After the Disabled God of War Became My Concubine
chapter-124

The sun rose higher.

Jiang Suizhou knew that the march was slow, so he sat in the carriage and waited. Fortunately, Lin’an was near the water, and there were plenty of trees outside the city. Hence, even if the sun was shining, it would not be too hot.

It wasn’t until near noon that a soldier rode a fast horse from afar to report that General Lou was about to arrive.

Jiang Suizhou hurriedly got off the carriage and stood in the middle of the road.

Since Lou Yue withdrew troops back to the capital, the army had to stop outside the southern city gate, so the whole southern city gate was under martial law. At this minute, the guards of honor solemnly guarded the place, while the officials of the Ministry of Rites headed by Jiang Suizhou stood in rows. From a distance, an atmosphere of solemnity and reverence prevailed.

In a short while, the indistinct sound of horses’ hooves broke the silence. Jiang Suizhou looked as far as the eye could see and spotted a large army approaching from a great distance.

The leader was a general on a towering horse. He looked very tall and his shoulder and back muscles were as thick as a mountain. He was wearing silver armor, and the scarlet cloak behind him fluttered up. At a glance, he knew that that was General Lou Yue.

Jiang Suizhou was a little nervous, and a thin layer of sweat seeped out of his palms.

Lou Yue must have seen the original owner, but Jiang Suizhou only saw the man’s name in history books. It was the first time he would see him in person.

Although he had gotten used to Jingwang’s identity now, to the point where nobody could spot the difference, it still didn’t rule out this General’s discerning eye. He was somewhat refined in his rough way. Also, the original owner and Lou Yue might have had some dealings Jiang Suizhou knew nothing about, and this could expose him in front of Lou Yue.

Jiang Suizhou took a deep breath and silently waited until Lou Yue arrived a few feet in front of him.

Once Lou Yue reined his horse and stopped, Jiang Suizhou smiled and bowed towards him: “General Lou, this Prince welcomes and congratulates your triumphant return. You’ve promoted the prestige of our great kingdom!”!

Lou Yue laughed uproariously. He dismounted his horse, clasped his fists together and bowed to Jiang Suizhou.

“This General thanks Your Highness!”

Seeing this situation, Jiang Suizhou surmised that they did not have much of an intersection before. They weren’t at all that close. Even judging from his attitude, he was probably too focused on the battlefield and still didn’t know about Huo Wujiu’s marriage to him as his concubine a few months ago.

Jiang Suizhou was more or less relieved, and the smile on his face unconsciously turned more sincere. He stepped forward and held Lou Yue’s arm.

At this distance, he sized Lou Yue up at railway speed.

Tall and strong; he actually had some resemblance to the portrait in history books. He was in his forties at this time, in his prime. Although the wrinkles on his face were deeper due to the wind, frost, rain and snow, he did not look old. On the contrary, they enhanced his fortitude.

“General, no need to be polite.” Jiang Suizhou withdrew his gaze and smiled. “You must be travel-worn. you’ve worked hard, General.”

Seeing his temperate expression and his speech that carried none of that double-edged sword typical of other officials, Lou Yue laughed and exchanged pleasantries with him. “It’s not hard work! I’m used to being on horseback. On our journey back to the capital, we didn’t rush, so I’m entirely relaxed.”

Jiang Suizhou then went along with him and exchanged a few pleasantries, commending him moderately.

“This Prince is here today to welcome you into the city.” After exchanging pleasantries, Jiang Suizhou said, “His Majesty has already set up a banquet in the palace and is waiting to reward you, General. Once you’ve organized the army here, we can enter the city.”

Lou Yue nodded repeatedly and asked, “I’m just wondering. Has His Majesty mentioned what will happen to the soldiers under me later on? With legions of soldiers and horses, stopping outside the city is not an option.”

Jiang Suizhou paused.

Based on his knowledge from historical records, after returning to the capital this time, Lou Yue was stripped of his military power step by step. All the military forces in his hands fell into Pang’s party after they had gone through the Ministry of War.

When the Hou Zhu ordered him to bring his soldiers back to the capital to receive rewards, he had long made such a plan.

Jiang Suizhou stayed silent for a moment and said ambiguously, “His Majesty said that the Ministry of War should sort and count first before rewarding them according to their merits.”

He currently had no evidence at all. Naturally, he could not prove it by relying on the memory of his previous life. What was more, if he were to immediately make friends with Lou Yue the moment they met, it would only arouse his suspicions.

With this consideration, he smiled and nodded to Lou Yue, then looked behind him.

The army was marching slowly, and it was only the impatient Lou Yue who came ahead of the rest.

Presently, the army was marching mightily to the border of Lin’an City. Lou Yue’s subordinates numbered 50,000. Although it was not an uncountable number, at this moment, they still exuded an imposing sense of grandeur.

Just then, a white horse galloped lightly in their direction.

The person on the horse did not travel in the ranks, and only raised dust in the wake of the horse, like a reckless knight-errant. But that person was clearly wearing armor. The closer he got, the more vaguely visible his frame. The person’s frame was slender and graceful, like that of a woman.

… Woman?

Jiang Suizhou’s fingers curled, and his eyebrows could not help but wrinkle.

If speaking of women in this army… there would be no one else.