Chapter 442: Barbarian-Killing City

The so-called Northern Territory refers to the border area in the northwest of the Great Lan Dynasty.

From Juping Mountain to Heitu River, the Great Lan Dynasty set up a defensive line with a total length of more than six hundred miles on the northwest border, consisting of five major cities and twenty-one military towns.

It is this defensive line that has been resisting the invasion of the Northern Barbarians for hundreds of years, making it impossible for the Northern Barbarians to invade the Central Plains on a large scale.

Those living in the five major cities and twenty-one military towns are basically border army soldiers and their families, as well as logistics personnel. Besides that, there are only merchants coming and going.

Ordinary people would not be willing to live in such a place where war might break out at any time.

On this Northern Territory defensive line, there are one hundred thousand troops and an Imperial Camp army on the scale of ten thousand people, as well as more than five hundred thousand permanent residents.

These towns and people together constitute the Northern Territory of the Great Lan Dynasty.

From Lanling City to the Northern Territory, there is no direct train.

Li Fei and the three of them changed trains twice before arriving at Barbarian-Killing City, one of the five cities in the Northern Territory, from the nearest province.

This is the major city closest to the front line, and also the city with the largest scale, the largest population, and the strongest military force.

The mansion of Prince Cheng Qin Shixian is in Barbarian-Killing City.

Li Fei and Miao Yangxia and Su Jia arrived in Barbarian-Killing City by car and witnessed the majesty of this city when entering the city:

The city wall is one hundred meters high, and there is a row of city defense cannons on it, as well as heavy machine guns!

The seventeen Northern Barbarian tribes are still in the cold weapon era, and both their technological level and martial power level are comprehensively lagging behind the Great Lan Dynasty.

Therefore, Barbarian-Killing City has never been breached.

After entering the city, the architectural style of Barbarian-Killing City gave Li Fei the most direct feeling—rugged!

There is no trace of being influenced by Western culture, no trams, no advertising light signs, no small foreign-style buildings...

Everything here seems to have nothing to do with exquisiteness.

If the imperial capital Lanling City is like a pearl from the sky, then Barbarian-Killing City is like a stone lying across the empire's northwest border.

On this barbaric and desolate land, it has resisted the Northern Barbarian invasion for the Great Lan Dynasty for more than two hundred years!

After entering the city, Li Fei went directly to the military department set up by the Military Affairs Office here.

He brought Miao Yangxia and Su Jia to the front of the military department of Barbarian-Killing City, and a military general was already waiting here.

The other party was wearing armor, with a murderous aura, and observing his aura, he had the cultivation base of the Dao Foundation stage.

"Barbarian-Killing City Military Department Assistant General Fang Feng, paying respects to the Jing'an Marquis."

The other party placed his right fist on his chest and gave Li Fei a military salute.

Civil officials and military officials are two different systems. Military officials from bottom to top are:

Team Leader, Flag Leader, Battalion Commander, Garrison Commander, Regional Military Commissioner, Assistant General, Commander, Regional Commander, Provincial Military Commander.

There are nine ranks in total, each rank is divided into primary and secondary levels, adding up to the same as civil officials, a total of eighteen levels.

This Fang Feng who greeted Li Fei outside the military department gate is an Assistant General, which is a level 12 military official, equivalent to an imperial court appointed official.

Miao Yangxia and Su Jia, who were following Li Fei, looked at each other, feeling that something was a bit tricky.

With Li Fei's current official position, strength, and reputation, the military department of Barbarian-Killing City should at least send a Commander-level military official to receive him, right?

Sending only an Assistant General, does it seem too disrespectful?

Li Fei's expression did not change, and he nodded to Fang Feng: "Assistant General Fang, lead the way."

"Marquis, please."

Fang Feng turned sideways to guide, and took Li Fei and the three of them into the military department gate.

This military department covers a huge area. After several people passed through several courtyards and a drill ground, Fang Feng took the three to a pavilion.

"Marquis, this is the command post of the military department."

"Is Prince Cheng inside?"

Li Fei asked.

Fang Feng shook his head: "Prince Cheng went to patrol the border and is not in the city. Now it is Deputy Provincial Military Commander Luo Xu who is sitting in the military department."

"Good."

Li Fei nodded and was about to step toward the pavilion, but Fang Feng suddenly stopped Miao Yangxia and Su Jia behind him.

Li Fei turned to look at Fang Feng: "What do you mean?"

Fang Feng said neither humble nor arrogant: "Sorry, Marquis, these two have no official position, and according to the regulations, they cannot enter the command post at will."

Li Fei smiled and said calmly to Miao Yangxia and Su Jia: "Okay, you two wait for me outside."

"Yes."

Miao Yangxia and Su Jia naturally had no objections.

