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

Now that the war had come to an end, Qin An stopped thinking about it altogether.

He devoted himself entirely to training the cavalry.

That day, while he was training at the drill ground, Zhang Xu's order came, ordering him to immediately go to the central command tent for a meeting.

The atmosphere inside the large tent was solemn.

Once everyone had arrived, Zhang Xu cut to the chase: "His Majesty has decided to come in person to accept the surrender. My troops are ordered to go and receive him. You must immediately organize your forces and follow me."

Everyone was taken aback and exclaimed, "His Majesty is coming in person?"

Qin An was also a little surprised.

Although it was known beforehand that the emperor had personally led the expedition and was overseeing it from the rear.

But no one expected that the other party would actually come to the front line in person.

To everyone's surprise, Zhang Xu was no different.

He was also inwardly complaining.

But like everyone else, what could he do?

Without even considering how to explain, he directly issued the order: "His Majesty is now almost at the rear of the battlefield, not far from here. We must hurry over and provide him with proper protection."

"This subordinate obeys!"

No one dared to delay, so they immediately turned around and left, gathering their men to prepare for departure.

The army quickly withdrew from Hanbei City and sped towards the direction where the emperor was.

Along the way, other troops continued to join, and the force grew larger and larger.

Three days later, the army arrived at the designated location and joined up with the other troops escorting the emperor.

It must be said that the emperor's status was indeed immense.

With just one piece of news, more than 100,000 troops were mobilized.

Ironically, while the main army had already arrived, the emperor's side was still leisurely and slowly making its way forward.

Three days later, the sounds of gongs, drums, and ceremonial processions finally arrived, and the emperor's carriage was late in coming.

Qin An followed the army in a procession to welcome them. He saw that the banners in front of him covered the sun and the ceremonial guards stretched for dozens of miles.

The golden dragon flag fluttered in the wind, symbolizing supreme imperial power.

The emperor's dragon carriage, pulled by eight fine horses, slowly approached.

The imperial carriage was ornately decorated and surrounded by imperial guards, all of whom were tall and well-armored.

Soldiers and civilians along the way knelt down to pay their respects and shouted "Long live the Emperor!" The scene was extremely spectacular.

Qin An knelt on the ground, his heart filled with countless emotions.

This is the pomp and circumstance of an emperor, majestic and extravagant.

He recalled the hardships he had endured along the way, and looking at the scene before him, he couldn't help but sigh at the power of authority.

Such a scene made him want to express some sentiments.

Fortunately, he remained relatively rational and knew that caution was paramount, especially in situations like this.

He silently swallowed the words that were about to come out and contentedly remained a nobody.

They followed the army all the way, protecting the emperor's carriage as they marched toward Hansan Fortress, the capital of Baekje.

……

The outline of Hanshan City became clearer in the field of vision. Although the city walls of this Baiji capital were not as majestic as those of Daxing capital, they still exuded a sense of antiquity and solemnity.

But now, the banners that once fluttered on the city walls are gone, replaced by a desolate silence, as if silently telling the story of the kingdom's demise.

The army halted ten miles outside the city. Zhang Xu ordered the troops to straighten out and form ranks. Qin An led the cavalry on the flanks, their armor gleaming coldly in the sunlight. Ahead, the royal family of Baiji, along with their civil and military officials, were already waiting. The dark mass of them knelt on the ground, resembling ears of grain scattered in a field after the autumn harvest—humble and submissive.

The emperor's carriage, escorted by the imperial guards, moved slowly forward until it stopped a hundred paces away from Bai Ji and his entourage.

A rider rushed out from beside the imperial carriage.

Upon seeing the person, Qin An in the crowd was somewhat surprised, because it was none other than Yuwen Rong.

We had met in Pingxiang City before, but had no further contact after that.

Unexpectedly, I saw him again in such a setting.

However, Qin An quickly came to terms with it.

Luo Kai had previously mentioned that Yuwen Rong was greatly favored by the emperor and often accompanied him.

His appearance at this time is not surprising.

After Yuwen Rong entered the fray, he rushed to the front and shouted, "His Majesty commands: King Baiji, step forward to receive the decree!"

The King of Baekje, who was kneeling at the front, trembled and quickly crawled forward on his knees.

Although his royal robes were still magnificent, they were wrinkled and stained, his hair was disheveled, and his face was covered with tears and fear.

Reaching a few steps before the imperial carriage, he kowtowed heavily, his voice trembling with sobs: "This sinful subject, King Buyeo Pung of Baekje, pays his respects to the Emperor of Daehung! Long live Your Majesty! Long live Your Majesty! Long live Your Majesty!"

This kowtow seemed to have exhausted all his strength; his forehead pressed against the cold ground, and he dared not lift it for a long time.

The curtains of the imperial carriage were gently lifted by a palace attendant, revealing the emperor's seated figure.

The emperor was dressed in a black dragon robe and wore a twelve-tassel crown. Although his face was not clearly visible, he exuded an aura of majesty.

