How come I'm invincible?

Chapter 121 I trust you, my dear minister, I truly trust you!

There is no way forward and no way back.

Hogg's fear of Lin Fan stemmed from the massacre that night.

This was a scene he would never forget in his life.

He was truly terrified, frightened, and helpless by the killing.

Those were tens of thousands of soldiers, the elite of the elite, capable of taking on two opponents at once. But even such elite troops were as fragile as paper in front of the enemy, easily torn apart.

“I’m not afraid of you, you surnamed Lin.”

Hogg flew into a rage, drew his sword and swung it at Lin Fan. In a flash, the sword slipped from his hand and was snatched away by Lin Fan with his bare hands.

"Aren't you afraid of me?"

In front of Hogg, Lin Fan snapped the knife in two with both hands, and even snapped it again, still not satisfied. He then grabbed Hogg's hand and placed the broken blade in his hand.

"Tell me, General, why aren't you afraid of me?"

Hogg's lips trembled as he looked helplessly and bewildered at the officials around him, then turned his gaze to King Daguang, who stood beside the dragon throne.

But it didn't work.

The officials bowed their heads, and King Daguang shrank back, turning his head to the side, unable to meet Hogg's gaze.

As the ruler of the Daguang Dynasty, it was wrong for him to lead his ministers to fear the other party's power, but he really wanted to tell Hogg.

My dear minister, things are not as you think.

I have rebelled.

But it was no use. When I became ruthless, the other side was even more ruthless than me. The Imperial Guards were slaughtered and no one could stop them. If I resisted, he would slaughter the entire royal family and even kill all the officials of the court.

If such a thing were to happen, the Daguang Dynasty's regime would truly collapse.

Hogg looked utterly desperate.

He was at a loss, overwhelmed by immense pressure. Even with all his rage, he couldn't muster any strength in front of Lin Fan.

King Daguang mustered his courage and walked to Lin Fan's side. Now, he was the only one who dared to speak. He pleaded, "General, this invasion of the Central Plains Heavenly Dynasty was not Hogg's idea, but mine. I hope that you will not make things difficult for him. I will agree to any request."

Lin Fan looked at King Daguang and said, "Regardless of whether it was his intention or not, I'm asking you this: did he lead the troops there?"

"Yes." King Daguang said bitterly.

He never imagined such a thing would happen to him; he never even considered it.

“Since he personally led the troops, that’s his business. As the emperor of the Daguang Dynasty, you naturally have your own responsibilities. No one should take on the responsibility; you can’t handle it,” Lin Fan said.

King Daguang lowered his head and remained silent.

Lin Fan said, "The Central Plains Dynasty is not a place where others can come and go as they please. As for Hogg, I must take him back. As for you, King Daguang, I will not kill you. You must write a letter of state and pay compensation, a huge amount of compensation, or you know what will happen to you."

King Daguang was startled by Lin Fan's murderous gaze and nodded repeatedly to indicate that he understood.

He was really scared.

If Lin Fan was only skilled in troop deployment, King Da Guang might not have been so afraid. It could only be said that the Central Plains Dynasty was lucky to have produced such a general.

But in his view, the ability that the other party showed in slaughtering the Imperial Guards single-handedly was superhuman strength. How could he resist or withstand it?

He existed in the Central Plains dynasties.

That is an invincible existence.

Next, King Daguang ordered his men to get busy and transfer the reparations from the national treasury. He then personally wrote the imperial edict. The court was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.

Lin Fan stood proudly inside the hall, his gaze calm and unperturbed.

After a while.

King Daguang respectfully presented the letter of state with both hands. Lin Fan took it, opened it, glanced at it, and nodded in satisfaction.

"You know the truth."

The letter was filled with submission and included the cession of territory. It stated that if the Central Plains were to march south and invade the Da Guang Dynasty, they would need to pass through a formidable pass, a place that was easy to defend and difficult to attack. Now, this pass was being ceded to the Central Plains Dynasty.

In other words, the Central Plains dynasties could send troops at any time to conquer the Da Guang dynasty with an absolute advantage.

King Daguang was unwilling to cede the spoils.

But now the situation leaves him no choice.

Lin Fan kept Da Guang Wang alive for only one purpose: to make Da Guang Wang fear him. As long as he was in the Central Plains Dynasty, he could frighten Da Guang Wang into not daring to make any moves.

