At the Su Family.
Upon learning of the palace affairs, Su Yourong and her mother couldn't help but giggle.
Madam Su looked at her son-in-law before her, growing happier the more she looked.
She never expected this young man to make Yao Jian and his group suffer such a great loss.
He truly was her son-in-law!
As the mother and daughter were overjoyed, Chi Chi, however, worriedly asked, "The Emperor appointed the Young Master as the Commander of the Dragon Martial Army; he wouldn't be sending the Young Master to war, would he?"
"What are you thinking!"
Madam Su smiled at Chi Chi, "You silly girl, do you think fighting a war is a game?"
Fighting a war?
It's not that easy.
The Emperor isn't a fool; he doesn't even know if Shen Jing can lead an army, yet he would send him to war with six thousand men?
Besides, the Dragon Martial Army hasn't even finished recruiting soldiers; what war would they fight?
Shen Jing's primary task now is to complete the formation of the Dragon Martial Army, and only then will he train the soldiers!
"Mm."
Su Yourong nodded and smiled, "The Emperor must have been moved by the 'man jiang hong' that Shen Jing wrote, and is giving Shen Jing an opportunity to gain experience!"
"What 'man jiang hong'?"
Madam Su asked, puzzled.
"Oh, I forgot to tell you about this."
Su Yourong smiled, recounted the story of Shen Jing writing the poem, and even recited the 'man jiang hong'.
"Oh?"
Madam Su looked at Shen Jing in surprise, "You, young man, have such aspirations?"
"I…"
Shen Jing gave a helpless smile and said simply and directly, "I copied it."
"Get lost!"
Madam Su playfully glared at Shen Jing, "Still hiding your talents in front of me? Alright, since the Emperor intends to give you experience, then you should train the soldiers well!"
Going to train soldiers is good too!
It's better than standing in court, being targeted every day.
Moreover, she also had some connections in the army, which could help him.
Thinking of this, Madam Su asked Shen Jing again, "Is the Dragon Martial Army recruiting soldiers or selecting them from able-bodied young men serving corvée labor?"
If they were recruiting, they could select some people from the Su Family's tenants to join the Dragon Martial Army.
It's always better to have some of their own people in the army!
"I really don't know about that."
Shen Jing shook his head, "All I know right now is the name Dragon Martial Army; I know nothing else! The Emperor said someone would tell me the specifics later…"
As Shen Jing was speaking, Old He suddenly walked in with a soldier.
After a simple bow to them, the soldier said, "Duke Qi has ordered the Commander of the Dragon Martial Army, Shen Jing, to immediately report to the Ministry of War Office for a meeting, without delay!"
Shen Jing was surprised.
So fast?
He wasn't even given time to catch his breath!
It seemed this was about to discuss the matters of the Dragon Martial Army with him.
Helpless, Shen Jing could only rush to the Ministry of War Office with the soldier.
Just as he arrived at the entrance of the Ministry of War Office, Shen Jing ran into a somewhat familiar person.
Yang Ran!
This fellow was actually wearing armor!
He hadn't seen this fellow for a while, and now he had joined the army?
Seeing Shen Jing, Yang Ran also paused in surprise.
"What are you doing here?"
Yang Ran looked at Shen Jing with some displeasure.
Shen Jing curled his lips, "If a big fool like you can come, why can't I?"
"You're the big fool!"
Yang Ran glared at Shen Jing.
"Kid, you're quite bold!"
Shen Jing looked at Yang Ran with a half-smile, then showed him his big foot, "You dare to speak to this Marquis like that? Are you itching for a beating again?"
Meeting Shen Jing's gaze, Yang Ran's face twitched violently.
He almost forgot, this scoundrel was now the Marquis of Loyalty.
"Didn't you just get a marquisate by sheer luck? What's there to be so proud of!"
Yang Ran snorted lightly, secretly cursing "a villain getting his way" in his heart.
"No choice, this Marquis just has that luck!"
Shen Jing's lips curved, then he teased, "Is your father sending you into the army to make you mend your ways?"
"Bullshit!"
