Mother, I have returned to the throne.

Chapter 327 Anxious General Zhao

"Song Yuan, what exactly is the purpose of General Zhao's visit this time?"

"Logically speaking, didn't you analyze it before? General Zhao is now guarding the Zhenbei Pass. Shouldn't General Zhao come to the border?"

While Situ Jing accompanied Song Yuan in waiting for General Zhao, she asked the reason with some curiosity.

Song Yuan rolled his eyes in annoyance and reminded him, "Need I say that? General Zhao must have come here to announce the imperial decree!"

"Don't forget, we won several great victories in a row before, and those were all real achievements. I'm sure Father was also troubled by this matter. Now that he finally reached a conclusion, he sent General Zhao to come forward!"

"Yup!"

After hearing Song Yuan's reminder, Situ Jing finally reacted and her eyes lit up.

"So, General Zhao probably had ulterior motives in choosing this time!"

"Today is the end of the year. How could General Zhao have arrived so coincidentally? I'm afraid he did it on purpose. Maybe it's a surprise from our father!"

"That's right, let's see what benefits it brings later!" Song Yuan nodded in agreement.

A hint of anticipation appeared in Situ Jing's eyes.

What she cared about was not the content of the surprise. For the current situation, as long as it was not a shock, it would be a good thing after all.

The two of them stayed there and waited for a long time with anticipation.

After a full quarter of an hour, General Zhao finally arrived with a large group of cavalry.

Noticing this scene, the two looked at each other and without saying a word, they immediately came forward.

"Junior Song Yuan greets General Zhao!"

Song Yuan bowed and saluted. Such a scene scared General Zhao. He quickly dismounted and helped Song Yuan up immediately.

"Your Majesty, you are a noble and respected person. How can you possibly bow to me? This is absolutely unacceptable!"

"It's only logical that I should be the one to perform the ceremony for the prince and princess!"

At the end, General Zhao ignored his old age and bowed to pay his respects.

Seeing this, Song Yuan waved his hands repeatedly and immediately dissuaded him, "No, no, no, General Zhao, we don't have the nerve to do this!"

"No matter what, you are the elder. If you do this now, you will shorten our lives!"

"Your Majesty, you are too kind!"

As he spoke, General Zhao had already stood up and took the imperial edict from the person behind him.

"His Majesty has repeatedly instructed me to deliver this surprise to His Majesty before the end of the year!"

"I've rushed all the way here, and now I can say I've accomplished my mission!"

Noticing the imperial edict in General Zhao's hand, Song Yuan raised his eyebrows and couldn't help but glance at Situ Jing beside him.

He guessed right again!

Thinking that the other party had done this deliberately, Song Yuan immediately smiled and thanked him: "Thank you for your hard work, General Zhao. Also, when you return, please thank my father for me. Thank you for your kindness!"

"Of course, of course. Don't worry, Your Majesty, I will definitely convey this message!"

General Zhao smiled and nodded, exchanged some pleasantries, and then finally talked about the business. He slowly spread out the imperial edict in his hand, and then spoke to Song Yuan and Situ Jing in front of him with a serious face.

"Prince Jingbei and his wife, please come forward to receive the decree!"

Song Yuan and Situ Jing looked at each other and immediately knelt on the ground.

But then General Zhao's serious voice suddenly rose: "Prince Song Yuan of Jingbei and Princess Situ Jing of Jingbei, relying on the old and weak soldiers, have made great contributions and set a precedent..."

General Zhao read the imperial edict very quickly, as if he was reading a jingle.

Before Song Yuan and Situ Jing could react, the contents of the imperial edict had been read out in full.

Just as the two were surprised, General Zhao stepped forward immediately and helped Song Yuan up personally, and at the same time calmly handed the imperial edict in his hand to Song Yuan.

He turned around and pointed at the box on the carriage behind him.

"Your Highness, you can take your time to review the contents of this imperial edict. As for the items on this carriage, they are gifts from His Majesty. Now I hand them all over to you, and my mission is accomplished!"

"I have important matters to attend to, so I will not stay with you any longer. I will leave first. I hope Your Highness can understand!"

Seeing General Zhao acting so hastily, Song Yuan couldn't help but show a bit of surprise in his eyes.

After hesitating for a moment, he asked.

"General Zhao, what on earth is it that has you so concerned? It's the end of the year now, and if you don't stay here and let me entertain you properly, where are you going?"

"To be honest with Your Highness, my next stop will be Zhenbei City!" General Zhao responded with some seriousness.

