Chapter 121: I Trust You, Beloved Minister—i Trust You!
Nowhere to advance, nowhere to retreat.
Huo Ge’s fear of Lin Fan stemmed from the massacre that night.
This was a scene he would never forget in his life.
He was truly terrified, frightened, and helpless by the killing.
Those were tens of thousands of soldiers, elite soldiers at that, who could fight two against one with ease, yet they were as fragile as paper before the opponent, tearing apart with a single rip.
“Lin, I’m not afraid of you.”
Huo Ge, enraged, drew his sword and swung it at Lin Fan. A blur of afterimages flashed, and the swung sword flew out of his hand, only to be caught by Lin Fan with his bare hands.
“Not afraid of me?”
In front of Huo Ge, Lin Fan broke the sword in half with a crack, then, still not satisfied, broke it again, grabbed Huo Ge’s hand, and placed the broken blade in his palm.
“Tell this general, why aren’t you afraid of me?”
Huo Ge’s lips trembled, and he looked helplessly and confusedly at the surrounding officials, then shifted his gaze to King Dag Guang, who stood by the dragon throne.
But it was no use.
The officials lowered their heads, and King Dag Guang, shrinking his head, averted his gaze, ashamed to meet Huo Ge’s eyes.
As the ruler of the Dag Guang Dynasty, leading his ministers in fear of the opponent’s power was not proper, yet he desperately wanted to tell Huo Ge.
My beloved minister, things are not as you think.
I resisted.
But it was no use. When I got fierce, he was even fiercer. The Imperial Guards were cut down one after another, and no one could stop him. If I had resisted, he would have slaughtered the entire Imperial Family, and even killed all the officials.
If such a thing were to happen, the regime of the Dag Guang Dynasty would truly collapse.
At this moment, Huo Ge was filled with despair.
He didn’t know what to do. A great pressure enveloped him. Facing Lin Fan, even with all his ferocity, he couldn’t unleash it.
King Dag Guang gathered his courage and walked to Lin Fan’s side. Now, only he dared to speak, pleading, “Great General, this invasion of the Central Plains Heavenly Dynasty was not Huo Ge’s idea, but mine. I hope the Great General will not trouble him. I will agree to any request.”
Lin Fan looked at King Dag Guang, “Whether it was his intention or not, this general asks you, did he lead the troops?”
“Yes,” King Dag Guang said with great bitterness.
He had never imagined such a thing would happen to him, never even thought about it.
“Since he personally led the troops, then it is his matter. And you, as the emperor of the Dag Guang Dynasty, naturally have your responsibilities. No one should try to take the blame, you cannot bear it,” Lin Fan said.
King Dag Guang lowered his head in silence.
Lin Fan said, “The Central Plains Dynasty is not a place where anyone can come and go as they please. I, this general, must take Huo Ge back. As for you, King Dag Guang, this general will not kill you. You will immediately write a national letter and provide compensation, substantial compensation, or you will know the consequences.”
King Dag Guang shivered at Lin Fan’s murderous gaze and nodded repeatedly, indicating he understood.
He was truly terrified.
If Lin Fan were merely skilled in troop deployment, King Dag Guang might not have been so afraid. It could only be said that the Central Plains Dynasty was lucky to have such a general.
But the ability he displayed by slaughtering the Imperial Guards alone was, in his opinion, superhuman strength. How could he resist? How could he withstand it?
With him existing, the Central Plains Dynasty was invincible.
It was an invincible existence.
Next, King Dag Guang ordered people to busy themselves, mobilizing compensation from the national treasury, while he personally wrote the national letter. The court was so quiet that the sound of a falling needle could be heard.
Lin Fan stood proudly in the hall, his gaze unfazed.
A moment later.
King Dag Guang respectfully presented the national letter with both hands. Lin Fan snatched it, opened it, and read it, nodding with satisfaction.
“You’re wise.”
The content of this national letter was all about submission and territorial cession. For the Central Plains to move south and invade the Dag Guang Dynasty, they would need to pass through a heavenly pass, a strategically advantageous location, which was now ceded to the Central Plains Dynasty.
This meant that from now on, the Central Plains Dynasty could dispatch troops at any time and conquer the Dag Guang Dynasty with absolute advantage.
King Dag Guang was unwilling to cede territory.
But the current situation did not allow him to refuse.
Lin Fan spared King Dag Guang for only one purpose: to make King Dag Guang fear him. As long as he was in the Central Plains Dynasty, he could deter King Dag Guang from any further action.
