Chapter 202 Subduing General Mu

Ning Jinli didn't answer immediately, but asked instead, "What do you think of this place?"

Mu Cheng pondered for a moment, “Although there are many things I don’t understand, I see the mountains and fields laden with fruit, and the people I see are all radiant and well-dressed, they must be living a stable life with no worries about food and clothing. This place… is like a paradise on earth.”

"Do you like it here?" Ning Jinli continued to ask.

Mu Cheng looked on with envy. "To be honest, Fairy, I really like it. If my Great Wilderness could have such a scene, and the people of the Great Wilderness could live such a life, how wonderful that would be."

Ning Jinli smiled and said, "Your family will live here in the future, which is why I brought you here. I hope it will give you peace of mind before you are reincarnated."

Mu Cheng was overjoyed. "Fairy, do you mean... my family can come here too?"

“However, I must tell you that this is Linxian City within the Great Xuan territory. If you don’t want your family to stay in Great Xuan, I won’t force you,” Ning Jinli said deliberately.

Mu Cheng was stunned for a moment, then exclaimed in shock, "How could the Great Xuan have such a fine city? Why have I never heard of it before?"

You know Xitun Pass, right?

“I know, but I’ve heard that Xitun Pass is a barren land. Even the Xuan Kingdom and the Yu Kingdom didn’t care about this place before. Could it be… that this is Xitun Pass?”

“That’s right. It used to be barren and impoverished, and this year it even suffered from drought for more than half a year. But look, under Xiao Qidi’s management, it has become the scene you are seeing with your own eyes right now.”

"this……"

Mu Cheng was speechless for a moment.

Ning Jinli pointed to a group of people working in the fields not far away, "General Mu, do you know where they are from?"

Mu Cheng subconsciously replied, "Naturally, I am from Linxian City of Xuan Kingdom."

“That makes sense,” Ning Jinli nodded. “Can you tell where they’re from before?”

Mu Cheng observed carefully for a moment, then shook his head. "I can't see it. Please enlighten me, Fairy."

Ning Jinli said, "They were originally people from the Huangsha Pass region of the Yu Kingdom. On the eve of the Yu Kingdom's destruction, they suffered from drought and locust plagues, and were also forcibly conscripted by the Yu Kingdom's rulers, which caused their families to be destroyed and their lives to be lost. Now they are living well here."

Mu Cheng fell silent.

Ning Jinli then said, "I'll ask you again, who are they?"

Mu Cheng found the question a bit strange and replied without hesitation, "They are now citizens of the Xuan Kingdom."

Ning Jinli smiled and said, "You only got half of it right."

Mu Cheng looked troubled, rubbed his throbbing head, and clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Fairy, I am but a martial artist, and I really... do not know how to answer."

“They are not only citizens of Xuan Kingdom, but also, like the people of the Central Plains, all of us are Chinese people of the same origin.” Ning Jinli looked into Mu Cheng’s eyes. “General, what do you think?”

Mu Cheng smiled and said, "That is of course beyond doubt. That's why all the vassal states in the Central Plains are thinking about unifying the land of China into one country."

"In that case, as fellow Chinese, shouldn't we unite and strive to ensure that everyone can live the stable life you see?"

"yes."

"Then why doesn't the Great General allow your family and even the people of the desolate country to live such a life?"

Upon hearing this sudden question, Mu Cheng hurriedly denied it, "Huh? I didn't! Why would the fairy say that about me?"

Ning Jinli said seriously, "You know that the current king of the Desolate Kingdom is incompetent and treacherous, yet you refuse to overthrow the Desolate Kingdom and watch the people of the Desolate Kingdom suffer, don't you?"

"I...this..." Mu Cheng panicked, but didn't know how to refute it.

Ning Jinli continued to question: "Under these circumstances, isn't the General's single-minded focus on protecting the Wasteland just allowing its people to remain under the rule of a tyrannical ruler?"

"I...I,I..." Mu Cheng's old face turned bright red.

“General, I didn’t mean to embarrass you,” Ning Jinli said gently. “I know you are a good general who values ​​the people more than the monarch, which is why I wanted you to see for yourself everything Xiao Qidi has done for the people. A thousand words are no substitute for seeing for yourself. If he hadn’t been genuinely good to the people, how could Linxian City be what it is today? Do you want the people of China to have a monarch like him, or do you want them to have a monarch like the one in the desolate kingdom?”

Mu Cheng fell silent for a long time once again.

His expression was incredibly complex.

"Sigh..." he sighed deeply, "It's a pity I only saw these things after I died."

Ning Jinli smiled and said, "If there is an afterlife, would the Great General be willing to do his part for Xiao Qidi and help him create a peaceful and prosperous era of great unification of China?"

