Big man: I am the Champion Marquis!

Chapter 61 I want it all
Some of the Qin Dynasty's legacy still benefits the Han Dynasty, such as the Qin Straight Road.

Huo Xian led nearly 600 men on a rapid march along the Qinzhi Road. They received an imperial decree to return to Chang'an quickly.

General Wei Qing continued to guard the city where the surrender took place, while Marquis Huo Xian escorted the important prisoners back to the capital.

"My Lord!" Chen Ju was very happy and said, "This time when we return to Chang'an, we will definitely have a great time!"

Liu Mo also said proudly, "We are born in the Guanjun Marquis' Mansion, so we are the most glorious!"

"I will definitely be scolded when I go back!" Huo Xian was in a good mood, but also had some complaints, "After you go back, you can enjoy your glory, but don't be domineering. I am about to be appointed as a general, so don't be domineering!"

Chen Ju thought about it and said with some concern, "My Lord, isn't it too early to be appointed a general at the age of seventeen?"

"I just need to go to the court less often. You don't need to worry about these things." Huo Xian said with a smile, "You should provide good compensation to the soldiers who died this time. Go back and ask their families if there is any shortage and make up for it."

The dead soldiers would naturally receive compensation from the imperial court, but Huo Xian would also have to take good care of his personal guards.

Zhao Hexi said, "Don't worry, my lord. We know what's going on. We are also very hardworking. We can make achievements by following you. Men will know all those things after joining the army!"

Having said that, Huo Xian still needs to receive the compensation he deserves.

Zhao Anguo caught up and said, "My Lord, should we take a break?"

Now this could be considered a forced march, almost a hundred miles a day. The entire journey was nearly two thousand miles, and Huo Xian and his companions planned to take twenty days to arrive.

"Take a rest in front." Huo Xian reminded, "Don't let my Zuo Xian Wang die. If he dies now, my credit will be reduced by more than half!"

The others were also laughing. Since the war was over, everyone was in a very good mood.

Now let's review the results of the war. Although this time was not the most beheaded since the war with the Xiongnu, if we calculate carefully, the number of beheadings is also ranked in the top three, second only to the 90,000 enemies killed in the Battle of Mobei and the more than 30,000 enemies killed in the Battle of Hexi.

As for the captives, it goes without saying that some Xiongnu nobles had been captured before, but they were all big households, famous kings, etc. Now that Zuo Xian Wang was captured, he was already one of the top five or even top three people with substantial power in the Xiongnu!

Not only Huo Shan and others were very excited, but Liu Che, who was far away in Chang'an, was already getting impatient.

He had been startled three times a day these days. Just after receiving the report that Huo Shan had rashly rushed into the enemy's encirclement, before he had time to react, he immediately received the news that Huo Shan had led his men to break out.

After waiting for a long time, he received the news that Huo Xian had burned the Xiongnu's baggage. At that time, Liu Che began to look forward to the surprise that the champion marquis he trained could bring.

As for Huo Shan's unauthorized seizure of power and robbing Zhao Po Nu of his military power, Liu Che didn't care about those details at all.

As long as he could win the battle, it would be fine. In the strategies and military tactics he taught, Huo Xian was always treated as a general rather than a superior.

So the messenger rushed again, ordering Huo Xian to lead the army to bring back Zuo Xian Wang and other important captives.

During the temporary break, Zhao Anguo was somewhat worried, "My Lord, will His Majesty deprive my father-in-law of his title?"

"It shouldn't be that serious, but it's hard to say." Huo Xian said with some complaints, "Uncle Zhao is just unlucky. I'll think of a way later. You don't have to worry too much."

Theoretically, Zhao Po Nu would not be stripped of his title, but the number of his beheadings and losses were basically the same.

Although he had the great merit of burning the Xiongnu's baggage, the military merit system of the Han Dynasty was sometimes so rigid that if the losses exceeded the number of beheadings, it would be considered as merit without merit.

Cao Zong also came over worriedly, "My Lord, can I still be in your tent in the future?"

"You?" Huo Xian joked, "Even if His Majesty agrees, my cousin won't. One of us brothers will be in the Southern Army and the other in the Northern Army. You and I are different. You are a relative by marriage, and I am a military marquis!"

Cao Zong said unhappily, "You are the in-law!"

After the argument, Cao Zong said, "You will probably be in charge of the Southern Army in the future. Is the Northern Army the Li family's?"

"I want both the Southern Army and the Northern Army." Huo Xian was thick-skinned and bold. "When I go back, I will be the General of Cavalry and should be able to lead the Southern Army. In a few years, I will be promoted to the Grand Marshal, and both the Southern Army and the Northern Army will be in my hands."

Cao Zong really wanted to argue, but when he thought of the Grand Marshal, he had nothing to say.

Because this was an official position specially set up by the emperor, in the Western Han Dynasty, the general and the general of the cavalry ranked below the prime minister, and the general of the chariot and the general of the guard ranked below the senior minister. However, adding the title of Grand Marshal was more respected than the prime minister, and could legitimately manage daily military and administrative affairs.

"If His Majesty offers you an official position, then accept it." Huo Xian looked at Cao Zong and said, "Although we are comrades in arms in the future, you should not always obey me. If you do that, you are not helping me, but harming me!"

Cultivating Cao Zong and supporting the Li family are also a kind of checks and balances on Wei Huo.

