217: Respect, Loyalty and Faithfulness

Chapter 215: Jingzhong Yongxin

Xu Province, Huayun County, the army camp.

After Xu Ruian finished writing the memorial, he gently blew on it to let the ink dry as quickly as possible.

Inside the entire military tent, there were only the two of them: him and Xu Mujun, who was seated in the main seat.

At this moment, Xu Mujun sat cross-legged, resting his eyes and gathering his energy, unsure of what he was thinking about.

Outside the tent, a violent wind was howling, causing the tent to constantly shake, and even the candlelight inside the tent flickered.

Dark shadows swayed, almost like ghosts.

"Ruian, are you finished writing?"

Xu Mujun's voice rang out, appearing exceptionally clear inside the spacious tent.

Xu Ruian respectfully said, "Great General, it has been completed."

"The list requesting merits for a total of one hundred and thirty-two members of the Xu Family, as well as the list of casualty compensations, have all been recorded."

"After finishing writing, send it back to the capital on an auspicious day."

"Great General..."

Xu Ruian hesitated for a moment and said, "The other memorial... must it also be sent back?"

"Oh?"

Xu Mujun slowly opened his eyes and said indifferently, "Do you have other opinions?"

"Great General..."

Xu Ruian took a deep breath and said, "My Xu Family clansmen have followed the Great General in campaigns north and south, and have indeed rendered many achievements, but the imperial court has already bestowed rewards."

"Furthermore, the final battle with the rebels has been deadlocked for nearly two years. In these two years, not a single member of my Xu Family has established any merit. Why must you, Great General, petition the imperial court for merits so many times..."

"What is more, for many years, whenever members of the Xu Family held official positions in the army, each of them had at least hundreds of acres of fertile land and countless gold and silver under their names, and the number of military officers was also the highest in the entire army."

"What you have done this time, Great General, has already aroused the dissatisfaction of the imperial court."

"Moreover, some profligate sons in the clan also rely on your reputation, Great General, to misbehave in their hometowns and even in the capital... There are already quite a few commoners full of grievances, secretly cursing you. Why on earth must you do this?"

Looking at the most outstanding person in the clan before him, Xu Mujun let out a secret sigh and said, "Ruian, you do not understand."

"Great General..."

"What this general does is merely to give peace of mind to the imperial court and Your Majesty."

"B-But Great General, your reputation..."

"What does my reputation matter?"

Xu Mujun shook his head and said, "As long as it is for Great Yu, what does this general's personal honor or disgrace amount to?"

"Then the final decisive battle with the rebels..."

"The time has not yet come."

Xu Mujun said, "Now the imperial court's army has gradually cleared out the rebels in northern Xu Province, squeezing the rebels' territory into the southeast direction."

"In the north, there is the army led by this general to intercept them; in the west, there are the armies led by General Meng Guang and Minister Miao to block them; in the south, there are the elite Yunzhou army of General Guan Shan and the New Army led by Cui Xiawu. The rebels' territory is connected in one place."

Behind Xu Mujun, the huge map of Great Yu was constantly alternating between bright and dark under the illumination of the lights.

On it, a dense multitude of different flags representing the imperial court and the rebels were stuck.

Taking Xu Province as the dividing line, the north was filled with the flags of the imperial court, separating the north and south of Great Yu like a Great Wall.

In the west, there were a large number of high mountains and rivers.

At the checkpoints of numerous high mountains and rivers, imperial court armies also guarded them, blocking the rebels' intention to move westward.

Places like Shuzhou in the southwest, Yunzhou and Yue Province in the south, were also territory of the imperial court.

That is to say, nowadays the entire rebel force is surrounded by the imperial court's army within the territory of Xu Province, Yangzhou, Jiangzhou, and half of Qingzhou.

"Great General, then as for the imperial court..."

"This general has declined for more than two years; presumably the imperial court cannot wait any longer. It is time to report some military achievements for them."

Xu Mujun said in a deep voice, "This general's achievements are truly too high right now, and there are too many people in the court who are green-eyed with envy. Quite a few officials have already secretly collected evidence of this general's crimes and impeached this old man."

"Even the clansmen within the family have been won over by quite a few people with ulterior motives..."

"Dammit!"

Xu Ruian gritted his teeth and said, "We soldiers are fighting at the front, but those parasites in the imperial court not only fail to think about concerted efforts to suppress the rebels together, but instead hold us back everywhere!"

"Could all those dignitaries in the court be blind!"

Xu Mujun glanced at him and said, "Therefore, this general wants to actively deliver the 'evidence of crimes' into their hands. Only in this way will the imperial court rest assured, and Your Majesty will also rest assured."

"I hope Your Majesty can understand this general's painstaking efforts."

"General!"

Suddenly, a shout came from outside the tent.

"Enter!"