Kill him, and the new king will ascend the throne. According to the normal procedure, the new king's top priority will naturally be to avenge the old king. Even if he doesn't dare to do it openly, as long as he has such thoughts, he is a menace.

The current Central Plains dynasty appears united, but in reality, it is a disorganized mess, with military power difficult to concentrate and troops difficult to mobilize. He has to clean up this mess.

After a long time.

Outside the palace square, there were rows of carriages loaded with compensation money. Lin Fan waved his hand, letting the soldiers check them over. The amount was acceptable.

"King Daguang, you'd better watch yourself."

Lin Fan turned around domineeringly and headed out of the hall, while the soldiers captured Hogg and escorted him along the way.

As Lin Fan's figure disappeared into the hall.

King Daguang's body went limp, as if he might collapse to the ground at any moment. The ministers beside him reacted quickly and tried to help him up, but King Daguang pushed them away. He walked with difficulty to the dragon throne and slowly sat down.

All the civil and military officials knelt down, trembling with cold.

This is a national humiliation, an utter disgrace.

As subjects, they could only watch helplessly.

King Daguang looked at the kneeling officials with a gloomy gaze, his eyes revealing disappointment. "Court adjourned..."

He didn't want to say another word.

Disappointment weighed on my heart.

These were his officials. I was humiliated, yet not one of them risked their life to protect me. Only those three ministers who were killed bravely stood up.

……

a few days later.

Court.

No battle reports came back, mainly because Lin Fan's eight hundred cavalrymen had penetrated deep into enemy territory, and messengers were unable to deliver messages.

During this time, Wu Yun was escorted back, and the entire Wu family, young and old, were imprisoned in the dungeon to await their fate.

at this time.

"The Queen has arrived!"

The voice of a eunuch came from outside the door.

The emperor frowned, and the officials present exchanged glances, their eyes showing astonishment. The empress was already imprisoned, and it was the time for the morning court session, so how could she come?

Before the emperor could speak, the empress barged in. None of the eunuchs or guards dared to block her way, for she held in her hand the imperial edict of immunity from death bestowed by the late emperor.

The Empress is now haggard and pale as a sheet. A series of news has left her with little energy.

The child was sentenced to death.

Her family's rebellion failed, and she was taken to the capital.

"What brings you here?" the emperor asked in a deep voice.

The Empress did not bow, but instead said loudly, "Your Majesty, I hold in my hand an imperial edict of pardon from the death penalty, which can pardon serious crimes. Today, I am bringing out the imperial edict of pardon from the death penalty to pardon the Wu family's death penalty."

The officials looked at each other in bewilderment.

An imperial edict granting immunity from death?

How come they've never heard of it?

But the Grand Tutor and the Grand Protector, who had heard of this imperial edict granting immunity from death, exchanged a glance.

They naturally knew this, as it happened when the late emperor was still alive. The late emperor was very fond of the current empress and treated her like his own daughter. In fact, when the late emperor fell into the water, it was the empress who bravely jumped into the river to pull him out.

Later, when the late emperor was nearing his death, he did indeed grant the empress a death-exemption edict in front of them.

The emperor asked in a deep voice, "Where did you get this imperial edict from?"

"It was bestowed by the late emperor."

"Do you know what a grave crime it is to falsely convey an imperial edict?"

Upon hearing this, the Empress laughed, a laugh bordering on madness. "A grave crime? What grave crime could I possibly have that the Emperor could kill? You killed my child, and you're even going to kill my family. What else can't you kill?"

The atmosphere at the scene was very oppressive.

The officials felt a tightness in their chests.

The emperor roared, "Empress, do you really intend to do this?"

"Your Majesty, it's not that I want to do this, but you... are too cruel. This imperial edict was given to me by the late Emperor, which can absolve me of my crime. I want to use this edict to protect my family." The Empress understood that she had completely broken ties with the Emperor. She also understood that as the mother of the nation, she would not be killed, but would be imprisoned forever.

For her, it would be better to die.

The emperor stared at the empress without saying a word.

The Empress looked to the side and said, "Grand Tutor and Grand Protector, you were both trusted ministers of the late Emperor. You were both present when the late Emperor granted me this imperial edict of immunity from death. If the Emperor doesn't want to acknowledge it, do you?"

