Chapter 160: Conscription is blocked

That day, the eunuchs from the palace came to the Duke of Zhenguo Mansion with countless gifts. Overnight, Su Bowen jumped from a sixth-rank official to a second-rank general of the State of Zhenguo. His eldest daughter, Su Lingxi, became a sixth-rank official in the Ministry of Rites. The position was not high, but the emperor had an order that she could report directly to the emperor on matters related to girls' education. The Duke

of Zhenguo Mansion became the new noble in the capital, and many aristocratic families went there to seek a secret recipe for giving birth to a daughter. If their own family also had a daughter like Su Xiaoxiao who was blessed by the god of luck, there would be no need to worry about the family's prosperity.

But when they learned that Su Bowen was going to temporarily recruit a group of new soldiers to go to the western border to deal with Dayin's puppet army, everyone secretly laughed at Su Bowen's stupidity. Fifty years ago, Beiqiu had a precedent of fighting against a puppet army, and the result was that a hundred thousand troops were annihilated. Beiqiu has not yet recovered from the shock and is the weakest country among all the countries.

Su Bowen will definitely go there without returning. Not to mention being a second-rank official, even a first-rank official is not worth it!

More far-sighted officials have begun to worry about the future of Dashuo. How long can Su Bowen hold out with a few mortal recruits? Once they die, Dayin's iron hooves will drive straight into the heart of Dashuo, and the capital and even the entire Dashuo will fall.

Zhao Antai and Master Tang went to the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion at the same time. Su Bowen was courting his own death.

Master Tang said earnestly: "Bowen, don't act on impulse. The lesson of Beiqiu is still fresh in your mind."

Zhao Antai also said: "I know that you have the same blood as your father in your bones. You want to defend the territory for Dashuo, but we are facing an undefeated puppet army. Wanyue and the three children are counting on you."

Su Bowen said respectfully: "Thank you grandfather and father for your concern, but if I don't go to hell, who will? The Great Yin is eyeing it covetously. Someone has to take the lead. It is precisely for the safety of Wanyue and the children that I am more I want to go."

Su Lingxi held the official uniform and official butterfly and knelt in front of Su Bowen, saying with tears in her eyes: "Father, I know that it was because of your sacrifice that the emperor granted me the official position. I also know that what I did made you and mother worry. If I don't want to be a female official, I can stop running a girls' school. I only ask father not to sacrifice himself for me."

Zhao Wanyue wiped her tears aside. Didn't she understand her husband? He must have taken the initiative to ask for permission to go to the Western Territory. Now that Lingxi has been appointed as a female official, his biggest worry is gone. Su Bowen is ready to die this time.

However, she couldn't speak to persuade him. She knew her husband's revenge. He was right, someone would stand up.

Tang Taishi had a serious expression on his face: "Bo Wen, I know you are not afraid of death, but is such a fearless sacrifice really necessary? Now many court officials have written to propose to submit to the Great Yin, and Dashuo is willing to become a vassal state of the Great Yin. Although this matter loses its integrity, it is also a solution."

Zhao Antai's face changed first, and he said angrily: "Tang Taishi, I understand that others say this, but do you really think so? Let's Is Da Shuo going to become a slave of Dayin?"

Grand Tutor Tang sighed and said, "We can fight to our last breath, but what about the common people? According to one record, Dayin's puppet army had 50,000 soldiers. It is said that it was only a record of the past three years. Before Liu Wuliang took over as the leader, Dayin had prepared countless puppet soldiers." After

Grand Tutor Tang said this, everyone's expression became solemn. This was really a battle with no chance of winning.

Su Xiaoxiao, who had been quiet all the time, suddenly spoke up: "Don't be afraid, Daddy will win."

[Why are you all so pessimistic? They are just a group of innocent ghosts controlled by evil magic. My talisman can free them from their confinement and reincarnate as human beings. Su

Xiaoxiao's voice made everyone's eyes light up. The puppet army that made people tremble with fear turned out to be so vulnerable. Xiaoxiao could just draw a talisman and it would be done?

Zhao Wanyue wiped her tears and asked seriously, "Xiaoxiao, can Daddy really win?"

"Yes!" Su Xiaoxiao's voice was loud and clear.

[Of course he can, otherwise why would I go through so much trouble to let Daddy take down the Netherworld Sect? Of course, I want Daddy to show his magical powers!

Zhao Antai took a reassurance pill. He was upright by nature and always believed that a scholar could be killed but not humiliated. For him, he would rather die than become a slave of the Great Yin.

Tang Taishi couldn't hear Su Xiaoxiao's thoughts, but after hearing what Zhao Antai said, he no longer mentioned surrender. He

had never bowed his head in his life. Zhao Antai was right. How could he surrender without a fight?

Petitions for peace flew to the Qinzheng Palace like snowflakes. The emperor naturally didn't want the kingdom of Dashuo to be destroyed in his hands, but he had no chance of winning if he fought. He was also very hesitant.

After all, it was about the lives of tens of thousands of people in Dashuo.

Crown Prince Gu Huaiyu heard Xiaoxiao's thoughts and knew that Xiaoxiao had animal magic weapons to deal with the puppet army, so he kept mediating.

He said: "Father, if you surrender without a fight, how can you face our ancestors in the future? Moreover, since Xiaoxiao was born, we in Dashuo have always been able to turn disaster into blessing. General Su is determined to go to the western border even if he must die. We cannot let these loyal and righteous people lose heart."

Gu Huaiyu's words made the emperor firm in his determination. He resisted the pressure of those who wanted peace and let Su Bowen continue to recruit soldiers.

Su Bowen started to recruit soldiers, but things did not go smoothly at all. The news that Dayin recruited a puppet army had spread all over Dashuo, and some people even spread the news that General Zhenguo was recruiting soldiers with a large sum of money just to die.

As a result, everyone was worried. After three days of conscription, no one came to sign up. Ordinary people could not be recruited, let alone talented people.

Su Bowen's deputy general Xu Li said anxiously: "General, there is no one. What should we do?"

Su Bowen turned his head to look at the military flag behind him, pondered for a moment and said: "I don't believe that the men of Dashuo are greedy and afraid of death. I will go to publicize it myself." After

Su Bowen finished speaking, he put the conscription notice on the spear, held the spear in one hand, rode the horse with the other, and galloped in the busy city.

As he walked, he shouted: "The country is in trouble. I sincerely recruit passionate men to fight alongside me, punish bandits, kill evil spirits, and protect the peace of Dashuo."

Su Bowen circled the city three times. Someone had already reported it to the emperor: "Your Majesty, the general who guards the country personally rode on the street to recruit soldiers, making himself look like a traveling doctor. This is really an insult to the national prestige of Dashuo. It's not decent!

Your Majesty, you should quickly have someone recruit General Su back. He hasn't even set out yet, but he has lost face in front of Java!"

After hearing this, the emperor walked to the impeached minister in anger and kicked him in the heart: "It is a shame for Dashuo to have a waste like you. Did General Su recruit anyone?"