Chapter 202: Subduing General Mu

Ning Jinli did not answer immediately, but asked, "What do you think of this place?"

Mu Cheng pondered briefly, "Although there are many things I don't understand, I saw the mountains, forests, and fields laden with fruit; everyone I saw had a healthy glow and was well‑dressed, surely they live without want, in peace and stability. This place… is like a paradise on earth."

"Do you like it here?" Ning Jinli continued to ask.

Mu Cheng showed an envious expression, "Fairy, I really like it. If my Great Wilderness could have such scenery, and its people could live such lives, how wonderful that would be."

Ning Jinli smiled and said, "Your family will live here from now on; that's why I brought you to see this. I hope you can pass on peacefully before your reincarnation."

Mu Cheng overjoyed, "Fairy, are you saying… my family can also come here?"

"However, I must tell you, this is Lin Xian Cheng within the Daxuan Realm. If you don't want your family to stay in Daxuan, I won't force you." Ning Jinli said deliberately.

Mu Cheng stared, shocked, "How could Daxuan have such a fine city? Why have I never heard of it?"

"You know about Xi Tun Guan, right?"

"I know, but I've heard that Xi Tun Guan is a barren wasteland; even Xuan Guo and Yu Guo used to ignore this place. Could it be… this is Xi Tun Guan?"

"That's right. It was indeed desolate and poor; this year it even suffered a drought for half a year. But look, under Xiao Qidi's management, it has become the scene you see before your eyes."

"This…"

Mu Cheng was at a loss for words.

Ning Jinli pointed to a group of peasants working in the fields not far away and said, "General Mu, do you know where these people are from?"

Mu Cheng replied instinctively, "Naturally, they are the people of Lin Xian Cheng in Xuan Guo."

"That's not wrong," Ning Jinli nodded, "but can you tell where they used to be from?"

Mu Cheng observed carefully for a moment, then shook his head, "I can't tell; please enlighten me, Fairy."

Ning Jinli said, "They were originally the people of the Huangsha Pass region in Yu Guo. On the eve of Yu Guo's fall, they suffered drought and locust plagues, and were forcibly conscripted by Yu Guo's rulers, losing their homes and families. Now they live happily here."

Mu Cheng fell into silence.

Ning Jinli added, "Let me ask you again: what kind of people are they?"

Mu Cheng found the question a bit odd and answered without thinking, "They are now the people of Xuan Guo."

Ning Jinli smiled, "You got only half of it right."

Mu Cheng looked embarrassed, rubbed his aching head, and cupped his fists, "Fairy, I am merely a warrior; I truly… don't know how to answer."

"They are not only the people of Xuan Guo, but like the peoples of all the states in Zhong Yuan, they share the same roots as the Huaxia people." Ning Jinli looked into Mu Cheng's eyes and said, "General, what do you think?"

Mu Cheng laughed, "That goes without saying. Therefore, all the feudal lords of Zhong Yuan wish to unify the Huaxia land into a single nation."

"If so, as fellow Huaxia people, shouldn't we unite and strive for everyone to enjoy the stable life you see?"

"Yes."

"Then why don't you let your family and even the people of the Wasteland Nation live such lives, General?"

Hearing this sudden question, Mu Cheng hastily denied, "Ah? I haven't! Fairy, why are you saying that about me?"

Ning Jinli said sternly, "You know full well that the ruler of the Wasteland Nation is corrupt and decadent, yet you refuse to overthrow him, standing by while his people suffer—is that not so?"

"I… this…" Mu Cheng grew flustered, but didn't know how to defend himself.

Ning Jinli continued, "In this situation, you, General, wholeheartedly defend the Wasteland Nation—doesn't that just keep its people trapped under a foolish ruler?"

"I… I… I…" Mu Cheng's old face turned red with strain.

"General, I don't mean to embarrass you," Ning Jinli softened her tone, "I know you are a good general who values the people more than the ruler, so I wanted you to see for yourself what Xiao Qidi has done for the populace. No amount of words can compare to seeing it yourself; if he weren't sincerely good to the people, how could Lin Xian Cheng be as it is today? Do you wish the Huaxia people to have a ruler like him, or a ruler like that of the Wasteland Nation?"

Mu Cheng fell into silence once again.

The expression on his face was exceedingly complex.

"Ah…" he sighed deeply, "Too bad I only got to see this after I died."

Ning Jinli smiled narrowly, "If there is a next life, would you, General, be willing to lend Xiao Qidi a hand in building a great unified, peaceful era for Huaxia?"

Mu Cheng suddenly dropped to his knees, clasping his hands, "Fairy, your divine powers are vast; please help me be reborn as a man of Xuan Guo, so that in my next life I may also contribute my modest strength to the Huaxia people."