This……

The Grand Tutor and Grand Protector never expected that such a terrible thing would happen to them out of the blue.

If they admit it, the emperor will probably hold a grudge against them, since they never told him that the empress had the late emperor's decree granting her immunity from death.

To deny it would be utterly rebellious.

The emperor looked at the Grand Tutor and the Grand Protector. Although they did not speak, their expressions showed that the imperial edict was indeed genuine.

However, the Wu family's rebellion could not be a matter of being spared death with just an imperial edict.

Just as the emperor was pondering how to resolve this matter...

A eunuch outside the palace announced loudly, "The Divine Martial General has returned in triumph and is coming to the capital to meet the Emperor."

As soon as this news came out.

Manchao was shocked.

what?
The Divine General has returned, and so quickly at that?

The emperor abruptly stood up, his face filled with excitement, "Summon them! Summon them!"

That's what they said, but the emperor excitedly stepped down from his throne, wanting to greet her personally. In contrast, the empress's face turned even paler in an instant.

As the emperor stepped down from the imperial court, Lin Fan suddenly appeared at the entrance of the palace, carrying Hogg, who looked like a dead dog.

"Your Majesty, I have brought Hogg back."

The words fell.

Lin Fan noticed something was amiss in the hall. His gaze fell on the Empress, and at the same time, the imperial edict being held aloft also caught his attention.

what's the situation?
While he was away, could it be that someone had joined forces with the Empress to try and force him to abdicate?

His gaze darkened as he surveyed the entire room.

The officials trembled under the general's gaze, wondering if the general had misunderstood something.
"My dear minister, you're finally back! I was so worried about you." The emperor breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing his minister return unharmed.

"Your Majesty, what is the situation now? What does the Empress mean by this?" Lin Fan asked.

The Emperor said, “My dear minister, I can handle this matter. The court is adjourned today. We can discuss other matters another day. I want to have a good talk with you.”

"No..." the Empress cried out frantically, "Emperor, you can't deny it! This is the late Emperor's decree granting you immunity from death. Do you not even acknowledge the late Emperor's decree?"

After saying that, the Empress looked at Lin Fan angrily, "It's all your fault! If it weren't for you, none of this would have happened, and my child wouldn't have died. Divine Martial General, you even dare to harm a prince. Wouldn't the future Central Plains Dynasty be yours for the taking?"

Then she pointed at the emperor.

"Emperor, this is a powerful minister you have personally promoted. From now on, this Central Plains dynasty will no longer belong to your family; it will belong to the Lin family."

Lin Fan frowned, quite displeased.

His grandma's.

Where did this shrew come from? This general has been working hard, leading troops into battle, and I've just returned to find myself being hit with a pot cap by this shrew.

I was actually moved by your actions and pleaded for your life. But instead of remembering my kindness, you slandered me.

That's it, that's it.

Once you've suffered a loss, you definitely won't want to suffer a loss again.

"Empress, how dare you slander my beloved minister!" the emperor roared in fury.

Lin Fan said, "Your Majesty, please calm down. I have just returned and do not yet know what is going on, but Her Majesty the Empress is so angry that there must be a reason. I am willing to have a discussion with Her Majesty."

After speaking, he looked at the Empress and said, “Your Majesty, the Crown Prince has committed treason and collusion with Japan, which is a capital offense. Moreover, the laws of the Central Plains Dynasty are strict. The emperor is subject to the same laws as the common people. The Crown Prince’s actions were solely due to his own selfish desires, and he attempted to kill me in Japan.”

"Does Your Majesty know the extent of the carnage that will ensue if Japan were to launch a counterattack against the Central Plains?"

"When Her Majesty came to ask me to plead for the Crown Prince, I was indeed moved by her words. But His Majesty is a wise ruler and knows that this matter is of great importance. He will not allow any pleas."

"Now that Her Majesty is blaming me, I cannot understand or accept it. As for Her Majesty's decree of pardon, could it be that she is trying to plead for the Wu family?"

Lin Fan narrowed his eyes slightly.

There is anger in my heart.

No matter where this imperial edict in your hand came from, if even one member of the Wu family survives, it's because I, Lin Fan, have been merciful.

The Empress said, "This is the late Emperor's decree granting you immunity from death. How dare you, a traitor, disregard it?"

