Chapter 562: Left Martial Marquis, Grand General!

Late March.

Chang'an.

The night was as dark as ink.

Inside the Jin Wang Fu, candles burned brightly, and warmth spread.

Within the Elegant Pavilion, pale‑blue gauze curtains hung among carved beams and painted rafters; a breeze brushed them, the curtains swayed lightly, causing the candlelight on the table to flicker.

On the eight‑immortal table, steaming sumptuous dishes filled the surface, a dazzling array that displayed opulence.

The oil‑glossed roast lamb leg had a crisp skin, sizzling with oil droplets.

Steamed sea bass was pearly white, drizzled with amber sauce, its aroma filling the air.

There were also deer meat soup, camel‑hump roast, crystal shrimp dumplings and other land‑and‑sea delicacies, paired with a few plates of fresh vegetables, balancing meat and greens.

In a corner of the table, three sealed wine jars stood side by side.

A red paper label reading "Chang'an Spring" was affixed to each Wine Jar; the fragrance seeped faintly through the lid gaps, rich and lingering.

Yuwen Hu, dressed in dark everyday robes, sat upright at the head seat.

He toyed with a jade pendant, his gaze resting on the dishes, a faint, ambiguous smile tugging at his lips, as if awaiting something.

At that moment, a soft footstep sounded outside the Elegant Pavilion, and a Personal Guard bowed and entered, respectfully reporting, "Grand Preceptor, Chen Zhuguo and the heir have arrived!"

"Oh?"

Yuwen Hu heard this, a flash of brightness crossing his eyes, joy lifting his brows, his mouth curving upward, the fatigue of days handling state affairs seeming to vanish, and he said, "These two children have finally returned…."

His tone was full of eagerness and relief.

He then urged the Personal Guard, "Quickly summon them in!"

The Personal Guard rose at the sound, hurried out.

A moment later, he returned leading the two.

The curtain of the Elegant Pavilion was gently lifted, and Chen Yan entered first.

He wore a dark Brothel, its hem embroidered with dark‑gold auspicious cloud patterns, a jade belt at his waist, his posture as upright as a pine.

Close behind was Yuwen Ze, dressed in a brown Brothel, its collar and cuffs embroidered with delicate return patterns.

The two halted the moment they entered.

Chen Yan bowed slightly, respectfully saying, "Grand Preceptor, I present myself!"

Yuwen Ze gave Yuwen Hu a deep bow and shouted, "Father, I present myself!"

Yuwen Hu looked them over, waved his hand, and laughed, "No outsiders, no need for formalities!"

He then pointed to the empty seats on either side of him, his tone gentle, "Don't stand, come, sit and speak!"

"Yes!" they answered in unison, then each moved to sit on the chairs flanking Yuwen Hu.

Yuwen Hu looked at the two before him, the sons he had placed great hopes in, his heart full of satisfaction.

He raised both hands, patting Chen Yan's and Yuwen Ze's shoulders with steady, firm pressure, his tone unabashedly praising, "You both did well this time!"

He paused, a flash of pride in his eyes, his voice rising a notch, "Going to rendezvous with the Lu clan of Fanyang was meant to be a safe task, yet you also turned the Qi State upside down!"

Yuwen Ze, hearing this, quickly clasped his fists toward Chen Yan, a sincere smile on his face, "All thanks to A Xiong's planning!"

He then added with a smile, "This journey has also benefited the child greatly!"

"Following A Xiong, I learned many contingency strategies!"

Chen Yan, hearing this, quickly turned and clasped his fist to Yuwen Hu, respectfully proclaiming, "Grand Preceptor, you are praised!"

His expression humble, his gaze sincere, "Achieving this goal smoothly owes entirely to Grand Preceptor's blessings, and also to Grand Preceptor's stationed coordination in Chang'an, mediating the various forces and providing us with many conveniences and support abroad!"

"Otherwise, with only the two of us, it would be impossible to stir the Qi State's situation!"

Yuwen Hu, hearing this, burst into hearty laughter, raised his hand and tapped Chen Yan's shoulder with his fingertips, laughing, "You child, you're getting better at speaking!"

Our child is not only skilled in both civil and martial arts and acts prudently, but also rare in his humility, never boastful…

How could anyone not like him?

