Chapter 032: Defeated Once Again

On the Mid-Autumn Festival, the meals prepared by the Imperial Astronomical Bureau’s kitchen were especially sumptuous, with fish and meat, crafted with great care. Sadly, word of defeat from the front lines cast a shadow over everyone’s hearts, so much so that the food tasted like wax—few could eat with any peace.

Around the dining table, Liu Jin and his companions wore anxious expressions, sighing incessantly. Even Xue Rui felt heavy-hearted; after barely eating a few bites, he returned to the Autumn Office.

Throughout the afternoon, everyone in the Autumn Office was distracted. Every time there was a sound outside, they strained their ears, fearful of missing any news.

“Something terrible has happened—the army has been defeated again!”

At the beginning of the afternoon hour, a cry erupted in the courtyard. Like thunder out of a clear sky, the Imperial Astronomical Bureau was thrown into chaos.

Upon hearing the news, the astronomy students in the Autumn Office all turned to stare at Xue Rui in disbelief.

“Why are you looking at me? I didn’t do it!” Xue Rui felt uneasy under their gaze and quickly stood up, urging, “Don’t just stand there—go find out what’s happened.”

No sooner had he spoken than a figure darted out from the inner room, rushing from the duty office like a gust of wind.

The astronomy students were momentarily stunned before they realized the person who had run out was Gao Mian, the Chief Autumn Officer, and hurried after him.

In the courtyard, dozens had gathered, and more were emerging from the various duty offices. At the center, several office officials surrounded Clerk He, questioning him about the contents of the dispatch.

As Xue Rui and his companions approached, they heard Clerk He reading aloud:

“On the thirteenth day of the eighth month, the imperial carriage was about to set out. Intelligence from Xuanfu reported that after the enemy raided our army, the emperor halted his journey and sent Marquis Gongshun, Wu Kezhong, to hold the rear. Wu Kezhong fought valiantly but was defeated and perished.

Towards dusk, news arrived: Duke Cheng, Zhu Yong, and Marquis Yongshun, Xue Shou, led forty thousand troops in support. Zhu Yong and Xue Shou advanced to Yao’er Ridge, braving danger, but fell into an ambush and were also lost!”

An uproar followed.

On the sixteenth day of the seventh month, Marquis Xining, Song Ying, and Marquis Wujin, Zhu Mian, led over ten thousand troops and faced the Oirat cavalry at Yanghe Pass, suffering defeat and death.

On the thirteenth day of the eighth month, in the morning, Marquis Gongshun, Wu Kezhong, and his brother Wu Keqin led twenty thousand troops to cover the rear, only to fall again to the Oirat forces.

On the same evening, Duke Cheng, Zhu Yong, and Marquis Yongshun, Xue Shou, led forty thousand troops in a proactive assault, but were ambushed at Yao’er Ridge. Both commanders were killed and their forces annihilated.

The Ming army had suffered three defeats in succession, each loss greater than the last. This could no longer be described as merely bad news; it was catastrophe. Of the more than two hundred thousand soldiers dispatched, nearly thirty percent had been lost in just these two defeats on the thirteenth. Among the fallen were a duke, a marquis, and a baron, as well as several senior commanders. It was perhaps the worst defeat the court had suffered since the Campaign of Jingnan.

Only now did everyone realize that the Oirat forces were far fiercer than the armies of Ming.

The officials exchanged glances, then left the panicked astronomy students behind and proceeded directly to the main hall to deliberate.

The astronomy students in the courtyard were unable to calm themselves for a long time after hearing the news; some even broke down in tears.

Shi Xiang and his group were somewhat less shaken. Xue Rui’s ambiguous remarks that morning had led them to speculate about whether the army could hold off the Oirat cavalry and whether the emperor could safely return to the capital.

Now, the dispatch confirmed their suspicions, and further convinced them that Hu Zhong had foreseen this outcome. That was why Xue Rui, who knew the inside story, could anticipate the arrival of battle reports.

