The Great Tang Dynasty: The Celestial Master Descends the Mountain, Starts by Being Deceived into Ma

Chapter 47 Wishing you a triumphant return

"It's the army."

Lu Jinghe took a closer look, then shielded Gao Yang and Xiao Sizi to his side and moved closer to the roadside.

The cavalry was getting closer and closer, led by a general who rode a strong, blue horse, wore a bright armor, had a precious sword at his waist, and was a burly man with a long beard. He was clearly not someone to be trifled with.

His gaze was radiant, scanning Gao Yang and Lu Jinghe from afar.

He then cracked his whip, sped up, and galloped over, before suddenly tightening the reins.

"Whoa—!"

The warhorse neighed loudly, its front hooves raised high, almost standing up.

"Bang!"

The horses' hooves landed heavily, and the countless armored soldiers behind them stopped instantly in perfect unison, without making a single unnecessary movement.

Elite troops and capable generals.

Lu Jinghe thought of this word; it was the perfect word to describe them.

The general, who had stopped not far in front of Lu Jing and the others, dismounted and strode toward them, his face filled with disbelief.

"Your Highness?"

Gao Yang looked closely and smiled, "General Duan?"

The visitor was none other than Duke Duan Zhixuan of Fan State.

He strode up to Gao Yang, clasped his hands in a salute, and said, "This humble general, Duan Zhixuan, greets Your Highness!"

Gao Yang raised his hand and said, "General Duan, there's no need for such formalities."

Duan Zhixuan straightened up, his gaze falling on Gao Yang, then at Lu Jinghe beside her, and finally at the little Sizi in his arms, his eyes almost popping out of their sockets.

"Princess Jinyang?!"

"Does Uncle know Persimmon?" Little Sizi pointed to herself; she didn't know this uncle.

"This humble general, Duan Zhixuan, greets Your Highness!"

He clasped his hands in a salute again.

"General Duan, there's no need for such formalities," Xiao Sizi said, mimicking Gao Yang with a smile. She was quite clever.

Who is this young man?

Duan Zhixuan straightened up and looked Lu Jinghe up and down. His gaze shifted downwards, and then he froze, not knowing what to say.

Gao Yang's hand was holding the young man's, their fingers intertwined.

Duan Zhixuan's eyebrows furrowed in shock. His mouth opened and closed repeatedly before he finally managed to stammer, "Your Highness... what's wrong?"

Gao Yang followed his gaze and glanced at him, but instead of looking away, she gripped his hand even tighter.

"Is General Duan about to go to war?"

Duan Zhixuan took a deep breath, suppressing the chaotic thoughts in his mind, and said solemnly, "Yes, His Majesty has appointed me as the General Commander of the Western Route Army, leading troops to conquer Tuyuhun."

"Tuyuhun?" Gao Yang muttered, his brow furrowing slightly. "What happened over there?"

Duan Zhixuan said, "The Tuyuhun are ignorant of their own limitations and have repeatedly invaded the borders of our Great Tang. His Majesty said that this time we must teach them a lesson, to wake them up, and let them know what the Great Tang is, and that the world belongs to the Great Tang!"

After Duan Zhixuan finished speaking, he looked at Lu Jinghe and said, "Your Highness, may I ask who this young master is?"

""

"My fiancé." Gao Yang turned her head to look at Lu Jinghe, her voice softening.

"Fiancé?" Duan Zhixuan almost choked on his own saliva. "When did Your Highness get engaged? How come I didn't hear a word about it?"

Gao Yang smiled happily: "We just got engaged not long ago, and the wedding is next month."

Duan Zhixuan opened his mouth, but for a moment he didn't know what to say.

Why hasn't His Majesty said anything about such a big event as the princess's engagement? Is there something he doesn't know?

But he didn't dare to ask, since the princess's wedding had nothing to do with him, so he congratulated her, saying, "Then this humble general congratulates Your Highness in advance."

