Siheyuan: tomb robbing? I am serious about hunting.

Chapter 1125 In the Group

"So what if he holds no official position? So what if he's a loner?" Xiao Jingyuan slammed the table and declared firmly, "At this critical moment, who cares about official title or status? As long as he can lead the troops to repel the enemy, I will use him!" He paused, then continued, "Pass on my decree. Shen Ce is appointed General Zhenbei, granted the Imperial Sword, and authorized to command all troops in the northern border. Furthermore, he is ordered to lead his troops to Yanmen Pass within three days to relieve the siege!" "Your Majesty is wise!" Li Song bowed hurriedly. The other civil and military officials echoed his words, yet they were all puzzled, wondering what Shen Ce's abilities could possibly have earned His Majesty's trust. Xiao Jingyuan gazed at the officials in the hall and prayed silently. He didn't know if his decision was the right one, nor did he know if Shen Ce could truly resolve the crisis at Yanmen Pass. But he knew it was the only solution at the moment. He could only hope that Shen Ce, a man he had never met, could perform a miracle. The decree was quickly passed down, and everyone inside and outside the capital knew that the emperor was going to appoint an unknown commoner as the General Zhenbei to lead the army to fight against the Northern Di. For a time, the streets and alleys were full of discussions. Some people felt that the emperor knew how to appoint people, some people felt that the emperor was desperate and tried all kinds of methods, and some people were curious about what kind of person Shen Ce was. At this time, Shen Ce was in a small courtyard on the outskirts of the capital. The courtyard was very simple, with walls made of mud. There were a few bare locust trees planted in the courtyard, and thick snow piled on the ground. Shen Ce was sitting at a wooden table in the house, holding a book in his hand, reading carefully. He was wearing a coarse cotton jacket, his hair was tied up with a simple wooden hairpin, his face was expressionless, but his eyes were very focused. Hearing footsteps outside the door, he raised his head and looked towards the door. A eunuch entered, accompanied by several guards. He held a bright yellow imperial edict in his hands, a respectful smile on his face. "Shen Ce, accept this order." Shen Ce placed the book he was holding, stood up, and walked before the eunuch, bowing. "I, Shen Ce, accept this order from His Majesty." The eunuch unfolded the edict and read it in a rhythmic voice. A flicker of surprise flashed in Shen Ce's eyes as he heard the emperor appoint him General Zhenbei, bestow upon him the Imperial Sword, and order him to lead his troops to Yanmen Pass within three days. Then, his composure returned. "I... accept this order, and thank you," Shen Ce said, taking the edict and bowing. The eunuch smiled and said, "General Shen, His Majesty has high hopes for you. You must live up to His Majesty's trust and return victorious soon." Shen Ce nodded, but remained silent. The eunuch exchanged a few more pleasantries before leaving with his guards. Shen Ce was left alone in the room. He stared at the imperial edict in his hands, his expression complex. He thought of his father, of the scene of his father's death on the battlefield. At that time, he was only fifteen years old. He witnessed his father fall to the swords of the Northern Di, his blood staining the ground red. From then on, he vowed to avenge his father and protect the territory his father had sacrificed his life for. For years, he had secretly honed his martial arts and studied military texts, hoping for the opportunity to one day serve his country and fight against the Northern Di. Now, his chance had finally arrived, but he hesitated. He knew the Northern Di cavalry were fierce and skilled in battle, and this expedition would be a life-or-death struggle. Moreover, he had no official position, and being suddenly appointed the General of the Northern Frontier would surely resent many in the court, potentially causing unrest within the army. But he thought of the people of Yanmen Pass, of the soldiers fighting so bravely. If he didn't go, the consequences of Yanmen Pass's fall would be disastrous. Shen Ce took a deep breath, his eyes firm. He picked up the book on the table and closed it, then walked to the corner and opened a wooden chest. Inside was a suit of black iron armor and a spear—relics left by his father. He stroked the cold armor, almost feeling his father's presence. "Father, I'm off to fight the Northern Di, to protect our homeland," Shen Ce whispered softly. "Rest assured, I will live up to your expectations and return victorious soon to avenge your vengeance." He removed his armor and spear from the wooden box and began to polish them carefully. The armor had long been covered in rust, and the spear's tip had dulled, but under Shen Ce's polish, it gradually regained its former luster. He knew he had much to do in the next three days. He needed to recruit soldiers, prepare food and equipment, and formulate a battle plan. Time was running out, and he had no time to waste. Outside the window, snow continued to fall, and the cold wind howled, like a clarion call for the coming battle. Shen Ce gazed at the snowy scene and vowed to himself. This time, he would win this battle, not only for his father and his homeland, but also for the people of Northern Frontier and for peace in the world. At this moment, an old voice came from the crowd: "Your Majesty, I have a recommendation for someone who may be able to resolve the crisis at Yanmen Pass." Xiao Jingyuan looked in the direction of the voice and saw the Minister of War Li Song standing up from the ground and bowing. Li Song is over sixty years old this year, with gray hair, but he is still energetic. He has served in the Ministry of War for many years and is familiar with the situation of the generals in the court. A glimmer of hope flashed in Xiao Jingyuan's eyes, and he hurriedly said: "Oh? My dear Li, please tell me quickly, who are you recommending?" Li Song paused and said slowly: "This man's surname is Shen Ce. He once resisted the Qiang people in the Hexi Corridor and is known for his courage and strategy. When the Qiang people rebelled and the Hexi Corridor was in danger, it was this man who led a lone army deep behind enemy lines and burned the Qiang people's food and grass camp, forcing the Qiang people to retreat without a fight. But..." At this point, Li Song hesitated and looked embarrassed. Seeing this, Xiao Jingyuan hurriedly asked, "Just what? Li Aiqing, please feel free to speak. This is a critical moment. As long as we can resolve the crisis at Yanmen Pass, everything else will be easy." Li Song sighed and said, "It's just that this man is a loner and doesn't like to socialize. Moreover, he holds no official position; he's just a commoner. If he were to be appointed general, I'm afraid the other generals in the court would be dissatisfied, which would affect the morale of the army." Xiao Jingyuan frowned. He had also heard of Shen Ce. It was said that this man was from a military family. His father was a renowned general who later died in battle against the Northern Di. Shen Ce had trained in martial arts with his father since childhood, and was well-versed in military manuals, emulating his father's style. However, after his father's death, he retired from worldly affairs, unexpectedly making contributions in the Hexi Corridor. For the past ten years, he had worked tirelessly to establish the Great Yan Dynasty in a prosperous era, but unexpectedly, he encountered repeated setbacks in dealing with issues in the northern border. "What? Are you all mute?" Xiao Jingyuan slammed the armrest of the dragon throne, his voice suddenly rising. "Everyone claims to be loyal to the emperor and patriotic, but now that the country is in trouble, you all shrink your necks and dare not speak out? What's the point of keeping you useless people?" The civil and military officials were so frightened that they knelt on the ground, shouting, "Your Majesty, calm down! Your Majesty, calm down!" Xiao Jingyuan took a deep breath and tried to suppress the anger in his heart. He knew that getting angry now would be useless. The most urgent task was to find a general who could lead the troops to the battle.