Liu Che did rely on Wei and Huo, but as an emperor, it was impossible for him to be completely without checks and balances. Even if Huo Xian was the emperor's favorite and most trusted minister, he could not change some of the emperor's thoughts. Zhao Anguo thought about it carefully and asked, "Now that the general is here, you are in charge of the southern army and the Li family is in charge of the northern army? In the future, you will be the Grand Marshal? At that time, you will have to fight with the prime minister and his people?"

Cao Zong also said with some concern, "My Lord, you have to go to the court. There are 40, 50, 60 or 70 people there, so we have to fight."

Many people knew that Huo Xian did not attend court, even though he had a title and an official position. Others did not say anything, because it was because of his age, so they did not care.

But after returning to the court this time, Huo Xian will definitely be promoted to General of Cavalry, and will begin to be responsible for the daily management of the army. By then, Huo Xian will not only be a marquis and general, but will also begin to get involved in the construction of the army, etc.

Huo Xian said lazily, "Me? It doesn't matter whether I attend court or not, the general is still here. I just eat, drink and have fun all day, and I am the chief general when we go to war. You two should hurry up, and get the title of general someday, even if it is a general of a minor rank, that would be good."

Zhao Anguo and Cao Zong were speechless. This time when they returned, their official positions would most likely be the lieutenants of the 2,000-stone rank, which was definitely a promotion. But if they wanted to become generals, they were still a little short of it.

Suddenly Chen Ju came over and said, "Sir, the messenger came to report that His Majesty urged you to return to Chang'an as soon as possible."

Huo Xian immediately complained, "Are we still walking too slowly? I'll just write a letter in reply."

Huo Xian had just stood up when he remembered, "Where's the messenger? Call him over!"

Seeing the messenger, Huo Xian asked directly, "How is General Ershi now?"

The messenger dared not not answer, and said, "My Lord, I heard that General Ershi's battle was not going well. When he met Yanshui in the west, the Western Regions along the way panicked and each of them tightly guarded their castles and did not supply food. The army suffered heavy losses along the way."

Huo Xian was not surprised. He looked at the sky and said, "I'm afraid there will be trouble. Winter is coming soon."

The messenger continued, "I heard that the army has already reached Yucheng City, which is a major city in Dayuan. Now they should attack this city."

"Okay, I get it." Huo Xian was not surprised at all. "Is there any discussion in the court about stopping the war?"

The messenger replied, "My Lord, I have not heard of it before. The news of your great victory reached Chang'an a few days ago, and the whole city was filled with jubilation."

The messenger might have exaggerated a bit, but Huo Xian was relieved. Now the court generally advocated the use of foreign troops, which was a good thing.

If they win and gain benefits, of course they will continue to encourage the use of troops. But if they lose, then someone will jump out to oppose the use of troops.

After writing the letter and handing it to the messenger, Huo Xian said to Zhao Anguo and Cao Zong, "Did you hear me? When you go back, think carefully about how to conquer the Western Regions. Li Guangli can't conquer Dayuan. When the time comes, I will grab this job, and you will have to follow me to the expedition next year!"

Cao Zong was both worried and surprised. "My Lord, we went to Dayuan to confer titles on the Li family. How can we snatch this?"

Anyone with a discerning eye could see that the reason for letting Li Guangli lead troops to attack Dayuan was to create an opportunity for him to be granted a title of nobility.

"I haven't led an army yet. If not Dayuan, where else can we attack?" Huo Xian said confidently, "The Western Regions are also different from the Xiongnu. We have to think about siege warfare."

Cao Zong and Zhao Anguo felt that what Huo Xian said made sense. Even if it was a twisted logic, they felt it was natural.

When he had no military achievements, even if Huo Shan did not attend court, he still had a sense of presence in the court.

Now that he has military merit, he will naturally be more dazzling after returning to Chang'an. If he stirs up trouble, no one will find it strange.

Especially considering the emperor's preference for him, Li Guangli's career as the Second Division General is likely to end soon. The stage has been set, and if he can't perform well in the big show, then naturally, don't blame Huo Xian for ruining it.

Li Guangli?
Huo Xian smiled. It was not a life-and-death battle. In fact, on the surface, Madam Li and Li Guangli both respected him.

But there is no way, the cake is only so big. If Huo Xian eats one more bite, Li Guangli will eat one less bite, and the opportunity will not always be there.

After a brief rest, Huo Xian and others continued on their journey.

It had been half a year since he went to war, and Huo Xian missed the easy and comfortable life in Chang'an. He also planned to take a good rest, as going to war was indeed a bit tiring, even if he was strong and healthy.

"Sir, we need His Majesty's permission to enter the city!" Cao Zong said as they got closer and closer to Chang'an. "There is also the matter of surrendering captives. An official must come to discuss this with us."

Huo Xian also understood this and said, "Well, you camp outside and someone will definitely take you to the main camp. We will deal with Zuo Xian Wang well and let him travel through Chang'an in style to meet His Majesty."

Zhao Anguo laughed immediately. Prince Zuo was going to be famous. The people of Chang'an would definitely want to see what Prince Zuo looked like.

Cao Zongze was a little surprised. "We are taking people to the camp. Where are you going?"

"We've already arrived in Chang'an. Why should I stay here with you to suffer?" Huo Xian looked at Cao Zong speechlessly. "I'll go back to Chang'an and enter the palace first, and then I'll come find you!"

(End of this chapter)