Chapter 10, Let's Go Home and Farm
Feilian and others were filled with fear and uncertainty, as the king treated us with such kindness and concern
In fact, if the common people knew that Feilian subdued the rebel forces, which took fifteen years to defeat in the original version of Fengshen, in just two to three months, they might even erect a monument in his honor
Having seen the great general... the great general, noble and eternal. The common people along the way unexpectedly fell to the ground, facing the direction of Feilian, and shouted loudly.
The child raised his hand, and the generals stood up
The total number of imperial guards personally trained by King Zhou was three hundred, of which one hundred were sent to the battlefield. It was these loyal and brave individuals who saved his life
What else are the common people dissatisfied with
Even wearing golden armor is not enough to attract attention, as the enemy wishes to capture the leader first, yet they cannot even find the person
The pacification army returned to the capital, with Feilian and Kong Xuan at the forefront. Behind them were the remaining thirty or so imperial guards, followed by the weary soldiers.
Although such guards are the most excellent lackeys, it is still better for them to return to their hometowns for the sake of the foolish ruler's grand ambitions
The military and the civilian populace are all filled with joy and enthusiasm
Many common people, with red eyes, gazed intently at Feilian
Fei Lian silently vowed to himself that although he was merely a physician, even if he were to be promoted to general for his contributions in quelling the rebellion, he would never become arrogant or take credit for his achievements. He was determined to serve the great Shang faithfully, as long as the Yin Shang existed, Fei Lian would be there
In the past, when a large army changed its commander, not only would there be generals leading the expedition, but they would also bring along supporting troops, as well as auxiliary soldiers, provisions, and supplies.
What does this mean
"Come, our great contributor... has returned..." Zi forced a smile, gritting his teeth as he spoke, but at this point, he suddenly choked up
At that moment, an unexpected incident occurred; several royal guards, while marching, stepped out of the military formation and collided with a vendor with a loud crash
The large army stationed, and Feilian along with Kong Xuan led the main generals into the palace
Yin Pobai, who was leading the horse for Feilian, was moved by this scene. While leading the horse, he looked up at Feilian and said: "General, the common people now regard you and the king with the utmost reverence, as if you were deities"
Feilian spoke while waving to the people on the street
It has been several months since the great victory, who does not know the loyalty and bravery of the hundred imperial guards?
They expressed their heartfelt gratitude to King Zhou, and as the general personally appointed by King Zhou, he was naturally well-received
This group of seasoned veterans is in their prime, with achievements to their name, monetary rewards, and no worries about food and drink. They are strong and capable, having mastered the art of war through their experiences. Having completed the final step of transforming their mindset from being overly ambitious to being more grounded, is it not the next step for them to bully the weak and exploit their own community?
He looked at the significantly darkened Feilian and at Kong Xuan, whose face resembled a jade crown. In that fleeting moment of daze, he recalled the foolishness value of less than 10 that had just been settled yesterday, and unconsciously, a tear slipped from the corner of his eye
Feilian, looking completely bewildered
The child, busy with his tasks, dabbed at the corner of his eye with his long sleeves; if only the loss of decorum before the court could be deemed as foolishness.
They are heroes, they deserve it
Feilian could not help but be overjoyed: "I see, but fame and fortune are merely burdens. You must remember, Your Majesty rewards merit, and you, the royal guards, are the foremost contributors. In the future, you must not seek to gain fame or reputation unjustly"
... ...
The rewards cannot be said to be insufficient, a count's title, a general's position, equivalent to a local governor and an appointed general, yet based on the merits of Feilian and Kongxuan, they are indeed well-deserved
In the Nine Hall Palace, the heir has summoned the officials and is waiting for the meritorious ministers for a long time
but to return to the fields after laying down one's arms
His life is worthless, but what about these one hundred guards
The rumors from the palace have long spread to the common people, becoming exceedingly mysterious
... ...
Yin Pobai and the other guards were equally exhausted, but the Overlord's stride had already been ingrained in their hearts. This way of walking, which could easily lead to trouble, had become a habit.
