As a seasoned veteran, General Fan’s composure was far deeper. Seeing the veins bulging on Qing Huai’s neck, he quickly thanked the Emperor and accepted the edict, even instructing his men to give the Grand Eunuch a hefty sum of reward money.
“Mr. Jin has worked tirelessly and achieved great merit. How could His Majesty do this?”
After seeing off the Grand Eunuch, Qing Huai angrily slammed his fist on the table, “A baron is bad enough, but an empty title? Five hundred taels of silver? Is His Majesty insulting sir? The reward money you gave that eunuch was more than five hundred taels, wasn’t it?”
“Marquis Qing, watch your words!”
General Fan shot Qing Huai a stern glare.
Qing Huai knew he had misspoken, slamming the table again in frustration, “How could this happen?”
He didn’t know how to break this news to Jin Feng.
“The Red Feather Couriers brought some letters from Bianjing. These are from Duke Qing and your mother. Read them, and you’ll understand what’s going on.”
General Fan pulled the tent flap closed, took two letters from his chest, and handed them to Qing Huai.
Qing Huai ignored his mother’s letter, immediately opening the one from Duke Qing.
General Fan had received even more letters. He sat to the side, picking one to read.
Moments later, both men put down their letters, their faces turning grim.
They now understood what had happened.
Dakang’s court was riddled with factions. Jin Feng’s performance was too dazzling, alarming other factions. They united to pressure the Emperor, refusing to let him reward Jin Feng heavily or allow him to lead troops.
The Emperor, fond of so-called balance, feared Duke Qing’s faction becoming too dominant and agreed to the ministers’ proposal, granting Jin Feng only an empty title.
Meanwhile, the incompetent officers, whether they contributed or not, received varying rewards as long as they led troops in Weizhou. Even Zhang Qiwei, who caused a disaster, got a share.
“This is my fault. I shouldn’t have overemphasised Mr. Jin’s contributions.”
General Fan said with a bitter smile.
“Mr. Jin’s contributions were immense. Without him, how could the Iron Forest Army have held Qingshui Valley?”
Qing Huai retorted, unconvinced.
“True, but it made the court ministers even more wary of him.”
General Fan said, “With you and me in the Western Garrison Army, many are already uneasy. His Majesty rewarded those incompetents to balance us.”
“Those who achieve merit get no proper reward, while the useless are rewarded. Who will fight for Dakang like this?”
Qing Huai scoffed, leaving General Fan’s tent in disillusionment.
What must be faced, must be faced. With the edict delivered, Qing Huai, however unwilling, had to tell Jin Feng the truth.
“Sir, I know this outcome is unfair to you. Rest assured, I’ll write to my father to fight for you again.”
Qing Huai said.
Duke Qing and General Fan held significant influence in court. Jin Feng’s contributions were undeniable, and other factions would have to pay a steep price to suppress him, or Duke Qing wouldn’t agree.
Much of that price likely went to Duke Qing.
So, when Qing Huai said this, he felt a pang of guilt, as if he had stolen Jin Feng’s credit.
“No need. I’m very satisfied with this outcome.”
Jin Feng smiled and shook his head.
“Sir, I know you’re upset. General Fan and I are upset too. We’ll find a way to help you.”
Qing Huai thought Jin Feng was just sulking.
“Really, there’s no need.”
Jin Feng said with a smile, “Marquis, you know I’m a lazy man. I came to the battlefield only for a title, which I’ve now got. What’s there to be dissatisfied about?”
Compared to the battlefield’s smoke and stench, he much preferred the tranquillity of West River Bay.
Before the edict arrived, he had been worried the Emperor would decree he stay in the military.
That would have been troublesome.
Thankfully, the court’s bigwigs had solved this problem for him.
“But this title is just an empty honour, with no fief and only five taels of salary a month…”
“That’s perfect.”
Jin Feng couldn’t help but laugh, “Now I don’t have to worry about being implicated.”
For nobles like Qing Huai with fiefs, if rebellion occurred in their lands, they’d be held accountable.
Without a fief, Jin Feng had no such worries.
As for the fief’s taxes, Jin Feng didn’t care about them.
“Is that really what you think, sir?”
Qing Huai asked.
“Of course.”
Jin Feng nodded without hesitation, “Marquis, if there’s nothing else, I plan to return soon.”
“So soon?”
Qing Huai was reluctant to let him go.
“The battle is over, the rewards are settled. Why stay?”
Jin Feng said, “I’ve already briefed Xu Xiao on Qingshui Mountain’s defence.”
“Since you’ve decided, I won’t keep you.”
Seeing Jin Feng’s resolve, Qing Huai relented, “If you encounter any issues in Jinchuan, just go to Qingfeng Villa. The steward will help you.”
“Speaking of which, there is one thing I’d like to trouble you with.”
“Please, sir.”
“I’d like to request some retired Iron Forest Army veterans.”
“What do you need veterans for?”
Qing Huai asked curiously.
“You know Shu has rampant tiger threats and bandits in the mountains. I’ll be doing business and travelling far. Brother Zhang Liang alone can’t handle it. I want to form an escort team for transporting goods.”
Jin Feng said, “I trust Iron Forest Army veterans, so I’ll have to trouble you, Marquis.”
“That’s no trouble. You’re doing me a favour.”
Qing Huai said, “Over the years, many brothers left the Iron Forest Army due to service terms or other reasons. Some can’t even afford meals. If you can give them a livelihood, it’s their blessing.
Jinchuan is my fief, and over half the Iron Forest Army comes from there. I’ll have Zhong Wu escort you back. Once in Jinchuan, just tell him how many men you need.”
“Here are the production methods for barbed wire and catapults, along with phalanx deployment and variations, as a gift to you, Marquis.”
Jin Feng smiled, pulling a small booklet from his chest, “Any formation or weapon is most effective the first time. The Dangxiang suffered this time, but next time, they’ll have countermeasures for the phalanx and catapults.
So, I included a method for making caltrops at the end. In a critical moment, you can try it.
Unfortunately, the iron from the porcelain kilns is good for barbed wire but not up to standard for crossbows. I’ll work on it in Jinchuan and send you the results.”
“Thank you, sir!”
Qing Huai excitedly took the booklet with both hands.
He knew this booklet was more valuable than any gift.
