Chapter 00097: General Nian Rebels
# General Nian Rebels
Chapter 97
Novel: After the Immortals Disappeared
Chapter 97: General Nian Rebels
In recent years, the Great Falcon Kingdom had undergone reforms, but the changes had been inconsistent, leaving the official system somewhat chaotic.
However, the position of Governor-General remained the highest local authority, responsible for both military and civilian affairs, requiring a firm hand in both areas.
If the Governor of Jinzhou were to see his former subordinate now, he would surely be consumed by envy and jealousy.
He Lingchuan never expected that his father, who had been in obscurity for so long, would suddenly rise to such prominence.
The leap was enormous.
Crushing the rebel forces and seizing the Great Square Pot, as well as thwarting the official army's plans, was a significant achievement.
Killing Sun Fuping was another major feat.
The position of State Preceptor had always been held by those most loyal to the monarch and possessing the most formidable abilities, capable of even influencing the nation's fate.
Thus, Sun Fuping's betrayal was a heavy blow to the Falcon Kingdom, directly shaking both military and civilian morale.
Moreover, who knew how many earth-shattering secrets he held? Just leaking one or two could send shockwaves across the land.
Around power and rule, how many unspeakable dark deeds were there? With the rich imagination of the common folk, dozens of dramatic tales could be spun, each more sensational than the last.
With Sun Fuping dead, the monarch could finally sleep more soundly at night, relieved of a great burden.
He Chunhua saw things clearly, which was why he had to fight for these two achievements.
"We're still far from the heavens, but this is a significant step forward!" Though he spoke lightly, the flush on his face betrayed his true excitement.
"Xiazhou may not be wealthy, but its strategic location is crucial, much closer to the capital than Jinzhou or Qiansong Prefecture."
The closer to the heartland, the more attention one received.
Places like Qiansong Prefecture, where they had been stationed, were remote borderlands, known for their harsh winters, scorching summers, and barren lands—hardly a place for the truly noble.
It was precisely because of these poor conditions that the emperor had exiled criminals here for hard labor, like He Chunhua in his earlier years.
He Lingchuan congratulated his father.
No matter what, Xiazhou's location was undoubtedly better than Jinzhou's, or else his father wouldn't be grinning from ear to ear.
Moreover, the Governor-General wielded immense local power, almost to the point of absolute authority.
The tree behind them had grown thicker and stronger, making their reliance on it even more comfortable and satisfying.
Very good indeed.
"Also, Nian Zanli has rebelled," He Chunhua's smile faded slightly.
"He has risen in Xunzhou, responding to the Grand Marshal."
He Lingchuan raised an eyebrow, glancing at He Yue.
See? I told you so.
He Yue, however, said, "No wonder the court urgently appointed you as Governor-General of Xiazhou. They want you to quickly head to the front lines."
"The previous Governor-General of Xiazhou passed away three months ago, and with the court preoccupied with war, the position remained vacant," He Chunhua nodded.
"You're right. The court recognizes my achievements in suppressing bandits, repelling foreign enemies, and promoting agriculture and trade. They want me to head north to quell Nian Zanli's rebellion."
He rubbed his hands excitedly.
"Finally, I can leave Heishui City and legitimately make my mark!"
In times of peace, it's hard to achieve great deeds, but in times of chaos, heroes emerge.
He had long harbored grand ambitions but had been confined to the remote Qiansong Prefecture.
Leaving one's post without permission was a serious crime, but now, with the court's decree, he could finally enter the heartland and realize his aspirations.
How many years had he waited for such an unparalleled opportunity!
He Lingchuan asked curiously, "If you're heading north to repel the enemy, you'll need troops. You've just taken office—are the local soldiers in Xiazhou reliable?"
Without knowing their background, it's hard to tell if they're good or bad.
"Naturally, the core will be drawn from Heishui City. I'll establish my own team first."
"But isn't the Heishui City army supposed to guard the borders? If they're transferred..."