If he were to kill him, a new king would ascend the throne. According to the normal process, the new king’s top priority would naturally be to avenge the old king. Even if he didn’t dare to do it openly, the mere intention would be a disaster.
Currently, the internal affairs of the Central Plains Dynasty, though seemingly united, were actually a mess. Military power was difficult to concentrate, and troop deployment was inconvenient. He had to clean up this mess.
After a long while.
In the square outside the hall, carriages laden with compensation were parked. Lin Fan waved his hand, letting the soldiers inspect them. The amount was acceptable.
“King Dag Guang, take care of yourself.”
Lin Fan turned around imposingly and walked towards the hall. The soldiers apprehended Huo Ge and escorted him away.
As Lin Fan’s figure disappeared from the hall.
King Dag Guang’s body went limp, as if he would collapse at any moment. An attendant beside him quickly reached out to support him, but King Dag Guang pushed him away, walked with difficulty to the dragon throne, and slowly sat down.
The entire court knelt down, trembling.
This was a national humiliation, a profound disgrace.
As subjects, they could only watch helplessly.
King Dag Guang looked with a dark expression at the kneeling officials, his eyes revealing disappointment, “Court dismissed…”
He didn’t want to say another word.
Disappointment pervaded his heart.
These were his officials. He was humiliated, yet not a single one died to protect him. Only those three ministers who were killed bravely stood up.
…
Several days later.
The court.
No battle reports had arrived, primarily because Lin Fan, leading eight hundred iron cavalry, had penetrated deep into enemy territory, and the messengers could not transmit news back.
During this period, Wu Yun was escorted back, and the entire Wu family, old and young, were imprisoned to await judgment.
At this moment.
“Empress arrives!”
The eunuch’s voice echoed from outside the door.
The Emperor frowned, and the officials present exchanged glances, surprise flickering in their eyes. The Empress had been imprisoned. How could she come to the morning court now?
Before the Emperor could speak, the Empress stormed in. The surrounding eunuchs and Imperial Guards did not dare to block her, because the Empress held an Imperial Pardon Edict bestowed by the Former Emperor.
The Empress, now haggard and pale as paper, had been deeply affected by a series of events, leaving her with little vitality.
Her child had been executed.
Her maternal family’s rebellion had failed, and they were escorted to the Imperial Capital.
“Why are you here?” the Emperor asked in a deep voice.
The Empress did not bow. Instead, she loudly declared, “Your Majesty, I hold an Imperial Pardon Edict bestowed by the Former Emperor, which can absolve great crimes. Today, I present the Former Emperor’s Imperial Pardon Edict to pardon the Wu family’s death sentence.”
The officials exchanged bewildered glances.
An Imperial Pardon Edict?
They had never heard of it.
But the Grand Tutor and the Grand Protector, who had heard of this Imperial Pardon Edict, exchanged looks.
They naturally knew about it from when the Former Emperor was alive. The Former Emperor was very fond of the current Empress, treating her like his own daughter. He had even fallen into the water once, and it was the Empress who, without hesitation, jumped into the river to rescue him.
Later, when the Former Emperor was nearing his end, he had indeed given the Empress an Imperial Pardon Edict in their presence.
The Emperor said in a deep voice, “Where did you get this edict?”
“Bestowed by the Former Emperor.”
“Do you know what a grave crime it is to forge an imperial decree?”
Upon hearing this, the Empress couldn’t help but laugh, a somewhat mad laughter, “A grave crime? What other grave crime could I commit that the Emperor would have me killed? You killed my child, and now you want to kill my family. What else is there that you cannot kill?”
The atmosphere was extremely oppressive.
The officials felt their breathing become heavy.
The Emperor angrily declared, “Empress, do you really intend to do this?”
“Emperor, it’s not that I want to do this, it’s that you… are too cruel. This edict was bestowed upon me by the Former Emperor and can absolve crimes. I want to use this edict to protect my family.” The Empress knew she had completely fallen out with the Emperor. She also understood that as the mother of the nation, she would not be killed, but would be eternally confined.
For her, that was worse than death.
The Emperor gazed at the Empress, remaining silent.
The Empress’s gaze shifted to the side, “Grand Tutor, Grand Protector, you were both trusted ministers of the Former Emperor. When the Former Emperor bestowed this Imperial Pardon Edict upon me, you were both present. The Emperor does not wish to acknowledge it, will you acknowledge it?”
This…
The Grand Tutor and the Grand Protector did not expect such trouble to befall them.
