If Qin Mu heard the young man surnamed Wei introduce him, he would surely feel proud. In the past, when people mentioned him, they would say that he was the eldest son of the Duke of Yi, and then his official position. Now, he would definitely be introduced first as the youngest great Confucian scholar of the Tang Dynasty.
"Young Master Du, your father and the Duke of Yi came from the Prince of Qin's residence together. Surely it wouldn't be difficult for them to ask for a triangular ox?" the young man surnamed Wang said with a smile.
"Hmph! You surnamed Wang, don't treat me, Du He, like a fool. The Triangle Ox is the Qin family's private property, and His Majesty has tacitly agreed to this. Apart from a few generals who followed Qin Huaidao in his campaigns, have you ever heard him give it to anyone? You want to provoke me into trouble? Why don't you try it yourself!" Du He snorted coldly, then turned and walked downstairs.
"Hehe!" The young man surnamed Wei chuckled wickedly, shook his head slightly, and followed. He had already decided in his heart to stay away from the man surnamed Wang in the future. With such low intelligence, it would not only be embarrassing to play with him, but he would also get dragged into trouble sooner or later.
Everyone at the table left, leaving only the young man surnamed Wang sitting there, his face alternating between red and white.
Li Shimin naturally received the news that Qin Mu and his entourage had entered the city. Although Qin Mu did not make a grand return in a triumphant manner, Li Shimin still personally went to the imperial city gate in front of Zhuque Avenue to welcome him.
"Greetings, Your Majesty! May Your Majesty be well!"
"Greetings, Your Majesty! May Your Majesty be well!"
"All of you, rise!"
"Your Majesty, I, Qin Mu, the General Commander of the Lingnan Army and Deputy Governor of the Annam Prefecture, have led the campaign against Yazhou, annihilating the Guanxiong tribe and forcing the Yuren tribe to surrender! I hereby report to Your Majesty!" After a series of standard formalities, Qin Mu bowed and announced loudly.
"You've worked hard, my dear minister. Once the Ministry of War verifies your merits, I will reward you handsomely!" Li Shimin said with a smile.
Li Shimin's words were the most accurate. Those rewards offered immediately were for minor matters, involving relatively minor official positions and ranks. Merits like the extermination of an entire clan required verification from the Ministry of War and discussion in the court before a decision could be made. Li Shimin's phrase "a generous reward" simply indicated that the reward would be increased from the existing amount. This was a pre-emptive promise, meant to give everyone a heads-up.
For the imperial court, rules are of utmost importance. Even the emperor, if he does not follow the rules, will be criticized by many people.
"On behalf of the soldiers who went to war, I thank Your Majesty! These are the prisoners, spoils of war, and tributes from the Feathered People that I have brought back!"
"These two yellow steeds are the most precious treasures of the Feathered People. There are only seven in the entire Feathered People tribe, and they were specially presented to Your Majesty by the Feathered People." Qin Mu introduced them while having his men unload the goods carried by the triangular ox.
When the goods were piled up into a mountain, the onlookers discovered a heap of metal larger and taller than the city gate itself; its bronze color spoke for itself. Gold, silver, and gemstones—the total amount exceeded a hundred chests.
This was no less impressive than the last time; it was another day that left the people of Chang'an speechless and drooling. They finally understood what it meant to be piled up like a mountain! Various bronze vessels, bronze weapons, and armor were piled up in a huge heap.
These things weren't particularly impressive when they were on a cart, but when they were piled up together, they were indeed very eye-catching. After all, metal itself has that urge to touch it.
This is a show, a show that can give the people a strong sense of confidence and has a very good calming effect on the current somewhat unsettling atmosphere. Li Shimin sent someone to inform them in advance, but Qin Mu's original intention was also to show off, mainly because he knew that Li Shimin valued his reputation very much.
Sure enough! Li Shimin's face lit up with a smile, especially after hearing about the uses of Chenghuang, he was overjoyed.
The Tang Dynasty's high-ranking officials had a long talk with Qin Mu in the imperial study, gaining a very intuitive understanding of Yazhou Island.
"I never imagined that two small tribes on the island could possess such formidable strength," Fang Xuanling exclaimed.
"Yes! If it weren't for the fact that they had been isolated for countless years and knew nothing about us, let alone winning the war, we probably wouldn't have been able to hold Yazhou," Qin Mu said with lingering fear.
He remembered clearly that when the Feathered People entered the city, they caused a lot of casualties to the soldiers. This was even with the Feathered People being weaker than the Pierced-Chest Clan. If the Pierced-Chest Clan had entered the city, they definitely wouldn't have been able to stop them.
