ALL NOVEL
Chapter 540
On this day, Mo Jiuye had just finished preparing dinner and was about to call someone over to eat when Little White returned with a handwritten letter from Mo Qing.
After reading the letter, Mo Jiuye couldn't be bothered to call anyone for dinner.
He took He Zhiran and went to Minister Hao's study.
"Father-in-law, according to the letter from my father, the barbarians have gathered a large number of troops and are attacking the western border of our country."
Minister Hao was currently examining the documents on the table, as they were entrusted to him by Emperor Shunwu.
His resignation had been approved, but before leaving, he needed to handle some matters within the office.
Upon hearing Mo Jiuye's words, Minister Hao put down his brush and stood up abruptly.
"What did you say? The barbarians are attacking our Great Da Shun? Why hasn't the court received this news?"
"Father-in-law, a few days ago, I asked Little White to bring the letter home for safety. Little White just returned with this news. Perhaps the court hasn't received it because the messenger from the western border isn't as fast as Little White."
"My father wrote the letter four days ago, and by then, the barbarians had already launched a massive attack on the western border for two days."
"So, the western border has been under attack by the barbarians for six days?" In Minister Hao's eyes, this matter was extremely serious.
Although Da Shun had also sent troops to guard the western border, they wouldn't be able to withstand a full-scale attack by the barbarians.
"Jiuye, what do you think we should do about this?"
Mo Jiuye had come here just to inform his father-in-law about this news, not intending to burden him. Even if his father-in-law had no intention of resigning, as a mere civil official, how could he solve this matter?
"Father-in-law, I plan to go to the Third Prince and inform him of this news."
"Yes, yes, this matter should be discussed with the Third Prince. After all, the source of our information is quite special, and we can't openly speak about it."
He Zhiran stayed here to accompany his father, while Mo Jiuye used his light skills to rush to Nan Yu's residence.
Currently, Nan Yu still resided in the Fei Residence. The Emperor had completely recovered and resumed attending court sessions. He officially announced Nan Yu's identity in front of the entire court.
At the same time, he granted Nan Yu the residence formerly occupied by Prince Qi, but recently, there had been a lot of matters in the court, and Nan Yu hadn't found the time to move.
It was understandable for him to give the mansion to his own biological son, but what caught the attention of the courtiers was that the Emperor bestowed the residence upon the Third Prince without naming it.
What did this imply?
It indicated that there was a high possibility the mansion would be named the Crown Prince's Residence in the future.
Nan Yu was in his study, reviewing documents, when Mo Jiuye arrived. He didn't say much and directly informed Nan Yu of the news he had received.
"Jiuye, is the news accurate?" Nan Yu didn't ask how Mo Jiuye learned about the barbarians' full-scale attack because he knew Mo Jiuye had a very intelligent carrier pigeon. He asked this question because he found the matter somewhat unbelievable.
Based on Nan Yu's knowledge, the barbarians usually attacked Da Shun during the winter.
Winter was when they lacked food, so if the attack succeeded, they could obtain some provisions for the winter.
It is indeed somewhat incredible to mobilize troops during this season.
"The information is absolutely reliable. The messenger from the western border should arrive in about ten days."
It usually takes about half a month for a fast horse to travel from the northwest to the capital city. However, Little White only took four days. Therefore, it will take at least ten to eight days for the messenger from the western border to arrive.
Nan Yu stood up.
"Thank you, Ninth Young Master, for informing me. I will immediately go to the palace to discuss countermeasures with my father, the emperor."
The others were unaware, but Emperor Shunwu was very satisfied with Nan Yu's abilities, especially when compared to his three sons. He had taken notice of Nan Yu's talents.
Emperor Shunwu had privately expressed his intention to abdicate and enjoy his remaining years to Nan Yu. However, due to the situation with the Empress's faction, the current political situation in the court was still unstable. It would be risky to abdicate to Nan Yu without proper consideration.
Nan Yu was aware of this matter.
With the barbarian invasion in the western border, it was equivalent to seizing his own kingdom for Nan Yu. How could he simply stand by and do nothing about it?
He must take it seriously.
When Nan Yu entered the palace, he did not know how to explain the source of this information. The next day at the morning court assembly, Emperor Shunwu mentioned this matter.
In the past, Da Shun had faced large-scale invasions from external enemies. At that time, with the presence of the Mo Family, Emperor Shunwu only needed to issue an imperial edict, and the Mo Family warriors would immediately set out with their troops.
But now, in the vast court, he found himself without capable military leaders.
General Jin, who was already advanced in age, especially after falling victim to the marionette witch insect not long ago, was on the brink of losing his life.
Currently, the old general was still recuperating at home, and even when the Empress's faction caused a major incident, he did not intervene. Now, without the Mo Family and with General Jin not fully recovered, Emperor Shunwu suddenly felt overwhelmed.
In the grand court of Da Shun, there was actually not a single capable military leader available.
At this moment, he first thought of the Mo Family and recalled some of the false accusations against them made by the Xue Family.
Indeed, he had wronged the Mo Family, all because he was overly suspicious, fearing that the Mo Family would become too powerful and do something foolish.
If Mo Jiuye were still here, he wouldn't have to face the embarrassing situation of having no one capable to rely on.
It wouldn't be entirely accurate to say that there was no one available. At least, there were rows of military generals in the court.
However, Emperor Shunwu looked at one and then another, and he felt that they were simply not talented enough.
"Yu'er, how do you think this matter should be arranged?"
Nan Yu was also troubled. He had just taken charge of court affairs and was currently busy purging some malignant elements within the court, so he hadn't focused his energy on the military leaders.
However, when he served as a staff officer under Nan Qi, he had done a lot of research and was familiar with the situation of the civil and military officials in the court.
At this moment, his thoughts were the same as Emperor Shunwu's—they both believed that it had reached a point where there was no one capable left.
Those military generals also knew their limitations. In the past, most of them had followed either the Mo Family or General Jin on expeditions. With a commander in charge, they only needed to follow orders.
Now, what the emperor and the Third Prince needed were talented commanders.
To become the grand marshal commanding the three armies, even if they had the intention, they would not dare to rashly take on the responsibility.
A poorly executed command is a matter of secondary importance compared to losing one's life. After all, in the event of defeat, one must bear a certain responsibility.
No one wants to take on such a thankless task.
Seeing that Nan Yu remained silent, Emperor Shunwu looked displeased at the neatly arranged military officials in the court.
"Is there anyone among you willing to lead troops and march to the western borders?"
The Emperor had asked, and if they didn't show some sincerity soon, it would mean they had been receiving their salaries in vain all these years.
A military official stepped forward, braving it with a stiff upper lip.
"Your Majesty, I am willing to be the vanguard in the campaign against the barbarians and obey the commands of the general."