Then, his gaze turned to Lu Jinghe, who looked refined and elegant, giving off an air of unparalleled elegance and grace.

But his eyes were different. Looking into his eyes, Duan Zhixuan felt that Lu Jinghe was not a simple scholar.

Facing this incredibly strong and fierce veteran of the battlefield, instead of showing fear, he even seemed to admire him.

This person is not simple...

Lu Jinghe then spoke up: "General Duan has gone to war for the country and has had a long and arduous journey."

Duan Zhixuan snapped out of his thoughts, clasped his hands in greeting, and asked, "May I ask how you are addressed, young master?"

"This humble Taoist priest is Lu Jinghe."

A humble Taoist priest?

His Majesty married the princess to a Taoist priest? That's even more complicated!

"Master Lu!" Duan Zhixuan nodded, then clasped his hands in a fist salute to Gao Yang and said, "Your Highness, I have duties to attend to, so I will not keep you company any longer."

After Duan Zhixuan finished speaking, he prepared to leave, but was stopped by Lu Jinghe.

Lu Jinghe said, "General Duan, please wait."

Duan Zhixuan turned around and saw Lu Jinghe run to the carriage and take out a crystal-clear "copper coin".

The coin was larger than a normal coin, completely transparent, and reflected a dazzling light under the sun.

The money had two large characters written on it: "Peace".

"This is..." Duan Zhixuan was stunned. Is this glass from the Western Regions?

It's really beautiful.

Lu Jinghe handed over the glass coin, saying, "General Duan is going on a campaign, and it's inconvenient for him to carry other items. Consider this glass coin a parting gift. May the general have a successful campaign and lead his army back in triumph."

Duan Zhixuan subconsciously took the glass coin; it felt slightly cool to the touch and smooth and delicate.

He had fought in battles for half his life and had seen countless treasures, but this was the first time he had ever seen anything like it.

It is even more translucent than the glass from the Western Regions.

"This item is far too precious for me to accept!"

As he spoke, Duan Zhixuan tried to return it to Lu Jinghe.

"General Duan, this is a small token of our appreciation from the princess. We hope you will accept it," Lu Jinghe said with a smile. "General, you have fought for the country and risked your life. A mere glass coin is nothing to you."

Gao Yang chimed in, "General Duan, please accept this. It's just a small token of our appreciation, and it carries our blessings."

Duan Zhixuan was taken aback for a moment, then burst into laughter, "Alright! Alright! Then this humble general will shamelessly accept it."

He carefully tucked the glass coin into his pocket, then solemnly clasped his hands in thanks to the two men, saying, "Thank you, Your Highness, thank you, Daoist Lu! I will remember this forever."

Gao Yang laughed and said, "General, you flatter me."

Duan Zhixuan clasped his hands in regret, his face full of apology: "This humble servant will be away for at least half a year, and I'm afraid I won't be able to make it to Your Highness and Daoist Lu's wedding."

"Oh, it's no big deal." Lu Jinghe waved his hand and laughed, "General, don't worry about it. When you return in triumph, I'll arrange a special table for you and make up for the wedding wine you missed. We'll drink until we drop!"

"Alright! Let's drink until we drop!"

Duan Zhixuan laughed heartily, mounted his horse, and led his army westward.

Lu Jing and the others returned to the carriage.

As the sun set, its orange-red afterglow shone on the soldiers' gleaming armor, creating a beautiful, shimmering effect.

Little Sizi leaned against the window, holding up the doll and shouting, "Brother! They're gone!"

"Yes, they've gone to fight."

Lu Jinghe patted Xiao Sizi's head and smiled, "It's an auspicious omen..."

The Li hexagram signifies breaking through enemy lines and soaring into the sky.

The Vermilion Bird Banner unfurls, reflecting the dawn's glow; the six armies thunder and roam like dragons and snakes.

With a mighty wind and swift waves, I pacify the barbarian lands and return home in armor, where flowers bloom along the way.

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