Mu Cheng suddenly knelt down, clasped his hands in a fist, and said, "Fairy, you are all-powerful. Please help me reincarnate as a man of the Xuan Kingdom. In this way, I can still do my part for the people of China in my next life!"

"Get up quickly," Ning Jinli said, helping him up. "Before that, is there anything else you wish for?"

Without hesitation, Mu Cheng said, "I want to see my parents, wife, and children one last time."

"No problem, come with me."

"Yes, fairy."

Ning Jinli led Mu Cheng to a two-story mansion and asked him to open the door and take a look.

Mu Cheng thought to himself, surely his family members aren't living in this house?

This place was originally Xitun Pass of Xuan Kingdom. My family was in the border mountains on the east side of Xuan Kingdom last night. Could it be that they crossed Xuan Kingdom and arrived here overnight?

But on second thought, given Fairy Jinli's extraordinary abilities, it's not impossible.

With a mix of trepidation and anticipation, he slowly pushed the door open a crack.

The first thing you see is a spacious front yard.

There are several big trees in the yard, and swings are hanging under the trees. Two children, about ten years old, are playing on the swings.

Mu Cheng's eyes immediately reddened, and he quickly pushed open the door and strode over.

The two children also saw him and exclaimed with delight:

"It's Father!"

"Daddy's here too!"

Then the two of them took off and pounced on Mu Cheng.

Mu Cheng squatted down, opened his arms, and hugged the two children tightly. Just as he was about to say something, he suddenly realized something was wrong and hurriedly asked, "Can you two see me?"

The two children blinked their big eyes.

"Of course you can see it."

"Daddy, what's wrong?"

Before Mu Cheng could react, the two women took his hands on either side and led him into the house, saying that his grandparents, mother, older brother, older sister, and younger sister were all waiting for him.

Mu Cheng was completely stunned.

He followed the two children into the house and saw his parents and the other older sons and daughters taking care of his wife and youngest daughter.

"Father! Mother! Madam! Children!" Mu Cheng stepped over the threshold and knelt down with a thud. "You...you are all...all dead?!"

"What are you saying!" Mu Cheng's mother came over and slapped his head. "Fairy Jinli brought us all here, and gave us a big house, more than ten acres of fertile land, and many utensils that we've never even seen before, so that we can live a good life. Why are you talking nonsense?"

"General Mu, please forgive me for the fright you suffered," Ning Jinli said as she walked in.

Mu Cheng turned around in astonishment, touching his neck, "But... I was clearly beheaded..."

Ning Jinli chuckled, "I used the back of the knife to cut you; I just knocked you out."

"Then...then none of the people I met on the road could see me either."

"They were all people I had instructed to conspire together."

"..."

Mu Cheng burst into tears, covering his face and sobbing uncontrollably, "So...so I didn't die...I...I'm still alive!"

"Son," Mu Cheng's father said earnestly, "Don't blame Fairy Jinli. If she hadn't done this, with your stubborn temper, how could you have listened to her advice?"

Mu Cheng wiped away his tears and quickly said, "How could I blame the fairy! I was regretting dying like this... I couldn't fulfill my responsibilities to my parents, wife, and children, and I didn't have the chance to do my part for the people. But this incident has been a wake-up call for me, as if I've been reborn. I know better what I should do in the future!"

"Your Highness, please accept Mu Cheng's bow!"

Mu Cheng moved his knees and kowtowed deeply to Ning Jinli.

"General Mu, please rise!" Ning Jinli helped him up and said solemnly, "Just do what you can, your family will be safe and sound, and I can assure you that Xiao Qidi will not let you down."

Mu Cheng clasped his hands in a fist salute, "I will remember your words, Fairy!"

At this point, Ning Jinli's heart, which had been somewhat hanging in suspense throughout, finally settled down.

Fortunately, this famous general of the desolate country was saved, and did not suffer the same fate as in the history of her world, where she was disgraced and died without a burial place.

Now in this world, General Mu not only survived, but also became a worthy general of the Great Xuan.

——

A few days later, Xiao Qidi returned to the capital of Daxuan.

Generals Duan Wu, Qi Zhan, and Mu Cheng accompanied him, along with several thousand Xuanjia soldiers.

In addition, Li Yao also secretly escorted several Xiao clan nobles who had been imprisoned in Hewan County and were involved in the case of the prefect of Longyuan back to the capital.

Inside the main hall of the royal palace.

Xiao Qidi sat on the throne, calmly looking down at the assembled ministers.

He could sense that these ministers now finally had a sense of awe towards him.

