General, your wife has gone to deliver another calf for your horse.

Chapter 615 Conferring the Seal of a First-Rank General Who Guards the Nation

"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: You have been wronged for many years, and I am deeply saddened. You were once a war god, expanding our territory by thousands of miles, and your military exploits were numerous. Now that your injustice has been redressed, I will surely make amends for what you lost in the past."

The Northern Barbarians have breached the pass, and the Central Plains are in grave danger. I personally bestow upon you the seal of a First-Rank General Who Guards the Nation, and grant you the Imperial Sword, authorizing you to execute first and report later. Tomorrow at dawn, lead 30,000 elite troops on an expedition to strike directly at the enemy's lair.

Your family, young and old, will be protected by the Imperial Guards. Gold, silk, and provisions will accompany you immediately. You need only draw your sword and charge forth, piling the heads of the Northern Barbarians into a mound! I will prepare a celebratory feast at the Vermilion Bird Gate, awaiting your triumphant return!

Admire this! "

After the imperial edict was read aloud, the surroundings became so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Grand Tutor Fang's aged voice wasn't loud, but it was exceptionally clear in this early morning.

As a result, some of the people listening to the imperial decree gradually had tears in their eyes.

After Grand Tutor Fang finished reading the imperial edict, he handed it to Li Rong and then picked up another imperial edict together.

"General Li Rong receives the imperial decree."

Li Rong grasped the imperial edict in his hand and said in a deep voice again, "Li Rong accepts the edict."

“In the past, our dynasty’s war god Li Rong made unparalleled contributions to the country, fighting in the south and the north, and his fame spread far and wide. He was truly a pillar of the nation. However, the treacherous Zhao family framed him, causing his entire family to be confiscated and him to be unjustly reduced to slavery. Whenever I think of this, I am heartbroken.”

Now that the truth has come to light and Li Rong's injustice has been redressed, I hereby exonerate Li Rong, execute the traitors, return his family property, and re-erect the monument to the Li family's ancestral tombs.

Now, the northern barbarians are invading, the state is in grave danger, and the people are suffering greatly.

Effective immediately, Li Rong is hereby appointed as the Grand General of the State, granted the Tiger Tally, and ordered to lead troops on an immediate expedition.

Li Rong is not a criminal slave, but my war god and savior of the world. Those who obstruct him will be executed, those who collude with the enemy will have their entire clan exterminated, and those who aid him in battle will be richly rewarded.

"I hereby issue an edict to Li Rong: I grant you 300,000 iron cavalry, with the intention of crushing the Northern Barbarian royal court. On the day of your triumphant return, I will surely treat you with great honor."

After the two imperial edicts were read aloud, the surroundings fell silent once more.

Jiang Nuanzhi glanced at Chi Heng, who was secretly wiping away tears beside him, and couldn't help but look at Li Rong in front of him. He actually wanted to know what Li Rong was thinking right now.

However, the person in front of him remained motionless, making it impossible to discern their emotions.

"Congratulations, General Who Protects the Nation."

Grand Tutor Fang's aged voice broke the silence once more: "His Majesty has now proclaimed this second imperial edict to the world. Now, the whole country knows that the general was wronged all those years ago. The Zhao family has been raided, Zhao Wang will be executed in three days, and Zhao Xiuyuan and his family members have been detained. Evil will be punished."

"Confiscation of property."

Li Rong, standing before him, repeatedly pondered the words "confiscation of property." For a moment, he even let out a soft chuckle.

The towering flames from years ago when the Li family's property was ransacked seem to still flicker before my eyes. Yet now, the divine grace bestowed upon me by this treacherous situation makes it feel like a distant memory.

Is the Emperor now planning to use the Zhao family to appease him and silence the public outcry?
In a daze, Li Rong actually felt like laughing.

When Zhao Wang betrayed him in the past, he probably never imagined that things would turn out this way.
But what's the difference between the Zhao family and the Li family back then?
Zhao Wang betrayed himself, but he did not betray his family and country. The Zhao family had truly protected the Great Jing for many years.

Just yesterday, news of Zhao Poqiong's death in battle defending the border city arrived. He had died for his country, and his head was hung on the city wall by Yelü Qi. He is still unable to rest in peace.