Then Fang Feng took Li Fei into the command post and took him directly to the highest fifth floor.

Passing through the corridor, they stopped in front of a room.

"Deputy Provincial Military Commander Luo is waiting for you inside."

Fang Feng said to Li Fei, then turned and left.

Li Fei pushed the door open directly. Inside stood a fat man, looking at the width, who could at least hold two Li Feis, a 'majestic' man.

The other party was wearing a blue official robe, and was also the only military official Li Fei had seen so far who was not wearing armor.

Seeing Li Fei, Luo Xu stood up from his seat with some difficulty, like a meat mountain moving, the fat on his face trembling, squeezing out a smile:

"Long admired the Jing'an Marquis's great name, finally got to see you today."

Li Fei bowed to the other party: "Paying respects to Deputy Provincial Military Commander Luo."

Deputy Provincial Military Commander is a level 17 military official. In terms of official position, he is one rank higher than Li Fei.

As for cultivation, Li Fei had understood it before coming. There are only two Grandmasters in the entire Northern Territory border army.

One is Prince Cheng, and the other is the commander of that ten-thousand-person Imperial Camp army.

The Luo Xu in front of him has the cultivation base of a Martial Arts Master, but being able to serve as a Deputy Provincial Military Commander, the other party must also be a powerhouse among Martial Arts Masters.

"Jing'an Marquis, no need for formalities, please sit."

Luo Xu smiled, then asked someone to enter the room to pour tea.

Soon, a cup of steaming tea was placed in front of Li Fei.

He picked it up and took a sip, it was extremely bitter.

Seeing this, Luo Xu also took a sip of tea and smiled:

"The Northern Territory is bitter and cold, the conditions are a bit poor, Jing'an Marquis, please bear with it."

Li Fei put down the teacup without changing his expression: "No matter, I am not a pampered person."

"Hahaha, that is, that is."

Luo Xu had a face full of smiles, "The Central Government only said that you would come, but did not say the specific appointment and mission. Can Jing'an Marquis clear up my confusion?"

Li Fei: "The relevant imperial edict should arrive soon."

Luo Xu nodded: "Since that is the case, why don't I arrange for Jing'an Marquis to stay in the city first, and wait until the imperial edict arrives, then we will talk about military affairs?"

Li Fei looked at the other party and was about to speak, when a knock on the door suddenly came from outside.

"What's the matter?"

Luo Xu asked.

"My lord, an imperial edict has arrived."

The person outside the door said.

Luo Xu was startled, looked at Li Fei, and opened his mouth to let the person outside the door come in.

Although this era already has telegrams and telephones, some orders still need to be conveyed in written form.

For example, imperial edicts.

The Great Lan Dynasty has special flying exotic beasts raised for long-distance communication, and their speed is faster than today's trains.

Li Fei arrived in Barbarian-Killing City on the front foot, and the imperial edict arrived on the back foot, obviously sent by timing.

The person who came was holding a wooden box in his hands and handed it to Luo Xu.

Luo Xu took the wooden box with both hands, returned to his seat, and placed the wooden box on the table.

He looked at Li Fei again, and then carefully took out an imperial edict from it with caution.

The content on the imperial edict was indeed related to Li Fei, and it was his specific appointment for coming to the Northern Territory this time.

Luo Xu's eyes changed constantly, and it was only after a moment that he finished reading the imperial edict and put it back into the wooden box.

"Deputy Provincial Military Commander Luo, is this imperial edict related to me?"

Li Fei asked actively.

Luo Xu smiled: "It is indeed related to you, I have seen the arrangements of the Holy One. Jing'an Marquis is so young and has received the Holy One's trust to take on such a heavy responsibility, which really makes me envious!"

Li Fei looked at him: "Deputy Provincial Military Commander Luo is joking, you are responsible for guarding the Northern Territory and managing hundreds of thousands of troops and civilians, where is there a need to envy me?"

The Northern Territory is different from those provinces of the Great Lan Dynasty. There are no six departments and six courts here, and the military department set up by the Military Affairs Office is the highest power organization.

So in terms of real power, Luo Xu, this Northern Territory Deputy Provincial Military Commander, has much more freedom than the regional governors of a province!

"Eh, I am just responsible for assisting Prince Cheng to manage these hundreds of thousands of troops and civilians in the Northern Territory."

Luo Xu waved his hand.

After he laughed, he revealed a difficult expression: "Jing'an Marquis will serve as the Army Supervisor of the Barbarian-Killing Army in the future, which is no problem at all, but the Holy One let you command more than three thousand warriors recommended by the Blue Patrol Pavilion from various places, this..."

Li Fei looked at him: "Why, is there any problem?"

