Chapter One Hundred Thirty-One: The Proposal

Inside the carriage, Feng Yewu did not understand what was so strange about Yang Guang that Lu Jue had mentioned. If it were merely his behavior, it would not be worth worrying about.

"Yang Guang has never had much contact with either you or me. Are you perhaps overthinking it? Besides, he is now a Grandmaster-level expert; it is only reasonable that he might seem a bit different."

Lu Jue shook his head slightly. What Feng Yewu described was not the difference he had sensed. The way Yang Guang had appeared last night—his expressions, his gestures, even his tone—felt like he had become an entirely different person. It was certainly not just some change brought about by an increase in power. A person’s appearance, speech, and even habits can change, but to undergo such a complete transformation in an instant is by no means an ordinary occurrence.

However, the immediate priority was to resolve the Tidi invasion.

"Your Majesty, the speed of the Tidi tribe this time is lightning-fast; it does not look like a spur-of-the-moment decision. Eleven cities have fallen, and I fear..."

Lu Jue shifted the conversation to the northern frontier, which was exactly what Feng Yewu had been thinking. As Lu Jue said, if one or two cities were lost, it might be understandable, but losing eleven cities simultaneously was far too extreme.

Feng Yewu nodded slightly and analyzed, "The northern frontier is garrisoned by King Jiangyuan, King Beichang, and King Changwu. With eleven cities fallen, it is as if the entire territory has been compromised. I have also thought of something else that might be linked to this."

Lu Jue frowned. Hearing this, he pondered for a moment before asking, "Does Your Majesty mean the case of the murdered Vice Minister of the Ministry of War?"

"Precisely. Before leaving, I asked Wei Nanqi about it. Currently, neither the Dali Temple nor the Ministry of Justice has made any detailed progress. With the northern frontier in crisis, the Ministry of War should be urgently mobilizing troops, yet Wu Muxue’s letter states that the Minister of War has been claiming illness at home since the case occurred, causing much chatter among the court officials."

Feng Yewu only hoped she was overthinking it. If her suspicions were correct and the King of Beichang was behind the murder of the Vice Minister, then with the Tidi invasion, dispatching troops to suppress the enemy became all the more urgent.

"Your Majesty."

Just as Feng Yewu and Lu Jue were talking, Wei Nanqi requested an audience from outside the carriage.

"Come in and speak."

Once Feng Yewu gave the order, Wei Nanqi and Xiao Han stepped into the carriage together. The large carriage suddenly felt a bit crowded with four people inside. Fortunately, Xiao Han had removed his armor due to his injuries and was dressed in simple civilian clothes.

"What is it?" Feng Yewu asked, puzzled, seeing that the two remained silent after entering.

Wei Nanqi offered an awkward smile, glanced at Xiao Han, and urged, "General Xiao, you speak. After all, when it comes to troop movements and military strategy, I am not the expert."

Xiao Han did not stand on ceremony. He nodded at Wei Nanqi and then addressed Feng Yewu with a serious expression.

"Your Majesty, the General and I have just carefully analyzed the crisis in the northern frontier. I believe there is something suspicious about it, and so I have a request."

With that, Xiao Han knelt in the carriage to petition Feng Yewu.

"General Xiao, what is it? Speak your mind." Feng Yewu trusted Xiao Han and signaled for him to rise.

After receiving the signal, Xiao Han could not help but glance at Lu Jue, who was sitting to the side, leaving Lu Jue feeling quite bewildered. *Could this matter have something to do with me?* Lu Jue wondered.

Xiao Han spoke up, "Your Majesty, I request that you appoint Master Lu as the General of the Northern Garrison and allow him to lead the soldiers of our Divine Strategy Battalion to reclaim the cities!"

"What?" Lu Jue was shocked. This did indeed concern him, but it was absurd. Upon returning to the capital, Feng Yewu would surely seek justice for the Lu family in front of the officials and revoke his slave status, but making him a Great General was pure fantasy.

Beside him, Wei Nanqi gave an awkward smile. No wonder he hadn't spoken; such a thing was likely something only a warrior like Xiao Han would dare propose.

Feng Yewu fell into deep thought. Appointing Lu Jue as the new General of the Northern Garrison was not inherently impossible, but the Tidi tribe had clearly come prepared. Now that they were on the defensive, her inner concern was for Lu Jue’s safety, as he had no experience in commanding troops in battle.

Lu Jue sensed Feng Yewu’s thoughts and could vaguely guess the reason. Honestly, he had no great desire for the position of General of the Northern Garrison; as long as he could stay by Feng Yewu’s side, he would rather not take it. Besides, there were many generals in the court; by any calculation, it shouldn't fall to him.

"Your Majesty, regarding the northern frontier, I believe there is someone secretly leaking information; otherwise, there would never have been such heavy losses." Seeing Feng Yewu's hesitation, Xiao Han grew anxious and urged her, while simultaneously signaling Wei Nanqi with his eyes to put in a good word.

Feng Yewu nodded slowly and said in a low voice, "Lu Jue and I have already considered that possibility. It is precisely because of this that the position of General of the Northern Garrison cannot be decided so hastily. The Tidi are prepared, and there is someone hiding in the shadows acting as an inside man. Lu Jue ultimately lacks extensive military experience; this is not a matter to be trifled with."

Unable to withstand Xiao Han’s persistent signals, Wei Nanqi sighed inwardly and urged, "Your Majesty, I believe your considerations are reasonable; the position of General of the Northern Garrison cannot be decided so rashly."

"You!" Xiao Han was pleased when Wei Nanqi spoke up, but upon hearing him side with Feng Yewu, he became instantly furious.

Wei Nanqi looked at the exasperated Xiao Han and nodded slightly, signaling him not to be impatient and to let him finish.

"However, to possess the ability to provide the Tidi tribe with such detailed strategic deployments of the entire northern frontier, this person must hold a high position."

Hearing this, Feng Yewu naturally understood who he was referring to: the three feudal kings of the north.

"Then who do you think would be the most suitable appointment?"

If a feudal king was truly involved, the commander of the troops had to be someone Feng Yewu could trust completely. Yet, among the court officials, there were very few she could trust, and most of the military officers followed the lead of the King of Changwu. If she chose the wrong person, the command of the army would likely fall into the hands of the feudal kings.

Wei Nanqi looked at Lu Jue, his eyes showing a trace of helplessness.

"I believe only Master Lu is suitable."

...

In the far north, the Tidi people began to form columns, carrying all sorts of strange items as they slowly emerged from the eleven occupied cities, carting away various foodstuffs and materials.

In the territory of the King of Beichang, where nearly half had been occupied by the Tidi, urgent letters were arriving one after another at the King’s estate.

"Brother Wei, if you remain this indifferent, aren't you afraid that girl will come looking for you?"