"General Xie, don't think that just because my name has 'Meng', I'm cute. When it comes to deploying troops and leading battles, I might not lose to you. You have to show your true skills, or if I win, you'll come up with all sorts of excuses!"
She wasn't old but spoke with such arrogance, as if she were afraid of her words being blown away by the wind!
This immediately ignited Xie Changming's fighting spirit. Since the princess had said so, he was no longer afraid of her crying tears of sorrow.
Thus, he adopted a stance, and on the field, people engaged in a battle of wits and courage, while those watching from the platform felt anxious.
In contrast, Fang Jingchen and General Shi Haoming, standing on the side, were engaged in lively discussions, commenting on the combat techniques on the field and occasionally offering their critiques.
Below the stage, Fan Yao and Fan Sen, leading the three younger sisters, Tiantian, Guoguo, and Zhenzhen, applauded, cheering for their elder sister to defeat Xie Changming.
After two hours, as the number of soldiers on both sides gradually dwindled, Pingting nervously twisted the silk handkerchief in her hand. "Sister-in-law, do you think Yu Meng can win?"
"She will, who is my grandniece? She will definitely win!"
Zhao Jiaqi blinked her eyes. This Pingting was already asking and answering her own questions.
Turning back to observe the situation on the field, it was still a stalemate. After about half an hour, the match finally concluded.
Unexpectedly, the result was a draw.
Yu Meng was unhappy, unsatisfied, and clearly, such an outcome was unacceptable to her.
Conversely, Xie Changming could not believe it. The princess had fought him to a draw?
How was that possible? How could a person as small as the princess, who had never been on a battlefield nor killed anyone, possess such high tactical skill?
Or had his own tactics declined? He swore that he had used his best efforts in that match.
Now, his old face was utterly disgraced.
The two returned to the base of the high platform, and Fang Jingchen and Shi Haoming, as chief examiners, announced the draw.
"Mother, I'm not convinced. I want to do it again!"
Xie Changming also felt that he had underestimated the princess's tactics. He was unwilling to admit that he was inferior in skill, so he made excuses for himself.
"Your Majesty the Empress, this subordinate is also not convinced. I beg for a rematch!"
Shi Haoming understood clearly, and he knew the caliber of his subordinates even better. In truth, although this match was a draw, in his heart, the princess had already won.
Putting aside the fact that the princess was a woman and young, just the fact that she, who had never been to a real battlefield, could draw with a veteran deputy general was enough to show her courage, which could rival those soldiers who trampled over white bones. Truly, the younger generation was formidable!
Shi Haoming stepped forward, refusing a rematch, fearing Xie Changming would lose face.
"The princess has a natural talent for leading troops. Although it was a draw, with time, the princess will surely defeat Deputy General Xie!"
These words were fair and reasonable. Fang Jingchen nodded from the side. It was indeed so. He believed in his granddaughter; within a year, she would definitely be able to defeat the deputy general.
Zhao Jiaqi was pleased to hear others praise her daughter and felt honored. Seeing her daughter's disappointed face, she could not bear it.
"Yu Meng, if you can get General Shi to take you as a disciple, I will grant your wish!"
The disappointed Yu Meng's pouting lips immediately curled up upon hearing her mother's words. The intelligent girl, without a second word, knelt on one knee before General Shi and blurted out, "Master Shi, I pay my respects. I beg you to take me as your disciple."
No one knew where she had learned this move, and everyone was stunned.
Shi Haoming was very pleased that the princess could kneel to acknowledge him as her master, disregarding her status. Even more delighted was that he could, in his lifetime, have such a talented female disciple.
He was filled with immense satisfaction!
He helped Yu Meng up from the ground with both hands and patted her shoulders. He said with a hearty laugh, "Alright, I accept you as my disciple. But training in the military camp is extremely arduous. As long as you can endure it, I, your master, will impart all my lifetime's knowledge to you."
Yu Meng clapped her hands and jumped with joy, waving her arms and exclaiming, "I have a master! Yay!"
