Yuan Li's smile froze as she stared at Du Yucheng, remaining silent for a long time.
Du Yucheng did not avoid Yuan Li's gaze, and cold sweat poured down his back.
The steam rising from the tea rose slowly in their eyes.
"You are very good."
After a long while, Yuan Licai spoke and poured more tea for Du Yucheng.
"Only those who can distinguish right from wrong, repay kindness, and have a bottom line can achieve great things."
Yuan Li's words were not false, but a genuine compliment.
While Du Yucheng was thinking, Yuan Li kept observing his expression and knew he was very nervous.
If Du Yucheng decisively said he would kill Wen Hu, Yuan Li would think Du Yucheng was being dishonest.
I feel both grateful and resentful.
This aligns with Yuan Li's internal psychological logic regarding the construction of Chengdu.
Du Yucheng breathed a sigh of relief, only then realizing that his legs were trembling.
Yuan Li said, “You are right about one thing: the era of the older generation has passed. Wen Tai has fallen, Zhao Huan is gone, and Wang Ren is now the backbone of the Da Jing military. You younger generations should learn from him and become capable people like him as soon as possible.”
Du Yucheng said, "General Wang has always been my role model."
Yuan Li said, "You're already very close to Wang Ren. At your age, he didn't achieve what you have."
"I dare not!" Du Yucheng said, bowing his head.
"Have some tea."
Yuan Li picked up the teapot and, while Du Yucheng was drinking tea, said, "Besides Zhao Huan, who can be called the God of War, there is another person in the Great Jing who is also the God of War, and that is my royal uncle, the Champion King. However, the Champion King is also an old man."
Du Yucheng put down his teacup, and Yuan Li poured him another. He continued, "Champion King has guarded the southern border for many years, far from home, and has made great contributions. Yang Zhanbei of the Southern Zhou on the other side is planning to retire. I should also consider Champion King's situation and let him go home to enjoy his retirement."
Du Yucheng listened intently, not daring to utter a sound.
"The old retire and the new rise; this is the natural order, and no one can stop it. Of the four most outstanding young generals personally appointed by His Majesty, setting aside the traitor Xiao Luofeng, you are the most qualified and have the best record. If I were to have Yuan Qi assist you, could you lead the Zhennan Border Army well?"
Upon hearing this, Du Yucheng's pupils suddenly contracted!
this……
This came so suddenly!
Du Yucheng's head was buzzing, but without much thought, he immediately left the table, knelt down in front of Yuan Li, and loudly proclaimed, "If I have this opportunity, I will definitely devote myself to the Great Jing and do my utmost!"
Yuan Li smiled and said, "You are a talented commander. I don't need you to give your life for me, nor does the Great Jing want you to devote yourself to the cause. What I want is for the Zhennan Border Army under your command to be stronger than the Champion King."
"If we do not move, Southern Zhou will not make any progress. If we do move, Southern Zhou will be in danger of being destroyed!"
"Can you do it?"
Du Yu, who was also quite skilled at climbing uphill in Chengdu, knew that even a second's hesitation at this moment would be seen as a lack of confidence by Yuan Li, so he immediately said, "I can do it! But I need time!"
Yuan Li said, "Of course it will take time. I will give you time, but you have to work hard, because Southern Zhou won't give you much time."
"Your subject understands!"
"Stop kneeling, get up and have a few more drinks."
After Du Yucheng sat down again, Yuan Li suddenly asked, "Lord Zhenhai, you haven't married yet, have you?"
Du Yucheng shook his head and said, "No."
Yuan Li smiled and said, "It's important for a man to achieve great things, but it's also important to start a family. Do you have a girl in mind?"
Du Yucheng really wanted to blurt out Wang Yucen's name, but when he thought about how Wang Yucen had already been taken away by Zhao Zhan, he realized it would be too embarrassing to say it. So he said, "It's all arranged by my parents and matchmakers. My parents haven't arranged a marriage for me yet."
Yuan Li said, "Du Yuhe is no longer here. Although I cannot be your father, I can still arrange a marriage for you. The eldest daughter of the Xu Zhongming family is beautiful and bright. She is eighteen years old and unmarried. In my opinion, she is a good match for you."
First came high-ranking official positions and generous salaries, then came the beautiful woman in his arms; Du Yucheng felt that happiness had come too suddenly.
The Xu Zhongming family was the most prominent family in Xu Zhong County, boasting high-ranking officials and wealthy merchants, making them a truly powerful and influential clan. For Du Yucheng, an outsider, to marry the eldest daughter of the Ming family was a stroke of good fortune.
For Du Yucheng, this was a very good marriage proposal.
However, Du Yucheng also knew that Yuan Li had been in Xuzhong County for many years, and the Ming family of Xuzhong had long been Yuan Li's private property. Yuan Li's marriage of Mingyan to him was clearly a purposeful alliance, both to control him and to make a statement.
From this day forward, you, Yucheng, will belong to me.
Yuan Li has made her statement; now it's up to Chengdu to decide.
Accept this marriage, and you'll rise to great heights.
If they don't accept it, then the Zhennan Border Army is doomed.
Du Yucheng didn't need to think twice; he bowed to Yuan Li again and said, "Thank you for your great kindness, Your Highness!"
...
The Southern Border Army.
Central command tent.
After the eunuch who delivered the imperial decree left, Yuan Qi, Feng Jing, Huang Shi, and Tuo Tie Wu Hua all turned to look at Yuan Zhang.
Yuan Zhang placed the imperial edict on the table and rested his hands on the edge of the table in deep thought.
Yuan Qi said, "Father..."
Yuan Zhang said, "This is a military camp."
Yuan Qi immediately changed his tune, saying, "General, the Emperor has never summoned you in all these years. Now he's calling us into the palace because of the birth of a prince. Could there be something fishy going on?"
Huang Shi touched his bald head and said, "The young general is right, Commander, you shouldn't go."
"Not going would be disobeying an imperial order."
Yuan Zhangchao glanced at the imperial edict and said, "You have already seen the consequences of the Zhao family's disobedience."
Huang Shi said, "With 200,000 troops stationed here in the south, let's see who dares to cause trouble?"
Yuan Zhang turned around, glared at Huang Shi, and said, "What nonsense are you spouting? The Zhennan Border Army are warriors of the Great Jing, not my private army."
Huang Shi had a fierce look, but under Yuan Zhang's gaze, he became as docile as a kitten. He quickly lowered his head and nudged Feng Jing beside him with his elbow.
"Old Feng, say a few words."
Feng Jing pretended to be deep in thought and said, "I also disagree with the commander-in-chief going to the palace, but disobeying the imperial decree will only give others ammunition to criticize us. Shouldn't the commander-in-chief try to delay it?"
Yuan Zhang shook his head slightly and said, "If it were wartime, no matter how big the matter was in the palace, the emperor would not have called me back. But now that Da Jing and Nan Zhou have made peace and are trading with each other, and the prince was born at this time, it is only reasonable for the emperor to call me back to see the child."
Feng Jingdao said, "I'm afraid that looking after the children is just a pretense, and that his real intention is not what he's looking for."
Yuan Zhang asked, "What is the true meaning behind the old drunkard's words?"
Feng Jing's expression was serious as he said in a deep voice, "Mu Shanyue has retired, Wen Tai has fallen, and Zhao Huan is dead. Now, the most powerful elder in Dajing is you, Commander. In addition, the news that Yang Zhanbei is going to retire has also reached Changsui. It is inevitable that it will touch a nerve with the emperor and make him think about replacing you, Commander."
Upon hearing this, Yuan Qi gasped.
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