[Fantasy] My World (Complete) - 15

page views:1 Publication date:2023-03-24

Chapter Six: Desperate to
save lives, the grassland allied forces vented their anger until nearly dawn, only ceasing to fire stones when the springs of their catapults could no longer withstand the strain.
After the boulders stopped falling, we discovered that a 500-meter stretch inwards from this section of the city wall was densely covered with stones; nearly two-thirds of the houses had collapsed, and the remaining third was largely damaged.
Chen Fuyue hadn't stayed on this side of the wall last night, but instead patrolled the surrounding walls, closely monitoring the enemy's movements.
As commander-in-chief, in times of crisis, one must be on the front lines, not hiding in a safe place to direct operations; otherwise, the difference in morale between the two would be immeasurable.
As the new city garrison commander of Xiliang City, I naturally followed Chen Fuyue. He didn't hold back, sharing his experience in defending the city and his views on the barbarians of the southern grasslands. This openness made me feel that this prince of Chu could be considered a friend.
By the early morning of the third day, the enemy had sounded the retreat. We had just returned to the city garrison when we were shocked.
More than half of the city lord's mansion had collapsed. The Jinggong sisters sat on an open-air bench with Xiaosa. Xiaosa's wife was relatively calm, but the two maids around them were terrified and pale.
Not far from them were several large, broken rocks, the clean cuts clearly made by a sharp blade.
Chen Fuyue's heart skipped a beat. He thought to himself how lucky he was to have been careful last night. If it weren't for the two ladies of Lanting being there, who knows how worried and frightened his wife would have been.
"Xiaohan!"
"Husband..."
The two quickly embraced, staging a touching reunion. In contrast, my two twin beauties were quite relaxed. They walked up to me, gave me a flirtatious wink, and remained obediently silent.
I asked softly, "Was last night dangerous?"
Jing Gongmei gently shook her head. "No, it was just that the falling boulders were amazing. The room we were in at the beginning, like the previous one, was destroyed. Sister Xiao Sa was too scared to stay in any other rooms, so we had to come to the open space! Cai also displayed her incredible power, smashing six boulders. Seeing how amazing she was, they weren't too worried."
I looked at the shattered boulders. When I looked at Jing Gongcai, the beautiful girl puffed out her beautiful breasts, her face filled with a longing that
seemed to say , "Praise me! Praise me!"
As her husband, I naturally had to praise her achievements: "My dear Cai! Your kung fu is getting better and better."
"Giggle..."
Hearing my praise, Jing Gongcai's crescent-shaped eyes curved into a smile. No matter how skilled she was, she was still just a sixteen-year-old. Being praised by her husband made the beautiful girl especially happy.
"To be able to split such a huge boulder, your skill has increased by at least 50% since we met. Little Cai'er is really diligent!"
I patted her pink cheeks. "However, there's one thing you should pay attention to: when splitting the boulder, don't use all your strength. You should at least save some, so you have a backup plan for unexpected situations."
"Oh, I understand..."
Jing Gong Cai thought for a moment and nodded seriously.
"Young Master, shall we go again tonight and let those grassland barbarians taste our power once more?"
Little Turtle finally had a chance to speak.
"Yes, Young Master, with our strength, no matter how much they defend themselves, it's all in vain."
Little Bird naturally echoed his friend and best friend's suggestion.
"I don't think that will work,"
Wang Miao'er, who was following behind us, shook her head and said, "Last night it was because they were caught off guard. You haven't seen how tense they are. They have scouts within a twenty-mile radius. Last night's success was already a remarkable miracle. Don't think about doing it again; that would only cause more harm."
"We're not afraid,"
Jing Gongmei said softly. "Even the tightest defenses can't withstand our ninjutsu. Tonight we can burn down two more of their granaries."
I had no doubt about the Jing Gong sisters' abilities, but Wang Miao'er's reminder was very necessary. Military camps are fraught with danger. If they completely blockade the camp and conduct a thorough search, the two little ones would be in danger.
No matter how powerful the ninjutsu is, it can't withstand the siege of tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of people.
While we hesitated, Jing Gongcai interjected, "Brother, don't worry... their granaries are very empty, which is perfect for us to hide our tracks...
" "Empty?"
I asked doubtfully, "What empty?" "
It means it's very spacious. If the grain and fodder are piled up full, it won't be conducive to delaying the lighting of the fire."
Jing Gongcai gestured as she spoke. "The grain in their granaries is only about a third full!"
"What?"
"A third full?"
Wang Miao'er and Chen Fuyue, who had just walked over, exclaimed in unison.
Seeing their stunned expressions, the twin beauties felt a pang of guilt and involuntarily moved closer to me.
"Hey, why didn't you say so sooner!"
Chen Fuyue stamped her foot, her face full of regret, and rushed out without saying another word. "
As expected, he's brainless..."
Wang Miao'er muttered softly, and followed Chen Fuyue.
The little beauties were so angry that their nostrils were flaring, waving their fists and glaring fiercely at Wang Miao'er's figure. At this moment, I remembered that before the two twin sisters met me, they were ruthless assassins, so I quickly took their little hands.
"Brother... she bullied me..."
the girls said in unison.
Little Turtle and Little Bird also understood at this time, and shook their heads when they heard this, quietly retreating to the side.
As for my wife, I naturally took a tolerant approach, and said softly, "Good girl, you can't blame them. You are young and don't know how to think so much. It's all my fault for not asking you about the specific situation of the granary last night."
"Brother, the granary is only one-third full, is there a problem?" "
Jing Gongcai still couldn't quite understand.
One granary not being full isn't a big deal, but several granaries in a row only having a third full, yet they still set up ten granaries—what does that mean?" I patiently guided the girls' thinking.
"Hmm... I don't know."
The twin beauties shook their heads in unison.
"Setting up ten granaries in the camp takes up a lot of space and requires a lot of guards. If they combined these granaries into six or seven, wouldn't that save space and allow them to concentrate more forces for defense? Naturally, there would be no need to divide the guards into ten groups."
"That's right!"
The two girls nodded thoughtfully.
"Since they didn't choose the convenient, simple, and safe method, it means they have a reason for doing it, like... hiding something."
"Hiding what? Brother, tell us quickly!"
"For example, they want to hide the fact that they are short of food, so we don't know that they retreated earlier than expected because of the food shortage."
"Ah..."
The girls' eyes were filled with admiration. "Brother, you're so smart..."
"Hehe, I'm smart, but you little darlings aren't stupid either. You should try to think things through more often, discuss things between yourselves, or just come and talk to me. Before long, you'll become as observant as I am!"
"Okay, we'll definitely be your good helpers..."
The two girls vowed confidently. The little turtle and bird beside them shook their heads in disapproval. I glared at them, and they finally turned away, secretly laughing to themselves so the little princesses wouldn't see.
Indeed, the Jinggong sisters are naturally lively and docile, able to carry out my orders, but it's a bit difficult for them to think independently. This is related to the education of the Wa people from a young age; women only obey men's opinions and rarely think for themselves. The two little princesses are no exception.
But if every one of my wives is good at scheming, then it would really be meaningless.
There are many kinds of beauties, and each one has a different personality. Even the twins before me are quite different; one is quiet and the other is charming and innocent. It is precisely because of their different personalities that they are so likable. If all women had the same personality, they would feel monotonous
. For their husbands, it is a blessing that their wives can maintain their own personalities and not change because of external influences.
Therefore, so what if the Jinggong sisters lack strategy? With me, Liu Ri, standing before them, no one can harm them, and they will always be happy with me.
The Jinggong sisters realized their mistake. Although they were unhappy with Wang Miao'er's criticism, they still felt somewhat guilty and urged me to come to the city wall.
The city wall was now crowded with people, all staring intently in the same direction.
In the distance, countless grassland allied troops were packing up their tents. Simple wagons were being assembled, and warhorses were being harnessed with long reins, pulling loads of goods as they passed through the side of Xiliang City and headed north.
A long line had now stretched for ten miles. Even from five or six miles away, one could still see the simple, open wagons laden with not only countless provisions and porcelain, but also many women and children. The children's cries seemed almost audible.
Most heartbreaking were the expressions of the abducted women. They stared intently at the city walls, their faces blank and filled with despair, like puppets. Yet, their gazes at Xiliang City conveyed their inner sorrow and grief.
"Alas!"
The soldiers on the city walls were all deeply saddened; many had tears in their eyes, and many others pounded their fists against the hard walls without feeling the pain, their teeth almost breaking.
Chen Fuyue, with a group of generals, stood in the center, expressionless as he watched the actions of the grassland allied forces, ignoring the loud suggestions his men made in his ear.
"Young Master, let's fight our way out! These bastards have stolen our sisters and children. Are we just going to stand by and watch them go to their deaths on the grasslands?"
"Commander, I beg you! Even if we don't send everyone, find the brothers of Silver Tiger and ask them to fight and bring them back... bring back as many as you can. Even if we all die, it doesn't matter. With so many righteous soldiers and brave warriors, they won't be able to break through!"
“General Chen! We are not soldiers, but we are willing to go out of the city to rescue people. Please prepare the baskets to receive these poor souls…”
Three different types of soldiers guarding the city tried to persuade Chen Fuyue in their own ways. After such a brutal battle, most of them hadn’t lost their minds and were ready to rush out to rescue people.
However, after the crisis was over, Chen Fuyue, as the supreme commander, could no longer control those who were not under his command.
A group of martial arts practitioners dressed in conspicuous outfits shouted loudly to lower the ropes and prepare to leave the city walls.
They knew that with the enemy still in the lead, they might not return alive, but what did it matter? Seeing their compatriots, sisters, and children being abducted to the cold and impoverished southern desert, possibly not surviving the winter, they had only one thought: even if they died, they would rescue some.
The soldiers, without Chen Fuyue’s permission, dared not move rashly, but they stepped forward to help tie the ropes, supporting the group of martial arts practitioners with their actions.
“Halt!”
Chen Fuyue frowned coldly and shouted, "Anyone who dares to leave the city will be punished for violating military orders!" "
General Chen, we are not your subordinates. Now that the enemy has retreated, we are no longer needed, so what we do is none of your business!"
A middle-aged man echoed him loudly. Hundreds of martial arts practitioners shared the same thought, and several had already jumped onto the wall.
"Stop!"
The sharp voice did not come from Chen Fuyue, but the slightly cold female voice made all the martial arts practitioners who were about to jump stop and turn to look at the girl who spoke.
Wang Miao'er, who had become the focus of attention, looked even colder. "General Chen's order is my order. Do not move!"
"Second Miss!"
Another young man was anxious. "We want to rescue them. Why are you stopping us?"
"I'll say it again. None of you are allowed to move. Otherwise, you will be going against the Wang family, and your family members will not have a good time either." Wang
Miao'er didn't explain; instead, it sounded like a blatant threat.
However, the prestige of the Northwest Wang family was undeniable in the hearts of the Northwest martial arts world. Hearing Wang Miao'er's stern words, all the martial arts figures hesitated.
The atmosphere on the city wall became awkward and cold because of Chen Fuyue and Wang Miao'er's orders. Countless people looked at these two rulers with incomprehension and anger.
However, Chen Fuyue and Wang Miao'er could only control this side of the city wall; the other side could see the outside world. The situation was different against the city walls.
The soldiers fared somewhat better; their experienced lieutenants also managed to stop the attack. But the martial arts heroes, filled with righteous indignation, charged straight down.
Hundreds of martial arts masters, after descending the ropes, immediately dispersed into a fan shape, rushing towards the convoy five or six miles away.
