Noble First Daughter-in-law

Chapter 1205 Leading the Twelve Guards
Crown Prince Yuwen Qian finally spoke at this time.

However, when Shang Ruyi turned around and formally met his gaze, she suddenly felt that those originally clear eyes seemed a little strange.

Even though they were already enemies, she couldn't help but admit that Yuwen Qian had an outstanding appearance, especially his translucent eyes that were as clear as a pool of clear water. When she first saw him in Yanyue City, he was tightly covered in a snow-white monk's robe, leaving only his eyes exposed, which still amazed her.

But now, those bright eyes seemed strangely empty.

Although those pupils in the past were too shallow and too clear, so it seemed as if there was nothing in them, but Shang Ruyi understood that the "nothing" was deliberate. He didn't want people to see clearly, so no one could see what was in his eyes.

And at this moment, that “nothing” is real.

It wasn't just the look in his eyes, Shang Ruyi even felt as if something had been taken away from his entire body. Although he was tall and slender, and although he was dressed in gorgeous clothes, and although he stood behind Yu Dingxing like a huge deity and the shadow he cast almost covered the entire Taiji Hall, the soul in that body... seemed empty.

Of course, it's not all bad.

That gloomy look completely concealed the original clarity of his pupils.

Watching him slowly walk out, Yuwen Ye took a deep breath, raised his head to meet his gaze, and bowed: "Royal brother."

Yuwen Qian said, "If it weren't for the concerted efforts of my second and third brothers, we might not have been able to capture Luoyang so quickly. Since my father has appointed my third brother as the General of the North, I think my second brother should also be rewarded."

Shang Ruyi's brows furrowed slightly.

Yuwen Ye's eyes flickered, but his expression did not relax at all. He just smiled and said, "Thank you, my brother."

Yuwen Yuan looked through the jade tassels in front of him at his two handsome and elegant sons in the hall. They had obviously taken the most important Luoyang, and there was no longer any threat that could affect the survival of the Great Sheng Dynasty. He could even foresee how he would be able to display his talents in this land in the future. With such an unprecedented victory, his joy was still not as great as the worry when he saw his two sons standing in front of him.

There are two...

Feeling that he had been silent for too long, even the eunuch Yu beside him looked at him cautiously as a reminder. Yu Wenyuan finally regained his composure and said, "The prince is right. The King of Qin——"

Yuwen Ye immediately stepped forward and said, "Your son is here."

Yuwen Yuan asked: "What do you want?"

Yuwen Ye said: "I want to open a government office."

Originally, it was thought that there would be some tug of war between the father and the son. After all, the reward in the previous imperial edict was obviously directed to the Princess of Qin, and the King of Qin already had countless official positions, and there were some that could not be given higher titles, so Yuwen Yuan did not directly give him the reward in the imperial edict just now. Yuwen Yuan had been thinking about the reward for him for a long time, and everyone thought that if the King of Qin spoke, he would have to be cautious.

Unexpectedly, he asked for it right away when he opened his mouth.

But he established a government.

Even Shang Ruyi looked at him in surprise, but didn't say anything easily.

Establishing a government and building a garrison. Although Yuwen Ye had promised her before this expedition to Luoyang that he would be able to visit his uncle and aunt frequently after the establishment of the government, he said this with a firm tone at that time. On the one hand, he was very confident about the battle in Luoyang - after all, his hidden chess piece Pei Xingyuan had already sneaked into Luoyang with Liang Youying and Jiang Wei; on the other hand, even if he had not won the battle in Luoyang, as a general of Tiance, and holding other official positions such as Shangshu Ling of the Great Executive Office of the East Shaanxi Road, Mu of Yongzhou, and Zhongshu Ling, he had to establish a government in order to better handle affairs. Even if Yuwen Yuan agreed, it would not be considered a reward.

Sure enough, the emperor hesitated for a moment and said, "This is natural."

"..."

"I have long considered letting you set up a residence and a palace, but Yuan Qian is still young and I am reluctant to let him go. But - whatever, the Ministry of Rites will immediately select a palace and set up a palace for the King of Qin."

The Minister of Rites hurriedly replied, "Yes."

After that, there was silence in the hall again.

Not only was Yuwen Yuan silent, Yuwen Ye also did not speak, and the civil and military officials around him were also quiet. This silence was not because no one dared to speak, but it was as if everyone was waiting for the emperor to speak again.

The King of Qin had made such great achievements, but the reward he received was just to establish a government office?
Yu Wenyuan tightened his grip on the dragon throne a little.

Although he was sitting high above the hall, at this moment, he had a feeling as if he was being held high up by someone. This was the first time he felt that although the power was in his hands and he was the one using it, he suddenly felt as if it did not belong to him.

Facing the hundreds of people's eyes below the hall, he finally said: "I have read your military report. This time at Hulao Pass, you led 3,000 cavalrymen to resist Xiao Yuansui's 100,000 troops and captured 80,000 prisoners. This is an unprecedented victory since the establishment of our dynasty. It is just the establishment of a government office, which is not a reward."

Yuwen Ye lowered his head and said, "Your Majesty, you are too kind." Yuwen Yuan continued, "It's just that after you open your residence, you will definitely take Yuan Qian away, but I miss him and always hope that you can bring him back to the palace to see me often..."

He paused for a moment and said, "King Qin, please accept the title."