"Oh? The late emperor's edict? Does Your Majesty know of it?" Lin Fan asked.

The Empress said, "He doesn't know, but the Grand Tutor, the Grand Preceptor, and the Grand Protector all saw it with their own eyes, and they can testify to it."

At this moment, the Grand Tutor and Grand Protector were almost driven mad by the Empress.

do not do that.

Please don't do that.

Before the Great General returned, we didn't really recognize him, but now that the Divine General has returned, you want us to recognize him again.

Now, it's clear to everyone that the Divine Martial General is furious and will surely order the execution of the entire Wu family. We admit it; we are indeed loyal to the late emperor, but we're doomed from now on.

His Majesty certainly won't let the Wu family off the hook.

And the Divine Martial General will hold a grudge against them, which will inevitably threaten the Second Prince's throne. In fact, based on their understanding of the General, they might even be beaten up in the street by him on their way home.

All these calculations seem to be against the current situation.

"Is that so?" Lin Fan said, "My lords, Her Majesty said you saw it with your own eyes. Now that His Majesty is here, and all the officials are present, you two might as well tell me frankly whether you saw it or not?"

"This this."

The Grand Tutor and the Grand Protector exchanged glances, looking quite troubled.

They couldn't imagine how the general dared to ask such a question. If we admit it, you'll be unhappy, but if we don't admit it, wouldn't that be showing that you're the one who holds absolute power in the court?

Are you really not afraid that His Majesty will think you have ulterior motives?
What emperors hate most is powerful ministers who monopolize the court.

Do you even know how to be a government official?
Is this how an official should behave?

They looked at the emperor and found that His Majesty's gaze was also on them. At that moment... they knew what to say.

"General, I have never seen him before."

"I've never seen it either."

The Grand Tutor and the Grand Protector bowed their heads in response.

He sighed softly to himself.

Your Majesty, stop this nonsense. The current state of the court cannot be resolved simply by you reciting an imperial edict from the late emperor.

Upon hearing this, the Empress was struck dumb, her fingers trembling as she pointed at them, “Traitors! You two traitors! You have wasted the late Emperor’s trust in you, and you have even disregarded his decree! You will surely be punished!”

"And you, how dare you do this, you..."

The Empress had been under constant stress these past few days, and now, faced with such a shock, she felt dizzy, her vision went black, and she collapsed to the ground.

"Guards, take the Empress back. She is not allowed to leave the palace, or you will be held accountable." The Emperor was also deeply saddened; he had never expected things to develop to this point.

After the eunuchs escorted the empress back home.

The atmosphere in the imperial court did not ease.

It wasn't until Lin Fan presented the letter of state from the Da Guang Dynasty to the eunuch that the emperor, after reading it, couldn't help but burst into laughter, saying, "Excellent, excellent, excellent! My dear minister, you truly live up to your reputation for divine bravery. I am very pleased with this letter of state."

Lin Fan said, "Your Majesty, the Daguang Dynasty ceded territory and paid reparations, and from then on, it bowed its head and paid tribute every year. The reparations are currently outside, and I have calculated that they amount to approximately ten million taels."

As soon as these words came out.

The officials stared at Lin Fan in astonishment.

A dull look on his face.

No... You led eight hundred iron cavalry deep into the Daguang Dynasty, and not only did you return safely, but you also brought back so much indemnity.

This is something they can hardly imagine.

"Excellent! You truly deserve to be my beloved minister, for you have rendered unparalleled service." The emperor was overjoyed, and his previous annoyance gradually dissipated.

For the emperor, who valued the Central Plains more than his own life, this news was truly inspiring.

He worked diligently to govern the country, hoping that the Central Plains dynasty could subdue the four seas, so that the people would be proud to be from the Central Plains, and that other countries would not dare to look down on them when they knew they were from the Central Plains.

The officials immediately began to flatter and congratulate him.

Lin Fan said, "Your Majesty, I brought Hogg back from the Daguang Dynasty and handed him over to Your Majesty for processing. This is to let them know that the Central Plains Dynasty is not a place he can come and go as he pleases. Even if he hides in the capital of Daguang, it will be useless."

The officials were also thrilled upon hearing this.

When did their Central Plains dynasties ever have such domineering power?