Yang Ran raised his head and said proudly, "I am the Dragon Martial Army Commandant personally appointed by the Emperor!"
"Dragon… Dragon Martial Army?"
Shen Jing's face twitched violently.
Yang Ran raised an eyebrow, a hint of smugness on his face, "I bet you haven't heard of the Dragon Martial Army, have you?"
"I…"
Shen Jing's face was full of dark lines, then he gently patted Yang Ran's shoulder, "You're putting a lot of pressure on me!"
"What, are you afraid I'll surpass you in the future?" Yang Ran asked smugly.
Meeting Yang Ran's foolish yet clear eyes, Shen Jing felt even more pressure.
Shen Jing sighed all the way as he walked into the Ministry of War Office with Yang Ran.
Led by a Ministry of War official, they arrived at the council hall.
Upon entering the council hall, they found several other people already seated inside.
They were all relatively young, and most were wearing armor.
Among them, there was also an acquaintance.
Ning Ji!
"When did you return?"
Shen Jing greeted Ning Ji with a smile.
"Just returned the day before yesterday."
Ning Ji returned a smile, then asked in confusion, "Why are you at the Ministry of War? You're not here to see Duke Qi, are you?"
Shen Jing smiled, "I am here by order for a meeting."
"You, a meeting?"
Yang Ran looked at Shen Jing amusedly, "Go somewhere cool and wait! Can't you see we have important business? You have no sense of observation!"
A Vice Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial, coming to the Ministry of War for a meeting?
That's ridiculous!
Looking at Yang Ran's silly appearance, Shen Jing was too lazy to get angry, he just found a seat and sat down, weakly patting his forehead.
Seeing that Shen Jing not only didn't leave but actually sat down, the others couldn't help but be surprised.
Ning Ji looked at Shen Jing in confusion, just about to ask, when Pei Ji's figure appeared at the doorway.
"Greetings, Duke Qi!"
Everyone bowed to Pei Ji.
"Mm."
Pei Ji nodded gently, then walked up to Shen Jing, lightly punched him in the chest, and glared at Shen Jing with bulging eyes, "You, young man, are really something, hiding it even from this old man! This old man argued with those scoundrels from Yong Country for several days, and my throat still hurts!"
"I had no choice, did I?" Shen Jing chuckled.
Looking at the two talking and laughing, Yang Ran couldn't help but frown secretly.
Could Shen Jing really be here for a meeting?
"Alright, let's talk about serious business first! This old man will settle accounts with you later!"
Pei Ji said, then walked to the main seat and sat down, raising his eyes to look at Shen Jing, "This old man will briefly introduce them to you."
"Good!"
Shen Jing nodded with a smile.
"You know Ning Ji, so this old man won't introduce him; he is now the Deputy Commander of the Dragon Martial Army."
"Xiang Wu, son of Bo Xiang Li of Wuyang, was previously a Principal of the Ministry of War's Department of Personnel, now a Participatory General of the Dragon Martial Army."
"Sun Qinglie, son of General Sun Congrong who Conquers the North, formerly a Pedestrian Commandant of the City Guard Army, now a Colonel of the Dragon Martial Army."
"Chen Xi, nephew of Bo Yuan Teng of Muyang, who is Yuan Dingguo's cousin, formerly a Cavalry Commandant of the Patrol Camp, now a Colonel of the Dragon Martial Army."
Pei Ji introduced each person to Shen Jing one by one.
Shen Jing listened, secretly astonished.
My goodness, these are all second-generation officials!
Finally, Pei Ji pointed at Yang Ran and smiled at Shen Jing, "This old man doesn't need to introduce this fellow to you, does he?"
"No need!"
Shen Jing gave Yang Ran a faint smile.
But for some reason, Yang Ran found this smile unsettling.
"He is now the Commandant of the Dragon Martial Army."
Pei Ji smiled, then pointed at Shen Jing and introduced him to the others, "This is the famous Marquis of Loyalty, Shen Jing; even if you haven't met him, I believe you've heard of him, so this old man won't introduce him further! From today onwards, Shen Jing will be the Commander of the Dragon Martial Army!"