Chapter 713: Carve a Sea‑Calm, River‑Clear!

Chen Yan stood quietly in place, his face still calm as water, and no hint of emotion could be read in his deep eyes.

But only he knew that beneath the wide Purple Robe, his heart was beating at an unprecedented frantic rate.

It was too shocking.

Even with Chen Yan's unfathomable scheming and two lifetimes of experience, the moment he heard of the three great privileges, he was shaken into a slight daze by the massive impact.

After receiving the great victory report, he had stood before the feng shui map in the Shufang for an entire night, mentally simulating countless possible reactions from the Chang'an court.

He knew that with his feat of turning the tide of a collapsing wave, Grand Preceptor Yuwen Hu would surely reward him greatly, but he did not expect it to be the position of Governor of Xiazhou.

Chen (the) person deeply understands the balance of politics.

Grand Preceptor father, to balance the Court, will most likely send a senior civil official to become the Inspector of Xiazhou.

Yet he never imagined it would be done so decisively, so overbearing!

No checks, no defenses, only an unreserved granting of authority!

Chen Yan's breathing gradually grew deep.

He closed his eyes, and the image of that stern‑faced, yet always looking at him with a complex affection, power‑wielding adoptive father rose in his mind.

"Grand Preceptor father, you are turning me into a peerless killing blade in your hand…" Chen Yan murmured to himself.

He instantly saw through the deeper meaning behind Yuwen Hu's earth‑shattering decree.

Grand Preceptor father is about to make a big move!

The strength accumulated for so long will now be used against the Qi State in the east and the Rouran in the north.

At this most critical, most dangerous moment, the Great Zhou's rear must not be set ablaze.

Therefore, he handed the Northern Border completely over to Chen Yan.

This was not merely trust; it was entrusting his very life.

Those three great privileges are the toughest armor Yuwen Hu has placed on Chen Yan, and also the sharpest slaughter knife granted to him.

As long as Chen Yan holds the Northern Border Seven Prefectures, and integrates its military forces, he can form a two‑sided pincer when attacking Qi.

He recalled his path from a condemned prisoner thrown into Tianlao, licking blood on the knife's edge, from quelling rebellion in Qinzhou to exterminating bandits in Jingzhou, and now the bloody battle in Xiazhou—each step heart‑stopping, each step a campaign.

Compared with Grand Preceptor father's seemingly "over‑indulgent" granting of power, Chen Yan's heart, already forged cold and hard as iron in the political meat‑grinder, also stirred with an indescribable emotion.

This loyalty, atop the cold, ruthless hall of power, is so precious!

Chen Yan suddenly opened his eyes; the shock and turmoil in his gaze had been completely replaced by steadfast coldness.

Since you gave me this iron throne, I, Chen Yan, will carve a sea‑calm, river‑clear for you!

And restore Great Zhou's unified realm!

He flicked his sleeve sharply, raising the front hem of the Purple Robe that symbolized supreme authority, his expression solemn, and without any arrogance knelt on both knees.

He faced south.

That was the direction of Chang'an, the direction of Jin Wang Fu, and he bowed heavily.

His forehead struck the Blue Bricks, emitting a dull thud.

"I, Chen Yan, thank Your Majesty! Thank the Grand Preceptor's heavenly grace!"

Chen Yan's voice was low and resonant, echoing for a long time within the Zheng Hall of the Inspector's Office, "I shall give my liver and brain, guard the Northern Border gate for the Grand Preceptor; even if petty thieves covet it, I will cut them down!"

This expression of gratitude skipped loyalty to the emperor entirely; every word was directed at Yuwen Hu.

Yet the attending eunuch seemed to think it was only natural, instantly putting on a smile sweeter than honey, utterly obsequious.

"Ah, Minister, please rise!" the eunuch hurried forward, personally supporting Chen Yan, repeatedly congratulating, "Grand Preceptor in Chang'an worries day and night about the Minister's safety. Now that the Minister has achieved a great victory, the Grand Preceptor is overjoyed… uh, deeply gratified! When I arrived, the Grand Preceptor specially instructed that the Northern Border is not like Chang'an; the Minister must take great care of his health, and not overexert himself."

Chen Yan stood, a faint smile curling at the corner of his mouth: "I have received the Duke's decree. The journey through wind and sand has been hard; I have ordered a few modest gifts, which will be delivered to the Duke's lodging shortly."

Hearing this, the eunuch's facial folds smiled like a daisy, bowing repeatedly.

Until this moment, the stone‑petrified Wang Zheng, Zhang Wenqian and others behind finally snapped out of their dream‑like stupor.

They looked at the young man standing with hands behind his back, his aura engulfing mountains and rivers, and no longer harbored any stray thoughts, only complete submission.

"Swish!"

Led by Wang Zheng, Zhang Wenqian, Gu Yuci, Lu Ming and other Xiazhou civil‑military officials, they all knelt on both knees, the clatter of armor against Blue Bricks uniform and synchronized.

"We, the humble servants, salute the Governor!"

This shout was no longer a simple greeting, but an oath of loyalty, a sound of submission to the true Northern Frontier Lord.

"All of you, rise." Chen Yan raised his hand, his voice steady, "Since the Court has bestowed great grace, from today onward, the rules of Xiazhou, the rules of the Seven Prefectures, must be re‑established."

The crowd had just stood, not yet calming the turbulence caused by this power reshuffle, when the eunuch gave a mysterious smile and, with his distinctive sharp voice, cut the atmosphere: "Governor, the imperial edict is not finished. The Grand Preceptor's decree does not end here."

Having said that, he seemingly performed a magic trick, pulling from beneath the red lacquer tray held by a nearby attendant a scroll of bright‑yellow imperial edict!

Everyone present was stunned again.

There is another edict?

The eunuch smiled and scanned the ranks of the generals, then loudly proclaimed: "This second imperial edict is the Grand Preceptor's personally named grant to General Fenwei Wang Xiong! Where is General Wang?"

Granted to Wang Xiong?!

Chen Yan's eyes flickered slightly.

He instantly understood Grand Preceptor father's intention; this was not merely a reward for a meritorious officer, but the Grand Preceptor soothing the troops and buying loyalty with gold.

Lavishly rewarding his close confidants signals to the entire army: fighting under Chen Yan, Chang'an will never be stingy with honors!

"Hongye." Chen Yan did not turn, only called lightly.

"At your service." A cool voice came from the shadowed corner of the hall. Dressed in black, clutching a Long Sword, Hongye emerged like a weightless falling leaf.

"Go to the rear courtyard, bring a few capable personal guards, and summon General Wang here."

"Yes." Hongye obeyed, turned and strode away, his steps bearing the seasoned and sharp bearing of a wandering swordsman.

The hall fell into a brief pause. Everyone held their breath, silently speculating what extraordinary reward this hard‑man who rose from a pile of corpses might receive.

Soon, a heavy and slightly chaotic footfall sounded from outside the hall.

Hongye walked ahead, with four burly Left Martial Guard personal guards behind her.

They did not use a sedan chair, but a soft marching cot, and carefully lifted Wang Xiong—his whole body wrapped in bandages, like a mummy—into Zheng Hall.

Wang Xiong's injuries were extremely severe; although the finest wound medicines had been used, the splint on his left leg and the thin bloodstains oozing from his body remained strikingly gruesome. He had been dozing in the rear courtyard, and when the imperial decree arrived, he forced the guards to carry him over.

When the soft cot hit the ground, the inner attendant cleared his throat and slowly unfolded the second striking imperial decree.