Nine dragons fight for the throne, I don't want to sit on this throne

Feng Mulan's analysis is reasonable and logical.

It not only highlights the objective difficulties of the battlefield, but also points out the value of the achieved results, especially elevating the capture of Yuchi Bo to the level of a strategic bargaining chip.

As Chu Ning listened to Feng Mulan's words, the anger on his face gradually faded, replaced by a deep contemplation.

He picked up the silk scroll again and looked at the passage about Yuchi Bo's capture.

Indeed, it was regrettable that Li Jing escaped, but Yuchi Bo, this tough nut to crack, was equally invaluable.

Li Jing was a general, representing the military prestige of the Tang Dynasty.

Yuchi Bo was a general, representing the backbone of the Tang army and the direct descendants of Guo Ziyi's group.

Capturing him alive dealt a concrete and profound blow to the morale of the Tang army, while also providing the Great Chu with a very practical negotiating leverage.

“What my beloved consort says is very reasonable.”

Chu Ning nodded slowly, a hint of approval and determination flashing in his eyes: "I was a little too hasty. Ma Chao has indeed done his best this time, and his hard-fought contribution is undeniable."

"The failure to achieve complete success was due to the limitations of the times, not a fault of the war. Han Xing also pleaded on his behalf in his letter. How could I not have noticed?"

He gently placed the silk scroll on the table, his fingers unconsciously tapping on the smooth surface, making soft, rhythmic sounds, while his mind raced:

"Using Yuchi Bo to negotiate with the Tang Dynasty is a good idea!"

"Although Li Jing has left, the Tang Dynasty has lost 250,000 elite troops and many famous generals. Now that another great general is in my hands, the country will surely be shaken. Li Shimin is probably even more worried than I am right now!"

He suddenly raised his head, his eyes regaining their sharp light of control, and loudly ordered the eunuch standing beside him: "Immediately convey my imperial edict!"

"Send men on horseback to the front-line camp to summon key generals including Feng Anguo, Zhao Yu, Ran Ming, Guan Yun, and Xue Huaide. They must arrive at the Zhennanguan Palace for a meeting before 7:00 AM tomorrow!"

"Tell them that I want to discuss with you all the next steps for the army, and how to make the best use of our resources to secure the greatest benefit for our Great Chu!"

"Yes! I obey your command!"

The eunuch perked up, bowed respectfully, accepted the order, and quickly left the hall to make arrangements.

With the order given, Chu Ning seemed to have a weight lifted off his shoulders, and also seemed to be able to focus his energy on a grander game of chess.

He looked at Feng Mulan, reached out and gently squeezed her hand, and said softly:

"Mulan, you should rest early too. Tomorrow, we will need your advice and guidance."

Feng Mulan smiled slightly and replied, "Your Majesty, please take care of your health."

The candlelight inside the palace remained bright, illuminating the couple who were both ruler and subject, and also partners.

The smoke of a major battle had just cleared, but another contest, though without the clash of swords, that was equally crucial to the fate of the nation, had already begun in Chu Ning's mind.

Yuchi Bo will become a crucial piece in this new game.

The next morning, at the Zhennanguan Imperial Palace.

The winter sun shone through the tall window frames, casting its light on the polished floor tiles, bringing a touch of warmth, but it could not dispel the solemnity and oppressive atmosphere naturally created by the presence of many generals with a heavy aura of killing intent in the hall.

The charcoal brazier was burning brightly, crackling and popping.

Led by Feng Anguo, the main generals, including Ran Ming, Zhao Yu, Guan Yun, and Xue Huaide, had all removed their battle robes and changed into neat official uniforms or regular armor, and gathered in the main hall.

Their faces were all resolute, their eyes sharp. Although they had rested, the fierce aura they had forged in the crucible of death still emanated from them.

Feng Mulan, also dressed in a simple yet stylish outfit, stood slightly behind Chu Ning's throne, looking heroic and dashing.

