Exiled to the Frontier, He Became the Empire’s Most Powerful Lord - Chapter 16

“I never imagined that there would be such a city in the remote border town of Mangcheng!”

Yang Wufeng and Lu Zhengtian were both somewhat surprised.

This was completely unexpected by everyone.

“These barbarian tribes are not yet a force to be reckoned with! If those three great families were to cultivate them for several more decades, there would likely be even more southern barbarians emerging in addition to the Turks and Tibetans!”

Zhou Lingfeng said calmly.

Those million barbarians are no joke; once they take off their animal costumes and put on armor, they become born berserkers.

That’s why the Great Zhou Dynasty is now at its most prosperous, although many places have already decayed!

If we wait until Emperor Yuanwu dies and a successor ascends the throne, the barbarian tribes will become powerful, and the entire Great Zhou will face three major external threats.

That will be the time when an era of prosperity followed by decline arrives, and history has seen this repeat itself time and again.

“I have already sent people to clear the last ten miles of road. Should we also send someone to notify the officials of Mangcheng to come and receive Your Majesty?”

Yang Wufeng stepped forward and said.

Zhou Lingfeng didn’t speak, he just nodded!

In fact, even if Mangcheng was isolated from news, it should have known long ago that the barbarian king had gone south to take up his fief.

If those people were sensible, they would have already made preparations to welcome them.

“Your Highness, let’s go home!”

Hong Jiuming’s eyes flashed with a cold light, clearly indicating that he was extremely dissatisfied.

The entire barbarian army was terrified of the little eunuch in blue who served the barbarian king.

A third-grade Grandmaster who is not even twenty years old, yet a formidable figure capable of taking on two opponents at once, who wouldn’t be afraid of him?

Moreover, apart from the Barbarian King, only Mo Li could make Hong Jiuming smile.

Many people violated military discipline along the way, and Hong Jiuming made them cry for their parents.

Therefore, a saying now circulates in the barbarian king’s army: “Better to be beaten by the army than to provoke Hong Yanwang!”

Hong Jiuming left quickly, while Zhou Lingfeng sat in the carriage with his eyes closed, resting.

Autumn gently massaged his shoulders and back from behind, looking quite carefree.

In Python City, the patriarchs of the three major families gathered together, and the atmosphere was somewhat solemn.

“The barbarian king is already ten miles outside the city. According to etiquette, we must go out of the city to greet him!”

City Lord Lei Xingmie spoke first.

“Mangcheng hasn’t sent any officials for so many years! I never expected His Majesty would actually enfeoff the deposed crown prince in our Mangcheng. This is more of a curse than a blessing!”

“We barbarians only wish to live a peaceful life and take care of our fellow tribes in the mountains, that’s all!”

The other two clan leaders sighed as they spoke.

Compared to the vast territory and hundreds of millions of people of the Great Zhou Dynasty, the barbarians are truly insignificant!

Their reverence for the Great Zhou Dynasty was naturally very deep.

Being able to occupy the remote city of Mangcheng and trade rice, grain, and salt with the southern provinces, they could naturally make a living.

As for things like vying for supremacy or occupying the southern province, those were completely unthinkable for the three clan leaders.

In their eyes, this place was a wild and untamed land, and it was difficult enough to survive.

“If the barbarian king behaves himself, we can tolerate his occasional arrogance! But if he tries to bully our barbarian tribe, that is absolutely unacceptable!”

Lei Xingmie said in a deep voice.

“I’ve heard that the barbarian king’s army numbers in the thousands. If a conflict breaks out, our people will shed blood!”

The Lan family patriarch said helplessly.

“We must not engage in direct conflict unless absolutely necessary! Otherwise, even if we kill the barbarian king, the governor of the southern province will surely launch a massive attack!”

The Zhong family patriarch shook his head.

“We’re caught in a dilemma! Perhaps this barbarian king isn’t just a spoiled brat after all. Let’s welcome him into the city first!”

Lei Xingmie pondered for a moment before making a decision.

“Whoosh!”

Hong Jiuming suddenly appeared in the courtyard of the city lord’s mansion and said calmly, “His Highness the Barbarian King has decreed that all civil and military officials of Python City must go out of the city to receive the King!”

“High-grade third rank!”

Lei Xingmie and the others were all high-level fourth-rank martial artists. When they saw that Hong Jiuming was so young, they were immediately shocked!

The fact that the Barbarian King had such a talent under his command made my previous ulterior motives vanish instantly!

After all, there are no third-rank martial artists in Python City at this time!

When this one little eunuch in blue robes went berserk, no one could stop him.

