My brothers are all warriors capable of taking on ten thousand men; I'll roam freely in the Thr

Shanggu County Frontline Camp.

Inside the central command tent, only a single butter lamp was lit, casting a dim, yellowish light that elongated Ji Xuanyuan's silhouette as he bent over his desk reviewing documents, projecting it onto the rough tent walls.

He wore a thick fur robe, his brows slightly furrowed. Although his eyes were still bright and alert, the fatigue from coordinating the front lines and the rear and analyzing intelligence from all sides for many consecutive days had left a faint trace on his face, which had become somewhat thinner.

"What time is the latest report from General Yu's scouts? Judging by their pace, if things go smoothly, they should have news back in the next few days." Ji Xuanyuan put down the secret report about the chaos among the Southern Xiongnu in Bingzhou, rubbed his temples, and asked the captain of his personal guards standing in the tent.

Xiang Yu and his men had been deep in the grasslands for nearly two months. Although they knew that with their martial prowess and equipment they should be fine, the grasslands were vast and unpredictable, and it would be a lie to say that they were not worried.

More importantly, the outcome of their trip will directly affect his overall plan for the next step.

Just as the Imperial Guard Commander was about to report that there were no new reports for the day, a series of rapid and heavy hoofbeats and the clanging of armor suddenly came from outside the tent, clear and distinct in the quiet, cold night.

Immediately afterwards, a short shout and an excited, slightly distorted voice came from the gate.

Ji Xuanyuan's heart stirred, and he suddenly looked up.

The next instant, the heavy felt curtain was suddenly thrown open, bringing with it a chilling air and the smell of dust and grime.

Five tall and imposing figures strode into the tent: Xiang Yu, Ran Min, Lü Bu, Yang Zaixing, and Li Cunxiao!

"General Xiang Yu, who is tasked with subduing the barbarians, pays his respects to the General of the Northern Army!"

"We, your humble servants, pay our respects to our lord!"

The five men clasped their hands in unison, their voices booming.

Their faces bore the weariness of a long march, but even more so the exhilaration and excitement of accomplishing a great mission, their eyes shining brightly.

Ji Xuanyuan's eyes lit up instantly, and he jumped up from behind his desk: "Good! It's good that you're back! Get up, all of you!"

He quickly walked around the desk, his gaze sweeping over the five people one by one. Seeing that they were all unharmed, he felt a great weight lifted from his heart.

Xiang Yu grinned: "Big brother, your brothers have brought you back gifts."

He turned and roared towards the outside of the tent, "Bring him in!"

"Yes, sir!" the guards outside the tent responded loudly.

Soon, several soldiers of the Jingnan Army escorted two middle-aged Hu men into the room.

At the same time, another soldier carried a round object wrapped in cloth in each hand, and a strong smell of preservatives mixed with an indescribable fishy odor permeated the air.

Xiang Yu first pointed to the fat man, his tone carrying a hint of mockery and disdain: "Brother, please look, this is the former Xianbei chieftain, the son of Tan Shihuai, and the current... oh no, the 'former' Xianbei leader, Helian."

He then pointed to the man next to him: "This is his prime minister."

Then, he gestured for the soldier carrying the heads to step forward, untied a corner of the cloth, revealing two faces underneath that, though altered, were still grotesque and distorted: "These two heads are those of the traitors Zhang Chun and Zhang Ju! Please examine them, brother!"

Finally, Xiang Yu clasped his hands in a fist salute, his voice suddenly rising: "Reporting to the General! On this journey beyond the Great Wall to search for the traitor, we encountered twenty-one obstructions and attacks from unknown tribes along the way! Our army fought back valiantly and achieved considerable success! Outside the tent, there are also nine thousand and twenty-eight enemy heads, which have been preliminarily processed according to military regulations. Please, General, personally inspect and verify them!"

More than nine thousand levels!

Capture the Xianbei chieftain and his prime minister alive!

The traitor's head has been captured!

His original plan was merely to use the guise of "searching" to send this new army to the grasslands for practical combat experience, while at the same time creating as much chaos as possible, weakening the Xianbei, and clearing obstacles for the future.

Unexpectedly, Xiang Yu and his men not only completed their mission perfectly, but also exceeded expectations by accomplishing such an earth-shattering feat.

They directly forced the nominal supreme leader of the Xianbei to surrender, completely trampling the dignity of the Xianbei royal court underfoot!

This is no ordinary military achievement; it is an unparalleled feat worthy of being recorded in history and shaking the world!

"Good! Good lads!" Ji Xuanyuan strode forward and patted each of the five men's arms forcefully, his voice trembling with excitement.

"Well done! Excellent work! This achievement is unprecedented! With brothers like you, I, Ji Xuanyuan, have no worries about accomplishing great things! No fear of the barbarians not being destroyed!"

He carefully examined the heads of Zhang Chun and Zhang Ju and confirmed that they were genuine.

Then he approached Helian, whose face was ashen, and his prime minister.

"Keep a close watch on it, do not neglect it, and do not let anything go wrong," Ji Xuanyuan instructed.

"Especially the leader of the Lian clan, who is a distinguished guest from Luoyang who will be 'offered' with courtesy."