Song Yuan opened his mouth slightly and asked, "General Zhao, judging from your posture, could it be that the emperor is asking you to go there and fight?"

"Your Highness, please stop joking. With my old body, even riding a horse is too bumpy. How can I be qualified to lead an army?"

General Zhao shook his head with a hint of self-mockery before explaining his reason: "Originally, according to His Majesty's instructions, I was supposed to return to the Imperial City immediately after delivering the decree. However, on the way, I heard a lot about the situation on the border. Now, under the attack of the barbarians, the soldiers on the border are in dire straits!"

"That's why I was thinking about whether I could go to Zhenbei City to find out the specific situation. If I can help, I will definitely lend a hand even if it means risking my life!"

General Zhao's response was quite patriotic.

When Song Yuan heard this, he nodded secretly in his heart, but after thinking it over again and again, he still tried to persuade her to stay.

"General Zhao, I do have some understanding of the barbarians' movements. I advise you not to rush and go to the tent to have a drink of water first!"

"It just so happens that I have something I want to tell you. We haven't seen each other for a long time, so I'd like to take this opportunity to catch up with you!"

While speaking, Song Yuan secretly sighed in his heart.

Despite General Zhao's age, he was still able to step forward at the first moment when he learned of the border crisis.

Just based on this kind of thinking, it is definitely rare in the entire Qin Dynasty!

The other party, Wei Daqin, has suffered a lot. Now he is old and still cannot rest. It is really difficult for him.

"Your Highness, now is not the time for idle chat. The barbarians are coming with great force. If you really have something to say, it's not too late to talk to me when I come back!"

Faced with Song Yuan's dissuasion, General Zhao shook his head with some seriousness and directly refused.

"Military intelligence is paramount right now. Even a delay of just a quarter of an hour could lead to a major change. I hope Your Highness can be considerate and help me!"

Seeing General Zhao's firm attitude, Song Yuan still refused to give in. He immediately stepped forward, grabbed the other's hand and whispered.

"To be honest, General Zhao, I just learned about the latest movements of the barbarians. I want to explain it to you. It's no different from going to Zhenbei City!"

"Also, what I want to discuss with you is about the situation in the dynasty. This matter involves a lot of things, and outside is not the place to talk. I think it's better for us to go back to the tent first, drink some hot water to warm ourselves up, and then we can talk slowly if we have anything to say!"

Hearing Song Yuan's reason, General Zhao frowned slightly, hesitated for a moment, and finally nodded.

As General Zhao followed Song Yuan towards the tent, he looked anxious, his feet seemed to be off the ground, and Song Yuan was also flying with him.

Song Yuan was not in a hurry. He first arranged his men to take back all the things sent by General Zhao, and then settled his entourage. Only then did he follow General Zhao into the tent.

The two of them had just stepped over the threshold when General Zhao was slightly stunned by the furnishings in the tent.

There was only a big pot placed on the fire.

As the steam rises, you can vaguely see the dumplings tumbling in it.

However, when he thought about the fact that it was the end of the year, General Zhao felt relieved.

Although the military situation is urgent, Song Yuan did not leave the tent, so it is understandable that he cooked some dumplings.

Song Yuan noticed that General Zhao's expression had relaxed, and he immediately suggested, "General Zhao, you've been traveling all the way here, you must be hungry, right? I don't have anything to treat you here. Here are some freshly made dumplings, they look cooked. Why don't we eat and talk at the same time!"

General Zhao had rushed all the way here and was already starving. When faced with Song Yuan's suggestion, he simply nodded.

At that moment, the two of them were next to the big pot, and General Zhao wolfed down the food without caring about his image.

Song Yuan also took this opportunity to recount his previous communications with General Wei, about how he and Situ Jing went to Zhenbei City to offer advice, but were ultimately rejected by General Wei. Song Yuan described the entire process in great detail.

When General Zhao heard the last part, he frowned slightly and a thoughtful look appeared on his face.

After a moment, he suddenly spoke to comfort her, "Your Highness, if you ask me, the reason General Wei contradicted you was actually for the sake of the entire military camp! I support this!"

"After all, as the commander-in-chief, General Wei has much more to consider than an ordinary person. According to the original plan, support can only arrive after the spring. Before that, General Wei will naturally be responsible for everything. Otherwise, if we lose the initiative, it will be disadvantageous to us after the spring!"

When Song Yuan heard this, he nodded immediately and admitted his mistake without saying anything.

"General Zhao, you should know me well. I don't have any bad intentions. I was just a little anxious at the time!"

