CHAPTER 462: CHAPTER 456: GIFT DELIVERED STRAIGHT TO THE HEART

The top layer of the box contained a set of glass teacups and a glass teapot, transparent yet tinged with blue and purple, as lustrous and clear as white jade with hints of blue and purple.

The cups and teapot were nestled in straw. The generals, wide-eyed, took them out and discovered a wooden rack under the straw. Upon lifting it, they found a layer of yellow straw beneath.

Beigong Chun brushed aside the straw and saw a spearhead and two curved blades neatly laid below.

Beigong Chun’s heart raced. His subordinate couldn’t help but exclaim, "This spearhead..."

Someone immediately turned to close the door and then ran over to take a look.

Beigong Chun picked up the spearhead and inspected it. The blade was silver-white, identical to the one Zhao Hanzhang used. Holding the base of the spear, he lightly thrust it against the box, piercing it instantly.

Seeing this, everyone grew more excited, "General, it’s the steel General Zhao mentioned."

Beigong Chun was familiar with using spears, and he envied two things about Zhao Hanzhang—one was Fu Tinghan, and the other was the spear she wielded.

What cavalryman wouldn’t want a divine spear?

Holding the spearhead, Beigong Chun couldn’t help but laugh heartily, exclaiming, "This is the happiest day since the battle with the Xiongnu!"

Huang An eyed the two remaining curved blades enviously. The blades had no sheaths, not even handles, but just by looking at the blade, it was clear they were made with the same material as the spearhead.

Indeed, his fingertip lightly brushed the blade’s tip, and it drew blood. He pressed on it immediately, his eyes even more alight with excitement, looking pleadingly at Beigong Chun.

Huang An was his deputy general, so naturally, he deserved a share of the blade. Beigong Chun didn’t hesitate long and directly said, "One is yours."

Huang An was overjoyed and immediately shouted, "Thank you, General!"

The subordinates on the side were green with envy, "General, there’s still another box."

Beigong Chun immediately opened another box, which also contained glass items cushioned with straw. There were five in total, slightly differing in shape, but all exquisitely crafted.

They deftly and quickly lifted the rack, saw the layer of straw below, brushed it aside, and found three curved blades beneath.

Without a spearhead, everyone felt a twinge of disappointment, but they quickly became excited again, all eyes on the curved blades.

Beigong Chun pondered, "Store them away for now; later, we’ll reward based on merits."

He continued, "In the battle against the Xiongnu, all the soldiers showed merit. I intended to wait until we returned to Xiliang to reward everyone, but we ended up besieged in Chang’an."

Beigong Chun sighed, "Earlier we struggled even to eat; now, thanks to General Zhao, we have these fine things. Let’s reward based on merit."

Everyone responded with joy.

Huang An thought of something and whispered, "General, we can’t let this leak out. Tomorrow is the new year; we should discreetly reward the soldiers when we celebrate together in the army."

"Indeed, these are precious items. If Prince Nanyang finds out and uses an excuse to take them, that... Why are you nudging me? Did I say anything wrong?"

Beigong Chun, not being naive, nodded, "Store the items; let’s keep this between ourselves."

"Would General Zhao’s servants spread the word? After all, for General Zhao, this is quite a story worth sharing."

Though Huang An wasn’t as skilled in battle as Zhao Hanzhang, nor as capable in military strategy as Fu Tinghan, he was not without sense. He immediately said, "They won’t. If she wanted to use the general as a stepping stone, she wouldn’t have secretly stashed the weapons at the bottom of a box and sent them over discreetly."

With this, their situation in Chang’an might worsen, perhaps forcing them to seek allegiance with her.

But today, Wu Erlang arrived quietly, delivering the items stealthily. Even Huang An, who had always had reservations about Zhao Hanzhang, couldn’t help but say with a complicated expression, "Zhao Hanzhang is indeed honorable and considerate towards the general."

They had been away for two years, oh, no, after today, it would be three years.

For three years, they wandered from place to place, meeting countless individuals, from emperors, to powerful figures like Prince East Sea, to notable gentry like Wang Yan, to inconsequential figures like Prince Nanyang, and even minor officials and functionaries, but everyone only schemed against them.

They calculated to have the Xiliang army risk their lives, using them as tools of war, yet treating them dismissively, discarding them once used.

Only Zhao Hanzhang respected them throughout, even sending local specialties from a thousand miles away.

Even Huang An, unable to help himself, felt tears well up and turned his head away to silently shed them. He choked, "General, though Zhao Hanzhang might have hidden intentions, at least she is heartfelt towards you and us, showing respect, unlike the Little Emperor and Wang Yan..."

"Silence," Beigong Chun was briefly dazed, then said sternly, "Do not speak irreverently of His Majesty."

The generals lowered their heads but couldn’t help but purse their lips. When they first arrived at the Capital City for an audience with the emperor, they were received warmly, but once they repelled Liu Cong, they were refused permission to return to Xiliang.

Huang An’s family was also in Xiliang, and counting the days, it had almost been three years since he last saw his wife and children. Today being the new year, he missed them even more, and he couldn’t help but murmur, "General, why don’t we leave quietly?"

Beigong Chun glanced at him, finding it hard to believe he was any less sensible than Fu Tinghan, "Prince Nanyang guards the gate; how do we escape?"

"Charge through..." Huang An’s voice dwindled, not daring to continue.

Zhang Gui held significant power in Xiliang, arousing suspicion from the court, fearful of rebellion, hence the heavy vigilance against him.

But Beigong Chun and Huang An both knew that Zhang Gui was loyal to the court and the Jin Dynasty and would never rebel.

Therefore, they couldn’t forcefully flee the gate.

Otherwise, in case of conflict, it would put Zhang Gui in a position of disloyalty.

Zhang Gui had given Beigong Chun a chance to rise, just as he was loyal to the Jin Dynasty; Beigong Chun, in turn, was loyal to Zhang Gui and Xiliang. Thus, he would never commit such an act.

"We can’t leave through the gate, so... why not take refuge with Zhao Hanzhang?" an Assistant General suggested, meeting Beigong Chun’s sharp gaze, "General, now the soldiers’ daily rations merely stave off starvation. Since arriving in Chang’an, it’s been two months since we last trained."

"Indeed, our Xiliang Iron Cavalry was forged through battle and training, not by lying idle. Now the soldiers can’t get enough to eat; two steps and they’re famished, let alone talk of training," the Assistant General voiced his concern, "In three months, can the soldiers still mount their horses and fight?"

"Their bones will grow idle."

"When we first arrived, Prince Nanyang wanted to employ the general. Even then, we barely received enough rations. As time goes on, if the general cannot forge an army, will he grant us provisions?"

"Better to join Zhao Hanzhang. If we don’t leave through the gate, at least we can return to the Central Plains, right?"

"Furthermore, Zhao Hanzhang is loyal and righteous. In the future... she might mediate for us, sending us back to Xiliang."

Beigong Chun lowered his gaze, remaining silent, letting them discuss their thoughts.