kvmb Chapter 433, "The Conferment of Titles," is intriguing and sets a precedent.
Chapter 433, "The Conferment of Titles," is intriguing and sets a precedent.
"In just over six months, Wen Qilin trained an invincible team capable of fighting against a hundred men, making outstanding contributions to quelling the northern border troubles. He also made extraordinary contributions to the country and the dynasty in expanding its territory. He was appointed as the Great General Protector of the Nation, to guard the northern desert forever."
"A general's mansion is granted, and the area of the northern desert mountains is given to him for development."
The emperor's bestowal of this honor left the court officials puzzled and confused.
What does it mean to allow things to develop naturally?
Does it ultimately belong to him? To the Wen family? Or to the imperial court?
What exactly does development mean?
Just as someone was about to express an opinion that it was "unprecedented and unreasonable," the Emperor spoke again.
"Wen Qilin, obey my command."
As Wen Qilin was pondering how to develop the northern mountains of Mobei, this order made him pause for a moment before kneeling down.
"Your Majesty, I am here!"
"Starting tomorrow, you are granted a month's leave to bring your family back to the capital. However, the northern border defenses must be maintained as needed, and you will be fully responsible for the deployment of the Northern Army."
The Emperor solemnly reminded them: "The Wen family must guard the northern gate well. I expect a natural barrier to be erected in the northern desert, to forever eliminate the northern threat!"
A great mission has been bestowed upon us, to forever eliminate the northern threat!
The Emperor's expectations are quite high, far too high.
Wen Qilin remained completely unmoved.
To clear their names and protect the northern desert was the collective wish of the Wen family, as he had previously told the then-Crown Prince Emperor.
Now, in the imperial court, in front of all the civil and military officials, the emperor has decided that the Wen family will be permanently stationed in the northern desert. This means that from now on, all descendants of the Wen family will have to fight on the front lines in the northern desert.
This suited him perfectly, and it suited everyone in the Wen family perfectly.
"Yes, the sons of the Wen family swear to defend the northern desert to the death!"
Wen Qilin and Wen Qiyuan said in unison.
After the imperial bestowal of honors, the emperor also hosted a celebratory banquet.
......
Military camps on the outskirts of Beijing.
After the victory celebration banquet, Wen Qilin gave the soldiers a short holiday, allowing them to visit relatives and friends.
Soldiers who have homes to return to and wish to return home will have their holidays appropriately extended and will return to their units immediately upon the end of their holidays.
Since the soldiers of the Northern Desert Army have lived in the Northern Desert for generations, they have no relatives or friends in the capital to guard against. Even if they do, they are distant relatives from several generations ago. Therefore, even though Wen Qilin gave everyone a short holiday, they would only go into the city for a few strolls during the day and return to the barracks at night.
That day, after nightfall, Wen Qilin and Wen Qiyuan were discussing when to lead their troops back to Mobei in a corner of the camp's training ground when several deputy generals and some soldiers gathered around them.
"General, everyone asked us to inquire when the troops will return to the northern desert. We can't stay in the capital any longer. There are too many good things here, and if we don't go home soon, our rewards will be gone. We want to go home, we want to go back to the northern desert."
Wang Datie spoke on behalf of everyone to ask the question, and then looked embarrassed.
It's really embarrassing, but everyone is used to mining in the northern desert and living a poor life. So when they first enter the capital and see the dazzling array of goods in the shops, everyone can't help but say, "So expensive, it's not as good as so-and-so in the northern desert."
Little did they know that these words would immediately attract the attention of the shopkeepers and waiters. Although the ceremony to reward the army by the imperial court had passed, the lanterns and colorful ribbons that had been hung in the streets and alleys of the capital to welcome the soldiers had not yet been taken down.
In other words, the people's enthusiasm for the victorious soldiers hadn't waned. Therefore, when these shopkeepers and waiters encountered soldiers from the northern deserts entering their shops, they offered discounts upon discounts, sometimes even substantial reductions, on anything the soldiers wanted. They claimed this was to thank the soldiers for their bravery, and that the shops would only charge cost price...
As a result, the soldiers who entered the city in the past few days always returned to camp laden with spoils at night...
Upon hearing Wang Datie's words, Wen Qilin and Wen Qiyuan exchanged glances, and the surrounding soldiers looked at each other, bursting into laughter.
"Does everyone really want to go back to the northern desert and go back to guard the front line?" Wen Qilin asked with a smile.
“Even pearls aren’t this real. I’m going back to the northern desert to buy a house and land. I’m used to living in the northern desert. The capital is too dazzling, and I don’t feel comfortable living there.”
"General, I don't want to buy land or a house. I want to go back to Sihe Mountain to live. It's a place with beautiful mountains and clear waters, and outstanding people. Hehehe."
"Hey, you're right, kid. The spring water in Sihe Mountain is sweeter than the water in the city, hahaha."
"..."
Everyone chimed in, praising Sihe Mountain in a cacophony of voices, much like a self-promoting vendor praising her own wares.
Wen Qilin looked at everyone's expressions and waited until the murmurs subsided before he spoke.
"Since everyone thinks this way, I will go to the palace tomorrow to report the situation to the Emperor and try to return to the northern desert as soon as possible."
As soon as he finished speaking, a group of people cheered.
"Oh, oh, time to go home!"
"Oh, I'm going home with my reward!"
"Erzhu, I think you might as well take the goods from the capital home. With all that buying, where will you get any rewards left?"
"Haha, same to you..."
......
Two days later, at dawn, as the first light appeared on the horizon.
Wen Qilin, accompanied by a group of personal guards, saw off the soldiers of the Northern Desert Army.
This time, Wen Qiyuan led the team back to the northern desert and arranged all the matters, which was with the Emperor's tacit approval.
"General, let's return to the manor."
Deputy General Chen, the head of Wen Qilin's personal guards, said, "General, the steward and his family are probably heading to the capital soon."
To add to that, after the Wen family was exonerated and rewarded, the Emperor bestowed several servants upon Wen Qilin to help him reorganize the General's Mansion and await the return of the Wen family.
The Wen family mansion has been very lively these past few days. Some of the new servants were bestowed by the Emperor, while others were brought back out of old friendships. Of course, there were also some servants and maids of various masters who were redeemed by relatives and friends after the sudden incident.
Among them, the Liaoyu family was bought by a distant nephew of Grandmother Ren. After the purchase, they were freed from slavery and settled in a village in the southern countryside.
Now that the Liao family is free, after learning that the Wen family has been exonerated, the family hurriedly rushed back to the capital from the south.
Yesterday, Ren Zu'an's servant delivered a note to the Wen family, which included information about the steward's family.
Grateful that Yu had followed Wenwen's instructions and promptly notified the Ren family, allowing the exiled people to obtain a batch of useful items in Yanta Town, the Wen and Ren families would never forget this kindness.
"Let's go back to the manor." Wen Qilin turned and walked back.
As night fell, smoke rose from the chimneys of every household in the capital. Two ordinary carriages followed the flow of people queuing to enter the city and, after asking around, arrived at the residence of the Protector-General of the Nation.
Several teenagers got out of the car first, followed by two middle-aged men.
Several women got off the carriage behind them. One of the older girls had just stood in front of the general's mansion when tears welled up in her eyes.
This girl was none other than Wenwen's maid, Liaoyu.