The Young Swordsman of Dalu

The person Li Chaoyang was referring to was none other than Wen Tao.

“Wen Tao! Is he up to the task? Although he was sent as an envoy to the Western Regions when he was young, and he also went to the Western Regions to suppress the Feng siblings some time ago, he has no experience in large-scale military operations. Isn’t it ridiculous to appoint him as the Grand Marshal of the Army? I’d better pack my bags and run for my life!” Nangong Xun said.

“Wen Tao isn’t all that bad. Although he doesn’t have his father Wen Jun’s strategic talent, he still has some strengths. For example, he is brave and good at fighting, and he is good at using terrain to fight mobile warfare,” Li Chaoyang said.

"No way! I think Wentao is really unreliable," Nangong Xun continued to object.

“Our Emperor has probably already chosen him as the marshal,” Li Chaoyang said.

"Are we really going to look for a general among the cripples?" Nangong Xun said helplessly.

"Sigh!" Li Chaoyang sighed.

“Isn’t your second young master, Li Linlie, on the northwestern border? He can be directly appointed as the Grand Marshal of the Army. Besides, your second daughter-in-law is from the Western Regions. Maybe she can be of help then,” Nangong Xun said.

"Don't give me any bad advice, old man!" Li Chaoyang said.

“When will we ever need to avoid suspicion? If you, Li Chaoyang, are doing this for the sake of the Great Lu Kingdom, then put all this mess aside and let’s drive away the Western Regions army first,” Nangong Xun said.

“No! The northwest border is also a place where the Western Regions army is attacking, but they haven’t had time to spare yet. Lin Lie still needs to guard the northwest,” Li Chaoyang said.

"Our Great Lu Kingdom has become easy prey for those wolf cubs!" Nangong Xun complained.

“If Wen Tao refuses the emperor’s appointment, then we will have to ask that person to come out of seclusion!” Li Chaoyang said.

In the Prince Wen's mansion in Yulu City, the comatose Dowager Consort Wen finally woke up.

Wen Tao and Prince Wen Hao stood in front of her bed.

"Mom! You scared your son to death!" Wentao squatted down in front of the bed.

"I went to see the King of Hell, but he sent me back. He said, 'You haven't even seen your grandchildren get married and have children yet, are you slacking off? Go back now!' So I came back!" said the Dowager Consort Wen with a smile.

"The Dowager Consort will surely live a long and healthy life!" said the old imperial physician Liang from the side.

"Thank you for your kind words!" said the Dowager Consort Wen.

"Your Highness, someone from the palace has arrived!"

"Mother, I'll go take a look first, and then I'll come back to serve you later," Wen Tao said.

"Go!" the Dowager Empress said.

When Wen Tao arrived at the main hall of the Prince's Mansion, the palace eunuchs told him that the Emperor wanted to see him and that he needed to go to the palace now.

Wen Tao has been attending to his mother at the Prince's residence recently and has not attended court. A few days ago, Yun Ze came to visit the ailing Dowager Consort and mentioned to him the news that the northeastern border was being harassed by the Western Regions army. At the time, because the Dowager Consort was still in a coma, he did not take it to heart.

Upon entering the palace, the eunuch led Wen Tao into the Hall of Heroes and Martial Arts, where Emperor Zhou Muyao and Crown Prince Zhou Shiyao were waiting for him.

After Wen Tao bowed, Zhou Muyao asked, "How is the Dowager Consort's condition?"

"Thanks to Your Majesty's concern, my mother's illness has improved considerably," Wen Tao said.

"I am relieved! Have you heard about the war in the east, my dear minister?" Zhou Muyao said.

"War? Has the situation become that serious?" Wen Tao asked.

“The tribes of the northern deserts have united to seize territory in the western regions, so the tribes of the western regions have no choice but to encroach on the land of our Great Lu Kingdom,” Zhou Muyao said.

