knife

Chapter 505 Success and Fame
The heavy vermilion gate slowly opened in front of Linghu Ye, and a chill seemed to rush towards him. For no reason, Linghu Ye shivered.

This place once represented the highest power of the Qin Dynasty. Those who could appear here were all the top ministers and high-ranking officials of the Qin Dynasty. Each of them was a person who could make the land of Qin tremble with a stomp of their foot.

However, these important figures have either already fled or are retreating towards Hanzhong with Wei Zhengdao. The remaining group is now standing at the bottom of the steps behind Linghu Ye, watching him climb the steps one by one and enter the main hall.

No one followed behind Linghu Ye; at this moment, such glory belonged only to him.

Linghu Ye walked in slowly. The main hall was still resplendent with gold, but it seemed quite different from the noble and magnificent place he remembered.

I think the last time I came back here was fifteen years ago, right?

At that time, he had just been appointed as the Protector-General of the Northern Protectorate. Although he had been in charge of the Northern Protectorate for several years before that, this appointment still allowed him to rightfully take the top position of the most important minister in the Great Qin Dynasty.

However, at that time, the Qin Dynasty seemed to be at its zenith!
Wei Zhengdao presided over the administration, while Kou Zhong took charge of the underworld. He Qiku was suffocating the Chu Kingdom with the pressure of the eight towns in Jiangnan, constantly worrying that the Qin army would suddenly march south at some point. Meanwhile, in the northern frontier, thanks to his years of hard work, he had finally managed to gradually offset the adverse effects of purging the Crown Prince's faction. Although the lost places like Qingtongxia City could never be regained, a new balance had been formed once again.

Thinking about it, it's like heaven is helping me!
If it weren't for the sudden large-scale southward invasion of the barbarian tribes in the northern border region of the Yuan Dynasty, Yingzhuo wouldn't have so easily shifted his target and strategic focus to the north. Given the circumstances, if Yingzhuo had continued to target the area beyond the Great Wall, it's questionable whether he could have withstood the attack.

Regardless of how the Yuan people retreated, I did manage to defend the area outside the Great Wall. At that time, the old emperor, who had been bedridden for many years, finally passed away. A new emperor took the throne, and a group of people who had made great contributions to the new emperor's ascension received their due rewards, and I was one of them.

The emperor was full of ambition, and the ministers were all smug and eager to make a name for themselves in history.

When did I start having these little thoughts?
Linghuye couldn't remember.

It's probably accumulated little by little over the past ten years or so.

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step; a great river is formed from countless small streams.

Standing here today, recalling the vows he made while kneeling on these golden bricks, prostrating himself before them, Linghu Ye finds it somewhat amusing.

But back then, I truly wanted to be a loyal and devoted minister!

He climbed the steps and sat down on the enormous, exquisitely crafted chair at the top of the high steps. After looking around, he sat down and habitually reached out to his sides, only to find nothing. He then realized that this was not the Grand Marshal's Hall in Zhenwu City.

This chair is too big; I can't hold onto it on either side, and I can't lean back. It's not comfortable at all.

Footsteps sounded at the entrance of the main hall. Linghu Ye looked up and saw Li Guohua, Chang Lei, Wang De, and other generals walking in one after another. It was too far away to see each person clearly, but he knew that they were all smiling, genuine smiles.

Yes, you should laugh!

They've worked so hard for so many years, endured so much pressure, and poured so much effort into achieving what they have today! Their current mindset is probably the same as when they knelt before the emperor to bid him farewell back then!
"General, we have won!" Li Guohua, the leader of the generals, raised his head and said.

"What did you say?" Linghuye leaned forward and asked. "General, I said we won!" Li Guohua raised his voice.

“General Li, you’ve got the wrong title!” Wang De, standing beside him, shook his head repeatedly.

"Where did I go wrong?" Li Guohua turned his head and looked at Wang De. The man in front of him was not virtuous, but he was capable. Since entering the pass, he was initially coerced, but as he saw Linghu Ye gaining more and more power, he changed his ways and made several great contributions in the process of fighting.

"We shouldn't call him 'General' anymore!" Wang De turned and looked up at the high-ranking Linghu Ye, shouting, "The mission is accomplished! Shouldn't we shout 'Long live the Emperor'?"

The generals inside the hall looked at each other in bewilderment.

Although deep down everyone believes this is an inevitable issue, is it appropriate to bring it up now? Li Dachui is a powerful figure outside the Great Wall, and He Zudao is eyeing the Jiangnan region with predatory intent. Are those local forces that have already submitted truly loyal?

surely not.

If there's even the slightest disturbance, those people will probably start to stumble and fall again.

The commander-in-chief, sitting high above, seemed quite pleased with himself. Everyone was smart enough not to spoil his mood when he was in the highest spirits.

That damned Wang De, he really knows how to seize opportunities.

When the commander-in-chief finally reaches the top, this bastard will surely boast that he was the first to bring this up, and the commander-in-chief won't be able to deny it!

What has been the greatest contribution throughout history?
Of course, it is the merit of supporting the emperor. Compared with this, expanding territory, suppressing rebellions, revitalizing the economy, and improving people's livelihoods all have to take a backseat.

Just as everyone was wondering how to respond to the question, Linghu Ye, who was at the head of the table, burst into laughter. He patted the dragon throne forcefully, stood up, and strode down the steps: "It's uncomfortable, sitting here is really uncomfortable! And sitting up there, I can't see everyone clearly, and I can't hear you all talking clearly. It's not comfortable, it's not comfortable at all!"

Linghu Ye's laughter eased everyone's awkwardness. Li Guohua laughed and said, "You'll get used to it eventually, General. I still remember the first time you sat behind the Protector-General's desk in Zhenwu City, you also told me you felt uncomfortable!"

"You have a good memory!" Linghuye laughed and patted Li Guohua on the shoulder. "Back then, you were only in your early thirties, and I wasn't even forty yet. They say time flies like an arrow, and the days pass like a shuttle. Look at us now, the wrinkles around our eyes could trap a mosquito!"

“For ordinary people, being over fifty is already considered old age, but for you, Commander, this is the prime of your life!” Wang De chimed in.

Linghu Ye smiled slightly: "I like to hear that, gentlemen, but I must remind you that occupying Chang'an is only the first step towards our success. We are still far from true success. Let's go and find another comfortable place to discuss matters and talk about what has happened recently. To be honest, the series of events that have occurred recently have left me somewhat bewildered. If we don't handle things well, this excellent situation will be ruined!"

Everyone knows what Linghuye was talking about.

(End of this chapter)