"The situation is critical right now. The lives of those soldiers are now in the hands of the barbarians. If time drags on for too long, who knows how many will be killed or injured at the hands of the barbarians!"

"I'm also worried that if this matter is dragged on, I might end up suffering huge losses. That's why I'm getting a little excited!"

"It's normal for Your Highness to be so worried!"

After hearing Song Yuan express his difficulties, General Zhao nodded again.

"That excuse given by Wei that he has no good solution is not a suitable explanation. We can afford to wait, but the besieged soldiers cannot!"

"Your Highness, I understand what you mean. Don't worry, when I arrive in Zhenbei City, if that Wei guy doesn't have any good ideas, I will immediately urge him to do as you say!"

Hearing General Zhao's response, Song Yuan's heart was immediately filled with joy.

Or maybe the other party is an old general?

Just based on this level of ability to read people's expressions, how can ordinary people compare?

Before I even expressed my request, the other party spoke directly about what he was thinking!

It’s no wonder that General Zhao has become a favorite around the emperor. Just based on his good interpersonal skills, which emperor would not like him?

The reason why Song Yuan wanted General Zhao to come forward was not to use the other party's face to persuade General Wei.

It was simply because Song Yuan knew General Wei's character particularly well and knew exactly what he would do next.

The relationship between the two sides is now like fire and water. Even if General Zhao comes out to dissuade them, General Wei will probably not give in easily.

Moreover, if General Zhao gets impatient, it will only have the opposite effect in the end!

It will also make General Wei go against him!

This would be like adding fuel to the fire, forcing General Wei to follow the plan previously planned by Song Yuan.

This is what Song Yuan really wants!

Seeing that his goal had been achieved, Song Yuan nodded in satisfaction, and then said, "General Zhao, after you return from Zhenbei City, you must make a detour to come to my place again. I still have some things here, and I hope you can bring them to my father when you return!"

Faced with such a request, General Zhao nodded, and then asked, "By the way, Your Highness, although the method you mentioned earlier was a little ill-considered, I have to say that it is indeed the best way at the moment!"

"I just want to ask, who told you this method? Or, was it you yourself..."

"General Zhao, you're joking. I was just a dandy boy in the imperial city. I was good at eating, drinking and having fun every day, but when it came to the battlefield, I was completely clueless!"

Song Yuan immediately defended himself, "I can't think of this method, but it was proposed by a hermit master I met before!"

"Your Highness, is there really such a remarkable person in this world? I wonder if you could take this opportunity to introduce him to me!" Upon hearing such a response, General Zhao couldn't help but reveal a bit of curiosity in his pupils.

Song Yuan shook his head with some reluctance and said, "That otherworldly master has always been elusive. The only reason I was able to get the cavalry to lend a hand was because of the fine wine I brewed myself!"

"I don't know where that guy is hiding now, stealing the wine. Even if I want to find him, it will probably take a while. General Zhao, what do you think?"

"When the time comes, please turn back on your way back and bring my things back. I will definitely prepare them in advance and introduce you two to each other!"

After hearing Song Yuan's promise, General Zhao nodded. Now that his goal had been achieved, there was naturally no reason to stay any longer.

After finishing the remaining dumplings in the bowl in a few bites, General Zhao stood up and left with his men.

Seeing that the figures of General Zhao and his men disappeared from sight, Situ Jing approached Song Yuansheng with some resentment and complained.

"If you ask me, why don't you just make up an excuse? Now you insist on creating the image of a hermit master. If General Zhao returns, how will you deal with him?"

"You don't understand this. General Zhao asked me this because he probably has doubts in his heart!"

Song Yuan explained with some seriousness: "Those people under me, whether it's Huo Jianchuan or Wang Chao and Ma Han, have never possessed such talent before. If they were to be pushed out now, I'm afraid they would immediately arouse suspicion!"

"That's why I specifically asked this otherworldly master to take the blame for me. As for General Zhao, if he really comes, I can just find someone to impersonate him!"

"If we discuss military strategy, won't the person you're looking for be exposed?"

"Don't worry about this. Since I dare to do this, I will naturally find a way to stop the conversation between the two of them!"

Song Yuan nodded with some confidence.

Only then did Situ Jing nod and accept this statement.

But the next second Situ Jing suddenly turned around and looked at the imperial edict on the table.

"Let me first see what this imperial edict says!"

Upon hearing this, Song Yuan quickly stepped forward and said, "Let me take a look at what was just read in the imperial edict. I didn't hear a single word!"