The Return of the King: A Generation of Prodigies

In the capital city, it is no exaggeration to say that you can run into a royal relative just by going out.

All the royal relatives and nobles who had some ability stayed in Shangjing.

Even those who had fiefs and had to perform their duties there would find ways to send their children back to Shangjing City.

After all, Shangjing is where the emperor lives, and it is full of temptations and opportunities.

Although Yan Yu has now been promoted to general because of his military achievements, his status is almost as high as that of his father Yan Mingde.

But this does not mean that his status will be improved in the eyes of those people.

Those people will only hate and dislike Yan Yu even more because of his current status, and will use his background to slander and attack him.

They greeted Yan Yu with a smile on the surface, but did some shameful things behind his back, all wanting to pull Yan Yu down from the altar and let him fall back into the mud to be trampled upon by others.

Chu Mingyu's background is different. Not only does he come from a prominent family with a strong and good family background, he is also the eldest grandson and eldest son in the family.

In Shangjing City, no one would be stupid enough to mess with Chu Mingyu.

Because if they make things difficult for Chu Mingyu, it would be equivalent to making things difficult for the entire Chu family.

If Yan Yu has Chu Mingyu's protection when he returns to Shangjing in the future, he will definitely have less trouble.

"Then we brothers say goodbye now. If I return to Shangjing in the future, we brothers will have a good drink together and not leave until we are drunk."

Yan Yu reached out and patted Chu Mingyu on the shoulder. He would never have thought at this moment that his relationship with Chu Mingyu would help Shen Tianjiao so much in the future.

"Okay, brother is waiting for you in Shangjing."

"I don't have a jar of the best Huadiao. When someone gave it to me, it was already 30 years old. I kept it for many years and never drank it."

"When you come back next time, I'll take it out from the ground and we can drink it to our heart's content."

Chu Mingyu really liked Yan Yu and wanted to be his friend. He was even willing to share the good wine that he usually didn't want to drink with him.

You know, even his father didn't want to take the jar of fine wine that he buried underground from her.

"Okay, take care of yourself, Brother Yu. We'll see you later."

Yan Yu bowed to Chu Mingyu, then turned around, mounted his horse, and prepared to leave.

"Brother, you have to take care of yourself too. Northern Xinjiang is different from other places. You have to be very careful."

Although Chu Mingyu had never been to Northern Xinjiang, he knew that there had been constant wars in Northern Xinjiang and that a battle would break out from time to time.

Moreover, the fact that Shen Tianjiao wanted to declare war on the six kingdoms of Jiuzhou was no longer a secret among Yun Li's generals.

Once the plan to declare war on the six kingdoms of Kyushu is implemented, Yan Yu, as the general, will naturally be the first to go to the front line.

If a war breaks out, it will be no joke. All countries will have to use all their strength, mobilize the most powerful weapons, and concentrate all the country's manpower and material resources on this battle.

To put it bluntly, this battle is a test of national strength, financial resources and manpower. It requires the whole country's strength and it is a battle that must be won and not lost.

Because once the war is lost, it will not be as simple as ceding land, paying compensation, and becoming a vassal state of others, but the complete destruction of the country.

Yan Yu didn't look back. He raised his hand and waved to Chu Mingyu behind him.

Chu Mingyu looked at Yan Yu's receding back, and the thought that had been suppressed in his heart for a long time came to his mind again.

He wanted to go to the northern border and experience what real war was like.

He didn't want to be a mediocre general who just protected the capital anymore. He wanted to fight on the battlefield and make great achievements like his elders.

Moreover, this war against the six kingdoms of Kyushu is absolutely a unique war in history. If you miss it, there will never be another one.

So he must not miss this rare opportunity. He must leave his name in this major battle that will be recorded in history.

Yan Yu led this large group of people away in a carriage and soon arrived at the first city gate to enter Shangjing.

The city gate tower was still under martial law at this time. Although the poisoning issue had been resolved, the task of eliminating spies from various countries in Shangjing City had not yet ended.

Now, anyone who wants to enter or leave Shangjing, no matter who they are, must undergo strict inspection.

