When Xiang Ling Tian heard the blessings from his elder brother, his originally calm expression was slightly moved. He could not help but sigh.
" How time flies. I didn't expect us brothers to have been guarding the Fengyun Kingdom for more than twenty years. You two little fellows who couldn't even walk back then have grown up now. It seems like we're getting old…"
"Imperial Uncle, you are now in your prime. As the saying goes, you are in the prime of your life and are the pillar of the country.”
Crown Prince Xiang Gan shook his head repeatedly. He was flattering him. Of course, what he said was the truth. Although he was already forty-five years old, just by looking at his face, he looked like a handsome man who had just turned thirty.
When he heard this, Xiang Ling Tian smiled indifferently and spoke to Xiang Gan like a benevolent elder from an ordinary aristocratic family,""Kid, you are still as glib as you were when you were young. However, your frivolous and arrogant habits have changed a lot. You were like this when you were in Dragon City, right?”
When Xiang Gan heard this, the two sword-like eyebrows on his handsome face slightly trembled, and his eyelids twitched for no reason. He suddenly recalled everything he had experienced in the Silver City three years ago, and he nodded repeatedly.
"Of course, of course. Ever since Imperial Uncle taught me, I have already turned over a new leaf and no longer dare to be arrogant and rude.”
Left Prime Minister Wang Wenjing also smiled and said," Your Highness came to Silver City once three years ago. After returning to Dragon City, it was as if you had changed into a different person. Not only did you restrain your temper, but your state of mind was also much calmer. It seems that your words are better than my ten years of teaching the Crown Prince."”
Wang Wenjing was the Left Prime Minister of the current dynasty. He was born in the Imperial Examination. In the past, he went from the provincial examination to the general examination and then to the court examination. If Shangguan Yunde hadn't appeared in the middle and snatched the top scholar position in the court examination, he could have created a good story of three consecutive hits. This was once regretted by Wang Wenjing.
However, now that Wang Wenjing was the Left Prime Minister, he had a higher official position than the Right Prime Minister, Shangguan Yunde.
Moreover, Wang Wenjing had been appointed as the Crown Prince's tutor by the Emperor ten years ago. As the Crown Prince's teacher, he taught the Crown Prince Xiang Qian literature and etiquette, as well as state affairs. In public, the two were officials and the Crown Prince, but in private, they addressed each other as teacher and disciple.
In his early years, Wang Wenjing felt that his disciple was too arrogant and did not put anyone in his eyes. He had tried many times to educate and improve this problem, but it had never been effective.
Unexpectedly, three years ago, the Crown Prince went to Silver City to celebrate the birthday of King Bingbian. After he returned, he took a break from school in the Eastern Palace for several months.
Wang Wenjing thought that the Crown Prince was becoming more and more unwilling to learn. Just as he was feeling a little worried and dissatisfied, the Crown Prince suddenly came to visit him one day and respectfully invited him back to the Eastern Palace, asking him to impart knowledge.
At first, Wang Wenjing was still a little confused. He didn't know why the Crown Prince had suddenly become so respectful, courteous, humble, and orderly. He thought that the Crown Prince was just worried that he would complain to the Emperor, so he was just putting on an act. He didn't expect that Xiang Gan's 'act' had never changed.
After the trip to the Silver City, Crown Prince Xiang Gan seemed to have changed into a completely different person. Even now, Wang Wenjing still felt that this matter was rather miraculous.
When Xiang Ling Tian heard this, he only smiled without saying a word. On the other hand, Xiang Gan felt bitter in his heart as he thought to himself,""Teacher, oh teacher, you're really bringing up a sore spot.”
However, what Wang Wenjing said was not wrong. What really changed Xiang Gan was not only the heavy injuries he suffered three years ago, but also a sentence from his Imperial Uncle!
He still remembered that his Imperial Uncle was still a hundred meters away from him. Looking at him lying on the ground, covered in blood, his Imperial Uncle did not move anymore. He only stared at him coldly, but it made his hair stand on end. It was as if he was being stared at by an ancient beast. A low and cold voice sounded in his ear.
"Remember, you are a man of the Xiang family, the son of Xiang Lingfeng, and the future ruler of the Fengyun Kingdom. If you do not do well, I will kill you. Your father will not blame me at all and will immediately appoint a new crown prince.”
That sentence caused Xiang Gan's heart, which was originally filled with fear, hatred, and revenge, to suddenly freeze. His blood stiffened and he could barely move. A chill that came from the depths of his heart spread throughout his entire body.
Recalling that feeling back then, even Xiang Gan, who was holding a wine cup, could not help but tremble slightly.
After chatting with Xiang Gan and Xiang Fei 'er about the Emperor's health and the princes' recent situation, Xiang Ling Tian turned to look at the silver-haired old man who had been drinking quietly and had an excellent appetite. He was the current Grand Marshal of the army, Wan Bing!
"Old Marshal Wang, are the South Island and Rizhen countries in the two sea basins in the southeast still stirring up trouble and disrupting the stability of our border?”
The muscular old man who was eating a pork leg in his hand immediately put down the food in his hand and looked at Xiang Lingtian respectfully.
"Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. The southeast is not as intimidating as the Northwest Army. Although the South Island and Rizhen are only two island nations, they often ignore the national prestige of the Fengyun Kingdom and often send pirates and raiders to our southeast border to cause trouble.”
"Although I've already ordered my men to guard the coast, these fellows are extremely cunning and unpredictable. They often disguise themselves as woodcutter fishermen and blend into the coastal areas. It's impossible to guard against them and cause trouble, seriously affecting the stability of the southeast border.”