"My lords," Xiao Qidi announced in a clear voice, "I have decided to rename the Yu Kingdom as Wangxi and establish it as a province, with Linxian City as its provincial capital. The Shayue Kingdom will be incorporated into Bashu Prefecture and established as Tianfu Province. At the same time, a governor-general position will be established to govern the province. What do you think? Do you have any objections?"

The ministers looked surprised and bewildered.

When the emperor returned, he proposed these reforms without consulting them, leaving them somewhat at a loss.

However, Xiao Qidi has now proven his extraordinary abilities by annexing the Yu Kingdom and the Sha Yue Kingdom, and he even leads thousands of brave and skilled Xuanjia soldiers equipped with divine weapons.

The ministers weighed the matter in their minds for a moment, and one of them spoke first: "Your Majesty, I have no objection."

"Your Majesty, I have no objection!" The vast majority of other ministers also hurriedly expressed their opinions.

However, about a dozen ministers frowned and exchanged glances.

Then one of them gave a wink to the entrance of the main hall, and a eunuch by the door immediately left quietly.

Although these people moved discreetly, they did not escape Xiao Qidi's notice. He pretended not to care and then said, "Duan Wu, I appoint you as the Governor-General of Wangxi."

Duan Wu stepped forward, clasped his hands in greeting, and said, "Yes, Your Majesty!"

"Qi Zhan, Mu Cheng," Xiao Qidi called out the names again.

The two stepped forward together.

Xiao Qidi ordered, "I command the two of you to lead the army of the Eastern Border of the Great Xuan Dynasty and make sure to conquer the Desolate Kingdom!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Qi Zhan replied loudly.

Mu Cheng looked surprised and did not immediately agree.

The ministers present were also somewhat agitated and began whispering among themselves.

"Mu Cheng, are you unwilling to take on this important task?" Xiao Qidi asked.

"This humble general is not unwilling to shoulder this important task," Mu Cheng said hesitantly, "but..."

"Your Majesty!" a minister suddenly spoke up, "Does our Great Xuan have no generals? Why must we appoint a general from a barren country to command our soldiers!"

Xiao Qidi looked in the direction of the voice and saw that this minister was one of the people who had not spoken up earlier. He narrowed his eyes slightly and asked, "Do you think it's inappropriate?"

"Of course not!" the minister said indignantly. "Who doesn't know that Mu Cheng is the pillar of the Desolate Kingdom and its Grand General? Although he has submitted, who can guarantee that he doesn't have ulterior motives! What if his submission is just a pretense? That would surely bring great losses to the Great Xuan!"

Upon hearing this, Mu Cheng's face darkened, and he clenched his fists tightly.

Xiao Qidi said quietly, "What do you think I should do with Mu Cheng?"

The minister immediately said, "He should be placed under house arrest for a period of time to observe his performance. If his performance is acceptable, he can be given a sinecure to support him, but he must never be allowed to control the military!"

Xiao Qidi rested his chin on his hand and asked slowly, "The task of attacking the barren kingdom is arduous, and I cannot let General Qi bear it all alone."

The minister bluntly stated, "In my opinion, Your Majesty need not send General Qi to the Eastern Border. The 200,000-strong Great Xuan Army in the Eastern Border already has a general; Your Majesty can simply order him to conquer the Desolate Kingdom."

Xiao Qidi rubbed his temples with his fingers and said casually, "Who commands those 200,000 Great Xuan Army again?"

“Your Majesty,” the minister replied loudly, “it is none other than a young prodigy from our Great Xuan Xiao Clan, and he is also the son of Your Majesty’s uncle.”

“In that case,” Xiao Qidi’s lips curled into a smile, “why not just remove him?”

The minister's face stiffened.

The dozen or so ministers who had remained silent earlier could no longer hold back and began to speak out against it.

The main hall suddenly became noisy.

Xiao Qidi was too lazy to listen to what they were saying and said coldly, "I have already made my decision. Qi Zhan and Mu Cheng will replace the commanders of the Eastern Army. You don't need to say anything more!"

"Your Majesty, it seems inappropriate for you to make such a rash decision as soon as you return?" A slightly aged voice suddenly rang out at the entrance of the hall.

The entire hall fell silent immediately.

All the ministers voluntarily made way for them.

Then, a man in his fifties, dressed in a magnificent robe, slowly stepped into the hall. His arrogant demeanor and noble air made the ministers dare not raise their heads.

"Who is this?" Mu Cheng asked Qi Zhan in a low voice.

Qi Zhan whispered, "He is the emperor's paternal uncle, the highest-ranking member of the Great Xuan royal family. He represents the entire Xiao clan, and his status and power are not to be underestimated. The emperor will definitely not agree to replace his son with us..."