Simulates history, but Chongzhen is the Divine Emperor at the beginning

Chapter 239 Promotion
You cast your expectant gaze upon Yue Fei.

[Yue Fei, who had previously been forthcoming with all his knowledge, was now silent... It seemed he didn't know the answer, or perhaps he did know but couldn't tell others for some reason...]

This is what confuses you: What's there to hide?

【…】

Your inquiry went unanswered because Yue Fei remained unyielding on this issue.

You don't know why he wouldn't say, you can only guess that it's inconvenient for him, or that he feels you, a complete stranger, aren't worth saying much to him...

Since they are unwilling to talk about it, there's no need for you to press them for details... Ultimately, you should still maintain the respect due to this famous and tragic historical figure.

So you changed the subject: "The marshal's trip to the capital this time might not be without its dangers..."

After a long silence, Yue Fei finally said, "You came here for this, didn't you?"

You nodded, gritting your teeth, and said, "I have always admired the Marshal's character and his heroic figure during the Northern Expedition... Now that the Marshal may be in danger, I cannot stand idly by!"

"Besides inquiring about the reasons for this Northern Expedition from the Marshal, the biggest reason for this nighttime visit is that I do not want to stand idly by and watch the Marshal meet with misfortune... If the Marshal is willing, I am willing to do everything in my power to save him!"

Your words, and the sincere emotions they conveyed, caused Yue Fei to pause in surprise.

After a long silence, he shook his head helplessly: "No need... Although I can see you have some ability, it's nothing to boast about in front of the officials. You'd better not do anything foolish..."

These words immediately dampened your spirits...

"Furthermore, I am the Emperor's subject. If the Emperor commands me to die, I have no choice but to die... If the Emperor wants to kill me, then kill me."

Yue Fei sighed deeply: "As a subject, one should not disobey one's sovereign. I have already disobeyed once during the Northern Expedition by retreating; how can I disobey a second time? That is not what a loyal subject should do."

Hearing this, your hard-won courage to save people completely vanished... Yue Fei was good in every way, but his loyalty to the emperor was truly both admirable and infuriating!

[You love him because his loyalty to the emperor is a shining point that attracts later generations; if he were disloyal, his image would undoubtedly be much dimmer... You hate him because his feudalistic loyalty to the emperor is really infuriating. If you've been listening to your father tell stories about the future since you were a child, you'd be driven crazy by Yue Fei...]

But just then, Yue Fei suddenly chuckled: "Besides, I may not necessarily die this time."

"You don't understand the government, but I do..."

【what? 】

You're stunned: How could he not die?!

[In the original history, Yue Fei was simply killed by Zhao Gou, who suffered a PTSD attack, because he disagreed with Zhao Gou on the strategy against the Jin Dynasty... But the Yue Fei of today is not just disagreeing with the emperor, he is openly defying an imperial edict!]

[Can he live? Is that still Zhao Gou?]

In short, you were extremely annoyed, but you didn't want to offend Yue Fei in person, so you had no choice but to keep quiet...

【…】

In the end, you still left Yue Fei's marshal's mansion.

On the way back to the military camp, you finally couldn't help but weakly apologize to the Prime Minister: "I'm sorry, Prime Minister, I just now..."

[Your father clearly told you to prioritize the overall situation and not to act rashly and expose yourself prematurely, yet you acted on your own when facing Yue Fei, impulsively wanting to rescue him...]

Looking back now, it's fortunate that Yue Fei didn't agree to let you save him, otherwise you might have been exposed to the "Divine Zhao Gou's" gaze prematurely, leading to unforeseen consequences! Since you disobeyed the Prime Minister's wishes, you must naturally accept his punishment...

But the Prime Minister smiled and shook his head: "Fine, just consider it your decision... You don't always have to treat my advice as gospel."

"Ultimately, you are the protagonist of the simulation, and I can only offer some suggestions. Whether you listen or not is up to you... After all, you're all grown up now."

[Your father unexpectedly didn't punish you, which left you somewhat confused... But amidst your confusion, you couldn't help but wonder: Have I really grown up?]

[And then, upon reflection, you suddenly realize: Yes, you've grown up!]

Since you joined the army at the age of eighteen in 2033, you have served in the military for thirteen years, making you a true veteran.

[Furthermore, you've earned the prestigious title of "Gold Medal Instructor for Loving the Song Dynasty" within the army. You even diligently participated in the entire Northern Expedition. Although you didn't personally engage in direct combat with the Jin soldiers, you certainly experienced the defense of cities firsthand… Even if you didn't achieve great merit, you certainly deserve credit for your hard work!]

The promotion and raise you've been waiting for are just around the corner...

This year, you're thirty-one years old!

At thirty, you've already achieved great things!

【…】

In the 216th year of the Shaoxing era, Yue Fei, the marshal of the Xiangyang army, was arrested by the enraged Emperor Zhao and brought back to Lin'an for trial on charges of disobeying an imperial order and retreating, which led to the defeat of the Northern Expedition!

Ultimately, Emperor Zhao, mindful of his years of meritorious service in garrisoning, spared his life and instead imprisoned him in the imperial prison!

[Upon hearing the news, the whole world breathed a sigh of relief... especially you. After hearing this news, you couldn't help but feel very curious about Yue Fei's words: Zhao Gou really didn't kill him? And why was that?]

You're very curious, but unfortunately, your curiosity remains unsatisfied...

However, although your curiosity wasn't satisfied, your ambition to achieve great things was!

[In the 216th year of the Shaoxing reign, although the Northern Expedition to Xiangyang ultimately failed, the army had indeed achieved some real military exploits; at least the tens of thousands of Jurchen heads chopped off in Xinye were undeniable… Therefore, the imperial court still bestowed upon the soldiers of the Northern Expedition the rewards they deserved!]

[Therefore, all the soldiers in Xiangyang received rewards and honors. Furthermore, the imperial court intended to reform and rejuvenate the army, so tens of thousands of Yue Fei's former troops were removed and replaced with soldiers who had rendered meritorious service in the Northern Expedition… After this major reshuffle, the entire 300,000-strong garrison in Xiangyang was overjoyed, and the army's morale was greatly boosted!]

And you are among those receiving awards...

Although you did not behead any of the Jurchen soldiers, your diligence and pragmatism in the defense of the city, the hard work of your hundred-plus soldiers, and your already great reputation as the "Golden Instructor of the Northern Expedition" have earned you the deep respect and affection of the army. Therefore, the imperial court has generously bestowed upon you a reward!

That year, you were promoted from a "head constable" in charge of over a hundred men to a "commander" in charge of five hundred men!

[While this promotion wasn't overly extravagant, it was still a cause for celebration, as a "commander" in the Song Dynasty was considered a mid-level military officer. If you continue to achieve merit, your future prospects are undoubtedly limitless!]

[Faced with this good news, you are naturally delighted... but along with your joy, a bold guess also arises in your mind.]

"Zhao Gou's large-scale purge of Yue Fei's old troops and his subsequent support for soldiers who have recently distinguished themselves in the Northern Expedition... Does this mean he intends to continue the Northern Expedition?!"

[Once this speculation took hold, it became ingrained in your mind... because the Northern Expedition meant meritorious service, and meritorious service meant promotion!]

A wave of fervor for war is about to rise. Will you be able to seize this opportunity to realize your ambitions and take flight...?

……

(End of this chapter)