If they acknowledged it, the Emperor would likely resent them, as they had never informed the Emperor about the Empress possessing the Former Emperor’s Imperial Pardon Edict.
If they denied it, it would be an act of treason.
The Emperor looked at the Grand Tutor and the Grand Protector. Although they remained silent, their expressions revealed that the edict was indeed genuine.
However, the matter of the Wu family’s rebellion, could an edict alone absolve them?
Just as the Emperor was pondering how to resolve the issue.
The eunuch outside the palace announced loudly, “Divine Martial Great General, returning victorious, to enter the capital and meet the Emperor.”
As soon as this news broke.
The entire court was shocked.
What?
The Divine Martial Great General has returned, and so quickly?
The Emperor suddenly stood up, his face filled with excitement, “Announce! Announce!”
While saying this, the Emperor excitedly descended from the imperial platform, intending to personally welcome him. In contrast, the Empress’s complexion immediately turned even paler.
As the Emperor descended from the platform, Lin Fan suddenly appeared at the hall entrance, carrying Huo Ge like a dead dog in his hand.
“Your Majesty, I have brought Huo Ge back.”
As he finished speaking.
Lin Fan noticed that the situation in the hall was not right. His gaze fell upon the Empress, and the elevated edict also caught his attention.
What is going on?
While he was away, did someone conspire with the Empress to attempt a palace coup?
His gaze deepened as he scanned the entire hall.
The officials trembled under the Great General’s gaze, feeling as if the Great General might have misunderstood something.
“Beloved Minister, you have returned. I was quite worried,” the Emperor said, relieved to see his Beloved Minister return unharmed.
“Your Majesty, what is the current situation? What does the Empress mean by this?” Lin Fan asked.
The Emperor said, “Beloved Minister, this matter can be handled by me. We shall adjourn the court for today, and discuss other matters another day. I wish to have a good chat with you, Beloved Minister.”
“No…” the Empress said madly, “Your Majesty, you cannot disown it. This is the Former Emperor’s Imperial Pardon Edict. Do you mean you don’t even recognize the Former Emperor’s Imperial Decree?”
After speaking, the Empress looked at Lin Fan with fury, “It’s all your fault. If it weren’t for you, none of this would have happened, and my child would not have died. Divine Martial Great General, you dare to harm a Prince. Won’t this future Central Plains Dynasty be in your pocket?”
Then, she pointed at the Emperor.
“Emperor, this is a powerful official whom you yourself elevated. Henceforth, this Central Plains Dynasty will not be yours; it will belong to the Lin family.”
Lin Fan frowned, quite displeased.
His grandmother’s.
Where did this shrew come from? This Great General worked hard leading soldiers and fighting on the front lines, only to return and be shamefully cuckolded by a shrew.
At first, this general was truly softened by your actions and actually interceded for you. I never expected that instead of remembering this general’s kindness, you would resort to slander.
It’s fine, it’s fine.
Suffering a loss once means you definitely won’t suffer a loss again in the future.
“Empress, how dare you slander My Beloved Minister?” the Emperor thundered in fury.
Lin Fan said, “Your Majesty, please refrain from anger. This subject has just returned and is unaware of the situation. However, if the Empress is so enraged, there must be a reason. This subject is willing to reason with the Empress.”
After speaking, he looked at the Empress, “Your Majesty, the First Prince colluded with the enemy and committed treason, plotting with Japan. This is a capital offense. Furthermore, the laws of the Central Plains Dynasty are strict, and the Son of Heaven is subject to the same law as commoners. The First Prince’s actions were purely his own selfish desires, attempting to have this Great General killed in Japan.”
“Does Your Majesty know how much slaughter there will be if Japan attacks the Central Plains?”
“At first, when Your Majesty requested me to intercede for the First Prince, this Great General was indeed softened by Your Majesty’s plea. However, His Majesty is a wise ruler and knew the gravity of the matter, allowing no room for clemency.”
“Now the Empress blames me, this general. I cannot understand or accept it. As for Her Majesty’s Imperial Pardon Edict, are you perhaps trying to plead for the Wu family?”
Lin Fan squinted slightly.
My heart was filled with fury.
No matter where the imperial decree in your hand comes from, if the Wu family can survive one, it will be considered my Lin Fan being merciful and soft-hearted.
The Empress said, “This is the Former Emperor’s Imperial Pardon Edict. You rebellious minister, how dare you not recognize it?”
