Yong Province, outside Chang'an.
"General!"
"Duke Chen is facing off against Jiang Wei near Didao. The army is advancing along the northern route, bypassing Jiang Wei's ambush..."
The scout reported the situation at the front.
Clad in armor, Deng Ai could not calm his heart.
When he arrived in Luoyang and the emperor took his hand in front of the General of the Guards, saying he would certainly entrust him with important duties, Deng Ai had not quite believed him.
After all, he was a trusted confidant of the Sima Family, a man Sima Yi had personally raised from the bottom ranks-a confidant among confidants.
However much Cao Mao admired him, would he really dare trust him unconditionally?
Besides, the emperor had brought up military agriculture and similar matters, which made Deng Ai all the more certain that he would never command an army again.
For Deng Ai knew just how much these aristocrats looked down on military agriculture and land reclamation.
They looked down on farmers, on farming, and even thought little of the officials responsible for military agriculture.
Of everyone Deng Ai had met so far, the person who cared most about such matters was still the late Duke Xuanwen, Sima Yi.
When Sima Yi first discovered Deng Ai, he had consulted him about farming, then followed his memorial's proposals to reclaim land and establish military agriculture throughout the country, raising Wei's strength to another level.
He did not think the emperor meant what he said. It was probably just a way to keep him away from the army in the future.
Yet after leaving Sima Zhao's residence, Cao Mao pulled him into a carriage and raced straight to the Central Army Camp.
There, he immediately announced Deng Ai's appointment.
General Who Guards the West.
Before Deng Ai