At 100 years old, he joined the army in place of his granddaughter, and became a national war god.

Early autumn.

The autumn breeze was gentle at the Kyoto canal wharf, and the blue waters shimmered.

Today, the docks are devoid of the hustle and bustle of merchants as they once were; instead, they exude a subdued yet vibrant atmosphere.

The emperor issued an order, commanding Crown Prince Xiao Yunfeng, along with Prime Minister Li Yuan and Chief Eunuch Li Fuquan, to await orders here to welcome the eastern expeditionary army back to the capital. He also summoned Su Mu to the palace immediately for an audience with the emperor.

On the high platform of the dock, Crown Prince Xiao Yunfeng, dressed in a brocade robe, had a cold and stern face, with gloom and cunning hidden between his brows and eyes.

He stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the river in the distance, seemingly waiting for the army, but his mind was in turmoil.

He had been looking forward to Su Mu's triumphant return for a long time, eager to see Su Mu make a fool of himself.

Beside him, Prime Minister Li Yuan stood with his hands behind his back, his eyes fixed on the river ahead, filled with anger.

Standing to the side was the chief eunuch Li Fuquan, who held a bright yellow imperial edict, bowed his head, and waited respectfully for the triumphant army that had swept across the East China Sea and crushed the Eastern Barbarians.

Apart from the three people and a few imperial guards, the huge dock should have been quiet and solemn, but the banks and stone steps were already crowded with Kyoto residents.

As dawn broke, people spontaneously gathered here, waiting from the first light of day until the autumn sun rose, just to witness the great heroes of the Qianlong era who quelled the sea raids and expanded the territory.

They supported the elderly and carried the young, shoulder to shoulder, with countless eyes gazing at the distant river, filled with anticipation and reverence.

Silence rose and fell among the crowd, gradually coalescing into a clamor.

"General Su has truly performed an unparalleled feat!"

"After years of eastern expeditions, we recovered all the lost territories in the East China Sea, annihilated the Dongyi navy, and even leveled the Dongyi capital, bringing the entire Dongyi territory into our Great Qian's domain. This is an unparalleled achievement that is rare even in a century!"

"Yes! In previous years, the Eastern Barbarians and Japanese pirates repeatedly invaded our borders, causing the coastal people to be displaced and suffer unspeakable pain, and countless soldiers perished in the sea!"

"Now, General Su has decisively won the battle, completely eradicating the scourge of the East China Sea and ensuring peace across the vast maritime borders of our Great Qian Dynasty!"

Some rejoiced and praised, while others were filled with resentment; a sigh pierced through the crowd:

"But look at this scene today, everyone! How disheartening!"

"Yes, this kind of behavior is simply unacceptable to the people of the world."

Upon hearing this, the surroundings fell silent instantly. The joy on everyone's faces vanished, replaced by a deep sense of frustration and resentment.

"Not to mention His Majesty, of all the civil and military officials, only the Crown Prince and the Prime Minister came to the dock to welcome the army!"

"Moreover, I heard that the Crown Prince and the Prime Minister both had a grudge against Old Master Su in court."

"What is His Majesty's intention in sending these two men?"

"Does the vast imperial court of Kyoto lack even the slightest magnanimity to tolerate others and respect soldiers?"

"I've heard that throughout history, it's customary for a general to return in triumph to be personally welcomed by the emperor and congratulated by all the officials! Now, General Su has accomplished unparalleled feats of conquering new territories and destroying kingdoms, yet he receives such a cold reception; it's truly disheartening!"

"There must be some in the court who can't tolerate General Su's illustrious military achievements! It's pitiful that those soldiers who fought across the seas and were buried in foreign lands, risking their lives for their country, only to return to such a cold reception!"

The people grew increasingly indignant as they spoke, their words filled with regret and indignation.

They didn't understand the power struggles in the imperial court; they only knew that whoever protected the land and people of Daqian was a hero worthy of respect.

The court's callous actions have chilled the hearts of countless people.