“Oh? The Former Emperor’s Imperial Decree, does Your Majesty know of it?” Lin Fan asked.
The Empress said, “He doesn’t know, but the Grand Tutor, the Grand Tutor, and the Grand Protector all saw it with their own eyes. They can testify.”
At this time, the Grand Tutor and the Grand Protector were about to be driven mad by the Empress.
Don’t be like this.
Please don’t be like this.
When the Great General didn’t return, we didn’t recognize you much. Now that the Divine Martial Great General has returned, you want us to recognize you again.
The current situation is obvious to anyone with eyes. The Divine Martial Great General is enraged and will surely have the entire Wu Family executed. We accept this, as we were indeed loyal to the Former Emperor, but we will be finished afterwards.
Your Majesty would certainly not let the Wu family off.
And the Divine Martial Great General would bear a grudge against them in his heart. The Second Prince’s throne would inevitably be impacted. Based on their understanding of the Great General, they feared they might be severely beaten by him on the street on their way home.
When I calculate all of this, it’s not beneficial for the current situation.
“Is that so?” Lin Fan said, “Your Excellencies, Her Majesty said you saw it with your own eyes. Now that His Majesty is here, and all the officials are present, why don’t you two sirs speak plainly? Did you see it or not?”
“This… this.”
The Grand Tutor and the Grand Protector exchanged glances, looking quite troubled.
They could not imagine, how dare the Great General ask like this? If we admit it, you will be unhappy, but if we do not admit it, will that not highlight your sole power in the Imperial Court?
Do you truly not fear His Majesty thinking you have ulterior motives?
The Emperor most hates powerful officials monopolizing the Imperial Court.
Do you even know how to be an official or not?
Is this how an official is supposed to act?
They looked at the Emperor and found His Majesty’s gaze also fell upon them. In this moment… they understood what to say.
“Great General, I have not seen him.”
“This old man has never seen it either.”
The Grand Tutor and the Grand Protector bowed their heads in response.
He sighed inwardly.
Empress, stop this. The Imperial Court today cannot be handled simply by you producing an Imperial Decree from the Former Emperor.
The Empress heard, as if struck by lightning, and trembling, pointed at them, “Traitorous ministers, you two traitorous ministers! You have failed the Former Emperor’s great trust. You do not even recognize the Former Emperor’s Imperial Decree. You will all face retribution.”
“And you, how dare you be like this, you…”
The Empress had been in a state of constant tension these past few days. Now, encountering such a shock, her world spun, her vision blacked out, and she collapsed onto the ground.
“Guards, escort the Empress back. Do not allow her to leave the palace even half a step, or you will be held accountable,” said the Emperor. He was also deeply saddened, having never expected matters to reach this point.
After the eunuch sent the Empress back.
The atmosphere in the Imperial Court did not ease.
Only when Lin Fan produced the national letter from the Dag Guang Dynasty and handed it to the eunuch, did the Emperor finish reading it and exclaim with laughter, “Good, good, good! Beloved Minister, you are truly divinely brave across the land. This national letter, your Emperor is very pleased with.”
Lin Fan said, “Your Majesty, the Dag Guang Dynasty has ceded territory, will submit henceforth, and pay tribute annually. The indemnity silver is now outside. I have calculated it to be approximately ten million taels.”
As soon as these words were spoken.
The officials stared at Lin Fan in astonishment.
A look of stunned silence.
It’s not that… you led eight hundred elite soldiers deep into the Dag Guang Dynasty, not only returned safely, but actually brought back so much compensation money.
This is something they cannot imagine.
“Good, truly worthy of being my beloved minister, you have achieved an unparalleled feat.” The Emperor’s dragon-visage was greatly pleased, his recent troubled mood gradually dissipating.
For an emperor who valued the Central Plains more than his own life, this news was truly exhilarating.
He governed with dedication, hoping the Central Plains Dynasty would subdue the four seas, so that the common people would be proud to be people of the Central Plains, and other nations would know they were people of the Central Plains and would not dare to look down on them.
The officials immediately flattered and congratulated him.
Lin Fan said, “Your Majesty, I have captured Huo Ge from the Dag Guang Dynasty and brought him to you for judgment. This will also make them understand that the Central Plains Heavenly Dynasty is not a place they can come and go as they please; even hiding in the capital of the Dag Guang Country will be of no use.”
The officials heard these words and were also filled with righteous indignation.
I wonder when our Central Plains Dynasty has ever had such dominance.
Only the Divine Martial Great General could be so overbearing.