A messenger soldier gasped heavily, half-knelt on the ground, and said, "Reporting to the General! Important letter from the mansion!"

"Important letter from the mansion?"

Xu Mujun frowned and said, "The mansion is managed by Zhong Chun, guarded by veteran soldiers, and there is Your Majesty. What could possibly go wrong?"

"Could something have happened to Zhong'er? Quickly bring the letter over!"

"Understood!"

After receiving the letter, Xu Mujun quickly opened it and took a look, his gaze changing slightly.

The content was very simple; he finished reading it at a glance.

The letter was precisely from Zhong Chun, and the content was also very simple.

Three days ago, Your Majesty personally visited the Xu Mansion and bestowed the courtesy name 'Yongxin' upon Xu Mujun's grandson, Xu Jingzhong.

Xu Jingzhong, Xu Yongxin.

Seeing these two words, Xu Mujun was filled with a myriad of emotions for a moment, and his thoughts recalled Your Majesty's several summonses before his departure.

"Yongxin, Yongxin... Your Majesty, you will always trust this general..."

"It seems it was actually this general who measured the heart of a gentleman with the measure of a petty person!"

The content of this letter was very simple, and the meaning it represented was also very simple.

That was... Zheng Yi would always trust Xu Mujun, allowing Xu Mujun to act boldly and without misgivings.

"General?"

Xu Ruian asked in a low voice, "What happened in the mansion?"

"Nothing!"

Xu Mujun put away the envelope and said in a deep voice, "Matters of the imperial court will no longer be attended to; we will annihilate the rebels with all our might!"

Xu Ruian asked carefully, "Great General, we have spent two years driving the rebels to the territory of these four provinces."

"And the outer checkpoints, waterways, and cities of these four provinces are all guarded by the imperial army. The next step..."

"The next step, of course, is to annihilate the rebels!"

Xu Mujun slammed a palm on the map and said coldly, "In these two years, this general has obtained quite a bit of intelligence through spies."

"Among the numerous rebels in the south nowadays, the four factions led by Prince Chen Zheng Zongkai, the Tuoba Family, Tianlong Temple, and the White Lotus Sect are the primary ones. As long as these four rebel factions are destroyed, the entire rebel force of Great Yu will naturally collapse."

"The first battle..."

Xu Mujun slid one hand across the map, and soon it landed on a city.

Guangqing City!

This place was a major city in the southern part of Qingzhou, bordering Xu Province.

At the same time, it was also the stronghold of the White Lotus Sect, guarded by a million White Lotus Sect members within.

Although the four major rebel factions were allied, they were also secretly wary of each other, stationing themselves in different cities respectively, acting as horns to each other to jointly resist Xu Mujun.

"The White Lotus Sect?"

Xu Ruian's eyes suddenly brightened. It seemed that the Great General was preparing to make a move?

"General!"

At this moment, a request for an audience came from outside the tent once more.

"Enter!"

The tent was lifted open, and a travel-worn middle-aged man stepped inside.

Unexpectedly, it was... Xie Jiuque!

"General!"

Xie Jiuque cupped his fists and said, "Your subordinate has finished scouting and has specially come to report."

Two years ago, in the battle of Yuanhe Mountain, Xu Mujun killed the Cultivator Wang Feiyu, trampled over Yuanhe Mountain on horseback, and slaughtered all over thirty thousand Disciples up and down Yuanhe Mountain.

Along with them, hundreds of thousands of stubborn rebels also became ghosts under the blades of the imperial army.

At that time, Xie Jiuque was also hiding in the forest, and he actually ran into Wang Zifeng, who was fleeing in a panic.

Catching him by surprise, Wang Zifeng, a Qi Refinement Early Stage Cultivator, didn't react in time and was immediately killed by Xie Jiuque.

Afterwards, Xie Jiuque appeared carrying Wang Zifeng's corpse, explaining his identity and proof of identity to Xu Mujun.

Not only that, he himself was deeply impressed by Xu Mujun's demeanor of single-handedly slaying a Cultivator, especially the Realm above the Innate Realm, so he bowed immediately and was willing to acknowledge Xu Mujun as his master, hoping to step into the Realm above the Innate Realm.

After deliberating for a few moments, Xu Mujun subdued Xie Jiuque.

However, it was not a master-servant distinction, but rather giving Xie Jiuque the status of a retainer, and also as Xu Mujun's personal army!

From then on, Xie Jiuque became the head of Xu Mujun's personal army.

Aside from guarding Xu Mujun, his greatest function was to go out and scout enemy intelligence.

With the strength of Xie Jiuque as an Innate Realm expert, as long as he did not encounter Cultivators among the rebels, he could naturally move unhindered.

Even if there were Martial Artists of the Innate Realm among the rebels as well, Xie Jiuque was not afraid.

