The God of War Who Protects the Nation: Starting with Saving a Mother and Daughter in Distress

Upon hearing Qin An's question, Han Anjiao sighed and pulled a scroll of secret reports from the bookshelf.

"It's not just turmoil; Ligang Village in the Central Plains, the remnants of the previous dynasty in the south, and the major aristocratic families are also restless, causing more and more trouble."

"The various forces dispatched by the imperial court have either suffered heavy losses or retreated in fear, and His Majesty has already lost his temper several times."

He paused, then looked sharply at Qin An: "In my opinion, it won't be long before His Majesty puts General Zhang in command again. You are the vanguard, so you need to prepare in advance. The day when weapons are stored away is probably not far off."

Qin An's fingers tightened slightly as he held the teacup. Although he had expected it, hearing Han Anjiao say it himself still made him feel a heavier burden on his shoulders.

"General, in your opinion, where will we be sent?" Qin An asked, his tone somewhat grave.

He knew that Han Anjiao had cultivated his influence in the court for many years and was far more well-informed than him.

Han Anjiao walked to the window, looked at the sky outside the wall, and said in a deep voice, "It's most likely Li Gang Village."

"Ligangzhai?" Qin An frowned. He had heard of the name before, but didn't know much about it.

"Those aren't ordinary rebels." Han Anjiao turned around, took a thin booklet from a drawer, and handed it over. "Take a look for yourself. This is intelligence I had collected."

Qin An took the booklet, opened it, and his pupils suddenly contracted.

The leader, Li Gang, was originally a government official. After joining the outlaws, he overthrew the former chieftain and continuously expanded Li Gang Village.

More importantly, this intelligence indicates that Li Gangzhai truly has many powerful individuals, far surpassing the previous Qishan rebels.

The booklet also listed the battle records of the strongmen of Ligang Village.

Judging from their performance alone, Qin An could tell that many of them were stronger than him.

"How is it? Do you find it difficult?" Han Anjiao asked, seeing his serious expression.

Qin An closed the booklet, and indeed felt the pressure in his heart.

Although his strength increased significantly after annihilating the Qishan rebels.

But Qin An knew in his heart that he had only surpassed the limits of ordinary people, and that there was no shortage of freaks and monsters in this world, and he was far from reaching the top.

I thought I had plenty of time to grow.

But they never expected to run into Li Gang Village, a place teeming with powerful figures, so soon.

Although he felt the pressure, he was also somewhat excited to face such an opponent.

"They're very strong," he admitted frankly. "Many of them are stronger than me. The rebels of Ligang Village are indeed difficult to deal with."

"They're more than just difficult to deal with." Han Anjiao snorted. "Li Gangzhai now has 100,000 soldiers, ample food supplies, and enjoys the support of the local people. Of course, some people say they rely on coercion and bribery."

"What's even more frightening is that their military discipline is extremely strict, far superior to those rabble."

He walked over to Qin An and patted him on the shoulder: "You're brave in battle, which is a good thing, but it's easy to underestimate the enemy. Li Gang Village is not comparable to the Qi Shan rebels. When you get there, you have to be careful at every step. Remember, preserving your life is the most important thing, don't act rashly."

Han Anjiao now truly regards Qin An as his own junior.

He was genuinely a little worried that Qin An, being young and impetuous, might only focus on displaying his bravery, which could easily lead to an accident.

He didn't want Qin An, with his unlimited potential, to perish on the battlefield.

Qin An naturally understood his good intentions and nodded: "Uncle, don't worry, I know my place and won't act rashly."

Hearing him say that, Han Anjiao felt a little relieved.

Over time, he naturally realized that although Qin An appeared rough and tough on the surface, he was actually very sensitive inside.

The instructions I just gave were simply to add an extra layer of insurance.

Since Qin An already knew the answer, he didn't dwell on the topic. Instead, he shared all his years of military experience with Qin An.

Qin An listened very attentively throughout the process.

Han Anjiao's words were all to the point, and they were golden words of wisdom gained from decades of battlefield experience.

He felt grateful, but he also sensed something was amiss.

Han Anjiao's tone was too eager, as if he wanted to impart all the knowledge he had ever learned in his life.

"General, you..." Qin An couldn't help but ask, "Aren't you coming with us to the campaign?"

Han Anjiao paused for a moment, then gave a wry smile: "I'm too old, I can't walk anymore."

He pointed to his leg, "It's an old wound from the battlefield a few years ago. It hurts terribly on rainy days. I used to just tough it out, but now I don't have to."

He looked at Qin An, his eyes full of expectation.

"I will stay in the capital to keep an eye on the court. If there is any disturbance, I will immediately send someone to inform you. You can fight with peace of mind at the front, I will take care of things at home."

Clearly, the Han family had not produced any outstanding descendants in the military before, and Han Anjiao had been stubbornly holding on in order not to disgrace his ancestors' glory.

Now, he has placed his hopes on Qin An.

With Qin An representing the Han family and overseeing the army, he could rest assured.

