Even Cao Feng, a notorious dandy, had the courage to take up a three-foot sword and seek a glorious death on the battlefield.
This stirred the Emperor’s own martial spirit.
A decision had already formed in his mind.
He shifted the topic back to the Hu rebellion in the Liaozhou Military Governorship.
“The Hu of Liaozhou have rebelled time and again. This time, they even assassinated a court-appointed governor. Their crimes are unforgivable!”
“If we do not teach them a lesson, others will think the Great Qian Empire is weak and easy to bully!”
His words were filled with chilling killing intent.
The repeated rebellions had completely enraged Emperor Zhao Han.
“Duke Li Xin!”
The aging Duke Li Xin, who could barely walk steadily, stepped forward upon hearing his name.
A sharp glint flashed in his clouded eyes.
“Your servant is here!”
“I appoint you as the supreme commander to suppress the rebellion in Liaozhou!”
“The Shenwu Army, Longxiang Army, Qingzhou Army, Youzhou Army, Liaozhou Army, and all Hu tribes in Liaozhou shall fall under your command!”
“Depart immediately and suppress the rebellious Hu tribes!”
“I accept the decree!”
The previously frail Li Xin suddenly seemed invigorated, his entire presence radiating authority, as if he had become a different person.
As the Emperor deployed troops and assigned command, a heavy killing aura filled the hall.
Many war hawks were eager, their eyes blazing with excitement.
The civil officials remained silent.
The Emperor had already made it clear.
There would be no more talk of pacification.
“Marquis Dingwu!”
“Marquis Dongchuan!”
“Marquis Zhendong!”
Three military marquises stepped forward in unison.
“Your servants are here!”
“You three shall serve as deputy commanders under Duke Li Xin!”
“We obey the decree!”
Their voices rang loud, filled with killing intent.
“The Ministry of Revenue and Ministry of War are to prepare sufficient funds, provisions, and weapons within ten days!”
“The army shall depart within twenty days. No delays are permitted!”
After issuing these orders, the Emperor turned to Li Xin again.
“Duke Li.”
“Your servant is here.”
“I grant you the Sword of Royal Authority!”
“If anyone hesitates in battle or flees, you may execute them first and report afterward!”
“I accept the decree!”
Li Xin was greatly excited.
Though he was a veteran of three reigns and a respected elder, many military marquises were arrogant and unruly.
It was uncertain whether they would obey his orders. Get faster updates on g.com.
But now, with the Sword of Royal Authority, victory seemed assured.
The court officials gasped in shock.
The Emperor had even bestowed the Sword of Royal Authority.
His determination to suppress the rebellion was absolute.
Officials responsible for supplies also grew more serious.
Any delay in the campaign would bring severe consequences.
Hearing the Emperor’s killing intent and seeing the generals’ burning enthusiasm, Cao Feng felt his own blood stir.
The Emperor’s command displayed overwhelming authority.
“This campaign must proceed with thunderous force!”
His voice echoed through the hall.
“All thirteen tribes involved in the rebellion shall be annihilated. No survivors!”
“Furthermore!”
“Upon arrival in Liaozhou, conscript the remaining Hu tribes to join the campaign and use them as the vanguard!”
“After suppressing the rebellion, establish direct governance, build schools, and no longer appoint Hu tribal leaders as officials…”
Cao Feng’s lips twitched.
This damned Emperor.
He adopted Cao Feng’s strategy without reward and even sent him to the battlefield.
Shameless.
Better to keep distance from such a scheming man in the future.
With that, the Emperor finalized the campaign on the spot.
Cao Feng had been spared and no longer needed to draw attention to himself.
He quietly stood in the corner, content to remain unnoticed.
The previous night, he had drunkenly burned the Esteemed Scholars Pavilion and beaten the Sixth Prince.
Later, he had indulged himself with Miss Yushu at Drunken Fragrance Tower.
At dawn, he was dragged into court to answer for his crimes.
Facing an Emperor who held his life in his hands, he had remained tense and alert throughout, exhausting himself.
Now that it was over, fatigue washed over him, and he nearly dozed off.
“Court dismissed!”
About half an hour later, Cao Feng heard the announcement and felt as if he had been pardoned.
The officials filed out of the hall.
Cao Feng followed his father, Marquis Cao Zhen, outside.
Under the bright sunlight, warmth spread through his body.
He glanced back at the majestic hall and sighed.
It felt good to be alive.
Walking through that hall had been like stepping through the gates of hell.
If not for his composure, his head might already have been severed.
Fortunately, he had turned danger into safety.
The outcome was not perfect.
But compared to losing his head, it was the best possible result. Enjoying the story? Read on at g.com.
Cao Zhen looked at his son, his eyes nearly closing from smiling.
The crisis had passed, and his mood was light.
Especially after his son’s astonishing poetry and brilliant strategies, which had shocked the entire court.
Most importantly, his son had been spared death.
As for being sent to Liaozhou as a ninth-rank Renyong Captain and needing to rise to General Yunhui to return…
That was nothing.
As long as he lived, everything else could be managed.
With his connections in the army, he believed that within ten years, his son could rise in rank and return.
“This calamity has finally passed!”
Cao Zhen smiled broadly.
“You brat, I misjudged you before! I thought you were truly worthless and would ruin our family’s reputation! I never expected you to be both wise and brave, full of talent, with the bearing of a prime minister!”
He slapped Cao Feng’s shoulder proudly.
“As expected of my son! You’ve brought honor to the Cao family! You have my style!”
Cao Feng winced and moved his father’s hand away.
Damn it.
Have some shame.
You really know how to flatter yourself.
You’re just a brute who knows how to charge into battle.
If not for me thinking quickly, both my life and the Cao family would have been finished today.
Still, though his father was a bit slow, he genuinely cared for him.
“Father,” Cao Feng said tiredly, “I’m exhausted. Let’s return home first.”
After enduring the verbal attacks in court, his nerves had been stretched to the limit.
Now that it was over, he just wanted to sleep for three days straight.
“Alright, alright!”
“Let’s go home! You performed brilliantly today, brought great honor to our family, and had your life spared. This calls for celebration! We should prepare a grand feast!”
Cao Zhen looked at his son with increasing pride.
How had he produced such an outstanding son?
“Father, forget the feast.”
Cao Feng reminded him, “We were targeted because we drew too much attention. We should keep a low profile.”
Cao Zhen thought for a moment and nodded.
“Good, good! I’ll listen to you. No feast.”
“Sigh! Even I was scared half to death today. Thinking about it now, it’s still frightening.”
Then he grinned.
“Son, why don’t we skip going home? I’ll call your favorite Miss Yushu from Drunken Fragrance Tower to the villa. We can relax together…”
Cao Feng was speechless.
No wonder he had turned out like this.
Like father, like son.
But recalling Miss Yushu’s soft body, he suddenly didn’t feel so tired anymore.
“Father, we’re in the Royal palace. Can you keep your voice down?”
“What’s there to fear! I stand upright and act with integrity. Whoever dares gossip, I’ll chop them down!”