But as soon as Yan Yu arrived at the city gate, someone came forward to lead the way for him.

"General Yan, I have been ordered to wait for you here and lead you into the city."

Although Yan Yu did not recognize the person who came, he did recognize the clothes the person was wearing.

This piece of clothing is not from the Imperial Guards or the Imperial Guards, but is worn by the secret guards around Shen Tianjiao.

"Well, lead the way, let's go."

Yan Yu looked up at the city gate tower, and couldn't help but feel a lot of emotions in his heart. A few days ago, when he and Shen Tianjiao came back, they couldn't get in because the city gate was closed and under martial law. In the end, they could only enter through the secret passage.

But it was only a few days before he could bring his men in openly and without any hindrance.

Because there was someone leading the way, Yan Yu led these people directly into the imperial city without any obstruction.

After Yan Yu entered the imperial city and handed the person over to Zhang Hui, he ran to find Shen Tianjiao.

Zhang Hui brought all these people to Wenyuan and handed them over to Ruan Yuhu.

It was Ruan Yuhu's idea to hand these people over to her and let her punish them.

Ruan Yuhu doesn't want Shen Tianjiao to get involved in such offensive things at all. She is afraid that these things will become obstacles for Shen Tianjiao in the future.

Although the punishment these people are going to receive is what they deserve, there are too many people involved this time.

Moreover, these people are either from aristocratic families or have connections, or at least hold official positions.

If this matter is not handled properly, it will cause a major turmoil within Yunli, and what Yunli fears most now is turmoil.

What Yun Li needs now is stability and rest.

Therefore, this matter can only be done by Ruan Yuhu. Only Ruan Yuhu can shut up those who are gossiping and prevent them from pointing their spearheads at Shen Tianjiao.

Yan Yu came to Shen Tianjiao's yard and went straight into the study. At this time, Shen Tianjiao could not be anywhere else except in the study.

Sure enough, Yan Yu found Shen Tianjiao in the study. Xia He, who was waiting nearby, prepared to quietly leave when she saw Yan Yu coming in.

"Go get some rock sugar and pear juice. Oh, and remove all the cakes on the table and replace them with freshly baked ones."

Shen Tianjiao was busy reviewing memorials and gave instructions to Xia He without even raising her head.

"Yes."

Xia He lowered her head and retreated silently.

Yan Yu came in and sat down immediately, poured himself some tea, and drank it.

He has been running back and forth all day and still hasn't had a drop of water.

"Drink less tea. The kitchen will prepare rock sugar and pear juice. It will be delivered soon."

Although Shen Tianjiao didn't look at Yan Yu, she could perfectly predict Yan Yu's every move without any error.

"Oh."

Yan Yu obeyed obediently and put down the teacup in his hand. Compared with the tea in front of him, Yan Yu really liked the rock sugar and snow pear juice better.

"Is everything settled?"

Shen Tianjiao put down the memorial in her hand and rubbed her forehead with her hand. She was tired and needed to rest for a while.

"Well, it's all done."

So while waiting for the rock sugar and snow pear juice and the freshly baked pastries to arrive, Yan Yu told Shen Tianjiao everything that happened in the Taimiao today.

The performance of Li Rui, the stand-in, really surprised Shen Tianjiao.

Sure enough, if teammates are capable, a lot of trouble can be saved.

"What do you think of Chu Mingyu?"

Shen Tianjiao had her own reasons for asking Chu Mingyu to help Yan Yu this time.

As the commander-in-chief of Yunli’s army, more than half of Yunli’s generals came from the command of Marquis Zhenbei.

But there is also a very small part that comes from other factions, and the Chu family is one of that very small part.

Although the Chu family has not produced any particularly outstanding generals in recent years, their strength should not be underestimated.

As one of Yunli's century-old families, even though the Chu family has not had any military achievements for many years, their family's status in Shangjing has never been shaken.

What does this prove? It can only prove one thing, that is, the real strength of the Chu family is not just because their ancestors were founding heroes, nor is it just maintained by their military achievements from generation to generation. They have their own way of survival.

The reason why Shen Tianjiao asked Chu Mingyu to participate this time was because she wanted to bring the Chu family under her own command and use them for her own purposes.

