Chapter 117

The next day, Gong Xiaohua and four battalion commanders, as well as several hundred soldiers selected from each barrack, totaling over a thousand people, escorted the Great Wei to see the two princes and pay respects to the King in the palace.

All the way as they rode their horses toward the capital city gates, they saw the Crown Prince leading many people waiting at the city gates.

Everyone dismounted their horses and paid respects: "We pay our respects to Your Highness."

"Rise quickly, all of you are heroes of our Dayi Dynasty. I came here specially to welcome the triumphantly returning soldiers."

"Thank you, Your Highness."

"Where are the two Wei Country hostages?"

"Come, bring the two Wei Country hostages here."

Soon after, the two Wei Country princes were brought before the Crown Prince with their hands tied tightly behind their backs.

Their hair was disheveled, and there were frightening scars on their hands and faces. After a long journey, they looked as if they had just escaped a disaster, having suffered the harshness of the world.

The Wei Country princes looked at Gong Xiaohua resentfully. Although they had already taken turns being hostages, their country was still the strongest military power after all.

They shouldn't have been mistreated like this!

Not only were they not well fed on this journey, they were whipped even for the slightest complaint.

At first, the guards were still polite to them due to their status as princes. But that only fed their arrogance, making them more and more brazen. Finally, the guards could take no more and reported to Gong Xiaohua.

Without saying another word, Gong Xiaohua took a whip and started lashing them. Every time they acted up, she whipped them. After two or three whippings, they quieted down. She also ordered that if they caused trouble again, the guards should whip them without reporting to her first, as long as they are left alive.

The Wei Country princes were dumbfounded. This woman was too ruthless!

Gong Xiaohua would not indulge their bad habits.

They had pitted so many Ye Country soldiers to their deaths. If not for their status as Wei Country princes that made them temporarily untouchable, they would have long become vengeful spirits under the blade.

Now that it was their turn to be hostages, they actually still dared to nitpick all the way. Did they really think they were still the high and mighty princes back in Wei Country?

Seeing the battered state of the Wei Country princes, the Crown Prince looked at Gong Xiaohua and asked, "What happened?"

"They tried to escape on the way, so I beat them," Gong Xiaohua replied. The two Wei Country princes' eyes widened in disbelief as they looked at Gong Xiaohua. When did we ever try to escape? This woman really has no shame, blatantly lying through her teeth!

Taking one look at the Wei Country princes' expressions, the Crown Prince knew what had happened. But he did not expose it, only twitching his mouth in a smirk. She was too ruthless!

"You should not have treated the two princes in this way. It's too uncouth. This misbehavior should be condemned," the Crown Prince scolded Gong Xiaohua superficially, while secretly giving her a thumbs up from behind.

"Yes, Your Highness."

Wei Country princes: That's it? That's it?!

"Someone come, house the two princes in Changle Palace and attend to them well." Ordered the Crown Prince.

"Yes."

"Princes, this way please."

As the two Wei Country princes were led away, they looked at Gong Xiaohua resentfully, their eyes seeming to say "just you wait".

Gong Xiaohua completely ignored them.

"Father has been waiting for a while. Everyone, come with me to see him," said the Crown Prince.

"Thank you, Your Highness."

The group crossed the city gates into the city.

They saw that the roads on both sides and balconies were already packed with people, especially ladies who wanted to catch a glimpse of the legendary lone woman commanding an army to victory.

"So young, impressive!"

"Such an imposing manner, more masculine than little gentlemen. I really admire her!" gushed a fat lady.

"With that imposing manner, I wonder if Qin Chuyuan can subdue her? I can already imagine the excitement to come. Haha, haha!" Lin Zhiyuan said gleefully to his good friends.

"Who says women are inferior to men? She has brought glory to all of us women!" A gracefully noble madam remarked.

"Xiaohua!" "Flower!" "Big sister!" Gong family members in the crowd called out excitedly upon seeing Gong Xiaohua riding by majestically on her horse.

Hearing her family members' shouts, Gong Xiaohua asked the Crown Prince's permission, then rode over: "Father, Mother, Big Brother, Little Brother."

"Xiaohua, you're not injured right?" asked Lady Gong anxiously.

"I'm fine. Is everything alright at home?"

"We're all well, just worried about you."