This clearly shows that the fate of the entire Han family has been entrusted to him.

Hearing these words, Qin An's heart warmed: "I will never forget the old general's kindness!"

Han Anjiao gripped Qin An's hand, his eyes reddening slightly. "Silly boy, why are you saying all this? You're Qingwan's husband, which means you're practically my son. If I don't help you, who will I help?"

……

Only three days after returning from the Han family, a bright yellow imperial edict was delivered to the military camp.

Zhang Xu held the imperial edict and stood on the platform, reading it aloud.

The gist of the order was that he was ordered to lead an army of 50,000 to attack Ligang Village.

Military orders are absolute, and the barracks immediately sprang into action.

The soldiers cleaned their swords and spears, inspected their armor, and the supply officer counted the provisions.

The cavalrymen led their warhorses to the river to drink and feed them, and everywhere there were clanging and hurried footsteps.

Qin An also became very busy, and even slept in the military camp.

He only managed to find a moment to go home the day before the army was to set off.

When Qin An returned to his residence, it was already dark.

Li Qingwan was sitting under the lamp, mending the lining of his armor by candlelight. When she saw him return, she quickly got up.

"You're back? I had the kitchen make some mutton soup to warm you up."

Qin An took the soup bowl, took a sip, and felt the warmth slide down his throat, but it couldn't dispel the heaviness in his heart.

"Tomorrow... I will be setting off for war."

Li Qingwan paused for a moment, the candlelight reflecting on her face, revealing a fleeting look of disappointment.

"I know." She lowered her head and continued mending, her voice trembling slightly. "I've packed everything for you—the cotton coat, the medicine, it's all in your bundle. When you get there, remember to eat on time and don't stay up all night..."

As she spoke, tears fell, landing on her armor and leaving a small wet patch.

This period was arguably the happiest and most comfortable time of her life.

She was completely immersed in happiness.

Little did I expect that the happy days would be so short-lived.

The thought of Qin An leaving and not knowing when he would return weighed heavily on her heart.

Qin An put down the soup bowl and pulled Li Qingwan into his arms.

Her body was light, yet she possessed a reassuring warmth. "Why are you crying?"

He wiped away her tears with his fingertips, his tone slightly teasing, "It's not like we're going to die. Once I've quelled the rebellion, I'll come back to drink and play chess with you."

Li Qingwan raised her head, her eyes brimming with tears, and looked at him: "Swords and blades have no eyes on the battlefield, you must be careful."

"Don't worry." Qin An lowered his head and kissed her forehead. "Your husband is very resilient."

Looking at Li Qingwan's reddened eyes and trembling eyelashes, sensing her unease and reluctance, he suddenly picked her up and carried her in his arms.

"However, there is one important thing to do before I leave."

"What is it?" Li Qingwan was startled by his sudden action and instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck.

Qin An smiled and carried her to the bed, leaning close to her ear, his voice low and ambiguous: "Naturally... so that you can satisfy me, so that I won't miss you while I'm in the army."

Li Qingwan's face flushed instantly, but she didn't push him away.

Although she knew Qin An was powerful, who could predict what would happen on the battlefield?

She took the initiative to raise her head and kiss Qin An's lips, with a hint of eagerness and reluctance.

"My lord..." She unbuttoned her clothes, revealing her snow-white skin, and a flame ignited in the tenderness in her eyes, "Tonight... I will do whatever you say."

Qin An's heart was instantly ignited.

He removed their clothes and, in the flickering candlelight, felt the soft, warm body in his arms.

Li Qingwan's usual shyness and reserve transformed into tender affection at this moment. She actively responded, as if she wanted to give him her whole self.

The moonlight outside the window shone on the intertwined figures, creating a hazy and enchanting scene.

Qin An could clearly feel her passion, a complex mix of worry, reluctance, and love, with an added touch of reckless madness than usual.

No matter how hard Li Qingwan tried, her frail body made her no match for Qin An.

Fortunately, she had a solution. Panting, she looked towards the door and said, "Jin Ping... come in for a moment!"

Qin An was taken aback for a moment, then understood what she meant.

He was somewhat moved; this woman was always so sensible, even at times like this, she was so considerate.

When Jin Ping entered, she looked somewhat shy, but still went forward as instructed.

After all, she was aware of her own identity and was mentally prepared for this.

Looking at the two completely different people in front of him, Qin An couldn't help but carefully observe and compare them.

Jin Ping's allure is captivating; every smile and frown is seductive, like a blooming poppy, making her a true beauty.

Li Qingwan's beauty is gentle and elegant, like a magnolia under the moonlight. It seems aloof, but it has a refreshing fragrance that is even more captivating than Jin Ping.

That night, Qin An completely let himself go.

He succumbed to the allure of love, transforming his anxieties and sorrows before parting into a passionate and unwavering entanglement.

As dawn broke, he held the sleeping Li Qingwan in his arms, feeling a sense of peace.

With such concerns, he was even more determined to come back alive.