Chapter 102: Dust settles, humble origin is not a shame

【Squads of soldiers rush into the hall like a tide.】

【They are all burly, holding long spears, wearing heavy iron armor, their steps firm.】

【Looking closely, the iron armor is extraordinarily heavy, estimated to weigh more than thirty jin, pitch black, revealing an inviolable majesty.】

【On both sides of the armor, there are Taotie patterns.】

【The Xuan Iron Army of the Northern Five Schools!】

【In the capital, forces are intertwined, and the situation of three-legged standing is clear; besides the elite Jin Wu Guard under Dong Jie, the city gate captain commanded by Dong Lu cannot be underestimated, and there is another force, originating from the former Eight Schools, now only five remain.】

【Within the Northern Five Schools, the struggle for power is intensifying, especially with Jiangnan aristocratic families and heavy ministers in the court as the main ones, each with their own ulterior motives.】

【In the three-party situation, the city gate captain is the most powerful because of the favor of the Empress Dowager, while the Jin Wu Guard built by the Son of Heaven is slightly inferior, ranking at the end.】

【Yu Chen, he has floated in the officialdom for a long time and is familiar with the details of all parties, feeling strange in his heart.】

【According to common sense, under the imperial decree, besides the Jin Wu Guard, it should be the Imperial Guard that is dispatched.】

【It is actually the Northern Five Schools; this matter is suspicious.】

【Yu Chen always feels that the capital today is becoming more and more surging with undercurrents.】

【The sky over the capital seems to be shrouded in an invisible haze; the contest between the Son of Heaven and the Empress Dowager has become a game involving the fate of the country and the change of power.】

【The destruction of the Western Depot is like the Son of Heaven's first move, a piece falling, the situation in the capital rising again, and the road to imperial power is even more confusing.】

【And the center of all this.】

【Yu Chen's eyes are focusing on the middle-aged figure in the field, who came to the capital from Mount Zhongnan, Lu Shaobao Lu.】

【Like throwing a giant stone into a lake, setting off big waves.】

【Behind the screen, Xie Lingxuan's brows lightly furrow and then slowly relax, as if she has captured the subtle pulse of the situation, but it is like looking at flowers in the fog, hard to see the whole picture.】

【Zou Shuning is full of worry, looking at these scenes, the dust has settled, and it is hard to have variables.】

【Wang Shian watches squads of soldiers file in, and that face gradually reveals a near-crazy smile; he shouts loudly, shaking the roof tiles:】

【"Lu Chen, you still don't die!"】

【Hearing this, Lu Yu's eyes have more chill, like winter ice.】

【Zhang Lin looks up in the field, his gaze piercing through the crowd, reaching the door, only to see the Xuan Armor Army separating like a tide, giving way to a path.】

【A middle-aged general walks over.】

【The general is burly, wearing heavy armor, his nose bridge high and straight like a hanging gall, his brows full of heroic spirit; even without speaking, he has an imposing manner that is not angry but majestic.】

【Zhang Lin cannot help but feel a chill in his heart, not expecting this person to come to the scene in person—another important figure in the capital—Deng Ping, the Northern Army Marquis.】

【Another important figure no weaker than Dai Zhong.】

【In the past, the Northern Army Marquis was only a supervisory position, but unexpectedly, he surpassed the four captains in silence, becoming the actual helmsman of the Northern Five Schools.】

【The root of this change is all because of Deng Ping alone.】

【Xie Linghao is also surprised, not expecting the visitor to be Deng Ping, the Northern Army Marquis who has a deep friendship with his father.】

【The field is silent!】

【You look up, and that pure white Gyrfalcon flies back from the main hall, steadily landing on your shoulder again.】

【This miraculous Gyrfalcon has no note on its claws, affectionately rubbing against your cheek.】

【You smile lightly.】

【This is quite eye-catching.】

【Seeing this, Wang Shian sneers, secretly mocking your feigned calmness; Deng Ping is a figure that both the Son of Heaven and the Empress Dowager want to win over, and behind him are the aristocratic families of Jiangnan!】

【You are just putting on an act!】

【Wei Yue is slightly nervous; the number of soldiers around is constantly increasing, making her hide behind you two involuntarily, seeking a bit of peace of mind.】

【Lu Yu is calm, arms crossed over his chest, looking at everyone present, his eyes inexplicable.】

【Yu Chen and others see this and hurriedly prepare to salute this powerful Northern Army Marquis; after all, Deng Ping's status is one rank higher than the Minister of the Grand Court of Justice.】

【Just!】

【However, Deng Ping's face is solemn, looking at you two in the field.】

【Seeing this, everyone has to suppress the thoughts in their hearts, not daring to disturb him at this critical moment.】

【Deng Ping walks into the field slowly, every step appearing so heavy; the people of the Grand Court of Justice see this and hurriedly make way, fearing that a slight negligence will anger this powerful general.】

【Deng Ping walks closer and closer to you, and everyone feels nervous breathing.】

【Zhang Lin always feels that losing money today is small, and this series of things makes his heart somewhat unbearable.】

【Especially in this atmosphere, so many important figures are gathered.】

【Just see!】

【Deng Ping bows and performs a grand ceremony.】

【"Deng Ping, pays respects to Lu Shaobao."】

【Between the words, it is full of respect and honor, without a trace of arrest.】

【You nod lightly.】

【"This..." Wang Shian's words tremble due to shock; he looks up sharply, his eyes flashing with unbelievable light.】

【He didn't expect the Northern Army Marquis Deng Ping to be like this; this scene completely broke his cognition!】

【"How is it possible!" He blurts out, his astonishment overflowing.】

【Yu Chen is also stunned; the various changes today are like a sudden rain attack, making him at a loss.】

【His heart is surging, countless questions circling in his mind—how is this possible?】

【Aren't the Northern Five Schools ordered to arrest Lu Chen?】

【Another change!】

【Even Yu Chen, who has experienced vicissitudes, feels incredible about today's sudden change.】

【Dai Zhong's face is still calm, as if he had expected all this.】

【Deng Ping ignores the expressions of everyone in the field and speaks slowly:】

【"Deng Ping, back then, was just a small corporal in the Hulao Pass camp, lucky enough to listen to orders outside Lu Shaobao's tent, and later, for some reason, was transferred back to the capital."】

【In the army, the lowest level is the squad leader, five people form a squad, ten squads form a company, and those who command twenty to fifty people are called corporals.】

【You carefully examine Deng Ping; fifteen years of time have made the memory blurry, but you have the name and past of this person mentioned in the note you just received.】

【He is not a member of the Lu family army, just a garrison general of Hulao Pass, who participated in the Northern Wind War.】

【Deng Ping's voice sounds again, with a bit of emotion: "It's truly a shame; back then I was just a mere corporal, my status humble, and I didn't even have the chance to see Lu Shaobao's style with my own eyes."】

【"Lu Shaobao once said: Humble origin is not a shame; being able to bend and stretch is a real man; Deng Ping has always kept this in his heart over the years."】

【Former mere corporal, today Northern Army Marquis with a rank of two thousand shi.】

【You nod lightly after hearing this.】

【"I know your name."】

【Hearing your words, Deng Ping's eyes light up.】

(End of this chapter) ===== CHAPTER 103 =====