204: Chapter 204 Is he just a marshal?

He turned around and looked at Li Han: "Old Li, tell me, how far do you think he can go in the future?"

Li Han thought for a moment: "A Marshal? With his abilities, given time, becoming a Marshal would be more than enough."

Zhou Zheng glanced at him and suddenly laughed.

"Is it just a Marshal?"

Upon hearing this, Li Han immediately fell silent.

The two looked at each other, both seeing something indescribable in the other's eyes.

It was a kind of anticipation, and also a kind of hidden worry.

The anticipation that Su Bai could go even further.

The worry was, if he goes too far, will he fall too hard?

Li Han was silent for a long time before slowly opening his mouth: "Lord Zhou, are you saying..."

Zhou Zheng did not answer directly but changed the subject: "Old Li, do you think the new Emperor's imperial decree is a good thing or a bad thing?"

Li Han paused, thought for a moment, and said: "From the perspective of Great Zhou, this is treason, it is a disgrace. But from the perspective of Yunzhou and Dingzhou..."

He paused and looked up at Zhou Zheng: "Perhaps it is an opportunity."

Zhou Zheng nodded without saying anything more.

The two sat in the study for a long time, neither speaking.

The sky outside the window gradually darkened, and the twilight, like a layer of grey cloth, slowly covered the entire city of Yunzhou.

Three days later.

Su Bai, with Ma Lie and three hundred personal guards, rode back to Yunzhou City at full speed.

When entering the city, the common people on both sides of the street saw Su Bai and gathered around him one after another.

"General Su is back!"

"General Su, the imperial court doesn't want us anymore, you must not abandon us!"

"General Su, we will follow you! Wherever you go, we go!"

Su Bai sat on his horse, cupped his fists toward the people on both sides, and said nothing, but along the way, he had thought a great deal.

Seeing his expression, the people felt inexplicably more at ease.

Su Bai went straight to the Jiedushi Residence.

Zhou Zheng and Li Han were already waiting.

The three met, and without any pleasantries, they sat directly at the table.

Su Bai slapped the imperial decree on the table: "General Zhou, Lord Li, what do you think?"

Zhou Zheng picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said calmly: "What else is there to think? A single imperial decree has thrown away decades of our hard work."

Li Han sighed: "The new Emperor has just ascended the throne, his footing is not yet stable, and he dares not clash head-on with the Yao Race. He is shrinking the defensive line to preserve strength; from the perspective of the imperial court, it is not entirely incomprehensible."

"Understand, my foot!"

Ma Lie, standing behind Su Bai, couldn't help but curse: "He is enjoying himself in the capital, while we are risking our lives on the border! And he just sells us out with one decree! What kind of nonsense is this?"

Su Bai raised his hand to stop Ma Lie and looked at Zhou Zheng and Li Han: "Two Seniors, I returned this time specifically to hear your opinions. What shall we do next?"

Zhou Zheng and Li Han exchanged a glance.

Zhou Zheng put down his teacup and looked at Su Bai: "You tell us your thoughts first."

Su Bai was silent for a moment, then began: "My idea is very simple. The imperial court may not want Yunzhou and Dingzhou, but we cannot abandon them. There are hundreds of thousands of people here, our brothers, and our homes."

He paused, his voice becoming heavy: "The Yao Race could attack at any time. If we also wash our hands of this, what will happen to these people? Let them wait for death?"

After listening, Zhou Zheng nodded: "Well said."

He stood up, walked to the window, and with his back to Su Bai and Li Han, remained silent for a long time.

Then, he turned around, looked at Su Bai, and said word by word: "Since the court doesn't want them, we will do it ourselves."

Su Bai was stunned: "Do it ourselves?"

Zhou Zheng walked up to him and patted his shoulder: "Kid, I have a question for you, and you must answer me honestly."

Su Bai said solemnly: "Please go ahead, General."

"Do you want to be King?"

The study fell silent instantly.

Ma Lie's eyes widened, Zhao Ding's mouth hung open, and although Su Xing remained expressionless, his fingers trembled slightly.

Su Bai looked into Zhou Zheng's eyes and was silent for a long time.

Then, he nodded: "I do."

"Good!"

Zhou Zheng slapped the table: "Then be it! Great Zhou doesn't want Yunzhou and Dingzhou, so we will use these two places as our Foundation and declare ourselves King! It is justified and righteous!"

Li Han also stood up and looked at Su Bai: "General Su, I, Li Han, have spent half my life in officialdom and have seen many people. You are the only one who makes me feel that following you will lead to a way out."

He paused and said earnestly: "If you become King, I, Li Han, will be the first to support you."

Looking at these two people, a surge of warmth welled up in Su Bai's heart.

He knew what this decision meant for Zhou Zheng and Li Han.

Zhou Zheng was the Military Governor of Great Zhou, and Li Han was a Prefect of Great Zhou. Their support for him to claim kingship was equivalent to a complete break with Great Zhou.

This was not a momentary impulse; they were betting their lives on him.

"General Zhou, Lord Li..."

Su Bai stood up and bowed deeply to the two: "How could I, Su Bai, deserve..."

"Cut that out."

Zhou Zheng pulled him up: "I know what kind of person you are. If you really feel sorry for us, just do a good job and don't make us regret it."

Li Han also laughed: "The General is right. General Su, you don't need to feel like you owe us. We support you not because you are good to us, but because you are worth it."

Su Bai took a deep breath and nodded heavily.

"Good! Then it is settled!"

The three sat back down and began to discuss the specific matters of claiming kingship.

Ma Lie stood on the side, his face flushed with excitement, wishing he could rush out right now and shout three times: "Long live the King of Qin!"

Su Xing was calmer and asked: "General, claiming kingship is no small matter. The title, banner, rewards, and establishment of institutions all need to be decided in advance."

Su Bai nodded: "Regarding the title, I have thought about it. Let it be the King of Qin."

"King of Qin?"

Zhou Zheng's eyes lit up: "Good! The land of Qin is the Dragon's rising place; this title is good!"

Li Han also nodded: "King of Qin, it is magnificent. It is neither ostentatious nor lacking in majesty. Moreover, the character 'Qin' implies ambition, which perfectly suits the General's current momentum."

Su Bai smiled: "Then it shall be the King of Qin."

The group discussed the details further.

The day for claiming kingship was set for three days later, to be announced in the square of Yunzhou City in front of the people.

The banner will be black, embroidered with a golden "Qin" character.

Matters of rewards will be discussed after the kingship is claimed.

After everything was settled, Su Bai stood up, looked at the myriad lights of Yunzhou City outside the window, and a surge of heroic spirit welled up in his heart.

King of Qin.

From today on, he is the King of Qin.

Meanwhile.

In the capital, a thousand miles away.

General Qin Bei sat in a tavern, with seven or eight empty wine jars in front of him.

He was dressed in plain clothes, his hair disheveled, his beard unkempt, and he looked utterly decadent.

Ever since he received the new Emperor's decree to abandon Yunzhou and Dingzhou, he had been like this.

Drinking, spacing out, drinking, spacing out.