Chapter 90: The Merit of Scaling the City: Both Civil and Military Excellence

Wei Hui wasn’t in a hurry.

This is a joyous occasion; such great honor—even Lu Shenzhou, who reclaimed the northern lands in days past, received only the title of Shaobao.

Though it is a first-rank post, how can it compare to the weight of a marquisate?

It also reveals the character of the current emperor.

He is not a stingy ruler.

Wei Hui’s lips curled slightly; the master entrusting him with this task carried deep meaning.

Feng Haiping, Military Governor of Zhenbei Army, a regional warlord commanding thirty thousand iron cavalry.

He was already a high-ranking minister; now granted a marquisate, his prestige has reached its peak.

As the emperor’s close attendant, his coming to deliver the edict is merely the “first announcement of good tidings”; much remains—family registers must be transferred to the Ministry of Rites, and county, prefecture, and provincial records issued.

This is true glory for the family name!

If Feng Haiping understands court politics, with Wei Hui, the emperor’s close attendant, as his “ally,” he can speak for Feng Haiping in court as his “eyes and ears.”

And Feng Haiping, as a powerful general commanding troops in the field, can “support” Wei Hui in return.

With power and influence, fortune flourishes; only then can status be secured.

Wei Hui rubbed his hands at this thought, a flicker of joy rising in his heart.

The master still thinks of me.

He couldn’t help smiling as he asked:

“May I ask, Marshal Feng, who else remains in your household? This honor will bring glory to your hometown.”

“Don’t let your glory shine only in the dark!”

Wei Hui turned his gaze toward Feng Changhai.

There he saw!

By the candlelight sat a tall, middle-aged man.

Though not clad in armor, the long sword at his waist radiated a chilling aura.

Feng Changhai’s face was stern, his hawk-like eyes deep and commanding even without anger.

Feng Changhai smiled faintly and replied:

“I, Feng, have no sons or daughters.”

Wei Hui was stunned—this answer was unexpected; shouldn’t such a reply come from eunuchs like himself?

“Do you have any relatives?”

Feng Haiping said calmly: “In this world, I am alone—Feng alone, solitary and unattached.”

Wei Hui felt a pang of regret.

He had rushed out after receiving the edict and hadn’t reviewed the Military Governor’s biography.

He had asked a foolish question!

At his current rank, even to view such a high minister’s records would require a cabinet approval.

“I apologize for my rudeness, Marshal Feng.”

It wasn’t!

Wei Hui had intended to curry favor with Feng Haiping; with his current status, serving the emperor faithfully would naturally advance his career.

But!

The master had ordered that all three envoys must treat their recipients with proper respect, never neglecting them.

That was why he, Wei Hui, was chosen—he was known for his competence.

Feng Haiping said:

“If I must speak of family, I have long wished to take Master Lu as my adoptive father.”

Wei Hui’s expression froze; he remembered the rumors swirling in the capital and hurriedly said:

“Marshal, you must not say such things.”

“The current emperor is most sensitive… it may offend him.”

The second prince rose to power as a southern peace faction leader; any association with the former Shaobao would only invite suspicion.

Feng Haiping seemed unconcerned and continued:

“It’s a pity.”

“It’s a pity the Shaobao is only a few years younger than me—if he called me brother, I’d be unworthy.”

Wei Hui smiled at this.

“How can the Lu Shaobao compare to Marshal Feng today? You’ve been granted a marquisate across a thousand li—no one could catch up.”

Feng Haiping smiled:

“That’s why I dare not accept.”

Dare not accept!

Wei Hui felt as if he’d heard something impossible.

Just then!

Two footsteps outside the tent parted the military curtain.

Wei Hui turned to look.

Two more men entered.

One was a broad-shouldered, black-faced man with a beard, towering and formidable, his tiger-like eyes radiating a predatory menace, holding a box that seemed ready to devour.

The other was a middle-aged scholar in white robes, ordinary in appearance, eyes half-lidded, holding a rolled scroll, exuding scholarly composure.

