Chapter 252: Nian Gengyao Urges a Marriage

The four marquises are indeed suitable candidates; according to intelligence gathered by the Embroidered Uniform Guard, the four marquises privately hold you in utmost admiration and deep respect.

They have personally witnessed your martial prowess, and this northwestern campaign earned you a marquisate; they are sincerely impressed by you.

Marquis Niu even often says in private that wherever your banner points, his sword blade will follow.

Marquis Zhou was rescued by you beneath Yu Lin Cheng, and Marquis Feng nearly perished while attacking the He Lan tribe; it was your aid that saved his life.

They have all received your great grace and are absolutely loyal to you.

Furthermore, I have already placed an Embroidered Uniform Guard covert operative among them, just in case.

My only concern is whether His Majesty can, according to your wishes, appoint them as commanders of the border towns.

Reports from Shenjing say that many censorial officials at court are impeaching you for amassing excessive troops, posing a considerable danger.

Especially after His Majesty ennobled you as a First‑rank Jing Guo Gong, the old‑guard civil officials at court have been in an uproar, objecting to this reward.

The retired minister Xu Qianxue has repeatedly, in private banquets, likened you to Huo Guang and Sima Yi, claiming that a martial man brings calamity and will bring great disaster upon the Da Han Empire.

He also says that the current droughts across many provinces of the Da Han are because a treacherous minister like you has appeared at court, prompting Heaven's warning.

Zhu Que's expression bore a hint of worry and resentment; as the head of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, he is well aware of the undercurrents swirling in Shenjing.

Although the duke holds greater power and a higher title, his hidden enemies and dangers are also more numerous and far‑reaching.

When we return to Shenjing, we still don't know how many overt attacks and covert schemes await us!

Even His Majesty likely harbors some precaution and apprehension toward the Grand General.

Jia Jing heard this, his expression calm, his demeanor unchanged, and he chuckled lightly:

"A tree that stands out in the forest is bound to be felled by the wind! One who walks above others will inevitably be opposed by the masses!"

"What we are undertaking is a grand undertaking; such rumors are perfectly normal!"

"We need not concern ourselves with those people for now! We will follow our own pace, accumulate strength, focus on deeds that benefit the state and the people, and proceed steadily and firmly."

"The court has already implemented the New Policies, purging officialdom; these old‑guard civil officials are like grasshoppers after autumn— they won't be hopping for long!"

"As for His Majesty, I have already made arrangements; he will only place greater trust in us, so you need not worry!"

Jia Jing's words carried a composed rebuke of the old‑guard civil officials and absolute confidence in Jing Sheng Di.

As for why he has such confidence in Jing Sheng Di, it naturally stems from the system's reward.

Since his promotion to the rank of Zheng San Pin, the system has ceased rewarding him with martial inheritances or personal elite troops to boost his strength.

Instead, it unexpectedly granted him a halo‑like title, "Ying Meng Xianchen."

Its specific function is to employ the Tai Zu Chen Yan and dream‑entering methods to shape him into a revitalizing minister of the Da Han, greatly increasing Jing Sheng Di's trust in him.

Jia Jing was greatly surprised by this reward from the system!

Mainly because he does not know what purpose the system has in assigning him the Ying Meng Xianchen status.

Is it to facilitate his further promotions? Or to deter him from rebelling? Or merely a random selection?

Either way, this reward is indeed what he currently needs.

He never had any definite plan to raise troops in rebellion.

His various schemes and plans are more about aiding the world while leaving himself an exit.

Now that the system has fashioned him as a revitalizing minister, it undoubtedly allows him to pursue grand endeavors without worry.

This is also why he dares to propose establishing a Loyal Martyrs Tomb, enshrining fallen soldiers, and submitting a memorial to recommend Niu Jizong and others as border town commanders.

Without the Ying Meng Xianchen reward, he would be even more cautious, keeping a low profile.

And would not readily take actions that might arouse Jing Sheng Di's suspicion.

Of course, he knows that the Ying Meng Xianchen halo does raise Jing Sheng Di's trust.

But that does not mean he can act recklessly or do as he pleases.

Not to mention, if he were to raise an army in rebellion, even with the Ying Meng Xianchen title, Jing Sheng Di would no longer trust him.

Therefore, when discretion is required he will temper his edge; only in his work can he be more liberal, without excessive caution.

Zhu Que, hearing Jia Jing speak thus, felt a little steadier and smiled:

"So you had plans all along. I told you, why would His Majesty break the norm this time and grant you the First‑rank Jing Guo Gong title?"

"And then he instantly appointed four marquises in the northwest, with no intention of checks or defenses— just like last year Nian Gengyao should have…"

"Speaking of that, Zhu Que paused, as if recalling something, hesitated, and said:"

"Lord! Nian Gengyao has written again today!"

Zhu Que said, taking a letter from his sleeve, handed it to Jia Jing, his expression somewhat odd.

It would be normal, since Jia Jing originally served under Nian Gengyao in Liaodong, that the two occasionally corresponded.

But Zhu Que knows this is already the ninth letter from Liaodong's Nian Gengyao to our lord in this period!

Each time a victory is won in the northwest, Nian Gengyao sends a letter.

And the content is without exception, besides congratulating and recalling past events in Liaodong.

It always mentions that his own younger sister, still in the boudoir, wishes to become even closer to you.

Although Zhu Que has recently seen many northwest officials, overtly or covertly, seeking marriage ties with our lord, none are as eager as Nian Gengyao.

This is no longer merely seeking marriage, but has turned into an urgent "marriage urging"!

Jia Jing took the envelope Zhu Que handed over, on which Nian Gengyao's own handwriting read "Jing Guo Gong Personal Letter."

The strokes are vigorous and rather impressive.

Nian Gengyao, a jinshi graduate from a scholarly family, naturally possesses such penmanship.

Jia Jing frowned slightly but did not open the letter.

He pinched the envelope, glanced at it once, then placed it on the table, pressing it against a corner of the map.

"There are indeed many who now concern themselves with my personal affairs! Zhu Que, tell me, should I marry into the Nian family?"

Jia Jing's expression remained indifferent, his tone revealing no hint of joy or anger.

These days, Nian Gengyao is not the only one who has written to him about his marriage.

Including Yue Zhongqi, Niu Jizong, the Prince of North Tranquility, and even some civil officials have, whether intentionally or not, spoken of having age‑appropriate candidates at home.

Regarding these people's attempts to arrange a marriage, Jia Jing has not given a definitive answer.

Now, as the Da Han Empire's highest‑ranking military merit, he holds command over several hundred thousand troops.

His marriage is no longer a private matter of children but a political signal concerning the court, and it must not be handled carelessly!