The Demon-Slaying Grandmaster

Chapter 162 Passing by the door without entering, an ancient tale of virtue.

When cavalrymen go to war, the horses expend too much energy every day through exercise, and simply eating grass is not enough.

Moreover, all one thousand cavalrymen of the Palace Guard were heavily armored cavalrymen.

When marching within the territory of the Great Zhou, it's not a big problem to take turns riding three horses.

After all, when Li Jingxiao marched, his horses would rest for half an hour after running at a steady pace for half an hour.

If you encounter enemies while entering the grasslands, you may need to pursue them or escape.

They won't give you time to rest.

Even if the horse runs out of steam, you still have to chase it or run away.

Moreover, heavily armored cavalrymen do not usually wear armor.

Not only would more horses be needed, but they would also be required to take turns riding and carrying the armor and vests.

They still need manpower to assist them before they can charge into battle.

It's impossible to only bring three thousand cavalry and seven thousand horses out of the pass.

The Emperor Emeritus's words left Li Jingxiao somewhat scratching his head, but then he thought again that there were plenty of horses on the grasslands.

At worst, we can kill our way through and collect horses along the way.

Moreover, he is followed by two or three thousand auxiliary soldiers in charge of logistics, who can go into battle together when necessary.

In direct combat, auxiliary troops are not strong, but in a favorable battle, having two or three thousand more troops can make a big difference in morale.

After conquering the Tatar tribe, they also helped pack up valuables, cattle, and sheep and transport them back to Jizhou.

On the way back, bring some supplies from Jizhou.

In short, attacking tribes one by one will inevitably force the Tatars in Datong and Xuanfu to either retreat or send a portion of their cavalry to search for their own troops.

Otherwise, the Tatar tribes north of Jizhou would definitely not have the intention to attack Xuanfu and Datong.

If this drags on, morale might collapse.

Moreover, Li Jingxiao has another trump card.

You can use the "Mystic Light Technique" to check enemy positions in any place you have been to or seen.

In addition, he had horses produced by the game, which he gave to scouts like the 'Night Scouts' to use.

Whether in terms of horsepower, speed, or endurance, it is far superior to the grassland horse.

They were far superior to the Tatars in their intelligence gathering capabilities.

Furthermore, among the Tatar tribes near the Great Wall, there must have been many people from the Great Zhou who had been captured and taken there.

Give these people freedom, and reward them with silver, horses, cattle, and sheep; I don't believe there won't be a shortage of guides for the army.

These people might ride horses and join the army to fight the enemy, even more enthusiastically than the regular troops.

If all else fails, Li Jingxiao can easily kill hundreds of Tatars with his sword control and talismans.

Not to mention fleeing, Li Jingxiao dared to lead his men to charge even a cavalry formation of tens of thousands of men.

Finally, Lee Kyung-hyo was absolutely confident that he could escape.

Therefore, any time traveler would not let go of the opportunity to conquer Yanshan and seal the wolf's lair when it came.

At least in Li Jingxiao's mind at this moment, leveling up and cultivating were not as tempting as leaving a name in history.

Moreover, I am still young and have plenty of time to level up and cultivate, but the opportunity to make a name for myself in history may be one I never encounter in my lifetime.

Seeing that Li Jingxiao was determined to cross the Great Wall from Jizhou.

The retired emperor and the emperor exchanged a glance, thinking to themselves that they were truly young and fearless.

Back then, champion Hou Huo Qubing was also young, bold, and had the eye to spot opportunities, which is why he played by unconventional methods.

He ventured deep into the desert, attacked the rear of the Xiongnu, and became famous in one battle, leaving a strong mark on history books and becoming famous for thousands of years.

Moreover, upon closer examination, the effect of sending three thousand cavalry to support Xuanfu seems to be far less significant than its role in harassing the Tatars' rear.

Thinking about it this way, not to mention the retired emperor, even the emperor who had little military experience and talent began to be tempted.

