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

Inside the camp, the lights were on.

Su Mu instructed the cooks to prepare the stag they had hunted that day, cook it into several decent dishes, and then bring out a few jars of good wine.

The aroma of venison filled the entire camp.

Xiao Jingyu sat in the guest seat, with a bowl of steaming venison soup in front of him. The soup was milky white, and the meat was tender and juicy.

He picked up the bowl and took a sip.

"Excellent cooking!" Xiao Jingyu put down his bowl, gave a thumbs up, and said, "It's been a long time since I've tasted such wild game."

Su Mu smiled, picked up a piece of venison, put it in his mouth, and chewed it slowly.

"Your Highness flatters me."

Qin Hao chimed in with a smile, "Your Highness, you don't know, Old Su's cook battalion is quite something now. They can fight and cook. Those cooks from back then are now all centurions and captains, leading troops that are fiercer than anyone else's."

Xiao Jingyu's eyes lit up, filled with admiration.

"Good! Good! Good!"

"General Su's skillful training of troops is truly a blessing to our Great Qian army."

The group ate and chatted...

After the meal, Xiao Jingyu wiped his mouth and said solemnly, "General Su, I would like to visit the army. Before coming to Qingzhou, His Majesty specifically instructed me to see the situation of our Great Qian soldiers with my own eyes so that I can report back to him."

Su Mu nodded and said:

"Your Highness, please. This old man will show you around."

……

Dust billowed across the drill ground.

Five thousand new recruits are training, divided into more than a dozen formations, including sword and shield soldiers, spearmen, archers, and long-handled swordsmen, each performing their duties, and changing formations in an orderly manner.

The instructors' commands, the soldiers' shouts, and the clanging of weapons mingled together, creating a torrent that stirred the blood.

"Thrust! Retract!"

In the formation of spearmen, hundreds of spears thrust out simultaneously, their tips gleaming coldly in the sunlight, perfectly aligned and displaying an imposing momentum.

"Shield Wall, rise!"

In the formation of sword and shield soldiers, hundreds of shields were raised simultaneously, forming an impenetrable iron wall. Behind the shields, the soldiers crouched down, their eyes blazing, ready to charge at any moment.

Xiao Jingyu stood at the edge of the training ground, looking at the scene before him with shock in his eyes.

He had been to the North.

Three years ago, when the Northern Di people launched their first major invasion southward, he was ordered to come and comfort the troops.

At that time, the morale of the Daqian army was low, their military appearance was disheveled, the soldiers were emaciated, and their weapons were rusted.

During drills on the training ground, some people slacked off, and some even risked their lives to desert.

But the army in front of us is completely different from the one three years ago.

The soldiers were all in high spirits, their backs straight, and their eyes shining.

Their movements were synchronized and their teamwork was excellent. Everyone was training with all their might, and no one was slacking off.

That spirit that emanates from his very bones is like a burning fire, making people's blood boil just by looking at it.

"General Su..." Xiao Jingyu's voice trembled slightly, "This army is completely different from the one I came to three years ago."

He took a deep breath, his eyes filled with emotion.

"Now, I see hope in them, hope in recovering the northern border and driving out the northern barbarians."

Su Mu stood with his hands behind his back beside Xiao Jingyu, looking at the young soldiers who were sweating profusely, a slight smile playing on his lips.

"Your Highness, the soldiers are still the same soldiers, and the people are still the same people."

"Now they know why they are fighting, and they know there is hope to drive out the Northern Barbarians, so there is hope for them."

Xiao Jingyu turned his head and looked at Su Mu's wrinkled face, a feeling of indescribable admiration welling up in his heart.

He took a step back, clasped his hands together, and bowed deeply.

"General Su, on behalf of the people of the world, Xiao Jingyu thanks you once again."

Su Mu quickly reached out to support him and shook his head.

"Your Highness, what are you doing? This old man cannot accept such a compliment."

"You deserve it." Xiao Jingyu straightened up, his gaze intense. "For the past three years, Daqian has suffered defeat after defeat in the northern border, losing cities and territories, and its people have been displaced. The ministers in the court, besides passing the buck to each other, are just sighing and complaining. No one can stand up, no one dares to stand up."

"It was you who stepped forward. At the age of 100, you started from the bottom as a cook and fought your way out of this world with your sword and spear."

"You have given hope to the people of Daqian. The people of Daqian will remember this kindness, the soldiers of Daqian will remember it, and I, Xiao Jingyu, will remember it too."

Su Mu remained silent for a moment, a complex expression flashing in his eyes.

He turned around and looked at the soldiers who were practicing.

"Your Highness, rest assured, I will take responsibility for these young men. After all, many of them trust me and came to enlist in the army because of my reputation. I cannot let them down."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jingyu was lost in thought and remained silent.

On the training ground, the shouts of battle still shook the heavens.

……

After touring the military camp, it was already dusk.

Su Mu and Qin Hao accompanied Xiao Jingyu as they slowly walked back to the government office.

By the time they returned to the government office, it was already dark.

Su Mu dismissed his attendants and sat down alone with Xiao Jingyu in the study.

Su Mu picked up his teacup, took a sip, and the calm in his eyes finally stirred.

"Your Highness, there is something I have wanted to ask you for a long time, but the timing was not right."

Xiao Jingyu quickly said, "Please speak, Elder Su."

"My granddaughter... Qingxue, is she doing well at the Prince's manor?"

Su Mu's voice trembled slightly as he spoke, indicating that he was very impatient.

Xiao Jingyu felt a warmth in his heart and waved his hand repeatedly.

"Don't worry, Mr. Su, Qingxue is doing well."

