The capital of Yunyue Kingdom, Shuangyue City, bustled with people, with numerous small stalls and shops lining the streets.
Last winter's major infrastructure projects had brought significant profits to the participating farmers and laborers. Although they mostly saved their earnings and spent sparingly within the supply cooperatives, their actions still stimulated considerable economic activity.
This included the farmers who provided their daily food, the shops selling clothing, the textile mills supplying fabric, and the female workers earning wages in those mills. All of these individuals' consumption occurred within the city.
At this moment, the citizens walking along the streets of Shuangyue City no longer wore the haggard expressions of the past, nor did their eyes betray the suffering of their former lives. Instead, they were filled with anticipation for their future.
Just as the streets were filled with laughter and joy, a loud voice suddenly echoed from the city gates, accompanied by the sound of horseshoes, growing ever closer.
"Victory dispatch! Prime Minister Chu has achieved a great victory! He has quelled the rebellion of King Liu, beheading over twenty-six thousand five hundred men, with losses of less than five thousand! All rebel-held territories have been fully recovered!"
"Victory dispatch! Prime Minister Chu has achieved a great victory! He has quelled the rebellion of King Liu, beheading over twenty-six thousand five hundred men, with losses of less than five thousand! All rebel-held territories have been fully recovered!"
The cries of victory dispatch drew the curiosity of the surrounding citizens, who turned to look behind them.
Three soldiers on horseback were shouting loudly while galloping their horses.
The imperial court had designated special roads for victory dispatches, which did not disturb the city's populace. No one else was permitted to use these roads, which were solely for soldiers to travel and for messengers to deliver war reports during times of conflict. Even members of the royal family would not use these roads.
"Victory dispatch! Prime Minister Chu has achieved a great victory! He has quelled the rebellion of King Liu, beheading over twenty-six thousand five hundred men, with losses of less than five thousand! All rebel-held territories have been fully recovered!"
This time, the surrounding citizens clearly heard the shouts of the cavalry and were astonished.
"The rebellion of King Liu has been quelled so quickly? I recall it hasn't even been two months since they departed?"
"Alas, others might need half a year or more, but have you considered who led the expedition? It's the Prime Minister Chu who brought us our good life! When Prime Minister Chu takes action, one man is worth two!"
"Exactly! In my opinion, as long as Prime Minister Chu is involved, let alone the rebellion of King Liu that has plagued several counties, even if a powerful neighboring country were to attack, with Prime Minister Chu present, it would be no problem!"
"Heh, I think you're exaggerating. Prime Minister Chu is indeed capable, but he's a civil official. Who knows what the truth is?"
"What? You dare to doubt Prime Minister Chu's ability! I think you're asking for a beating!"
"Hey, hey, what are you doing? A gentleman uses his words, not his fists!"
A few citizens, excited by the victory dispatch, were boasting about Prime Minister Chu when a scholar, seemingly out of nowhere, sarcastically spoke ill of him.
The surrounding citizens were displeased. Without Prime Minister Chu, how could they have such a good life? How dare he doubt Prime Minister Chu? Wasn't he asking for a beating?
Immediately, two or three burly men approached him with ill intentions, surrounding him and delivering a couple of hard blows to the ungrateful scholar in a location where others couldn't see.
The messengers had no time to concern themselves with such trivial matters; they were already galloping towards the imperial city.
Along the way, everyone who heard the content of the victory dispatch was utterly shocked.
King Liu had gathered eighty thousand troops to rebel and had captured several counties. His forces would surely grow, while the imperial court had only dispatched ninety thousand troops, and they were the attacking force.
And yet, the rebellion was suppressed in less than two months?
Hiss... Chu Chen's ability was truly terrifying!
At the entrance of the imperial city, the imperial guards were on duty. Seeing three riders approaching at full speed, they were startled and prepared to stop them with their weapons. However, upon hearing the cries of victory dispatch, they immediately cleared the road.
Front-line military reports could not be obstructed. Only these dispatches were permitted to gallop unimpeded within the capital and even the imperial palace.
"Victory dispatch! Prime Minister Chu has achieved a great victory! He has quelled the rebellion of King Liu, beheading over twenty-six thousand five hundred men, with losses of less than five thousand! All rebel-held territories have been fully recovered!"
The messengers galloped along the palace roads, astonishing the surrounding eunuchs and palace maids.
Inside the imperial study, the Empress was reading a book when a eunuch rushed in: "Your Majesty, good news!"
"Hmm? What good news?"
The Empress put down her book and asked doubtfully.
"A victory dispatch has arrived from the front lines, and they are waiting at the gate."
The eunuch said with a smile.
The Empress's eyes lit up at the news, and she quickly said, "Quick, let him in."
"Yes!"
"Greetings, Your Majesty!"
The three messengers entered, not daring to look around, and knelt in unison.
"Rise!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
"What is the victory dispatch from the front lines?"
The Empress asked impatiently.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, from the Shizhou front, Prime Minister Chu has achieved a great victory! With the imperial court's ninety thousand troops, using cunning strategies, he beheaded over twenty-six thousand five hundred rebels, with his own losses less than five thousand! Furthermore, all rebel-held territories have been fully recovered! Prince Liu's fiefdom, Mengdie County, has also been recovered, and Prince Liu's rebellion has been quelled by Prime Minister Chu!"
"In less than two months, Chu Chen has already quelled Mengdie's rebellion?"
The Empress looked at the three in shock.
"Yes, Your Majesty. Prime Minister Chu also asked us to convey a message, asking when they can return to the court. Also..."
"Also what?"
"Prince Liu was not captured; he escaped."
After speaking, the three lowered their heads.
"..."
The Empress fell silent.
The swift quelling of the rebellion and the victory were beyond her expectations. And the fact that Mengdie had not been captured was also unexpected.
After a moment of thought, the Empress asked calmly, "Did Chu Chen mention where King Liu fled?"
"Your Majesty, Prime Minister Chu said that after defeating Prince Liu's rebel army on the battlefield, he could not find Prince Liu and did not know where he fled. However, all of Prince Liu's generals were killed. Only his chief strategist, Fan Ju, was not captured. It seems he acted strangely before luring the rebels out for a decisive battle."
"Therefore, Prime Minister Chu believes that Fan Ju used some means to rescue Prince Liu."
"Fan Ju wasn't captured either?"
The Empress frowned. These scholars were not good at fighting, but they were indeed adept at escaping! They were worthy of being called scholars, not putting themselves in danger.
"I understand," the Empress waved her hand and turned to say, "Eunuch Wang, you may take them to rest. Tomorrow, summon the ministers for an early court session, and bring them along. Inform all civil and military officials of the victory dispatch as well."
"Yes!"
After everyone had left, the Empress sat back on the dragon throne in the imperial study, closed her eyes slightly, and formed a hand seal on her thighs.
A moment later, the Empress opened her eyes and looked coldly ahead, lost in thought.
The next day, the news of the victory dispatch from the front lines was known throughout Shuangyue City, from the nobles and officials to the common people.