Five or six miles was a distance that could be covered in the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. The martial arts heroes exerted all their strength, their lightness skills and movements incredibly fast. From our perspective, they looked like countless sharp arrows piercing the enemy convoy.
"Whoosh..."
A mournful half-horn suddenly sounded, and three iron cavalry units appeared out of nowhere, bypassing the convoy and charging directly at the martial arts heroes.
"Clang! Clang! Clang!"
The nomadic cavalry, galloping at breakneck speed, quickly nocked their arrows, unleashing countless arrows. Under the dense barrage of thousands of arrows, the martial arts heroes suffered casualties in the blink of an eye.
"Kill!" "
With only a few dozen meters left before they collided with the fiercely charging cavalry, the heroes of the martial world, their morale soaring, relentlessly fired arrows at their comrades, their eyes bloodshot as they increased their speed once more.
Unexpectedly, when they were only a dozen meters away, a cruel smile flashed in the eyes of the leader of the steppe cavalry. He pulled on the reins, abruptly turned his horse, and led his cavalry to the side."
This immediately widened the distance between the martial arts heroes and the cavalry. However, a mere few dozen meters was insufficient to stop the effective range of the arrows. The steppe cavalry continued to rain down arrows on the martial arts heroes, who, in pursuit, could only passively endure the attacks, unable to muster any strength to fight back.
The steppe people's mounted archery skills were truly remarkable. Regardless of the jolting and turning of their horses, the riders, mounted on their steeds, unleashed a torrent of arrows from their quivers upon the martial arts heroes with various movements and postures.
They deployed three squads of men, while the martial arts heroes numbered only a little over three hundred. In the time it takes to brew a pot of tea, the battlefield was devoid of standing martial arts heroes. The steppe barbarians, however, suffered only a few dozen casualties at the hands of a few skilled martial arts heroes using concealed weapons, remaining almost unscathed. The fallen martial arts heroes, however, fared much worse, each riddled with at least a dozen arrows, many with their bodies riddled with them.
That wasn't all. After a wolf howl, the three thousand-man squads stopped, and hundreds more horses galloped out. As they ran, they drew spears from the sides of their horses and impaled the corpses of the martial arts heroes, carrying them to within thirty meters of the city wall before throwing them to the ground one by one.
"Hahaha..."
Laughter echoed from the horses. They utterly disregarded the defenders of Xiliang City, showing no fear of any attack from the walls, using this provocative act to vent their frustration from the previous night, and even the past month, of their inability to breach the city.
At this moment, the martial arts heroes on our side of the wall finally understood why Wang Miao'er and Chen Fuyue hadn't ordered them to attack. In open terrain, cavalry is always the natural enemy of infantry, especially against these barbarian tribes who live on horseback.
The methods of martial arts combat were utterly useless here; they were simply going to their deaths.
Countless people on the city wall gritted their teeth in anger, but they never again spoke of attacking. Firstly, their arrows were long gone, and secondly, the twenty-meter distance was more than enough for the cavalry to react; they simply couldn't reach them. The fact that
the people of Xiliang City couldn't reach them didn't mean Young Master Ri couldn't.
I had long known that this would be the outcome for those who attacked, but to desecrate the corpses of martial artists after the slaughter was something I couldn't accept.
In an instant, my Heavenly Demon True Qi circulated throughout my body. I stomped my foot on the city wall, using the rebound force to leap like a soaring eagle into the cavalry group thirty meters away.
"Snap!"
I aimed carefully, my toes landing on the head of a fine horse. Using one foot for leverage, I simultaneously struck the rider with the other.
With a crack, the horse collapsed as if its bones had been shattered, and the rider, his meridians shattered by the Heavenly Demon True Qi, exploded, his flesh and blood splattering onto his companions.
Before they could react, I darted rapidly among the horses. Each time I left a steed, the rider would slump off its back, silent and powerless.
"Kill him!"
Hundreds of cavalrymen roared in fury. The deaths of twenty-odd comrades were a small number to them, especially since it was just one man. They immediately decided to kill me, drawing their swords and urging their mounts on, trying to surround me.
I smiled coldly, moving like a ghost. They didn't even see my shadow before hearing the screams of their comrades. Realizing the danger, the cavalrymen scattered, trying to use the same tactic of creating distance before shooting me down.
On the open plains, I was no match for hundreds of them, but their arrogant provocation at the city walls, and their dense grouping together, made them perfect targets for slaughter.
Seeing their movements, I kicked one of the riders off his horse, instantly channeling my demonic energy into the steed's body, amplifying its abilities a thousandfold.
The most direct manifestation was that this magnificent steppe horse, when it took its first stride, became like a gust of wind, covering thirty meters in just a few moments, as if flying. The
retreating steppe cavalrymen felt a gust of wind pass by and fell from their horses to the ground, their breaths already stopped.
The horse, exhausted and drained of its life force, quickly circled a fifty-meter radius, and I seized the opportunity to reap the lives of over a hundred men.
"Young Master, we're here!"
Just as I was circling around, preventing the steppe cavalry from escaping, Little Turtle and Little Bird couldn't wait any longer and jumped off the city wall. Even faster than them were two twin beauties.
The cavalrymen, already in chaos, didn't notice the two figures rapidly approaching. By the time those closest to the city wall saw them, they were greeted by two eerie white blades of light.
"Boom!"
The beautiful Japanese girls, imbued with a violent streak, gripped their katana tightly. With a single, powerful strike, they cleaved two enemies, man and horse alike, into four pieces—a gruesome sight.
But this was only the beginning. The girls, mimicking my movements, moved with even greater agility, weaving through the crowd. A single slash of their sharp katana left no survivors; in an instant, flesh and blood flew everywhere, and screams filled the air.
Little Turtle and Little Bird were a step slower, but their skills were no less formidable. Both from the Heavenly Demon Sect, they followed my example, each seizing a fine horse and channeling their Heavenly Demon True Qi into their mounts. The horses instantly transformed into powerful steeds, relentlessly cutting through the crowd and slaughtering their way through.
It was a massacre.
This was the feeling shared by both the three thousand-cavalry units from the opposite grasslands and their own people in Xiliang City.
The two thousand elite cavalrymen who had been stationed five miles away initially dismissed my single-handed charge into the midst of hundreds of riders as a joke. It wasn't until I began spurring my horse and rapidly cutting down enemies, with the Jinggong sisters, Xiaogui, and Xiaoniao joining the fray, that they realized the gravity of the situation.
By then, sending reinforcements was too late. Under my command, Xiaogui and Xiaoniao, while killing, also used blades soaked in stimulant poison to slash at the surviving horses. Driven by the stimulants, the horses neighed and charged towards the approaching steppe cavalry.
With the continuous stream of horses blocking their path, the cavalry couldn't arrive in large numbers simultaneously; the few dozen scattered individuals became our casualties.
In the time it takes to brew a pot of tea, we had wiped out over six hundred cavalrymen. The opposing cavalry, freed from their horses, split into two groups and charged menacingly along the stone path.
At this moment, seeing that their own men were no longer on this side, the roaring steppe cavalry, led by their centurion, drew their bows and arrows, aiming at us and unleashing hundreds upon hundreds of arrows.
How could I be so foolish as to fight thousands of enemies beyond my attack range?
Before they could even draw their bows, I shouted to the Jinggong sisters, Little Turtle, and Little Bird, and we ran back to the city wall at top speed.
The steppe people never expected us to be so lacking in fighting spirit; all the arrows we fired at our targets landed on the corpses of our own men and horses.
When they aimed again, they were horrified to see the five of us grabbing the ropes hanging from the wall and, with a few quick leaps, scaling the top—a speed that left them speechless.
"Shameless!"
"Cowards!"
More than two thousand men stopped fifty meters away, hurling the most vicious insults at us.
I poked my head out from behind the wall and laughed, "You bastards! Come on up if you dare, I'll kill as many as you come!"
"Come down!"
the grassland barbarians roared, firing their bows at the city wall as they taunted me.
"I'll come down, but who among you dares to fight me one-on-one? Can you guarantee that thousands of you won't rush up at once?"
My voice wasn't loud, but it was full of inner energy, enough for them to hear. Upon hearing this, the three thousand-cavalry commanders immediately exchanged glances and smirked sinisterly.
A centurion, leading a thousand cavalry, spurred his horse out of the ranks and advanced thirty meters alone, only twenty meters from the city wall. "I, Keren of the Tangut tribe, promise you, I will fight you one-on-one! If you win, you can return safely."
"You guarantee a one-on-one duel?"
"A steppe man never lies."
"But I don't believe you, so forget it."
I waved my hand. "If you really want to die, climb up this rope, and I'll guarantee a one-on-one duel with you too."
Keren was furious, his nose almost crooked. "Are you playing me?"
I wasn't angry at all. "No, no, I just don't believe you. Your steppe man's promises aren't worth a copper coin. You should come up to the city wall and duel."
The crowd on the city wall burst into laughter.
Chen Fuyue had just been worried that I, in my youthful impetuosity, would accept their challenge. What if I went down and over two thousand men fired at me simultaneously? Even a god couldn't dodge that. How would he explain it to the Emperor and Empress then?
He finally breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed that this Lord Lanting was not only exceptionally skilled in martial arts but also quite shrewd. With him in Xiliang City, there should be no problem.
In fact, Chen Fuyue's worries were not unfounded. Ke Lun stepped forward, and the remaining two thousand-cavalry captains secretly exchanged hand signals, one after another, to inform everyone that once the people on the city wall came down, they should immediately launch an attack without hesitation, using arrows to kill this terrifying expert and eliminate this major threat.
Ke Lun was not stupid. Seeing my situation, he knew that the plan would not succeed. He pondered whether he should use another plan to get rid of me. As I came down, the desolate sound of a half-horn horn rang out in the distance.
Without thinking, Ke Lun took out his bow, nocked an arrow, aimed, and fired... The whole set of actions was completed in one go. The sharp arrow pierced the air and flew straight at Chen Fuyue beside me.
He was clever enough. Seeing Chen Fuyue standing with me, if he had to choose an assassination target, Chen Fuyue would definitely be his first choice. A super expert is certainly terrifying, but in the midst of battle, a commander with great talent and strategy is more worthy of attention than a hundred peerless masters.
The arrow was upon us in the blink of an eye. Before Chen Fuyue could move, Wang Miao'er frowned, a flash of light appeared in her hand, and a soft, cyan sword suddenly unfolded, catching the arrow's shaft. With a flick of the wrist, the arrow turned and sped away, shooting towards Ke Lun with a "whoosh."
Ke Lun reacted very quickly, but only had time to instinctively turn his head. The arrow grazed his face, drawing a spray of blood, and disappeared into the ground behind him.
"Kid, consider yourself lucky!"
the commander of the Thousand Cavalry, his face covered, cursed and fled into the ranks of the Thousand Cavalry without any regard for etiquette, rejoining the bustling traffic.
"Hahaha..."
"You steppe barbarians, go back to your steppes!"
Having finally won a battle, even louder laughter erupted from the two city walls, containing so much excitement and the release of pent-up pressure.
My divine might had now become ingrained in the minds of the soldiers of Xiliang City. Compared to last night's divine power that tossed his horse onto the city wall, today's massacre in full view of everyone was truly exhilarating.
At first, hundreds of heroes of the martial world were humiliatingly shot down by the steppe people with mounted archery, but then I led my men to slaughter hundreds of elite knights. The soldiers of Xiliang City experienced a transformation from despair to ecstatic joy.
People began to reveal my identity, and soon everyone was eagerly reciting the name of Lord Lanting.
Suddenly, those who knew my purpose in coming to Xiliang City felt that having Lord Lanting replace Prince Chen Fuyue of Chu as the city's defender might not necessarily be a bad thing.