Having said that, he lifted a wine jar from the table and broke the clay seal.

The rich wine aroma instantly spread, making mouths water.

Yuwen Ze personally poured a bowl of wine for Chen Yan and Yuwen Ze, the liquid clear and bright, shimmering amber under the candlelight.

Then he filled a bowl for himself, returned the wine jar to the table, pushed it between the three, and said, "Today the three of us shall have a good drink: first to welcome you, second to celebrate this great success!"

Chen Yan quickly raised his wine bowl, his gaze burning as he looked at Yuwen Hu, respectfully saying, "Grand Preceptor, I salute you!"

Yuwen Ze also raised his bowl, his face full of admiration, "Father, I salute you!"

Yuwen Hu looked at the two, his eyes full of affection and expectation, lifted his own bowl, and lightly clinked it with theirs, producing a crisp sound.

"Cheers!"

With a light shout, the three simultaneously tipped their heads back and drained the strong wine in one gulp.

Yuwen Hu set down his cup, picked up his chopsticks, his gaze scanning the delicacies; first he lifted a piece of tender camel‑hump roast and placed it into Chen Yan's bowl.

Then he selected a slice of marbled deer meat and added it to the plate before Yuwen Ze.

He then set down his chopsticks, his expression suddenly solemn, and slowly said, "A Yan, A Ze, the news that just arrived…"

"On your return journey, the Turkic People reached the Hengzhou border, fell into an ambush set by the Qi State's great general, losing over four thousand cavalry!"

He paused, then shifted tone, continuing, "However, Moheduo was decisive; seeing the unfavorable turn, he led his troops to break through, ultimately withdrawing the remaining forces from Hengzhou, never fully captured by the Qi army…."

Chen Yan heard this, his expression still steady, merely nodding slightly.

He then lifted the "Chang'an Spring" wine jar on the table, pulled the stopper, and the wine poured out like silver ribbons.

He filled each of the three empty cups in turn, the froth rising, the aroma intensifying.

"The Turkic People are inherently greedy; this expedition was meant for plunder, so carelessness was inevitable,"

He set the wine jar down, sat upright, lifted a piece of the camel‑hump roast that Grand Preceptor had added, chewed slowly, and then said, "And the Qi State's great generals Hu Lǜ Gāo and Duan Xiang are both masterful strategists…"

"Seeing this outcome, I am not surprised!"

"That's one of the two of the Three Heroes of Northern Qi!"

"Therefore, Chen Yan had long foreseen this...."

"Only that he deliberately did not warn Moheduo....."

Yuwen Ze also picked up a chopstick of venison; it was fresh, fragrant, and richly flavorful, and he chewed it with relish. Upon hearing the words, he set down his chopsticks, a hint of pride on his face, and said loudly, "In that case, in this game of cards, the greatest beneficiary is only our Great Zhou!"

Great Zhou has already secured the Lu clan of Fanyang, relocated the people of Shuo Prefecture, and used the Turks to check Qi State, thereby gaining enough time, and now watches the two clash and both suffer defeat.....

Undoubtedly the biggest winner!

Yuwen Hu felt increasingly delighted, raised his hand to pat the table, and laughed, "You two youngsters have done a great service!"

Having said that, he lifted his wine cup again, his eyes full of approval, "Come, another drink!"

"To the Grand Preceptor!" Chen Yan hurriedly raised his cup, his tone respectful.

"To father!" Yuwen Ze followed promptly, raising his cup in response, his face full of youthful vigor.

The three cups clanged again, producing a crisp sound; the three of them tipped their heads and drank in one gulp, the spicy liquor sliding down their throats, adding further bravado.

Yuwen Hu set down his cup, fondling the Jade Ring; its jade was warm and smooth, the texture delicate, yet his expression grew increasingly solemn. Shifting tone, he said in a deep voice, "However, we must not be too pleased just yet......"

"After all, a hundred‑legged creature dies without stiffening!"

"Moreover, Qi State occupies the fertile lands of Hebei, with abundant provisions and a strong pool of troops......"

As the supreme ruler of Great Zhou, Yuwen Hu knows Qi State's foundations are deep, not something that can be easily shaken by one or two losses; constant vigilance is required.

Furthermore, regarding the bountiful and populous Hebei region, to say it doesn't tempt the eye would be false.....

