Jia Xu was far more seasoned and experienced than he was, and his insight into human nature was sharper as well. If even Jia Xu said so, it was almost certainly true.
But Jia Xu's next words caught him off guard. Changing tack, Jia Xu said, "However, we should still agree to Ma Chao's terms."
The court officials were utterly stunned.
Agree to Ma Chao's terms?
Yang Biao could not help frowning. "What do you mean, Director of the Secretariat? If we know Ma Chao is probing us, why should we agree?"
"Wouldn't refusing outright preserve Chang'an?"
Jia Xu did not answer Yang Biao's questions. Instead, he drew a bloodstained intelligence report from his sleeve and held it up. "This is a confidential letter the Embroidered-Clothes Envoys sent back half an hour ago."
"His Majesty's army is less than a hundred li from Chang'an. It will arrive by tomorrow afternoon at the latest."
"What we must do is keep Ma Chao outside Chang'an City and give him no chance to escape, until His Majesty leads the Royal Army here to annihilate the rebels in one stroke!"
Jia Xu had revealed momentous news.
His words were like a boulder plunging into a tranquil lake, instantly stirring up a thousand waves!
"Reinforcements are here! Reinforcements are finally here!"
"We held Chang'an City!"
"We're saved!"
"Chang'an City is saved!"
The court officials were overcome with excitement, and quite a few even wept with joy!
Although they were all willing to die after the city fell, who would choose death if they could live well instead?
After waiting in anguish for so long, they had finally held out until reinforcements arrived!
How could they not be excited?
Fa Zheng was also deeply shocked, but he instinctively assumed Jia Xu was deceiving the officials