Chapter Seven: Transfer of Military Power
The Grassland Allied Army was now withdrawing from the region. Over a hundred thousand men, carrying spoils, slowly retreated towards the grasslands.
Without the suppression of cavalry scouts, the local northwestern armies and the scouts composed of martial arts figures flooded into Xiliang City like a tidal wave.
With a steady stream of reinforcements, Xiliang City finally began clearing its blocked gates, but it didn't forget its vigilance. Sentinels were stationed dozens of miles away, giving them ample time to prepare should the Grassland Allied Army return.
That evening, through the compilation of information, we finally understood the situation.
It turned out that two days earlier, the Grassland Allied Army had begun transporting grain and supplies back to Mobei under cover of night. Because Xiliang City had only focused on its defense, it was unaware of this, while the martial arts figures who knew the news were unable to break through the nomadic cavalry's defenses to deliver the message into the city.
If we hadn't set fire to the Grassland Allied Army's camp yesterday and seized a group of horses in the chaos, the surrounding scouts wouldn't have let us off so easily.
However, even knowing the enemy was preparing to retreat, at most they could only launch a limited counterattack, which wouldn't fundamentally change the course of the battle. After all, no matter how weak the grassland coalition was, it still had over 100,000 men.
In any case, the most dangerous time had passed, and everyone could finally breathe a sigh of relief. The soldiers, whose minds had been extremely focused and tense, almost immediately went limp, and many fainted on the spot.
Chen Fuyue didn't return to the capital directly, but instead stayed behind to help handle the aftermath. Aside from matters concerning people's livelihoods, which were handled by civil officials, his first task was, early the next morning after confirming the enemy's retreat, to summon all the generals under his command—a handover of power between the old and new leaders.
Three people entered the half-collapsed city lord's mansion: a tall, imposing middle-aged man in iron armor was Feng Wei, the deputy commander of the "Silver Tiger Legion"; another elegant man in his thirties was Gao Qimeng, the strategist of the "Silver Tiger Legion"; and the last, an elderly man in his fifties, was Zhou Jing, the general in charge of logistics and military supplies for the "Silver Tiger Legion."
Including Chen Fuyue, the core of the "Silver Tiger Legion" consisted of these four men.
Feng Wei was responsible for training the troops and leading the charge; Gao Qimeng was in charge of intelligence processing and strategizing; Zhou Jing was responsible for all supplies; and Chen Fuyue was responsible for overall control and making decisive decisions.
Of course, there was also a vanguard general named Li Yaoguang, who possessed superhuman strength and superb martial arts skills and was known as the "Silver Tiger Legion's" fiercest general. Unfortunately, after the "Silver Tiger Legion" was ambushed, this fierce general, who was responsible for covering the rear, eventually died from exhaustion, leaving Chen Fuyue, who had escaped alive, filled with guilt and shame.
As for the other junior officers, they were coordinating the reinforcements that had recently joined Xiliang City, and also giving the soldiers who had worked hard for nearly a month a rest. There was no need to involve them in the handover of responsibilities at this time.
When they entered, only he and I were in Chen Fuyue's study. Even the Jinggong sisters, who were usually inseparable from me, were chatting with Madam Xiaohan in the back hall. The little turtle and the little bird once again acted as doormen, ensuring that no one else could eavesdrop.
"Sit down!"
Chen Fuyue took out a paper cup, poured out tea leaves, divided them into five cups, poured hot water into each, and placed them in front of us.
Several generals who had just sat down quickly stood up to accept the tea, repeatedly saying they didn't dare. I wasn't so particular, and naturally took the teacup, saying thank you.
"In the blink of an eye, I've been in the Northwest for five years."
Returning to his seat, Chen Fuyue picked up his teacup and said with deep emotion, "For the past five years, I thought I had done a great job, but who knew that the final battle would end so badly, with almost all of my brothers' lives lost. The 'Silver Tiger Legion' not only failed to grow stronger under my leadership, but instead suffered a near-collapse and complete annihilation. To be honest, I am very resentful."
Feng Wei frowned and said in a deep voice, "Legion Commander, don't blame yourself too much. Leading troops in battle, there's no such thing as being invincible. " "Victory? As long as our brothers are still alive, one day we will repay them for their defeat!"
Chen Fuyue gave a bitter laugh, took a sip of tea, and said, "General Feng, don't try to comfort me. The 'Silver Tiger Legion' has at most 15,000 men left alive, right? If you exclude the wounded and sick, there are only five or six thousand fully-fledged brothers left, aren't there?"
Feng Wei was speechless. After defending the city for more than half a month, Chen Fuyue's number of men under his command was dwindling. He knew better than anyone the strength of Xiliang City and the "Silver Tiger Legion."
He wanted to say something more comforting, but in the end, Feng Wei sighed sadly and remained silent.
On the day they retreated back to Xiliang City, they already knew that even if Xiliang City was successfully defended, at most the lower-ranking soldiers and officers would be fine, but Chen Fuyue and the few bigwigs of the "Silver Tiger Legion" would definitely be severely punished.
This was no joke. The second largest elite legion of the mighty Liufeng Kingdom had been almost completely wiped out. The raging anger of Emperor Kangzong and the military leaders was unimaginable.
The emperor and his ministers were furious, and the culprits below were naturally the best candidates to bear their wrath. The reason they were still defending Xiliang City so desperately was entirely because they wanted to leave some blessings for their descendants. Of course, they also hoped to rely on their hard work and the pleading of the Prince of Chu to save their lives.
"Commander, what do you plan to do? Tell us, we'll all listen to you."
The strategist Gao Qimeng laughed. "Should we all go back to the capital with you? It's alright, we were already prepared." "
Go back to the capital?"
Chen Fuyue was taken aback, then immediately understood. "You, whatever you do, you're just too cautious. Why are you all going back to the capital with me? I'm going back to face my punishment. You all stay here and help Lanting rebuild our 'Silver Tiger Legion.' That's why I called you here today."
I observed that the three leaders of the "Silver Tiger Legion," including the oldest, Zhou Jing, visibly breathed a sigh of relief.
Then, their faces showed genuine respect for Chen Fuyue.
All the blame for the defeat fell on the legion commander alone. Even if he was the heir of the Chu King, it probably wouldn't be easy for him.
"Come, let's cut to the chase. You've probably all heard about it. Now, let me formally introduce you to him."
Chen Fuyue pointed at me. "Ren Lanting, the first-class duke of the court, Duke Lanting, is also the nephew of Empress Ren. He is an imperial envoy personally appointed by the Emperor, specifically in charge of military and political affairs in the Northwest."
The three immediately stood up and respectfully said, "This humble servant greets Your Highness, Duke Lanting!"
As a duke and a relative of the imperial family, it was quite reasonable for them to address me as "Your Highness." As for Chen Fuyue, he was somewhat lacking. Although he was the heir of the Chu King, he had been in charge of military affairs in the Northwest for the past few years. Apart from the position of legion commander of the "Silver Tiger Legion" and the title of General of the Guardian State, he did not have any other formal titles.
The three were respectful, but there was also a hint of speculation in their eyes. It goes without saying that this Duke Lanting came from an extraordinary background. He was the nephew of the Empress, which was not much different from the Emperor's nephew. Moreover, the intimacy between them was much greater, so at least there was no possibility of him plotting a rebellion or usurping the throne.
What they cared about most was my identity. Chen Fuyue held immense power in Xiliang City, but outside of Xiliang City, he couldn't command the other armies and officials of Xingyong County, Xishuo County, and Longliang County, let alone handle internal affairs.
Now, His Majesty the Emperor has transferred away his own nephew and brought in the Empress's nephew, yet granted Lanting Duke even greater authority. I'm afraid it's not just about reviving the "Silver Tiger Legion" and consolidating Xiliang City's defenses, is it?
Feng Wei and the other two were, after all, just members of the "Silver Tiger Legion." Among them, the most intelligent, Gao Qimeng, only made a connection before daring not to speculate further. Firstly, it was none of his business, and secondly, it was a royal affair; it was best not to get involved to save one's life.
I laughed heartily, revealing a cheerful expression. "Generals, please rise. Lan Ting is new to the Northwest, and I need your guidance in everything. Please treat me as a junior. If Lan Ting has done anything wrong, just tell me directly."
"Not at all, Your Highness is highly skilled in martial arts and possesses exceptional wisdom..."
Several veteran soldiers and I exchanged a few words, not daring to believe me. Only a fool would dare to directly rebuke their superior.
Chen Fuyue watched us talk, leisurely sipping his tea, his mood relaxed.
When he first learned that he was leaving Xiliang City, Chen Fuyue was filled with shame, anger, and reluctance. He was reluctant to leave the place he had built up over so long, and even more angry that he couldn't personally lead the "Silver Tiger Legion" to avenge this defeat. But now, as the day of departure truly arrived, Chen Fuyue felt a sense of relief, as if a heavy burden had been lifted.
Chen Fuyue was not an ambitious man. His arrival in Xiliang City in the Northwest was arranged by the King of Chu. The original plan was for him to gain some military merits, return to the court, and then marry Princess Yongyue after she came of age, becoming the imperial consort.
However, upon arriving in the Northwest, Chen Fuyue encountered several attacks from the nomadic tribes of the grasslands. By a twist of fate, he led the "Silver Tiger Legion" to victory, laying the foundation for his long-term stay in the Northwest.
Later, Chen Fuyue met Xiao Sa. Although Xiao Sa did not have a distinguished background, the Crown Prince of Chu fell in love with her and brought her into his residence to live with him.
Everyone outside respectfully addressed Xiao Sa as "Madam," but Chen Fuyue knew they were only doing so out of respect for him. Xiao Sa, who wasn't yet married to him, was actually in a very awkward position. First, the King of Chu was firmly opposed to the marriage and had sent men several times to eliminate Xiao Sa. If it weren't for Chen Fuyue's decisive military actions—killing all thirty-one assassins and sending them back to the King of Chu's residence—his father would probably still be sending men.
However, getting the King of Chu to give up was extremely difficult. Thinking of this, Chen Fuyue glanced at me…this honest young man, and a thought popped into his mind: If Lanting married Yunfu, I wouldn't have so much trouble, right? I must actively promote their marriage when I return to the capital.
If the King of Chu were here and knew Chen Fuyue's thoughts, he would surely vomit blood on the spot—a sign of an unfilial son!

