Yan Xiaohan hinted, “Your Majesty, the Jingning Marquis’s leg injury will never heal, so he cannot lead troops, but the Northern Yan cavalry remains under his control. He has only the Empress as his sister. If you treat the Empress well, the Northern Yan cavalry will naturally be a great asset to the court.”
The Emperor persistently asked, “What exactly is going on between you and Fu Shen?”
Yan Xiaohan, not expecting the Emperor to be more interested in his personal life than state affairs, could only say, “Your Majesty, I am naturally inclined towards men and will never have offspring.”
I want his military power, and conveniently becoming his husband does not conflict with this.
Although love is limited, power is more important than love.
He described himself almost exactly like Emperor Changzhi. Emperor Changzhi felt a deep resonance and understood the implied promise of “no heir,” was satisfied with his tactfulness, slightly relaxed his guard, and no longer pursued the matter with the Xue family. He generously waved his hand and said, “No more. You may retire.”
Yan Xiaohan bowed and left.
News soon came from the north. The Northern Yan cavalry stationed in Ganzhou launched an attack on Ningzhou, and the unfortunate Ningzhou rebels once again opened their gates, being swept away like scattered iron by the Northern Yan army. Two days later, the Northern Yan army recaptured the entire Ningzhou region.
Along with the battle report sent to various regional governors and the new southern court was a personal letter from the Northern Yan commander, Jingning Marquis Fu Shen.
During the morning court, Yan Xiaohan’s hand trembled beneath his wide sleeve, but no one noticed his unusual state or cared about the contents of the letter. Everyone was consumed by the same shocking fact: Fu Shen had returned.
Only the Northern Yan cavalry truly embodied the spirit of “defending home and country.” Not even the Southern Court, which claimed legitimacy, could match his mobilization power. Within half a month, regional governors responded one after another. Huainan and Xiangzhou dispatched troops, pushing the Dache army’s defense line north of the Han River. With Fu Shen in command, the Northern Yan cavalry advanced like a thunderbolt, quickly recapturing counties west of Chang’an.
