Chapter 49

The main responsibility of the Deputy Supervisor is to handle the national library and editing work, but the emperor gave Wen Jian a secret order to oversee the iron treasury near Mount Dabai, entrusting him with full authority over weapon production.

After the great victory, Zhu Sima returned to Beiliang with an even more arrogant and domineering attitude. Not only did he bring a chair for the court, but his proud eyes no longer held any respect for the emperor. Every action challenged the emperor’s authority. For example, during the recent court session, before the new emperor even had a chance to speak about the official position of Jiang Bei, who became the top scorer in last year’s martial examination, Zhu Sima publicly promoted Jiang Bei to the rank of a second-grade general directly from a third-grade official, skipping two ranks.

The emperor could only reluctantly agree with a forced smile.

One mountain cannot accommodate two tigers. The emperor had endured Zhu Sima’s behavior for a long time, and now it was time for Zhu Sima to meet his end…

After the eighth day of the first lunar month, Wen Jian went to Mount Dabai. To his surprise, he encountered Jiang Bei, the newly appointed second-grade minister, inside the mountain…

On the eighth day of the third lunar month, urgent reports arrived from the border that barbarian forces had invaded. General Xu, who was guarding the border, arrived at Zhu Sima’s doorstep covered in blood. He collapsed and died on the spot after delivering the battle report with a mouthful of blood.

General Xu was a highly trusted general of Zhu Sima.

That night, Zhu Sima mobilized his troops.

Just before dawn, when the troops crossed the Chang River from Wu’an, they unexpectedly encountered the naval forces in such freezing weather. Zhu Sima never imagined that he would meet his end on the way. With no leadership, Zhu Qifei, the eldest son who had always followed Zhu Sima into battle, immediately took command of the troops. However, the next moment, Jiang Bei aimed his weapon directly at Zhu Qifei’s head.

Zhu Qifei had the same proud and unyielding spirit as his father. Instead of showing any retreat in the face of the weapons, he looked disdainful and questioned, “What’s this? Jiang Bei! Did my father promote a dog?”

Jiang Bei’s face turned as cold as ice as he coldly replied, “General Zhu, it is our duty as subjects to follow the Emperor’s will.”

“The Emperor’s will? If it weren’t for my father’s strong support over the years, how could Zhu Yu have comfortably sat on the throne of Beiliang? Without our Zhu family’s army, the land beneath your feet would have long been under the control of the barbarians. Not to mention, you yourself! Zhu family’s army, follow my orders and kill these traitors!”

Jiang Bei shouted loudly, “The Zhu family’s army? The Zhu family’s army also belongs to the Emperor!”

Zhu Qifei sneered and the clash of weapons echoed as the sound of battle filled the sky.

After enduring humiliation for years, the emperor had finally reached the breaking point, and civil war was inevitable.

Zhu Qifei believed that if the emperor didn’t consider them important, the border would certainly fall into chaos, creating internal and external instability. This internal war wouldn’t last long, and he planned to seize the emperor’s position. It sounded beautiful in theory, but reality was harsh. Little did he know that while his father was leading troops back to Beiliang, the ten thousand peasant soldiers trained by Wen Jian at the estate had already arrived at the border with Liu Hu in batches. At this moment, the border was as secure as a tightly sealed jar, peaceful and serene.

Prior to this, the urgent reports from the border were sent to Zhu Sima’s residence by General Xu, but it was merely a ploy to lure Zhu Sima into action. General Xu’s family had already been controlled by the emperor, and whether he delivered the reports or not, he would face death. Sending the reports instead ensured the safety of his family.

The emperor, in order to regain military power, bided his time, enduring setbacks until the opportune moment to make a striking move!

Zhu Qifei was not a coward, and once the bow was drawn, there was no turning back. On the spot, he engaged in a battle with the army led by Jiang Bei, resulting in countless casualties on both sides, staining the Chang River red with blood…

This protracted tug-of-war lasted for half a year, and Zhu Qifei achieved a precarious victory as their supplies were cut off.

Zhu Qifei was taken to Beiliang and imprisoned in a dungeon.

The barbarians received news of the internal war in Northern Jin and took advantage of the situation, engaging in battles with Liu Hu’s forces multiple times, which proved to be a difficult struggle for Liu Hu. In early November, Jiang Bei reorganized its three armies and marched to the border for support, bringing along 3,000 paper-armored soldiers and tons of provisions. Speaking of this paper armor, it was truly a remarkable invention. It was even more durable than iron armor and could withstand arrows. Moreover, when worn in battle, it was several times lighter than iron armor. On the battlefield, what mattered was the speed of wielding weapons. The faster, the better the chances of winning! Furthermore, if it encountered water, the paper armor wouldn’t disintegrate. In fact, it would become even stronger.

