Chapter 994 Jingkong and Liu Xiang (Jingkong's Fan)
Xuanyuan Xi was unaware of his being enfeoffed as the Marquis of Champion. The internal strife in the southwest had been quelled, and he was preparing to return.
Before leaving, he arrived at Simapo, rode Xiao Shiyi's horse on the high hillside, and gazed at the white expanse in the distance.
Guo Mang rode alongside him.
Seeing that he remained silent for a long time, Guo Mang couldn't figure out what he was thinking.
Over the past few days, Guo Mang has come to admire this boy who is even younger than his own son. He has the youthful fervor and passion of a teenager, but not the impulsiveness and naivety of one. He is brave, resourceful, and has a calm and steady temperament.
Guo Mang often remarked that the young man seemed to be born for the battlefield.
A cold wind howled, and Guo Mang felt a chill. He looked at the young man beside him with chapped lips and a determined look in his eyes, and finally asked, "Sir, what are you looking at?"
Xuanyuan Xi said, "Look at the landscape of the Yan Kingdom."
Guo Mang thought for a moment and asked, "Then... what did you see?"
Xuanyuan Xi said calmly, "The Liang Kingdom deserves a beating."
Guo Mang was puzzled. How did things suddenly veer towards the Liang Kingdom? The topic veered off course quite quickly!
Xuanyuan Xi readily answered his questions: "Where did the rebels get their armor and weapons? Where did they get the money to support their army? Zhou Chongyue is just a military man, where did he get such great abilities?"
Guo Mang's expression changed: "You mean... the chaos in the southwest was instigated by the Liang Kingdom?"
A withered leaf swirled and flew by, gently landing in Xuanyuan Xi's palm.
Xuanyuan Xi clenched his fist and said coldly, "Liang Kingdom."
He released his grip, and the withered leaves turned into dust, which he then scattered into the snow with the wind.
...
With the chaos in the southwest coming to an end, Xuanyuan Xi set off to return to the capital.
"The road is still closed. Why don't you go back a few days later?" Guo Mang kindly advised.
"No need."
He had to rush back to spend the New Year with Jiaojiao.
He nimbly mounted his horse, his red cloak billowing in the wind behind him, displaying a dashing and handsome appearance.
Guo Mang was stunned.
This child is so good-looking...
Of course, they are also ruthless when it comes to killing enemies.
It's hard to imagine that such a handsome young man is the same little killing god who struck fear into the hearts of all the rebels on the battlefield just a few days ago.
"General Guo, goodbye." The young man said, patting his warhorse's neck and smiling. "Only thirteen days left, Little Eleven, it's up to you now."
The adult horse king stood up, raised its front hooves, tensed all its muscles, and grinned as if it were laughing wildly.
The Emperor has arrived!
He knocked over all the horses in the entire army camp!
It shot into the endless wind and snow like an arrow released from a bow.
...
One man, one eagle, and one horse braved the biting wind and snow, traversing mountains, passing through cities, and piercing through dense forests in the frigid world.
Finally, we arrived in Shengdu on New Year's Eve.
The snow in Shengdu was also heavy, but there was no wind today. The goose-feather-like snowflakes fell quietly, and there were few pedestrians on the streets. The shops were also closed.
The only sounds along the street were the rapid hoofbeats of horses and the loud cries of eagles circling high in the sky.
Xuanyuan Xi hadn't seen Jiaojiao for a year. He missed her so much that his heart ached, and he couldn't wait to return to her side.
"Little Eleven!" He tightened his grip on the reins.
The horse king and the boy on horseback grew up together and had a tacit understanding, so they increased the already fast speed even further.
Horse King also wanted to go back as soon as possible.
Human babies are great, but they're a hassle to walk around.
This time, it was walked for a whole year, and it really didn't want to walk him anymore.
It wants to go back and walk Jiaojiao.
...
This year, Gu Jiao and Xiao Heng spent the Lunar New Year in the Yan Kingdom with their children.
Firstly, he wanted to visit Duke Anguo and Shangguan Yan; secondly, the situation in Yan was tense, and Xuanyuan Qi had been guarding the border for two years without returning to the capital.
Gu Jiao may have to go to the battlefield.
The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law strolled through the snow-covered imperial garden, where the laughter of children could be heard from behind the flower bushes ahead.
Innocent and carefree.
A hint of tender affection flashed in Shangguan Yan's eyes.
The longer she reigned as emperor, the stronger her sharp and ruthless aura became, and the palace servants rarely saw her softer side.
Shangguan Yan sighed, "Jingkong made a great contribution during this internal turmoil in the southwest. Did you know that he volunteered to go to the southwest? He said that if he didn't go, you would go."
Gu Jiao paused for a moment.
Shangguan Yan sighed: "He said that you don't need to fight anymore, he will fight all the battles. He told me and the Grand Marshal not to tell you any military intelligence, just tell him. He will definitely win, he guarantees."