Wei Hui instantly recognized their names.

The black-faced man—Jia Fu.

The white-robed scholar—Dou Gu.

Both were the other two recipients of the honors, renowned figures within the Daqing army.

Feng Haiping smiled:

“The main guests have arrived!”

“Your Excellency, please read the imperial edict.”

Wei Hui felt something was off about today’s atmosphere.

Especially the white-robed scholar, Dou Gu, standing quietly with a smile.

It made his skin crawl, left him utterly uneasy.

Jia Fu and Dou Gu were both former officers of the Lu family army, now holding key posts in the Zhenbei Army.

The Daqing court had once considered replacing all the “old guard” of the Lu army.

But the old emperor died too suddenly.

When the second prince ascended, the northern network established by Emperor Hui had not yet taken shape.

Nor could other princes be allowed to seize key positions in the Zhenbei Army—so a upheaval occurred in the north.

The court tacitly accepted Feng Haiping, a “veteran” of the Lu army, retaking command of the Zhenbei Army.

Those who once served under the Lu Shaobao were all men of extraordinary merit and ability.

Most were reappointed!

The court sent two deputy generals to assist and balance the north, but their influence has steadily waned.

Fortunately!

It’s been fifteen years—who still remembers the old Lu family?

The Daqing court only wants the Zhenbei Army to hold back the northern winds; it’s treated like a dead pawn, left unmoved.

In recent years, the court has favored rewards over confrontation.

Wei Hui scanned the room and asked curiously:

“Where is General Sun?”

General Sun was a senior relative of the second prince’s maternal family, stationed in the north to oversee affairs.

But over the years, his influence along the northern border has dwindled.

Wei Hui had communicated by letter—why wasn’t he here?

Feng Haiping smiled: “General Sun has arrived.”

Wei Hui looked confused.

Only four men were in the tent—where was the fifth?

Jia Fu, the black-faced man, chuckled and opened the box.

Inside lay a blood-dripping human head.

Wei Hui gasped in shock, stumbled backward, and pointed tremblingly at the head:

“G…General Sun?”

Jia Fu dropped the box to the ground; the head rolled free.

“Who else could it be?”

“I couldn’t stand his nonsense any longer—a drunken, useless coward. When we went to arrest him, I hadn’t even drawn my blade—he fainted on the spot.”

As Jia Fu spoke, Wei Hui broke into a cold sweat.

He finally understood.

These men were plotting rebellion.

The refined Dou Gu calmly opened the imperial edict and read slowly:

“He cleared the thorns and brambles; the He and Luo rivers are secured. In every battle, he led the charge. With few, he defeated many, displaying martial might in the northern wastes.”

“Bestow upon Jia Fu the title of Chariot and Cavalry General.”

Feng Haiping rose to his feet and laughed:

“It suits the Ninth perfectly.”

Jia Fu ranks ninth among the twenty-six generals of the Pavilion.

In the northern campaign to reclaim Yan and Yun provinces, Jia Fu participated in over six hundred battles, always leading from the front.

Scaling walls, breaking formations, slaying generals, seizing banners.

Of the four great military achievements, scaling walls stands first; Jia Fu has scaled walls many times and been granted the rank of Battalion Commander.

The resolve to scale walls, break formations, slay generals, and seize banners—though dead, he lives on.

Jia Fu rumbled: “The Young Protector speaks well—the title ‘Flying General’ sounds better.”

In the northern lands, all call Jia Fu the “Flying General.”

Dou Gu smiled.

He opened the imperial edict meant for himself.

“He delights in books and classics, rises to prominence through merit. A talent fit for general and minister, repelling enemies a thousand li away. Equally gifted in civil and martial arts, his name weighs heavy in the imperial court.”

“Bestow upon Dou Gu the title of Captain of the Longshui Garrison.”

Dou Gu is also a legendary figure of Daqing; in recent years, especially among southern literati, he has been praised as a “paragon of civil and martial excellence.”

(End of Chapter)