Just as the crowd was in an uproar, a series of steady hoofbeats came from the end of the long street at the dock.

The clatter of hooves broke through the air as the horses arrived with great momentum.

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw General Xu Cheng.

He was dressed in gleaming silver armor, with a long sword at his waist. He sat upright on a tall horse, exuding an awe-inspiring presence.

Today, he was fully dressed in military uniform, meticulous in every detail, followed by his children and a large retinue of servants. The ranks were orderly and the manners impeccable, as if the whole family had come to the dock to welcome the Eastern Expeditionary Army.

The horse's hooves came to a slow stop below the high platform of the dock. Xu Cheng raised his eyes, his gaze first sweeping over Crown Prince Xiao Yunfeng and Prime Minister Li Yuan on the platform.

Their eyes met, and Xu Cheng's eyes showed no reverence for the Crown Prince, only undisguised coldness and disdain. A mocking smile played on his lips, completely ignoring the Crown Prince's noble status.

This scene startled both the surrounding civilians and the imperial guards.

Everyone knows that the Crown Prince is the heir apparent and the future emperor. Xu Cheng's attitude is tantamount to open disrespect!

On the high platform, Xiao Yunfeng's expression instantly turned cold, and a fierce aura suddenly arose between his brows.

He stared intently at Xu Cheng, who was dismounting and approaching, and spoke in a cold voice, his tone carrying an air of superior authority.

"Xu Cheng! His Majesty has already issued an edict forbidding all civil and military officials from coming to welcome the army without authorization. Are you unaware of this? How dare you openly defy the imperial decree!"

Faced with the Crown Prince's stern questioning, Xu Cheng did not stop. He stepped forward slowly, letting out a cold snort that echoed across the dock, full of confidence and without the slightest fear.

"Your Highness, I cannot comply!"

Xu Cheng's voice was loud and clear, each word ringing out, and it carried far and wide.

"General Su and thousands of soldiers on the Eastern Expedition sacrificed their lives, crossing the sea to quell the pirates, expand our territory, protect our great land, and safeguard the peace and stability of our people!"

"Such a great service to the nation, as a military general of the Great Qian Dynasty, I feel deeply uneasy. There is absolutely no reason for me to remain indoors and stand idly by! I dare not agree to Your Majesty's decree!"

After saying this, he no longer looked at Xiao Yunfeng, whose face was ashen, and ignored Li Yuan, who stood calmly to the side, observing the situation. He turned around and stood at the front of the dock, his eyes fixed on the river, quietly waiting for Su Mu's army to return.

At this moment, the surrounding people raised their arms and shouted in agreement with Xu Cheng's words.

"General Xu is right, His Majesty has been unfair to General Su."

"Indeed, are all the officials worried that General Su's achievements will overshadow the emperor?"

"General Su was loyal and devoted to the country and its people, yet he was so distrusted. It's truly disheartening."

"Yes, if you don't welcome them, we, the people, will welcome them ourselves."

As he spoke, the surrounding crowd cheered and jumped for joy, their voices deafening.

Looking at Xu Cheng's resolute and aloof back, and at the silver surrounding him, Xiao Yunfeng felt a surge of anger in his chest, but he had no way to vent it. He could only suppress his anger in secret, and the shadow in his eyes grew heavier.

He muttered to himself, "What do you lowly commoners know about matters of state?"

"Wait until I ascend the throne, then you'll all be in for a beating."

However, he did not refute those people.

He had already decided in his heart that his father's cold treatment of Su Mu and all the criticism inside and outside the court were all necessary steps for him to implement the system of checks and balances. Xu Cheng's open defiance was undoubtedly a sign that he was on Su Mu's side and making an enemy of him.

Just as undercurrents of confrontation were swirling in the imperial court, a deafening cheer suddenly erupted from the riverbank.

"They're here! They're here! The army is back!"

"Look at the river! Our Great Qian's warships have returned! Our heroes have returned in triumph!"