Gu Jiao felt as if she had been hit hard in the chest.
She suddenly remembered what Jingkong had said to her when he first came to her home.
"Jiaojiao, you're amazing!"
"I want to become really amazing too! Even more amazing than Jiaojiao! That way, Jiaojiao won't need to be amazing anymore!"
She was puzzled.
Three-year-old Jingkong looked up, his clear, unblemished eyes staring intently into hers: "Jiaojiao, you must be having a hard time, right? Master said that great people have all suffered a lot, and they will continue to suffer a lot in the future."
Because truly capable people are destined to climb mountains! Climbing mountains is tough, but descending is much more comfortable!
"Jiaojiao, wait for me to grow up. When I grow up, I'll carry you up the mountain!"
If all capable people have to go up the mountain, then he'll carry Jiaojiao up the mountain on his back!
Jiaojiao doesn't need to walk; he'll bear all the suffering Jiaojiao endures!
Gu Jiao didn't quite understand the words about going up and down the mountain that a three-year-old little dumpling was talking about at the time, but she gradually came to understand them later.
She finally understood why he had suddenly joined the army at the age of twelve.
He abandoned his literary pursuits for military service, not because repeated misfortunes made him lose confidence in the imperial examinations, but because he wanted to go to war in her place.
To establish a moral compass for Heaven and Earth, to secure a destiny for the people, to continue the lost learning of past sages, and to usher in an era of peace for all generations.
She hadn't had a chance to teach him these things yet; his mind was very simple.
All he wanted was to give her a peaceful and prosperous world.
“He didn’t even say goodbye when he left,” she whispered.
“If I told you, he wouldn’t have left.” Shangguan Yan said, glancing at Gu Jiao, “The war in the southwest has been quelled, and Jingkong will be back soon. He will be very happy to see you.”
Gu Jiao nodded.
She wanted to clear her mind, she really, really wanted to.
"Furthermore," Shangguan Yan paused, "the situation in the six kingdoms may be about to change again."
After the last war against Jin, the six states lived in peace for several years, but this delicate balance was recently broken.
Shangguan Yan proposed building a canal for transporting goods between the six kingdoms, but this was opposed by all the kingdoms.
The reasons are varied and numerous, such as not wanting to disrupt the country's feng shui or not wanting to cause hardship and waste of resources.
But the real reason is actually for an island called Baoshan.
Baoshan Island is located in the State of Jin and is part of Jin's territory. After Jin was defeated, it ceded many cities in exchange for peace, including Baoshan Island.
However, Baoshan Island was a deserted island, and no one wanted it at first, but the Yan Kingdom took it.
Who would have thought that the people who later reclaimed the land would discover a gold mine on the island? The other countries were all uneasy, believing that the Yan Kingdom had deliberately concealed the mineral vein, making everyone mistakenly believe that it was a deserted island.
Now every country wants a piece of the pie.
That is impossible.
Shangguan Yan would never back down.
However, this was not the only reason for the escalating tensions among the six states; another significant reason was the Turks.
The Turkic Khaganate has undergone a dramatic change.
The Turks originally split off from the State of Jin, and consisted of thirteen tribes. Over the years, these tribes have ruled independently, leading to constant conflicts.
It's not that no one tried to unify the thirteen tribes, it's just that no one had the means.
But just three years ago, the weakest of the Turkic tribes suddenly rose to power and annexed the other tribes one by one.
In less than three years, he unified the thirteen tribes of the Turkic Khaganate, which had been divided for hundreds of years.
Two months ago, the Turks established a state and named it Wei.
Whether the six states acknowledge it or not, it is a country that has ushered in a new golden age.
The ruler of Wei did not yet claim the title of emperor, but only the title of king.
"He probably wanted to wait until the envoys of the six kingdoms arrived there to witness his coronation ceremony before officially ruling the world." Shangguan Yan said, taking out an edict from her wide sleeve. "A personal letter from the King of Wei, inviting the royal families of the various kingdoms to attend his coronation ceremony."
Gu Jiao took it. She couldn't read the Jin script, so she asked, "Mother, are you planning to go?"
Shangguan Yan said, "Qing'er said he wants to go, but I'm always a little worried, so I hope to find someone to go with him. Let's see if it's you or your uncle."
Gu Jiao nodded. It wasn't a big problem. She could go, and so could Xuan Yuanqi.
"In addition, I would like to remind you of something," Shangguan Yan said.
"What is it?" Gu Jiao asked.
Shangguan Yan frowned and said, "It is said that the reason why this King of Wei was able to rise from the son of the weakest tribal chief to where he is today is entirely due to the fact that he has a resourceful prime minister under his command."
Gu Jiao asked instinctively, "What's your surname?"
Shangguan Yan said, "Liu."
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(End of this chapter)
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