"Don't worry, brother!" Xiang Yu and the others responded in unison.

The atmosphere inside the tent was lively, a blend of the joy of brothers reuniting and the excitement of a great success.

Ji Xuanyuan immediately ordered that food and drink be prepared to welcome everyone and wash away the dust of their journey. At the same time, he ordered the scribe to draft a victory report overnight and send it by fast horse to the Luoyang court and Liu Yu, the governor of Youzhou, along with a detailed battle report, a list of spoils, and a "memorial" from the Xianbei leaders and the Lian people who voluntarily submitted to the imperial court.

In the days that followed, Youzhou was first shaken.

When Liu Yu received the battle report, he was in Jicheng dealing with the complicated resettlement matters after the Wuhuan people's surrender. He was so shocked that he dropped his pen on the table.

He never expected that the army Ji Xuanyuan sent to "search" would do something so earth-shattering!

Force the Xianbei chieftain to surrender?

Although the battle report used the phrase "He Lianmuyi came to surrender," given the background of the Jingnan Army's deployment of troops to the royal court, even a fool would know what was going on.

This achievement is too great, too dazzling, and also too... dangerous.

At the end of the battle report, Ji Xuanyuan attributed the great victory to "His Majesty's divine might, Liu Youzhou's strategic planning, and the soldiers' bravery" in an extremely humble tone, while claiming that he himself had only contributed "minor merits."

It sounds nice, but everyone knows who really deserves the credit.

Immediately afterwards, Luoyang was in an uproar.

When the news of "a great victory in the northern frontier, the killing of the traitors Zhang Chun and Zhang Ju, the Xianbei chieftain and the Lianju tribe surrendered and personally went to Luoyang to plead guilty and submit" spread throughout the streets and alleys of Luoyang with the urgent news delivered by courier and the "propaganda" deliberately exaggerated by the Jingnan Army, the entire capital was plunged into a kind of almost fanatical excitement.

Since the time of Tan Shihuai, when has the northern frontier of the Han Dynasty ever had such a moment of triumph?

In the marketplace, in taverns and teahouses, everyone talked about "the divine might of Marquis Ji" and "the bravery of the Jingnan Army." The names of Ji Xuanyuan, Xiang Yu, Ran Min, and others were mentioned repeatedly, almost becoming synonymous with heroes.

Inside the Deyang Palace, however, the atmosphere was even more subtle and complex.

After the eunuch Zhang Rang finished reading the victory report, Liu Hong, sitting on the dragon throne, suddenly had a sickly flush on his sallow and swollen face, and his cloudy eyes burst forth with a light that had not been seen for a long time.

He suddenly stood up from the throne, and because the movement was so sudden, he even swayed a little, prompting Zhang Rang and Zhao Zhong, who were standing beside him, to hurriedly help him up.

"Good! Good! What a great Ji Xuanyuan! What a great Jingnan Army!" Liu Hong's voice was hoarse but high-pitched, carrying a sense of catharsis that had been building up for many years.

"Slaying the traitors, subduing the Xianbei, and displaying our national power in remote lands! This is my greatest achievement since ascending the throne! The spirits of my ancestors, Gaozu and Shizu, should be pleased!"

He surveyed the officials below, their expressions varied, and declared in a clear, unquestionable voice: "Issue the decree! Ji Xuanyuan, the Northern General of the Central Army and Marquis of Zhuo, is renowned for his loyalty and bravery, and his meritorious service is unparalleled. He is hereby promoted to General of the Cavalry, retaining his original fiefdom, and his estate is increased by two thousand households! The meritorious soldiers under his command shall be verified and their achievements reported to the court, and they shall be richly rewarded! The heads of the traitors Zhang Chun and Zhang Ju shall be displayed in all prefectures and counties! The Xianbei… former lord He Lian, having already submitted, is permitted to enter the capital for an audience, to demonstrate my benevolent rule over distant peoples!"

General of the Cavalry!

He held the rank of Grand General, with a gold seal and purple ribbon, in charge of conquering rebels, and his status was extremely prestigious!

Since Dou Xian, this position has been vacant for many years, and it is not granted to anyone who has made outstanding contributions to protecting the emperor.

This reward is so generous that it cannot be given more than once.

Some time ago, rumors circulated that Dong Zhong, the nephew of Empress Dowager Dong, might be appointed as General of the Cavalry. Even Dong Zhong himself believed it and was ready to take office.

The results of it?

Did Ji Xuanyuan suddenly appear out of nowhere?

However, the decree has a second part.

Liu Hong continued, "Furthermore, I hereby instruct General Ji Xuanyuan, upon receiving this decree, to properly arrange the defenses of the northern frontier, to lead the Jingnan Army, and to bring the heads of the rebel chieftains Zhang Chun and Zhang Ju, as well as to escort the former Xianbei leader, He Lian, to Luoyang immediately to receive his title and present his captives! I wish to personally witness the pillars of my great Han Dynasty, and to personally accept the surrender of the barbarians before the Southern Palace, to demonstrate the might of Heaven!"

Returning to the capital with the army!

These four words brought some ministers to their senses.

Your Majesty is going to...

