A great nation would not suffer humiliation-take command and swear to hold the frontier to the death! [Third update]
Two days later, at dusk.
The Beiliang Governor-General's residence.
The envoy from Northern Mang hurried away.
The former Garrison Commander of Datong, now the Beiliang Governor-General, stared at two silk scrolls.
One was a denunciation!
The other was a declaration of war!
Horror filled his face. Not daring to delay, he dispatched an urgent report to the capital.
Early on the fourth morning.
The Grand Secretariat received the urgent report of a frontier crisis, along with the denunciation and declaration of war.
The High Ministers looked grave as they made their way to the Court Deliberation Hall.
Winter had already arrived. Campaigning in winter put Great Qian at a disadvantage!
The Grand Secretariat and the Directorate of Ceremonial hurried into the hall.
The atmosphere in the Sweet Dew Hall was rigid as iron, and Emperor Jingde's expression was heavy.
Two cups of tea later.
Jiang Wuyuan entered the Court Deliberation Hall with the Four Pacification Commissioners, accompanied by Associate Commissioner Xie of the Southern Office.
Emperor Jingde regarded him coldly.
"Where is Pacification Commissioner Jia?!"
Having learned what had happened, Jiang Wuyuan reported truthfully.
"He is in Northern Mang, investigating the former Prince of Northern Jing's defection to the enemy."
Before leaving the capital, that Thousand-Household Commander surnamed Yan had consulted the case files in the Experiences Office. There was no hiding that from him.
Emperor Jingde's expression turned ugly, his eyes almost spitting fire.
He pointed at the denunciation and roared furiously.
"Outrageous! These barbarians who refuse our sovereign's civilizing rule are even dressing up their words, calling themselves a heavenly army sent to punish wrongdoing! They claim Jia Huan committed murder, arson, and every conceivable evil in their capital!"
"And they insist that I ordered it!!"
**"He is an official of the court, yet he acts without