187: Chapter 0187 The Thought of Surrendering to the North Arises

Sun Zhao hurriedly turned around, cupping his hands with a face full of smiles. "General Mu has arrived?"

The newcomer was indeed Mu Wanying in casual attire, accompanied by Su Wansha, who had just arrived at Qin Water and met up with her after disembarking from the ship.

The two women—one valiant and the other elegant—were a breathtaking sight.

"General Mu, you joke. Ever since the General's wife gave me those pointers, the more I, Sun, thought about it, the more sense it made. I haven't had a nightmare in days!"

Before Xiao Qingxuan left Qin Water, she had once offered him some guidance.

If this manifesto was written poorly and remained obscure, he would most likely be killed.

But if the manifesto was harsh enough and spread throughout the world, he would be safe instead.

Because Prince Bai cared about his reputation; if he killed Sun Zhao, the whole world would know that he, Prince Bai, was petty and couldn't take a loss!

Regarding these matters in the Northern Border, people are acting and Heaven is watching; you can't hide it even if you want to.

If Prince Bai still wanted to seize the world, he couldn't act like a petty man who sought revenge for every grievance, nor could he lower himself to Sun Zhao's level!

Therefore, the more popular the manifesto became, the safer Sun Zhao would be!

The result was exactly as Xiao Qingxuan had deduced: the manifesto became a hit, and Sun Zhao became a good official who dared to denounce the princes and nobles to speak for the people!

Coupled with the fact that Sun Zhao was already getting on in years, if you, Prince Bai, still tried to pick a fight with him, wouldn't you just be making yourself a laughingstock?

"Lord Sun is now being praised by everyone; I've heard it so much at the Baiyu Pavilion that my ears have grown callouses," Su Wansha said with a smile.

"This is..." Sun Zhao asked curiously.

"Oh, Su Wansha, the boss of the Northern Trade Alliance and Baiyu Pavilion, and also my sister," Mu Wanying introduced simply.

"Greetings, Lord Sun," Su Wansha said with a graceful bow, as she was, after all, just a merchant.

"I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare!"

Sun Zhao understood immediately—she was one of General Lin's people!

"I have long heard that Boss Su is a genius of commerce. Seeing you today, you truly are like a celestial maiden descended to earth!"

Sun Zhao said with a smile, "I wonder what business General Mu has with this humble official?"

Mu Wanying usually stayed in the military camp and wouldn't come to the port, so she must have come specifically to find him.

"It's not me; Wansha is the one looking for you."

Su Wansha smiled and said, "Lord Sun, strictly speaking, it is our General who invites you to help plan a grand convention."

"Plan a convention? What kind of convention?" Sun Zhao was puzzled.

"Our Northern Trade Alliance is going to launch a type of wine called 'Xinghua Village'."

"This wine was previously sold in our Baiyu Pavilion, but it was only slightly famous in Baishui City."

"Now, we intend to promote this wine to the entire Northern Border, so we plan to hold a 'Worlds Number One Wine Festival'!"

Su Wansha said, "Our Baiyu Pavilion will host this convention, but we need you, Lord Sun, to serve as the 'Chief Tasting Officer'!"

"Chief? Tasting Officer?"

Upon hearing this, Sun Zhao's eyes sparkled; it sounded pretty good!

"That's right. Lord Sun will not only be the initiator of the convention but also one of the judges who will select the 'World's Number One Wine' at the end."

Su Wansha said with a beaming smile, "Lord Sun should know the quality of our Northern Trade Alliance's products."

"This Xinghua Village wine will surely be famous throughout the world in the future. If Lord Sun becomes the Tasting Officer, it will become a charming tale for the ages. What do you say?"

Sun Zhao was naturally no fool. If the Northern Trade Alliance dared to throw out the title of 'World's Number One' to challenge the world's winemakers, this Xinghua Village wine must be extraordinary!

Otherwise, wouldn't they just be shooting themselves in the foot?

If he could participate and become a judge, he would also be remembered for generations along with this wine!

The key was that no matter which wine won, he wouldn't lose out by being a judge!

A win-win situation and a chance to leave his name in history—how could such a good thing fall into his lap?

"General Lin thinks too highly of this humble official. I... will certainly do my best!"

"Then we shall trouble Lord Sun to cooperate with our Baiyu Pavilion to widely invite the world's famous winemakers."

"To work for General Lin is my unshirkable responsibility!"

Sun Zhao beamed with joy, full of expectations for the future!

Once the thought of joining the North emerged, the world suddenly seemed vast and open!

That day, after Su Wansha had Sun Zhao finish writing the 'Wine Tasting Hero Invitation', she set off for Yangquan with Mu Wanying and Leng Bingyan.