Chapter Eight: Parting Words
I didn't have time to concern myself with Chen Fuyue's plans. After a brief conversation, I gained a preliminary understanding of the three of them.
Feng Wei, an upright soldier, couldn't stop talking about the "Silver Tiger Legion." Having poured so much effort into it, he would undoubtedly be interested in the reconstruction plan and wouldn't pose any obstacles.
Gao Qimeng, on the other hand, was much more cunning and shrewd. Aside from flattery, he cautiously kept quiet, clearly not knowing me well enough to warrant further discussion.
Finally, the old general Zhou Jing, due to his age, only cared about the court's orders—the instructions of his superiors. His only wish was to do his job well and ignore everything else.
In general, the three core figures of the "Silver Tiger Legion" treated me with a mixture of respect and friendliness, largely due to Chen Fuyue. Their respected former legion commander had a good relationship with the new commander, and Chen Fuyue had offered his full support. As his subordinates, they naturally took it seriously.
Half an hour later, the three, having learned of my plan, emerged from the study looking relaxed, a far cry from their earlier somber expressions.
"See? What they care about most is their own fate and the future of the 'Silver Tiger Legion.' Whoever can guarantee these things will be the one they pledge their allegiance to,"
Chen Fuyue said frankly. With only the two of us in the study, he spoke more casually. "As long as your martial arts and strategies surpass these people, they will earnestly serve you."
I nodded. "As long as they have their own ideals and pursuits, that's fine. Brother Chen, rest assured, the 'Silver Tiger Legion' will definitely become stronger than before."
Chen Fuyue couldn't help but chuckle. "You're quite the gentleman. Doesn't that mean you're more capable than me?"
"I can't match your abilities, but when it comes to ruthlessness, Brother Chen, you are no match for me,"
I smiled coldly. "These barbarians of the grasslands have insulted my elders and trampled on the mountains and rivers of my Liufeng Kingdom. One day, I will exterminate them!"
“Too much ruthlessness is bad!”
Chen Fuyue frowned. “If you act too ruthlessly while overseeing the military and political affairs of the three northwestern prefectures, the court officials will surely impeach you severely!”
“If we followed their logic, we wouldn’t even need to fight. We could just send the barbarian tribes from the grasslands, and we could preach to them with our Confucian classics, making them flee in shame.”
I said seriously, “Brother Chen, when you return to the capital, don’t forget to tell His Majesty about this. I desperately need these great censors. Ask him to send as many as he can.”
“Haha!”
Chen Fuyue laughed loudly. “Lanting, I must say, your words are truly venomous. The censors will definitely hate you when they hear this.”
“Hate me? What can I do?”
I spread my hands. “They demand that we soldiers imitate them. There’s no reason why these learned scholars shouldn’t set a good example, is there?”
"Alright, alright, you can tell His Majesty yourself. I wouldn't dare,"
Chen Fuyue said with a smile, waving her hand. "I'm leaving Xiliang City tomorrow to return to the capital. Before that, I have two very important things to tell you."
Hearing Chen Fuyue's expression turn serious, I also became serious.
"First, the retreat of the grassland allied forces seems rather suspicious to me. Although they only number 130,000 to 120,000, it's only July now, and winter is still several months away. Xiliang City is almost exhausted. If they were to gather another 200,000 troops, without any external support, Xiliang City would definitely fall within ten days."
Chen Fuyue frowned. "I'm wondering why they were willing to give up this readily available victory?"
"Perhaps they felt that capturing so much wealth and people was enough. Taking Xiliang City without suffering 100,000 casualties was absolutely impossible. Their tribes simply couldn't withstand that kind of attrition."
"Your judgment is based on common sense. But if it were me, I would choose to sacrifice 100,000, or even more, to take Xiliang City,"
Chen Fuyue said solemnly. "One advantage is that we can plunder Xiliang City's abundant military supplies, grain, and treasures at will. We can also take back the women and children from the city's million inhabitants and use them for our own purposes in ten years or so. Another greater advantage is that once Xiliang City is destroyed, the Northwest will no longer be able to withstand their advance. They can come whenever they want, loot and kill whenever they want. The entire Northwest will almost become their hunting ground."
I buried my head in thought for a while and asked, "This is something Brother Chen can come up with, but they might not be able to. After all, their population is limited. Even if another 100,000 soldiers are killed or wounded, they will only have a maximum of 300,000 to 200,000 troops left, right? Such a huge sacrifice is not something that ordinary people can bear, let alone a coalition of six tribes like theirs."
“You’re right. If we’re looking for a suitable reason, that’s what I’m thinking too,”
Chen Fuyue said somewhat helplessly. “I’ve already sent scouts into the grasslands to investigate. They’ll notify you as soon as they have any news.”
“Thanks!”
I was filled with gratitude. Even though Chen Fuyue was about to leave Xiliang City, she still didn’t forget to help me gather information. She was paving the way for me.
"The second thing, and the most important thing,"
Chen Fuyue said, his expression growing increasingly grave. "You just said that no one among the barbarians is particularly intelligent, and I used to think so too. Now I realize I was terribly wrong."
"Oh?"
"This time, I set up an ambush at Qitunpo, using every trick in the book, even sacrificing thousands of men, to surround the Dangxiang tribe. It seemed like I was about to succeed, but suddenly a coalition of five other tribes attacked from behind, turning the tables and defeating my 'Silver Tiger Legion'... But these other five tribes have always been rivals of the Dangxiang, and fighting among themselves is commonplace. Before I plotted against the Dangxiang, I even sent people to scout out the situation of the five tribes, and they showed no signs of war. So why did they suddenly unite without warning? I can't figure this out."
Speaking of his greatest failure, Chen Fuyue revealed a pained expression of recollection. As a renowned general, to have made such a grave mistake, the pain in his heart was unimaginable to others.
"After enduring the most painful first seven days, I contacted the Northwest Royal Family and instructed Wang Guowei to investigate the alliance of the six tribes with all his might."
Chen Fuyue took out a stack of intelligence from a drawer beside her. "It turns out that it wasn't premeditated. After learning about our clash with the Dangxiang tribe, the leader of the Liji tribe, Duoluban, sent a letter by carrier pigeon to the other four tribes, explaining the dire situation. As a result, the five tribes rose up together to rescue the Dangxiang army."
"Duoluban?"
I took the data. The first document on it was a letter he wrote to the other tribes. The grassland coalition didn't have its own written language and used the common language of the continent, so it was easy to understand.
"I've heard from the older generation that wolf packs are fierce groups. The Wolf Empire, composed of countless wolf packs on the grasslands, is even more invincible. However, if hunters separate the packs due to conflicts and then hunt them down, no matter how powerful the pack, it will eventually be killed.
Chen Fuyue of Xiliang City has always been cunning in his military tactics, constantly plotting to annihilate our six tribes and turn the southern desert into his Liufeng Kingdom's horse-breeding ground. Under Chen Fuyue's training, the 'Silver Tiger Legion' has become the most ferocious hunters after several years of fighting. None of our six southern desert tribes can stand against the 200,000-strong 'Silver Tiger Legion' on their own.
That's the current situation. Chen Fuyue is using a small army to clash with the Dangxiang tribe. I've heard the Dangxiang have won several battles, driving them to Niaosutai. But based on my understanding of Chen Fuyue, he must be plotting something." Just now, I received information about the movements of the Tangut people. Their entire army of 200,000 has been mobilized, heading straight for Chen Fuyue's "Silver Tiger Legion." This gives me a very bad feeling.
The Tanguts are the largest tribe in southern Mongolia, and their 200,000 warriors are all brave sons of the grasslands, but they are far from being a match for the ferocious "Silver Tiger Legion." If Chen Fuyue continues to retreat, causing the Tanguts to become complacent and constantly leave their familiar territory, it will be an unprecedented disaster.
I know every blade of grass and every tree in southern Mongolia like the back of my hand. A hundred miles west of Wusutai, there is a hilly area called Qitunpo. If Chen Fuyue ambushes his "Silver Tiger Legion" there, I am certain that in a few days, we will witness the collapse and demise of the Tangut people.
The Wolf Empire is powerful because, despite internal strife, the wolf packs can unite in times of crisis to concentrate their forces against the hunters. Currently, our five tribes are embroiled in conflict with the Tangut people, whose hegemony we deeply resent. I believe the Tanguts can be weakened, but not destroyed.
Therefore, on behalf of the Liji tribe, I implore everyone to lead your elite troops to the eastern lake of Qitunpo by noon on the ninth day of the seventh lunar month, to gather the strength of our six tribes. The "Silver Tiger Legion," the largest tiger in the northwest of Liufeng Kingdom, will surely be utterly defeated by us. Then, herding in the three northwestern prefectures will no longer be a dream.
If the tribal chiefs refuse to lend a hand, the 50,000 men of the Liji tribe will go alone to fight to the death for the honor of the descendants of the Eternal Emperor of the grasslands!
"Written by Duoluban."
This guy absolutely cannot be allowed to live!
After reading this letter, my first thought was that Duoluban must die!
Such a clever enemy—if he gains a foothold on the grasslands, how can Xiliang City possibly attack him? It would be good enough if they could just keep it!
Chen Fuyue's painstakingly devised ambush plan had only been partially revealed when he saw it clearly. He even used his incredibly persuasive tone to get the five tribes, who were originally prejudiced against the Dangxiang, to join forces and save them. What
I care about isn't his intelligence or foresight, nor his talent for persuasion, but his magnanimity.
Knowing full well that they were his enemies, he still chose to help the Dangxiang even in the face of a more powerful foe. A person with such a magnanimous heart will surely, as the old master said, be able to embrace all rivers and lakes, and ultimately control the southern desert, and even the entire grassland, in his own hands.
At that time, we will probably be facing an enemy not much less formidable than the founding emperor of the Huayun Kingdom.
Calming myself down, I flipped through the pages again and found that the following information was detailed about the Liji tribe, and at the end there was a map marking their location.
"The grassland coalition has suffered heavy losses in this battle, but has also captured a large amount of wealth and people. They won't launch a new attack until May of next year at the earliest,"
Chen Fuyue said calmly. "With almost a year to spare, Lanting, besides preparing for military affairs, you should also have time to take a stroll on the grasslands, right?"
"Don't worry, I'm not that stupid as to let this enemy grow into a major threat."
After a pause, I pondered for a moment and said, "But Brother Chen, I still feel something is amiss. Duoluban is already thirty-eight years old this year and has been in charge of the Liji tribe for ten years. Why has he always performed so poorly? Under his leadership, the Liji tribe hasn't seen much development. Is there some secret hidden behind this?"
"You suspect... that it wasn't Duoluban who discovered my plan, but one of his subordinates?"
"I have that thought, but I can't be sure."
"Oh, then think about it slowly. You'll figure it out someday."
Chen Fuyue said, lazily standing up. "I'm leaving now. I have to go back to the capital tomorrow, so I need to pack my things early."
"Uh...you're not that heartless, are you? You should at least help me think of a solution first."
"What do you mean, 'help me think of a solution'? I've been working hard in the Northwest for five years, finally I can rest a bit. I need to go and enjoy some romance with my little spies."
Chen Fuyue waved his hand. "Future consort, you can't slack off! His Majesty and the Empress are waiting for your achievements! "