“If Your Majesty says so, then the Northern Dynasty will not have an easy time either, after all, they have a large amount of territory bordering the Western Regions,” Wen Tao said.

“Your Highness! But there has been no news from the Northern Dynasty that it has been attacked by the Western Regions army,” said Crown Prince Zhou Shiyao.

"Your Highness suspects that the Northern Dynasty is colluding with various tribes in the Western Regions to attack our Great Lu Kingdom," Wen Tao said.

“That’s exactly what we were worried about,” Zhou Shiyao said.

"Isn't the Northern Dynasty afraid that the Western Regions will eventually renege on their promises?" Wen Tao asked.

“They must have reached an alliance agreement, otherwise it wouldn’t be so quiet in the North,” Zhou Shiyao said.

"Has General Shangguan Chenxing from Beijiang City sent any news back?" Wen Tao asked.

“General Shangguan has been keeping a close eye on the Northern Dynasty’s every move, but they are not currently stationing troops in my northern border,” Zhou Shiyao said.

“This is very strange,” Wen Tao said.

"General Wei Qiao has already led his troops to support the northeastern border as the vanguard. Now we are still short of a Grand Marshal. In your opinion, who in our court is capable of taking on this role?" Zhou Muyao asked.

“This…” Wen Tao was stumped.

“Father! Your subject believes that Prince Wen is very suitable!” said Crown Prince Zhou Shiyao.

"Are these two, father and son, working together to set me up?" Wen Tao thought to himself.

"My dear minister! What do you think?" Zhou Muyao asked.

"Your Majesty! Your Highness! I am absolutely unfit for this important task!" Wen Tao refused.

“Look at the military generals in the court, which one can compare to Prince Wen? Prince Wen should not refuse,” said Crown Prince Zhou Shiyao.

"Your Majesty! Your Highness! Let's discuss this matter with the court officials before making a decision! I really cannot take on this responsibility," Wen Tao refused again.

“My dear minister, do you know how glorious this is? It’s something many people would beg for but cannot obtain,” Zhou Muyao said.

“Your Majesty, please punish me for knowing this. This concerns the future of the Great Lu Kingdom. I am willing to go to the front to fight, even if it costs me my life. But a commander must know how to deploy troops, and I am not capable of that. Therefore, Your Majesty, Your Highness, please forgive me for being unable to shoulder this heavy responsibility,” Wen Tao said.

After hearing Wen Tao's words, Zhou Muyao and Zhou Shiyao became extremely anxious.

“My dear minister! What should we do? Our Great Lu Kingdom is in imminent danger. If no one takes on this responsibility, the tribes of the Western Regions will march south, and we will perish!” Zhou Muyao said.

"Your Majesty, why not invite General Chai back to the court to fight against the Western Regions army? General Chai is experienced. Back then, he followed the late emperor in a three-month battle against the armies of various Western Regions tribes, and in the end, our Great Lu Kingdom won the victory. Now is the perfect time to invite General Chai to come out of seclusion," Wen Tao said.

"I promised General Chai that he could retire and return to his hometown," Zhou Muyao said regretfully.

“Your Majesty! The court is in dire need of capable people, and I believe General Chai will prioritize the overall situation,” Wen Tao said.

"Your Highness, what do you think we should do?" Zhou Muyao said helplessly.

“Father! We can’t worry about that now. Your son will go to Licheng on your behalf to invite General Chai to come out of seclusion,” said Crown Prince Zhou Shiyao.

“That’s excellent!” Zhou Muyao said.

"Your Majesty, I am willing to accompany you on your journey!" Wen Tao said.

"Very well! My dear minister, you shall go with the Crown Prince!" Zhou Muyao said happily.

Inside Wenxian Pavilion, Li Chaoyang had already received news from Yulu City.

Li Chaoyang felt a great weight lifted from his heart and thought to himself, "Wen Tao did a great job not letting us down at this crucial moment! Excellent!"