When Wan Bing mentioned Nandao and Rizhen, his expression was both worried and angry. His expression was extremely ugly.
When Xiang Ling Tian heard this, he hurriedly consoled him." Old Marshal, what are you saying? You've led troops to fight for more than 40 years and have already contributed enough to the country. Now, the raiders and pirates at the southeastern border are causing trouble. It's a hidden danger that has been around for a long time. How can we blame it on you?"
Xiang Lingtian was the most powerful Prince in the current dynasty. He held half of the military power in the entire Fengyun Kingdom. The military power he controlled was even more than the actual military power of the Grand Marshal of the Fengyun Kingdom. However, Xiang Lingtian did not have the slightest arrogance or contempt toward this Old Marshal.
Wan Bing was an elder of two dynasties. He had followed Xiang Mingyuan, the great ancestor of the Fengyun Kingdom, on the battlefield for many years. He had made outstanding contributions. In order to cover the retreat of Xiang Mingyuan, he had personally led his two sons to form a death squad to fight against the enemy.
In the end, the entire army fought until the end. His two sons died in battle, and he was also seriously injured and almost fainted. In order not to be captured by the enemy, Wan Bing raised his sword and was about to commit suicide, but he was saved by the reinforcements.
Just like that, he had lost his two sons forever. However, Wan Bing did not complain at all. He was still loyal to the Fengyun Kingdom and did his best. In his words,'Since my son died on the battlefield, I can't be at ease either. I can die at any time!'
Regardless of whether it was his contributions or the sacrifices he had made for the country, Wan Bing was worthy of his current high position and the respect everyone had for him, including Xiang Ling Tian.
However, after hearing Xiang Ling Tian's consolation, Wan Bing did not have the slightest expression of satisfaction or relief.
He said worriedly," Your Highness, if one does not think far ahead, there will be immediate worries. Now that the worries have appeared, if they are not dealt with in time, they will definitely become a disaster in the future. South Island and Rizhen are the throat of the southeastern sea of Fengyun Kingdom. They are important locations bordering the central part of the continent. They are both commercial routes and military fortresses. If we do not eradicate them, I'm afraid that in the future, when the two countries become powerful, it will not be as simple as harassing our borders.”
"That's why I'm so worried. I feel that I'm useless as the commander of the army. I can't even get rid of this malignant tumor on the territory of the Fengyun Kingdom.”
After hearing the old marshal's heartfelt sigh, the originally joyous atmosphere at the table was swept away, and everyone's expressions unconsciously became gloomy.
Under Xiang Ling Tian's refined face, his eyebrows that were as long as swords were slightly furrowed. At this moment, they were finally knitted together. It was like a lightning bolt that was triggered but not released. Once it was touched, it would shake the world.
After a moment of silence, Xiang Ling Tian said to Old Marshal Wan Bing,""Marshal, give me a year's time to stabilize the situation at the southeast border. After a year, I will ask the emperor to transfer me to the southeast border. At that time, let me deal with this group of Japanese raiders.”
"Ah…!"
Upon hearing Xiang Ling Tian's words, Wan Bing, who had a worried expression on his face, was stunned for a moment before he revealed a pleasantly surprised expression!
"Your Highness, are you really going to the southeast border?”
Not only Wan Bing, but even Wang Wenjing, Xiang Gan, Xiang Fei 'er, Xiang Jinglei, Xiang Jinghong, and the county governors guarding the northwest were shocked.
Xiang Ling Tian was the King of the Northwest. Because of him, there were no riots in the entire northwest. Even at the border of the northwest, no one dared to provoke him.
Therefore, if the King were to leave for the southeastern border, the impact would be huge. It was a matter of national security.
" That's right." Xiang Ling Tian nodded and said in a deep voice," However, I need a year to arrange the military forces in the northwest to prevent any riots while I'm away."”
"Wangye, will this affect the stability of the northwest? "When Wan Bing heard that Xiang Ling Tian was going to the southeast border personally, he was indeed delighted. However, he was still a little worried about the stability of the northwest.
"It doesn't matter. The situation in the northwest has stabilized. Those guys won't dare to mess around when I'm not around, unless they really want to destroy their country. Besides, I estimate that this trip to the southeast will end in half a year.”
Xiang Ling Tian's words were like a cold and invisible gale that blew everyone's body cold and caused goosebumps to appear.
Everyone could not help but look shocked at the same time. What Xiang Lingtian meant was that he would only need half a year to pacify the South Island Nation and Rizhen Nation that had been wreaking havoc in Fengyun Nation for more than ten years. His tone was a little too shocking.
"That's good, that's good!"
If Xiang Ling Tian's words had been spoken by someone else, Wan Bing, the senior statesman of the two dynasties and the head of the military officers, would have spat on him twice and then slapped him with his big mouth, scolding him for yawning like a toad. He was too arrogant!
However, when these words came out of Xiang Ling Tian's mouth, it made Old Marshal Wan feel sincerely surprised and gratified. This was because he believed in Xiang Ling Tian's strength and even more so in the shoulder-to-shoulder king's character of keeping his word!
Since it was Xiang Lingtian who said that he wanted to pacify the two kingdoms within half a year, the deadline would not be too long. It was because this person was Xiang Lingtian, the War God of Fengyun Kingdom. Even Wan Bing was inferior to him!
"Haha... Your highness, this old minister will toast you! "The haze on Wan Bing's face was swept away. It was as if a huge rock weighing ten thousand pounds had finally landed on his heart.
This Old Marshal Wan Bin was indeed a straightforward person. Once the problem was solved, he immediately beamed with joy and began to eat and drink. However, this also made the atmosphere of the birthday banquet warm again.
This book comes from：m.funovel.com。