He was silent for a moment, then spoke in a low but clear voice that carried far and wide: "Fuyu Feng, do you know your crime?"

Buyeo Pung trembled and kowtowed again: "This sinful subject knows his crime! This sinful subject was short-sighted, muddle-headed, and incompetent, misled by slander, and dared to be an enemy of Daehyeong, causing the people of both countries to suffer. He deserves to die a thousand deaths! I beg Your Majesty to have mercy and spare the people of Baekje!"

The Baekje officials behind him also kowtowed, shouting in unison, "Your Majesty, please have mercy! We are willing to surrender!"

The voices rose and fell, filled with deep fear and pleas.

It seems they have been terrified by Daxing and genuinely want to submit and pay tribute.

Their performance instantly pleased the emperor, who burst into laughter.

Clearly, the humble behavior of the Bai people greatly satisfied the emperor's vanity.

Qin An stood amidst the cavalry, observing the scene with cold indifference.

He had witnessed the ferocity of Baekje soldiers on the battlefield, and he had also seen the hatred that ordinary people held for Daehung.

He didn't believe that these Baiji people were truly terrified of Daxing.

They probably just saw through the Emperor of Daxing's ambition and were just putting on a show.

However, the emperor seemed quite satisfied with Fuyu Feng's attitude, and his tone softened slightly: "Since you have admitted your guilt, and I am not a bloodthirsty person, since you are willing to submit and pay tribute, I will spare your lives!"

He abruptly changed his tone, his voice suddenly turning stern, "If there are any further disturbances in the future, don't blame me for not showing mercy today!"

Fu Yufeng, appearing meek and submissive, kowtowed repeatedly: "This sinful subject dares not! This sinful subject and his descendants will certainly be loyal to Da Xing and never betray him! We are willing to pay tribute every year and come to court every year to show our submission!"

Having said that, he took a prepared surrender document from the eunuch beside him and raised it high with both hands.

Yuwen Rong stepped forward, took the document, and presented it to the emperor in the imperial carriage.

The emperor took the surrender document, glanced at it briefly, and then handed it to the minister beside him.

He looked down at the kneeling Baekje people and declared loudly, "I approve your surrender! From this day forward, Baekje will be a vassal state of Daehung! By my decree, the army will withdraw soon!"

Although he had known this would be the outcome, Qin An was still disappointed to hear the emperor's imperial order to withdraw the troops.

Daxing's three eastern expeditions cost countless lives and resources, yet this was the only result he achieved.

It would be better not to fight at all.

But Qin An also knew that no matter what he thought, it would be useless and he couldn't change anything.

……

The surrender ceremony at Hansan City came to a close, and the land that was once filled with bloodshed and smoke seemed to have been forcibly put on pause at this moment.

The emperor was not in a hurry to return, and comfortably enjoyed the warm hospitality and flattery from the Baiji royal family and civil and military officials.

Bai Ji had clearly figured out the Da Xing Emperor's personality completely.

They held small banquets every three days and large banquets every five days, behaving with utmost deference.

Everyone was already immersed in the revelry.

But Qin An didn't like this feeling.

The fact that a major war that swept across two countries ended in such a "dignified" manner always made him feel like he had punched cotton, leaving him feeling suffocated.

In his view, the obsequiousness of the Baekje royal family and the emperor's "benevolent" pardon were nothing more than a temporary truce.

After another banquet, Qin An returned to camp and stared blankly in the direction of the emperor's palace.

"Commander, what are you thinking about?" Luo Sheng came to his side and followed his gaze toward the palace. "His Majesty has been in a good mood these past few days. I heard that he has issued an edict to have the Ministry of Rites draft an alliance treaty. From now on, Baiji will have to pay 100,000 shi of grain to our Daxing every year, as well as a lot of gold and silver jewelry."

Qin An withdrew his gaze and said calmly, "Ten thousand shi of grain and a few treasures, and you buy so-called 'submission'? Commander Luo, do you believe that?"

Luo Sheng paused for a moment, then smiled bitterly: "What difference does it make whether we believe it or not? This is His Majesty's decree. Besides, we've been fighting for so long, the brothers should take a break, and the national treasury is probably about to collapse."

Qin An remained silent.

He knew that Luo Sheng was telling the truth.

Daxing has been engaged in continuous warfare and massive construction projects across the country, which has already depleted the country's resources.

Furthermore, given the current turmoil within the country, the emperor's decision to accept surrender may have been driven by unavoidable circumstances.

But his inherent ruthlessness made him unable to accept this kind of "compromise".

The Bai people fear power but not morality. Today's tolerance will only make them feel that Daxing is outwardly strong but inwardly weak.

A few days later, the emperor held a grand banquet at the palace of King Baekje to entertain the civil and military officials who accompanied him and some of the surrendered officials of Baekje.

Qin An was naturally not qualified to attend; he was merely a guard stationed outside.

