A month of wind and frost.

His stubble grew thick, warding off the chill of the journey.

Upon receiving the battle report, His Majesty in Liang City immediately summoned Wen Yue to the palace for an audience.

Wen Yue, filled with high spirits, rode a tall horse, with three hundred light cavalry following closely behind him.

Sanhu's horse was even sturdier.

According to the Annan Marquis, this was a horse gifted to him by a family he had rescued during a rebellion in the south, and it was rumored to possess a trace of exotic beast bloodline.

The gate official saw the light cavalry, bearing a large banner, from afar.

The city gates quickly closed.

Only when they drew closer did the official realize there were only three hundred cavalry, which not only made him sigh in relief, but also the garrison soldiers guarding Liang City felt a sense of ease.

"Wen's banner."

The minor official stared at the red banner, muttering aloud.

"Is that General Wen Yue?"

"Indeed."

As they spoke, the light cavalry approached the city gate, which opened wide to welcome Wen Yue into the city.

The air was filled with the scent of human life.

Liang City had not changed.

Wen Yue, in his dark red armor, rode at the forefront, with Sanhu by his side.

However, Sanhu's eyes were constantly fixed on something.

Wen Yue smiled and tossed a string of copper coins to his personal guard: "Go, buy two strings of tanghulu."

After the guard bought them, Wen Yue handed the tanghulu to Sanhu.

Sanhu grabbed them directly with his hands and shoved an entire string into his mouth, then began to chew.

Wen Yue first dropped Sanhu off at the Marquis's residence, entrusting him to his mother-in-law, Lady Song, before returning home, still covered in dust from his journey.

He first greeted the old man of the house.

The old Marquis was in high spirits and his physical condition had stabilized; with proper care, there were no major issues.

His wife, Song Ran was still the same; her eyes could only perceive broad colors, unable to see clearly.

He asked Chu Jiu to prepare hot water for a bath and change of clothes before going to the palace for an audience with the Emperor.

Although a Qi Refiner's body could be spotless with a little spiritual power, he was tired from the rapid march, and this break would be good for him.

Song Ran helped him scrub his back, leaning against Wen Yue's shoulder from outside the tub.

Neither of them spoke.

They simply leaned on each other in silence.

It was quiet and warm.

With such a person waiting for him at home, Wen Yue felt his heart filled with happiness.

After spending time together, Wen Yue discovered that Song Ran was not as delicate as he had imagined; she had even cultivated internal energy.

Unfortunately, she had only just entered the ranks, and Song Ran's physical condition couldn't handle the nourishment from Yin Soul Pills.

"Madam, I must go to the palace for an audience."

Wen Yue covered Song Ran's small hand with his own.

After cleaning himself and changing into court attire, Wen Yue smiled and spun around in front of Song Ran: "What does my lady think?"

Song Ran nodded with satisfaction: "It's absolutely perfect!"

"Hmph, my dear wife is so perfunctory. I won't talk to you anymore."

Wen Yue tucked the Soul Banner inside his robe, straightened his attire, and then rode a carriage to the Imperial Palace.

Tu Shanjun sighed deeply, his face filled with helplessness.

He truly didn't want to witness this public display of affection, but he had been careless at the time and hadn't sealed off the five senses and six consciousnesses of the Soul Banner.

Before the palace gate, a young eunuch was already waiting.

Upon seeing the carriage bearing the Wen family's banner, his eyes immediately lit up with renewed vigor.

Chu Jiu lifted the curtain of the carriage, lowered a small stool, and Wen Yue stepped down, standing before the palace gate.

He had washed away the dust of his journey and shaved his beard.

After adjusting the cap that secured his hair, Wen Yue walked towards the palace gate.

The young eunuch, who had been waiting for a long time, quickly came forward, bowing with a smile: "Is this General Wen?"

"Indeed."

"Please, General Wen, follow this humble one into the palace."

"Thank you, Eunuch."

"You are too kind, too kind." The young eunuch repeatedly demurred, leading the way.

Not to mention General Wen's handsome appearance, his demeanor alone made one feel as if they were basking in a spring breeze; it was truly delightful.

The deliberative hall.

This hall was where Emperor Liang most often received his ministers.

The three Grand Chancellors and high-ranking civil and military officials frequently entered and exited this hall.

Wen Yue never imagined that one day he would also be sitting in the deliberative hall, waiting for the Emperor.

And this day had arrived so quickly.

All of this was thanks to the Soul Banner and his teacher.

The more he cultivated, the more Wen Yue understood the power of the Soul Banner and his teacher.

This trip to the capital was not only because of Emperor Liang's summons, but also because Wen Yue wanted to return.

Regardless of Geng Lie's character or whether he was a great commander, Wen Yue's achievements would not be erased. He decided to use his military merits as an entry point to gain Emperor Liang's trust, thereby rapidly elevating his position in court.

In just a few years, he would be able to become a regional commander, and then influence the decisions of the court.

He had to break the shackles of civil officials constraining military generals; otherwise, there would always be someone holding him back from behind, which would affect the situation on the front lines.

As his thoughts flew, Emperor Liang entered from the back hall, accompanied by the Chief Eunuch Gao Quan.

Wen Yue quickly rose: "Your subject Wen Yue, respectfully greets Your Majesty."

