Chapter 212

Chapter 212

The Xingping Emperor had defended Jizhou for thirty years, and in his heart, Jizhou was a more important place than the capital Luoyang. If Jizhou were to fall, the Uru cavalry would storm in, and the people in the Jizhou area would face the devastation of their villages and cities. He would be seen as a guilty general and ruler, having failed to protect the people of Jizhou.

If not for the internal and military matters that still required his attention at court, the Xingping Emperor would have wanted to return to Jizhou himself to fight the Uru Kingdom!

"Your Majesty, rest assured, when I return to Jizhou, I will make the Uru army pay for their crimes with blood!"

Feng Ji, dressed in mourning, knelt before the emperor, his voice trembling with sobs as tears streamed down his face.

The Feng family had planned to return next year to celebrate the old general's birthday together, as he would soon be turning seventy...

Present in the grand hall were Crown Prince Han Bao, Prime Ministers Wei Qi and Song Lan, and other generals such as Lu Gong, Xiao Mu, and Qi Heng, who had been urgently summoned to the palace.

Lu Gong, Fan Zhao, and Luo Xiao had shared a friendship of at least a dozen years with the late General Feng Duan. Their grief was no less than Feng Ji's, and they gritted their teeth at the mention of the Uru Kingdom, which had ambushed and looted grain. Zhao Jin, who had traveled to Jizhou in his youth and received guidance from General Feng, also had red eyes.

Qi Heng, Xiao Mu, and Xiao Zhen had never met Feng Duan, so apart from mourning the loss of a renowned Great Yu general, they were primarily driven by hatred for the Uru Kingdom.

In the midst of the grief, Wei Qi turned to the Xingping Emperor and said, "Your Majesty, we will certainly avenge General Feng. But now, with the new dynasty's foundations not yet stable, unless the Uru Kingdom sends a large army to our borders, we should not initiate conflict. For these small-scale disturbances and looting, the border troops should just drive them away and give a little punishment."

The aristocratic families in various regions were merely paying lip service to the imperial decrees. The generals of Liangzhou, Liaozhou, and Qingzhou were each holding onto their troops, and the four generals on the southern front could potentially defect at any time. Moreover, both the Eastern Mausoleum and Xiliang were likely observing the northern situation from the shadows.

The people in the northern regions had only recently enjoyed nine months of peace and desperately needed time to recover and rebuild.

Xingping Emperor: "I know the nomads of the grasslands better than anyone. The more we yield, the more they think we are restrained by internal strife and dare not send troops. This only encourages them to become more audacious. Only by delivering a decisive blow will they fear our military might and refrain from invading our borders again."

Wei Qi: "But it will soon be October. The northern regions will be freezing, and snow disasters are common on the grasslands. It's not an ideal time for a military campaign."

Xingping Emperor: "I know. Feng Ji, when you return, first bury the old general, then mobilize supplies and prepare for the campaign against the Uru Kingdom next spring. I want to show the other border countries that I have 230,000 elite border troops in Jin and Jizhou, and 350,000 tiger division imperial guards. No matter who dares to invade our Great Yu, I will not spare them!"

Feng Ji: "Your Majesty, I will obey the decree!"

Xingping Emperor: "The Jizhou army cannot be without a commander for a day. You should depart immediately."

With tears in his eyes, Feng Ji bowed his head and took his leave, bidding farewell to his colleagues before striding out.

After he left, the Xingping Emperor leaned back in his chair, allowing himself to show a look of sorrow. Han Bao, the two prime ministers, and the generals all came forward to offer their comfort. The emperor finally broke down in sobs when he met Xiao Mu's silver hair. "Xiao Mu, I have already lost an arm. You must take care of your health and not leave me too soon like General Feng Duan."

Xiao Mu, with tears in his eyes, said, "Your Majesty, General Feng followed you in battle for twenty or thirty years, achieving great merits for the country and the people. He was content and tired, so he left first. I have only followed Your Majesty for two years, with seventy years of ambitions still unfulfilled. As long as Your Majesty does not abandon me, I am willing to follow you for another ten years of battles until you unify the world and no longer need my service."

The Xingping Emperor tightly grasped his hand, as if seeing another old general through Xiao Mu's silver hair.

---

On that very day, Feng Ji hastened to Jizhou on fast horses. Feng's wife, along with the family, would pack up and depart the next day.

Tong Sui came to the Feng residence with a condolence gift, visiting alone.

Female family members from the households of meritorious generals like Lu and Fan had sent representatives to pay their respects.