Seeing that it was getting late and the sun was setting, they were thinking of asking Li Jingxiao to stay overnight in the capital.

After discussing the matter with his ministers, he decided whether to support Li Jingxiao's northward journey.

The Emperor Emeritus said, “Jingyou, it’s getting late. You rode alone all the way back from Jizhou. You must be tired.”

"Why not go home and rest for the night, and decide tomorrow morning whether to head north?"

Li Jingxiao refused directly, clasping his hands and saying, "Your Majesty, I am deeply grateful for the Emperor's favor. At the young age of 16, I already hold a high-ranking official position and enjoy great wealth."

Now that the Tatars have invaded, it is the perfect time to serve the two emperors and the court.

With the sieges of Datong and Xuanfu unresolved, I am unwilling to return home and further erode my will.

Please grant me permission, Your Majesty, to return to Jizhou City tonight to make preparations.

If it were Your Majesty or the Emperor, after consulting with the court officials, decide whether to proceed north or continue to Xuanfu, they only need to deliver the decree to me by fast horse.

These words made both the retired emperor and the emperor feel a surge of blood and a boiling of passion.

Moreover, looking at the armor and the majestic tiger on the bright red robe, he seemed as fearless as Li Jingxiao at that moment.

The emperor immediately felt that if he didn't take a gamble, he would discourage Li Jingxiao's determination to fight to the death.

Ignoring his father, he suddenly stood up and said, "Since you are so loyal and brave, I will take the gamble with you."

After saying that, he shouted at Xia Shouzhong, "Issue the imperial decree to appoint Xia Shouzhong as the Right Commander-in-Chief of the Jingyou Five Armies Commandery, and to lead three thousand elite cavalry north out of the grasslands."

After saying this, the emperor spoke a lot more, but the meaning was the same: as long as the predicaments in Datong and Xuanfu could be resolved, Li Jingxiao could act as he saw fit.

Moreover, he had complete control over the grain, weapons, and horses in Jizhou City, and he could even mobilize the large armies of Jizhou and Liaodong.

The retired emperor frowned as he listened, but after opening his mouth several times, he ultimately said nothing.

Although Li Jingxiao was appointed as the 'Right Commander-in-Chief of the Five Armies Commandery,' there was an additional 'addition' before his title.

To put it bluntly, it's just a title. After the war, Li Jingxiao doesn't actually need to work at the Five Armies Commandery.

Moreover, without the rank of General or Deputy General, one does not even have the right to command troops.

The mobilization of grain, military equipment, horses, and soldiers from Jizhou was merely to support Li Jingxiao's northward march.

Jizhou was already abandoned, and at most a few thousand or tens of thousands of soldiers could be mobilized.

As for mobilizing the large army in Liaodong, that requires the Liaodong garrison to cooperate; otherwise, there will be plenty of excuses to delay.

That's why the retired emperor wanted to speak several times, but ultimately remained silent.

Even the retired emperor understood that his son was testing him by taking advantage of Li Jingxiao's trip north.

The Five Military Commissions had previously been tightly controlled by the retired emperor, who used it to command the vast majority of the troops in the capital.

Now, by leveraging Li Jingxiao's influence, we can create an opening within the Five Armies Commandery, which will make things much easier in the future.

If I don't agree to give Li Jingxiao the title of Right Vice-General of the Five Armies Commandery, I guarantee Li Jingxiao will become increasingly biased towards the emperor.

This is a first-rank military officer, even if it's a nominal position.

For many civil and military officials, even a nominal second-rank official position is something they can only dream of and never attain, let alone a first-rank official position.

The retired emperor was as clear-headed as a mirror; he could understand his emperor son's thoughts with just a little thought.

In the past, even if the retired emperor did not object, he would have still shown favor to Li Jingxiao.

But now that he has achieved success in his cultivation, the old emperor has been busy with his practice for a long time, and his desire for power has diminished somewhat.

But if the emperor crosses his bottom line, he will immediately let the emperor know.

