Chapter 367: Decision
Editor: Atlas Studios
The Emperor was still hesitating when General Yuan and Qi Xiuyuan’s confession letter arrived. The Emperor flipped through it slightly before tossing it aside. It was obvious that this was written previously. What he wanted to know was General Yuan and Qi Xiuyuan’s current thoughts.
The two of them did not let him down. In less than two days, messenger pigeons from both sides arrived. General Yuan suggested sending troops, but Qi Xiuyuan suggested defending the cities.
The two of them had different opinions. The Emperor could also see General Yuan’s eagerness and Qi Xiuyuan’s caution from the two notes.
The Emperor was suddenly in a good mood. Smiling, he said, “General Yuan and Qi Xiuyuan sent troops together, but now it seems that they’re not as harmonious as I thought.” The Emperor knocked on the table and ordered, “Tell them to shrink the battlefront and listen to Qi Xiuyuan’s instructions to defend the captured cities. They’re not allowed to send troops to the Jin Kingdom again. As for their rewards and punishments, we’ll talk about it when they successfully defend the cities.”
The emissary serving the Emperor was slightly surprised. He knew that the Emperor had wanted to send troops previously, but now, he suddenly made up his mind and looked very happy. According to the Emperor’s personality, shouldn’t he be heartbroken?
However, although the Emperor was gentle, he did not dare to ask the question in his heart. He only bowed and left.
The Emperor was naturally in a good mood. Perhaps General Yuan’s intention for heading north was to take back his homeland. On the other hand, it was also possible that he wanted to expand his power. However, no matter what, he did not want General Yuan to have his way.
Two years ago, no, it should be said that three years ago, he only had 130,000 troops under him. However, when he sent troops to the Jin Kingdom and suppressed the rebellion again, it had actually increased to 210,000. After this time, who knew how many more men he would increase.
How could the Emperor dare to let him expand his power endlessly when the military power was not in his hands?
When Shen Mu found out that General Yuan had sent a messenger pigeon to the Emperor to request for battle, he could only stomp his feet and say, “Why are you so muddle-headed? We’ve already lost so many people with 200,000 troops previously. How can we continue to advance north while guarding the city? What if the Emperor listens to you and allows a large-scale invasion? Didn’t you promise me to discuss it slowly?”
“The soldiers guarding the city can be recruited on the spot…”
Shen Mu glared at General Yuan with grief and anger. “Do you want the Emperor to chop off your head? 200,000 troops is already a taboo for him, but you still want to recruit soldiers and buy horses?”
General Yuan fell silent.
“Sigh—” Shen Mu sighed and said, “Forget it. The Emperor might not agree to send troops. He has always liked to go against you in the past few years. Perhaps he’ll refuse when he sees that you were the one who suggested it.”
General Yuan’s face turned green. “Does that make you happy?”
Shen Mu straightened his neck and said, “It’s better than watching you die.” With that said, he flung his sleeves and left.
While General Yuan and Qi Xiuyuan were waiting for the Emperor’s order, they had already gradually secured the border. When the imperial edict arrived, Qi Xiuyuan delegated authority to Jiang Ze and Mo Xiong and brought more than ten guards back to the Jingzhao Prefecture.
The squires and tycoons of the Jingzhao Prefecture lined up at Hangu Pass to welcome him, shocking Qi Xiuyuan slightly. Looking at the gorgeous carriage at the front, he raised his eyebrows slightly. Rong Xuan rode his horse forward and said, “That’s the head of the Li family in Chang’an County.”
Qi Xiuyuan raised his eyebrows slightly. “The Li family of Longxi?”
Rong Xuan nodded with a smile. “Although the Li family has been shattered, they still have some foundation. They’re a prominent family in Chang’an. Although the Jin soldiers persecuted them after entering the pass, they didn’t harm their lives, so they preserved their strength quite well.”
Qi Xiuyuan instantly lost interest. He didn’t feel the need to specially interact with those who could get along well with the Jin people.
It had been 20 years since the Jingzhao Prefecture left the Great Zhou Dynasty’s control. In these 20 years, their hands that did not hold much power to begin with had become even shorter.
However, Qi Xiuyuan still dismounted calmly and met them before turning down the invitation to the banquet that night.
He still had to wake up early tomorrow to travel. How could he have the time to drink with them?
Seeing Qi Xiuyuan leave, Li Jian cupped his hands at everyone and turned to get into the carriage to go home.
The butler said hesitantly, “Master, what does this General Qi mean?”
“Isn’t it obvious? He’s looking down on us who struggled at death’s door under the hooves of the Jin soldiers,” Li Jian said with his eyes closed.
“That can’t be, right? I see that he cherishes ordinary civilians very much.”
A mocking smile appeared on Li Jian’s lips. “Of course he pities the ordinary people. They have no ability to resist and have suffered all kinds of hardships. They have no choice but to submit to the Jin soldiers. The typical squires as well. But our Li family is the Li family of Longxi with a thousand-year heritage. Even the Shu family, which is barely considered an aristocratic family, risked their lives to escape with the Emperor. Meanwhile, we traded with the Jin Kingdom and survived unscathed. How can he think highly of us?”
Li Jian’s eyes were filled with sorrow and pain. “Qi Xiuyuan is fine. Although he doesn’t like us, he never mocks us. As for the other aristocratic families, I’m afraid…”
The butler’s expression changed. Although Emperor Shizong had suppressed the aristocratic families many times and used the non-nobles, the aristocratic families still had an advantage over the non-nobles. If the Li family was ostracized by the other aristocratic families and was enemies with the non-nobles, would the Li family of Longxi still exist in Great Zhou?
Li Jian had clearly thought of this as well. However, returning to the Great Zhou was much better than drifting in the Jin Kingdom.
There were many children of marriageable age in the family, so they could form marriage alliances.
“I heard that Qi Xiuyuan hasn’t arranged a marriage either.”
The butler immediately understood and said, “I’ll start asking around when I get back.”
Li Jian was satisfied.
Qi Xiuyuan didn’t know that the other party had already thought so much in a single meeting. He only briefly met with the generals in the army and asked them to guard the pass. He would return to Xingzhou Prefecture and move the base camp to Jingzhao Prefecture.
He only planned to leave a division to guard Xingzhou Prefecture.
After thinking about the candidates, he smiled at Rong Xuan and said, “I plan to recruit soldiers again to create a 6th Division. The other five divisions will also need more manpower.”
Smiling, Rong Xuan said, “You have a suitable general candidate?”
“What do you think of Mu Shi?”
Rong Xuan was slightly shocked, but this was reasonable. He nodded and said, “He’s been running around with Haoran for two years and has experienced many battles. In addition, based on his performance in defending the city this time, the soldiers won’t have any objections if he takes over the 6th Division.”
Most importantly, Mu Shi had to be the one to build the 6th Division from scratch, not snatch people from the other five divisions. However, Mu Shi’s achievements were still a little lacking.
Qi Xiuyuan obviously thought of this too. With a sigh, he said, “Although he’s a little lacking in contributions at the moment, he can accumulate more in the future. We urgently need people now, so we can make an exception.”
Rong Xuan couldn’t help but laugh. “If you outright say you’re doing this to pave the way for Haoran, do you think I can oppose you?” Seeing that Qi Xiuyuan’s face was slightly red, he sighed and said, “If you already treat Haoran’s father-in-law so well, wouldn’t you be even more filial to your future father-in-law?”
Qi Xiuyuan kicked him out.
Rong Xuan, who had jumped out of the door, couldn’t help but laugh out loud.