Only the appearance of the Divine Martial General could grant such domineering power. Upon closer reflection...

The events that have occurred recently seem to be things they have never experienced in their entire lives.

Meng Yeguo gave in.

Heian-kyo, the capital of Japan, was destroyed.

Now that the Daguang Dynasty has ceded territory and paid reparations, and its commander-in-chief has been captured and brought back from the capital of Daguang, any such event, if it happens to a general, is something he can be proud of for a lifetime.

"Well said!" the emperor exclaimed with delight. "As for this treacherous general, I have decided to imprison him in the dungeon and execute him on a chosen day. What do you think, my dear minister?"

"Everything is at His Majesty's discretion," Lin Fan said.

"Very well, court adjourned. My dear minister, please come with me for a stroll in the Imperial Garden."

"it is good."

After the emperor and Lin Fan left, the officials dispersed, but they all gathered in small groups to keep in touch.

"Grand Tutor, is the imperial edict from the late emperor that Her Majesty the Empress presented genuine or fake?" an official asked.

The Grand Tutor shook his head and remained silent.

What's the point of discussing whether it's true or false now?

The Grand Tutor, the Grand Protector, and the Second Prince stood in the distance.

Taibao said, "Your Highness, now you see it. The power of the Divine Martial General is beyond our control. His Majesty trusts the General greatly now. I never believed that there could be such a powerful minister who could earn His Majesty's trust. Now he has appeared."

The second prince said, "Teacher, I am very respectful to the general now. I have been trying to find a way to get on his good side, but I can never find an opportunity."

The Grand Tutor said, “Your Highness, this matter cannot be rushed. To gain the support of the Grand General, we must proceed slowly. But as I said before, we must not have any conflict with him. Even if he does not support Your Highness, Your Highness must not hold a grudge.”

The second prince nodded, "Don't worry, I'm not stupid."

"That's good."

The Grand Tutor and Grand Preceptor sighed when they thought of the Grand Tutor. The Grand Tutor was such a figure that he had kept them from getting any benefits. But who would have thought that the First Prince would make such a foolish mistake and smash the plate?

Now it has triggered a huge chain reaction.

The empress was imprisoned.

With the Wu family arrested, the outcome was self-evident: the entire family would be executed.

……

Royal Garden.

The emperor personally poured tea for Lin Fan, saying with a smile as he poured, "My dear minister, you've worked hard. Now that things are settled, you should rest well and not overwork yourself."

"Your Majesty, how are you feeling?" Lin Fan looked at the emperor, whose temples were turning white, and sighed inwardly. In his opinion, the emperor had five years left to live, but after experiencing the events involving the eldest prince, the empress, and the Wu family, his lifespan had been reduced by at least six months to a year.

A moment of anger can damage one's very foundation.

This is something that medicine cannot make up for.

The emperor smiled and said, "I can still hold on. Heaven has been kind to me, allowing me to meet the Great General in my later years. I look forward to seeing what kind of golden age the Central Plains dynasty will eventually reach with the efforts of the Great General and myself."

"Your Majesty, rest assured, I will certainly fulfill your wish to witness the golden age of the Central Plains Dynasty," Lin Fan said.

The emperor gently patted Lin Fan's hand and said softly, "My dear minister, now that the affairs of other countries are over, the only thing I can't let go of is the people of the Central Plains. I asked you to establish the Divine Martial Division not to strip the Three Divisions of their power, but because I don't trust them. I know that officials protect each other, and I know that the people in various places are being exploited by those so-called gangs, but I am old and have no one I can trust."

"But I trust you, my dear minister, unconditionally."

"I understand what the officials in the court are thinking. They think that I personally promoted the Grand General and that you have all the power. But they don't even think about why they can't have all the power. It's because I don't trust them."

"The Grand Tutor is capable and loyal, but he changed after he got old. He became wholeheartedly loyal to the First Prince, forming cliques and ignoring the affairs of the people. I consider his hard work and great contributions, so I turned a blind eye. After all, the court still needs to function, and the affairs below still need to be handled by them."

Lin Fan listened.

He deeply understood the emperor's helplessness, his lack of capable people, and even those who were capable only reported good news and not bad. How could he possibly know the situation of the common people?

Although the Duke is someone His Majesty trusts, he is ultimately a military general and is somewhat lacking in the ability to govern the country.