Feng Ji had both a wife and a concubine. He had six daughters in total and only three sons, with the only adult son staying in Jizhou to guard the borders with the old general. The two younger sons, one only ten years old and the other just five, had come to the capital with Lady Feng.

"Please take comfort, Madam."

Tong Sui said to Lady Feng, "Grandfather knew you would not be in the mood for socializing, so he sent me alone to express our condolences."

Lady Feng, tears flowing, said, "Thank you for his thoughtfulness."

With other guests waiting, Tong Sui offered a compassionate nod and took her leave.

The young maid led her to the side hall where the other ladies were resting.

Madam Lu sighed, "Who would have thought that such a robust General Feng would pass away so suddenly?"

Madam Fan said, "It's all because of the cursed Wu country. If they hadn't come to steal our grain, perhaps General Feng would still be with us."

Old age makes one fragile; even a simple movement can be fatal, especially when dealing with border conflicts. A few moments of anxiety and a rough ride on horseback can immediately take a toll on the body.

Tong Sui sat quietly, her eyes downcast. As she listened, she discreetly wiped away a tear from the corner of her eye.

General Feng was only sixty-nine. My own grandfather is already seventy-two. If the world were peaceful, perhaps Grandfather could enjoy a few more years of tranquility, but war is about to break out again.

Pan Yuerou noticed Tong Sui's small gesture and thought about Xiao Mu's age. How long would the Xiao Family’s influence last?

——

Once Feng Ji left and was likely to be stationed in Jizhou for a long time, the position of commander of the Eastern Camp was left vacant.

After calming down a bit, the Xingping Emperor summoned Wei Qi to discuss the matter privately.

Xingping Emperor: "I originally intended to have Feng Ji mentor Zhao Jin for ten or twenty years, so when Feng Ji grows old, Zhao Jin could take over his position. Now that Feng Ji is in Jizhou, Zhao Jin..."

Wei Qi: "Zhao Jin is too young, and Zhao Liangchen already commands the Jinzhou border troops. If we promote Zhao Jin now, even though the Zhao family is loyal to you, other officials will become restless."

Xingping Emperor nodded. "Yes, that’s exactly what I was thinking. Including the Xiao Family, Xiao Shouyi is also a capable talent. It's just a pity that Xiao Zhen and his grandfather have already taken over the Southern Camp, so it's not suitable to assign Xiao Shouyi to the Eastern Camp."

Wei Qi thought for a moment and said, "Qi Heng, like Xiao Mu, has trained tens of thousands of elite soldiers through his own efforts. His abilities are undeniable. Moreover, Qi Heng has fought by your side all the way from Shuozhou to Luoyang. Whenever there was a battle, he was always at the forefront, and the soldiers of the central army can attest to his bravery. If Qi Heng takes over Feng Ji's position as the commander of the Eastern Camp, the soldiers there will find it easier to accept him. The only concern I have is Qi Heng's loyalty to you..."

The Xingping Emperor waved his hand. "Qi Heng has proven himself to be a loyal and dedicated servant since his surrender. I trust him completely, regardless of his past as a rebel leader."

Wei Qi admired, "Your Majesty is truly a wise ruler, knowing how to use people without doubt."

Xingping Emperor: "With Qi Heng going to the Eastern Camp, the position of deputy commander of the Imperial Guard will be vacant. Who do you think is suitable?"

Wei Qi: "Your Majesty, it’s time to give the Crown Prince some experience."

Xingping Emperor: "You mean, to assign the Crown Prince to the Imperial Guard?"

Wei Qi: "Yes, and have Fan Zhao assist him in getting familiar with military affairs."

Xingping Emperor: "Reassigning Fan Zhao without warning might upset him. Given his temperament, he might feel slighted."

Wei Qi: "The Crown Prince, being of royal blood, should naturally be respected by the civil and military officials. The Imperial Guard defends the capital and is rarely deployed for combat, making it an ideal place for the Crown Prince to gain experience and build his reputation among military officers. When Your Majesty leads future campaigns, with the Crown Prince in charge of the Imperial Guard, the capital will be safe, and you can have peace of mind outside."

Xingping Emperor: "I'm afraid the Crown Prince might not be able to bear such a heavy responsibility."

Wei Qi: "With your guidance, he will learn through experience and grow into the role. As for Fan Zhao, he is your most capable assistant. In the future, you will pass this 'tool' to the Crown Prince. It’s time for him to learn how to wield it. If the tool gets damaged or if the Crown Prince accidentally hurts himself, you can mediate and adjust."

