His heart was so ruthless, actually using his own cousin as a spy. If she hadn't known they weren't enemies, she would have suspected her husband was deliberately playing tricks on him.
"He's not small anymore; he knows what he's doing. You should trust him!"
If you don't sacrifice your child, you won't catch the wolf. These were the very words his wife had said. Yet, when it came to such matters, she worried endlessly, more motherly than Xu Dong's own mother.
If Xu Dong were to fight battles behind him, the military merits gained would be too few, making his dream of marrying a favored princess utterly impossible.
His plan hinged on that final battle. If it succeeded, Xu Dong would be a hero; if it failed, Xu Dong's life could at least be half-saved.
Zhao Jiaqi had no retort. She admitted she was too cautious, always anticipating the worst and hesitant to take risks, lacking the courage.
With so many complicated issues, she wouldn't go all out until it was a desperate situation. Perhaps this was the difference between her and her husband.
Therefore, she couldn't be a general; she lacked that ruthless streak!
As dawn broke, Xiao Ce departed with good news.
In early April, the Emperor received the news brought back by Xiao Ce and couldn't have been more delighted. Hearing his explanation of "warfare is deception" again, he marveled, pursing his lips and smiling. "General Fan is truly an interesting person, and his wife seems even less like a country woman."
"Indeed, I felt she was more like a formidable figure, capable of disrupting the rules set on the battlefield, dismissing them with disdain, and refuting them with sharp wit. Such a feat is beyond the capability of an ordinary woman."
Huangfu Yifan chuckled, "Your Highness, I believe Madam Fan is quite right. Cowardice can be beneficial; resting and recuperating well, doesn't that grant the enemy more opportunities to gain momentum... Hmm, that's a classic saying! She is truly a paragon among women."
Huangfu Jintao glanced at the Crown Prince, raising his eyebrows slightly. This was the first time he had heard the Crown Prince praise a woman so highly.
He smiled, "It seems I must grant Madam Fan an award to align with the paragon of women your Highness speaks of."
Huangfu Yifan immediately followed up, "Then General Fan should be moved to tears. When he returns, perhaps he will come up with another astonishing way to thank Your Majesty."
This not-so-subtle flattery made Huangfu Jintao roar with laughter, his back shaking, "I am truly eager to hear what other words of gratitude he can offer me."
After the laughter subsided, the Emperor issued two imperial edicts.
One was for Fan Zehao, directly promoting him from Second-Class Cavalry General to First-Class Grand General, the Grand Marshal commanding the Eagle and Tiger armies.
The second edict was for Zhao Jiaqi: a First-Rank Imperial Consort.
Soon, the news spread throughout the capital: Fan Zehao, a mere peasant, had ascended to the rank of First-Class Grand General, with the esteemed title of "Zhen Guo" (Guardian of the State)?
The prestigious title of "Zhen Guo" was bestowed upon him?
As a result, the court officials were in an uproar.
During the morning court session, the ministers argued vehemently.
The Emperor watched the individuals below, who merely consumed food without contributing to society.
He coldly asked, "Who was it that previously said it was improper to wage war and suggested sending envoys to clarify the situation? And who said it wouldn't be too late to send troops then? We have continuously lost several cities. What about those fallen soldiers, those displaced refugees? Is that not a waste of manpower and resources? Come, tell me, what is that?"
With a single glance from the Emperor, no one dared to speak. Especially the one who had suggested sending envoys, their neck shrank into their collar, wishing they could dig a hole and bury themselves right there.
"Envoys were sent, but the people were already dead, and the intelligence they sent back was false! Is that your brilliant strategy!"
Huangfu Jintao angrily slammed the armrests of his dragon throne, questioning the people below, "You all, unable to speak coherently, can only bark nonsense and do things that even beasts wouldn't tolerate. What, you are unhappy that I have conferred the title of Grand General? Let anyone who is unhappy step forward and try to reclaim a city for me, and I will grant you a high official position, wealth, and endless glory and riches. Who will go?"
Xiao Ce, standing to the side, found the Emperor's words to have a hint of Fan Zehao's style – rustic, and even containing curses.
Meanwhile, the ministers were silent. The vast Golden Luang Hall echoed only with the Emperor's reprimands, and the ministers hung their heads even lower.
Huangfu Jintao glared at the people below, showing no intention of letting them off the hook. "A month ago, the spy discovered in the imperial palace was found by General Fan."
"He can risk his life on the front lines to protect the Yun Kingdom, and he can discover such meticulous matters behind the lines. What have you been doing? With your eyes wide open, you only focus on trivial matters. During this time, what have you accomplished?"
Angered, he panted for a moment. Wang Zhanlin, seeing this, stepped forward to continuously dissuade him, helping him regulate his breathing and repeatedly emphasizing the importance of the Emperor's health. However, this was completely ineffective against the enraged Huangfu Jintao.
With a wave of his hand, he pushed Wang Zhanlin aside.
After catching his breath, he continued, "Don't think that you secretly call him a brute or a peasant! Are your young masters any better? Why haven't they achieved this? Aren't they all afraid of death, all cowards and weaklings?"
"Hmph, drinking at pleasure houses, seeking courtesans in brothels, you are all competitive, even vying to see who is more accomplished. These are your deeds, good-for-nothings. From now on, if I hear of anyone visiting a brothel or drinking at pleasure houses again, I will execute one for each offense!"
Enraged, Huangfu Jintao uttered these harsh words. At this moment, he remembered someone's words: a thousand-mile dike can be breached by an ant's nest.
Weren't they all looking down on Fan Zehao?
Today, he would make them unable to look up to him.
"I tell you all again, when Fan Zehao and all the reclaimed cities are back, and a celebration banquet is held, I will adopt him as my godson and enfeoff him as a king of a different surname. Do any of you have objections!"
With this tone, this momentum, this attitude, he wasn't asking for their opinions; he had already made his decision.
From now on, anyone who dared to speak of him as a brute, a peasant, or someone who couldn't grace a formal occasion would be considered as disrespecting the imperial family and gravely impolite.
Huangfu Yifan smiled and was the first to step forward, cupping his hands in congratulations, "Your Highness, I congratulate Your Majesty for gaining such a brave and wise godson. This is truly a great fortune for the Yun Kingdom."
"Your humble servants congratulate His Majesty, and wish His Majesty eternal life, eternal life, eternal life!"
With a rustle, a crowd of people knelt on the ground, their hearts and mouths in disagreement.
The Emperor recalled Fan Zehao's words back in Nanling Village: "I just like seeing you dislike me but be unable to do anything about it."
He could now understand that feeling. It was exhilarating, incredibly exhilarating.
Far away at that time, Fan Zehao sneezed violently, his face flushed red. He muttered, "Who's gossiping about me behind my back."
Zhao Jiaqi, leading the children, found living in the military camp for too long was not ideal. Moreover, based on her observations during this period, the new emperor of Zongsheng Kingdom, Zong Han, did not seem to be from their world; otherwise, he would have recognized these tactics by now.
On the seventh day of her stay in the military camp, she made a decision.
"Husband, the children and I are not suited for the military camp. Why don't we go and live in a nearby village?"