A moment’s careful consideration.
The events that had transpired during this period seemed to be things they had never experienced in their entire lives.
The Mengye Country admitted defeat.
Japan’s Heian-kyō was destroyed.
Now the Dag Guang Dynasty has ceded territory and paid reparations, and the main general has been captured from the capital of Dag Guang. Any one of these matters would be enough for a general to be proud of for a lifetime.
“Well said,” the Emperor said joyfully. “As for this treacherous general, I’ve decided to imprison him in the dungeon and execute him at a later date. What do you think, my beloved minister?”
“Everything is up to Your Majesty,” Lin Fan said.
“Alright, the court session is adjourned. Beloved Ministers, accompany His Majesty for a stroll in the Imperial Garden.”
“Okay.”
After the Emperor left with Lin Fan, the officials dispersed their respective assemblies, but they all gathered in groups of three or five to connect with each other.
“Sir Grand Tutor, is the Former Emperor’s Imperial Decree presented by Her Majesty the Empress real or fake?” an official asked.
The Grand Tutor shook his head and did not speak.
What meaning is there in discussing truth and falsehood now.
The Grand Tutor, the Grand Protector, and the Second Prince stood in the distance.
The Grand Protector said, “Your Highness, as you can see now, the Divine Martial Great General’s power is beyond our control. His Majesty trusts the Great General greatly. I never believed such a powerful official could exist, one that His Majesty would trust so much. Now he has appeared.”
The Second Prince said, “Teacher, I am very respectful to the Great General now. I have always been trying to find ways to curry favor with him, but I can never find an opportunity.”
The Grand Tutor said, “Your Highness, this matter cannot be rushed. To gain the Great General’s support, we must proceed slowly. But as I said, you cannot have any conflict with him. Even if he does not support Your Highness, you cannot hold a grudge against him.”
The Second Prince nodded, “Rest assured, I’m not an idiot.”
“That’s good.”
The Grand Protector and the Grand Tutor thought of the Grand Tutor and sighed. What kind of person was the Grand Tutor, suppressing the two of them so they gained no benefit? But who would have thought that the First Prince, with one foolish act, would shatter the plate.
Now it has caused a huge chain reaction.
The Empress was imprisoned.
The Wu family was captured, and the outcome was self-evident; they would inevitably be executed along with their entire clan.
……
Imperial Garden.
The Emperor personally poured tea for Lin Fan, smiling as he did so, and said, “Beloved Minister, you have worked hard. Now that the matter is settled, you must rest well. Do not overexert yourself.”
“Your Majesty, how is your health?” Lin Fan looked at the emperor whose hair was white at the temples, and sighed in his heart. In his opinion, the emperor had five years left to live, and experiencing the matters of the First Prince, the Empress, and the Wu family would at least reduce his lifespan by half a year to a year.
A surge of spirit, damaging the foundation.
This cannot be filled with medicine.
The Emperor smiled and said, “I can still hold on. Heaven has been good to me. In my later years, I am able to meet the Great General. I am looking forward to seeing what kind of prosperity the Central Plains Dynasty will eventually achieve through the efforts of myself and the Great General.”
“Your Majesty can rest assured, I will surely allow Your Majesty to see the prosperity of the Central Plains Dynasty as hoped.” Lin Fan said.
The Emperor gently patted Lin Fan’s hand, saying softly, “Beloved Minister, now that the affairs of other countries are concluded, what I worry about most is the Common People of the Central Plains. I had you establish the Divine Martial Department not to strip the Three Judicial Offices of their power, but because I do not trust them. I know about officials protecting each other, and I know that the Common People in various regions are being exploited by those so-called Gang Members. But I am old and have no one to trust.”
“But I trust you, my beloved minister, I trust you unconditionally.”
“Within the Imperial Court, I understand the thoughts of all the officials. They merely think that I have personally elevated the Great General, and that you hold too much power. But they do not consider why they themselves cannot hold such power; it is because I do not trust them.”
“The Grand Tutor is capable and loyal, but as he aged, he changed. He wholeheartedly sided with the First Prince, formed factions, and ignored the affairs of the Common People. I, considering his past hard work and great achievements, turned a blind eye, as the Imperial Court still needs to function, and matters below must still be handled by them.”
Lin Fan listened.
He could deeply understand the Emperor’s helplessness, having no one to use, and even if he did, they would only report good news and not bad. How could he know the situation of the common people?
Although the Duke was someone Your Majesty trusted, he was ultimately a military general and lacked in governing the country.