Moreover, the Duke is also old.

They don't have the energy of young people.

Court intrigues are always brutal, and once a duke gets involved in a civil official dispute, it's uncertain whether he can escape unscathed.

Lin Fan said, “Your Majesty, rest assured. Now that the Divine Martial Division has been established, I will also take charge of these matters. I come from a gang background and know the situation of gangs well. Their existence is not for the benefit of the people, but for exploitation. Most of them collude with local officials. However, Your Majesty, if I take action, I am afraid many people will die.”

The emperor said, "My dear minister, go all out. As long as they are the ones who deserve to die, it doesn't matter how many die."

"Very well, Your Majesty, I will certainly not disappoint you," Lin Fan said.

The emperor was silent for a moment before speaking: "My dear minister, which of my sons do you think is capable of inheriting the throne?"

The emperor asked his ministers which prince would inherit the throne.

This would be a life-or-death question for any minister, and most would be so terrified that they would not dare to answer.

Lin Fan shook his head and said, "I am not familiar with those princes, but in my opinion, as long as they are diligent and love the people like their own children, even if they are not capable, it doesn't matter. I will do my best to help them stabilize the dynasty. I will suppress internal turmoil and lead troops to fight against foreign invaders, even to the capital of other countries."

"Hahaha..." The emperor couldn't help but laugh loudly: "My dear minister, only you would dare to say such a thing. Throughout history, no one has ever dared to say such a thing, but I believe in you, I just believe in you."

"Thank you for your trust, Your Majesty. It is because of Your Majesty's trust that I am willing to stay in the court, wanting to see how much trouble I can cause with my brute strength and Your Majesty's trust," Lin Fan said with a smile.

The emperor's face darkened, and he said solemnly, "My dear minister, if after my death the new emperor does not trust you, you are free to ignore him. If he is truly beyond redemption, you may appoint another prince to succeed to the throne. I only hope that the Central Plains dynasty can prosper and that the people can live in peace and contentment, not who holds the imperial power."

Upon hearing this, Lin Fan looked at the emperor.

The emperor smiled and said, “My dear minister, do not think I am joking. Every word I say is true. Throughout history, I have seen the changes of dynasties, but the only thing that remains unchanged is the people of this land and the land beneath their feet.”

"Your Majesty, I admire you," Lin Fan said.

"Hahaha, the fact that my mighty general admires me shows that I have done a good job. Think about my general, who has he ever admired? He even dared to beat the Grand Tutor, but he admires me the only one. I am very pleased," the emperor said with a smile.

Gradually, laughter echoed throughout the Imperial Garden.

Lin Fan also shared some interesting stories from the march.

……

Coastal border defense.

Qin Li remained in the mansion, looking at the secret report in his hand with a solemn expression, unable to put the letter down for a long time.

The content inside is very impressive.

Lin Fan's return led to the Da Guang Dynasty ceding territory and paying reparations, and Hogg was also captured and brought back. All of this was caused by Lin Fan leading eight hundred iron cavalry deep into enemy territory.

This was something even he couldn't have imagined.

In fact, for him, let alone replicating it, he wouldn't even consider it.

Just now.

A trusted aide rushed over, "Governor..."

"What's the matter?"

Qin Li put the letter away and looked up to ask.

The confidant said, "General, the imperial court has sent craftsmen to build a monument to commemorate the victory against the Japanese pirates. The scale of the project is huge, and the soldiers in the army are being affected. I think this is a scheme deliberately set up by the imperial court."

"Hmm? Let's go take a look." Qin Li frowned.

When we arrived in the city.

A large crowd of people had gathered around, and their discussions reached Qin Li's ears.

"Look, they're building a monument to commemorate the victory against the Japanese pirates."

"Was it built for our border guards?"

"No, it was built for our local lads. Some time ago, General Jinwu led three thousand iron cavalry to fight against Japan. They won a great victory and dismantled the Toyotomi regime. The court was overjoyed. The general petitioned the emperor to build a monument to commemorate the three thousand lads, and each person's name should be written on it."

"Oh dear, this is going to be remembered for generations! How come it's our local lads' turn? Governor Qin has a lot of elite troops under his command."

"I heard that this was deliberately arranged for the general. I thought that all the local men were weaklings, but who would have thought that all the local men are as fierce as tigers."