On the boat, Leng Bingyan looked at the 'Hero Invitation' written by Sun Zhao and was overcome with laughter.

"This is the first time I've heard of sending out Hero Invitations for a wine-tasting competition. My husband really can come up with anything."

"You didn't get off the boat, so you don't know how happy Lord Sun was when he wrote it!" Mu Wanying laughed.

Su Wansha put away the Hero Invitation and said, "Once we get to Yangquan and discuss it with that Ning Junzhu to establish the right connections, we can send out the invitations."

"What Ning Junzhu? Is that Xie Juner still pretending?" Mu Wanying said disdainfully.

"She really thinks she's something special. Isn't she just a commandery princess? Even Princess Meng Xi is a real princess, and did our husband even spare her a glance?" Leng Bingyan was also very dismissive.

Su Wansha chuckled, "I'll listen to my husband. I don't care what her name is, as long as she helps us make money!"

The three women chatted, their hearts filled with longing, as they hadn't been with Lin Xiao for quite some time.

They had also arranged their affairs so they could rush to reunite with Lin Xiao before the end of the year.

No matter where they spent the New Year, they didn't want to be apart from Lin Xiao anymore.

In Yangquan, at the temporary Generals Mansion.

As soon as the three women entered, they saw Lin Xiao sitting alone in the large residence, holding a roll of yellow silk cloth, lost in thought.

"Husband!"

Lin Xiao looked up; he knew the women were coming, so he had been waiting at home.

He stood up and embraced each of them one by one, exchanging warm greetings.

"Husband, where is Qing'er?" Mu Wanying asked curiously.

"Dozens of corrupt officials were investigated and dealt with in Yangquan, and all the major government offices are in chaos. My lady is currently cleaning up the mess for me; she's been incredibly busy these past few days."

Lin Xiao smiled awkwardly at Leng Bingyan. "Yaner, how about you go and help her? She's at the Inspectors Office."

Leng Bingyan figured as much and gave a playful huff. "I knew it, Husband just loves to work Qing'er to the bone!"

She felt for her Empress, but she also understood the heart of helping her lover, so she had no choice but to hurry over and share the burden.

"Husband, what you have in your hand seems to be an imperial decree?"

Mu Wanying finally asked.

Lin Xiao sighed, "That's right. it just arrived today. You're mentioned in it too; see for yourself."

Mu Wanying was taken aback. She took it and opened it...

"By the grace of Heaven and the mandate of the ancestors..."

"General of the Zhenbei Army Lin Xiao has wiped out five thousand of Prince Bai's rebel forces and slain the traitor He Yu, Earl of Anyang, in battle, achieving successive victories..."

"Mu Wanying, daughter of the former Great General of the Golden Scale Guard and criminal official Mu Tiexin, has repeatedly performed meritorious service since joining the Zhenbei Army, making amends for past offenses."

"Now, to recognize the achievements of you two, special rewards are hereby granted..."

"Lin Xiao is conferred the title of Earl of Cangbei, with a fief of a thousand households to be inherited indefinitely. He is permitted to ride a horse in the capital and may request an audience with the Emperor at any time."

"The criminal status of Mu Wanying and the former members of the Golden Scale Guard is hereby cleared. Wanying is appointed as the fifth-rank General of Ningyuan and Commander of the Golden Scale Guard, to rebuild the Golden Scale Guard on our behalf, temporarily under the command of Lin Xiao..."

Upon reading to the end, Mu Wanying's beautiful face turned deathly pale, and her hands holding the imperial decree trembled uncontrollably...

Su Wansha took a look and immediately understood the reason, saying worriedly, "Wanying, don't be angry. It's not worth it for such a faint-hearted ruler!"

"Heh..."

Mu Wanying laughed sarcastically, "He actually said I... made amends for past offenses? What crimes did my Mu Family commit?"

"And he wants me to... rebuild the Golden Scale Guard for him? To continue risking my life for him!? Is he insane!?"

The woman's eyes were bloodshot, and her chest ached with fury!

It was as if someone had murdered your entire family, you had narrowly survived, and after you had risen again, the murderer said—you only have today because I let you live; you must credit your achievements to me! You must be grateful!

*Rip!!*

Lin Xiao grabbed the imperial decree and tore it to shreds on the spot!

"Husband!!"

Su Wansha was startled and let out a subconcious cry.

Mu Wanying was also dumbfounded. No matter how angry she was, she wouldn't have dared to directly tear up an imperial decree!!

Lin Xiao's face was as cold as water as he said, "Wanying, forget this imperial decree. That dog emperor is just talking nonsense!"