Chapter Nine: Reorganizing the Military
. In the forty-second year of Ieyasu's reign, on July 29th, Chen Fuyue, along with his wife and his thousand-strong guard, left Xiliang City in a grand procession, embarking on the road back to the capital.
The three generals of the "Silver Tiger Legion," as well as Chi Changyun, the deputy city garrison commander of Xiliang City and the top civil official, all petitioned me, requesting that General Chen Fuyue, who had served diligently in Xiliang City for five years, be given a dignified farewell ceremony.
I naturally granted their request. Well, people carry people in sedan chairs, and besides, Chen Fuyue was a decent friend, so we had to give him face.
Therefore, that morning, all 8,630 able-bodied members of the "Silver Tiger Legion," 50,000 righteous soldiers from the three northwestern prefectures, 2,200 heroes of the martial world, and hundreds of thousands of ordinary people from Xiliang City stood at the city gate and along the roadsides to bid farewell to this meritorious general who had served the country.
Faced with such a grand scene, Chen Fuyue was deeply moved. Standing atop the carriage, he waved wildly without any regard for his image, barely managing to hold back his tears.
I, along with the Jinggong sisters, Little Turtle, and Little Bird, stood on the city wall, also observing the people's adoration for Chen Fuyue.
"Young Master, since they have such a good relationship with Chen Fuyue, will we encounter obstacles in the future?" "
Little Turtle asked worriedly.
"No, quite the opposite. They have deep feelings for Chen Fuyue because Chen Fuyue did so much for them. If Chen Fuyue were to leave all alone, I would have to be careful. I wouldn't be very kind to these ungrateful people, and I would have to be on guard."
I explained, "The fact that they made such a grand spectacle of this day gives me a lot of confidence. If one day I do better than Chen Fuyue, they will treat me with even more enthusiasm than they do today."
The Jing Gong sisters nodded repeatedly, "Yes, just like in Wushuang County, we can feel everyone's respect for our brother."
"That's right!"
Little Bird didn't miss any opportunity to flatter, "Before the young master grew up, the master always had to carry several umbrellas when he went out."
"Two umbrellas? Why? Does Wushuang County often have two?"
Jing Gong Cai asked curiously.
"Because the master used to be very good at... uh, very good at collecting taxes, and he was also quite fond of luxury, so naturally some rioters attacked him with tomatoes and eggs."
Little Bird finally managed to change the subject. He couldn't very well say that the master used to direct money-making schemes, which made him so infamous that he was practically the target of the people of Wushuang County's petty strife, could he?
"Why would they use tomatoes and eggs to hit the eunuch? Those can't hurt people..."
The little beauty's words almost made me break out in a cold sweat. What an ignorant child! Did she think those rioters didn't want to throw stones at their father? The father was well-protected; usually, if they didn't hit him, they'd be locked up for a few years of reformation. Over time, everyone learned a more civilized way to protest—throwing tomatoes and eggs, things that weren't dangerous, wouldn't lead to arrest, would it? ...
As soon as Chen Fuyue left, my truly busy time began.
My first step in establishing myself in the Northwest was naturally to manage the frontline city of Xiliang, and the most urgent task in managing Xiliang was to prepare the military.
It's only July now, and there's still a long time until the crisp autumn air of October. The chances of the grassland allied forces launching a surprise attack are slim, but I still can't afford to be complacent.
Strengthening the garrison of Xiliang City is something the governors of the three prefectures would wholeheartedly support. The stability of Xiliang City means the stability of the three northwestern prefectures—a principle even a child understands.
Therefore, as soon as the siege of Xiliang City was lifted, the governors of the three prefectures sent over the troops they had already gathered, totaling 500,000 men. The officials who brought the troops were very humble, saying that if Lord Lanting needed them, a second batch of elite soldiers could arrive at any time. These
500,000 men, stationed in a temporary military camp outside the city, looked like a vast, dark mass of tents, much larger than the allied forces from a few days ago.
The sheer number of men was truly overwhelming. If the "Silver Tiger Legion" had this many, those barbarians in the southern desert would have long since migrated back to the northern desert. Although they had rivals there, none were as formidable as the "Silver Tiger Legion."
It wasn't that the three governors weren't putting in their best effort; they sent young men aged fifteen to thirty, but...
elite troops?
"Pah!"
As soon as they left, Little Turtle and Little Bird expressed their dissatisfaction with this gesture.
Little Turtle and Little Bird weren't experts in military affairs, but the two hall masters of the "Sun Moon Cult" were seasoned veterans who had recruited many heroes from the martial world. They certainly had their own discerning eye when it came to observing people.
"They're all so thin and pale, a gust of wind could blow them all down. Are these soldiers? Did they just bring over beggars from three prefectures?"
"Beggars? Yes! The kind who haven't eaten for ten or fifteen days! Look at how much they're eating, they almost scared the minor officials in charge of settling them to tears."
The two chattered on, expressing their anger and indignantly offering to cause trouble for the three prefects on my behalf.
Of course, they weren't being kind. They were probably bored in Xiliang City, and since I was an imperial envoy, these two unruly servants who often listened to operas naturally decided to take advantage of my position and conduct an incognito visit.
However, what they said wasn't an exaggeration. Of the 500,000 new soldiers, 200,000 were physically weak, another 200,000 couldn't even handle swords and arrows, and the remaining 100,000 were just for show. The remaining 8,000 of the "Silver Tiger Legion" could easily slaughter them with a few charges.
If I hadn't known that the well-trained troops from the three northwestern prefectures had already rushed to Xiliang City to provide relief, and that they didn't have many men left, I would have suspected they were unhappy about having a new leader and were making things difficult for me.
I had heard that the Northwest was full of heroic men, and the siege of Xiliang City proved it. Three hundred thousand troops charged into Xiliang City wave after wave, and with the existing 100,000 defenders, only 50,000 remained. This shows their courage and resilience.
However, it's undeniable that due to the high altitude, many people in the Northwest, besides the physically fit soldiers, are in poor health, and the population is small. These current troops belong to this category.
Conditions in the Northwest are extremely harsh. Although there are many horses, cattle, and sheep, ordinary families still can't afford them. Two meals of porridge and steamed buns a day are considered a good life. This is why emperors throughout history were unwilling to exterminate the royal families.
If this were in one of the more prosperous prefectures, a powerful family like the Wang family would have been wiped out by the emperor long ago. This is why, to this day, only the Wang family remains a thousand-year-old aristocratic family in Liufeng Kingdom.
Because of the harsh living conditions, many people join the army simply to earn a living. Military affairs in the Northwest are not good; with Xiliang City and the "Silver Tiger Legion" blocking the way from the outside, there is virtually no internal strife. Therefore, apart from the 100,000 regular soldiers in each prefecture, the rest are not much better off than ordinary people. With
500,000 people arriving in Xiliang City, even basic necessities like food, drink, shelter, and sleep are problems. Before I decide which will join the Xiliang City garrison and which will join the "Silver Tiger Legion," the civil officials of Xiliang City must take responsibility for their daily lives.
Chi Changyun dispatched his trusted officials, thinking the soldiers, having traveled a long way to Xiliang City, would be exhausted. These officials, with a stroke of their pens, ordered two million kilograms of unpolished rice and one million kilograms of flour from the granaries. They then bought fat pigs, sheep, and mutton from the residents and set up ten huge open-air kitchens on the outskirts of the city, where fragrant rice and meat dishes were cooked.
Large bowls of rice were topped with spoonfuls of fatty meat and three steamed buns, with more to be had. These second-class soldiers had never received such treatment. On their first lunch that day, hundreds of them ate until they collapsed from bloating, and it took considerable effort to save their lives.
Their first meal alone consumed 500,000 kilograms of rice, 200,000 kilograms of flour, and thousands of pigs, cattle, and sheep.
Several officials in charge were so shocked their eyes nearly popped out. Soldiers train and drill daily, consuming a tremendous amount of energy. The former "Silver Tiger Legion" soldiers only ate one jin of rice and half a jin of steamed buns (using three liang of flour) per meal—and that was a privilege reserved for the "Silver Tiger Legion." The garrison soldiers of Xiliang City had their food intake halved.
These newly arrived second-class county soldiers, good heavens, ate twice as much as the "Silver Tiger Legion" soldiers! Several officials complained to Little Turtle and Little Bird, wondering if all three counties had sent beggars.
I just smiled. These civil officials, not only busy with military affairs, had traveled five days at the furthest point and three days at the fastest—what kind of speed was that?
They rushed here at breakneck speed, and the energy expenditure during the journey was immense. Eating a little more was nothing. As for
the soldiers' actual skill level, that was even easier to handle.
Training soldiers wasn't like martial arts training. Martial arts training usually starts at five or six years old, but soldier training mainly focuses on strength, bravery, and the coordination of the entire legion. This age group of teenagers to thirty was perfect.