"Aunt Wang, you know her, right?"

"I know."

"Her son wrote a letter a while ago, saying that he has now been recruited by the General into the Divine Martial Division and has become an official. He will be very busy from now on, so Aunt Wang should not worry about him."

"Ah! There's such a thing?"

"Nonsense, out of our three thousand local men, look who has returned. I bet they've all been recruited by the General."

At this moment, the eunuch who had been ordered to come forward, holding the imperial edict, read it aloud. The local people listened very attentively, exclaiming in surprise, and all the people had smiles on their faces.

After all, this is a source of pride for the locals.

Three thousand people, a full three thousand people.

This would be considered quite explosive in any other place.

In the border defense camp.

Many soldiers gathered together and chatted idly, filled with envy for the three thousand men who were fighting against Japan.

"The General is indeed a great general. Look, following the General, our lives have taken off."

"Who says otherwise? We've seen those people before. Ah, that's fate. If we had gone with the General, our names would surely be on this monument commemorating our achievements."

"In the end, it was the general who asked for credit."

Although the soldiers didn't say anything.

But the envy in their words was undeniable. Just think of their generals, each of them living a life of luxury, who would care about them?

Gradually, the soldiers developed a natural affinity for the divine and mighty general they had never met.

Just now.

A sound came from afar.

That was the command to assemble.

After they gathered, they saw a pale-faced eunuch slowly walk over. Qin Li, who was standing to the side, was puzzled and wondered what was going on, but since this eunuch had come by imperial decree, he naturally could not ask.

The eunuch said, “My brave soldiers, I have come here on imperial orders. The Divine Martial General has been moved by the hardships you have endured while guarding the border and has specially requested His Majesty to reward you. Therefore, His Majesty has decreed that each border soldier be awarded five taels of silver.”

The soldiers present were overjoyed.

Five taels?

This is equivalent to five months of their military pay.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

The soldiers shouted.

The eunuch said, "Besides thanking His Majesty, you should also thank General Shenwu. If the general hadn't seen your hard work and helped you claim credit, how could you have received this reward?"

The soldiers said, "Thank you, General Shenwu."

The father-in-law nodded with satisfaction.

As for Lin Fan, he really didn't know about this. Even if he did, he would be completely confused, since he hadn't said anything like that.

And all of this was decided by the emperor.

He naturally knew that his beloved minister had erected a monument to commemorate the three thousand soldiers' victory over the Japanese pirates, not only to please the three thousand soldiers but also to make the coastal defense soldiers envious. However, the emperor felt this was not a good idea, which is why he bestowed such a reward.

They even attributed this reward to Lin Fan.

Qin Li, on the other hand, had a livid face. He could easily see that this was a tactic to win people over, but he really didn't know how to do it.

The extra military pay was sent to the capital. Isn't this blatant attempt to use the military pay to buy off the soldiers under his command?

Although these soldiers still obeyed Qin Li, they kept the good reputation of the Divine Martial General in their hearts.

Think of this.

Qin Li frowned and remained silent; this move was indeed difficult to counter.

……

a few days later.

The Divine Martial Division, courtyard.

Song Qing, Yang Ming, Xu Ming, Qian Tao, Wu Yong, Ding Peng, Wang Baoan, Li Zhengdao, and others stood tall and proud, dressed in brand-new Shenwu Division uniforms.

As for Ning Yu, she stood beside her master.

After all, he is the chief disciple. Where else can he stand if not by his master's side?
Looking at Lin Fan, Song Qing's thoughts were instantly drawn back to their first meeting. Back then, Lin Fan was just a lowly member of the gang. Who would have thought that in just a few months, he would transform into the renowned Divine Martial General?

Second only to the emperor, above all others.

He held a high position of power and wielded absolute authority over both civil and military affairs.

Song Qing had thought he would spend his life striving for the position of squad leader, but who would have thought that he would now enter the capital and become a member of the Divine Martial Division.

During Lin Fan's expedition, he deeply felt what it meant to be a hot commodity.

It's not just him.

The same was true for the people of the Divine Martial Division. Officials of all ranks from the capital would often come to visit them with gifts, and they would be as humble as possible, even though some of these officials were of much higher rank than them.

Yet they remained respectful, clearly trying to curry favor.