Luo Xu: "Jing'an Marquis, don't misunderstand, of course I am not questioning the Holy One's decision. It is like this, these three thousand plus new warriors will go deep into the wilderness with the army in the future, but they have never had relevant combat experience before, so after these people arrived in the Northern Territory, I arranged for them to be trained uniformly."

Li Fei nodded, this was the arrangement that should have been made.

"In order to better coordinate and command these warriors, I specially transferred more than three hundred military officials of various levels from the border army to be incorporated into this team, and these military officials will also join the Barbarian-Killing Army in the future."

Luo Xu continued, "Now these military officials have been training with more than three thousand warriors for more than a month, and the command system from top to bottom has also been built. If Jing'an Marquis suddenly wants to withdraw these warriors at this time, then the previous training will be in vain."

Li Fei: "This is simple, there is no need to withdraw, the three hundred plus military officials will be retained, and I will command them uniformly in the future."

"This..."

Luo Xu looked at him, "Jing'an Marquis has no military official position, and has never had the experience of leading troops. Is this probably inappropriate?"

Li Fei looked directly at this Deputy Provincial Military Commander and said word by word:

"Is Master Luo trying to resist the imperial edict?"

Luo Xu's expression changed slightly, and then he smiled: "Hahaha, Jing'an Marquis is joking, how would I dare to resist the imperial edict? How about this, at this time, those three thousand plus warriors are training in the wilderness outside the city, I will take you there personally."

In the jungle more than sixty miles north of the north gate of Barbarian-Killing City, more than three thousand warriors from various places are training uniformly.

The Northern Territory defensive line spans several hundred miles, of course, it is not just those few major cities and those military towns. There are also many outposts set up around Barbarian-Killing City, and there are patrolling soldiers.

The scope of the patrol also belongs to the defensive area of Barbarian-Killing City.

At this time, more than three thousand warriors were within the defensive area of Barbarian-Killing City.

Each of them was holding a Tiger-style rifle, carrying a backpack weighing 300 jin, practicing forced marches in the jungle!

The wilderness, poor mountains and bad waters, primitive jungle. Many poisonous insects, strange beasts, harsh weather, various poisonous miasmas...

If it weren't for the Barbarian tribes who grew up here since childhood, it would be a narrow escape for ordinary people to walk through it!

This is the reason why the Great Lan Dynasty has not used troops against the Northern Barbarians on a large scale for so many years.

This time the imperial court formed the Barbarian-Killing Army to go deep into the wilderness for beheading, and the necessary condition is that everyone is a warrior!

Right now, these three thousand plus warriors from various places, after arriving in the Northern Territory, have received the most training in forced marches in the jungle.

At this moment, they are divided into several parts, taking turns to serve as the vanguard, clearing the way at the very front for the main force.

There are no roads in the primitive jungle, so the vanguard responsible for clearing the way needs to expend more physical strength.

These three thousand plus warriors, the lowest cultivation base is the Body-Breaking stage, and their physique far exceeds ordinary people.

But at this moment, the vast majority of people are already sweating profusely and panting like cows.

"Faster! Faster!"

A severe voice came from above everyone's heads.

A man wearing a full set of black armor stood in the air, 'standing' above this jungle.

He is a Martial Arts Master and has the ability to fly.

As long as a warlock breaks through to the True Spirit realm and becomes a True Person, he will definitely have the ability to fly.

But it is not necessarily the case for warriors.

Martial Arts Masters with the ability to fly are very rare, and each one belongs to a 'strategic resource'!

This person has a straight posture, eyebrows like knives, and keeps a crew cut, with a cool and fierce momentum.

He is the chief instructor of these three thousand plus warriors, and for the past month or so, he has been responsible for the training of these people.

At this time, he stood in the air, constantly scolding the people below, letting them speed up.

If anyone fell behind, he would also directly strike a force from the air, hitting these warriors who fell behind, making them shout loudly in pain.

More than thirty minutes later, more than three thousand warriors all ran out of this jungle and returned to the temporarily built camp.

After returning to the camp, the vast majority of people lay directly on the ground, panting heavily.

Those who could continue to stand were either Martial Arts Masters at the Qi Transformation stage or military officials who had been transferred.

For a warrior at the Body-Breaking stage, a forced march in the jungle with a weight of 300 jin for two full hours has already exceeded the limit of many people.

A figure cut through the sky and landed on the high platform of the camp.

"All stand up for me!"

This chief instructor scolded loudly without any politeness.

Obviously, he had already established majesty in the hearts of this group of warriors, and everyone did not dare to delay in the slightest, quickly climbed up from the ground, and then under the organization of the military officials, quickly lined up in front of the high platform.

"A bunch of trash!"