Chen Yan strongly agreed, nodding, "Grand Preceptor, you are absolutely right; Qi State's foundation is exceptionally solid, and a single strike to conquer it is far from easy!"

He paused, a slight smile at the corner of his mouth, a hint of profound light flashing in his eyes, and added meaningfully, "But we can proceed step by step, continuously weakening Qi State's strength....."

"Sow internal discord, drain its provisions and troops, sabotage its agriculture, gradually erode the gap; when its vitality is severely damaged, that will be the moment for Great Zhou to deploy forces!"

Chen Yan lacks nothing in patience......

"Exactly!" Yuwen Ze replied loudly, his eyes sparkling with the desire to achieve great deeds.

He sprang to his feet, grabbed the Wine Jar, and refilled the three empty cups, the liquor splashing tiny froths, "We have plenty of time; when Qi State becomes exhausted and beset both internally and externally, that will be the moment for Great Zhou to march east and unify Hebei!"

Yuwen Hu listened to their spirited words, a gentle smile on his face, raised his hand in a gesture, his voice softening a bit, "It's still too early to speak of that; let's discuss the rewards for you two instead!"

"Rewards?"

Upon hearing this, Yuwen Ze's eyes lit up instantly; the upright posture he had just held immediately slumped as he sat down, his face full of ingratiating smiles. He quickly clasped his fists toward Yuwen Hu, his tone respectful yet unable to hide his eagerness, "Father, the child and Brother A Xiong serve the nation, sharing burdens and solving difficulties; this is within our duties, it should be so......"

Speaking thus, he deliberately set a stern face, adding with conviction, "It's not for the sake of the reward!"

Although his words said otherwise, Yuwen Ze's bright eyes were unmistakably sincere, flashing with anticipation, fixed tightly on his father, fearing he might miss something.

"Oh?"

Yuwen Hu, seeing his hypocritical demeanor, raised an eyebrow slightly, a playful glint in his eye, deliberately looked at his son, and said leisurely, "If that's the case, your reward will be waived; it will be given only to A Yan!"

"No!" Yuwen Ze instantly panicked, his complexion changing, he blurted out.

He quickly lowered his clasped hands, urgently explaining, "Father, the child was just speaking offhand, a joke!"

"The reward is still wanted, I want it!"

That eager demeanor was a world apart from the earlier pretended aloofness.

Chen Yan, standing nearby and witnessing the scene, could no longer hold back, bursting into hearty laughter, "Hahaha!"

The laughter was bright, shattering the previously solemn atmosphere in Ya Ge, filling it with relaxed ease.

Yuwen Hu, also amused by his son's embarrassment, raised his hand to hush, indicating everyone to be quiet, "Alright, where there is merit, how could there be no reward?"

"If outsiders were to learn, they would surely say the father's rewards and punishments are unfair....."

Having said that, he restrained his smile, his gaze falling on Chen Yan, his expression solemn yet smiling, "A Yan, the burden on your shoulders must increase further....."

"From today onward, also take on the Left Marquis Guard Grand General!"

The Left Marquis Guard Grand General oversees the capital's defenses, commands elite heavy troops, and is a truly powerful position.

Left Marquis Guard Grand General?!........... Upon hearing this, Chen Yan felt a surge of joy, his mouth unable to stop smiling, he quickly rose, straightened the collar of his dark Brothel, bowed deeply to the Grand Preceptor father, his tone respectful and earnest, "Thank you for the Grand Preceptor's generous favor!"

"I shall not disappoint the trust placed in me, dedicating all my effort to guard Great Zhou's borders, assisting the Grand Preceptor and Your Majesty!"

One should know that Second Phoenix once held the Left and Right Marquis Guard Grand General positions.....

Yuwen Hu nodded approvingly, glanced at Yuwen Ze beside him, and deliberately elongated his voice, "As for A Ze....."

Yuwen Ze's heart instantly rose to his throat, breath held, his gaze full of tension and anticipation, not daring even a breath.

Seeing this, Yuwen Hu stopped teasing his foolish son, raised his hand and gave his shoulder a firm pat, the force steady, "You shall take the Right Marquis Guard Grand General post, sharing the capital's defense duties with A Yan....."

"When uncertain, consult your Brother A Xiong!"