Your father is still your father.

What is given to you is yours.

You can't take what's not meant for you.

Li Jingxiao wasn't stupid. He inwardly scoffed, but the emperor's support still brought significant benefits.

If you enter the grasslands and someone is hindering you from behind, you can simply charge into a few tribes, bring back some heads, and that will be enough to complete your mission.

Then they go out of their way to cause trouble for those who are holding them back.

When it comes to insidious methods, the more prestigious the Taoist sect, the more unorthodox and unorthodox techniques they will possess. Moreover, Maoshan even raises zombies; Li Jingxiao doesn't believe they don't have harmful Taoist practices.

At that time, Li Jingxiao will not only kill those who are holding him back, but also kill them.

And you will also make your descendants suffer and be poor, and never again will one of them become an official.

This probably caused him more pain and regret than killing his opponent.

After receiving the 'Tiger Tally and the King's Command Arrow', Li Jingxiao used the excuse that he needed someone familiar with the terrain and water sources.

A team of 100 guides was transferred from the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Five Military Commands.

Taking the opportunity, he proposed that Niu Zhanpeng and Chen Hongsheng be transferred to lead this hundred-man team.

The emperor readily agreed.

The situation is even simpler with the retired emperor. Although Niu Zhanpeng and Chen Hongsheng are the successors of the Duke of Zhenguo and the Duke of Qi respectively.

But their fathers, Niu Jizong and Chen Ruiwen, are their staunch supporters.

When Niu Jizong and Chen Ruiwen died of old age, the retired emperor felt that he would have long since gone to meet his ancestors by then.

Back then, the more loyal and capable the person was, the better.

Moreover, the higher the rank of a nobleman, the lower the likelihood of rebellion.

After the Song, Yuan, and Ming dynasties, the feudal system was already quite well-established.

The people we should be most wary of are the generals commanding troops in the field, not the nobles in the capital.

Besides, nobles only have titles but no real power, so they wouldn't dare to rebel.

Li Jingxiao, for example, was a marquis and had just become the Right Vice-Commander-in-Chief.

Without the titles of Deputy Commander-in-Chief and Deputy Commander of the Palace Guard, he wouldn't even have the authority to lead troops.

Not to mention rebellion.

Therefore, for a rebellion to succeed, both timing and location are crucial.

Ideally, the Tatars would conquer Datong and Xuanfu again, and even the capital. Otherwise, I should just wash up and go to sleep.

After leaving the Imperial Study, Li Jingxiao spoke to Niu Zhanpeng.

He and Chen Hongsheng were to arrive in Jizhou City the day after tomorrow morning, accompanied by a hundred guides from the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Five Military Commands.

Otherwise, not only will they be excluded from the game, but they will also be severely punished for delaying military operations.

If either of their families had servants who could go to the battlefield and were familiar with the terrain and water sources of the grasslands north of Jizhou, they should bring as many as they could.

Niu Zhanpeng knew that Li Jingxiao did not trust the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Five Military Commands.

It's not that I doubt their loyalty, but rather that I don't trust their true capabilities.

If the army is out in the field and runs out of water, it will be a big problem.

A guide is very important.

Moreover, it's normal for rivers to dry up on the grasslands. Who knows if the water conditions ten years ago are still the same now?

Niu Zhanpeng patted his chest and said that he would definitely find a few guides who had frequently gone to the grasslands north of Jizhou in recent years.

Li Jingxiao nodded and gave Niu Zhanpeng a lot of instructions along the way until they arrived at the palace gate.

The Imperial Guards were already waiting with Zhui Feng on their leash.

Li Jingxiao mounted his horse and looked down at Niu Zhanpeng.

He said very sincerely, "Zhonglian, this journey is fraught with danger. You should explain everything that needs to be explained."

Niu Zhanpeng nodded solemnly. In war, no one can be sure they will come back alive.

The Ballad of Mulan says, "The general dies in a hundred battles."

