At 100 years old, he joined the army in place of his granddaughter, and became a national war god.

Inside the Golden Palace, undercurrents were swirling.

Prime Minister Li Yuan approached Zhang Heng and asked in a serious tone:

"Captain Zhang, how old is this 'Old Master Su' you mentioned?"

Zhang Heng raised his head, his gaze calm: "One hundred years old."

As soon as those two words were uttered, the hall fell silent for a moment, then erupted into a buzz of discussion.

The officials behind Prime Minister Li Yuan couldn't help but chuckle; some burst out laughing, some shook their heads, and some whispered among themselves.

"A hundred years old? Hahaha!"

An imperial censor covered his mouth, laughing so hard his shoulders shook.

A centenarian going to the battlefield to fight? He probably couldn't even mount a horse!

"That's right! My grandfather is only seventy, and he needs a cane to walk. What can a hundred-year-old man do? He's too old to be a live target!"

"Captain Zhang, are you treating His Majesty like a three-year-old child?"

Li Yuan raised his hand to suppress the laughter behind him, his face bearing a pained expression, but his eyes clearly held contempt.

He took a step forward, looking down at Zhang Heng, his voice not loud, but each word like a knife.

"Zhang Heng, how dare you speak such nonsense in front of His Majesty and fabricate such absurd things."

"A centenarian, wielding a sword to kill the enemy? Slaying the Northern Barbarian general Yeluqi with a single blow? Do you know that this is a crime of deceiving the emperor?"

His gaze was sharp, carrying the official air of a prime minister, attempting to intimidate Zhang Heng.

Zhang Heng knelt on the ground, but his back was ramrod straight.

He didn't back down, or even blink; he simply looked at Li Yuan calmly, his voice steady.

"Your Excellency, everything I have said is true. Although Elder Su is a hundred years old, he still has a heart full of patriotism and a desire to fight for his country."

"His martial arts skills were unparalleled. I personally witnessed him kill Yeluqi with a single stroke."

"Prefect Wu's letter clearly states that thousands of soldiers in the army can testify to this. If I have uttered even the slightest falsehood, I am willing to accept the punishment of deceiving the emperor."

He raised his head, bowed to the emperor on the dragon throne, and spoke in a loud voice:

"Your Majesty, everything I have said is true. I beg Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly!"

Li Yuan sneered, about to speak again...

"His Majesty!"

The Third Prince, Xiao Jingyu, stepped forward from the ranks, flicked his sleeves, and cupped his hands, saying, "Your subject has something to say."

Xiao Jinghuan nodded: "Please speak, Your Highness."

Xiao Jingyu straightened up, his gaze sweeping over Li Yuan and the officials behind him, neither humble nor arrogant.

"Commander Zhang is on the front lines and has seen it with his own eyes, so he naturally understands the truth about the war in the north better than those of us who are far away in the capital."

"He said that the old gentleman Su Mu was still able to kill enemies even at the age of one hundred, which I also found incredible. But then I thought, so what if he's one hundred years old?"

His voice rose a few decibels, echoing throughout the hall.

"As long as he possesses the ability to kill enemies and serve the country, and can recover lost territories and slay enemy generals for our Great Qian, then it will be a great blessing for our Great Qian!"

"At the age of 100, he still has the ambition to join the army and serve his country, which surpasses the lofty aspirations of many young people!"

He paused, his gaze sharp as a knife, piercing straight at Li Yuan.

"Not only do we not admire him, but we also mock him. Isn't that shameful? We should be showing him the utmost respect!"

Li Yuan's face immediately darkened, and the officials around him also stopped smiling, looking embarrassed.

"Your Highness is mistaken..." Li Yuan was about to retort.

"Alright!" Xiao Jinghuan, sitting on the dragon throne, waved his hand, interrupting him.

The hall fell silent.

Xiao Jinghuan's gaze swept back and forth between Zhang Heng, Li Yuan, and Xiao Jingyu.

"Whether this matter is true or false, I will order someone to investigate it thoroughly."

"The most important thing right now is that our Great Qian army has won a great victory and recovered Yuzhou City. As for that Su Mu, if he can really kill a fierce general like Yeluqi with one stroke, then he will be the pillar of our Great Qian."

