"Father, there are no more soldiers to fight in Taiyuan City; only the old and weak remain. With just these people, Taiyuan cannot be held..."
Hearing Zhang Xiaochun's words, Zhang Ji immediately burst into tears.
If he were to leave now, this parting would be a separation of life and death...
"I eat the Emperor's salary and bear the Emperor's worries. Since I am the Grand Pacification Commissioner of Hedong, I should naturally fight to the death! If there are no soldiers to fight in this city, there is still me, Zhang Xiaochun! While you haven't left yet, help your father put on his armor!"
As Zhang Xiaochun spoke, he struggled to stand up.
"Father!"
Seeing Zhang Xiaochun trembling all over, Zhang Ji couldn't help but weep.
"Reporting, sir, Wang Bing, Commander of the Victorious Army, requests an audience!"
Just as the father and son were embracing and crying, a gruff voice suddenly came from outside the door.
"Wang Bing!"
Upon hearing the name, Zhang Xiaochun's entire body trembled. With strength he didn't know he had, he quickly took a few steps and opened the door.
By the dim candlelight filtering from the room, Zhang Xiaochun saw a man as tall as an iron tower standing outside in the pouring rain.
"Wang Bing, Commander of the Victorious Army, pays his respects to you, sir!"
"Taiyuan City is on the verge of falling. You return now, are you here to court death?"
Looking at Wang Bing standing in the heavy rain, Zhang Xiaochun suddenly smiled.
"Sir, your subordinate dares not agree. Taiyuan City has three hundred thousand soldiers and civilians. The Jin army numbers only tens of thousands. If they wish to break Taiyuan City, let them pay with their lives! Wang Bing, Commander of the Song Dynasty's Victorious Army, requests to fight, sir!"
As Wang Bing spoke, he knelt on one knee before Zhang Xiaochun.
"Rumble—"
Accompanied by the rumbling thunder, the rain intensified.
"Hahahaha, I haven't seen such a foolish person like you in many years!"
Listening to the sound of the rain hitting Wang Bing's iron armor, Zhang Xiaochun suddenly laughed.
"Your subordinate requests to fight, sir!"
Hearing Zhang Xiaochun's laughter, Wang Bing, still kneeling in the pouring rain, raised his head again.
"Granted!"
As Zhang Xiaochun spoke, he pushed away his son who was trying to help him, and walked straight into the heavy rain, helping up Wang Bing who was kneeling on the ground.
"If Taiyuan City falls, I will offer my head to repay General's kindness today! On behalf of the people of Taiyuan City, I thank you, General, for your kindness today!"
As Zhang Xiaochun spoke, he knelt directly in the pouring rain.
"Sir!"
Seeing Zhang Xiaochun kneeling, Wang Bing quickly stepped forward to help him up.
As the two of them united to reorganize the military affairs, Li Gang, dressed in a green robe, looked at Bianliang City with a feeling of having passed through different eras.
He was already over fifty years old and had originally thought he would never have the chance to return to Bianliang City in this lifetime.
Yet, unexpectedly, only a few months had passed since his last visit, and he had gone from a minor tax supervisor to the Deputy Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices.
Although this position was not a crucial one in the Song Dynasty, it was, after all, a distinguished official rank within the Nine Ministers.
At least in terms of rank, it was a remarkably esteemed and pure position.
"Brother Boji, you've finally arrived!"
As Li Gang was lost in thought, Fan Zhengguo, wearing a scholar's robe, strode up with a hearty laugh.
Seeing Fan Zhengguo, even the usually stern Li Gang couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion. However, as the words reached his lips, he abruptly changed his tone:
"Prime Minister Fan, I heard that you are currently swamped with official duties. The ministers waiting outside your manor for an audience are said to stretch all the way to Nanxun Gate! It's too much for me to come out and welcome me personally, wouldn't you say?"
"You old rascal, you're deliberately mocking me, aren't you? Hahahaha!"
Looking at Li Gang's ruddy complexion, Fan Zhengguo couldn't help but laugh.
Putting aside other matters, Li Gang's complexion had improved significantly after returning from Han Mo this time.
"I'm just telling the truth. Honestly, Prime Minister Fan, have you been making a fortune lately?"
"Go away, go away, you old rascal. The more you talk, the less proper you become. I even prepared a jar of excellent Zhuangyuan Hong for you!"
"You should have said so earlier! If I had known you prepared good wine, I wouldn't have teased you! Hahahaha!"
"Hahahaha!"
After exchanging a smile, the two of them fell silent again.
"The last time we parted, I thought it would be our final meeting in this lifetime, but who would have thought..."
After a moment of silence, Fan Zhengguo said emotionally.
"I also thought I would grow old and die in the Shu region. Who would have thought..."
After sighing, Li Gang couldn't help but mock himself.
For the first time in his life, he realized that running a school was such a simple matter.
Although he hadn't known Han Mo for long, his entire worldview had almost been overturned by this young man.
He had never realized that it could be so easy to get promoted by being around this young man.
Previously, the upright officials in the court had indeed thought of ways to help him, but all their efforts had vanished into thin air.
After all, neither the Emperor nor powerful officials like Cai Jing and Wang Fu would want someone so stubborn and incorruptible by their side.
However, with Han Mo's intervention, in just a few months, he had been directly promoted to the position of Deputy Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices for his meritorious service in promoting education!
"Alright, it's good that you're back. Your return this time is just in time to share some of the pressure with me. I didn't expect that old fellow Yu Shen to become so shrewd after his comeback this time!"
Looking at the soldiers at the city gate with strange glances, Fan Zhengguo spoke while pulling Li Gang towards a nearby carriage.
"You should ride in mine. This carriage was specially given to me by that young man!"
Seeing Fan Zhengguo about to pull him into his carriage, Li Gang smiled and pointed to his own carriage.
"Oh? Is there anything different about this carriage?"
Hearing this, Fan Zhengguo also became interested.
"I can't quite explain the specifics, but you'll know when you try it. If it weren't for this carriage, my journey back to the capital wouldn't have been so smooth!"
Speaking of this matter, Li Gang was filled with emotion.
"Then I must try it properly!"
At Li Gang's invitation, Fan Zhengguo didn't say much and simply followed Li Gang into his carriage.
As soon as he sat down, Fan Zhengguo immediately felt the floor beneath him soften.
"There are six layers of soft cushions laid here. Sleeping on it is like falling into the clouds!"
Li Gang said, while tapping on the carriage door, signaling the coachman to set off.