No matter how capable you are, there will always be times when you make a mistake.

Sometimes, a stray arrow can take your life.

Li Jingxiao nodded to Niu Zhanpeng, spurred his horse and galloped away. Once they passed Chengtian Gate, they should head east.

Alternatively, you can take the same route you came from, head south out of Yongding Gate, then east along the main road to Jizhou.

However, Li Jingxiao held onto the reins and kept looking westward outside Chengtian Gate.

It only takes a fast horse to ride west for ten minutes or so to get home and see my two wives.

Zhui Feng spun around and shuffled for several minutes before Li Jingxiao finally sighed.

He pulled on the reins and headed east, squeezing his legs together and shouting.

Zhui Feng immediately took off running.

After the emperor and his son, the retired emperor, learned that Li Jingxiao was outside Chengtian Gate and kept looking westward.

I couldn't help but sigh. Passing by the door without entering—an ancient tale of virtue.

He became increasingly satisfied with Li Jingxiao.

Bosses naturally prefer loyal subordinates.

Soon, not only did the Emperor Emeritus send Dai Quan to the Marquis's residence to bestow upon Qin Keqing and Jia Yuanchun an eight-treasure jade ruyi and a three-colored vase symbolizing fortune, longevity, and prosperity.

They had no shortage of fine silks, satins, gold, silver and jewelry.

He also directly bestowed upon Yuan Chun the title of a third-rank imperial consort.

Yuan Chun's voice trembled slightly with joy.

However, upon hearing that Li Jingxiao had returned to the capital and entered the palace, he left the palace and returned to Jizhou overnight.

Yuan Chun and Ke Qing's expressions changed drastically.

Li Jingxiao's reputation was built by his refusal to enter the house, but his wife's worries were naturally even greater.

Before long, Xia Shouzhong also arrived with the emperor's gifts.

The street where the Marquis's mansion was located suddenly became even more lively.

However, for Keqing and Yuanchun, they would rather not have these rewards and were unaware that their husband had returned to the capital that afternoon and left again.

Dai Quan and Xia Shouzhong could naturally see the two women's worries.

They busy themselves with offering good advice and comforting others.

It is said that Li Jingxiao went on the expedition for three months and not only was he unharmed, he even grew taller.

Moreover, he was promoted and given important responsibilities by the emperor, truly becoming a first-rank official.

The more capable a husband is, the more honor and disgrace a woman will share in his success and honor.

After seeing off the two chief eunuchs, the two sisters, looking distressed, didn't speak for long before the old woman reported back.

The old lady and madam of the Jia family's Rongguo Mansion arrived with Bao Er Ye.

Keqing and Yuanchun quickly got up, and Keqing even had someone open the main gate to welcome them.

As a first-rank noblewoman and a duke's wife, and as an elder, it was indeed reasonable for her to be allowed to enter through the middle gate.

The two sisters, accompanied by their maids and servants, greeted each other at the front gate of the courtyard.

Grandmother Jia and Lady Wang were very satisfied with this.

As for Jia Baoyu, he was completely stunned at this moment.

In her heart, she felt that her brother-in-law's wife was the most beautiful, gentle, and charming woman she had ever met.

Yuan Chun was initially excited, but when she saw that her younger brother had not only relapsed but was also staring blankly at Qin Keqing, she immediately felt ashamed and angry.

If this kid weren't still a child, Yuan Chun would have been tempted to hit him.

Grandmother Jia helped Qin Keqing, who was bowing to her, to her feet.

The more he looked at it, the more he liked it. He pulled Qin Keqing and Jia Yuanchun into the main hall of the East Garden, instead of the West Courtyard where Yuanchun lived.

It is evident that even though Grandmother Jia doted on her granddaughter, she still valued etiquette and rules above all else.

Yuan Chun herself didn't care. As a girl raised by Grandmother Jia, her personality was indeed biased towards Grandmother Jia.

(End of this chapter)