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

As dawn broke, Qin An got up.

Li Qingwan was still fast asleep, her face flushed with a tired yet contented blush.

He carefully tucked the blanket around her, took one last look at the familiar room, and turned to leave.

Li Jing was already dressed and waiting in the courtyard. Seeing him come out, he straightened his back and said, "Brother-in-law, all ready!"

Qin An nodded, led him out of the mansion, and headed straight for the military camp.

As soon as they arrived at the camp gate, they saw Han Anjiao standing in the cold wind, waiting for them, accompanied by twenty elite guards.

Each of them was dressed in black, with a long sword at their waist, and their eyes were as sharp as an eagle's.

"Uncle, what brings you here?" Qin An hurriedly stepped forward.

Han Anjiao didn't speak, but gestured to the guards behind him to bring over a long wooden box.

The box was opened, revealing a suit of shimmering armor, its plates as fine as fish scales, gleaming with a cold light in the morning sun.

"This is the fish scale armor I used when I was young. It's very tough, and wearing it will give you an extra layer of protection."

He then pointed to the twenty guards: "These are all assassins raised by the Han family. Each one is worth ten men and is skilled in scouting and assassination. From now on, they will be under your command and serve as your personal guards."

Looking at the armor and the elite guards, Qin An felt a surge of shock.

Fish scales are priceless treasures.

Although he has now become a general of the imperial court and is equipped with excellent armor, it is just ordinary stuff.

Having this fish scale armor is like having several extra lives on the battlefield.

The twenty assassins were the foundation of the Han family, and this gift was so heavy that he could hardly breathe.

"Uncle, this is too precious, I can't accept it!"

"Just accept it!" Han Anjiao said sternly. "Do you think I'm just giving it away for nothing?"

He leaned closer to Qin An, lowering his voice, "Qingwan is in the capital, I'll take care of her for you. You're at the front, so you have to come back alive. In the future... we'll still need you to support the Han family!"

Seeing the expectation and trust in his eyes, Qin An finally nodded and didn't say anything more.

But he was determined to help the Han family in the future, based on Han Anjiao's kindness.

Han Anjiao patted him on the shoulder: "Go ahead. If you achieve a great victory, I'll celebrate for you in the capital."

Qin An put on the fish scale armor and immediately felt a coolness envelop his whole body. It looked heavy, but it did not restrict his movements at all.

He kept Han Anjiao's instructions in his heart.

Before long, the entire army was ready, and bugles sounded throughout the camp.

Zhang Xu, dressed in full military attire, stood on the command platform, drew his long sword, and pointed it south: "Soldiers! The rebels of Ligang Village have wreaked havoc and harmed the people. Today, we are ordered to march out and will surely quell their rebellion and uphold our national prestige!"

"Suppress the rebels! Uphold our national prestige!" Fifty thousand soldiers shouted in unison, their voices soaring into the sky.

"Qin An!" Zhang Xu shouted.

"Your subordinate is here!" Qin An urged his horse forward.

"I hereby appoint you as the vanguard, leading five thousand cavalrymen to clear roads through mountains and build bridges over rivers!"

"Your subordinate obeys!" Qin An raised his halberd, pointing it forward. "My men, follow me!"

"Giddy up!" Five thousand cavalrymen shouted in unison, their hooves thundering like a rumble of thunder, raising clouds of dust.

Qin An took the lead, his black cloak fluttering in the wind, his fish-scale armor reflecting the morning sun, like an unstoppable torrent rushing southward.

After Qin An and his men set off first, the 50,000-strong army also slowly began to move.

Banners fluttered, swords and spears stood like a forest, and the vast, untamed procession stretched as far as the eye could see.

……

Just as Qin An was rushing to the battlefield again.

A huge commotion was also heard in Xingye County.

The sun had just climbed to its zenith, and the bluestone pavement in front of the Qin Mansion was scorching hot.

A few peddlers carrying loads had just stopped to rest at a street corner when they saw a cloud of dust rise in the distance. Three fast horses galloped across the stone road, their hooves clattering loudly, making people uneasy.

"Whose men are these? How dare they run around in front of the Qin residence?" An old man selling sugar paintings straightened up and squinted at them.

An old woman selling miscellaneous goods nearby chimed in, "Judging from this, it seems to be a messenger from the government. Has something happened to the Qin family?"

Their faces were full of curiosity.

They were all aware of the situation at the Qin residence.

The man who joined the army worked hard and achieved a high status in the military, becoming a well-known figure in Xingye County.

The women who remained, Madam Qin and her daughter Yang Yuyan, were also prudent individuals.

They never leave their homes.

This made the Qin family virtually invisible in Xingye County.

Seeing such a commotion, it naturally aroused everyone's curiosity.

As everyone was talking, three horses stopped in front of the vermilion gate of the Qin residence.

The lead messenger dismounted, his black clothes soaked with sweat, but he still stood tall and knocked on the door of the Qin residence.

He bowed to the maid who opened the door and said, "Please inform her that it is a letter from the capital. General Qin specifically requested that Madam Qin open it personally and that it be delivered to her by her own hand."

Seeing the gilded waist tag hanging from his waist, the maid dared not be negligent and quickly replied, "Please wait a moment, sir, I will go and fetch the madam."