"Come on, get up," Ning Jinli helped him rise, "Before that, do you have any other wishes?"

Mu Cheng said without hesitation, "I want to see my parents, wife, and children one last time."

"No problem, follow me."

"Yes, Fairy."

Ning Jinli led Mu Cheng to a two‑story manor and had him push open the door to look inside.

Mu Cheng thought, "Surely my family isn't actually inside this residence, is it?"

"This place was originally the Xi Tun Guan of Xuan Guo, and last night my family were still in the eastern border mountains of Xuan Guo; could they really have crossed the whole nation overnight to get here?"

"But thinking again, Jinli Fairy's divine powers are vast, so it's not impossible."

"With a mixture of apprehension and anticipation, he slowly pushed the gate open a crack."

"What met his eyes was a spacious front courtyard."

"In the courtyard stood a few large trees, under which hung swings, and two children about ten years old were playing on them."

"Mu Cheng's eyes instantly reddened; he quickly pushed the door open and hurried over."

"The two children also saw him and exclaimed in delight:"

"'It's Daddy!'"

"'Daddy's here too!'"

"Then the two of them sprang open their legs and lunged toward Mu Cheng."

"Mu Cheng squatted, opened his arms, and tightly embraced the two children; just as he was about to say something, he suddenly realized something was off and hurriedly asked, 'Can you two see me?'"

"The two kids blinked their big eyes."

"'Of course we can see you.'"

"'Daddy, what's wrong with you?'"

"Before Mu Cheng could react, the two children each took one of his hands and pulled him toward the house, saying that his grandparents, mother, and older brothers and sisters were all waiting for him."

Mu Cheng was completely dazed.

Following the two children into the house, he saw his parents and several older sons and daughters together caring for his wife and youngest daughter.

"Father! Mother! Lady! Children!" Mu Cheng stepped over the threshold, thudded to his knees, "You……you……are you all……all dead?!"

"What are you talking about!" Mu Cheng's old mother walked over and tapped his head, "The Jinli Fairy brought us all here, and gave our family a large residence, more than ten mu of good farmland, and many tools we've never seen before, so our family can live well; why do you keep spouting nonsense?"

"General Mu, you have suffered quite a fright; please forgive me." Ning Jinli walked in and said.

Mu Cheng stared, turned his head, touched his neck, "But……I was clearly beheaded……"

Ning Jinli hehe smiled, "I struck you with the back of the blade; I only knocked you unconscious."

"Then……those people we met on the road just now also couldn't see me."

"They……are all people I instructed beforehand; I coordinated with them."

""

Mu Cheng's tears instantly streamed down; he covered his face and sobbed uncontrollably, "It turns out……it turns out I didn't die……I……I am still alive!"

"Son," Mu Cheng's father said earnestly, "don't blame the Jinli Fairy; if she hadn't done this, with your stubborn temperament, how could you have listened to advice?"

Mu Cheng wiped his tears and quickly said, "I wouldn't blame the Fairy! Originally I regretted dying like this……failing to fulfill my duty to my parents, lady, and children, and having no chance to contribute again for the people; but this incident has instead enlightened me, as if reborn, and now I know clearly what I should do from now on!"

"Fairy above, please accept Mu Cheng's bow!"

Mu Cheng shifted his knees and knocked his head heavily to the ground before Ning Jinli.

"General Mu, please rise quickly!" Ning Jinli helped him up and said solemnly, "Do what you can; your family will be safe and sound, and I can also guarantee that Xiao Qidi will not disappoint you."

Mu Cheng clasped his fists, "The Fairy's words, I will keep in mind!"

By this point, Ning Jinli's heart, which had been uneasy from beginning to end, finally settled.

Fortunately this renowned general of the Wasteland Nation survived, unlike in her world's history where such a fate would have ended in disgrace and a corpse without a burial place.

Now in this world, General Mu not only survived but also became a capable general of Daxuan.

——

A few days later, Xiao Qidi returned to the capital of Daxuan.

Duan Wu, Qi Zhan, and Mu Cheng, the three senior generals, accompanied him, also bringing along several thousand Xuanjia Armor Armor Armor Armor Army troops.

Besides that, Li Yao secretly escorted back to the royal city several Xiao clan nobles who had been imprisoned in He Wan County and were implicated in the Longyuan Governor case.

Inside the main hall of the royal palace.

Xiao Qidi sat on the throne, calmly looking down at the assembled officials.

He could feel that these officials now finally had a sense of awe toward him.