“There must be quite a few tribes like this. It seems we should deploy more ballistae and treadle crossbows,” Cheng Zhijie said.
“That’s right, especially in the Northeast. That fire-breathing tribe is best eliminated from a distance,” Li Jing agreed.
"I agree to this. The Ministry of Works will do its utmost to support the Imperial Workshop in producing crossbows! All necessary supplies will be provided with priority." Li Shimin made the decision.
That evening was a grand victory banquet held for the generals who had returned from their expedition, but everyone knew that there was only one protagonist, and that was Commander Qin Mu.
In the past, when they saw Qin Mu, many people would just nod in acknowledgment. This time was different. Most of the ministers attending the banquet came over and said a word or two. Of course, those who knew their status was not high enough did not approach him.
"Ke'er, eat more!" On the other side, at the banquet for women hosted by Empress Zhangsun, Consort Yang kept picking out dishes for her son.
It's quite normal for princes like Li Ke, who are not yet adults, to appear here.
"Thank you, Mother." Li Ke said with a wry smile. Although he only missed home occasionally, returning home still made him very excited, like a child seeing the world for the first time, always wanting to show off to someone. But he had to have a meal with his parents first before he could go out and play with his friends.
"You must not have eaten well outside. Now that you're back, you must make sure you eat well." Consort Yang looked at her son with affection and kept nagging.
"No! I'm eating very well, and my uncle often gives me pills. Mother, haven't you noticed that I've grown quite a bit taller?" Li Ke shook his head and said.
"Hmm! Prince Qin is a capable man. It's a good thing that you can learn more from him. However, since you are studying military strategy, won't following him take up too much of your time?" Consort Yang asked gently.
“No, my uncle knows a lot about military strategy. He gave me six military books! That’s more than the palace’s collection,” Li Ke said in a low voice.
When Consort Yang heard that there were six military books, she was also startled. She knew that military books were the secrets of each family, and only fragments of them had been passed down. Even the royal family's collection was incomplete, and the most important ones were still in the hands of the inheritors.
However, seeing how much Qin Mu valued Li Ke, she was very happy, even somewhat moved. Because of their status, they were relatively distant from each other both inside and outside the palace. And princes without a reliable background often met with a bad end.
“My son, since Prince Qin treats you so well, you must respect him,” Consort Yang said after a moment’s hesitation.
"Don't worry, Mother, I understand. There aren't many people who have truly been good to us over the years," Li Ke nodded.
"My son has grown up." Consort Yang said, her nose tingling with emotion.
"I have a hundred soldiers under my command in Yazhou! I've mastered the One-Character Long Snake Formation, the Double Dragons Emerging from the Sea Formation, and the Three Talents and Four Symbols Formation," Li Ke said proudly.
"The battlefield is dangerous, my son. You must be careful and not put yourself in any danger," Consort Yang instructed anxiously.
"Mother, please rest assured, I did not have the opportunity to fight the enemy myself. Moreover, my uncle made me a Three Talents Formation Plate with twenty-one guards. Even a top expert can be engaged in a prolonged battle," Li Ke explained.
As a prince, Qin Mu naturally wouldn't let him fight on the battlefield. He would only have him protected and watch, and afterwards, he would have him write a reflection. If it wasn't well-written, he would have to rewrite it! He deeply loathed those reflections that were always eight hundred or a thousand words long.
…………
"It's been almost two years since you left. Are you settling in well in Lingnan?" Changsun asked with a smile, teasing Xiao Qinying.
Of course! She was asking Princess Changning, who was sitting next to her.
"Thank you for your concern, sister-in-law. Lingnan is wonderful. There are fruits all year round, plenty of delicious seafood, and the winters aren't cold," Princess Changning replied with a smile.
“In the past, when people mentioned Lingnan, they thought of a remote, wild land, a place of exile, and officials would turn pale at the mention of it. But in the last two years, they’ve heard that it’s a land of gold and silver, rich in resources. Qin Huaidao is truly a talented man. Changning, you have a good eye,” Changsun exclaimed.
"You flatter me. This achievement is all thanks to His Majesty's wisdom and strong support." Princess Changning was overjoyed, her wife benefiting from her husband's success and her grandson praising Qin Mu.
"This is not an overstatement. Whether it is Shuofang or Lingnan, the changes are earth-shattering. If it weren't for Qin Huaidao, why would there have been no changes for so many years and dynasties? This is what His Majesty said himself." Changsun waved his hand and said.