He looked at Zhang Heng, his tone softening slightly.

"Zhang Heng, return to the Northern Border immediately and inform Qin Hao that I am aware of what has happened there."

"I will also order an investigation into Su Mu's matter, and once the investigation is complete, I will certainly reward and punish him fairly."

"Alright, you may leave now."

Zhang Heng clasped his hands in a fist and said, "This humble general obeys!"

"Your Majesty!" Xiao Jingyu stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "I dare to suggest that such a great achievement should be rewarded."

"Yuzhou City was captured by our soldiers at the cost of their lives. If we don't even offer a reward, it will likely discourage the soldiers at the front!"

Li Yuan immediately stepped forward, his voice shrill.

"Third Prince, you are mistaken! Everything should be based on evidence first, and rewards should not be given lightly."

"If this matter is false, and Your Majesty rashly bestows rewards, wouldn't it make the court appear as if it lacks discernment? It would be more appropriate to determine the rewards after the truth has been ascertained."

The officials behind him echoed his sentiments.

"The Prime Minister is right!"

"Yeah, what if he's a scammer?"

"A centenarian fighting on the battlefield—this is unheard of and must be investigated!"

Xiao Jingyu's face darkened.

He glanced at the ministers who echoed his sentiments, then at Xiao Jinghuan on the dragon throne. His chest heaved a few times, and he swallowed back the words that were about to come out.

Xiao Jinghuan pondered for a moment, then nodded.

"What the Prime Minister says makes sense. Let's set this matter aside for now and decide on a course of action after we've ascertained the truth!"

"As for Xu Shigui, imprison him and I will execute him after the truth of the matter is found out."

"Guards, take him away."

Upon hearing this, Xu Shigui kowtowed repeatedly.

"Your Majesty is wise."

"Your Majesty, please investigate this matter thoroughly!"

Then, two imperial guards came in and escorted Xu Shigui away from the Golden Palace.

"Court adjourned!"

"Dismiss...the court..." The eunuch's shrill voice echoed in the hall.

The civil and military officials bowed and filed out.

……

Outside the palace gate, the sunlight was blinding.

Xiao Jingyu quickly caught up with Zhang Heng, patted him on the shoulder, and looked apologetic.

"Captain Zhang, I just strongly advocated for rewards in the palace, but unfortunately..."

Zhang Heng stopped, turned around, and clasped his hands in a salute.

"I am deeply grateful to the Third Prince for speaking up for justice."

Xiao Jingyu looked at him, his eyes full of curiosity.

He had expected Zhang Heng to be disappointed, resentful, and to complain about the injustice of the court.

After all, they had traveled thousands of miles to deliver the good news, only to be told that it would be "temporarily put on hold."

But there was not a trace of frustration on Zhang Heng's face.

"Captain Zhang, don't you... feel wronged?" Xiao Jingyu couldn't help but ask.

Zhang Heng smiled, a smile that was open and magnanimous.

"Your Highness, Elder Su and General Qin had already anticipated this. Before leaving, Elder Su specifically instructed me: 'Once you arrive in the capital, just report the truth to the court. As for the matter of rewarding merits, don't think about it or compete for it.'"

Xiao Jingyu was stunned.

He had seen too many generals vying for credit and rewards, and too many officials complaining about unfair rewards.

I have never seen a captain come to the court from the battlefield with such a calm and composed mindset.

"Old Su also said..." Zhang Heng looked at Xiao Jingyu with a firm gaze, "As long as our entire army is of one mind, the recapture of the northern border is just around the corner. When the entire northern border is restored, the imperial court will have no choice but to reward us."

Xiao Jingyu's Adam's apple bobbed, as if he wanted to say something, but found himself at a loss for words.

Zhang Heng clasped his hands and bowed deeply.

"Your Highness, this humble general must hurry back to the northern border to report. Farewell!"

He turned and strode away, his steps brisk and decisive.

Xiao Jingyu stood there, watching the figure walk further and further away until it gradually disappeared into the sunlight outside the palace gate.

He stood on the steps at the entrance of the palace, motionless for a long time.

"Su Mu..."

He muttered to himself.

"What kind of person are you that commands such trust and loyalty from your soldiers?"