Shen Yan, the Great General Defending the North, achieved a crushing victory over the barbarian tribes and returned in triumph, desiring only to lay down his armor, return to his hometown, farm the land, and raise chickens. In the Jinluan Hall, he handed over the tiger tally and earnestly requested to resign his post, but the emperor only permitted him to rest and did not approve his resignation. Shen Yan returned to his hometown on his own, bought farmland, built a house to raise chickens, and rekindled his romance with his childhood sweetheart, Su Xiaotang. The crown prince, wary of his military exploits, forged a treasonous secret letter and dispatched assassins to frame him for rebellion. War broke out once more in the northern borderlands, and the crown prince suffered a disastrous defeat leading the troops. With the nation in crisis, the emperor personally traveled to the countryside to beg Shen Yan to come out of retirement. Shen Yan first demanded to receive the approval of his resignation, then accepted the critical mission under peril to lead the troops against the enemy. After suppressing the turmoil, he once again returned military power and went back to the pastoral life to stay with his wife and child.