yuanzhong’s scalp tingled. Why had he even asked? Yang Yi’s strategies were never simple.
Xu Jingzong and others looked aghast. Using prisoners as walking bombs against their own army? Only Yang Yi could conceive such a plan.
The ministers shivered, imagining the carnage Yang Yi’s strategy had caused. No wonder he was feared as Minister Yang. If there was even a hint of humanity in his methods, it wasn’t his style.
Wu Zhao’s lips parted slightly in astonishment. Yang Yi’s “simple trick” was far more brutal than she had imagined.
After a moment, Wu Zhao turned thoughtful.
“Heichi Changzhi suggests we press the advantage. What is your counsel, Minister Yang?”
Yang Yi replied without hesitation.
“Now is the time, Your Majesty. The enemy has suffered catastrophic losses, and their morale is at rock bottom. The Qing Dynasty is weakened. We should strike while the iron is hot, capturing more cities to consolidate our gains.”
Wu Zhao nodded in agreement.
Heichi Changzhi captured fifteen Qing cities in rapid succession, his forces sweeping through like a hot knife through butter. The Qing Dynasty reeled in despair.
If not for Qianlong’s desperate recall of all troops to defend, they might have lost even more territory. Eventually, the two armies reached a stalemate, but the devastation had already made its mark.
Yang Yi’s reputation as a ruthless strategist spread, astonishing nations far and wide. It had been a decade since such a fierce battle shook the world.
“Good, good, good,” Zhu Yuanzhang’s weathered eyes sparkled with admiration.
“No wonder Yang Yi isn’t afraid of provoking Qianlong. He planned it all. This explosive must have been his doing.
“I’d heard the Qing Dynasty had black powder, but its power was limited. Yet Yang Yi has created something far more potent. The man is a genius.”