I'm not afraid of them eating too much, I'm afraid they lack potential.
My master is known as a polymath, and among the secret manuals he left behind are several methods for training troops. Before coming here, I compared them with some ordinary military books and found that my master's methods are like the martial arts of our demonic sect—unorthodox. Unless absolutely necessary, I'd better train troops according to the ordinary military books.
Of the 14,560 "Silver Tiger Legion" soldiers remaining in Xiliang City, only 10,000 can be returned to their units . After some adjustments, the city's garrison still numbers 50,000. These 60,000 will definitely be incorporated into the new "Silver Tiger Legion" and will be my main force for future battles.
It's impossible to keep all 500,000 troops sent from the three prefectures. After a month of intensive training, we'll select those who survive; if 200,000 remain, we'll be grateful.
※※※ I strongly agree with Chen Fuyue's words: no matter what the reason for the grassland barbarians' withdrawal, the chances of them returning at any time are not small. We must strengthen Xiliang City's strength as soon as possible.
August 5th, early morning.
After the 500,000 county soldiers had rested, I led the officers of the "Silver Tiger Legion" to the camp outside the city.
The soldiers had been eating and sleeping well these past few days, but with nothing to do, they were getting restless. Seeing a group of imposing figures in silver-white armor, their spirits immediately lifted.
Being from the Northwest, they naturally knew which army wore silver-white armor; the "Silver Tiger Legion's" purpose was clearly related to their failure to be selected for the legion.
In front of the group of soldiers in silver-white armor stood three boys and two stunningly beautiful twin girls. The soldiers, being country bumpkins, had never seen the beauty of Japanese girls before, and their previously determined expressions instantly turned into staring at the two women.
I took their actions in, a surge of anger rising within me. How dare they look at my women? Of course, I wouldn't punish them for such a small matter; I wasn't that petty.
"Begin the selection. Show me the capabilities of your 'Silver Tiger Legion',"
I nodded and ordered the men behind me.
"Yes, Commander!"
they replied loudly. Under Feng Wei's command, they split into three groups and headed towards the county garrison's camp.
The "Silver Tiger Legion" was the empire's second-largest legion, possessing an innate arrogance. Unfortunately, this arrogance was almost completely crushed in the Battle of Qitunpo a month ago. The near-total annihilation of the legion was something the soldiers of the "Silver Tiger Legion" would never want to mention.
With Chen Fuyue's departure, I, the Imperial Envoy and the new commander of the "Silver Tiger Legion," had not yet judged their defeat. Anxiety about the future hung like a sword of Damocles over our heads, keeping everyone on edge.
The county soldiers, each led by their own officers, greeted the "Silver Tiger Legion" commanders with hundreds of bowing and scraping, arranging the soldiers into square formations according to their orders. The
already noisy camp became even more chaotic.
The commanders of the "Silver Tiger Legion" were no pushovers; having fought year-round in the elite Second Legion of the Empire, their captains, large and small, possessed their own methods for judging character, and they immediately began carefully selecting the county soldiers.
My principle for their selection was: those capable of serving in the military would stay, and the rest with health problems would be sent back.
Eager to impress their new commander, the "Silver Tiger Legion" commanders worked with all their might, each allocating about a thousand men, and completing the initial screening in less than an hour.
"Commander, we've selected 382,915 men. Would you like to take a look?"
Feng Wei took the report from his subordinate and stepped forward, asking in a deep voice.
"Let's go."
I nodded and followed him.
Passing several military camps, we came to an open field. The 500,000 county soldiers, like black ants, had been divided into two groups. The larger group was clearly stronger and more robust; the smaller group consisted of soldiers of varying heights and weaker builds.
I carefully examined the weaker group, observing their spirits and demeanor, and knew that these men were indeed physically weak and unsuitable for battle.
Conversely, those selected by the "Silver Tiger Legion" were all tall, strong young men, mostly around twenty years old. Although there was considerable timidity in their eyes, they had the physique to be trained.
With a slight nod, my voice echoed throughout the area, "Those selected, begin cleaning your tents now, in preparation for the second round of selection tomorrow; those not selected will each receive one gold coin, with provisions and supplies provided by Xiliang City, and must immediately return to their origins."
"Yes, sir!"
both formations responded in unison. Those selected were delighted at the prospect of receiving Xiliang City's stipend, while those not selected, though somewhat disgruntled, still found the gold coin a considerable sum acceptable.
Officers from the three prefectures then organized the over 110,000 unselected soldiers, directing them to their tents to gather their belongings. The two formations dispersed in different directions.
As they ran, about a hundred of the unselected soldiers remained motionless. Several officers tried to reason with them to no avail, finally resorting to brandishing whips, which terrified them, causing them to huddle together and scream.
Feng Wei was pleased that his men had done a good job, completing the selection task in just one hour. Upon seeing this, his face suddenly darkened.
"Stop! What are you doing?"
the general walked over, frowning as he asked.
Several officers of the county garrison were startled and answered tremblingly, "Reporting to General Feng, these ignorant fools don't want to go back!"
Feng Wei was taken aback, his sharp eyes looking at the county soldiers. He noticed they were all very young, and his anger gradually subsided. "Why don't you obey the orders of the legion commander?"
"General... General!"
A slightly bolder boy stepped forward and said, "We... we want to stay in Xiliang City. We don't want to be soldiers anymore. We just want to find something to do in Xiliang City."
"Why?"
"We are all orphans. We don't eat well or dress warmly in the county. The officers there are very harsh. One day we will die in the military camp. It's better to come to Xiliang City."
Feng Wei knew that what the boy said was true. It was common for local garrisons to draw salaries without working. These second-class county soldiers were the targets of oppression. Officers could humiliate them at will, making them do all the dirty and hard work. Even more outrageous, he heard that officials used these county soldiers to build houses and manage pastures, treating them like slaves. Thus, this fairly upright general found himself unable to utter the words of reprimand he wanted to say.
I was also puzzled as to why these second-class soldiers didn't leave; with my hearing, I naturally overheard their conversation.
Feng Wei's silence put immense pressure on the hundred-odd young second-class soldiers, who were terrified of being treated like animals again. Seeing me standing behind Feng Wei, the boy who had spoken lit up, took a few steps forward, and knelt down with a thud.
"Commander!"
the boy kowtowed repeatedly on the ground, "Please, please, take us in! We're not afraid of hardship; whatever you say, we'll do!"
"Yes, sir, please..."
The group of boys behind him were also quick-witted, immediately kneeling down as well, pleading loudly.
Feng Wei then noticed my arrival. He hesitated for a moment, then said in a low voice, "Sir, the reconstruction of Xiliang City does require manpower. If you think they are capable, then keep them."
He was clearly favoring the boys. The reconstruction of Xiliang City could be handled by the more than 300,000 qualified second-class county soldiers nearby; why would they need these children?
I smiled noncommittally. "Stand up and speak."
"Yes, yes."
The leading boy was quite obedient, not saying anything like "I won't get up until you agree," and quickly stood up.
The boys behind him, obviously following his lead, also got up and looked at me with respectful yet fearful eyes.
"How is it?"
I turned around and asked.
"Young master, with their physiques, it's unlikely they can fight, but they could be used to train as scouts or to gather intelligence among the crowd,"
Little Turtle said with a grin.
"Indeed, these boys are thin and plain-looking; they'd blend into a crowd and be easily lost. With some training, they could be useful,"
Little Bird added.
They truly are my trusted confidants; their considerations extend beyond Xiliang City, and they've hit the nail on the head.
Training a group of intelligence agents for my Liu family was a decision my wives and I made together. However, the Sun Moon Cult's top priority right now is training its members' martial arts; intelligence gathering hasn't been undertaken yet.
Since I can't return to Wushuang County from Xiliang City anytime soon, it's better to start training a group now. No one else can train them as well as I can personally train them; at least in terms of loyalty, it's different.
"Then accept them
," I smiled. "Little Turtle, Little Bird, let them follow you for now."
"Yes, Young Master,"
Little Turtle and Little Bird beamed. They were, after all, hall masters of the Sun Moon Cult; being leaders and mentoring subordinates was quite a satisfying thing.
Hearing what we said, the boys quickly knelt down again, and the sound of their kowtowing was deafening. Many of them even cried tears of joy.
Feng Wei had only intended to keep these young men, just to give them food, but unexpectedly, with just a few words from me, he had them all taken under his wing. Even though he didn't particularly like monopolizing power, he couldn't help but show a hint of envy: These silly boys, don't be fooled by their current happiness; they probably don't know the real benefits yet. Being able to follow Lord Lanting is a position that many people envy!

