"What did you say?"
Guo Xin stared at the messenger, wondering whether he had misheard.
Xiao Mo had actually surrendered?
"Yes, General. The envoy from the Northern Wilderness is already outside the tent, waiting to see you," the soldier said.
"Show the envoy in."
Guo Xin fell silent for a moment, then spoke after some thought.
Whether it was true or false, he had to meet this envoy and see just what Xiao Mo was playing at.
"Yes, General."
The soldier hurried out. Before long, Li Jing, the envoy from the Northern Wilderness, entered the tent.
"Li Jing of the Northern Wilderness Army pays his respects, General."
Li Jing clasped his hands in salute and spoke respectfully.
"Ah, General Li."
Guo Xin looked at Li Jing with a smile.
"You've been in the Northern Wilderness Army for seventy years now, haven't you, General Li?
"I hear Prince Zhenbei takes you with him every time he marches to war.
"Yet generals like Fang Weiming, Huang Long, and Zhang Kui have all been made kings, and quite a few others have been made marquises.
"But you still haven't received a single noble title. Even I can hardly bear to watch."
Li Jing shook his head.
"General Fang personally led the army that destroyed the Langya Kingdom. He was made King of Langya and granted Langya as his fief.
"General Huang also led an army to destroy the Chang Kingdom. He was made King of Chang, and all its territory was granted to him.
"As for General Zhang, there's even less need to explain. He followed two successive Princes Zhenbei on campaigns north and south. Once, he stood alone on horseback before Soul-Severing Bridge, saber held crosswise, and with a single shout drove an army of a hundred thousand back four full steps.