Lin Fan said, "The Divine Martial Bureau is now officially operational. His Majesty has great trust in our Divine Martial Bureau. Currently, the situation of officials in various regions is being investigated. Once all the information is gathered, it will be a busy time."

Everyone looked very serious.

Unlike the usual antics in the Security Bureau, the Divine Martial Division is now the Fourth Division, and as members of the Fourth Division, they naturally have to take it seriously.

During this period, everyone has been studying the law intensively, all in order to enforce the law based on it.

Xu Ming said, "My lord, I have made full preparations and am just waiting for your order. I will go through fire and water for you."

Lin Fan smiled and said, "Well, we're all on the same side. We've worked our way up to where we are today. I'll leave aside everything else for now and just say one thing: as members of the Divine Martial Division, we must set an example and not commit any offenses. Of course, if you need money, just tell me. If you have any problems, just tell me. The final interpretation is in my hands."

"If anyone causes trouble but is not confident in their own safety, kill them all. Ensuring your own safety is the most important thing."

Everyone nodded.

And at this time.

On the streets of the capital, people stopped in their tracks and looked at a figure in the middle of the road. The figure was very thin and looked to be about nine or ten years old.

He was draped in a white cloth with large, blood-red characters written on it.

"injustice"

At this moment, a patrolling guard passed by and saw the child. His expression suddenly changed. "Quickly, get this child away from here. Under the emperor's nose, how can there be any cries of injustice?"

This matter can be big or small.

In the past, if someone went to the capital to appeal their grievances, they were usually detained and taken away by local officials who would then keep them under strict guard to prevent them from causing trouble in the capital.

This is the capital, the city of the nation, a place of utmost importance. How could such a thing happen?

Of course, some kind-hearted officials in the capital might order local officials to investigate and resolve the matter properly. However, since the matter has been brought to the capital, it is difficult for the local authorities to handle it effectively.

Is there something wrong with them that they had to endure such a bumpy journey to get here?

Just as the guard was about to step forward, another guard said, "Wait, now that the Divine Martial Division has been established, the Divine Martial General is righteous and hates evil. If we take this child down and something happens, and it comes back to us, we'll be in big trouble."

As soon as these words came out.

This instantly alerted the other guards.

Yes.

That is indeed the case.

In the past, there would have been no problem with their handling of the situation, but General Shenwu was no pushover. In the stories compiled by some storytellers, they had heard about the things General Shenwu did in various places before he even entered the capital.

It was truly a bloodbath.

Countless thugs and ruffians have met their tragic ends at the hands of the Great General.

Just now.

A carriage suddenly stopped in front of the child, and several burly men rushed out of the carriage, grabbed the child, and tried to shove him into the carriage.

"Let me go, let me go!" the child shouted, struggling.

Upon seeing this, the guards exchanged a glance and immediately stepped forward, shouting, "Stop! This is under the Emperor's nose! What are you doing?"

Upon seeing that it was a guard, a burly man quickly smiled, took out his official identification badge from his pocket, and secretly slipped some silver into the guard's hand.

“Sir, we are officers from Jingzhou Prefecture. This child suffers from a brain disease and often goes crazy. We never expected that he would run away to the capital. We will take him back now and guarantee that he will not cause any trouble,” the burly man explained.

Based on past experience, this trick has always worked.

The guards wanted peace in the capital, and besides, they could also earn money.

Why not do it.

To their surprise, the guards not only refused to let them leave, but also threw the silver at him and shouted angrily, "How dare you! This is under the Emperor's nose! How dare you kidnap children in the street? You're tired of living! Take them away and take them to the Divine Martial Division for the Divine Martial General to decide their fate!"

In an instant.

The guards captured the burly men.

The burly men were completely bewildered. "Wait, what are you doing? Let us go! It's a misunderstanding, it's all a misunderstanding. We were just following orders to take people back."

"Brother, let's talk this out. We're both from the government, don't be like this."

But the guards didn't care about these things.

They were taken directly to the Divine Martial Division.

The bound child trembled all over, barefoot and terrified as he watched the scene before him.

One of the guards, feeling sorry for him, said, "Young man, it's no use crying out for justice here. If you really want to cry out for justice, then come with us to the Divine Martial Division. If you're lucky enough to meet the Great General, then you should be more discerning and plead with him properly."

(End of this chapter)