The Xingping Emperor considered the Crown Prince’s temper and Fan Zhao’s personality, then sighed. "You’re right. They’ll need time to work things out."

After Wei Qi retreated, the Xingping Emperor summoned Fan Zhao.

Xingping Emperor: "Feng Ji has left. Among the military officers by my side, who do you think should take over as the commander of the Eastern Camp?"

Fan Zhao thought for a moment and said, "I’ll take over the Eastern Camp, and you can oversee the Imperial Guard. Since we’re both in the capital, Qi Heng can handle the day-to-day affairs, and you can check in when you have time."

Xingping Emperor: "I'm too busy to manage the Imperial Guard. I actually want to give the Crown Prince some experience."

Fan Zhao: "Have the Crown Prince take over the Imperial Guard?"

Xingping Emperor nodded. "Do you think he can handle it?"

Fan Zhao hesitated. "At first, he probably won’t be able to handle it well, but he can learn over time. I’m just worried that Qi Heng, that stubborn old lion, might take advantage of the crown prince’s youth and not teach him properly."

Xingping Emperor: "Qi Heng is not treacherous. He has been loyal to me. You must not speak of him that way again. However, I'm afraid he might not point out the crown prince's shortcomings. After much thought, I still want you to assist the crown prince. You two are like brothers, so there will be fewer taboos between you."

Fan Zhao: "That might work, but if I'm to teach the crown prince to command the army, who will take over the Eastern Camp?"

Xingping Emperor: "Let Qi Heng take over. I trust his character. You don't need to worry about unnecessary things."

Fan Zhao: "Alright, let him try. If he harbors any ill intentions, I’ll cut off his head and serve it to him as a warning!"

Even Fan Zhao, who was most likely to object, agreed. When Han Bao learned that his father would let him take over the Imperial Guard, he was overjoyed.

When Han Bao went to pay his respects to Queen Mother Guo in the Western Palace, he brought this joy with him.

Reclining against a brocade cushion, Queen Mother Guo asked with curiosity, "What has you so happy?"

Feeling proud, Han Bao blurted out, "Father is letting me take over the Imperial Guard."

Queen Mother Guo frowned. "Why?"

Han Bao started to explain but quickly realized that continuing would reveal Feng Duan’s death. He tried to find a way to deflect.

Queen Mother Guo, well-versed in military affairs, wouldn’t let her son evade the question. Her anxiety only worsened her cough.

Han Bao, fearing his mother’s condition would worsen, knelt beside her and whispered, "Mother, please don’t be too upset. A war report came from Jizhou... Feng Duan... he didn’t survive his sudden illness."

The silk handkerchief slipped from her fingers, drifting down like a fallen leaf.

Feng Duan, the general of Jizhou, and his son Feng Ji, who had been leading the campaign against Wu country...

Like a thread being pulled, in an instant, all the related state affairs flooded into Queen Mother Guo's mind.

As her consciousness faded, she could still hear her son’s desperate cries, calling out "Mother" again and again.

When Queen Mother Guo finally woke up, it was already deep into the night.

The Xingping Emperor, still fully clothed, lay beside her. The dim light from the half-lit lamps revealed the deep wrinkles at the corners of her husband’s eyes and the dark circles beneath them, signs of the toll his duties had taken on him.

Tears streaming down her face, Queen Mother Guo reached out to touch this man who had devoted most of his life to the country's affairs.

Her husband was a towering hero, but he was too upright, only good at fighting battles, not at political maneuvering.

The Xingping Emperor opened his eyes, holding his wife's hand while saying anxiously, "Old General Feng has lived out his lifespan. You should focus on recovering your health and not be too sad."

Queen Mother Guo, with tear-blurred eyes, said, "I'm heartbroken for you." Her voice trembled. "If I leave, what will happen to the two of you?"

The Xingping Emperor gently stroked her hand. "Don’t worry, my love. You promised to see me unify the world. It’s just a cold. A few more doses of medicine, and you’ll be back to your strong self."

Noticing that her hands were too cold, he sat up and ordered the palace attendants to quickly summon the imperial physician.

Feeling increasingly cold, Queen Mother Guo, with her last bit of strength, looked at her husband and said, "You... must take care... live a long life..."

Living to a hundred may be too much to ask, but at least he must live long enough to secure the kingdom and protect their son from all threats.

In September of the second year of Xingping, Queen Mother Guo passed away in the Western Palace, leaving behind a kingdom that would never be the same.