What’s more, the Duke is also aging.
Where is the energy of youth.
The struggle in the Imperial Court has always been cruel. Once a Duke is involved in the disputes of civil officials, it is unknown if he can withdraw himself unharmed.
Lin Fan said, “Your Majesty, rest assured. Now that the Divine Martial Department is fully established, I will also attend to these matters. I come from a background in gangs and am well aware of their workings. Their existence is not beneficial to the common people but rather exploitative, and most of them collude with local officials. However, Your Majesty, if I take action, many people may die.”
The Emperor said, “Beloved Minister, act with confidence. As long as they deserve to die, it doesn’t matter how many die.”
“Alright, your subordinate will absolutely not disappoint Your Majesty,” Lin Fan said.
The Emperor was silent for a moment before asking, “Beloved Minister, which of my princes do you think can inherit the throne?”
The minister asked, which prince can inherit the throne.
This was a death sentence for any minister, most would be so terrified and awe-struck that they would not dare to respond.
But Lin Fan shook his head and said, “I am not familiar with those princes. However, in my opinion, as long as he is diligent and loves the common people as his children, it doesn’t matter if he lacks ability. I will do my utmost to help him stabilize the dynasty, suppress internal turmoil, and lead troops to conquer the enemy’s capital if they invade.”
“Hahahaha…” The Emperor couldn’t help but laugh heartily. “Beloved Minister, you are the only one who dares to speak such words. In all the dynasties, no one has ever dared to say this, but I believe you, I truly believe you.”
“Thank you for Your Majesty’s trust. It is because of Your Majesty’s trust that I am willing to remain in the Imperial Court, wanting to see what kind of commotion I can stir up with my brute strength, combined with Your Majesty’s trust,” Lin Fan said with a smile.
The Emperor’s face sank, and he said solemnly, “Beloved Minister, after I am gone, if the new Emperor does not trust you, you need not mind him. If he is truly incorrigible, you may establish another Prince to succeed the throne. I only hope the Central Plains Dynasty can prosper and the Common People can live in peace and contentment, not who holds imperial power.”
Hearing these words, Lin Fan looked at the Emperor.
The Emperor smiled, “Beloved Minister, do not think I jest. Every word I speak is true. As I survey history, the succession of dynasties in this land, the only constants are these common people and the territory beneath their feet.”
“Your Majesty, I admire you,” Lin Fan said.
“Hahaha, to be admired by my Divine Martial Great General means I am doing quite well. Think about it, who has my Great General admired? He even dared to fight the Grand Tutor, yet only admires me. I am greatly pleased,” the Emperor said with a laugh.
Gradually, laughter began to echo throughout the Imperial Garden.
Lin Fan also spoke of some interesting stories from his military campaigns.
…
Border defense along the coast.
Qin Li remained in his residence, looking at the secret report in his hand with a solemn expression, the letter in his grasp remaining unput for a long time.
The contents inside were shocking.
Lin Fan returned, the Dag Guang Dynasty ceded territory and paid reparations, and Huo Ge was also captured. The cause of all this was Lin Fan leading eight hundred iron cavalry deep into the enemy country.
This is something even he could not imagine.
Moreover, for him, let alone replicating it, he wouldn’t even think about it.
At this very moment.
A confidant hurried over, “Governor…”
“What is it?”
Qin Li put the letter away safely and asked, looking up.
The confidant said, “Governor, artisans have been sent by the Imperial Court, claiming they are to build a monument to commemorate the victory over the Japanese. The commotion is immense, and the soldiers in the army have all been affected. This subordinate believes this is a deliberate stratagem by the Imperial Court.”
“Hmm? Let’s go and see.” Qin Li frowned.
When they arrived in the city.
Surrounding them were many common people, who were discussing animatedly, and snippets of their talk reached Qin Li’s ears.
“Look, they’re going to build a monument to commemorate pacifying Japan.”
“Is it being built for our border defense troops?”
“No, that’s to be built for our local heroes. A while ago, didn’t the Divine Martial Great General lead three thousand Iron Cavalry to conquer Japan, achieving a great victory and dismantling the Toyotomi regime? The Imperial Court was overjoyed, and the Great General petitioned the Emperor, saying he wanted to build a monument to commemorate the three thousand heroes, with each of their names inscribed upon it.”
“Oh my, this is going to be famous for generations. Why is it our local lads who have to do this? Governor Qin has a lot of elite soldiers.”
