On the other side, inside the West City Camp.
General Qin sat in the main seat, listening to his lieutenant general's report on the situation in Lulu County, which was under siege by the Hu people. "General, it's fortunate that Captain Wang came to our aid just in time. If he had been a step later, the consequences would have been disastrous!"
General Qin spoke in a deep voice to Wang Yao, "I just came back from Lulu County, and County Magistrate Wu praised you in front of me. You did a really good job on this matter!"
Wang Yao replied respectfully, "Sir, we were able to defend the county this time thanks to Young Master Qin. If it weren't for his many strategies, successfully resisting the Hu people's attack and buying time for the arrival of reinforcements, the consequences would have been disastrous. I believe the credit should belong to Young Master Qin!"
The soldiers have been discussing privately what happened on New Year's Eve in Lulu County these days.
The fact that two thousand soldiers resisted the attack of the 50,000-strong Hu army and held the city had spread throughout the military camp.
The soldiers discussed the strategy of repelling the enemy with great relish, and even sighed, "As expected, a tiger father will have a dog son. It turns out that the young master is also a good candidate to lead troops in battle!"
General Qin waved his hand, not letting Wang Yao continue. "Xing Yun stays, everyone else go down!"
This time when I returned to the capital, I wanted to tell Your Majesty about the hardships of the soldiers in the northwest, and hoped that Your Majesty could allocate the food and fodder owed to the soldiers.
Unfortunately, before I had the chance to complain to His Majesty the Emperor, he received a report that Lulu County was besieged by the Hu people.
The emperor was both furious and frightened, and ordered his general to rush back to the northwest overnight.
Under the instigation of some pro-peace factions in the court, the emperor was worried that Qin Bin would take advantage of this opportunity to launch a counterattack, and the situation would then be out of control.
Emperor Gaozong sent another urgent message, 800 miles away, telling Qin Bin to "just defend and do not attack!" Qin Bin had no choice but to accept it.
Xing Yun stood aside, watching his uncle in deep thought. After a moment's hesitation, he said, "Uncle, I'm worried about my cousin. He did a good job in Lulu County. He's a good candidate for military service. I think you could put him in the camp to gain some experience!"
"He is not suitable!" Qin Bin almost blurted out.
Looking at his nephew's disapproving expression, Qin Bin sighed and said to his guards after a while, "Is that boy still in the camp? Bring him to me!"
The guard standing outside the door bowed and accepted the order, then immediately turned around to look for the young master!
Xing Yun asked in confusion, "Uncle, I can understand if my cousin is weak and unsuited to marching and fighting, but this guy's intelligence and courage are every bit as good as mine. He simply hasn't had any military experience. If you could lead him personally, in time, the Northwest Army would surely have another formidable general!"
Qin Bin didn't respond to his nephew's words. Instead, he said, "On my return to the capital, I only managed to leave a memorial to Your Majesty regarding food and fodder for the Northwest Army. I'm sure it fell on deaf ears! Food and fodder for an army of hundreds of thousands has clearly become our main concern this year. It's already spring. Are those high-yield crops you stored last year ready to be planted?"
This was also what Xing Yun was most concerned about. Although he had consulted local villagers about the planting method at that time, this was the first time he had seen this thing, and no one had actually planted it!
If he fails to understand the habits of this crop and ends up making things worse, the seeds he has worked so hard to obtain will be lost. This is what Xing Yun least wants to see.
Xing Yun hesitated for a moment before answering, "Uncle, it's indeed time to plant this crop now. It's just that this is the first time we've seen it. I'd like to find an opportunity to ask the girl who discovered it. It won't be too late to plant it after we've confirmed it!"
Qin Bin nodded after hearing this.
At this time, the guards outside the door came to report: "General, the young master is here!"
"Come in!"
Qin Yue and his father had very few opportunities to meet privately in recent years. The last time they met privately was on the first day Qin Yue rushed to the northwest. They only exchanged a few words, and then his father hurriedly took the Fourth Prince on an inspection tour.
Qin Yue then walked in: "Father, are you looking for me?"
Qin Bin said in a low voice, "I heard that you followed Captain Wang to defend the city? Don't do this kind of thing again. You don't hold any official position in the camp. Staying here all day will give people a chance to talk. Now that the Fourth Prince has returned to the capital, it's not appropriate for you to stay in the camp any longer. Move back to the General's Mansion today. Uncle Cen is already waiting for you there!"
"Father!"
"uncle!"
The two of them exclaimed in unison. Qin Yue didn't understand why his father treated him like this, and the last glimmer of hope in his heart was about to be extinguished.
Watching the hope in his son's eyes shatter bit by bit, filled with confusion and sadness, Qin Bin couldn't bear to see the child suffer like this.
Then he stood up and patted the boy on the shoulder: "If you really have nothing to do, I do have an important matter to entrust to you. It concerns the survival of 300,000 troops. Can you do it?"
Hearing this, the boy's originally dim eyes suddenly lit up, and his golden eyes seemed to be filled with starlight.
Qin Yue's mood, which had originally reached the bottom, suddenly brightened up after hearing his father's question. The young man's desire to gain his father's attention and recognition was ignited again.
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