"Currently, our relations with the western countries are stable, and the sandstorm season won't end anytime soon. With the Panlong Desert as a natural barrier, we won't face border threats for at least the next three to four months. This is also part of the court's calculations," He Chunhua smiled.
"We'll lead the troops north first, and the city affairs will be temporarily handled by the Deputy Prefect. As for the city army, he'll recruit new soldiers to fill the gaps. No need for us to worry."
He paused, looking at his two sons.
"The war is urgent. I need to select people to head north. You two should prepare; we'll set off in three days."
Madam Ying smiled.
"Tomorrow evening, we'll host a banquet. Yue'er, you help write the invitations, and they need to be sent out by tomorrow morning. Lingchuan, you'll help deliver them."
Both sons agreed.
He Lingchuan had already finished two large bowls of lamb noodle soup and a plate of scallion and meat dumplings.
He wiped his mouth and followed He Yue out of the side hall.
Behind them, laughter and chatter filled the air.
It had been a long time since the He couple had been so cheerful.
After walking a distance, He Yue finally let out a long sigh.
"As expected, news of us killing Nian Songyu had just reached the capital when Nian Zanli rebelled."
He Lingchuan chuckled.
"Don't take the blame on yourself. If Nian Zanli hadn't intended to rebel, why would he send Nian Songyu to retrieve the Great Square Pot? Father just... gave him a push."
"He has a vendetta against us for killing his son. Soon, we'll face him on the battlefield, and it will be a fierce confrontation."
He Lingchuan asked, "How much do you know about the northern war situation?"
"After retreating to Wuzhou, the Grand Marshal won two consecutive battles, boosting morale. But twelve days ago, he was defeated by Wei Ao, losing a general. As for the Governor of Xunzhou, we only know he strongly supports the Grand Marshal. Sigh, we're too far away; the intelligence is no longer fresh."
He Lingchuan smiled.
"This time, you'll get to see the north firsthand."
"Sooner or later, this day would come. I'm ready," He Yue looked at his brother.
"What about you?"
"Me?" He Lingchuan shrugged carelessly.
"What do I need to prepare for?"
"Brother, you've trained in martial arts for years. Don't you want to pursue a military career?" He Yue said softly.
"With military achievements, you can rise through the ranks. Look at the influential figures on the Great Falcon's map—each has illustrious military exploits."
A military career? He Lingchuan was momentarily lost.
The original owner of this body had been somewhat clueless about such matters, with no clear plans.
But now that the He family was moving into the heartland of the Great Falcon, no longer content with a remote corner, where did his path lie?
Continuing to live as a privileged second-generation wasn't bad, but...
He suddenly recalled last night's dream, a battlefield filled with both passion and fear, hope and despair.
If he were to head to the northern front, he might experience such battles firsthand.
Only this time, it would be real.
"You're right," he said after a moment of silence.
"I'll think about it."
The brothers parted ways, each busy with their own tasks.
He Yue watched his brother's retreating figure, sensing something different about him.
Just a feeling, hard to put into words.
...
Taking advantage of the post-meal break, He Lingchuan had someone fetch a target, which he nailed to the training ground.
He also requested a strong bow, a hand crossbow, and several arrows.
Soon, everything was ready.
He had always treated martial arts as a hobby, largely neglecting ranged combat.
But the journey through the Panlong Desert had made him realize the importance of shoring up his weaknesses.
He picked up the large bow, aimed, and shot.
The original owner of this body had been exceptionally strong since childhood, and with the addition of martial training and true qi, he could draw a six-stone bow.
Of course, for training, a three-stone bow sufficed; using true qi would only damage the target unnecessarily.
*"The Immortal" enters its third round of PK today, lasting a week.
Hoping for good results to roll into the fourth round and beyond.*
*The method is simple: just keep reading; no need to stockpile.*
*By the way, I didn't even notice the second round of PK—how did we suddenly jump to the third?*
(End of Chapter)