CHAPTER 482: CHAPTER 476: THE LORD’S GREAT JOY

Two swift horses galloped into the city and arrived at the gate of the Inspector Mansion. Before the horses had steadied, a man leapt off the horse, "Congratulations, my lord, congratulations—"

The man shouted as he charged inside. Zhao Hanzhang, who was playing chess with Fu Tinghan at the time, paused and looked up at Fu Tinghan.

Fu Tinghan hadn’t heard the shouting yet but seeing her suddenly looking at him, he glanced down at the chessboard, "What’s the matter, am I about to win again?"

He carefully counted the chess pieces, "You should still be able to play three more pieces."

Zhao Hanzhang: ...

She dropped the chess piece in her hand, "Not playing anymore."

To have even calculated how many pieces she could still play—what’s the point of continuing?

Fu Tinghan laughed, "I could let you have two pieces, perhaps there will be a different outcome?"

As his words fell, the soldier bringing the good news also rushed over and knelt under the pavilion to report, "My lord, General Beigong has come to pledge allegiance and is heading towards Yu State."

Zhao Hanzhang suddenly stood up, "Is it true? What about Wu Erlang?"

"Wu Erlang and Geng Rong are both by General Beigong’s side."

Zhao Hanzhang couldn’t help but burst into laughter, visibly joyful, and turned to pull Fu Tinghan, "I lost this game, let’s go, no more playing, come with me to welcome General Beigong."

The two of them took a group of soldiers and dashed out of the city on fast horses. Ji Yuan arrived just in time to see their backs.

He stomped his foot and turned to instruct, "Prepare a banquet to welcome and clean the dust for General Beigong, and prepare the military camp outside the city. Make some space for the Xiliang Army and have the camp slay chickens and sheep. This is a joyous occasion, we should celebrate."

Zhao Hanzhang had been thinking about Beigong Chun for so long, with his allegiance, a celebration is in order.

Everyone responded and went.

At this moment, Zhao Hanzhang hurried towards Chang’an as soon as she left Chen County, running for half a day, and in the distance, she saw the slowly marching Xiliang Army.

To avoid misunderstandings, as soon as he entered Yu State, Beigong Chun slowed down, moving forward slowly.

At this encounter, Zhao Hanzhang’s gaze met Beigong Chun’s, both somewhat excited. She immediately spurred her horse forward, "General Beigong!"

Beigong Chun jumped off his horse, knelt with one knee on the ground, and clasped his fists, "Your servant Beigong Chun greets General Zhao!"

Zhao Hanzhang hurriedly jumped off her horse and went forward to help him up, "Quickly rise, General Beigong."

She held his hand, full of emotion, "Your coming to my Yu State is the fortune of my lifetime, Zhao Hanzhang!"

Beigong Chun smiled bitterly, "Just someone who has a home but cannot return, I shamelessly come to pledge allegiance, only hoping to find a place of peace for my soldiers. In the future, should the General have any request, we dare not refuse."

"General Beigong’s words are truly humbling," Zhao Hanzhang said, "You have come to save Yu State; it is a great favor to me and the people of Yu State. Brothers, just rest assured, you will be treated as family, absolutely no difference."

This was the most delightful promise Beigong Chun had heard in the past two years. He nodded with tears in his eyes, "Good!"

On horseback, Fu Tinghan saw them getting along well and couldn’t help but smile too. He dismounted and said, "After running for half a day, let’s all take a rest and have some water before continuing."

Seeing Fu Tinghan, Beigong Chun’s eyes lit up and he quickly agreed, immediately ordering his people to rest where they were.

Only then did Wu Erlang and Geng Rong come up to greet Zhao Hanzhang. Beigong Chun pulled Fu Tinghan aside to talk, "I wonder, Mr. Fu, what position do you hold in Yu State?"

Fu Tinghan said, "I don’t hold any official position."

"Have you considered taking a military position?" Beigong Chun asked, "You wouldn’t have to go to the battlefield, just remain at the rear."

Zhao Hanzhang took the opportunity to say, "General Beigong, Tinghan is my strategist; you already have Vice General Huang, you can’t poach my person."

Beigong Chun’s smile slightly dimmed and he explained to Fu Tinghan, "Huang An is a deputy, not a strategist."

Beside them, Huang An felt a bit aggrieved. Actually, he could also act as a strategist.

Fu Tinghan politely declined, "I’m used to being free, only following Hanzhang."

Zhao Hanzhang proudly looked at Beigong Chun and said to Wu Erlang and Geng Rong, "You can go down and rest."

"Yes." The two respectfully replied.

Zhao Hanzhang had obtained Beigong Chun but didn’t intend to bind him too much. Upon returning to Chen County and learning that Ji Yuan had rearranged the camp to make space for the Xiliang Army, she told Beigong Chun, "General Beigong, first settle down, tomorrow we’ll select a good place to build a camp for the soldiers."

Beigong Chun was slightly stunned, "A separate camp for the Xiliang Army?"

Zhao Hanzhang nodded, "I know, General Beigong has a unique way of training soldiers, other generals can’t learn it quickly. To avoid any disturbance to you, you will have a separate camp."

She smiled and said, "In the future, if the General finds any worthy ones, you can recruit them."

The right to recruit soldiers was indeed a significant authority.

But Beigong Chun and Huang An didn’t feel it was anything special because in the past two years, they had realized that in the Central Plains, anyone could recruit soldiers, as long as they had money.

So...

Huang An asked on behalf of Beigong Chun, "Then the provisions for our camp..."

Zhao Hanzhang smiled, "Fully supplied."

Huang An’s eyes widened with joy and he couldn’t help but look at Beigong Chun.

Beigong Chun clasped his fists, "Yes, your servant will train the soldiers well, not failing the General’s expectations."

Zhao Hanzhang laughed and patted his hand, "Come on, Mr. Ji is setting up a banquet; today we clean the dust for General Beigong and introduce the officers to the General."

Ji Yuan had invited the officials and generals from Chen County, many of whom had met General Beigong.

They hadn’t expected, after twists and turns, that Beigong Chun would return to Yu State.

Moreover, Zhao Hanzhang valued him so much.

Everyone, especially the military generals, felt a rising sense of urgency inside.

Previously, they hadn’t taken Beigong Chun seriously, even knowing that he was fierce enough to be called a War God, they didn’t care because they believed no one in the Central Plains would employ him.

This person was extremely loyal to Zhang Gui of Xiliang, who would use someone so loyally devoted to others?

Even the Emperor, Prince East Sea, and Wang Yan would use someone and dispose of them, let alone others?

They hadn’t expected Zhao Hanzhang to snatch him over and value him so much.

Even Xun Xiu couldn’t help but jealously say, "Did General Beigong come to Yu State after bidding farewell to Prince Nanyang?"

Beigong Chun’s heart tightened, just about to explain, when Zhao Hanzhang raised her finger and motioned for everyone to hush, leaned forward slightly and whispered, "Keep your voices down, General Beigong was stolen from Prince Nanyang by me. We know this among ourselves, but don’t spread it out. If Prince Nanyang comes to claim him, we will have to fight him."

The generals: ...

Yu Sheng said, "My lord, offending Prince Nanyang like this isn’t good, is it? Nanyang County is still his fief."

Zhao Hanzhang waved off, "For the sake of Nanyang County, I could defy Prince Nanyang’s orders, and General Beigong is worth ten times more than Nanyang County."

Beigong Chun’s mouth moved slightly, he rose and knelt beneath the hall, his eyes red, "Your servant is willing to serve the General, only hoping to ease the conflict between the General and Prince Nanyang."