Chapter 873 - 76: Jiangnan in Peril, Summoning the Gu Clan Back to Court?

The reports of defeat were like bolts of lightning, striking the court so fiercely that everyone’s souls seemed to scatter in terror.

Zhao Gou collapsed onto his throne, his face as pale as paper, his hand holding the military report shaking uncontrollably, as if the thin paper held the weight of a thousand catties.

Guide has fallen, Liu Qi has been defeated, and the Jin Army’s sharp edge was pointing directly at Yingtian. This was no longer a distant blaze on the horizon, but an imminent threat at their doorstep!

The deathly silence was finally broken by a piercing cry, as Qin Hui was the first to step forward, throwing himself to the ground, tears streaming down his face: "Your Majesty! Your Majesty!"

"Liu Qi has betrayed the divine grace, losing both army and territory, a crime unforgivable by death!"

"I... I have long said, these military generals are arrogant and hard to control, fearful in battle, which is the cause of today’s disaster!" He never mentioned the court’s failure to supply provisions, or the other troops’ hesitance, instead placing the blame entirely on Liu Qi, who was fighting bravely.

"Prime Minister Qin’s words are wrong!" An Imperial Censor, who had never been on good terms with Qin Hui, abruptly stepped forward, his beard and hair bristling, "Liu Xin’s uncle fought alone, cut off from supplies, without reinforcements; it was not his fault!"

"Instead, some in the court solely advocate for peace, embezzling military resources, restraining commanders, leading to a collapse in morale, which is the true cause of defeat!"

Though he did not name names directly, everyone in the hall understood his implication.

"You... you slander us!" Wan Qixie immediately jumped out, sharply retorting, "If it were not for you empty talkers misleading the state, hindering strategies, how could the situation be as it is?!"

Suddenly, Chuigong Hall was like a marketplace, voices of accusations erupted, scholars and military generals blamed each other, shirking responsibility, as if shouting loud enough would rid them of the blame for defeat.

Zhao Gou, on the dragon throne, looked at the chaos, his eyes filled only with profound fear and helplessness.

This court, this country, seemed as if it could collapse before his very eyes at any moment.

Yet just as the chaos reached its peak, a voice, shaking yet extraordinarily clear, rose above it all like ice thrown into boiling water: "Your Majesty! Lords!"

"Arguing is now useless!"

"The urgent task is to repel the enemy! To protect Yingtian, to protect the nation!"

All turned towards the voice, seeing it was the otherwise unremarkable Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Rites, Sun Jin. His face was equally pale, but his eyes showed a kind of reckless determination.

"Look around, who now can withstand the Jin Army’s advance?" Sun Jin’s voice suddenly rose, "Only Yue Fei! Only his elite troops from the Northern Border!"

"Your Majesty, you must immediately issue an order, summoning Yue Fei to return with his troops to reinforce the capital!"

"With the courage of the Yue Family Army, they will surely turn defeat into victory!"

The name "Yue Fei" was like a stone cast into stagnant water, stirring up waves.

However, before Zhao Gou and others could react, another voice immediately followed, filled with alarm and disbelief: "Assistant Minister Sun! Do you know what Yue Fei is currently engaged in?"

"He is with Gu Hui, in the Central Plains... committed to great treasonous acts!"

Speaking was Wang Ciweng, an official from the Ministry of Personnel, who seemed to have caught onto a lifeline or been bitten by a venomous snake, hurriedly saying: "Reports from scouts say that wherever Gu Hui and Yue Fei pass, it’s not merely about suppressing bandits and stabilizing the people!"

"They... they are investigating farmlands, redistributing estate lands to commoners!"

"They execute gentry, under the guise of ’public trials’!"

"They even... even condone ordinary folk, openly criticizing the court, hurling... hurling insults at the illustrious officials as... as the country’s parasites, the state’s rats!"

Indeed, this was everyone’s judgment on Gu Hui.

—And not because of anything Gu Hui did, but because they feared the Gu Clan’s return to the temple.

Using the pretext that Gu Hui did not directly support the court, they accused him of intending to commit treason.

"When has the Gu Clan ever committed treason in a thousand years?" Sun Jin quickly spoke, his face full of despair: "Now the country and state are on the verge of collapse, and you all do not think of serving loyally, but consider all kinds of complicated plots?"

"Hual——!"

The hall erupted instantly!

The officials who were previously bickering among themselves now seemed to have been pricked by the same needle, faces dramatically changing.

"Gu Clan" was a taboo within the Great Song’s court.

Especially after knowing everything Gu Hui had done, this notion became increasingly severe.

There was no choice. Gu Hui and Yue Fei’s actions had already touched their deepest interests and honor!

Whether it was land redistribution; or public trials;

It was all uprooting their foundations!

Not to mention, there was the political reckoning after the Gu Clan regained power.

"Heretical talk! Treacherous subjects!" Qin Hui seized the opportunity, shouting sharply, "Your Majesty! Gu Hui, Yue Fei, their intentions deserve death! They are even more detestable than the Jin People! They must not be summoned to the capital, otherwise a great calamity will arise!"

Were it normal times, upon Qin Hui’s words, there would be many who echoed him.

But today, the situation was somewhat different; the threat of death was at their doorstep, and compared to the distant "uprooting," the imminent blade was evidently much more terrifying.

The Imperial Censor who had earlier opposed Qin Hui was now silent, his eyes darting.

Even Qin Hui’s staunch ally, Wan Qixie, opened his mouth, unable to speak immediately.

They suddenly realized that if Yingtian fell, not only their lands and wealth, but their very lives would be at risk, and however hateful Gu Hui and Yue Fei might be, at least... at least they could fight, they could fend off the enemy!

They hadn’t considered this before.

That was because Yingtian Prefecture was not previously under threat, because Wanyan Digunai had not yet brandished the butcher’s knife.

But now it was entirely different.

Since Wanyan Digunai had established his foundation, he had gradually loosened restrictions on his subordinates.