A third-rank expert is already considered a grandmaster. They might be common in Shengjing, but in the border regions, they are the most powerful experts.

“Your Majesty, we obey!”

Lei Xingmie and the others dared not delay and immediately led the civil and military officials of Mangcheng, who were already waiting, out ten miles to welcome the king.

When the hundreds of officials from Python City respectfully arrived ten miles outside the city and saw Zhou Lingfeng getting off the carriage in a wheelchair, they were greatly surprised.

Python City is located on the outer periphery of the Great Wall. Although the news of the shocking palace coup in the thirty-fifth year of Yuanwu was known throughout the world, it was merely known to the world.

As for the details inside, it is almost impossible to find out anything outside of Shengjing.

But at this time, it was quite unexpected that the barbarian king, who was born into the royal family, was a cripple who could only sit in a wheelchair.

Despite this, Lei Xingmie and the others did not dare to underestimate Zhou Lingfeng in the slightest!

After all, the iron-blooded aura displayed by the barbarian king’s army of four thousand infantry and two thousand cavalry showed that this was by no means an ordinary army.

A single glance at Lei Xingmie was enough to tell that although the army in Python City numbered over ten thousand, they were no match for the Barbarian King’s army.

Moreover, Zhou Lingfeng, despite his disability, was able to control such a powerful army and even command the respect of a third-grade Grandmaster. This Barbarian King is no ordinary man.

“Your humble servants pay their respects to Your Highness, the Barbarian King!”

Lei Xingmie led the civil and military officials of Python City to bow to Zhou Lingfeng.

“You have all served His Majesty in governing this region, and you have worked very hard! There is no need for such formalities, please rise!”

Zhou Lingfeng’s clear voice echoed throughout the surroundings.

“Lord Lei, is there a suitable place for my six thousand troops to be stationed?”

Zhou Lingfeng asked Lei Xingmie.

“Your Highness, our Eastern Camp of Python City can accommodate 30,000 troops!”

Lei Xingmie hurriedly said.

“Yang Wufeng, Lu Zhengtian, you two lead your troops to settle down in the East City Camp. Do not disturb the people! Without my order, you are not allowed to enter the inner city. Anyone who disobeys will be executed immediately!”

Zhou Lingfeng said calmly.

The two solemnly accepted the order!

The officials in Mangcheng were relieved to hear this!

Their biggest worry right now is that the barbarian king will use his military might to carry out a purge in Python City and take the opportunity to amass wealth.

After all, when many barbarian kings took up their fiefdoms, the local wealthy households and powerful families suffered, and their wealth accumulated over the years was looted.

“Your Highness, our Mangcheng is a small city. Hearing that you are coming to assume your fiefdom, we can only prepare a residence for you to stay temporarily! As for the royal palace, we can build it slowly in the future!”

“The grand ceremony prepared for the prince’s entry into the fiefdom should be started immediately.”

Lei Xingmie sounded somewhat unsure of himself when he said this.

I hadn’t expected the barbarian king to bring so many troops with him when he took up his fief, so I didn’t think much of it at the time!

He brought out the best mansion in his family, thinking he could just make do with whatever was available.

“Any place will do, thank you for your trouble, Lord Laure!”

“At the very least, such a wasteful and extravagant ceremony is unnecessary!”

Zhou Lingfeng smiled slightly, then got into the carriage and ordered them to enter the city.

The barbarian king entered the city very calmly, without any extravagance or waste!

This scene was somewhat unexpected for everyone.

Many commoners were unaware that the true master of Python City had arrived: His Highness the Barbarian King, the prince of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

The mansion arranged by Lei Xingmie was not small; the entire guard battalion could live comfortably inside.

After dismissing the remaining officials of Python City, the heads of the three major families carefully accompanied them.

So far, Zhou Lingfeng has acted quite amiably, but the more amiable he is, the more uneasy they become.

“You three have had a long and tiring journey today! I will rest for a few days before hosting a banquet to entertain you all!”

Zhou Lingfeng spoke very politely, but it was essentially an invitation to leave.

After Lei Xingmie and the other two came out, they looked at each other and noticed the unease in each other’s eyes.

“This barbarian king is not what we imagined!”

“Yes! They’re neither in a hurry to seize power nor extort money. How should we deal with them!”

“The more this happens, the more frightened I become! I’m afraid that His Highness the Barbarian King’s greed will devour everything!”

Lei Xingmie sighed without giving a thought.

“Let’s stick to the plan and deliver the gift later!”

The three of them made their decision and then went their separate ways.