The immense spectacle at Luoyi's city gate had not been arranged by anyone else, but by Duke of Xinning Prefecture Gu Yan and Marquis Taichuan Liu Ye.
Ye Zhen now enjoyed enormous renown within the Great Zhou military, but while such fame could influence lower- and mid-ranking officers, senior generals all had their own positions and factions. They would not rush over to greet him merely upon hearing his name.
Duke of Xinning Prefecture Gu Yan and Marquis Taichuan Liu Ye were considered part of Ye Zhen's faction.
Previously, because Ye Zhen had been banished and gone missing, their days had suddenly become exceedingly difficult.
Everyone inside and outside the court knew of the conflict between Ye Zhen and the new emperor, Ji Ao. Their opponents did not even need to make a move; the sycophants alone had left them overwhelmed and cost them dearly.
However, these two were also old foxes who had weathered the court's storms for many years. They decisively pulled back their forces, preserved their strength, and went into hiding.
Among the political forces under Ye Zhen, anyone could distance themselves from him—except the two of them.
There was no helping it. Their sons still controlled the power of the former North Sea Prefecture Duke's Mansion, one governing civil affairs and the other commanding the military. No matter how they tried, they could not cut themselves loose.
After enduring bitterly for a year and a half, Ye Zhen's sudden return finally put their hearts at ease.
Then, the Zhenhai Army first defeated the Devil Race and held Changling Commandery City, while Ye Zhen went on to rout the Water Clan's army of ten million. Although news such as the killing of Dragon Lord Ao Ze of the North Sea had not spread, those battle achievements alone