The people's unanimous praise had flattered Zhao Yanke so much that he was completely dizzy and lost his sense of direction!
He couldn't help waving his hands repeatedly.
"No, this is all what I should do."
"No, it's General Feng's bravery and excellent combat skills that made the Anluo people retreat today."
"No, it's clearly the unity of our great Sheng's military and civilians, working hand in hand, that enabled us to retake Yanchuan City! With the heaven and earth as witness, our great Sheng is blessed by the gods and will surely enjoy prosperity for ten thousand years!"
However, the more modestly he pretended to be, the more the people worshiped him as a god.
One day later, when Xiao Jingnan and Feng Xiao led the victorious army back and threw the rattan - armored army flag of Wugushu from Longji Pass under the city wall, the whole Yanchuan City was completely boiling!
White - haired old men tremblingly held the umbrellas presented by the people. Children danced and sang around the yamen, clapping their hands and singing the "Song of Breaking the Enemy". Some people even burned incense on the spot, and the curling green smoke rose straight to the sky.
"His Majesty's personal expedition made the Anluo barbarians collapse on their own!"
"This is clearly the manifestation of the true dragon!"
"Long live Your Majesty!"
The cheers outside the yamen were like a mountain - roaring and sea - howling, shaking the dust off the beams. Even Xiao Jingnan and Feng Xiao, who were used to seeing the world, were shocked and their faces changed.
...
"I'm the true dragon emperor favored by the people. Let's see what reason the Empress Dowager has to stop me from taking over the government!" Recalling the scenes of the past two days, Zhao Yanke couldn't help patting his belly and saying proudly.
"Yes, yes, yes," Xiao Jingnan smiled. "Your Majesty is the reincarnation of the star of war - breaking. You will surely be invincible in all battles!"
Zhao Yanke waved his hand indifferently. "You're too kind."
"If that's the case..."
Pei Yanqi pondered. "On our way back, we should focus on Your Majesty's victorious return. We mustn't let out the news that the Kang father and son have been imprisoned."
His eyebrows were slightly furrowed, and he spoke softly and quickly. "Our journey back to the capital shouldn't be too fast or too slow. We need to give enough time for the news of the victorious return to spread, and at the same time, we can't give the Empress Dowager a chance to send a secret report and question us."
Xiao Jingnan gave him an appreciative look and nodded. "Right. We'll go north all the way from Hukou Pass. It's best to reach the capital within ten days."
"In my humble opinion, Your Majesty can take action first and report later. You can reward the whole army under the city gate first and issue an imperial edict to confer rewards, so as to confirm the merits of the Feng family's army in the war. Then deal with the matter of the Kang father and son..."
"Nonsense!" Zhao Yanke craned his neck and shouted. "When I issue an imperial edict, can it be called taking action first and reporting later? It's a just and honorable act! You guys... " He stood there with his hands on his hips, glaring. "I find your thoughts very dangerous! Do you know what 'I' means? It means 'I'! What I say is... "
"What's all this nonsense?" Feng Xiao was confused by him and said impatiently. "Just stay put these days and wait to return to the capital in glory. Don't cause any more trouble..."
"Nonsense!" Zhao Yanke became even more dissatisfied. "When have I ever caused trouble?"
"Be good," Xiao Jingnan coughed lightly. "I'll be responsible for persuading Wanming for you."
"Really?" Zhao Yanke was overjoyed. "Can you handle your shrew of a wife?"
Xiao Jingnan frowned. "Nonsense! My wife is a well - educated and reasonable girl. As long as I explain things to her sensibly and touch her emotionally, she will surely listen."
...
On the thirteenth day of July, in Shou'an City.
There were no lamps lit in the main hall. Although it was noon, it felt a bit cold and gloomy.
Feng Yuanji sat upright on the grand master's chair in the middle. The mottled iron armor reflected the broken golden light coming through the window lattice. The great ring - blade that had drunk countless blood lay across his knees, and the blade and the old man's snow - white beard both glinted coldly.
"You didn't lie after all."
The old general's tiger - like eyes were as sharp as lightning. As soon as Xiao Jingnan stepped in, he spoke in a deep voice.
Xiao Jingnan's expression remained unchanged. "I promised to return within a month... Now, if you calculate the time, it's not even half a month yet. Of course, I didn't lie."
"Nonsense!"
Suddenly, a thunderous roar erupted, shaking the accumulated dust off the beams.
Feng Yuanji slapped the table and stood up. He slammed the big knife on the ground, and the golden - wired iron rings clattered. "You captured four cities in the southern border in just half a month... Do you think I'm a three - year - old child?"
The old general approached with clanging armor, his beard and hair bristling like a lion. "Tell me! What kind of dirty deal did you make with that national master of Anluo to make him cooperate with you so well?"
As soon as these words were spoken, Feng Xiao and Zhao Yanke, who had been following behind Xiao Jingnan, both stopped in their tracks.
The two of them glanced at each other and held their breaths in great tacit understanding. They crouched down and backed out towards the door.
After they got out, they found Pei Yanqi standing lazily behind the door. "I've told you guys before. Don't go to see General Feng at this time, but you just didn't listen!"
Zhao Yanke cried with a mournful face and complained. "How could I know that I'd still be scolded after winning a battle..."
...
Inside the main hall.
Xiao Jingnan smiled helplessly and muttered to himself. "What dirty deal? It's clearly a fair trade where both sides get what they want. Why do you always make it sound so ugly?"
He rubbed his ears that were hurting from the roar and said. "It's nothing much. I just exchanged Wugushu of Longji Pass for his massacre of the Anluo royal court."
"You're so stupid!"
Feng Yuanji's tiger - like eyes widened round. He slammed the great ring - blade on the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.
"Wugushu's rattan - armored soldiers are brave and good at fighting, and they rely on the natural danger of Longji Pass... He just wants to use your hand to cut off one of Zhaopoye's arms and clear the biggest obstacle for himself in the future!"
His beard and hair were all bristling, and his voice became even more solemn. "This Ananda is extremely scheming. He's a hundred times more difficult to deal with than Zhaopoye. If you help him ascend to the throne of Anluo this time, in time, he will surely become a serious threat to our great Sheng. By then, the six cities in the southern border that we've just recovered with great difficulty may be ravaged again..."
"General, you also said that it will take time," Xiao Jingnan suddenly raised his eyes. His dark pupils were bottomless. "General Feng, both Ananda and we need time."
He walked slowly to the table, calmly picked up a cup of tea, and took a sip. "He needs time to wipe out Zhaopoye's remaining forces and recruit the old partisans of the former king. And we..."
The tea cup touched the table, making a clear sound.
"Also need to clean up the court, rectify the world, assist Your Majesty to take over the government, and bring peace and prosperity to our great Sheng."
Xiao Jingnan's gaze was as calm as water. "So I made an agreement with Ananda that there will be no war in the southern border for ten years. After ten years, it's up to our own abilities."
"How can we trust the words of the Anluo barbarians?" Feng Yuanji laughed out of anger. "Just based on these few words, do you believe that he will shrink south of Longji Pass and behave himself in the future?"
"Of course I don't believe it." Xiao Jingnan suddenly smiled faintly. The smile was like the moonlight on the ice, cold and desolate, not reaching his eyes.
His slender fingers dipped in the spilled tea and slowly drew a water - mark on the table. "So, I left 50,000 of the Xiao family's troops at Longji Pass."
The water - mark meandered on the sandalwood table, reflecting the flickering candlelight.
Xiao Jingnan's voice was soft, but every word carried great weight. "From now on, they will be the new barrier of our great Sheng."