Catching Monsters

Chapter 272: Able to Make Miraculous Pills
In an instant, ceremonial music sounded, and even fireworks had been arranged above the city gates.

Crowded.

Xu Suwen frowned, and whispered to Jiang Yun, "Something is not right. Xiaogang looks a little strange."

Jiang Yun also noticed it when he heard it, and whispered, "Maybe he is a little tired after rushing all the way back?"

Xu Suwen shook her head. She knew Xu Xiaogang's bad temper too well. His happiness and anger were all shown on his face.

She frowned and said, "Oh no! I'm afraid something is going to happen to Xiaogang."

On his way back, Xu Xiaogang also received news from Mushan City.

After Duke Chengguo Duan Xing and Liu Muyun arrived at Mushan City, they seized the command and eagerly placed their trusted relatives in various important positions in the army.

Even such an important position as the main attack on Jianchi Pass was assigned to his nephew Duan Yuchun.

Then Duan Yuchun led 5,000 troops to attack Jianchi Pass, but unexpectedly, when this guy saw the ferocity of the Hu people and the rain of arrows coming, he actually fled and ran away.

Before running away, he ordered his soldiers to continue attacking and they must defeat the enemy in one go. No one was allowed to retreat without his order.

Attacking a city wall like Jianchi Pass required careful coordination and constant wear and tear on the defenders' will.

The defenders will always get tired and need to change guards. We need to launch a fierce attack immediately when the enemy is extremely tired and needs to change guards.

This requires the general's experience to judge.

But Duan Yuchun turned around and ran away.

He also ordered all soldiers not to retreat.

As a result, 80% of the 5,000 soldiers died, and only 1,000 wounded soldiers escaped back to Mushan City.

As a result, these 1,000 wounded soldiers told what happened on the front line. Duan Yuchun deserted the battlefield and should be executed according to military orders.

Duan Xing was furious when he heard this.

What made him angry was not that Duan Yuchun deserted the battlefield.

Instead, it was these one thousand wounded soldiers who were slandering others.

When Duan Yuchun fled from the battlefield, he fled in a hurry and fell off his horse, causing serious injuries. Duan Xing used this as a basis to claim that his nephew was so injured, how dare these wounded soldiers talk nonsense.

Instead, it was Duan Yuchun who issued an order that no one was allowed to retreat. The thousand wounded soldiers who fled back in defeat were a violation of military orders.

He actually wanted to kill these wounded soldiers.

It was only after Jiang Yubo and others tried their best to dissuade him that he stopped it.

Xu Xiaogang's face turned pale. After learning the news, how could he not be worried about the situation on the front line.

As soon as he got off the horse, Xiao Yuzheng walked up to him with a smile and said, "General Xu, you have worked hard on this journey. You have done a great deed in repelling the Northern Hu army. You should have a good rest when you return to the capital. If you want any reward, you can talk to me."

Normally, what would happen next would be Xu Xiaogang kneeling down to express his gratitude with tears in his eyes.

But Xu Xiaogang knelt on the ground and said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, if it comes to rewards, please replace him with an experienced general to go to Mushan City. Duke Chengguo Duan Xing is not suitable to lead troops to fight."

Hearing this, the smile on Xiao Yuzheng's face stiffened a little, and the ministers present also felt that something was wrong.

The Minister of War Du Huaian was quick-witted and said, "Duke Zhenguo, General Duan has reported the news about Mushan City to the Ministry of War these days. It's quite good."

"In just a few days, General Duan has rectified the military discipline of the Zhenchi Army. The entire Zhenchi Army is praising General Duan, which is enough to show that Your Majesty has a good vision."

"Don't worry too much. I strongly requested His Majesty that you return to serve as the Minister of War this time."

"My Ministry of War has been very busy lately, so I need a general with frontline combat experience to serve as the Minister."

"I thought of you first and asked His Majesty many times before His Majesty nodded and agreed."

"Duke Chengguo's going to Mushan City to lead the Zhenchi Army was also decided by our Ministry of War."

After all, Du Huaian was a veteran in the officialdom. With just a few words, he not only smoothed over the situation, but also took charge of the transfer of Xu Xiaogang and the matter of Duke Cheng Duan Xing.

Seeing this, Xu Xiaogang opened his mouth slightly.

Xiao Yuzheng's smile had disappeared, and he said calmly: "Duke Zhenguo, you are still young, and you are not the only one who understands war."

"Yes." Xu Xiaogang took a deep breath and nodded reluctantly.

Then Xiao Yuzheng smiled and said, "Continue playing the music!"

From the north gate to the imperial palace, people lined the streets to celebrate.

Xu Xiaogang could only force a smile and walk towards the palace.

On the way, Xu Xiaogang also found an opportunity, came to Feng Yu's side, and whispered: "Eunuch Feng, you have to persuade His Majesty, this won't work."

"A few days ago, Duan Xing asked Duan Yuchun to attack Jianchi Pass..."

Feng Yu's eyes moved slightly, and he whispered, "Duke Zhenguo, His Majesty already knows about this matter. Duke Chengguo wrote a letter describing the situation on the front line."

