"A flawless victory is when the enemy is completely defeated and our casualties are close to zero" The guard explained.
Liu Feifei nodded her head. Gu Shang must really be a competent commander to be able to archive such a result on the battlefield.
The Gu Shang from seven years ago was completely gone. It's not like she had any problems with it, but the current Gu Shang is someone she couldn't fully give her heart to.
She fell in a dilemma thinking about it.
.....
Imperial Academy
Mr Xu walked into the courtyard the four old men were playing chess and bowed in greetings.
The four old men were all people with high status and massive influence in the imperial court.
Among the four old men, two were wearing green and dark blue robes with a tortoise on their chest.
This two old men were called, Yun and Po the guardians of the Imperial academy and probably the strongest people in the empire right below the ancestor of the imperial family.
The other two men were wearing simple cotton clothes as if commoners but gave off an aura full of wisdom.
One looked very vigorous, whiles the other looked like that friendly old man in your neighborhood, who would always greet you with a smile wherever he sees you and ask about your well being.
This simple looking old men were the clan leaders of the Jia and Lei aristocratic clans.
The Jia and Lei clans were the most mysterious and baffling clans in the empire. Though their clan leaders stood at the peak of the imperial court and even surpassed the Qing Clan leader in status, they never involved themselves in the fight for power and never supported anybody, just like the Su Clan.
They only made a move when their interest were at stake, but apart from that they didn't involve theirselves in anything.
It should be noted that the Lei clan leader was the prime minister whiles the Jia clan leader was the first chancellor of the court.
Despite being so high in rank, they never got involved in anything unless it concerned them. They were the main reason why the Qing Clan had gained so much power in the court.
If this two clans were greedy for power, then not even the Qing Clan could stand against them.
They were also responsible for the rise of the Zhang, Ming and Fu clans, the clans Gu Shang had gotten rid off upon his arrival.
The Jia and Lie clans may not be as old as the Qing and imperial clan, but they were deeply rooted in the empire.
Their influence combined was something nobody wanted to mess with.
"Oh little Xu you are here" The prime minister said without looking at Mr Xu.
"Did master summon me? Mr Xu asked.
"My dear student, what do you make of the current situation?" The prime minister asked.
Mr Xu stood there for a long time before he responded, " The Moonshade Sect have been led into a trap" He said confidently.
"Mmm, how so?" Asked the prime minister.
"The people the Moonshade Sect sent to spread the rumors about the false threat have all confirmed that the Moonshade Sect payed them to do it.
What makes you think it's a trap?" Po asked, he clearly didn't agree with Mr Xu.
"Answering to the guardian, We all heard the Grand General when he called the party sent by the sect rebels" Mr Xu responded
"That's not enough reason for a rebellion like this to begin, he might had called them rebels but he didn't have any evidence at that time, he only killed them to defend himself.
Besides he never threatened to destroy the sect in those conversations, so how could he set a trap?" Yun added.
"The guardian must be forgetting that there was survivor on the brink of death who had survived and left the manor safely.
What if the Grand General had said something to him before he left, would that be enough to give the sect their reason?" Mr Xu said with a smile.
Am pretty sure the Grand General had made that threat when he spoke to the survivor alone.
Also to make his threat more believable, he had ordered his Lion Fang troops to begin their drills in the Han prefecture, this was enough to make everyone believe he was planning to attack the sect.
The sect felt it was their golden opportunity and decided to bite it without letting go, but it was all a trap set up by the general" Mr Xu presented his analysis.
The two guardians were surprised and stunned to hear this, was this rebellion really a trap?
"If the Grand General wanted to go after the sect, then why go through such a hassle?" Po was still confused.
"It's actually simple" The prime minister replied.
"He did all this because he didn't want the alliance of sects to interfere with his plan"
Realization struck Po after hearing this.
"Now tell me, do you think the Grand General should be considered friend or foe? The prime minister asked.
Mr Xu thought about it for a while before answering, "That will depend on you, my lord.
Ever since Gu Shang came, all his actions have been taken to strengthen imperial power, all those he's targeting are people who were an immediate threat to imperial family's authority.
If you want him as your friend, then you'll have to join him and submit, if you want him as your enemy then you can draw your swords against the empire.
Whether friend or foe, it would be on your wishes?" Mr Xu answered honestly.
"Excellent, you are indeed my student. You've indeed not let me down, so what do you think I should do?" The prime minister asked with a smile.
"I'm too insignificant to decide that for you, my lord!" He responded.
You may leave then" The prime minister said.
Mr Xu bowed to the four elders before leaving.
"What do you make of what your student said? Will you make the young general your enemy or foe?" The first chancellor asked.
"Hohoho old friend, I'm too old to be involved in court matters, I'll just do what I do best and stay neutral" The prime minister said with a smile.
The first chancellor also nodded, they'll try their best to stay away from Gu Shang, as long us he stayed away from them.
Yun and Po couldn't help but feel admiration for Gu Shang, he was truly a fearless man.
...
Moonshade Sect
The few remaining elders were moving about and organizing themselves, they were going to rule the territory so a lot of things needed to be done in preparation for the task ahead.
The elders and disciples were all filled with excitement and hope for the new dawn that awaited them.
In the ancestral hall, the ancestor of the sect and sect master were having a serious conversation when an elder barged in.