Lieutenant Su was also enraged. But before he could catch his breath, he heard Qingcao scolding him again. "My young lady is a third - rank general bestowed with a title by the late emperor, the first female general of our dynasty! I wonder where this General Su comes from. Among my young lady's uncles, except for the former marshal, the souls of the others have been sacrificed to heaven and they were posthumously named Dukes Protecting the State! They are the real uncles. I don't know where this upstart comes from, daring to point at himself and ask others to call him uncle. You're not worthy."
Qingcao couldn't stand anyone insulting her young lady, especially when they mentioned the old lady and the madam. Besides, the second and third uncles died in battle years ago and were indeed posthumously named Dukes Protecting the State. This Lieutenant Su was just a deputy general, yet he dared to shout here.
In her fit of scolding to vent anger for Su Wan'er, it wasn't until later that Qingcao remembered that Gu Jingtian was standing beside them. Her face immediately flushed with embarrassment. She stole a glance at him, only to find that he was really looking at her.
A strange look flashed in Gu Jingtian's eyes. He always thought this girl was just considerate to Wan'er, but now it seemed that she was also brave.
"Hey, where did you little girl come from? How dare you teach your grandpa a lesson?" Lieutenant Su showed his hooligan side and even wanted to hit Qingcao.
Su Wan'er immediately drew a sword from a soldier beside her and blocked him. "She is a female official conferred by the emperor. This time when she came to the army, the emperor only sent her. If Lieutenant Su thinks he can hit her, then go ahead."
Seeing him hesitate for a moment, Su Wan'er quietly pulled Qingcao back. To be honest, she was really afraid that he would dare to hit Qingcao.
"During a great battle, harmony is of utmost importance in the army. Today's incident, no matter who it started with, is not the fault of one person alone." Su Wan'er tried to look as imposing as possible. After scanning everyone around, she said calmly, "Lieutenant Han and Lieutenant Su lost their self - control during the sparring in the camp. They not only damaged the harmony but also undermined the stability of the army's morale. Each of them will have their monthly salary deducted as a warning."
At first glance, it seemed that Su Wan'er was trying to play down the incident as a stopgap measure. But if you thought about it carefully, it was actually a means for her to assert her authority.
After all, although she came with the title of the first female general of the Great Jin, no one had officially given her the power. She didn't even have a single soldier under her command. How could she have the right to reward and punish here?
Su Wan'er was also very nervous. Whether she could win the soldiers' respect depended on this move. Since she had chosen this path, she had decided not to rely on anyone. So she had to establish her own prestige in the army little by little.
Fortunately, General Han was always kind - hearted. It seemed that he still remembered his old acquaintance with Su Wan'er when she was a child. He was the first to stand up and accept the punishment.
Naturally, a month's salary was nothing. Compared with that, the act of standing up and admitting mistakes was more telling.
However, Lieutenant Su immediately understood. "Why? You say I should be punished and I have to be punished? You're just a girl who has been here for a day and a half. The late emperor conferred a title on you, but did he let you go to the battlefield? You just came here on your own and expect us to listen to you? You're daydreaming."
Naturally, although his words were crude, they made sense. The soldiers present seemed to understand. It seemed that this Miss Su, who claimed to be General Wei, had indeed come uninvited.
"Lieutenant Su, you're being overly muddle - headed today. The commander - in - chief and General Su have both had accidents. The late emperor once said that General Wei could take over the command. Now is the time when we need capable people. How can she not come to take charge of the overall situation?" Gu Jingtian saw that the situation was getting out of control and quickly stepped in to stabilize it.
"Humph, she can take over the command? You must be joking." Lieutenant Su sneered.
"This is the Su Family Army. I'm acting according to the late emperor's imperial edict. Why can't I take over?" Su Wan'er glared at him.
"Humph, if we're talking about being a member of the Su family, I'm more qualified than you. I've been with the Su Family Army through thick and thin for most of my life. If we're going to have a member of the Su family in charge, it shouldn't be you." Lieutenant Su, being a military man with little education, immediately lost his temper and blurted out these words.
"Lieutenant Su! I'm still here! Are you trying to rebel?" Gu Jingtian immediately scolded him.
"Come on. This is the Su Family Army. You know we can't do without a member of the Su family. What's the use of a marshal? How about this today. All the generals here, listen to me. The Su Family Army still has to listen to a member of the Su family. Today, you can choose one of us, me and Miss San." Lieutenant Su seemed to rely on his seniority and was fearless.
Su Wan'er instantly felt it was a thorny problem. She had thought that she might be excluded by the people in the army, but she didn't expect to be put in this position so soon to be scrutinized.
But she was new here and had no prestige at all. How could she make people convinced overnight?
"Lieutenant Su, you're overreacting. How dare I, a junior, do such a thing? Besides, this matter is too absurd. The Su Family Army belongs to the imperial court and is the army of the Great Jin. The marshal conferred by the emperor is still here. It's not up to us."
Like a master of taiji, no one present expected that Su Wan'er would say such words and was willing to give up the fight for power.
The people present didn't know what was going on. To be honest, the Su Family Army had long recognized a member of the Su family to be in charge, either openly or secretly. It was entirely possible to choose one from the two of them.
General Han stepped in to smooth things over at this time. "Yes, yes. Lao Su, your temper is too impulsive. This girl is too young. Besides, the Su Family Army has always been loyal. The marshal is still here. Everyone, disperse, disperse."
These words were reasonable and seemed to offend no one. Naturally, everyone thought that General Han was a man who understood the general situation. Only Lieutenant Su gritted his teeth in hatred. All the good words had been said by this old guy!
"All generals, listen to the order. Return to your camps for drills." With Gu Jingtian's order, everyone scattered like birds and beasts, as if they had forgotten that they had just not taken the marshal seriously and only followed the lead of the Su family.
"Girl." General Han called her in a soothing tone.
"Oh, Uncle Han. It's been a long time. I was just thinking of visiting you after I settled down, but then this happened." Su Wan'er remembered her experiences when she was young and felt very close to him.
"Hehe, the girl has grown up and become a general, while I'm getting older and older." General Han sighed with emotion.
Su Wan'er thought that since her father had a close friendship with him and her elder brother also had a good relationship with him, he should know about her entering the palace to be the queen. But now, judging from his tone, it seemed that he thought she had just been staying in the capital after being conferred as a female general in recent years.
"Not at all, Uncle Han. You're still in good spirits. I still have to rely on you." Su Wan'er thought that maybe he could still be her helper.