"Duan Yuchun led 5,000 soldiers to fight the enemy in a bloody battle, and was seriously injured..."

"His Majesty was very happy after reading it..." Xu Xiaogang: "..."

Feng Yu whispered, "Duke Zhenguo, the Minister of War is in charge of the mobilization of troops across the country. His Majesty has transferred you back to serve as the Minister of War, which is an important task for you..."

Xu Xiaogang remained silent all the way. After returning to the imperial palace, he was rewarded again.

But Xu Xiaogang was always absent-minded.

He was busy until the afternoon before he finally returned to the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion.

There was an endless stream of people coming to congratulate them.

In the capital, Xu Xiaogang defeated the Northern Hu army and became famous.

The young hero led the army and repelled the Hu people.

With all these elements combined, storytellers from all over the country have recently been urgently looking for cultural figures from all over to write about Xu Xiaogang's legendary story.

There was no mention of what Xu Xiaogang had done when he was making jokes in the capital.

Instead, he could read military books at the age of three, pull a long bow at the age of five, and carry a large tripod at the age of seven.

A natural talent.

In the backyard of the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion, after Jiang Yun and Xu Suwen came back, they played chess under the tree in Xu Suwen's yard.

It was as if the excitement in front had nothing to do with the two of them.

"Xiaogang, too. How could he talk nonsense at the ceremony where His Majesty is welcoming him?" Xu Suwen couldn't help feeling helpless.

Jiang Yun was not clear about the situation on the front line and did not comment much. He had nothing to do recently, so he liked to play chess with Xu Suwen.

"Just ask him later. He is definitely busy today. Who knows how many matchmakers will come to propose marriage to him." Jiang Yun couldn't help but smile.

Xu Suwen nodded slightly.

……

"Asshole, what on earth is Xu Xiaogang thinking? Am I not good enough to him?"

In the imperial study, Xiao Yuzheng was sulking, holding the battle report from Duan Xing in his hand, and said, "Duan Xing's nephew fought bloody battles and was seriously injured on the front line. Could this also be false?"

"You have to change people if you keep talking."

Feng Yu brought over a cup of tea and said, "Your Majesty, take a sip of tea and calm down. The Duke of Zhenguo is also worried about the situation on the front line and is wholeheartedly working for the country."

After hearing this, Xiao Yuzheng's anger subsided a little. After sitting at the table, he said in a deep voice: "Xu Xiaogang is capable, but his personality is too eccentric. He is proud of his talent and needs to be tempered by some setbacks."

"Yes, yes, yes." Feng Yu breathed a sigh of relief.

Xiao Yuzheng then took out another letter and opened it: "Take a look at this letter. Duan Xing sent someone to investigate and found that the food and military pay of Mushan City were withheld. You said it had nothing to do with the Zhenguo Mansion? Who would believe it?"

"Have I asked Xu Xiaogang about this matter? If we really investigate it carefully, can the Duke of Zhenguo Mansion escape responsibility?"

"Xu Dingwu, a man who could betray his country and surrender to the enemy, didn't embezzle military pay and food? Who would believe that?"

At this point, Xiao Yuzheng took another sip of the tea in his hand, rubbed his temples, and asked, "How is the suppression of bandits in the southwest going?"

"No, it's not going well." Feng Yu whispered, "The southwest is full of mountains and the roads are rugged, which is not suitable for large-scale military operations. All the bandits in the southwest have hidden in the mountains."

"It's spring now, the weather is getting hot, and the miasma in the mountains in the southwest is too heavy..."

"However, the famine situation in Xishu has improved. There is no severe drought in Xishu Province this year. Instead, there is abundant rain, so the grain harvest should be good."

"It's just that there's another epidemic in Jiangnan Province."

"In addition, there are five provinces where demons and evil spirits have appeared frequently recently, causing unrest in all places."

"And one more thing……"

"The Eastern Demon Country claims that Fang Jiuyou hasn't returned for a long time and suspects he has been killed. They will send someone to investigate the matter and have already sent a letter to the court in advance, asking the court to cooperate."

"Fang Jiuyou?" Xiao Yuzheng narrowed his eyes slightly when he heard this, and said in a deep voice: "How did he die?"

When Fang Jiuyou first came to Beijing, Xiao Yuzheng was pretending to be poisoned and did not meet him. Instead, he sent Feng Yu to meet him.

Feng Yu whispered: "This, I don't know either..."

Feng Yu naturally did not say that Fang Jiuyou’s death was closely related to Jiang Yun.

Xiao Yuzheng slowly closed his eyes and said, "Let the people from the Demon Country investigate, and we will just cooperate with them."

"Cough cough."

At this time, Xiao Yuzheng couldn't help but slowly stood up, stood in front of a bronze mirror, looked at himself in the mirror, his old appearance and white hair.

He couldn't help but sigh and said, "I work hard for state affairs every day, and it's a pity that I will eventually grow old."

"Feng Yu, I remember there was a man who had alchemy skills and claimed that he could make elixirs that could prolong life. Where is he now?"

(End of this chapter)