Zhang Fu immediately knelt down and said with utmost respect, "Your subject Zhang Fu, Commander of the Imperial Guards, pays respects to Your Majesty the Empress. May Your Majesty live a long life."
Xu Miaoqing smiled and said, "Rise. I have heard a lot about your name, my dear minister. The Crown Prince often praises you for your talent as a commander. You should be loyal to the king and not disappoint His Majesty and the Crown Prince."
This could be seen as encouragement, or it could certainly be seen as a warning. As the empress who ruled the country, Xu Miaoqing naturally had the right to treat Zhang Fu in this way. Simply being courteous to the virtuous and learned was not necessarily the way to win the hearts of her subjects; a combination of kindness and severity was the most suitable approach.
Zhang Fu immediately and respectfully accepted the order, saying, "Your subject obeys the decree."
Xu Miaoqing smiled and nodded, then said, "I remember there are several precious swords in the Crown Prince's palace. Since Minister Zhang is going north to quell the rebellion, I will bestow upon him one of these swords. A precious sword is a fitting gift for a hero. Years ago, His Majesty bestowed his personal sword upon an old soldier, who then often admired his weapon. My dear minister, do not disappoint the Crown Prince."
Zhang Fu was naturally even more excited. In his early years, the current emperor had indeed "exchanged" weapons with an old soldier, which could be considered a good story.
Little Zhu became a little anxious and immediately said, "Mother, we've heard that Goryeo is bitterly cold. They're even giving Zhang Fu an extra cloak. If our great general doesn't have a cloak that fits him properly, how can he have the bearing of a great general?"
Xu Miaoqing smiled and nodded, saying, "Since the Crown Prince has said so, I will bestow upon Minister Zhang a cloak."
Zhang Fu was instantly excited. It seemed he had chosen the right person to follow, making it much easier to rise in the ranks. By following His Highness the Crown Prince, opportunities would be plentiful, and he wouldn't have to worry about missing out on chances to make contributions.
7017k
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