The chief instructor's angry scolding resounded through the entire camp:

"After practicing for so long, you still can't achieve passing grades. If you were soldiers under my hand, you would have been taken out and shot long ago!"

Among the three thousand plus warriors, quite a few people revealed expressions of resentment, but they dared to be angry but dared not speak.

These people, the lowest cultivation base is the Body-Breaking stage, because this is the lowest requirement recommended by the Blue Patrol Pavilion.

But the highest cultivation base is only the middle stage of Qi Transformation, and there are not even a few.

Dao Foundation stage experts can serve as counselors in the Blue Patrol Pavilion, and they are also important figures in various places, and they will not be recommended at all.

The following Martial Arts Masters practicing strength are also important combat forces in major forces, and will not be sent away easily.

So the cultivation bases of these people recommended to the border army are not high.

And the person standing on the high platform scolding them as trash at this moment is a Martial Arts Master.

The gap between the two sides is really too big!

No one dared to resist, and no one had the ability to resist.

Just when the chief instructor on the high platform intended to continue lecturing, two cars suddenly drove from afar.

The chief instructor turned his head to look and recognized Luo Xu's exclusive car at a glance.

With the other party's figure, ordinary cars simply couldn't hold him.

The chief instructor stopped lecturing, waited for the cars to drive into the camp, jumped down from the high platform, and took the initiative to greet them.

Luo Xu got out of his exclusive car, and Li Fei got out of the other car.

"Deputy Provincial Military Commander!"

The chief instructor bowed to Luo Xu.

Luo Xu nodded and pointed at Li Fei:

"You should know this person, he is the famous Jing'an Hou Lifei."

This was heard by everyone in the camp, and suddenly there was a commotion, and they all looked over one after another.

The chief instructor was also startled, then looked at Li Fei and bowed:

"So it is the Jing'an Marquis, long admired the great name, I am Chen Fei, Assistant General of the Qingshuang Army."

The Qingshuang Army is the ten-thousand-person Imperial Camp army guarding the Northern Territory.

The Great Lan Dynasty has a total of only four ten-thousand-person level Imperial Camp armies:

Bai Yan, Chilin, Qingshuang, Tianlan.

The military officials serving in these four Imperial Camp armies have different ranks from ordinary troops.

Chen Fei is only an Assistant General in the Qingshuang Army, commanding at most three thousand people, but his true rank is Regional Commander, a level 16 military official, on the same level as Li Fei!

Li Fei returned the bow: "General Chen is too polite."

"Just right, you are all gathered."

Luo Xu looked at the lined-up crowd, then walked toward the high platform, "Come, I have something to announce."

Soon, he and Li Fei and Chen Fei climbed onto the high platform.

Luo Xu looked at the three thousand plus warriors below and said loudly:

"The Holy One has an edict, ordering Jing'an Hou Lifei to command all the warriors recommended by the Blue Patrol Pavilion!"

This made the crowd below commotion again.

Chen Fei, who was standing beside Luo Xu, changed his expression instantly and turned his head to look at Li Fei fiercely.

Li Fei clearly felt a murderous intent!

"Hehe."

After Luo Xu announced this news, he looked at Li Fei with a smile, "Jing'an Marquis, I have already brought the news. Next, you and General Chen make a handover. The military department still has things to deal with, so I will go back first."

After speaking, he walked directly down the high platform and walked toward his exclusive car.

Obviously, he intended to let Li Fei and Chen Fei solve the following problems themselves.

Li Fei did not open his mouth to stop Luo Xu, stood on the high platform with a calm expression, and watched the other party's exclusive car drive out of the camp.

He turned to look at Chen Fei: "General Chen, Deputy Provincial Military Commander Luo said that it has been you and some military officials in the army who have been leading these warriors to train, thank you."

Chen Fei's eyebrows like knife blades raised upward:

"I train them because they are my soldiers, so there is no need for the Jing'an Marquis to thank me!"

Three thousand plus warriors, no matter where they are placed, are a piece of 'fragrant steamed bun'.

The Imperial Camp army is an elite team of all warriors. Once there are casualties, it is difficult to replenish soldiers.

So when these three thousand plus warriors recommended by the Blue Patrol Pavilion arrived in the Northern Territory, they were targeted by the Qingshuang Army at the first moment.

In the eyes of the generals of the Qingshuang Army, this is an excellent reserve soldier source!

That's why Chen Fei, this Assistant General of the Qingshuang Army, was sent to serve as the chief instructor.

Even if these warriors are 'divided' by the border army afterwards, most of them will eventually belong to the Qingshuang Army.

In Chen Fei's eyes, these three thousand plus warriors are already fat meat at the mouth.

As a result, a Li Fei suddenly jumped out now, wanting to grab meat from the mouth of the Qingshuang Army!

How can this be agreed?

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 443 =====