CHAPTER 840: CHAPTER 507: ZHAO DOUAN PRESENTS TREASURES

Zhao Douan spoke calmly, with a touch of regret in his tone. These experiences were all the pitfalls he stepped into in his past life on the path to officialdom.

Tang Ping listened intently, lost in thought.

Chen Gui, the Chief Technical Officer, remained silent.

Shi Meng patted the Young Master’s shoulder earnestly: "Learn more, observe more. The lord is teaching you real skills here. To become a General, mere battle achievements are not enough."

Tang Ping nodded earnestly: "I understand."

Zhao Douan’s lips curled slightly. Though the battle was brief, everyone gained from it.

...

As they spoke, the troop arrived at the main gate of the Imperial City along Vermilion Bird Avenue.

From afar, they saw a large group of people standing at the city gate waiting, led by someone in white clothes and blue hair, whose beauty was unmatched.

Zhao Douan was stunned and subconsciously spurred his horse a bit faster. When the troop stopped a distance away from the Empress, he dismounted and led the generals forward briskly.

Monarch and minister’s eyes met.

Zhao Douan clasped his fist loudly: "I report to Your Majesty, the Divine Mechanism Camp did not fail Your Majesty’s trust. This time, we defeated the rebel army and captured the traitors, returning victorious. I am here to report!"

Behind him, Shi Meng and others exclaimed in unison: "We report!"

Further back, soldiers shouted in unison: "The Divine Mechanism Camp reports!"

The sound was like thunder!

Xu Zhenguan stood in the wind, his eyes fixed on Zhao Douan’s face, quietly watching, his lips curling up, as if the whole world brightened. He said loudly: "All soldiers returning triumphantly, I am greatly comforted. This great victory by Mr. Zhao should be communicated throughout Great Yu, to celebrate for Yu Country!"

Celebrate for Yu Country!

At that moment, everyone outside the palace gates felt invigorated, and the Minister of War, Deputy Secretariat Envoy, and other military ministers were also once again stunned.

They confirmed that the troop contained almost no people from the Five Army Camp, and Zhao Douan’s words undoubtedly confirmed that the battle was won by the Divine Mechanism Camp breaking the enemy.

Such a major affair cannot openly deceive the emperor.

Therefore...

Is this true?

This "outsider" Zhao Douan went for just one round and returned in triumph? How did he accomplish it? Countless mysteries surged in their hearts, making these people anxious to ask for clarification.

Feeling the gaze cast by the Empress, their faces began to burn with embarrassment.

Thinking of their repeated counsel and the request just now over the past few days, they wished they could dig a hole in the ground and crawl into it.

Fortunately, Xu Zhenguan had no intention of making things difficult for them, just glanced over before welcoming Zhao Douan again: "Today is a double blessing. Mr. Zhao, look who has returned?"

Zhao Douan now noticed, beside the Empress, a group of familiar faces.

Mo Chou looked at him with a lingering gaze.

Old Director Sun Lianying smiled kindly.

Ning Zechen looked admiringly, secretly giving a thumbs up.

Eunuch Hai stood smiling behind the crowd, not revealing anything.

Ma Yan glanced at the group of Lihua Hall behind him, giving an encouraging look.

Hou Renmeng, leading the elites of Lihua Hall, along with Lang Shiba and Ji Yue, stepped forward courteously: "Congratulations on your triumphant return, my lord!"

Returned...all returned...Zhao Douan paused, genuine smiles appearing on his face: "Good, good, everyone has returned safely, we gather again in the Capital, adversity turns to prosperity, adversity turns to prosperity!"

Since the Sealing battle, they fled separately; now most familiar faces are alive and well, which could not be better.

"Let’s not stand here, follow Us into the palace. We’ve already sent for the Grandmaster and others. Mr. Zhao, you must narrate this battle well." Xu Zhenguan was in a good mood and spoke with a smile.

Ordered everyone into the palace.

With a strong desire for Zhao Douan to boast and show off, to give himself face, to reply the court’s doubts from recent days.

Hmph, let them not believe, and now they have nothing to say, right?

...

...

Before long, in the side hall.

Everyone gathered, even Grandmaster Dong, Yuann Li, and various Chief of Staffs hurriedly entered the palace.

The Empress ordered the servants to bring chairs for everyone, and the monarch and ministers, totaling several dozen people, nearly formed a circle, eagerly listening to Zhao Douan solve the mysteries.

Goodness, previously it was a private monarch-minister briefing, this time it’s a public meeting with an open report... Zhenbao, you should have told me earlier, giving me some time to write a speech draft...

Zhao Douan secretly complained, in his previous life writing speeches for others, now it’s his turn to report on the stage.

Without the expected nervousness, Zhao Douan organized his thoughts and spoke fluently: "This time, achieving such a great victory in just one day, is owed to the new weaponry of the Divine Mechanism Camp..."

He spoke slowly, recalling how last year he improved the weaponry, and over the year the Divine Mechanism Camp maintained sealed communications, working behind closed doors.

This time, how he led the troops to arrive, happened to encounter Xu Zudi negotiating, how he arrested people and initiated battle, and how the cannons swept the ground.

How he led troops to capture the escaping Prince Heng...

This whole experience, choosing the key contents, he narrated in detail.

In the process, no one interrupted, including the Empress, all listened attentively.

"The course of this battle is roughly as described. I thought the court had won a great victory, and it should be reported promptly to stabilize people’s hearts, so I first escorted Prince Heng and others back." Zhao Douan calmly concluded: "Therefore, it’s considered a victory through surprise, after this battle, news cannot be concealed, and next time the Divine Mechanism Camp acts, the rebels would be prepared, making it difficult to replicate."

So it’s like this... Once the new weaponry is utilized on a large scale, does it have such power?

Deputy Secretariat Envoy, Minister of War, and others realized, Zhao Douan’s supplementary sentence made them feel better.

Victory through surprise, difficult to replicate... Grandmaster Dong and other civil servants nodded, not too disappointed – if it could truly be replicated, relying on weaponry to crush all rebels, that would be too beautiful an idea, not realistic.