"Your Excellencies," Xiao Qidi proclaimed loudly, "I have decided to rename Yu Guo as Wangxi, establish it as a province, with Lin Xian Cheng as its provincial capital; merge Shaoyue Guo into Bashu Commandery, establishing it as Tianfu Province; at the same time, create the position of Governor to oversee the provinces. What do you think? Any objections?"

The officials' faces showed surprise and bewilderment.

As soon as His Majesty returned, without consulting them, he directly proposed these reforms, truly leaving them at a loss.

However, Xiao Qidi has already demonstrated his extraordinary ability by annexing Yu Guo and Shaoyue Guo, and even bringing thousands of brave and skilled warriors equipped with divine weapons, the Xuanjia Armor Armor Armor Armor Army.

These officials secretly weighed the matter in their hearts, and one promptly spoke up: "Your servant, no objections."

"Your servant, no objections!" The vast majority of officials hurriedly expressed their agreement as well.

But there were still about a dozen officials who furrowed their brows, exchanging glances.

Then someone among them gave a glance toward the hall's door, and a nearby eunuch immediately slipped away.

Although these people's actions were covert, they did not escape Xiao Qidi's notice; he simply acted as if he didn't care and then said, "Duan Wu, I appoint you as Governor of Wangxi."

Duan Wu stepped forward, clasped his fists, and said, "Yes, Your Majesty!"

"Qi Zhan, Mu Cheng." Xiao Qidi then called their names.

The two stepped forward together.

Xiao Qidi ordered, "I command you two to lead the eastern armies of Daxuan; you must conquer the Wasteland Nation for me!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Qi Zhan replied loudly.

Mu Cheng, however, showed surprise and did not immediately answer.

Meanwhile, some of the officials present also began to murmur, whispering among themselves.

"Mu Cheng, are you unwilling to bear this heavy responsibility?" Xiao Qidi asked.

"I, the subordinate, am not unwilling to take on this responsibility," Mu Cheng hesitated, "but……"

"Your Majesty!" suddenly an official exclaimed, "Does Daxuan really have no generals? Why let a Wasteland Nation general command our troops!"

Xiao Qidi looked toward the voice; this official was precisely one of those who had not expressed an opinion just now, and he slightly narrowed his eyes and asked, "Do you think it's inappropriate?"

"Certainly inappropriate!" the official declared indignantly, "Everyone knows Mu Cheng was the pillar general of the Wasteland Nation; although he has surrendered, we cannot be sure he has no ulterior motives! If he is merely feigning allegiance, he will surely bring great harm to Daxuan!"

Upon hearing this, Mu Cheng's face darkened, and he clenched his fists secretly.

Xiao Qidi said softly, "What do you think, how should I arrange for Mu Cheng?"

The official immediately said, "He should first be placed under soft confinement for a period, slowly observe his performance; if his performance is acceptable, he could be given a nominal post, essentially to keep him under watch, but under no circumstances should he be given military authority."

Xiao Qidi rested his chin on one hand, unhurriedly asking, "The task of attacking the Wasteland Nation is arduous; I cannot let General Qi bear it alone."

The official bluntly said, "In my view, Your Majesty need not send General Qi to the eastern frontier; the eastern 200,000-strong Daxuan army already has a commander, and you can simply order him to campaign against the Wasteland Nation."

Xiao Qidi rubbed his temples with his fingers, indifferently asking, "And who is commanding that 200,000-strong Daxuan army?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty," the official loudly replied, "It's no one else but a promising young talent of the Daxuan Xiao clan royal family, and he is in fact the son of your paternal uncle, Your Majesty."

"If that's the case," Xiao Qidi curled the corner of his mouth, "why not just remove him?"

The official's face stiffened.

The dozen or so officials who had not expressed an opinion earlier could no longer hold back, and they all spoke up to dissuade.

The hall instantly became noisy and chaotic.

Xiao Qidi couldn't be bothered to listen to what they were saying, and he said coldly, "I have already decided; Qi Zhan and Mu Cheng will replace the commanders of the eastern armies, so you need not say anything more!"

"Your Majesty, you made such a rash decision as soon as you returned—doesn't that seem inappropriate?" A somewhat aged voice suddenly rang out at the hall's gate.

The entire hall fell silent instantly.

All the officials voluntarily made way.

Next, a man in splendid robes, about fifty years old, strode slowly into the hall; his haughty bearing and noble aura made the officials dare not lift their heads.

"Who is this?" Mu Cheng asked quietly to Qi Zhan.

Qi Zhan whispered: "He is your Majesty's paternal uncle, the highest-ranking member of the current generation in the Daxuan royal clan; he represents the entire Xiao aristocracy, whose status and power cannot be underestimated. Your Majesty intends to replace his son with us—he will surely not agree..."