This weapon greatly aided Jiang Bei on the battlefield.

Due to this batch of paper armor, Wen Jian was promoted by the emperor from the position of Chief Secretary Supervisor to the Grand Minister of Agriculture, directly overseeing the country’s finances. However, this position was nothing more than an empty shell…@@novelbin@@

For years, the emperor had focused solely on agricultural development, but the grain tax remained unreasonably high. The grain collected from the people was all used on the battlefield.

As for other matters… After years of warfare, the nation had already become impoverished.

However, there was one thing that made Wen Jian happy.

As the Grand Minister of Agriculture, he was granted a magnificent residence, a courtyard with three entrances and three exits.

In this vast Beiliang, he and Ji sang finally had a decent home.

As the seasons changed and another year approached, it was the New Year once again.

Wen Zheng and Lady Wen had left their small village and moved to Beiliang, taking up residence in the Grand Minister of Agriculture’s mansion.

Ever since Wen Jian became a seventh-rank Chief Historian, he had been too busy to return to the village. This time, the sight of the family of four together was truly joyful. In the evening, Wen Jian had a delicious meal prepared and brought out a bottle of fine wine. The four of them enjoyed the feast.

Lady Wen’s face was gentle and soft, as she held Ji Sang’s hand and smiled, saying, “Ji sang… you and Wen Jian look thinner since you’ve been away.”

Ji Sang pinched her own cheeks and said, “Mother, really? I feel like I’ve gained some weight recently.”

Lady Wen replied, “No, you haven’t gained weight. Mother is just thinking, you two are already grown up. When will you give me and your father the joy of holding a grandchild?”

Upon hearing this, Wen Jian’s brow furrowed, and seeing that they had finished their meal, he spoke in a semi-drunken state to Wen Zheng, “Father, I… I’m feeling a bit drunk. You… you should take Mother back to rest. I’ll also accompany Sang… Ji Sang back to the room.”

Without waiting for Ji Sang to say anything, he rested his head heavily on Ji Sang’s shoulder, and the scent of alcohol from his mouth filled the hollow of her neck.

Ji Sang felt ticklish and leaned her shoulder back, reaching out to support the swaying man. “Wen Jian… don’t move around.”

With no support for his head, Wen Jian wrapped his arms around Ji Sang and his tongue seemed to stumble over its own words. “Sang… Ji Sang, your husband feels dizzy…”

With their parents present, this man was acting strangely today, claiming to be drunk.

Ji Sang was unable to break free from the entanglement and could only stand up and support him into the house. Apologetically, she said to Wen Li and her father, “Father, Mother, we’ll go to our room first.”

Wen Li exclaimed, “Oh.”

Once inside the house, Wen Jian quickly regained his composure.

Ji Sang, puzzled, asked, “Wen Jian, you’re not drunk? How come you’re pretending to be drunk?”

Wen Jian embraced her in his arms. “I’m not drunk. How else can I make you escape Mother’s urging for childbirth?”

Ji Sang was taken aback for a moment.

A smile curled at the corner of Wen Jian’s lips. “Didn’t you say you still didn’t want to be a mother?”

Ji Sang exclaimed, “Ah! You remembered?”

Wen Jian reached out and pinched her nose, a clear laughter resonating in his chest.

Ji Sang suddenly became serious, her fingers gripping the hand that was pinching her nose, playing with each finger one by one. Over the past year, he had done fewer physical tasks, mostly involved in paperwork, and the calluses on his fingertips had diminished, leaving them smooth and distinct, a pair of beautiful hands.

“Husband… I stopped taking Li Bo’s medicine before the new year. That day, when I saw you looking at Ruan Qin’s child, you seemed so fond of… ”

“How about this year, we have a child too?”

Wen Jian’s back stiffened, his dark eyes intensely fixed on the woman in his arms. It had been almost three years since she married him, and compared to three years ago, her childishness had faded, revealing a more refined appearance. Her features were picturesque, and her skin was crystal-clear.

After a momentary pause, he suddenly lowered his head and kissed her lips, his tongue entwined with hers in an urgent and passionate manner, making her little tongue tingle and tingle with sourness.

He released her lips, his gaze deep, and he slightly gasped for breath.

“Do you want it down there?”

“If you want it, just say it.”

“Let’s wait a little longer for the child…”

After he finished speaking, his lips pressed down again, and his large hand ventured into her clothes. Ji Sang’s back tingled, and a choked sound escaped her throat as she responded to him incoherently.

“Wen Jian… I’m serious.”