"I've returned safely. There's more we can talk about when I get home. I should get going first." Seeing the troops marching further and further away, Gong Xiaohua said.

"Go on then. Don't delay important matters."

Watching Gong Xiaohua's disappearing figure, Lady Gong murmured: "There will be great fortune in the Gong ancestral tombs." Ye King's Palace

"Your Majesty, His Highness the Crown Prince and Commander Gong and others have arrived outside."

"Let them in."

"Announcing, Commander Gong and the battalion commanders may enter."

After a while, Gong Xiaohua led in four battalion commanders.

Standing inside was Qin Chuyuan. Looking at Gong Xiaohua walking at the front, he saw that not only had she become thinner, she also carried an additional aura of coldness and killing intent.

"This subordinate and others pay respects to Your Majesty!" Led by Gong Xiaohua, the five performed a standard courtesy of cupped fists and single knee on the ground.

"Rise."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

"Commander Gong has indeed not disappointed Us. The talented commanders under you are also brave and good at fighting."

"You flatter us, Your Majesty." "No need for excessive courtesy. We once promised you the post of General if you repelled Wei Country. And the facts have proven that without Our promise, you already have the ability for this post. We appoint you as..."

Before the King Ye could finish, a minister stepped out to object: "Begging your pardon, Your Majesty. While Commander Gong did defeat Wei Country and deserves reward, she disregarded the laws of Ye Country by privately executing Gao Hu, promoting civilians, and disturbing court principles. If everyone follows her example, how can our Great Ye still stand? Therefore, your servant believes that Commander Gong defied laws, disrespected state authority, and her accomplishments and transgressions negate each other, making her unfit for the role of General. May Your Majesty see this clearly."

"That's right, Your Majesty. Although Gao Hu was incompetent, before Commander Gong took over, he still eliminated 60,000 Wei Country troops. That set the stage for Commander Gong's final victory. How can she execute him so easily?" Another minister chimed in.

"Pah! Gao Hu? Do you know, because of his showy quest for glory, we fell into the enemy's trap at the battle of 'Bu Luo Jian', causing 100,000 soldiers to be burned and crushed to death by fire oil and giant boulders?!

"Without Commander Gong single-handedly killing the enemy commander to greatly damage their morale and lead the remaining troops bravely out of the siege, rescuing 40,000 men, the frontier pass would have long fallen to Wei Country! And now the war is over, you switch sides and deny Commander Gong's contribution?!" Unable to endure the ministers' malicious slanders against Gong Xiaohua, Battalion Commander Guo scolded that minister.

The last sentence especially caused much hidden laughter among the ministers.

"You...Vulgar!" Having his disgraceful language laughed at, that minister's face turned red in anger and humiliation.

"Insolence! Speaking so rudely in court! His Majesty will decide on this matter." A minister berated.

"Your Majesty, I, Guo Fan, am just a commoner and don't understand those sophisticated doctrines. I was given this commander position by Commander Gong. Even if I must relinquish it today or be punished somehow, I still have to speak some justice for her!"

"Me too, I was also promoted from the ranks by Commander Gong. At the final battle, with equal numbers, she completely defeated the undefeated Great Wei and brought home over 20,000 soldiers. In the history of Ye Dynasty, which General was able to achieve such great merit?"

At this time, Qin Chuyuan stepped forward: "My lords, while Commander Gong did promote soldiers without authorization, it's understandable under those circumstances. This lowly one dares to ask all ministers, back then, why didn't you recommend your own descendants to go to battle?"

No one dared to answer this. After all, except for the King, Qin Chuyuan and Lord Li, no one believed Ye Country could win the war. Who would wish their own descendants to go die?

"Commander Gong, what do you have to say about Gao Hu's matter?" King Ye asked.

"Replying to Your Majesty, Gao Hu was guilty of two crimes. First, due to his showy quest for glory, 100,000 soldiers remain buried in enemy lands. This is dereliction of duty. Second, to shirk responsibility, he shifted the blame onto others and silenced soldiers who knew the truth. That is malicious slander and intentional murder. Keeping such scum among the army will only invite more trouble. That is why I executed him."

"As for promoting commoners, my ministers, the battlefield is a place where one gambles with one's life. You believe this final battle will end in defeat, and do not wish for your juniors to go die in vain. Why then should I not promote commoners?"