The Devil's Tribulation

Chapter 834 Wei Qing Retires

The Imperial City of the Great Zhou Dynasty, the Zhengda Guangming Hall of the Imperial Palace.

Zhou Zhixiong looked at the Song Emperor kneeling in the hall and said kindly: "Emperor Song, please stand up~"

The Song Emperor's legs felt a little weak, but he didn't dare to disobey Zhou Zhixiong's words. He stood up tremblingly, but didn't dare to look up at Zhou Zhixiong.

The war between Zhou and Song lasted for seven years. In the fifth year, they had reached the imperial city of Song. Unfortunately, the walls of the imperial city were high and strong, and the grain reserves were abundant, so the Song generals had to defend it for two years.

In his heart, Zhou Zhixiong actually wanted to kill him, because in the past two years, the Great Zhou Kingdom had been dragged into the quagmire, and now the domestic economy had also been greatly affected, and many people had begun to complain.

But since the other party had already surrendered, he couldn't vent his anger on them, so he conferred the title of "King of Song An" on the Emperor of Song and exiled him to a remote corner of the Zhou State to enjoy a good life.

Emperor Song Zhou Zhixiong made the arrangements personally, so he didn't need to worry about other officials and generals who surrendered. He just had to wait for the officials below to make the arrangements and submit memorials to him.

Today is a happy day. All the civil and military officials in the court are flattering Zhou Zhixiong, except those officials who opposed the use of military force against Song Dynasty.

Zhou Zhixiong was very open-minded. Not only did he not punish these officials, he also went out of his way to appease them. After all, they were also considering the Zhou Kingdom.

The chief eunuch Xiao Xuanzi took the imperial edict and read out loudly the rewards for Zhou Zhixiong. Among them, the three most important people were naturally Sun Erleng, the second was the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue Li Dachun, and the last one was Qi Hong, the former Grand Marshal of the Great Chu Army.

Sun Erleng was conferred the title of "Duke of the State", which was already the highest standard. At the age of fifty, Sun Erleng had already achieved a position second only to the emperor.

Li Dachun was also promoted. The Minister of Revenue retired and returned to his hometown. Li Dachun directly replaced him and became the youngest minister in the Great Zhou Kingdom.

The last one is Qi Hong, who is also the most controversial. He was named General Yunhui, a third-rank official, and stationed at Juyong Pass.

I have to mention that Qi Hong’s contribution at Juyong Pass was actually very great. Wei Qing hardly intervened and left everything to Qi Hong.

The State of Yue launched more than sixty sieges, including more than a dozen with a scale of over one million.

They were all blocked by Qi Hong, and no soldier from the Yue State jumped onto the top of the city wall.

Wei Qing praised Zhou Zhixiong a lot, and only then was he rewarded with the title of General Yunhui.

However, many officials of the Great Zhou wrote to persuade Zhou Zhixiong, saying that Qi Hong was a surrendered general after all, and had killed many Zhou soldiers and generals. Those soldiers did not know the general situation and might mutiny.

All these remarks were suppressed by Zhou Zhixiong. After all, Zhou Zhixiong believed more in Wei Qing's vision.

After the court meeting, Zhou Zhixiong returned to his imperial study, where there was already a person kneeling waiting for him.

Zhou Zhixiong sighed inwardly and asked, "Get up, old man. Are you really leaving this time?"

Wei Qing stood up tremblingly and chuckled, "Thank you, Your Majesty. I really want to return to my hometown to enjoy my old age this time, so I came here to bid farewell to Your Majesty."

Although Zhou Zhixiong was reluctant to let Wei Qing go, he still said, seeing Wei Qing's gray hair and trembling legs, "You can pick any city under my rule as your fiefdom, and it will be inherited by your descendants."

Wei Qing chuckled and said, "My children and grandchildren will have their own blessings. I don't want them to just sit back and wait for death because of my achievements. If they want wealth and honor, let them earn it themselves."

"Old thing! This is a little gift from me, and you are unwilling to accept it?!" Zhou Zhixiong said with some guilt: "You have fought for the Great Zhou for more than sixty years, at least accept the fiefdom, even if you don't want the hereditary fiefdom~"

Wei Qing was already eighty years old. In that era when the average life expectancy of ordinary people was in their early thirties, living to eighty years old was very rare.

Wei Qing smiled and said, "Then I will take the fiefdom and not the rest. Your Majesty, take care. I am leaving now."

As he said this, Wei Qing trembled and left the imperial study. Zhou Zhixiong watched this old brother who had followed him for more than 60 years leave. He couldn't help but burst into tears and murmured to himself: "After this farewell, I hope to see you again in the future..."

Outside the palace, in Wei Qing's carriage, Sun Erleng and Wei Mingwan were waiting anxiously. Wei Mingwan said nervously, "I wonder if His Majesty will let Dad go back. If..."

Sun Erleng interrupted, "Don't worry, my father-in-law is eighty years old. Does Your Majesty really want him to die on the battlefield?!"

Wei Mingwan is still as youthful and beautiful as before. Although Sun Erleng looks a little older, he still looks vigorous and energetic.

After all, they all took the elixir given by Pan Chengfeng. Although their lifespans cannot be compared with those of cultivators, they are much longer than those of ordinary mortals.

The couple was talking when the driver suddenly shouted, "The old man is coming out!"

Sun Erleng jumped out with a bang, and hurried forward to support Wei Qing and asked, "Has your majesty agreed to let my father-in-law return to his hometown?"

Wei Qing's eyes were moist as he said, "His Majesty agreed and gave me my hometown as a fief. This time, he really wants me to retire and return home."

