Chapter 338: The

Late Si hour, the sun was already high.

A horizontal window on the lintel of the Dong Fu Hall let in a beam of light, which fell directly onto the golden brick before the desk, dazzlingly bright.

The grand chairs on either side were shrouded in the shadows of the beams and pillars, dim and solemn.

The incense in the Boshan furnace had burned down to about half; greenish smoke curled up through the lattice of the furnace lid, hanging in the air like a thin veil.

Shi Ding sat on the first grand chair on the left side of the hall, his back perfectly straight.

He wore a stone‑blue cloud‑patterned robe, over a dark gauze coat, a white jade sash at his waist, and a seven‑beam marquis's crown on his head.

In his early forties, his temples were speckled with white, deep horizontal lines ran across his forehead, his cheekbones were prominent, and his jaw was gaunt,

yet his eyes were bright, the corners drooping slightly, bearing a hint of frustration and resentment.

Suddenly, footsteps came from the doorway, boots striking the golden bricks with a steady, powerful, unhurried tread.

Shi Ding immediately set down his tea cup, rose quickly, straightened his attire, faced the doorway, and bowed slightly.

Jia Jing entered through the side door, now dressed in a dark python robe with a jade sash, and lowered his head slightly as he crossed the threshold,

the sunlight spilling over him rendered his outline as sharp as if carved by knife and axe.

Shi Ding bent his waist, clasped his hands, and respectfully bowed, saying:

"Duke Jing!"

Although, by kinship, Shi Ding would be considered Jia Jing's uncle, this was a formal audience in the hall,

and not a private matter, Shi Ding naturally addressed him with court protocol.

The hall they stood in was the main hall of Dong Fu's outer residence, located in the first courtyard along the central axis, the core venue for major ceremonies and high‑profile guests.

Its scale, decoration, and regulations were the highest tier among the residences, showcasing the prestige of the duke's household.

According to court etiquette, the duke's hall may not exceed five bays, and Dong Fu must conform to this rule.

As for the Jingming Hall where Jia Jing had just conferred with Xuanwu, it lies in the third courtyard on the central axis, the main hall of the inner residence.

Jingming Hall is the largest and most regulated building in the inner residence, serving as the core place for the master's daily life, work, and internal affairs, and marking the privacy limit of the estate.

In Da Han Empire protocol, the main hall is the heart of the master's domestic life and family rites; only close relatives or extremely important guests are admitted there.

Thus, Jia Jing usually handles official and household matters in Jingming Hall, and meets colleagues and guests in the main hall.

Of course, if a guest is extremely close or a private matter needs discussion, they would be invited to Jingming Hall.

Jia Jing nodded and said in a low voice:

"Marquis Shi, long time waiting!"

Jia Jing had just reviewed the Embroidered Uniform Guard's intelligence on the line of founding martial heroes in the capital, so he naturally understood Shi Ding's purpose in visiting today.

He was also aware that a few days earlier, Prince of North Jing and Shi Ding had arranged to take turns visiting.

One could say that within Shenjing, apart from the palace, there were few things he did not know!

As for Shi Ding himself, the Embroidered Uniform Guard's report indicated that he was one of the rare "upright and capable" figures among the founding martial heroes.

First, he is the only one among the founding martial heroes who earned a marquisate through merit rather than inheritance, a difficulty comparable to that of Nian Gengyao.

Secondly, Shi Ding is also the "cautious one" with the fewest stains and misdeeds among them!

He not only upholds personal integrity, with no acts of corruption or abuse of law.

He also governs his household strictly, imposing tight discipline on his children and spouse, and has no record of bullying or wrongdoing.

Overall, Shi Ding can be considered an oddity among the founding martial heroes.

However, precisely because of his upright character, he was impeached for strict military discipline while serving in Datong Town, leaving him on the cold bench of the Five Military Governor's Office for many years.

From the Embroidered Uniform Guard's intel, Jia Jing's impression of Shi Ding was fairly positive.

Moreover, he was the first to visit the residence, and as a member of the four great families, his stance was firmly upright.

Thus, if he proved useful, Jia Jing intended to transfer him into the 12th Regiment.

Since he was being considered for use, his current posture could not be low; otherwise future control would be difficult, so Jia Jing addressed him as "Marquis Shi", a title neither too distant nor too familiar.

"Soon! Soon! It was I who rashly came, my apologies!"

Shi Ding replied courteously; years on the cold bench had evidently polished his demeanor a bit.

While speaking, Jia Jing walked to the main seat behind the desk and sat, while Shi Ding returned to the grand chair on the east side.

"In just over four months, Duke Jing's campaign in the northwest truly opened my eyes, and those of the world."

"Defeating Tuo Tuo Bu Hua, crushing Northern Yuan, sealing Wolf at Juxu, drinking horse across the sea, nine battles all victories, two arrows securing Tianshan—what magnificence!"

"These splendid achievements rival those of the two Rongning dukes at the founding, and will surely be recorded in history with bold, vivid strokes! Truly remarkable!"

"These past months, as one triumph report after another reached Shenjing, my heart was both delighted for Duke Jing and unbearably regretful!"

Shi Ding's face bore a sincere smile, his words mixing three parts flattery with seven parts sighs.

Jia Jing lifted the tea cup on the table, took a sip, and said calmly:

"Oh, what do you regret, Marquis Shi?"

Shi Ding let out a long sigh and said:

"Alas! I regret my blindness—back then I could not follow you, Duke, to the northwest like Niu Jizong, Feng Tang, Han Wu and the others."

"Now, watching them achieve glory, receive marquisates, bask in endless splendor, how could I not be filled with remorse!"

"Alas! Such a war, perhaps once in a lifetime, and I missed it—truly a great regret..."

Shi Ding kept sighing, while Jia Jing's expression remained pale and unruffled, saying nothing.

Seeing this, Shi Ding composed himself, his demeanor growing even more solemn as he continued:

"To be frank, Duke, I have been idling in a court post for years, growing disheartened and losing the zeal to follow the great duke."

"I originally thought the entire cadre of martial heroes had become rotten, and with Da Han beset by internal and external troubles, its border forces far weaker than before, facing the coalition of False Qing, Hun Xie, and Northern Yuan seemed hopeless."

"Even a leader of your caliber, Duke, is limited by supply lines and restrained by court officials, likely only able to maintain a stalemate."

"Moreover, the steppe cavalry move like the wind, masterful with bow and horse; under such conditions, a decisive victory in the northwest is almost impossible, so I did not volunteer for the campaign..."

It's just that I never imagined that the duke of the state would not only be outstanding in strategy, but his own martial prowess would be this astonishing.

He actually managed to turn the tide from an impossible situation, ultimately achieving a victory as miraculous as this...

Shi Ding gave himself a thorough self-analysis; the astonishment in his expression did not seem feigned, his words sincere with self-reflection, and he also subtly praised Jia Jing a few times.

Jia Jing remained silent for a moment, then lightly nodded and said:

It's only natural for Marquis Shi to think this way! Given the circumstances, it's not just Marquis Shi who thinks so; even all the court officials and ministers likely think the same...

Not only do all the court officials and ministers think this way, but there are also quite a few who advocate surrender and peace!

Even the Jing Sheng Di at the time probably never imagined that the northwestern campaign could achieve such results; instead, he had prepared himself to tighten his belt and endure a protracted war!

After all, the Jing Sheng Di at the time demanded that the court begin cutting expenses and personnel, mobilizing the nation's resources to support the northwestern campaign!