The mischievous girl gave Zhao Jiaqi in the audience a victory sign, beaming with happiness. She did not forget to answer her master's words: "Master, I fear hardship the least. Master, you can test me as you wish. If I so much as utter the word 'hardship', I am not your disciple!"
Her ambitious declaration, her confident demeanor, made Zhao Jiaqi stare in a daze for a moment.
In the afternoon, Zhao Jiaqi received a letter from Fan Zehao.
There had already been engagements on the border. This time, Jiang Ke was leading the army for the Jin Kingdom. What was even more unexpected was that Jiang Youyou had become a side concubine to the Crown Prince of Jin.
After reading the letter, a mocking smile played on Zhao Jiaqi's lips.
To give up being a proper Empress and choose to be a concubine. She had also observed the Crown Prince of Jin. Compared to the late Emperor Huangfu Yifan, he was only slightly more handsome, but in terms of lineage, the late Emperor was still superior to the Crown Prince of Jin.
Zhao Jiaqi was not worried about the Jin Kingdom. This time, they were not the only ones facing Jin. Zong Han was already sharpening its knives. The two kingdoms would divide Jin, thus preventing it from causing trouble in the future and causing their people to live in dire straits.
As for the Wei and Tianhan Kingdoms, these two were more cautious and were currently observing. As long as they did not interfere, the situation would not undergo any significant changes.
In October, the weather gradually turned cold. The triumphant reports from the border arrived once every other day. Jin sued for peace, but Fan Zehao directly refused. This time, they intended to kill the chicken to warn the monkeys and did not want to give them any chance to breathe.
Zong Han and Fan Zehao joined forces, their momentum surging like a rainbow. They went straight into the capital of Jin, capturing the Jin Emperor alive. The Crown Prince, Changsun Qinghua, fled but was also captured by Zong Han's men.
After interrogation, it was revealed that Jiang Ke and Jiang Youyou's mother was actually from the Jin Kingdom!
This news indeed shocked everyone. Who would have believed that the wife of Jiang Zancheng, a general commanding two hundred thousand troops, was actually a person from Jin?
At the end of October, Zong Han and Fan Zehao discussed the division of Jin's territory. The two families would each take half, without any bias. After reaching an agreement, they left their own people to manage the newly acquired cities. The foremost among them were Fan Xudong and Xiao Ce.
One of these two possessed bravery, while the other possessed strategy. One would eliminate potential threats from Jin, while the other would serve to appease and deter.
Fan Zehao took only half of the three hundred thousand troops, leaving the other half to Fan Xudong, hoping he could manage the newly acquired cities well.
December.
The sky was overcast. Standing on the city wall, Zhao Jiaqi, clad in a thick cloak, gazed into the distance. According to the report from the subordinates below, the Emperor was returning to the capital in triumph today.
Half an hour later, a grand procession appeared before her eyes.
Fan Zehao's stern face looked at his wife on the city wall, his eyes filled with a deeper smile. He urged his horse forward to meet his wife.
Dismounting, Fan Zehao stepped forward and embraced his wife. The rough pads of his fingers caressed her face as he said emotionally, "Wife, I'm back!"
"Mmm, it's good that you're back!"
Zhao Jiaqi withdrew from his warm embrace, her face slightly flushed. There were still many soldiers behind them, and such an embrace would be unseemly.
Fan Zehao mounted his horse again, pulled his wife into his arms, and with a wave of his arm, the large cloak behind him directly enveloped Zhao Jiaqi, leaving only her head exposed.
Zhao Jiaqi, not accustomed to riding a horse, squirmed restlessly on the horse's back. A low voice came to her ear.
"Sit still. Hold onto my waist, and you won't fall off!"
Zhao Jiaqi tilted her head and glared fiercely at him. This fellow was definitely doing it on purpose, deliberately taking advantage of her.
However, her hands unconsciously wrapped around his waist, and she squeezed him.