Shen Tianjiao understood better than anyone else from her past life experience that declaring war on the six kingdoms of Kyushu was not an easy task.

In addition to Yunli, among the six countries of Jiuzhou, there is Nanchu who is good at using poison, Xirong who respects martial arts, Beiqiang who drinks hair like blood, Western Regions who are good at fighting, and Tubo who is difficult to deal with, not to mention the small countries around.

If they were to defeat them one by one, it would not be a difficult task for Yun Li and Shen Tianjiao, but if they joined forces to deal with Yun Li, then the battle would be one against six and the chances of winning would be much smaller.

Therefore, Shen Tianjiao needs a large number of talented and capable people to assist her.

Another more important reason is that Shen Tianjiao must ensure that when she goes to war with the six kingdoms of Jiuzhou, no military generals with military power will stand up and stab her in the back.

Now, the only family that Yun Li can be on guard against and worried about is the Chu family.

Therefore, if he could not bring the Chu family under his command, he would have to find another way to make the Chu family lose their military power and supporters.

"Chu Mingyu is a very good person. He has outstanding abilities and the courage to kill and make decisive decisions."

Yan Yu looked up at Shen Tianjiao and asked, "Do you think this is problematic, or do you have other intentions?"

"I think the plan to declare war on the six kingdoms of Kyushu will probably be implemented soon. We need a large number of capable people who know how to lead troops in battle."

"So I sent Chu Mingyu to assist you this time, just to let you see if this person is useful?"

"If he's available, I'll find a way to get him to Northern Xinjiang so he can get used to the environment there beforehand, so he doesn't have to rush around when the time comes."

Shen Tianjiao did not tell Yan Yu her true intentions towards the Chu family, because she had already seen that Yan Yu still admired Chu Mingyu.

Before confirming whether the Chu family could be used by her, Shen Tianjiao did not want to add to Yan Yu's distress in vain.

During the few days she spent with Yan Yu, Shen Tianjiao didn't want anything to come between her and Yan Yu.

Now Shen Tianjiao just wants to spend some ordinary time with Yan Yu and enjoy each other's company.

Because it is very likely that they will never have such peaceful days together like they do now.

The disparity in status between the two of them is a hurdle they can never overcome.

Shen Tianjiao doesn't want to start her life over again and still be the unfaithful person who hurt Yan Yu, but who knows what will happen in the future, and who can control it?

Thinking of this, Shen Tianjiao's mood suddenly became bad.

In the past, Shen Tianjiao was thinking about how to assist Li Muyang in becoming a wise and holy ruler, but now Shen Tianjiao wants to complete her mission and send Li Muyang to the throne.

After Li Muyang ascended the throne, he left the palace and Shangjing. He and Yan Yu hid their identities and wandered around to see what a picturesque beauty Yun Li, whom they had protected for two lifetimes, was like on the river.

"Well, I think Chu Mingyu is a useful person. If he goes to the Northern Frontier, he will definitely be able to show his skills."

"But if he goes to the northern border, who will guard the capital?"

"Although General Wang Zongyuan is already in the Xishan camp, the defense of the capital is also of paramount importance and cannot be taken lightly."

"Such an important position is best left to one's trusted aides."

How could Yan Yu know what Shen Tianjiao was thinking? He still thought that the reason Shen Tianjiao sent Chu Mingyu to assist him was because the Chu family was also a member of the Zhenbei Marquis's family.

"Although the defense of the capital is also very important, it doesn't necessarily have to be done by Chu Mingyu."

"The Chu family has many sons. Besides Chu Mingyu, there are several more. If Chu Mingyu goes to the Northern Frontier, we can choose one of his brothers to temporarily replace him."

Shen Tianjiao knew that Yan Yu would not think too much about it. Yan Yu was not very smart most of the time except for his shrewdness in fighting.

But it’s better this way. A fool will naturally have good fortune. People who are too smart and care too much will not have good fortune.

Shen Tianjiao still likes the silly Yan Yu in front of her. She has liked him since her last life.

How nice it would be if time could be quiet and stay at this moment forever.