“I heard that this was deliberately arranged for the Great General. I thought our local lads were all weaklings, but who would have thought that our local lads are all fierce as tigers.”
“You know Aunt Wang, right?”
“I know.”
“A while ago her son wrote, saying he has now been incorporated into the Divine Martial Department by the Great General, became an official, and will be very busy from now on, so Auntie Wang should not worry.”
“Ah! There’s such a thing.”
“Nonsense, of our three thousand local men, how many do you see have returned? I suspect they’ve all been incorporated by the Great General.”
At this moment, the eunuch who was ordered to come forward, holding the Imperial Decree, read it aloud. The local common people listened very attentively, and exclamations of surprise were constant. All the common people had smiles on their faces.
After all, this is the glory of their local people.
Three thousand people, a full three thousand people.
If this were placed elsewhere, it would be quite explosive.
In the border defense barracks.
Many soldiers gathered and chatted, filled with envy for the three thousand who went to fight in Japan.
“The Great General is indeed the Great General. Look, following the Great General, our lives have directly taken off.”
“Who says not? We’ve seen those people before. Alas, this is fate. If we had gone with the Great General, our names would surely be on the monument of merit.”
“In the end, it was the Great General who requested the honor.”
Although the soldiers said nothing.
But the envy in their words could not be hidden. Thinking of their generals, each one lived a life of soaring prosperity; how could they possibly care about them.
Gradually, the soldiers developed a natural goodwill towards the Divine Martial Great General whom they had never met.
Just then.
A voice came from afar.
That is the call to assemble.
When they assembled, they saw a pale-faced eunuch slowly approaching. Qin Li, standing by, was filled with doubt, unsure of what was happening, but as this eunuch was here on imperial decree, he naturally wouldn’t dare to inquire.
The Eunuch said, “Brave soldiers, I am here by imperial decree. The Divine Martial Great General, feeling that it has not been easy for you soldiers to guard the border and the sea, has specifically requested His Majesty to bestow rewards upon you. Therefore, His Majesty’s oral decree is to reward every border defense soldier with five taels of silver.”
The soldiers present were overjoyed.
Five taels?
This can cover their five months of military pay.
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
The soldiers shouted.
The eunuch said, “Besides thanking Your Majesty, you also have to thank the Divine Martial Great General. If the Great General hadn’t seen how hard you worked and pleaded for your merits, how could you have received this reward?”
The soldiers said, “Thank you, Divine Martial Great General.”
The eunuch nodded with considerable satisfaction.
As for Lin Fan, he truly didn’t know about this matter, and even if he did, he would be completely bewildered, as he had never said this.
And all of this was decided by the Emperor.
He naturally knew that the beloved minister erected a monument to commemorate the victory over Japan for the three thousand soldiers. Besides making the three thousand soldiers happy, he also wanted to make the coastal defense soldiers envious. However, the emperor felt this was inappropriate, which is why he bestowed such rewards.
also attributing this reward to Lin Fan.
On the other hand, Qin Li, who was standing by, had a dark expression. How could he not see that this was a tactic to win people’s hearts, but he really had no such method.
The extra military pay sent to the Imperial Capital, isn’t this clearly a way to use the military pay to buy over the soldiers under him?
Although these soldiers still obeyed Qin Li, they kept the Divine Martial Great General’s good reputation in their hearts.
With this thought in mind.
Qin Li frowned, remaining silent. This move was truly difficult to counter.
…
Several days later.
Divine Martial Department, courtyard.
Song Qing, Yang Ming, Xu Ming, Qian Tao, Wu Yong, Ding Peng, Wang Bao’an, Li Zhengdao, and others, wearing the brand new Divine Martial Department uniforms, stood with their heads held high and chests puffed out.
As for Ning Yu, she stood beside her Master.
After all, she was the chief disciple, where else would she stand but beside her Master?
Song Qing looked at Lin Fan, his thoughts instantly pulled back to their first meeting. Back then, Lin Fan was just a gang member. Who would have thought that in just a few months, he would transform into the renowned Divine Martial Great General.
Below one person, above ten thousand.
Holding high position and great power, monopolizing both civil and military authority.
As for him, Song Qing, he thought he would be stuck as a Squad Leader for his entire life. Who would have thought that he would now enter the Imperial Capital and become a member of the Divine Martial Department.
While Lin Fan was on his expedition, he deeply felt what it meant to be a sought-after commodity.
It wasn’t just him.