Chapter Ten: A Little Trick,
Part Three. Early in the morning, the 60,000 soldiers of the "Silver Tiger Legion," riding the fine horses sent from various counties in the northwest, began their field battle and mounted archery training.
The addition of 50,000 city garrison troops did not arouse resentment among the 10,000 veteran "Silver Tiger Legion" soldiers. After all, having defended Xiliang City together for more than ten days, they had long regarded these garrison troops as their own, and it was a cause for celebration for all of them that the garrison troops could join the "Silver Tiger Legion."
The newly formed reserve army of over 380,000 men, led by over 3,000 wounded but still mobile soldiers of the Silver Tiger Legion, began arduous training.
Military training typically involves practicing swordsmanship and hand-to-hand combat before moving on to formation drills – a practice unchanged for centuries.
However, I felt something was amiss. These men were young, and possessed some strength, but lacked patience and, frankly, a solid foundation. Compared to warriors who had survived brutal warfare, they lacked confidence. It's
often said that "a hundred battles produce elite soldiers," meaning those who survive a hundred battles are undoubtedly elite. Having experienced so many life-or-death struggles, they possess an extraordinary courage and experience, making them true warriors.
I didn't want to simply train these 380,000 men and send them to the battlefield to fight, only to have the elite soldiers weeded out be eliminated.
The Northwest, after this battle, was already weakened . The damage is severe. If this continues, the land will become even more sparsely populated, and barbarian tribes will ravage it more often. Therefore, it's crucial to preserve the vitality of the Northwest.
While considering training methods, I recalled my own martial arts training. Every day I ran around Wuhua Mountain. After adapting, I added iron balls to my feet. After several years of this, my originally thin body became very strong, laying a solid foundation for practicing the Heavenly Demon Art.
From this, I understood that outdoor running training is the first step in building a strong foundation, and this is precisely what these new reserve soldiers lack.
When I announced that the reserve troops would get up at dawn to run, the generals of the "Silver Tiger Legion" were in an uproar. Some wanted to say I was being ridiculous, but due to my position, they could only awkwardly remain silent. A few who did raise objections were firmly stopped by me, and they had no choice but to agree.
This is the advantage of being a high-ranking official; what I say goes, and those who disagree have no choice but to listen. No wonder so many people like to be officials.
The Northwest has many... The mountains were the main feature. Even just behind Xiliang City lay numerous towering peaks and rugged, unpredictable paths, perfect for training reaction time and agility.
So, every morning, the soldiers divided into thirty-nine 10,000-strong teams, led by the "Silver Tiger Legion" soldiers, and ran a round trip through the surrounding mountains.
A round trip was no short distance, at least thirty li (approximately 15 kilometers), enough to consume their entire morning.
After four hours of running training and lunch, they immediately began the reinforcement and repair of Xiliang City's walls and the reconstruction of buildings within the city. With such free labor available, the civil officials of Xiliang City were delighted to utilize them.
At least eight hours of training and work each day completely drained the young men's energy; even the soldiers of the "Silver Tiger Legion" were somewhat exhausted.
This high-intensity military life instilled considerable fear and resentment in the already undisciplined soldiers of the Northwest Commandery, especially after a few days. Due to the immense physical exertion, with hundreds injured or even killed, deserters finally began to appear.
Their camp was outside Xiliang City. Normally, the guard duty was handled by the 50,000 soldiers newly joined the "Silver Tiger Legion." However, since there was no fighting, while they trained with the veterans of the "Silver Tiger Legion," the number of guards at night was small, and the focus was on threats from the grasslands. Therefore, it wasn't until the next morning that the officers discovered over a thousand were missing.
The Liufeng Kingdom dealt very severely with deserters; otherwise, those teenagers wouldn't have only dared to beg and plead instead of fleeing.
Upon learning of this, Feng Wei immediately dispatched dozens of cavalry units, galloping at full speed towards the northwest inland. Far more familiar with the terrain than the deserters, they quickly captured those who tried to escape on foot, tied them up, and brought them all back.
Having received the news, I also arrived at the military camp outside the city. I saw over a thousand bound, disheveled deserters kneeling on the open ground, surrounded by countless soldiers.
The soldiers of the "Silver Tiger Legion's" military law squad, wielding long whips, stared at them with cold, bloodthirsty eyes, causing some deserters to nearly wet themselves.
"Legion Commander!"
"Legion Commander!"...
With each respectful address, I approached and realized that Feng Wei had already arrived.
"How do you usually handle these situations?"
I asked him calmly.
"Replying to the Legion Commander, it depends on the severity of the offense. The lightest punishment is twenty lashes, the heaviest is beheading,"
Feng Wei replied.
"What if I don't intervene?" "
Twenty lashes, break both legs, then throw them onto the grasslands to fend for themselves."
Feng Wei spoke loudly, as if to make sure they could all hear.
"Ah, General Feng! Spare me!"
"No! I have orphans and a widow at home!" "
..."
A series of wails revealed their fear, but before Feng Wei could even reprimand them, the soldiers of the border guards' military law squad viciously lashed out with their whips. The sounds of "crack, crack, crack" echoed, followed by incessant screams as hundreds of screaming men rolled erratically on the ground.
The salt-soaked whips left bloody welts with every strike; even the strongest men couldn't withstand such pain.
"Shut up!"
My cold voice, like a clap of thunder, struck the ears of everyone present. The hundred or so men closest to me immediately clutched their ears, their faces pale.
Seeing that I had spoken, the military law squad members stopped whipping and returned to their positions around the group of deserters.
Having already been beaten, the deserters' screams had lessened considerably, fearing that a louder cry would result in another beating.
I coldly looked at the group of disheveled men. "Tell me, why did you desert?"
The deserters didn't dare look at me, all lowering their heads, silent. "
Has the kitchen been mistreating you?"
I pointed to one of them. "You tell me."
"No...no, there's meat at every meal...the food is...very good..."
the deserter stammered, but answered anyway.
"Has someone mistreated you?"
"No."
"Then why did you run away?"
"General...we've been working so hard...our legs are about to break, it feels like we're dying..."
I said calmly, "So, there's only one reason you ran away: you're afraid of death, afraid of hardship and fatigue?"
No one dared to answer.
"You're all locals from the Northwest, right?"
I raised my voice slightly. "If you don't want to be soldiers, come and tell me today, and I'll approve your return."
A
murmur rippled through the crowd, even Feng Wei was stunned.
Deserters could escape punishment and be sent home?
"General, you...you really don't blame us? You're willing to let us go back?"
The man opposite me perked up, his voice filled with hope.
Not only them, but many of the soldiers watching the spectacle also showed expressions of longing.
In Xiliang City, the food and other conditions were good, and the officers hadn't mistreated them much, but the training was just too grueling. Running and labor every day was like being in hell. Who would want to suffer like this if they could have a comfortable life?
"Of course, you can go back, you can all go back,"
I said loudly. "Even today, this imperial envoy can disband all the officers and soldiers of the 'Silver Tiger Legion,' and all the county soldiers who have been summoned, and let them go home too."
"Uh...all home? What if the grassland barbarians attack again?"
a deserter asked instinctively.
"What can we do? How should I know?"
I spread my hands. "I'm not from the Northwest. After I return to the capital, I can still eat, drink, and have fun. No matter how powerful the grassland barbarians are, they can't reach the capital."
Some of the deserters were also stunned, asking all at once, "But what about the people from the Northwest?"
I smiled slightly. They were really playing along.
I shook my head contemptuously again and said coldly, "What else can we do? Your families will be destroyed, your wives will all be captured by the grassland barbarians to be used as sex toys, and your children will be captured to become their slaves. As for yourselves, your heads will be their best military achievement."
Most of the people present were horrified.
As people from the Northwest, they knew that I wasn't just scaring them, but that it was really possible, and that such things had been happening for thousands of years, according to the elders.
"Don't think that people from other places will sympathize with you,"
I said with a smile. "I will tell them that no one in the Northwest deserves sympathy. What good would sympathy do them?" "You refuse to take up arms to protect your elders, fellow villagers, and families, all choosing to stay home like cowards. What is there to sympathize with? Your parents should hate for giving birth to you, your wives should regret marrying cowards, and your children… oh, they won't regret it, because they were captured before they even grew up. Perhaps when they do grow up, they'll happily drink from your severed heads, calling them, 'These are the cowardly pigs of Liufeng Kingdom!'"
"Stop talking, stop talking…"
In an instant, the faces of the thousands around turned ashen, muttering incessantly, their faces filled with terror as they clearly imagined the tragic scene I had described.
I laughed loudly, "Why shouldn't we talk about it? You can do it, but others aren't allowed to? Not only will I talk about it, but I'll also sit by my waterside pavilion, embracing beautiful women, and tell them the story of these cowards. 'You brought this upon yourselves' is the best explanation… well, we should also add 'deserved to die.'"
"No, no! Don't—"
"We are not deserters! We will not be deserters!" "
To hell with deserters, we're not!"
"..."
The soldiers, who had been pale just moments before, suddenly roared with a tearing force, from one person to ten, then to a hundred... Thousands upon thousands around them, their faces flushed, fists raised, venting their fear and anger.
This effect was thanks to my true energy, which allowed my voice to reach everyone's ears. Although most were out running for training, all thirty thousand-plus people present heard my words.
As men of the Northwest, protecting their homeland was their destiny. Although many hated my training methods, and many seemed unable to endure it, none of this meant they wanted to abandon their families and let them be slaughtered by the grassland barbarians.
After a while, the crowd, their voices hoarse from shouting, gradually stopped.
"Running sixty li back and forth every day, it's tiring, I know that." "
I spoke again calmly, "When I was little, I didn't understand why my master treated me like this, but I wasn't as brave as you. I didn't know how to run away. Even if I wanted to slack off, when my master's whip came, I had no choice but to jump up like lightning and keep running."
The soldiers were stunned by these words, thinking, "No way, this esteemed legion commander suffered like this as a child?
" "You're right. I asked my master, 'Aren't you afraid I'll get angry and have my father chop off your head?' My master replied, 'Compared to being afraid of that, I care more about whether you have the means to save your life...' So he never relaxed his discipline on me. I ran from the age of six until I was twelve before stopping. By then, I could beat more than a dozen children my age. Why? Because my master made me run every day, increasing my strength and endurance, allowing me to surpass them. And look at you, you can't even handle this? Are you even men? Go back into your mother's womb!" "
Hahaha..."
The soldiers beside me couldn't help but laugh. They hadn't run away, so they naturally assumed I was only cursing the deserters.
Hearing the Imperial Envoy of Liufeng Kingdom, a First-Class Duke, swearing, these people, who weren't very literate to begin with, felt a surge of satisfaction.
"Commander, if we run like this every day, how many years will it take us to reach your level?"
A bolder soldier shouted from a distance, "I also want to throw a few horses over the city wall!"
I glanced at him; the soldier who spoke was exceptionally tall, exuding a fierce aura, clearly a promising martial arts talent.
"To throw horses over the city wall, it depends on how hard you train. If you work hard, three to five years is enough; if you're lazy, even ten or twenty years won't be enough,"
I replied with a smile.
"I know I'm not as good as you, Commander. If I can train to half your level, I'll be satisfied." "
The burly man chuckled憨厚ly.
Little Turtle and Little Bird pinched their palms to hold back their laughter.
When the young master was six to twelve years old, he was still fighting and causing trouble on the streets of Wushuang County, and harassing respectable women. He didn't start practicing martial arts until he was thirteen. Besides, all of the young master's martial arts skills were self-taught. There was no master forcing him.
But the young master is the young master. With a few empty words, he closed the distance between himself and the group of soldiers.
However, the man who asked the last question was too overconfident. He and his two brothers, the dignified steward of the Liu family, who had learned martial arts with the young master, could barely throw a horse over a thirty-meter city wall by themselves. Let alone a lowly soldier like you? Not to mention whether you can even reach half of the young master's level!
"Brothers, you feel it's hard, you feel tired, you feel that I, the legion commander, am deliberately torturing you... Don't you have any thoughts?" "
I suddenly shouted again, "I, a duke of the dignified Liufeng Kingdom, was born with a life of wealth and honor. Right now, I should be enjoying delicious food and beautiful women in my mansion, enjoying all the good things in the world. Why did I have to come to this godforsaken northwest, to this Xiliang City where I'm constantly under attack from the grassland barbarians and where my life is in danger? Tell me, am I crazy?"
The men below kept their mouths shut. No matter how they answered, it seemed wrong, so they simply remained silent.
I didn't really need their answers and continued, "No, of course I'm not sick. I gave up my comfortable life in the capital and came to the Northwest, to Xiliang City, because I am a citizen of Liufeng Kingdom. I don't want to see our Northwest of Liufeng Kingdom trampled by barbarians; I don't want to see my brothers and sisters, my compatriots, humiliated by barbarians. So I came, to stand with you, to defend where we should defend, to counterattack where we should counterattack. One day, I will lead you into the grasslands and fuck them!"
"Fuck them into the grasslands!"
"Fuck them into the grasslands!"
The soldiers below were fired up by my words and immediately began chanting slogans. Their voices gradually became unified, deafening, and soaring into the sky.
Feng Wei nodded secretly. This imperial envoy seemed to be no less capable than the legion commander—in his heart, the legion commander was still Chen Fuyue.
I raised my hand, and the soldiers immediately stopped, their discipline far improved from before.
"Shouting slogans is useless. I've seen many people who are first-rate talkers, but third-rate when it comes to action, utterly incompetent."
I pointed at them. "I don't need your slogans. From today onwards, you all train properly. In three months, I will weed out the first batch. Those cowardly cowards, let them go back home and watch how we real men defend our country!
" "Yes! Commander, we won't be weeded out."
"Don't worry, sir, we men of the Northwest are definitely not cowards!"
"That's right, we will always follow you, into the grasslands and fuck their mothers!" "
..."
Those deserters were the most vocal in their shouting, and also the most attentive to my expression. After this commotion, they had no intention of leaving. For one thing, if word got out, they would be left with nowhere to go in the Northwest.
No Northwesterner wanted to accept their soldiers as deserters, especially those who had fled before even reaching the battlefield.
I saw their remorse. Normally, given my temperament, I would look down on these spineless bastards, but over a thousand was no small number. Killing them was out of the question, and I couldn't rely solely on torture; that would easily incite rebellion among these new recruits, greatly hindering my future governance as a newly arrived imperial envoy.
In fact, to some extent, the desertion of these new recruits was also a test of my ability to handle emergencies by the veterans of the "Silver Tiger Legion."
Proud and fierce soldiers never want their commander to be incompetent.
"As for you deserters..."
I said, and almost everyone in the room stopped breathing. "Thirty lashes, and you'll be treated like royalty. Only if you behave well will you be considered for rejoining the army... Of course, you can retaliate if you wish; you can leave now."
"No, we won't leave! Commander, we will work hard! Please watch us rise again!"
Amidst the jubilant cheers, one of the deserters uttered words that best represented their feelings. Life
is truly wondrous; soldiers who had just moments before been determined to flee were now crying and shouting, overjoyed to be able to stay.
This was the power of faith; they had something they wanted to protect, which led to such a dramatic shift.

