Hot flashes

An awkward silence fell over the hall once again. Among the military officers, several with some seniority either stared down at their tablets or had wandering eyes.

The civil officials were even more terrified and remained silent. Everyone knew this was a hot potato, one they couldn't afford to take. Victory? The chances were extremely slim.

Losing the battle would mean utter disgrace and even death. Moreover, how many truly combat-ready troops could the court mobilize now? And where would the provisions and supplies come from?

Silence, like a cold spiderweb, suffocated the young emperor. Just when he was about to despair—

"This old minister—is willing to go!"

An old, hoarse voice, yet sharp and resolute like the grinding of rusted iron, suddenly broke the deathly silence from outside the palace gates!

Everyone turned around in astonishment.

Against the bright sunlight outside the hall, a tall, upright figure, as straight as an ancient pine, steadily stepped into the hall.

The visitor was not dressed in elaborate court attire, but only in an old-fashioned military uniform that had been washed until it turned white. The faded battle robe even showed faint traces of repair.

His beard and hair were as white as snow, and his face was deeply lined with the wind and sand of the border and the vicissitudes of time. But his eyes were not cloudy like those of an ordinary old man. Instead, they were sharp and bright. Wherever his gaze swept, many officials subconsciously avoided looking at him.

He stood tall with his back straight, his steps steady and composed, each step seemingly touching the hearts of everyone present.

As he reached the steps, his face came into clear view, immediately eliciting a chorus of suppressed gasps of surprise:

"It's... the General of the Cavalry?!"

"General Huo?! He...wasn't he already granted an imperial decree by Emperor Taizong to return to his hometown in glory?"

"It really is General Huo Yi! He's actually returned to court!"

The newcomer was none other than Huo Yi, the General of the Flying Cavalry, who had been a pillar of the Great Liang Dynasty, a powerful figure on the frontier for decades, and who had made the Hu horses dare not look south.

His seniority, military achievements, and military prowess have made him a figure who lives in legend and memory in the current court.

He had offended Emperor Taizong back then, and was eventually given a pretext to be "granted" a life of leisure, which in reality meant he was stripped of his military power and sent to live in seclusion in his hometown. During the reign of the late emperor, no one remembered this old general.

The young emperor Xiao Chang was taken aback at first, but when he saw who it was, his eyes suddenly lit up with an unbelievable joy. He disregarded his imperial demeanor, stood up abruptly from the dragon throne, and hurried down the steps.

"General Huo! It really is you!" Xiao Chang's voice trembled with excitement as he gently grasped Huo Yi's strong arms. "You...you've returned to the capital? I...I didn't summon you!"

Huo Yi knelt on one knee and gave a standard military salute. Although his movements were slightly slower due to his age, they were still meticulous and carried the unique firmness of a soldier: "This old minister, Huo Yi, pays his respects to Your Majesty! I am in full armor, so please excuse me for not being able to perform the full salute!"

"General, please rise quickly!" The young emperor hurriedly helped him up, feeling that the arm was still as strong as iron.

Huo Yi rose to his feet, his gaze sharp as lightning, sweeping over the assembled officials with their varied expressions before finally settling on the young emperor's bewildered face. He said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, this old minister, living in seclusion in the mountains, should not concern himself with worldly affairs. However, recent reports from the northern border have been frequent; Xiao Jue's rebellious son is rampant, and the nation is in grave danger!"

His voice suddenly rose, carrying a sharp sound like metal clashing against stone, "This old minister has received the emperor's favor for generations and holds the position of one of the Three Dukes. How can I sit idly by and watch the traitors run rampant and the country crumble?"

Though I am old, my bones and muscles still remain, and my blood is not cold! I humbly beseech Your Majesty to allow this old minister to once again don armor, lead the royal army, and launch a northern expedition to quell the rebellion, to repay the kindness and favor shown to me by the late Emperor and Emperor Taizong, and to uphold my loyalty and integrity as a subject!

His words were powerful and sincere, carrying with them the formidable prestige and righteous spirit accumulated over decades on the battlefield, instantly dispelling the decadence, cowardice, and scheming atmosphere that permeated the hall.

Many veteran officials recalled Huo Yi's former fame and achievements, and couldn't help but show their emotions.

The young emperor Xiao Chang was deeply moved and his blood boiled, as if he had finally seen a guiding torch in the darkest of nights.

He gripped Huo Yi's hand tightly, repeatedly saying, "Good! Good! With the old general returning to service, it is truly a blessing from heaven for our Great Liang! I am so gratified! I am so gratified!"

He turned to the assembled civil and military officials, his voice becoming much louder with excitement: "Effective immediately, Huo Yi, the General of the Cavalry, is hereby appointed as Grand Commandant, overseeing all the troops in the realm, and is granted the imperial insignia to be in charge of the campaign against the rebellious minister Xiao Jue of Northern Liang!"

All provisions, weapons, and personnel must be allocated with the priority of suppressing the rebellion. Anyone who delays or obstructs this effort will be punished as a traitor!

"Your subject, Huo Yi, accepts the imperial decree and expresses his gratitude! I will do my utmost to quell the northern bandits and repay Your Majesty!" Huo Yi bowed again, his white hair trembling slightly with the movement, and his old military uniform seemed to radiate a chilling light once more.

"Your Majesty is wise!" the ministers echoed in unison. Regardless of their true thoughts, at least on the surface, the court was temporarily united by a long-lost, tragic, and united spirit of hatred against the enemy due to the unexpected return of this veteran general.

Huo Yi slightly raised his head, his gaze seemingly passing over the majestic palace and landing in the distant north.

The stagnant pool of despair in the Southern Capital was finally stirred up by a long-dormant old pillar crashing into it, creating a huge and clearly directed wave.

And this wave is sweeping towards Beiliang at top speed.

The main tent of the Northern Liang camp.

Zhou Heng had just finalized the last few details of the investigation with Mr. Du and was stretching his aching back, preparing to go back and continue processing the paperwork.

Xiao Jue returned from the training ground and listened to his report with Mr. Du. He nodded: "The preparations are thorough. Proceed according to plan tomorrow."

He walked over to Zhou Heng, naturally reaching out to place his palm on Zhou Heng's aching lower back, gently massaging it: "Does it still hurt?"

Zhou Heng stiffened, his ears burning, and whispered, "...Much better." But he didn't dodge. The warmth and just the right amount of pressure from that palm did indeed relieve the discomfort.

Xiao Jue grunted in acknowledgment and was about to say something when Chen Zhen strode in from outside the tent, his face even more stern than usual. He presented a secret letter with a special sealing wax mark: "My lord, urgent report from the Southern Capital."

Xiao Jue took it, opened it, and glanced at it. His eyes suddenly became deep and sharp, like a hawk in the cold night. He raised his eyes, looked at the bewildered Zhou Heng, and spoke calmly, yet each word carried immense weight:

"Huo Yi has emerged from seclusion. The imperial court has appointed him as Grand Commandant, overseeing all military forces, and he will soon be heading north."

Zhou Heng's heart skipped a beat: "Huo Yi? That's...!"

"The former General of the Cavalry, a renowned general of his time." Xiao Jue placed the secret letter over the candle flame, watching it slowly turn to ashes, his voice revealing neither joy nor anger. "He was also... an old friend of my father."

Inside the tent, the candlelight flickered and popped.