Xu Mujun asked, "What intelligence is there?"

"Reporting to the General, your subordinate sneaked into the Chen Wang Residence to scout, and discovered that there were a large number of soldiers guarding the Chen Wang Residence, but at the same time, traces of Cultivators were also discovered."

"Oh? A Cultivator..."

Xu Mujun said indifferently, "Inside the Chen Wang Residence, there really are Cultivators."

"Have you found out who it is?"

"Is it Prince Chen himself, or a Loose Cultivator won over by Prince Chen?"

"Your subordinate speculates that it is most likely Prince Chen himself!"

Xie Jiuque said, "Prince Chen lives in seclusion, and your subordinate has scouted for half a year, yet only saw Prince Chen three times."

"The rest of the time, it was carried out by Chief Secretary Wang Zhen inside the Chen Wang Residence."

"Prince Chen... a Cultivator, eh."

Xu Mujun murmured, "The top priority is to first ascertain the specific situation and identity of this Prince Chen."

"It seems that annihilating the White Lotus Sect is imperative."

"Only by attacking what they must save can we lure Prince Chen into making a move. At that time, we will be able to obtain intelligence on this Prince Chen."

"Jiuque, when was the last time you saw Prince Chen?"

"Three days ago!"

"Three days ago... the timing is about right."

Xu Mujun murmured, "Please invite Zhengkou General Tang to come and discuss matters."

"Understood!"

Before long, Zhengkou General Tang brought people to the military tent.

After a round of discussion, the imperial court's army began its actions.

One part of the people, centered around Zhengkou General Tang, continued to garrison Huayun County.

Another part, led by Xu Mujun, quietly headed towards the outskirts of Guangqing City.

Several messenger soldiers also rushed out of Huayun County, galloping on fast horses towards other places.

At the same time, more than a dozen carrier pigeons also flew up from the military camp, flying far away towards the southwest direction.

Capital City.

White Jade Capital.

Listening to the discussions and guesses of several cabinet ministers below the platform, Zheng Yi's mind stirred, and he quickly thought of something.

This kind of trick of inconsistency, or rather intentionally asking for official positions, asking for landed property, asking for gold and silver, and asking for beauties, seemed to have been seen somewhere before.

Wang Jian?

Guo Ziyi?

Xu Mujun is... self-defiling!

Zheng Yi immediately made a decision: "My beloved ministers, We already have a verdict on the matter of the Great General. Your top priority is to ensure the normal operation of front-line military affairs, keeping grain rations and military pay unhindered."

"Minister Wang's words are reasonable. Changing generals on the eve of battle is a major taboo in military strategy. The Great General is still the optimal general candidate for the front line and must not be replaced."

Wang Anshi respectfully said, "Your Majesty is wise!"

"In two years, farming affairs in the six northern prefectures have long been restored, and this year the capital region and the surrounding twelve counties have had a bumper harvest of grain, which is sufficient to support the front-line operations."

"We officials of the Ministry of Revenue will inevitably support the front-line operations with all our might."

"Good!"

Zheng Yi said, "Let discussions end here for today; We have other matters to process."

"We take our leave!"

After Lu Xiangqing, Wang Anshi, and the others withdrew, Zheng Yi brought people to the Xu Mansion and met Zhong Chun.

As well as Xu Mujun's eldest grandson, Xu Jingzhong.

"this servant greets Your Majesty!"

Zhong Chun held the baby in her arms, knelt on the ground, and paid respects.

"Rise."

Zheng Yi said, "You are now Xu Mujun's daughter-in-law, and We will bestow upon you the title of Lady of Honor. In the future, you do not need to refer to yourself as this servant."

"this servant is a person of the Shadow Guard, and for my entire life, I am a person of the Shadow Guard, loyal to Your Majesty!"

"Rise."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

"Has the child been given a name?"

"Yes, Xu Jingzhong, which was personally given by the Great General."

"Does he have a courtesy name?"

"A courtesy name?"

Zhong Chun asked strangely, "A courtesy name?"

"Your Majesty, the child is only a little over one year old; a courtesy name would still take a dozen years or so..."

"Seeing that this child is endowed with the spiritual essence of heaven and earth, We specially bestow a courtesy name upon him. I wonder if that is acceptable?"

Zhong Chun hurriedly said, "For Zhong'er to receive this name from Your Majesty is truly a fortune of three lifetimes."

Zheng Yi said, "Now the Great General is campaigning outside, and there are petty people slandering him in court. To strive for Our trust, the Great General has no choice but to self-defile to protect himself."

"However, how could We be the kind of person who cannot tell loyalty from treachery?"

"Today, We shall bestow the courtesy name 'Yongxin' upon your child!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Zhong Chun respectfully said, "this servant will write a letter to Father-in-law right now to inform him of Your Majesty's heartfelt intentions!"