The streets and alleys of Weizhou Prefecture were decorated with lights and colors. Even the roadside stalls were covered with red cloth. The poorest families also wrapped themselves with a red ribbon. The city was as festive as if it were New Year's Day.
The common people rushed to tell each other, and everywhere was discussing the news of this great victory in Western Shu.
As soon as Qiao Xin entered the city, she felt the changes in it. She didn't know how many people she had heard her eldest son's name from.
No wonder everyone is so happy. From last year to now, nothing good has happened in life.
First there were floods in the summer, then snowstorms in the winter. Before the natural disasters were over, Xishu took advantage of the situation and started another war. The imperial court began to recruit soldiers in the twelfth lunar month.
Everyone is faced with one difficult problem after another, and most people have experienced separations and deaths time and time again.
This summer, there was another heavy rain and the Qingshui River burst its banks. Life was like bitter melon soaked in coptis chinensis, with no hope in sight.
At this time, they learned that the Zhennan army had conquered the entire Western Shu, and the men of Weizhou Prefecture had made great military achievements.
From now on, Weizhou Prefecture will no longer have to worry about harassment from southwestern tribes. How could the imperial court give up such a good opportunity to boost morale? The government wanted to celebrate for three days and three nights.
The reason why the Zhennan army was able to achieve such a great victory was due to the contributions made by the men of Weizhou Prefecture.
Not to mention that the generals who led the troops were from the Fan family and the Qiao family respectively, but they were both from the most powerful official families in Weizhou Prefecture.
For example, nearly half of the soldiers in the Zhennan Army were men recruited from Weizhou Prefecture. Any one of them could be someone’s son or husband.
When people talk about them, don’t they feel proud of them?
In this offensive battle to pacify Western Shu, the Dajing Southern Expedition Army, with Fan Baiqing as the main general and Qiao Yunxin as the vanguard general, led 30,000 elite troops across the Shuo Si River and marched southward to Huaine County.
Qiao Yunxin abandoned his boat and landed halfway, and with 3,500 elite troops as the vanguard, he quickly passed through the three dangerous passes in the northern part of Western Shu, namely the Dasui, Zhiyuan and Nanzheng, and penetrated deep into the interior of Western Shu.
The Shu army was caught off guard and was forced to fight a hasty battle at Shiniu Road.
The Shu army was defeated, and Dajing's vanguard army pursued the victory.
In just three days, they marched 700 miles and won five battles in a row.
The capital of Western Shu was captured in one fell swoop, and the King of Shu abandoned the city and fled south. He was eventually captured alive by Qiao Yunxin in Xingu Town on the Western Border.
At this point, Western Shu was under the control of Dajing.
Qiao Yunxin showed his outstanding military talent in this battle, which attracted even more attention.
He was bold in employing troops on the battlefield and came up with many ingenious strategies.
Countless people sighed that another rising star was emerging in Dajing.
When the army returned triumphantly, everyone else was busy celebrating, but their respected General Qiao was the first to hand over his military power and resign.
All the civil and military officials in the court were shocked!
Emperor Wu almost stood up in shock when he heard this: "Qiao Aiqing, do you know what you are talking about?"
"Your Majesty, I know!"
Qiao Yunxin knelt on the ground, and his words were so sincere and heartfelt.
Because of his sincere attitude, Emperor Wu really couldn't understand what his minister was thinking.
What man doesn't love power, let alone military power that includes a large number of troops.
Just based on the personalities of Qiao Yunting and Qiao Xin, Emperor Wu would not easily suspect that Qiao Yunxin was a man who could command his own troops.
He couldn't help but ask: "What does this mean? The court is in need of talents, and you are both wise and brave. I was just thinking of entrusting you with important tasks. Why do you suddenly want to resign and retire?
Qiao Yunxin replied with a frank face, "Your Majesty, the southwest is now stable, and General Fan is here to guard it. Dajing has powerful generals guarding the four directions, and each army is full of talents. The people live and work in peace and contentment. It doesn't matter whether I am here or not.
But my mother is getting older, and she has been working hard for me and my brothers. I can't bear it.
Compared with my second and third brothers, I am dull and have only brute strength. I am not cut out to be an official. I might as well go home and protect the family for everyone and be filial to them."
This really left Emperor Wu speechless. It seemed that the Qiao family really did not have a male owner who was in charge of the mansion all year round, which made it inconvenient for the people in charge of the various mansions in the capital to visit them.
But you should not treat people as fools. If you could become a general with strong limbs and a simple mind, you wouldn't have achieved so many great feats and captured the King of Shu alive during this expedition to Western Shu.
It is easy to get an army, but it is difficult to get a general.
Especially at this critical moment, Emperor Wu did not want to lose such a powerful general.
After the fall of the previous dynasty, the world was divided into pieces. Although he was the founding monarch of Dajing, the territory he managed was actually comparable to the territory of a prince of the previous dynasty.
The world seems peaceful, but in fact it is full of crises. The monarchs of Dongyi, Nanliang, and Xiling all want to be the emperor who unifies the world, not to mention that there is a Beirong who is eyeing them covetously.
All countries are secretly preparing for future wars and training their troops.
Apart from the drunken emperor of Southern Liang, every country was desperately trying to snatch people and resources.
God had finally given him a family of talents like Qiao Xin, and he would never allow Qiao Yunxin to resign.
At least not now!
"Since ancient times, loyalty and filial piety cannot be achieved at the same time. I understand your thoughts, but you are in your prime and it is time for you to serve the country. I really can't bear to see you leave. You are resigning like this. Have you discussed it with the old lady?
Qiao Yunxin thought about it and replied: "Mother always respects the decision of this general."
The whole court was filled with annoyance. What was the point of showing off a sensible and good mother?
Especially those officials who have elders with strong control desire at home, they are envious and a little hateful of Qiao Xin for being too indulgent to her children. She even let her children do something as important as resigning from office.
That’s too much!
Why do we have to go to court when we are in our seventies and eighties, but you, a young man of twenty-four or twenty-five, are thinking of resigning and retiring?
For the first time, the ruler and his subjects of Dajing surprisingly reached a tacit understanding. They couldn't let this kid get what he wanted.
The King of Qi took the lead and stood up to object, saying, "General Qiao is worrying too much. Old Madam Qiao is in good health and has as much energy as a young person.
There are servants around, so why do you need to resign to take care of them? You said you wanted to resign when you were at the peak of your career. People who didn't know would think that the old lady forced you to return home. Isn't this putting the old lady in an unfair position?"
Some civil officials saw through the Emperor's thoughts and thought that even if Qiao Yunxin resigned, the power would not fall into their hands, so they might as well sell it, and they joined the ranks of dissuading him.
Even military generals such as General Guan and Marquis Xiaoyao were among them.
When it was time to end the court session, Emperor Wu waved his hand and began to dismiss people.
"I will give you a month to go back and see your family. We will discuss this matter later. You may leave now."
Qiao Yunxin failed to resign, but he was not discouraged.
At most, I can resign a few more times, and sooner or later His Majesty will see that I really want to lie down and become a rich man, instead of retreating to advance and want to gain more benefits.
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