Yinshan Record

Chapter 462 Outwardly Harmonious but Inwardly Disharmonious: Who is Wei Hu? (Part 2)

Wei Huaiwen's voice was resounding above the officials who came to greet him in the suburbs. They couldn't help but lower their heads for a moment, and no one dared to look up at the majestic military god of the Great Liang.

Since his debut at the age of fourteen, this General Wei has served on the battlefield and has never been defeated, no matter who the enemy is, whether it is the emperor of the Northern Dynasty, a powerful minister like Yuwen Rui, or even an important general like the Prince of Zhongshan or Dugu Sheng.

Wei Huaiwen was never at a disadvantage. No matter how critical the situation of the Great Liang was, no matter how low the odds of victory were, as long as this Commander Wei appeared on the battlefield in his palanquin, it was a scene of turning the impossible into the possible.

This man is a living legend. No matter how cunning Yuwen Rui is, or how mighty the Northern Dynasty's cavalry is, Wei Huaiwen is the greatest reliance in the hearts of everyone present.

As long as this tiger roars, all the dark clouds will simply dissipate with the wind.

This doesn't come from the cultivation and methods of someone like Su Gui, but from the truth that Wei Huaiwen wrote down through his battle achievements.

Neither the North nor the South could shake this war god in the slightest on the battlefield.

"Welcome back victorious, Coach Wei!"

Such words could not have come from the Crown Prince's own mouth, but were spoken on his behalf by the powerful Wang and Xie families behind him. This was the purpose of placing them behind the Crown Prince, to use their prestigious family backgrounds to highlight Wei Huaiwen's even greater achievements.

After they spoke at the same time, regardless of Xie Buyi's age or Wang Xu's arrogance, they could only humbly kneel down on the ground.

Led by representatives from the Wang and Xie families, the civil and military officials lined up behind them all bowed down. Guards in armor and eunuchs holding banners followed suit, kneeling in a dense mass. Only the shadows of the Crown Prince and Su Gui appeared quite lonely.

Wei Huaiwen stood on the palanquin, his eyes sweeping across the crowd before finally landing on Su Gui's face and lingering on the Crown Prince's.

A smile appeared on the old general's face.

"Serving on the battlefield is our duty, Your Highness is too kind."

"It was all arranged by Father. A banquet has been prepared in the palace. Father is probably watching us from Chenhan Hall right now, waiting to entertain Commander Wei with a feast."

"Alas, His Majesty's kindness to me is as vast as the heavens and as boundless as the sea!"

Wei Huaiwen clapped his hands, tears welling in his eyes. He slowly stepped down from the palanquin and bowed deeply to the Crown Prince.

"Your humble servant is ashamed that he could not achieve a complete victory and has ordered the court to return to the old capital."

The Crown Prince quickly helped Wei Huaiwen up, giving him the impression that the general had worked hard.

In fact, almost all of the Southern Dynasties before the Great Liang Dynasty had their capital in Jiankang. However, the present-day Jiankang was theoretically just a "temporary capital," merely a temporary office location for the central government of the dynasty.

The core of the dynasty, the capital of the dynasty, is still the capital of the Northern Dynasty, Luoyang City, which is located in the center of the world.

Some people might find it unbelievable, since many people in the Southern Dynasties never saw what the world looked like in their entire lives, yet it was the true capital of all dynasties.

The crown prince didn't show much emotion, because he knew that recovering Luoyang and returning it to the old capital was just a slogan of the Southern Dynasty.

Now, Cizhou, which is next to Jiankang, is full of rebels. Why ask Luoyang?

It merely proves that the Southern Dynasty is still the legitimate dynasty.

A title, light as a feather and worthless as a single coin, can feel as heavy as an entire empire when it comes down to it.

After speaking with the Crown Prince for a while, Wei Huaiwen finally invited the Crown Prince to board the carriage and go first. He and Su Gui walked side by side behind the Crown Prince, and behind them were representatives of the Wang and Xie families, as well as civil and military officials.

This grand procession then marched toward the palace.

The crown prince is, after all, the heir apparent. No matter how grand the welcoming ceremony is, it cannot diminish the dignity of this future monarch in the slightest. All the face-saving is offered by representatives of the Wang and Xie families.

Who could blame them when they were representatives of powerful and influential families in the court? The group walked towards the palace, their conversation light and relaxed.

After all, the war in the north, regardless of its outcome, was finally over, and the two sides returned to a stalemate. However, the old days of peace also returned for a time.

Although there have been some twists and turns in the local area, those with good connections have already received the news.

The massive upheaval in Cizhou seemed to have reached its end.

Moreover, now that Commander Wei has returned and the God of War of Liang has been reinstated, what trouble can the minor ailment in Cizhou possibly cause?

Good times are back.

The atmosphere was relaxed and peaceful, and the Crown Prince was a kind and gentle gentleman, so the two from the Xie and Wang families naturally started chatting with Su Gui and Wei Huaiwen.

As they chatted, the conversation turned to a man surnamed Su who was currently in Cizhou.

"Congratulations to Lord Su today."

Wang Xu smiled faintly.

He served as a Chamberlain, nominally an attendant and advisor to the emperor, but in reality, he was the prime minister's deputy. He held a high position and wielded great power, and naturally, he was well-informed.

"Hmm? I wonder what He Xizhi has to say about it."

Su Gui's voice was indifferent.

Those familiar with him would not be surprised, as this Lord Su had always been such a cold person in the court.

No one knew his preferences, no one knew his inclinations, and even his loyalty was always doubted.

Su Gui is just that kind of person. He is like a piece of solid ice on a snow-capped mountain. No matter how strong the wind or how bright the sun, he will never waver or melt. He simply maintains his eternal self.

"Su Gong's grand-nephew, Su Che of Cizhou, has now made great contributions. He led the imperial guards to assassinate the bandit leader Li Hong and also killed the bandit leader's assistant, the sorcerer Yu Chen of the Great River Alliance. The court is currently discussing merits, and it seems that among Su Gong's three sons, this third son is about to surpass him."

"is it?"

Su Gui asked in return, as if Su Che was nothing more than a stranger to him.

"His Majesty has asked many times, but he has not yet decided on the bestowal of titles. Some say he should be reassigned as a military officer to govern a region, while others say he should be granted a marquisate. In any case, we still need to ask for Lord Su's opinion before we can give His Majesty a reply."

Su Gui slowly shook his head.

"In my opinion, there's no need for any reward."

Wang Xu and Xie Buyi exchanged a glance.

Old Su has always been dedicated to mentoring his younger relatives, so why is he acting all high and mighty today?

They didn't believe that he had changed his personality.

We've all been playing chess together for years, so who doesn't know each other well?

"In my opinion, as you all know, Su Che is a recluse, a disciple of Huang Tiandao. All these things are ultimately just empty talk. You can discuss them and give His Majesty an answer."

(End of this chapter)