Chapter 109

【You stared at Feng Haiping, this "Northern Garrison Army Marshal" whom you had personally sculpted, growing from a green youth into someone who could stand on his own.】

【At that time, he was just a novice, appearing restrained in the face of big scenes, not even daring to speak loudly.】

【Look at today; he can already plan strategies, command with composure, and lead one hundred thousand troops.】

【You showed a gratified smile and said softly: "You truly already have a bit of a marshal's bearing."】

【Feng Haiping was in the middle of the army formation, usually hard to see joy or anger, known for strict military governance, but at this moment, his face rarely flushed red.】

【And the several generals in front, seeing this, had smiles on their faces.】

【They were all selected and cultivated by you, yet they hadn't seen you for many years.】

【You looked at Jia Fu and Dou Gu again, as well as the monk holding the saber and Chai Zhong; those you looked at were all excited.】

【You smiled.】

【Treating people with sincerity, providing help in times of need, entrusting life and death, and lasting for a long time.】

【These are all the most difficult things in the world, because the human heart is the least able to withstand testing!】

【However, the most resilient thing in the world is also the human heart.】

【It is harder than iron, hotter than fire, and softer than water.】

【Finally!】

【Your gaze fell gently on these Lu Family Army soldiers who had come from afar, dust-covered and weary; you bowed and said:】

【"Lu Shen Zhou, thank you all!"】

【The voice was not loud, but everyone heard it.】

【The veterans who had followed Lu Chen in battle for many years heard these words and were moved to tears.】

【Even Jia Fu, known in the North as the Flying General, who was called "killing without blinking an eye" and known for his iron blood.】

【On Jia Fu's dark face, a pair of tiger eyes were actually filled with tears.】

【You smiled slightly and said softly:】

【"Stop kneeling, get up."】

【The generals stood up, all looking inspired!】

【Immediately, you lifted your foot and kicked Jia Fu lightly, laughing: "Crying and sniffling, what kind of decorum is that? You look like a woman."】

【Jia Fu hurriedly stepped forward to help you onto your horse.】

【You sat steadily on the horse's back and slowly closed your eyes.】

【At this time, Feng Haiping's voice sounded at the right moment; he reported in detail the Lu Family Army's current troop deployment, supply preparations, and the various details of the journey south.】

【He said that several city gates of the capital had been successfully taken over without encountering any resistance, and the situation in the entire capital was already under control.】

【Dou Gu added that the capital's major military warehouses had also been controlled in advance by Liu Wen, and the thirty thousand naval troops on the Yuetang River were ready to respond to orders at any time.】

【The arrangements in the North, how many troops were left, and how many remained behind were all reported to you.】

【You nodded slightly; even if you had done it yourself, you might not have been able to do better than this.】

【Feng Haiping continued, saying that in addition, the Eighth Prince had personally mobilized twenty thousand troops, waiting in full battle array in the western suburbs of the capital to ensure everything was foolproof.】

【The Son of Heaven of Daqing had ordered that the border defense army would enter the city tomorrow, thinking it was done without anyone knowing, but in fact, this border defense army had long been infiltrated by the Jiangnan noble families.】

【Zhou Zhen, this Son of Heaven, was not having a "smooth" reign; he gained power through the Jiangnan noble families and was now being constrained by them.】

【You nodded slightly, constructing a complex situation map in your heart.】

【Clearly, many forces were eyeing your entry into the capital, constantly paying attention to the evolution of the situation.】

【"What are the movements on the Northern Wind side?" you asked in a deep voice.】

【If one were to say who was most concerned about this entry into the capital, it must be the Northern Wind.】

【Feng Haiping looked troubled and replied: "The Northern Wind seems to have signs of uniting with Qianyuan; that Qianyuan Empress seems to have met with Tuoba Shuyi in Xiangcheng. This matter is too secret, and Mercury analyzed it through clues.】

【"Moreover, Tuoba Shuyi met with Han Chu's envoys the next day, with unclear intentions."】

【"The secret reports sent by Mercury these past few days are urgent; Qianyuan has gathered a large army in the Hexi region of Daqing."】

【"The Eastern and Western Depots should also have secret reports, but now that both depots have fallen, there is no news. A large army has gathered in Hexi and set off early the day before yesterday, totaling about three hundred thousand troops, heading straight for the capital."】

【Qianyuan!】

【This powerful nation standing at the peak of the five countries—its military strength is indeed something that makes all surrounding countries feel deeply wary.】

【It is not only because it has the largest territory and has been established for over eight hundred years, but also because of its martial spirit of a nation in arms.】

【The Qianyuan imperial family has valued the military and martial arts since ancient times; whether it is the emperor high above or the common people, they are all skilled in riding and archery, proud of conquering the world with bow and horse, and even peddlers and porters carry swords at their waists.】

【Eight hundred years since the founding of the nation, every generation of emperors has had the heart to unify the world.】

【However, such a powerful Qianyuan was also severely damaged by internal struggles for the throne, which not only plunged Qianyuan's imperial power into turmoil but also caused its pace of external expansion to temporarily stall.】

【If not for this, the Northern Wind might have already been annexed by them.】

【That Qianyuan Empress ended twenty years of war and reunified Qianyuan. The following year, her military edge was pointed directly at the Han and Chu countries.】

【And now!】

【The Qianyuan Empress chose this moment when the three countries were at a truce after autumn to quietly unite with the Fourth Prince, Zhou Xuan, of Hexi to launch an invasion of Daqing.】

【Zhou Xuan, this prince who possessed powerful forces in the Hexi region, and his union with Qianyuan undoubtedly made Daqing's situation worse.】

【The Northern Wind also took the opportunity to head south!】

【Daqing was already facing internal and external troubles, and now it was attacked from both sides, its situation precarious.】

【These Daqing princes are none of them simple; the infighting between them often affects the destiny of the entire country.】

【Dou Gu, the general in white scholar's robes, had a faint smile on his face, "Qianyuan might be hard to say, but if the Northern Wind hasn't received certain news of the Young Protector's death, they absolutely wouldn't dare to head south easily."】

【Everyone laughed upon hearing this.】

【The Northern Wind was indeed beaten into fear; for fifteen years, the Northern Wind had never headed south once.】

【You gently withdrew your gaze and looked toward the majestic and solemn imperial palace.】

【You said indifferently: "Let's solve today's matters first."】

【You then gave orders!】

【"Today, the capital is under curfew; no one is allowed to go out. Warn the whole city."】

【Immediately after, you changed the subject, your tone revealing an irresistible coldness:】

【"The great army will hang black flags; today, if any troops within the capital dare to resist, kill them without mercy."】

【Mercy does not command an army; the current situation in the capital is unpredictable, and there are foreign forces hidden within.】

【One must be decisive in killing.】

【Once these words were spoken, the air seemed to freeze; the several generals' expressions tightened, and they quickly took their orders and left.】

【You pulled the reins and said: "Follow me into the imperial palace."】

【The group of people headed straight for the Wumen Gate!】

…………

…………

Just then!

The people of the capital had just seen the Lu Family Army pouring into the city.

They were originally curious!

Some people knew of the turmoil and all closed their doors and windows, only daring to peek through the cracks in the doors.

They only heard on the main street.

Teams of tall cavalry shuttled through the streets, all beating drums and stopping, saying:】

【"The Young Protector has ordered: today the capital is under curfew; no one is allowed to go out."】

The people whispered to each other, unable to help but be curious.

Some noble families said with dissatisfaction:】

【"Young Protector, which Young Protector!"】

【"Since when can the Young Protector's orders manage the capital?"】

(End of chapter)