We have fought to the Arctic Circle, and you want me to inherit the throne?

When Du Fuchen left the imperial capital and headed north, Luoyang was bustling with activity.

After Chen Pingzhi and Wang Sanchun completely pacified Yanzhou, they handed over military affairs to their deputy generals and led their troops to Luoyang to meet up with Li Che.

At the same time, the King of Jin and the Prince of Huai'an gathered warriors from Qin and Jin and also came to Luoyang.

As armies from all directions poured into Luoyang City, Li Che's army became increasingly powerful and popular.

The main force of the Fengtian Army, the Yanzhou soldiers brought by Wang Sanchun and Chen Pingzhi, and the 50,000 Qin and Jin cadets led by the Prince of Jin and the Prince of Huai'an...

With flags covering the sky and camps connected to each other, there are more than 150,000 regular combat troops gathered around Luoyang, ready to march south to the Yangtze River at any time.

At this moment, Li Che personally received a special guest.

Commander-in-chief of the Northwest Army, Ma Jing.

Li Che showed great courtesy to this frontier official who commanded 100,000 frontier troops, and personally received him at the government office.

When Ma Jing was led into the hall by the personal guards, Li Che even stood up from his seat and greeted him with a smile:

"General Ma has defended the northwest with great hard work and achievements, which I am very pleased with."

Ma Jing quickly bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you! I am overwhelmed by your presence!"

A frontier commander like Ma Jing no longer needs to call himself a subordinate, but can instead pay homage to him.

Li Che said in a gentle tone: "General, you have worked hard on the journey. Please take a seat."

Ma Jing followed his instructions and sat down in the seat below Li Che, with a respectful attitude, but he was feeling very nervous.

He didn't dare look directly at Li Che, but Li Che could directly examine this northwest commander.

Ma Jing in front of him was about forty years old, in the prime of his life. He was slightly plump, with fair skin and a smile on his face.

He looks more like a wealthy man who made money by being kind. It is hard to associate him with the iron-blooded general who led an army of 100,000 strong.

But Li Che knew very well that one cannot judge a book by its cover.

The fact that Emperor Qing entrusted him with the important task of Northwest China shows that this person must be his confidant and must have extraordinary qualities.

Li Che first exchanged a few pleasantries with him and asked about the customs and practices of the Northwest and the border defense situation.

His attitude is even more casual, just like chatting with family.

The main enemy in the northwest of Daqing was Tubo. Li Che had met their envoys and heard Emperor Qing talk about Tubo. He knew that they were by no means a friendly neighbor.

This is a bad neighbor, especially at this point in time. If it is not handled properly, they will definitely pounce on you and take a bite.

Ma Jing answered cautiously one by one, feeling increasingly uneasy. He really couldn't figure out what the new emperor was thinking.

Although the new emperor was young, his words were clear and logical, without any anger or resentment, which only made him feel extremely pressured.

What Ma Jing feared most was that the emperor was wary of his control of a large army and wanted to reduce his power and divide his troops.

The situation in the northwest is complicated, and the enemy troops on the border are ready to make a move. If the military power is stripped away at this moment, there is no guarantee that there will be a big chaos.

This is also the reason why Ma Jing had to rush from the border to meet the new emperor.

After much hesitation, Ma Jing took the initiative to speak, his attitude very humble: "Your Majesty, the false emperor in the south has not yet been pacified, and the court is now ready to use military force."

"Although I am incompetent, I am willing to draw ten thousand... no, fifteen thousand elite soldiers from the Northwest Army and place them at your Majesty's disposal to help you quell the rebellion and unify the country as soon as possible!"

This was a statement he had been considering for a long time, a proactive move to divide the troops to dispel the emperor's suspicions.

Although fifteen thousand is not a lot, it is the limit of what he can mobilize. If there are more, there will be big problems at the border.

However, Li Che's reaction was completely beyond his expectations.

Li Che smiled slightly, waved his hand and said, "I appreciate General Ma's kindness, but I don't need you to send troops to help me. On the contrary, I want to help you."

Ma Jing was stunned for a moment, almost thinking that he had heard it wrong.

He looked up at Li Che in astonishment: "Your Majesty...what do you mean?"

Li Che restrained his smile and his expression became serious.

He sighed softly and said, "General Ma, this war is a civil war in Daqing. Do you think this is what I want to fight?"

"Brothers are fighting against each other, even if I successfully entered the imperial capital and conquered the southern regions..." Li Che said with a look of pity, "In the final analysis, it is just a waste of Daqing's own strength. It does not benefit the country or the people. Instead, it wastes vitality. It is heartbreaking."

Seeing Li Che's genuine expression, Ma Jing felt a little moved.

"His Majesty......"

Li Che shook his head and changed the subject: "And Tubo is the real foreign enemy!"

"Since they annexed Tuyuhun, their power has grown tremendously and they have become increasingly rampant. They have repeatedly coveted our borders."

"I have been annoyed with them for a long time!"

Ma Jing was shocked. He didn't expect the emperor to be so insightful.

In those days, the Chinese nation had not yet formed a grand concept. The rulers did not distinguish between external and internal enemies, and regarded anyone who threatened their status as an enemy.

There have been emperors in all dynasties who gave up frontier territories in order to quell rebellions, and many of them were wise rulers.

Li Che continued, "As the commander of the northwest border, you are responsible for defending the country. Fighting against Tubo is your top priority."

"As for me, you don't have to worry, and there's no need to divide your forces."

"I only want you to firmly guard the northwest gate for me and Daqing! You must also be vigilant against the Tibetans taking advantage of our internal strife to provoke trouble on the border, or even launch a large-scale invasion!"

These words were so powerful that Ma Jing felt a warm current surge in his heart, and the uneasiness in his heart completely disappeared at this moment.

As a border commander, he devoted his entire life to the frontier cause.

He didn't care who became the emperor. Compared to this, he cared more about how much territory of Daqing was occupied by Tubo.

Ma Jing lifted his robe and stood up, then knelt on one knee, his voice choked with sobs:

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty trusts me so much. I, Ma Jing, will fight tooth and nail to protect the northwest for Your Majesty and will never let the Tibetans cross the line!"

"General Ma, please stand up." Li Che helped him up personally. "I trust you, just as the late emperor trusted you."

He pondered for a moment, then said, "The northwest is bitterly cold, and I know it's not easy for the soldiers guarding the border."

"Although I have many soldiers and horses, I need them in many places. I need manpower everywhere, such as in Japan, the grasslands, and even in this great war in the Central Plains. Therefore, I cannot provide you with military assistance."

Ma Jing quickly said, "Your Majesty, rest assured! The Northwest Army, from top to bottom, can perform its duties diligently and protect the country and its people without any additional assistance from the court!"

Having said that, a hint of disappointment flashed in his eyes.

Although he had not expected Li Che to support him on this trip, it was already good that he did not need to send troops south.

But after all, life in the Northwest is really too hard, with a harsh environment and barren land, which is no different from the areas outside the Great Wall a few years ago.

Richard noticed his expression, smiled slightly, and changed the subject: "I said I would help you, and I will definitely give it to you."

"Although I cannot send troops to support you, I can still think of other ways."