"I am well."

"Beloved minister, please be seated."

Emperor Liang sat on the dragon throne, observing Wen Yue, who was perched on the edge of his seat.

He was indeed dignified, tall, and handsome, perfectly matching his ideal image of a young general.

Emperor Liang couldn't help but sigh: "Beloved minister, you have worked hard."

Wen Yue dared not sit again and quickly rose to bow: "To serve Your Majesty loyally, to protect the people of Great Liang. Your subject is willing to go through fire and water, no matter the cost."

"Excellent! Excellent!"

Emperor Liang's eyes twinkled; he too was a young man, and he appreciated young men.

The venerable officials in the court, adorned in purple and scarlet robes, were all white-haired and decrepit.

Everyone advised him not to wage war again.

He trusted Feng Gan, gave him one hundred thousand troops, only to have them completely annihilated and suffer a devastating defeat at the Luo River.

This was Emperor Liang's first attempt since ascending the throne, yet it led to a complete rout, even extinguishing most of his original ambition.

It was then that he heeded the court's advice to steadfastly defend Tong Pass, becoming a conservative ruler.

But Wen Yue appeared.

In the confrontation beneath the city walls, he annihilated two thousand enemies and beheaded Tuoba Bao.

He rode through the snowy night for two hundred li, breached the Luo River embankment, and drowned 150,000 elite troops.

This general, a star of war tactics, was simply a pillar of the nation sent to him by Heaven itself.

Therefore, Emperor Liang's ambition for a northern expedition was rekindled. He wanted to reclaim the entire Mount Nanyue and even crush the Wei kingdom.

Emperor Liang asked about the border situation and then subtly inquired whether Wen Yue could continue fighting.

Wen Yue naturally felt they could continue campaigning, but he lacked troops, provisions, and military pay. A clever cook cannot make a meal without rice.

Upon hearing this question, Emperor Liang suddenly felt very constrained financially.

He regretted trusting Feng Gan, allowing him to lead 100,000 troops, only to suffer such a crushing defeat.

He said much, but the fundamental problem remained the same.

Money and provisions.

Tu Shanjun within the banner nodded. In truth, court machinations were minor matters; the true path ultimately came down to whether one could secure money and provisions.

This has been the problem since ancient times. Ministers who could secure money and provisions were capable ministers, able to be generals and prime ministers.

Without money and provisions, how could anything be sustained?

Emperor Liang felt that if Wen Yue continued to be so capable in battle, even if he tightened his belt and asked the Internal Rectitude Office to find a way, there might still be a chance.

Finally, he kept Wen Yue for a palace banquet before he departed.

Emperor Liang watched Wen Yue leave. His silhouette was young, though his walk wasn't entirely smooth; he limped slightly.

By the time Wen Yue left the palace, dusk had already fallen.

A month passed.

The imperial court was still debating how to promote Wen Yue and grant him titles.

Emperor Liang also refused to give up, always seizing opportunities to summon the three Grand Chancellors to inquire about money and and provisions.

The Grand Chancellors were at their wit's end; they dared not reveal the root of the problem, and going against public opinion.

It wasn't that there was no money or provisions in the realm, but that the imperial court had none.

However, another battle report arrived.

Geng Lie's advance had failed, and the Annan Marquis was trapped in Jiangyun Valley.

This battle was reported as a loss of fifteen thousand troops, the exact situation still unknown.

The central army had been breached.

The Annan Marquis remained to cover the retreat.

He was finally encircled by the Wei army in Jiangyun Valley.

Based on the urgent dispatch.

This news was already ten days old.

Upon receiving the news, Wen Yue was immediately anxious and prepared to return.

The Annan Marquis's residence, the Song family, was shrouded in a pall of gloom.

Given the state of their two children, the only pillar of the family was the Annan Marquis, Song Hao. If anything were to happen to Song Hao, the Song family would be in a dire situation.

"I must go!"

Wen Yue donned his armor and mounted his warhorse.

"Come back safely." Song Ran embraced Wen Yue tightly.

"I will."

Saving people was like fighting a fire.

Geng Lie already disliked him, and the Annan Marquis, Song Hao, was his father-in-law, so Geng Lie would definitely not send troops to rescue him.

Three hundred personal guards, each with five horses.

These were military supplies Wen Yue had requested from Emperor Liang.

For a forced march, they needed to change warhorses. Two horses per person would simply not be enough to sustain them over such a long distance.

"Sanhu, let's go."

Wen Yue pulled his warhorse's reins, turning to look at his wife who was seeing him off at the city gate.

He said nothing.

"Sister."

Sanhu called out.

"Sanhu, obey your brother-in-law and come back safely."

Sanhu followed Wen Yue onto his horse.

Wen Yue looked up, facing the vast sky.

He was afraid.

He didn't know the situation in Jiangyun Valley.

He could only hope his father-in-law could hold Jiangyun Valley until his reinforcement arrived.

Wen Yue did not want to cry in front of his wife, Song Ran.

He donned his heavy helmet.

He pulled down the iron faceplate of his helmet.

"Depart!"

Three hundred personal guards came, and three hundred personal guards left.

Arriving in haste, departing in urgency.

(Chapter End)