"Qingxue is a well-behaved, sensible, and knowledgeable child. Everyone in the palace likes her. I have already treated her as my own daughter."

He took out a cloth bag from behind him and handed it to Su Mu with both hands.

"Elder Su, this is a gift that Qingxue prepared for you. The child heard that I was coming to the Northern Border and made it overnight, insisting that I personally deliver it to you."

Su Mu took the cloth bag, his withered fingers trembling slightly.

He opened the cloth bag and took out the items one by one.

A pair of cloth shoes, a painting, and a letter!

The cloth shoes are covered with dense stitches, and although some are crooked, each stitch is firmly placed.

As for that painting, it's quite interesting.

It was drawn by Su Qingxue herself. The lines were crooked and twisted. It depicted an old man with white hair riding a white horse, holding a knife in his hand.

A few words were written crookedly next to it: "Grandpa won the battle."

Finally, Su Mu carefully opened the letter.

The handwriting above is childish, each stroke carefully written.

"Grandpa, do you miss Qingxue? Qingxue misses you so much. Be careful on the battlefield and don't get hurt. Qingxue is doing well at the Prince's Mansion. Uncle Xiao and Sister Zhiqiu are very kind to Qingxue. You can fight without worry. Qingxue is waiting for you to come back. Grandpa, you must come back alive."

Su Mu held the letter, stroking the crooked handwriting again and again.

His eyes reddened, and tears welled up.

He blinked hard, forcing the mist back down.

"Okay...okay..." His voice was a little choked, but he tried his best to remain calm. "This child has grown up and knows how to care for his grandfather."

He folded the letter carefully and tucked it into his clothes as if it were a precious treasure. Then he picked up the pair of cloth shoes and examined them over and over, his eyes filled with loving kindness.

"These shoes have thick soles; they'll definitely be warm to wear. This girl is very skillful."

Seeing Su Mu's expression, Xiao Jingyu felt a pang of sadness and quickly comforted him, "Elder Su, I assure you that Qingxue will be well-fed and warmly dressed in the palace. Moreover, I have already given orders that no one is allowed to reveal Qingxue's identity to anyone. Zhi Qiu is with her every day, and the two are like sisters."

Su Mu carefully put the cloth shoes and painting back into the cloth bag, held them in his arms, looked at Xiao Jingyu with his cloudy old eyes, and solemnly clasped his hands in a fist salute.

"Your Highness, I will never forget your great kindness."

Xiao Jingyu quickly waved his hand and said, "Elder Su, please don't stand on ceremony with me."

"I truly adore Qingxue."

"Besides, you risked your life for the people of Daqian, so it's only right that I take care of your granddaughter."

Su Mu nodded and said no more.

Xiao Jingyu remembered something else and frowned slightly.

"Elder Su, I have thoroughly investigated Xu Shigui's matter."

"He withheld military pay, ostracized loyal officials, deserted his post in battle, and framed meritorious officials in the north... Every single one of these acts is supported by conclusive evidence. After I return to the capital, I will certainly report this to His Majesty and make Xu Shigui pay the price he deserves."

Su Mu cupped his hands and said, "With Your Highness's words, I think all the brothers in the army are satisfied."

The two hit it off as they talked, discussing everything from the war in the north to the political situation at court, from military training to governance.

They poured cup after cup of tea, but neither of them felt sleepy.

Xiao Jingyu discovered that this centenarian was not only a master of martial arts, but also had extensive knowledge and insightful views on the current situation.

He spoke sharply about the ills of the court, but his words were not extreme.

When speaking of the hardships of ordinary people, his tone was calm, yet every word was piercing.

"Elder Su," Xiao Jingyu couldn't help but ask, "Do you think there's still hope for the Great Qian Dynasty?"

Su Mu picked up the teacup again and slowly took a sip.

"Your Highness, whether the Great Qian Dynasty can be saved does not lie with the officials in the court, nor with His Majesty, but with the people of the world."

"As long as the people have hope, as long as there are people willing to stand up for them, there is still hope for the Great Qian Dynasty."

He paused, a slight smile playing on his lips.

"I am a centenarian and I have not given up. Your Highness is so young, so please do not say discouraging things."

Xiao Jingyu was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter.

"Old Master Su is right! I was overthinking it."

The two looked at each other and laughed, their laughter echoing in the study.

Outside the window, the night was deepening.

Su Mu stood up and stretched his stiff waist and legs.

"Your Highness, it's getting late. You should rest early. I'm going back to sleep too."

Xiao Jingyu also stood up, clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Elder Su, I have one last question for you. When do you plan to send troops to Cangzhou? I want to see with my own eyes how our Great Qian soldiers fight on the battlefield before I return to the capital."

Su Mu replied, "The new recruits need another half month of training. Once news comes back from Cangzhou, I will immediately send out troops."

"If Your Highness is interested, you may stay in Qingzhou for another half month. At that time, I will take you to the battlefield and let you see with your own eyes how the soldiers of Daqian kill the Northern Di people."

Xiao Jingyu's eyes lit up, and he clasped his hands in a fist salute, saying, "Alright! Then I'll wait half a month!"

"Your Highness, please rest early. This old man takes his leave."

He turned and walked out of the study, his body hunched over, carrying the cloth bag, and walked step by step toward his room.

The moonlight shone on his full head of white hair and on the cloth bag in his arms, which was filled with his granddaughter's heartfelt wishes.

Back in his room, he sat on the edge of the bed, took the letter out of his clothes, and read it again by candlelight.

He murmured, "Qingxue, wait for Grandpa. Grandpa will reclaim the northern border as soon as possible, and then come to the capital to see you."