Yuwen Ye immediately said, "I am here."

Yuwen Yuan said: "I appoint you as the general of the twelve guards and you will guard the capital."

Upon hearing this, although others were fine, Yu Dingxing immediately widened his only remaining eye.

The Twelve Guards are military positions that have been passed down from the Daye Dynasty to the present day, including the Left and Right Imperial Guards, the Left and Right Valiant Guards, the Left and Right Garrison Guards, etc. Wang Shaoji was the general of the Left Garrison Guard at the time, Lei Yu's father Lei Yi was the general of the Left Imperial Guard, and there was also the general of the Left Imperial Guard Yu Dingxing who stayed in Chang'an and conspired with Yuwen Qian to capture Chang'an. Just commanding one of the teams was enough to make him powerful and influential. However, these twelve guards were set up and arranged by the emperor, and their duties were different. Some guarded the capital, and some went on expeditions to quell rebellions. They almost all fought on their own, and there was never a single position commanding all the twelve guards.

But now, Yuwen Yuan appointed him as the general of the Twelve Guards, which means he is in charge of these twelve armies!
No wonder Yu Dingxing's face suddenly darkened.

But Shang Ruyi's face was also a little gloomy - although this general leading the twelve guards sounded very scary, when Chu Yang moved the capital to Luoyang, he took away the Left and Right Guards, the Left and Right Imperial Guards, the Left and Right Feathered Guards, the Left and Right Jinwu Guards, etc. Only Yu Dingxing's Left Xiaowei Army, Su Changjing's Right Xiaowei Army, and the Left and Right Wei Guards stayed in Daxing City.

Even though Yuwen Yuan expanded the four guards after he ascended the throne, it was still less than half of the twelve guards set up by Emperor Wen.

Such a reward sounds scary, but in the final analysis it is of no use. After all, the Left Guard under Yu Dingxing, and the Right Guard that have followed him for a long time and are now handed over to his son-in-law are almost all his confidants. Even if Yuwen Ye is above the Twelve Guards - this is also what makes Yu Dingxing unhappy, but with them around, it is difficult for Yuwen Ye to truly control the Left and Right Guards in his own hands.

This is a half-empty title.

Thinking of this, Shang Ruyi turned to look at Yuwen Ye - if his request to establish a government as a reward for her was a step forward, then she dared to conclude that this was definitely not the result that Yuwen Ye wanted by taking that step back!

However, Yuwen Ye did not hesitate at all and immediately said, "Thank you, father!"

"...!"

Shang Ruyi opened his eyes wide in shock.

Even Yuwen Yuan was a little surprised. He thought that giving Yuwen Ye this empty title would definitely cause his dissatisfaction, but he didn't expect that he would accept it so obediently.

At this moment, the emperor's calculations and ruthlessness unconsciously faded a little. Looking at his son who had just fought bloody battles for him and survived a near-death experience at Hulao Pass, Yuwen Yuan's feelings as a father surged into his heart again. His breath gradually softened, and he even felt a little reluctant: "Do you want any more reward?"

Yuwen Ye said: "I have a small request."

Yu Wenyuan said: "You say."

Yuwen Ye said, "Currently, there are only the Left and Right Xiaowei and the Left and Right Weiwei of the Twelve Guards in Chang'an City, with a total number of less than 20,000. When Xiazhou was besieged by the Western Turks, the court could hardly dispatch extra troops to provide assistance. It was Ruyi who led a small number of troops to provide assistance. Although she saved Xiazhou from danger, Xiao Yuansui later sent troops westward along Huaizhou and Heyang, intending to take Chang'an directly. In order to protect Chang'an, she led her troops to block the enemy's 80,000 troops in Huyang Valley. After three days, all the troops were defeated."

Hearing this, many people in the hall sighed in astonishment.

Even Yu Wenyuan frowned: "Is it true?"

After he learned that the crisis in Xiazhou had been resolved, he focused all his attention on Hulao Pass and Luoyang. He never expected that such an episode would happen in between.

Shang Ruyi hurriedly said: "It is absolutely true, my men were indeed wiped out in Huyang Valley."

At this moment, Yuwen Yuan's barely perceptible guilt and reluctance surged up like a tide, almost swallowing him up. He tightly grasped the armrest of the dragon chair, and even though he tried his best to control himself, his breathing was a little disordered, and even the jade pendant in front of him swayed slightly. The people below could also see his face clearly at this moment.

He said, "So, you want—"

Yuwen Ye said: "The Western Turks have always been dominating the north and are eyeing us covetously. Although Chang'an is called Chang'an, if this continues, it will be difficult to live in peace."

"..."

"Since I am in charge of the Twelve Guards, I will naturally do my best to protect the capital. Therefore, I want to expand the Left and Right Brave Guards and the Left and Right Mighty Guards, and at the same time, restore the Twelve Guards."

Yuwen Yuan's heart skipped a beat.

He had a vague feeling that something was wrong, but Yuwen Ye's repeated concessions had already put his father, the emperor, in this situation. Even Shang Ruyi, the Princess of Qin, was the one who worked to resolve the crisis in Xiazhou. She also put herself in danger in Huyang Valley to protect Chang'an.

At this time, can he... refuse?
Yuwen Yuan hesitated for a moment and said, "It would be good to restore the Twelve Guards, but the court does not have that many troops at the moment."