The door wasn't even fully closed when a crowd had already gathered around it.

The vegetable-selling peasant women, the shopkeeper doing the accounting, and the women sewing shoe soles all gathered around, chattering away.

"A letter from the capital? Has Commandant Qin run into trouble in the capital?"

"Don't talk nonsense. Judging from the messenger's appearance, he seems to be bringing good news."

"Didn't you hear him? He was talking about General Qin, right? Could it be that he really has been promoted?"

"General Qin? I remember he was just a captain last year, it hasn't been that long..."

"..."

The title "General Qin" immediately sparked heated discussions.

Most people wouldn't be able to tell the difference between these two names.

But some insightful people realized it immediately.

Before this, Qin An was a captain, which was a certain status. Ignorant people might call him a general.

But truly discerning people know that one must at least reach the rank of adjutant to be called a general.

Hearing the messenger address Qin An in such a way immediately sparked much speculation.

The messenger, hearing the discussion, simply stood with his arms crossed, saying nothing more.

Just then, the soft tinkling of jade pendants came from behind the moon gate, and Yang Yuyan, dressed in a plain-colored ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), walked out leading her two twelve-year-old daughters.

Behind her, Cai Yan and Cai Zhen wore the same light green dress and had their hair styled in double buns. Their eyebrows and eyes looked just like Yang Yuyan's.

Cai Yan smiled, while Cai Zhen's eyes held a shrewd glint.

"Sir, do you have a letter from the capital?" Yang Yuyan asked gently, her gaze falling on the brocade box in the messenger's hand.

Before the messenger could even speak, the surrounding crowd erupted in uproar:

"Madam Qin, quickly ask if Captain Qin has been promoted?"

"Yes, madam, this messenger looks so cheerful!"

"He just addressed your man as General Qin. Has Lord Qin distinguished himself on the battlefield again?"

The surrounding crowd was very curious and urged each other to find out what was going on.

Unable to contain herself, Cai Zhen looked up and asked, "Sir, has my father become a general?"

Upon hearing Yang Yuyan and her daughter address him as "official," the messenger repeatedly waved his hands, saying, "I am unworthy of being addressed as Madam and Miss!"

Seeing Cai Zhen's curiosity, Yang Yuyan did not stop her. He stepped forward and handed her the brocade box with both hands.

"Congratulations, Lady Qin! General Qin has rendered meritorious service in suppressing the rebellion, and His Majesty is greatly pleased. He has been granted the title of General Fenwei and bestowed with the rank of Baron Fengyi!"

"This is a letter from the general, as well as gifts sent by General Qin on his orders. Please take a look, Madam!"

Knowing that this was a matter of bringing glory to the family, the messenger had nothing to hide and raised his voice several decibels.

"A general?! He really became a general?"

"General Fenwei? What kind of official is that? It sounds impressive."

"General Qin is only twenty years old, right? At that age, he's the youngest in Xingye County!"

"Bongyi Baron! That's a noble title! The Qin family is about to bring glory to their ancestors!"

The uproar nearly lifted the lintel of the Qin residence.

The old man selling sugar paintings clicked his tongue and said, "I knew Commander Qin was no ordinary man. When he first arrived in Xingye County, I could see he walked with a swagger..."

Clearly, Qin An's becoming a general brought great shock to everyone.

Not to mention, Qin An was not old, and he was even granted a noble title, which made everyone feel a sense of awe from the bottom of their hearts.

"Father really became a general? That's wonderful! I knew it! Father is indeed the most powerful!" Cai Zhen exclaimed with joy.

Although Yang Yuyan and Cai Yan didn't say much, smiles unconsciously appeared on their faces.

Just as everyone was discussing and making a great fuss, the sound of gongs came from afar.

As mentioned before, this Qin residence is not far from the county government office.

Magistrate He, who was also keen to befriend Qin An and had always paid close attention to this area, rushed over immediately.

While still on the way, they overheard people discussing Qin An becoming a general and being granted a title. They immediately urged their constables to hurry over.

The voice came before the magistrate of He County even arrived.

"Madam Qin, congratulations! General Qin's promotion is a great joy for Xingye County!"

Magistrate He acted very kindly, even to the point of being a little obsequious.

When Qin An became a captain, he was already on equal footing with him.

At that time, he was determined to befriend Qin An, and even went so far as to give him a mansion.

Even the magistrate of Kehe County had not expected Qin An to be promoted so quickly.

He has not only become a general in name and fact, but also has a noble title. He has a very promising future!

Such a being must be appeased relentlessly.

He made up his mind that from now on, he must make the yamen runners patrol the area around the Qin residence more diligently.

There can be absolutely no mistakes.

Yang Yuyan quickly returned the greeting: "Lord He, you are too kind. It is nothing, how could I trouble you?"

Knowing it was a letter from Qin An, she had no time to pay attention to anything else and focused her gaze on the brocade box handed to her by the messenger.

When Yang Yuyan accepted the brocade box, the surrounding gazes were filled with envy and awe.

Everyone knew that with Qin An backing them up, from now on, this mother and her two daughters would be the most untouchable women in the entire Xingye County!