"Your Majesty, we pay our respects! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

Everyone bowed in unison, their voices loud and clear, echoing throughout the hall.

"Everyone is safe."

Chu Ning sat upright on the throne, dressed in casual clothes, with a calm expression, but the confidence of a victor and the thought process for the next move were clearly visible between his brows.

"You have all worked hard in the bloody battles of the past few days. I have ordered the relevant officials to expedite the rewarding of those who have made contributions and to provide compensation for the wounded and injured. The imperial decree will be issued soon."

"Thank you for your great kindness, Your Majesty!" the generals said again.

After offering a brief word of comfort, Chu Ning changed the subject, bringing up another battlefield that everyone was concerned about but not yet fully aware of:

"Yesterday, I received a detailed military report from Han Xing and Ma Chao from the front lines."

Upon hearing this, all the generals in the hall turned their attention to him.

They knew that Ma Chao had been ordered to pursue Li Jing's remaining troops, and they had also vaguely heard about some of the battle results, but they did not yet know the specific details and the final outcome.

Chu Ning spoke calmly and briefly recounted the contents of Han Xing's report.

How did they manage to pin down Li Jing, defeat Qin Hong, and besiege the enemy chieftain? And how did Guo Ziyi risk his life to rescue him? The two sides fought a bloody battle.

Ultimately, Ma Chao stopped the pursuit due to his own exhaustion and the enemy's resolute rescue efforts. Li Jing was rescued by Guo Ziyi, but at the same time, Tang general Yuchi Bo was captured alive.

"The mission failed at the last minute, and Li Jing managed to escape in the end."

Chu Ning concluded, her tone carrying a hint of regret, but without any sense of reproach.

The generals had different expressions on their faces after hearing this.

Guan Yun stroked his beard in silence, Zhao Yu's eyes narrowed slightly as if he were reconstructing the battle situation, while Ran Ming clicked his tongue and muttered under his breath:

"That old bastard got off easy!"

Xue Huaide shook his head slightly, clearly regretting that he had not been able to achieve complete success.

Feng Anguo, as the leader of the generals, pondered for a moment and spoke first:

"Your Majesty, General Ma Chao has fought a series of battles, first defeating a portion of the enemy and then capturing their general. This is no small feat."

"Guo Ziyi's all-out rescue was a desperate act. If General Ma had forced a charge at that time, the outcome would have been uncertain. Even if he had won, it would have been a Pyrrhic victory, which would have weakened our elite cavalry."

"He assessed the situation and ordered a retreat. Although it left some regrets, it preserved our fighting strength and left us with resources for future planning. In my opinion, his handling of the situation was appropriate."

"General Feng is absolutely right."

Zhao Yu also spoke, his voice clear and melodious: "On the battlefield, things change in an instant; how can one expect perfection in everything?"

"General Ma has done his utmost and achieved great success, especially in capturing Yuchi Bo alive. This battle is still a great victory for our Great Chu!"

The other generals also nodded.

They were all seasoned veterans of the battlefield, and they knew the stakes very well.

In that situation, Ma Chao's choice might not have been the most pleasant, but it was probably the wisest.

Although there were regrets, no one would blame Ma Chao for it; on the contrary, they respected his hard-fought battle and calm decision-making.

Seeing that the generals were of one mind and understood the matter, Chu Ning said no more and nodded slightly:

"I am very pleased that you all have such keen insight. The court will reward Ma Chao for his merits."

He paused, his gaze deepening as he swept over the various faces of the prince, some resolute, some serene, before posing the core issue of today's meeting:

"However, although the great battle was won, the aftershocks have not yet subsided."

"Although Li Jing has left and the main force of the Tang army has been defeated, the foundation of the country is still intact. Guo Ziyi gathered the remnants and still defended the strategic location."

"With the momentum of this great victory, what is our next plan for Great Chu? Should we hold Zhennan Pass and consolidate our gains? Or should we take another step forward?"