The imperial edict was delivered to the front lines in Shanggu as quickly as possible.

Inside the central command tent, an incense table was set up high.

After the eunuch read the imperial edict in his shrill voice, the tent fell silent.

The initial joy on the faces of Xiang Yu, Ran Min, and others quickly turned into astonishment and vigilance upon hearing the phrase "returning to the capital with the army."

Guo Jia stood beside Ji Xuanyuan, his peach blossom eyes slightly narrowed, and the rhythm of his feather fan waving slowed down a beat.

Ji Xuanyuan's expression remained calm as an ancient well. He respectfully accepted the imperial edict, expressed his gratitude, and generously rewarded the envoy.

After the angels were led away to rest, leaving only a few core members in the tent, the atmosphere suddenly became heavy.

"Brother, what does the Emperor mean by this?" Xiang Yu's thick eyebrows furrowed, and a sharp light flashed in his double pupils.

He Jin, the Ten Attendants, and powerful clans—the waters of Luoyang are too deep and too murky.

Ran Min snorted coldly: "What's there to be afraid of! If our elder brother goes, we will naturally lead our troops to protect him! Let's see who dares to lay a finger on him!"

Lü Bu also said, "That's right! Our Jingnan Army is invincible. Wherever we go, we can go with our heads held high. So what if it's Luoyang?"

Guo Jia, fanning himself with a feather fan, slowly spoke: "My lord, I believe that His Majesty's edict kills three birds with one stone."

"Firstly, it serves to reward this unprecedented achievement, demonstrate the Emperor's boundless grace, and inspire the people of the land. Secondly, it is indeed possible to use the ceremony of presenting prisoners of war to flaunt military power and deter any rebellious elements, both internal and external. As for the third..."

He paused, a cold glint in his eyes: "Even if it is a test, it is also a potential stripping of power, transferring the lord and the main force away from their base and placing them under the control of the central government. His Majesty may want to clear out... or at least control the biggest possible variable for the Crown Prince."

After listening to everyone's words, Ji Xuanyuan walked to the huge hanging map, looked in the direction of Luoyang, and remained silent for a long time.

The inertia of history seemed to manifest itself at this moment; Emperor Ling's sensitivity to power and his worries about what would happen after his death in his later years indeed began to affect him.

However, he is not a pawn to be manipulated.

He turned around and said, "What Fengxiao said is insightful. His Majesty's decree must be obeyed, but there are nuances to follow it."

He stood with his hands behind his back and slowly said, "Immediately, in my name, I will submit a memorial to His Majesty to express my gratitude for His Majesty's grace."

"At the same time, I would like to submit this petition: The situation in the northern frontier appears to be stable, but in reality, there are undercurrents. Although the Xianbei have nominally submitted, the Queju, Murong and other tribes are not subservient to the king's rule and are standing up against him. They may come south to retaliate at any time. The Wuhuan have just surrendered and their hearts are not yet settled. The Southern Xiongnu in Bingzhou are in turmoil and the flames of war have already been lit. I fear that it will spread to Youzhou and Bingzhou. This is truly a critical moment of life and death. The main force of the Jingnan Army cannot leave the defense zone lightly. Otherwise, the border will be in danger of collapse. I fear that I will fail Your Majesty's important trust and all previous efforts will be in vain."

He paused, then said, "Therefore, I, Ji Xuanyuan, humbly request Your Majesty's permission. I will obey Your Majesty's decree and depart immediately to the capital to express my gratitude and present the captives. However, to ensure the safety of the northern border, the main force of the Jingnan Army must remain to guard the key passes of Youzhou and maintain strict vigilance. To reassure the court and demonstrate the loyalty of your subjects, I wish to temporarily entrust the military affairs of the northern border to Governor Liu Yu of Youzhou for command and coordination!"

"I have selected only one hundred loyal and reliable guards to escort the head of the rebel chieftain and the former Xianbei leader Helian to the capital. That will suffice!"

Upon hearing this, the people inside the tent were taken aback at first, then suddenly understood.

Handing over military affairs in the northern frontier to Liu Yu?

Nominally, the army was handed over, but who didn't know that the Jingnan Army was created by Ji Xuanyuan, and all the generals were his trusted brothers, and the soldiers only recognized the Ji banner and a few generals?

Could Liu Yu command even a single soldier?

This move was both a response to the court's possible suspicions and a response to the court's concerns.

Look, I've even handed over my "military power".

They not only firmly grasped the actual power in their hands, but also conveniently outmaneuvered Liu Yu.

Are you going to answer or not?

If I take it on, can I manage it?

Moreover, bringing only a hundred men into the capital not only demonstrated his openness and selflessness, showing no intention of hoarding troops to threaten the capital, but also his confidence.

Even if he were to enter Luoyang alone, Ji Xuanyuan would have enough confidence and backup plans.

"My lord is wise!" Guo Jia smiled and nodded.

Soon, the memorial was sent to Luoyang with the same urgency.

Several days later, a reply arrived from Luoyang, containing only the two characters "朱批" (vermilion approval):

"Granted."

At the same time, an imperial edict urging Ji Xuanyuan to set off as soon as possible also arrived.