Chapter Eleven: Bold and Decisive.
My speech, delivered by the more than 30,000 reserve troops present, spread to every corner of Xiliang City.
Many had initially considered deserting, but this momentum spurred them on; they couldn't leave now, for returning would only bring condemnation.
Therefore, despite occasional complaints of hardship and fatigue, they persevered. Even with ongoing casualties, the numbers decreased over time as they became more familiar with the terrain.
The benefits of the running training became apparent within about two weeks. The "White Tiger Legion" soldiers and officers responsible for training them noticed the improved muscle mass of these county soldiers. They had gained considerable weight and their patience had improved significantly, which was evident in their increased energy during afternoon work.
Over the course of half a month, the various sections of the Xiliang City walls were being repaired systematically.
The stones most needed for the walls were abundant in the Northwest, and these stones, polished to the same size, were being hauled up the walls one by one, or ladders were being used to patch up the damaged sections.
The stones were being glued together with lime mixed with glutinous rice juice, a method that firmly held the walls together as a single unit. This secret recipe was widely used on the city walls. I secretly asked Little Turtle and Little Bird to copy a copy and take it back to my wives; they should be able to use it while supervising the construction of Wuhua Mountain.
It's now mid-August, and the weather is getting increasingly hot. At midday, the sun is so strong it could burn your skin.
It was during this sweltering time that Deputy City Guard Chi Changyun unusually invited me to his office, saying he had something to discuss.
Upon arriving at the government office, besides Chi Changyun and several civil officials, I was surprised to see Gao Qimeng and Zhou Jing.
"What's this? The military and the government officials are together. What trouble have they given me this time?"
After exchanging greetings, I, seated at the head of the table, smiled and asked. Since
becoming the city garrison commander of Xiliang, I've become increasingly composed in public. This is unavoidable; after all, I'm only seventeen. If I'm not more mature, these seasoned veterans will easily underestimate me. They've
been working for me for almost a month now, and they know I'm not overly concerned with formalities. As long as I do my job well, everything else is fine. Therefore, they aren't so reserved in my presence.
"Hehe, it's nothing major, just something to report to Your Highness,"
Chi Changyun said, bowing. In public, they address me as "City Garrison Commander" or "Legion Commander," but in private, they address me by my title—a characteristic of Xiliang.
I waved my hand. "Speak, what is it?"
Chi Changyun nodded. "Then I'll begin. Your Highness, the total population of Xiliang is 1.5 million, with 1.1 million in the city and 460,000 troops outside. It's fair to say that the population explosion has reached a point of unbearable strain." "
I pondered for a moment and said, "Didn't you say a while ago that there were only 900,000 people left? Even with the 400,000 new arrivals, that's only 1.3 million, right? What about the remaining 200,000?"
"Your Highness, the area within a hundred li of Xiliang City is almost completely ruined. There are about 200,000 people left, mostly the elderly and women and children. Now, having lost their homes and families, they have all poured into Xiliang City."
"200,000? Is there that many?"
"Yes."
Chi Changyun said with a bitter smile, "We were negligent before. The towns and villages within a hundred li that provided us with supplies became too prosperous, attracting countless landless farmers to migrate in. The number has quadrupled in three years, and it seems there are at least 500,000. Those who died, were injured, or were abducted are around 300,000."
"What about the able-bodied men?"
"They...they sent the women, children, and elderly to the mountains beforehand, wanting to stay at home...so...so almost all of them were killed." "
Beasts!" The little turtle and bird beside
them, remembering the tragic scene they encountered during the farewell ceremony in Xiliang City, couldn't help but curse out loud.
"Revenge isn't about words; it requires immense strength,"
I said calmly, then turned back. "No wonder I heard that the city is still expanding its housing stock. Is there enough land?"
"Not enough. The previous standard of one million people was already the limit. Adding another two hundred thousand simply won't be enough,"
Chi Changyun said, his eyes darting around. "They can only be centrally housed in cramped, makeshift temporary housing, and many are even living in tents set up outside the city. But those living outside are panicked. They feel that only the city is safe, so morale is somewhat unstable."
"Lord Chi."
"Yes."
"I don't like people hiding anything or playing tricks on me. Speak your mind; I'm listening."
"Your Highness, I... I'll be frank."
Chi Changyun feigned a troubled expression, just to get me to ask. Hearing this, he immediately said, "The existing land in the city is definitely not enough, but if we requisition the mansions of those wealthy refugees to house the influx of civilians, it might be barely enough."
"Wealthy refugees? How many?"
"There are 588 people in total, all extremely wealthy. Each person owns at least ten acres of land, the largest being 220 acres, totaling 8,200 acres,"
Chi Changyun stated smoothly.
"220 acres? In Xiliang City?"
Xiao Gui calculated for a moment, then exclaimed in disbelief, "That's huge!"
Xiliang City was indeed large, but with a population of one million, it was already a good thing that it wasn't crowded. Now it seemed that the poor owned even less land than imagined.
The difference between rich and poor truly existed everywhere.
Chi Changyun's meaning was clear: there was simply no more space available, and the houses of these fleeing wealthy individuals could be confiscated. Xiliang
City was on the front lines of the Northwest battlefield, and the empire had an unwritten rule: in any city on the front lines, the soldiers and civilians should work together to defend it; those who deserted would be severely punished!
This method is cruel, but absolutely necessary. If the people living here flee at the first sign of attack, the garrison alone simply cannot hold them off. For the sake of the empire's peace, even if it means the city is massacred, it must be done. This applies
not only to Liufeng Kingdom but also to the Great Yuan Kingdom; it applies to all frontline cities.
Of course, these harsh laws mostly apply only to the poor. The wealthy, nobles, and officials are usually excluded, so they are always the first to flee when a city is attacked.
The same thing happened when the grassland allied forces attacked. The well-informed wealthy nobles, upon learning of the "Silver Tiger Legion's" defeat, immediately packed their families into carriages, filled with their treasures, and fled at breakneck speed. Normally,
Chi Changyun wouldn't want to provoke these powerful figures, but the pressure this time was immense. If he didn't handle 200,000 people properly, it could easily lead to a peasant uprising. He had to find a place that could accommodate them all.
Furthermore, the situation in Xiliang City was truly perilous. Everyone fought with all their might to protect the city. After the siege was lifted, the entire city of Xiliang was filled with contempt for those who deserted in the face of battle.
If it were any other city magistrate here, Chi Changyun might not have dared to say such things, but who was this young man before him? The first-class duke of Liufeng Kingdom, an imperial envoy, the governor of the military and political affairs of the three northwestern prefectures, and the nephew of the Empress—a favored son of heaven. In the entire Liufeng Kingdom, how many people were more noble than him?
In other words, there was no one that this Duke Lanting couldn't handle. If Duke Lanting himself confiscated the property of these wealthy people, they could only watch helplessly. Who would dare to go to the capital to appeal to the emperor?
“Demolishing the residences of the wealthy won’t solve the problem.”
My words chilled everyone, but my next question surprised them: “Besides the powerful and wealthy, how many other nobles have fled? How much land do they own?”
Gao Qimeng, who hadn’t spoken until now, was the first to react, blurting out, “There are a total of 120 nobles with titles of viscount or higher. Their businesses are spread across the three northwestern prefectures, and the total area of their residences in Xiliang City is 3,900 mu.”
“3,900 mu…”
I hesitated, “That seems a bit low… Oh well, even a small amount is still something, let’s confiscate it… Oh, no, maybe not.”
“Your Highness, is there a problem?”
Chi Changyun’s mood plummeted from its peak to its trough, his words revealing his undisguised disappointment.
"Yes, there are difficulties."
I frowned. "These guys' houses are all pavilions and gardens, it's such a waste... You all need to demolish all of these, no, demolish all the mansions and build me more temporary housing."
"Ah?"
The civil and military officials of Xiliang City were shocked for a moment, then revealed a look of joy.
Damn, look at this, what is nobility? What is the pride of heaven?
This is it!
If you're going to do something, do it thoroughly!
Not only did they take over the mansions of the wealthy, but they also wiped out the mansions of the nobles. What's most blatant is that they actually want to demolish and rebuild them all. They're really tough!
Everyone knows that most of these mansions are decades old, and the oldest is over a hundred years old. They can be said to have a long history, and it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call them their ancestral homes.
But... confiscating property and demolishing ancestral homes are completely different concepts!
Even someone as audacious as Gao Qimeng hesitated at this moment. "Your Highness, shouldn't you consider this? If we confiscate it, they can still redeem it with money, but if we push it away... you'll make enemies with them."
"Hahaha..."
I laughed. "Strategist, do you think I'm afraid of these people?"
"I know Your Highness isn't afraid, but it's always good to have a way out in case of trouble,"
Chi Changyun chimed in. "The wealthy are one thing, but many of these nobles are descendants of founding heroes, and many are relatives of powerful figures in the court."
"As role models for the people, they deserted in the face of danger. It's already a favor from their ancestors that I haven't drawn my Yu Fang sword to kill them. If they dare to cause trouble for me, I don't care who they are."
Saying this, I laughed. "I know you're using me as a shield, but if it's something that benefits the people, I won't refuse it no matter how much you bring. What I despise most are spineless people!"
"Your Highness is wise!"
Several officials, excited, stood up and bowed to me in unison.
"The matter is settled. Demolition can begin today. Changyun, you personally supervise the process and ensure they settle down quickly."
"Understood, Your Highness."
"Furthermore, draft another memorial in my name to the court, requesting severe punishment for these fleeing nobles and wealthy individuals.
" "Yes."
Chi Changyun was beaming with excitement. With this 10,000 mu of land, it would be enough to settle the refugees who had fled into the city.

URL 1:https://www.sexlove5.com/htmlBlog/10183.html

URL 2:/Blog.aspx?id=10183&aspx=1

Last access time:

Previous Page : [Fantasy] My World (Complete) - 16

Next Page : [Fantasy] My World (Complete) - 14

增加

comment Open a new window to view comments

Contact Information

[Fantasy] My World (Complete) - 15

comment Open a new window to view comments