Beside the carriage, Wei Mingwan also hurried forward, supported Wei Qing and said, "Your Majesty, really, Daddy is so old, and still..."

"Shut up!" Wei Qing said sternly, "Your Majesty is a man of great talent and vision. I am really old, otherwise I would really like to follow Your Majesty and fight for another 60 years!!"

Sun Erleng said with a smile: "Don't worry, father-in-law, I am still here. I can fight with your majesty for decades more~"

Wei Qing patted Sun Erleng's hand with a smile and said, "The proudest thing in my life is that I accepted you and Qi Hong. Qi Hong is no worse than you, but it's a pity that he was born in Chu State, which delayed his development~"

The three of them got on the carriage and just as they reached Shili Pavilion, they saw a man kneeling on the side of the road in the distance. The driver asked curiously, "Why is there someone kneeling on the side of the road?"

Sun Erleng looked over quickly and said happily, "It's Brother Qi Hong. He's here to see his father-in-law off."

Wei Qing quickly stopped the carriage, walked tremblingly to Qi Hong and said, "What are you doing? Get up quickly."

Qi Hong cried, "I, the student Qi Hong, have come to see you off. I have done you a great favor, and I have no way to repay you. I can only kowtow to you a few times!!"

As he spoke, Qi Hong kowtowed three times, making his face covered with dust.

Wei Qing accepted Qi Hong's three bows and said with a smile, "Okay, stand up and talk."

Qi Hong stood up, held Wei Qing's arm and asked, "Master, are you going back to your hometown? What did His Majesty say?"

Wei Qing nodded and said, "Your Majesty, what else can you say? I really can't move my old bones anymore. I will rely on you from now on."

Qi Hong had been fighting against the Yue army at Juyong Pass for many years. During this period, he learned a lot from Wei Qing. Wei Qing also liked Qi Hong very much, so he accepted Qi Hong as his student.

Moreover, Wei Qing had been trying to win Qi Hong's favor in front of Zhou Zhixiong, which led to Qi Hong's reward. It is no exaggeration to say that Wei Qing is Qi Hong's adoptive parent.

The three of them came to the pavilion and sat down together. Wei Mingwan took out tea sets from the carriage and made tea for them.

Drinking the tea made by Wei Mingwan, the three of them chatted again. Qi Hongxian asked, "Teacher, although the Great Zhou conquered the Song Kingdom, the domestic economy has been in serious decline due to years of war. Do you think His Majesty will start another war in the coming years?"

Wei Qing stroked his beard and said, "Your Majesty is a man of great talent and strategy. The war will definitely not stop. You will have plenty of battles to fight. Qi Hong, you don't have to worry about this."

As soon as Qi Hong asked, Wei Qing knew what he was thinking. Qi Hong's identity was sensitive. If he wanted to gain the trust of the emperor, ministers and people, he could only continue fighting and make new military achievements.

Sun Erleng nodded slightly and said, "Next, there are only Qi and Yue left. Which country do you think His Majesty will attack first?"

Wei Qing said without hesitation: "Yue Kingdom!" Upon hearing this, Qi Hong clenched his fists and his face turned red involuntarily.

Wei Qing patted Qi Hong's hand and said, "Don't get excited yet. This war will be the most important and difficult war since the founding of the Great Zhou.

You two will be of great use at that time, especially Qi Hong. This will be your real battle to establish yourself."

Sun Erleng said with a smile: "Hurry up and fight, I have been displeased with the Kingdom of Yue for a long time!"

After Qi Hong calmed down, he asked, "Why don't you attack Qi first?" Wei Qing explained, "Although Qi's imperial power has fallen, Zeng Jifan should not be underestimated. Qi's national strength has doubled in the past ten years, and its army has expanded to 15 million.

In addition, Zeng Jifan has been promoting some young generals in recent years, which shows that he is not an ordinary person. If the Great Zhou really tries to gnaw on this hard bone, it will only give the Yue Kingdom an advantage. "

Sun Erleng asked in confusion: "If the Great Zhou attacked the Kingdom of Yue, wouldn't that give the Kingdom of Qi an advantage?"

Wei Qing stroked his beard and said with a smile: "This is where your majesty is brilliant~

Qi is happy to see Great Zhou attack Great Yue. Your Majesty predicts that Qi will sit on the sidelines and watch the fight.

Although Zeng Jifan had increased his army and generals, he did not have the courage to provoke two tigers that were fighting each other!

But Dai Viet is different. We can see it from the previous national wars. Dai Viet always wants to take a bite of Da Zhou. If we go to attack Qi, which is now strong in both men and horses, when we are in a stalemate with Qi, Dai Viet will definitely pounce on Da Zhou and tear it apart.

At that time, the Great Zhou will have to face two fierce tigers at the same time, and the outcome will be hard to predict."

Sun Erleng clenched his fists and said, "If the eldest prince didn't still control seven million elite soldiers, even if the Great Zhou faced two countries at the same time, I wouldn't be afraid!"

Wei Qing tapped Sun Erleng's big head and said, "It is impossible for you to control all the military power of the Great Zhou. Your Majesty kept seven million elite soldiers just in case."

Qi Hong was stunned when he heard this and asked, "Teacher, what are you doing?" Wei Qing smiled and said, "It's just the fact. Your Majesty has no choice~"

After saying that, Wei Qing stood up, glanced in the direction of the capital and said, "It is time for me to go. You should train your soldiers well. In three to five years, the Great Zhou will definitely use troops against Yue. Your Majesty will not stop."