Chapter 160: Victory Banquet

By the time Xiao Huaijin reacted, he only felt someone pushing his back, and it took him a good while to realize there was still an enemy behind him.

He hurriedly flung his blade out, and it landed right on the man's neck; the man died shortly after.

Xiao Chengtian rushed over, "Are you alright? Are you injured?"

Xiao Huaijin shook his head: "The quality of this armor is exceptionally good; an arrow hit the heart, and the armor didn't even dent."

Xiao Chengtian patted his armor and frowned: "It's about the same as mine..."

"Forget it, never mind. As long as you're alright."

The soldiers of the Northern Rong were all dead, leaving behind only some old, weak, women, and children.

Seeing Xiao Huaijin's gaze sweep over, the few of them shrank back and said in broken Daxia language: "We beg the lords to spare our lives. Our soldiers are all dead, and we pose no threat to you."

One could see crying children on their side, as well as women weeping silently.

Xiao Huaijin nodded: "You may go. If you dare to invade Daxia again, I will blow you all to pieces."

"Including the newborn infants and the women."

The old man hurriedly said: "Yes, yes, we will absolutely never come again."

Saying this, he had the women pack their things and take the children away together.

He only wanted to escape the Daxia border and never return again.

Xiao Chengtian and Xiao Huaijin, ten people in total, had driven away the Northern Rong; this news quickly spread throughout the entire Garrison.

Everyone was stunned.

Ah, no, they hadn't done anything, and yet they had achieved a complete victory?

They were still waiting to take the heads of the Northern Rong soldiers to earn merit, and yet the Northern Rong had been wiped out just like that?

The remaining old, weak, women, and children had also left.

For a moment, everyone felt conflicted.

Looking at the spoils of war, a giant Catapult placed on the Daxia border should ensure no one dares to act recklessly.

Xiao Chengtian and his group returned to the Capital smoothly.

The next day at morning court.

Xiao Chengtian spoke of the situation with the Northern Rong, and Yan Ze was very happy.

Yan Ze said: "Appoint Xiao Huaijin as a fourth-rank Zhongwu General."

In addition to the title, he also rewarded Xiao Huaijin with quite a bit of gold, silver, and jewelry.

Yan Ze only felt that the younger generation was formidable.

Xiao Huaijin was also a bold one, charging into the enemy camp with only ten people.

It was just that Xiao Huaijin was a bit unhappy.

The Jade that Yan Ning had given him had several cracks, and the entire piece looked like it was about to fall apart.

And this was something Yan Ning had given him.

After Xiao Huaijin went to court, he looked at Yan Ning several times, but finally withdrew his gaze.

How was he supposed to tell her about the Jade Pendant?

While Xiao Huaijin was lost in thought, the officials were discussing whether or not to incorporate that piece of Northern Rong land into the Daxia territory.

The Minister of War said: "Since the Northern Rong have already left, it feels a pity if we don't take this land."

Yan Ning said: "But that land is barren and cold; it is not a good location. If we send people there to build a new Great Wall and station guards, it would be very inconvenient."

The Minister of War persisted: "But such a large piece of land, Your Highness, are you really willing to let it go to waste?"

Yan Ning had a bit of a headache; she didn't know why this old man was so obsessed with that piece of land.

She said: "If we really want to expand our territory, we should head south and look for islands near the south; these places can grow things."

The Minister of War felt some regret.

At this time, Yan Ze said with a smile: "These are not important. What is important is that the Prince of Nanyang led men to wipe out the Northern Rong."

"I am going to hold a victory banquet."

In the past, the Northern Rong would always harass the borders; now that the Northern Rong were defeated, with only some old, weak, women, and children left, they had even fled toward Europe.

This was indeed worth celebrating.

The time for the victory banquet was set for three days later.

After the court session, Xiao Huaijin found Yan Ning.

His expression was grave, and Yan Ning thought there was some important matter.

As it turned out, Xiao Huaijin took out a piece of Jade and said apologetically: "I'm sorry, I broke the Jade you gave me."

Yan Ning took one look; the Jade was covered in cracks, looking as if it had blocked disaster for Xiao Huaijin twice.

Yan Ning breathed a sigh of relief; it was fortunate that she had given Xiao Huaijin a protective Jade Talisman at the time, otherwise she might never have seen Xiao Huaijin again.

Seeing that his mood was a bit low, Yan Ning took away the piece of Jade that was about to shatter and gave him a new jade pendant.

Yan Ning thought it over and found a reason to explain: "I heard that Jade can help block disasters; perhaps this Jade shattered precisely because it was blocking a disaster for you."

Having received the new jade pendant, Xiao Huaijin held it tightly.

This time, he would take good care of this jade pendant and not let it shatter again.

Three days later, the victory banquet.

For this victory banquet, the military officials sat on one side, and the civil officials sat on the other.

Many people were invited.

At this moment, someone saw Xiao Huaijin sitting at the very front.

He asked: "Has the Heir Apparent married? I have a daughter..."

At this, the crowd that had been chatting and laughing suddenly went quiet, and everyone looked at him.

Gong Deshui was a bit drunk, and he looked at everyone: "Why are you all looking at me?"

At this moment, the Prince of Nanyang explained: "Huaijin has a betrothal with the Crown Princess."

Gong Deshui was stunned, "Ah? There is a betrothal? But... but the Crown Princess is already fifteen this year, and the Heir Apparent is seventeen..."

People in the Daxia dynasty marry early, generally around fourteen; in places like the villages, they marry even earlier.

Yan Ning and Yan Ze had thought about how to make them marry a bit later.

But until now, they had not thought of a suitable method.

Yan Ze said: "No rush, it won't be too late for my daughter to marry at eighteen, and besides, marrying too early is not good for the child."

Actually, Yan Ze felt that his daughter marrying at eighteen was still a bit early.

But there was no help for it, this is ancient times.

At this time, someone asked: "Why is marrying too early not good for the child?"

Yan Ze casually brushed it off: "Marrying early leads to early pregnancy; if one can wait until twenty when the body is mature, it will be better to have children then."

Besides, there are no contraceptive measures in ancient times.

Things like child-avoidance decoctions all have side effects.

Seeing that they did not believe him, Yan Ze continued: "Apart from it being bad for the body, the Daxia dynasty is not yet stable, and the Medical Academy, Research Institute, Cement Road, and railways have not been completed, so marrying too early at this time is not right."

The Minister of Revenue had his attention diverted, "Your Majesty, the railway is truly a waste of manpower and money!"

Yan Ning said with a smile: "What are you anxious about? I will earn money for the railway slowly first and build it in a few years; in any case, I will not let the national treasury run out of money."

The Minister of Revenue felt slightly relieved.

At this time, someone else asked: "Since she is the Crown Princess, she is not an ordinary woman; the inner palace should have more handsome men. I have a nephew..."

Yan Ning was almost choked by the Fruit Wine.

What the hell?

Are the thoughts of people in ancient times this advanced?

Xiao Huaijin looked over vigilantly.

Yan Ning hurriedly said: "There is no need for other handsome men; in any case, none of them look as good as Xiao Huaijin."

"Besides, I wouldn't be able to handle it if there were fights in the inner palace."

Xiao Huaijin breathed a sigh of relief.

Yan Ning poked him, "Why are you sighing in relief? Are you afraid that I will go around looking for handsome men to enter the palace?"