The members of the Divine Martial Department felt the same way. Various officials from the capital would often visit with gifts, showing utmost humility, even though some of these officials held much higher ranks.
Yet they still acted respectfully, clearly trying to curry favor.
Lin Fan said, “The Divine Martial Department is now officially operational. His Majesty has great trust in us. The situation of officials in various regions is currently being investigated. Once all information is gathered, it will be a busy time.”
Everyone looked very serious.
Unlike the bickering at the Government Office before, the current Divine Martial Department was the Fourth Department, and as members of the Fourth Department, they naturally had to be serious.
During this period, everyone had been intensely studying the Law, in order to enforce it based on legal principles.
Xu Ming said, “Sir, your subordinate has made full preparations. As soon as you give the order, your subordinate will go through fire and water.”
Lin Fan smiled, “Yes, we are all on the same side. Having followed me to this position step by step, I will say only one thing here: since we are members of the Divine Martial Department, we must set an example and not commit offenses. Of course, if you’re short on money, tell me. If you have something going on, tell me too. The final interpretation rights are also with me.”
“If you encounter troublemakers and are unsure if you can protect yourselves, kill them all. Ensuring your own safety is the most crucial thing.”
Everyone nodded.
At this moment.
On the street in the Imperial Capital, Common People stopped their steps, looking at a figure in the middle of the road. This figure was very small, appearing to be around nine or ten years old.
A White Cloth was draped over him, with large blood-red characters written on it.
“Injustice”
At this time, patrolling guards passed by and saw the child. Their expressions suddenly changed, “Quick, get this child away. How can there be a cry for justice in the capital, under the Emperor’s feet?”
This matter could be serious or minor.
In the past, those who came to the capital to cry for justice were usually secretly detained and handed over to the local officials of the complainant to be properly managed, so as not to cause trouble in the capital.
This was the imperial city, the capital, a vital place, how could such a thing happen.
Of course, some compassionate officials from the capital would order the local officials to investigate thoroughly and resolve the matter, but if the local authorities could handle it properly.
Would they be so foolish as to make the arduous journey here?
Just as the guard was about to step forward, another guard said, “Wait, now that the Divine Martial Department has been established and the Divine Martial Great General hates evil, if we apprehend this child and something happens, and it’s traced back to us, we’ll be in big trouble.”
As soon as these words were spoken.
The other guards were instantly awakened.
Yes.
That was indeed the logic.
If it were in the past, they would have had no issue handling it this way, but the Divine Martial Great General was no ordinary person. From stories compiled by storytellers, they had heard of the things the Divine Martial Great General had done in various regions before entering the capital.
Truly, blood had flowed like rivers.
So many Local Ruffians had met their end at the Great General’s hands.
Just then.
A Horse Carriage suddenly stopped in front of the child. Several strong men emerged from the carriage, grabbed the child, and were about to stuff him inside.
“Let go of me, let go of me!” the child shouted and struggled.
Seeing this, the guards exchanged glances and immediately stepped forward, “Stop! What are you doing here, under the Emperor’s feet?”
A strong man saw that they were guards and quickly smiled, taking out an official badge proving his identity from his chest. He also took out some Silver and discreetly slipped it into the guard’s hand.
“Military Officer, we are Constables from Jingzhou Prefecture. This child has a brain disorder and is always erratic. We didn’t realize he had run off to the Imperial Capital. We are taking him back now and guarantee he won’t cause trouble,” the strong man explained the Situation.
According to past situations, this tactic would naturally be foolproof.
The guards wanted peace in the Imperial Capital, and they could also get money.
Why not?
But what they did not expect was that the guards not only did not let them leave, but instead threw the Silver back at him and said angrily, “How dare you! This is the capital, and you dare to kidnap a child on the street? I think you are tired of living! Take them down and escort them to the Divine Martial Department to be dealt with by the Divine Martial Great General.”
In an instant.
The guards apprehended the strong men.
The strong men looked bewildered, “Wait, what are you doing? Let us go, it’s a misunderstanding, all a misunderstanding! We were also ordered to capture the person and take him back.”
“Brother, let’s talk properly. We’re all from the government office, don’t do this.”
But the guards paid them no mind.
They directly escorted them towards the Divine Martial Department.
The child who was being tied up trembled all over, his bare feet looking at the scene before him in terror.
One guard, with a soft heart, said, “Kid, crying injustice here is useless. If you truly want to cry injustice, then come with us to the Divine Martial Department. If you’re lucky and meet the Great General, keep your eyes open and beg him properly.”