At the banquet, amidst the clinking of glasses and the revelry of singing and dancing, the surrendered officials of Baiji did their utmost to flatter the emperor, making him extremely pleased.

Qin An stood in the corner, looking at the false prosperity before him, and felt only irony.

He saw King Buyeo Phong of Baekje holding a wine cup, carefully offering a toast to the emperor, his face plastered with the same obsequious smile as when he accepted the surrender that day.

The emperor, surrounded by a throng of admirers, basked in the long-awaited vanity of "all nations paying tribute."

Qin An inwardly scoffed at this, but outwardly remained calm.

People have self-knowledge.

He knew perfectly well that no matter what ideas he had, it would be of no use.

I am just a mere centurion; I have no say in such an important matter.

Just do your job well.

……

More than ten days later, the emperor's entourage prepared to set off back to Daxing.

Before departing, he ordered the army to withdraw in batches.

Qin An and his army were included in the last batch of retreating troops.

On the day the army set off, the people of Hanshan City lined the streets to see them off, but their eyes held more fear than gratitude. When Zhang Xu's army withdrew, Qin An led his cavalry at the head of the column, looking at the low houses on both sides of the road, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

He fought here for nearly a year, from Pingxiang City to Hanshan City, and every inch of the land under his feet was soaked with the blood of his brothers.

In the end, however, they still had to leave, returning this land, which they had won with their lives, to their former enemies.

Whenever Qin An thought about this, he felt a little uncomfortable.

Not only him, but also the people below him.

"Damn it, what kind of mess is this!" an old soldier couldn't help but curse. "We risked our lives to conquer this city, and they just handed it over to those ungrateful bastards? All that pain in my arm was for nothing!"

"Exactly! In my opinion, we should wipe out Bai Ji completely and distribute the land to our brothers. That way, our trip won't have been in vain!" another soldier chimed in.

Complaints gradually spread, and a sense of dissatisfaction permeated the ranks.

Qin An reined in his horse, glanced back, and said in a deep voice, "Shut up, all of you! Soldiers are duty-bound to obey orders. His Majesty has made his arrangements; who are you to interfere?"

The soldiers fell silent at his shout, but their resentment was hard to hide.

Qin An certainly harbored resentment.

He knew that complaining was useless and would only undermine morale.

The army marched north at a slow pace.

The route passed through cities that had previously been conquered by Qin An, but which were now back in Bai Ji's hands.

……

As the army slowly withdrew from Baiji and set foot on the land of Daxing, even the air seemed familiar.

Qin An reined in his warhorse and looked back at the land left behind. The outline of Baiji City Wall had long been blurred, but the faces of the brothers who had fallen on the battlefield were clearly visible in his eyes.

He took a deep breath; the smell of blood was gone, replaced by the biting wind characteristic of the North.

"Commander, the border of our Daxing is just ahead!" Han Quan rode up to his side, a hint of relief in his eyes. "We're finally back."

Qin An nodded, his gaze sweeping over the border town of Daxing.

The Daxing Army flag fluttered in the wind atop the city wall, the guards' armor gleamed, and they held long spears, watching the distance warily.

When the army entered the pass, the garrison commander personally came out of the city to greet them, clasped his hands in salute to Zhang Xu, and said, "This humble general greets Commander-in-Chief! His Majesty has decreed that your troops be temporarily stationed on the frontier, awaiting further orders!"

Zhang Xu dismounted, took the imperial edict from the captain, unfolded it, and frowned slightly.

Qin An stood aside. Although he couldn't see the contents of the imperial edict, he saw a complex emotion flash across Zhang Xu's face, a mixture of resentment and helplessness.

"Thank you for your hard work, Captain." Zhang Xu put away the imperial edict and said in a deep voice, "Pass down the order: the entire army shall camp on the west side of the pass, and shall not disturb the civilians or abandon their posts!"

"Yes!" the generals replied in unison.

The busy work of setting up camp lasted for a whole day.

As evening fell, Qin An was taking stock of supplies in his tent when a guard suddenly came to report that Zhang Xu wanted to see him.

A thought struck him, and he straightened his armor and strode toward the central command tent.

Inside the large tent, the lights were on. Zhang Xu was staring intently at a map when Qin An entered. He gestured for him to sit down.

Qin An sat down as instructed and got straight to the point: "Commander, have you summoned me with important instructions?"

Zhang Xu sighed: "His Majesty's decree is that our 10,000 troops must remain on the frontier temporarily as border soldiers."

Qin An was not surprised.

The border line of Daxing is long and requires troops to be stationed there year-round.

They had just withdrawn from Baiji, and their exhausted troops were resting and preparing for defense on the border, which was perfectly reasonable.

"This subordinate understands," Qin An said in a deep voice. "I will certainly discipline my men and ensure they strictly adhere to military discipline."

"It's good that you understand." Zhang Xu looked at him, a sharp glint in his eyes. "But do you know why it was specifically our unit that was left behind?"