Zhao Poqiong and Zhao Wang are from the same clan. The entire Zhao family is now in prison.

After his death, who will remember him?
The betrayal was Zhao Wang's doing; how could Zhao Poqiong be innocent?

However, these are just the tip of the iceberg.

When they manipulated the political landscape in the imperial court, going back and forth, they never thought about how many soldiers were lost or how many innocent lives were buried.

Li Rong painstakingly found evidence from back then, but before he could even begin his plan to clear his name, the current situation meant that no one cared whether he had colluded with the enemy back then.

When the court needed him, it seemed he didn't have to do anything; someone would naturally provide him with everything he wanted. Just as when the Great Jing Dynasty didn't need him, they would arbitrarily slap a charge of treason on him—it was the same.

While Li Rong was lost in thought, a golden light flashed before his eyes. He turned to look and saw that palace officials had already brought heavy armor to him.

Cloud-piercing armor, golden-threaded boots, purple cloud crown, and imperial sword.
These are all his old comrades from when he went to war.

Unexpectedly, it appeared right in front of me so easily.

The armor, long sealed away, gleamed coldly in the morning light, seemingly unchanged. Yet, Li Rong was overwhelmed with mixed emotions.

He reached out and covered the cold armor with his hand, remaining silent for a long time.

"General, shall we have your attendant adjust your hat? The entire army is waiting for you."

Li Rong seemed not to have heard Grand Tutor Fang's words. He turned around and looked at A Nuan behind him.

Lying in bed, Li Rong thought countless times that it would be better to just leave like this.

What did Ah Nuan say?
She always seemed to say with a smile that as long as there's breath, there's plenty of hope.

He watched helplessly as Ah Nuan transformed her barren and hopeless days into something vibrant and fulfilling.

Sometimes he wondered if he hadn't met Anuan, he might have really been buried in the wilderness that winter.
Jiang Nuanzhi met Li Rong's eyes and couldn't help but be stunned for a moment.

For some reason, she felt that A-Rong's emotions seemed a little off.

The thing I've been longing for for years has finally come true. Even if things have changed, I should be somewhat happy, right? Whether I cry or laugh, it should be different. But Li Rong in front of me seems to have become even colder.

The next second, Jiang Nuanzhi was suddenly placed in a cold embrace.

Li Rong's arms held her very tightly, as if he wanted to mash her into his flesh and blood.

Jiang Nuanzhi was stunned for a moment, noticing the gazes around her. She swallowed hard, but the next second, Li Rong had already let go of her. It was as if the tight embrace just now was an illusion.

He casually straightened her cloak and instructed her, "The imperial edict of investiture and the decree for the mansion will likely arrive later. I'm going to prepare the troops. Ah Nuan, everything is in your hands."

Li Rong didn't change his clothes. After giving Jiang Nuanzhi a few instructions, he patted Xiao Er and Baozhu's heads and turned to leave the house.

The honor guard, including Chi Heng and others from his family, followed him out. Surrounded by the crowd, Li Rong turned around and gave Jiang Nuanzhi one last look. As if with endless longing, he finally closed his eyes, turned around, and left.

For some reason, Jiang Nuanzhi felt a little flustered when she met Li Rong's gaze.

Then he patted his chest and said, "Don't be afraid, don't be afraid. This person is just going to war. Why make it sound like a life-or-death separation?"

Then, as I looked at him, my gaze took on a strange quality.

This man was well-endowed and quite robust. He was the tallest among the group of people who escorted him out. Jiang Nuanzhi said without exaggeration that he was far more compelling than many of the male protagonists in the rough-and-tumble novels she had read. However, she couldn't help but think of what happened last night.

Tsk, looks good but is useless.
Cough cough, maybe I'm just too tired?

"Ah!"

Ahead, Li Rong, riding a tall horse and surrounded by a crowd, sneezed loudly.

"General, are you feeling unwell? Should we summon the imperial physician?" The generals around him looked at him with great concern.

Li Rong waved his hand: "It's alright. Let's go."

Looking back, I suppose Ah Nuan is thinking of him?
For some unknown reason, a flicker of sadness crossed his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by his usual coldness. His aura became unrestrained; in an instant, the gentle Li Rong was gone. In his place stood the invincible war god of the Great Jing Dynasty, Li Rong.

(End of this chapter)