Unconventional
A great victory, apart from the loss of some guards, no one else even suffered any injuries or lost limbs
This means that the king should be cautious of losing composure
A million gold is not literally a million; it is a general term and falls within the realm of normal rewards
Upon reaching this point, the Son of Heaven proclaimed loudly: "General Feilian leads the army northward, achieving a great victory over the rebel forces of Beihai. The Imperial Guards fought valiantly without retreat, which brings me great comfort. You have all rendered unprecedented service, for which I am exceedingly grateful, as are the people and the nation. From this day forth, I confer the title of Duke of Beihai upon General Feilian, who shall command the three armies of Beihai. I appoint his deputy, Kong Xuan, as the Grand General of Beihai, and I bestow a reward of one million gold to commend the entire army. The Imperial Guards, who have made the first contributions, shall be granted the privilege to return to their fields and support their families."
The elite soldiers who have just won a hard-fought victory, the imperial guards who have achieved the highest merit, are they to be sent home to farm
Your Majesty, Your Majesty must not ... ...
There seems to be little dissent
Feilian began to question life, I ... ? ... how can I win people's hearts like this
A remarkable talent!
This hooked nose clearly indicates a cunning and astute individual, with a glimmering brilliance in the triangular eyes that no one dares to meet in gaze
However, the vendor selling the heartless vegetable had no complaints; instead, he nervously helped the guardsman up, saying that he would give all the vegetables to the soldiers.
It is said that King Zhou, upon seeing General Fei in the Hall of Books, immediately recognized his formidable aura, with purple energy soaring to the heavens above his head, marking him as an extraordinary general of unparalleled talent
What does this mean
The child nodded in satisfaction; these rewards were all prepared by him
Therefore, no matter how tired one is, one still appears so ... ...
Letting the guards return home to farm is undoubtedly a foolish act. Throughout history, there has never been a precedent for disbanding a victorious army to return to agriculture.
The voice is choked with emotion
The Beihai Rebellion has just concluded, and the population is quite sparse; it is indeed a remote area, and Kong Xuan is unlikely to cause any further disturbances.
Even that seemingly overbearing stride of the tyrant becomes increasingly pleasant to behold
In this instance, when Feilian changed its leadership, King Zhou only arranged for the Imperial Guard to accompany him, without any reinforcements, and there were no surplus provisions or supplies. Despite this, he achieved victory and returned within a few months
Sooner or later, there will be complaints and grievances.
Looking again at that emaciated figure with a short stature, it is evidently a renowned general from the battlefield. With such a physique on horseback, during the clash of two armies, due to its small size, it is not easily struck by stray arrows. If the enemy general stands at nine feet tall and swings a blade, it might even miss entirely.
He previously thought of himself as a pawn in King Zhou's declaration of his determination to seize power, but upon careful consideration, it was simply impossible
Both civil officials and military generals were astonished
The child sighed inwardly and said: "The great achievement of quelling the rebellion is indeed commendable. General Feilian personally leads the elite troops to engage in fierce battles with the rebel forces at the North Sea. One hundred valiant guards, bearing the grace of the nation, with loyal hearts and righteous spirits, deserve to be rewarded!"
Wherever this triumphant army passes, many cannot help but cheer. Now the entire Chaoge knows that King Zhou has dispatched the general Feilian to defeat the rebel forces of Beihai, not only safeguarding the territory but also achieving a hard-won great victory
King Zhou personally supervised the training of the Imperial Guards. It is said that in order to train the guards, he even had no time to indulge his concubines in the harem. How precious must these Imperial Guards be!
The longer the duration of war, the heavier the burden on the people; this principle is understood by all
Immediately, the civil and military officials began to discuss among themselves
Kong Xuan wore a smile, for he understood the reason behind the people's sentiments; it was naturally due to King Zhou's wisdom and martial prowess
The attendant beside the child was busy offering careful reminders
In the chaos of battle, they built a wall with their lives to protect their commander; such great courage and loyalty, who would not bow in admiration
They certainly do not know that the prince in the palace would rather hope for a defeat in battle by Feilian than send even a slight reinforcement, believing instead that the king is attentive to the people's sentiments and is considering their welfare
Now that I look at it, isn't it true!
The common people hold an unparalleled respect, stemming from the depths of their hearts
The Grand General and the Nobility for Ten Thousand Generations
Feilian, accompanied by the generals, hurriedly performed their salutations: "We, your subjects, have returned from quelling the rebellion and pay our respects to Your Majesty"