Chapter 297: Imperial Edict of Reward

Ren Jinzhou naturally understood who Qian Zexi was asking about, and hurriedly spoke with a smile.

"Everyone is training in the martial arts arena. I'll arrange for someone to notify them and they'll be here soon."

Qian Zexi smiled and spoke after hearing this.

"There's no need to trouble you generals. How about Shenwu and you lead the way? We can go directly there and let me see the soldiers' training in the northwest."

After hearing this, Ren Jinzhou extended his hand and made a gesture of invitation.

"Well, in that case, I will do as Master Qian said. Master Qian, please come this way."

On the martial arts training ground, the February sunshine shines brightly on the training ground.

Li Xiao stood on the high platform, his eyes sharp as torches, scanning the soldiers below.

The soldiers were dressed in uniform armor, holding spears, and stood still.

Li Xiao raised the spear in his hand and shouted loudly.

"Soldiers, today we are practicing the 'Art of Breaking Formations'! Remember, no matter how powerful the enemy is, as long as we unite as one, we will be able to break their formation and cut down their heads!"

The soldiers from the northwest responded in unison, their voices deafening.

"Unite as one, break the formation and cut off their head."

Li Xiao nodded with satisfaction and pointed his spear at the simulated enemy formation in front of him.

"Now, follow my command and break the formation!"

Following Li Xiao's order, the soldiers rushed towards the simulated enemy formation like arrows.

The spears were like a forest and the shields were like a wall. They cooperated with each other in perfect harmony and moved in unison.

For a moment, the war drums were beating in the training ground and the shouts of killing were shaking the sky.

Li Xiao's eyes were sharp, and after experiencing the fierce fighting on the battlefield, he was faintly murderous. He kept observing the soldiers' performance, sometimes nodding in approval, sometimes frowning in thought.

In his eyes, each of these newly recruited soldiers is an unpolished gem that needs to undergo rigorous training before becoming a sharp weapon on the battlefield.

Although the northern wing was repelled this time under the leadership of Master Jun and Madam Jun, the enemy may come back at any time. If he wants to become the main general of the northwest, every soldier in his hand must be a sharp sword.

Suddenly, Lord Shenwu Hou came towards this side with a man.

There were a few people who looked like guards following behind. Li Xiao took a look and shouted a warning to the soldiers who were practicing breaking the formation.

"Everyone keep practicing."

Then he walked down the platform to greet him.

"Lord Shenwu Hou."

Ren Jinzhou introduced Qian Zexi with a smile.

"Master Qian, this is General Li Xiao, the man who led the soldiers and civilians of the northwest to repel the northern wing and turned the tide. When I arrived with reinforcements, General Li and his remaining 2,000 men were fighting to the death. His unwavering determination to die rather than surrender impressed me deeply."

Then he looked at Li Xiao again.

"General Li, this is Lord Qian, the Imperial Envoy sent from the Imperial City."

Li Xiao listened and bowed neither humbly nor arrogantly.

"Master Qian."

Qian Zexi also hurriedly bowed.

"General Li, I heard of your great reputation when I was in the Imperial City. The Emperor has praised General Li many times. This time, he sent me to welcome General Li and his family back to the Imperial City to receive their rewards."

At this time, Yang Huaian, Lu Zhan, Fang Zhiyi and others also rushed over.

Ren Jinzhou whispered beside Qian Zexi.

"Master Tian, ​​the one walking in front is General Song Huaian. The one walking a little slower is the newly promoted Fourth Rank General Lu Zhan and Fourth Rank General Fang Zhiyi. The ones behind are all captains promoted by me based on my military achievements."

Qian Zexi nodded slightly and spoke.

"Lord Shenwu Hou, this means that almost everyone is here, right?"

Ren Jinzhou nodded after hearing this.

"Yes, the main ones are all here, and the sacrifices were clearly explained to the Emperor in the memorial."

After hearing this, Qian Zexi took out an imperial edict from his sleeve.

"All the officers and men of the Northwest receive the order."

Ren Jinzhou changed his standing position and stood with Li Xiao, leading everyone to kneel on one knee.

"Northwest Li Xiao......"

"Northwest Lu Zhan..."

"The Northwest Tower..."

"King Xie of the Northwest..."

……………………

"Accept the order..."

Qian Zexi opened the imperial edict and read it aloud.

"By the providence of Heaven, the Emperor proclaims: I have heard that General Li is a valiant warrior, both wise and courageous. In the battle of the northwest, he slew countless enemies, repelled the northern wing, and killed the Northern King. I am deeply impressed by his achievements and hereby appoint Li Xiao as a First-Rank General Protecting the Nation, rewarding him with a thousand taels of gold and a hundred pieces of silk. I also grant him a general's residence in the Imperial City as an encouragement. I order General Li to depart immediately to meet the Emperor to receive his award."

Li Xiao didn't expect that he would be directly promoted to a first-rank general. This was such an honor for his family. He was already extremely excited, but on the surface he remained calm and expressed his gratitude.

"Li Xiao accepts the order and thanks the Lord for His grace. Long live the Emperor."

Qian Zexi placed the imperial edict in his hands.

"General Li, you have been directly promoted to the rank of First Rank General. This shows how highly the Emperor values ​​General Li. General Li, please pack your luggage in the next two days and return to the Imperial City with me to see Him."

Li Xiao put the imperial edict away.

"Thank you, Master Qian. Thank you for your hard work, Master Qian."

Qian Zexi continued to take out the imperial edict and read it.

"By the providence of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: In this battle in the northwest, the Northern Wings were ambitious. General Song Huaian was both wise and brave, fearless in the face of danger, and made great contributions to the country. I heard that General Song lost an arm in this battle, and I am deeply saddened. Now, I specially decree to reward Song Huaian and confer him the title of Ning'an Marquis, and bring his family to the Imperial City to serve."

"By the providence of Heaven, the Emperor proclaims: I have heard that Lu Zhan and Fang Zhiyi, both men of wisdom and courage, accepted orders in times of crisis and achieved remarkable feats in this campaign in the northwest. Their loyalty is as great as the sun and moon, and their bravery is truly heartening to me. According to the memorial submitted by the Marquis of Shenwu, they are respectively conferred the titles of Fourth-Rank General Dingyuan and Fourth-Rank General Huaiyuan..."

On a farm of the Shen family.

This was originally the dowry farm of Shen Luoxue's mother. Logically speaking, after the Shen family divorced Xu, the Xu family could take back her dowry. After all, Xu had a son and a daughter in the Shen family, so her dowry should naturally be inherited by her children. Therefore, the farm still belonged to the Shen family.

Xu's tomb is in a remote corner of Zhuangzi. There is only a simple tombstone, and the overgrown weeds around it indicate that the burial was hasty.

Shen Luoxuegui cried inconsolably in front of her tombstone, tears kept falling, and his heart was broken.

She didn't know how to face this fact. Her mother was the most important person in her life. Her departure made Shen Luoxue feel unprecedented loneliness and helplessness.

Shen Luoxue tried to recall how Xu had loved her, and those warm scenes made her feel extremely heartbroken.

"Mother...why did you abandon your daughter? How will your daughter survive without you? Mother...wuwuwu..."

In the most remote corner, there was the sound of Shen Luoxue crying.

"Mother, it's not that I'm wrong. I was too naive before and made you worry so much. Mother, can you please say something to your daughter..."