"The world is in turmoil, and people are filled with anxiety. Your great victory has stabilized the people's hearts. It is no exaggeration to say that you have made an indelible contribution! My sister-in-law does not know martial arts and cannot be of much help. You two are capable and I hope you can help His Majesty share his burdens." Changsun sighed again.
"Don't worry, although there are some troubles, the imperial army is strong and well-equipped, and His Majesty is wise and powerful. It will be resolved soon," Princess Changning comforted her.
"Really?"
"Yes, Huai Dao told me that although many alien races have emerged, they have been isolated from the world for countless ages and have long forgotten what the world is like now. Moreover, they are scattered all over the country and cannot all attack the Tang Dynasty. Even if they are hostile, we can defeat them one by one!"
Some wiser individuals will choose to observe and learn, but as spiritual energy increases, we will also become stronger! Humans are the race most adapted to this world, especially when faced with external enemies; we possess strong cohesion and a fighting spirit,” Princess Changning stated with certainty.
These words were indeed spoken by Qin Mu. In his previous world, there was a record of over three thousand years of history, and this was indeed the case! When faced with foreign aggression, countless people fought bravely and relentlessly, and even the most powerful enemies were ultimately defeated by this nation.
Li Shimin wouldn't say these things to her, because men always silently shoulder their responsibilities! In front of their families, they only show their optimistic side. After hearing Princess Changning's words, the last trace of worry on her face disappeared, and she felt much more relaxed.
Of course! This is also because Qin Mu and his wife have always performed exceptionally well, which has led Empress Zhangsun to trust him as much as the old ministers of the court.
“Your father must have missed you terribly since you’ve been gone for so long. Spend as much time with him as you can now that you’re back,” Changsun said with a smile.
"To my shame, I haven't had a chance to go back yet. I'll take the child to see him tomorrow," Princess Changning said, her eyes reddening and her head bowed.
"It's alright! Your father has always been proud of you all. He won't blame you for going back a day late. After all, a married woman should always go back to her husband's family first," Empress Zhangsun comforted her.
"Mm!" Princess Changning nodded slightly and smiled.
………
Qin Qiong was leading troops in the field, and Qin Mu was also a military commander. Everyone could see that the Qin family was enjoying the emperor's favor. Princess Changning was by Empress Zhangsun's side, and other people were not qualified to go there. So many people gathered around Aunt Zheng and chattered. In one night, more than twenty families wanted to marry their daughters to him.
"Huai Dao, you've just returned to Chang'an, and you're probably not very clear about the many changes outside, are you?" Cheng Zhijie asked. With Cheng Zhijie there, Luo Cheng and Qin Mu sat together, knowing they were going to talk about something, and the others wisely refrained from disturbing them.
"I really don't know, it must have changed a lot, right?" Qin Mu nodded.
"It's not just very big, it's extremely big. You could even say it's incredibly dangerous, the greatest danger since the founding of the nation, even more dangerous than the invasion of the Central Plains by the Hundred Tribes," Cheng Zhijie said with a wry smile.
"Oh! Why didn't His Majesty mention it?" Qin Mu asked curiously.
"Because the crisis has not yet erupted, no one knows exactly how it will unfold."
Luo Cheng interrupted, saying, "Let me tell you, the ferocious beasts in the Nightmare Mountains have broken out! They are currently being blocked at the confluence of the three mountains."
Nightmare Mountains are a forbidden area within the Tian Shan, Kunlun, and Altai Mountains. Sealed by these three massive mountain ranges, Nightmare Mountains are the largest recorded sealed space, a veritable secret realm, though no one has ever considered entering it. Occasionally, ferocious beasts emerge from there, which is part of the reason for the existence of the powerful clans and sects of the Northwest.
Upon hearing that Nightmare Mountain Range had opened, Qin Mu was also startled. Ferocious beasts were far more terrifying than wild beasts. Those irrational creatures would attack any creature that was not of their kind. Powerful, bloodthirsty, cruel—no negative words could be used to describe them.
"Are there many? From what you're saying, it seems you can't hold them off," Qin Mu asked.
"We can hold out for now, but we've already requested aid from the imperial court, so you can imagine the situation is dire. The biggest problem is that the army can't advance into the mountains," Cheng Zhijie said, shaking his head.
"That is indeed a problem. What is Your Majesty's opinion?"
"The imperial court has already gathered manpower and sent martial arts forces there. At the same time, the court will also dispatch an elite force. Your return this time is just in time," Cheng Zhijie said after a moment's hesitation.
Going to the Nightmare Mountains is certainly dangerous, even quite dangerous. The court's generals all have places to guard, and Qin Mu just happens to be free, so Cheng Zhijie estimates that Li Shimin will definitely send him there.
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