Seeing Xue Rui walking back silently, Shi Xiang and Fu Cong exchanged a glance, then came up on either side and dragged him directly into the Autumn Office.

“What are you trying to do?!”

Seeing their posture, Xue Rui thought they meant to attack him and grew furious.

Yet what happened next surprised him.

Fu Cong deftly filled his cup with tea; Shi Xiang picked up a book and fanned him vigorously. The others, sitting or standing, surrounded him.

Fu Cong leaned in and asked ingratiatingly, “Young Master Xue, about the army’s defeat reported in the dispatch, did Lord Hu already foresee this, and is that why he feigned illness and returned home?”

So they were trying to inquire about the battle reports.

Xue Rui breathed a sigh of relief and shook his head repeatedly. “No, the Chief Prognosticator is not a god—he can't know everything beforehand. Besides, the old man fainted from shock as soon as he heard the news of defeat; he had no chance to tell me anything.”

Everyone wore expressions of disbelief.

Fu Cong glanced outside to make sure no one was coming, then complained, “Lord Hu is the Chief Prognosticator, responsible for interpreting celestial omens and predicting fortune or peril. It makes sense he could foresee the army’s defeat—don’t hide it from us.

And your father shouted outside the Duke of England’s mansion, claiming that the celestial signs foretold disaster for this expedition. If the duke insisted on going, he’d end up wrapped in a shroud on the battlefield. Judging by current events, his words may well come true. If Lord Hu hadn’t deduced it, how would your father dare say such things?”

Xue Rui was stunned. He hadn’t expected their reasoning to be so thorough, with each point connected, leaving him momentarily at a loss for how to refute them.

Shi Nan lowered his voice and urged, “Brother Xue, be honest with us. Just how bad will things get at the front? At least we’ll know what to expect. Don’t worry—we swear we won’t breathe a word to anyone!”

“Yes, we swear—if we break our oath, let thunder strike us!”

Xue Rui could only smile wryly. “Gentlemen, the Chief Prognosticator truly did not tell me anything. If you don’t believe me, there’s nothing I can do. Besides, the court issues battle reports every day. Just wait a bit longer—news will come.”

Shi Xiang was startled and blurted out, “Do you mean there’s more bad news to come?”

“That’s not what I meant!” Xue Rui nearly fainted from exasperation.

Are these people really subjects of Ming? Can’t they think positively for once?

But no one believed him; they began to discuss the situation all at once.

“It’s over. With the Duke Cheng fallen, His Majesty will surely order the Duke of England to lead the army. And Scholar Xue said the Duke of England would die on the battlefield. That means the army will face another defeat. The Ming dynasty is in grave peril!”

Hearing their analysis, Fu Cong slumped into his chair, as if mourning his own mother.

“Gentlemen, please stop guessing. You’re going to get me and my father killed!” Xue Rui nearly knelt before them. He hadn’t said anything, yet they’d imagined so much. If word got out, it would be disastrous.

Shi Xiang reassured him, “Don’t worry—we’ll never repeat a word. If there’s any news from the Chief Prognosticator, brother, you must let us know. We all eat from the same pot; we should help each other.”

“Fine, fine, no more wild guesses. If there’s any news, I’ll tell you honestly.”

Xue Rui hurriedly agreed, fearful they’d say anything more treasonous.

He finally managed to endure until the end of his shift. Before Shi Xiang and the others could speak, Xue Rui slipped away, leaving the Imperial Astronomical Bureau in an instant.

With Hu Zhong feigning illness and returning home, Xue Rui had no carriage and had to walk to the Hu residence.

Today was the Mid-Autumn Festival, and he had expected the streets to be bustling.

But instead, everywhere he went, people were discussing the court’s defeat; clearly, the battle reports had spread throughout the capital.

The troops sent on this expedition were mainly from the three major garrisons of the capital, whose soldiers were mostly local to the region.

When the common folk heard of the defeat, they were deeply concerned about their relatives in the army. Many even prayed in the streets, hoping the Ming forces would repel the enemy and their fathers and brothers would return home soon.