Chapter 779: Execute First, Report Later: Special Imperial Authorization

Outside Shaman City, inside the training camp.

A group of martial artists were gathered in twos and threes, chatting.

Because there were no elixirs to replenish energy, training had been halted for two days.

"What do you think, when will the Marquis of Jing'an be able to get the elixirs?"

"I think it's unlikely. After all, this is the Northern Frontier, and the one who calls the shots is Prince Cheng. No matter how impressive the Marquis of Jing'an is, can he really compare to Prince Cheng?"

"So we won't have any elixirs from now on? What's the point of training then!"

"This won't delay me getting paid, will it?"

"Who knows? When the big shots above fight, it's us little people who suffer."

"."

With training suspended for two consecutive days and Li Fei staying in the camp without taking any action, this naturally sparked criticism among the crowd.

The camp was filled with anxiety.

Many felt that this was Prince Cheng's way of giving Li Fei a show of force!

In terms of cultivation, one is a Martial Arts Master, the other a Grandmaster.

In terms of official rank, one has just become a Level 16 Cabinet Official, while the other has long been a Level 18 Military Official.

In terms of nobility, one is a Marquis, the other a Prince!

In terms of influence, the Northern Frontier is Prince Cheng's home base.

In terms of imperial favor, although Li Fei currently enjoys the grace of His Majesty, Prince Cheng is His Majesty's own younger brother, and His Majesty has always trusted him deeply!

Comparing the two, few in the camp were optimistic about Li Fei.

"Everyone, assemble!"

A sharp whistle suddenly rang out in the camp, and a military officer roared loudly.

After more than a month of training, the three thousand-plus martial artists had developed a habit.

Upon hearing the order to assemble, they quickly threw down what they were holding and ran toward the drill ground.

A few minutes later, over three thousand people were lined up on the drill ground.

A figure in golden robes stepped onto the high platform at the front; it was Li Fei, who had not appeared before the crowd for two days.

Li Fei looked at the people below without any wasted words:

"Attention everyone, target Shaman City, forward march at a run!"

After the order was given, everyone present was stunned for a moment.

Was he completely giving up on training and heading home?

But the powerful impression Li Fei had left on them that day remained, and no one dared to voice any questions.

Within the ranks, the military officers began to organize the formation, issuing orders for everyone to line up and run out of the camp in sequence.

A moment later, over three thousand people were running on the main road, led by a black car with Li Fei sitting inside.

"He's taking everyone back to the city?"

At the Military Command Post, Luo Xu, who received the news immediately, was somewhat surprised:

"What is he trying to do?"

Zhuang Chen, who had the cultivation of a True Person, sat to the side, thought for a moment, and offered a guess:

"Taking people to cause trouble at the Military Supplies Department?"

Luo Xu frowned: "He wouldn't be that reckless, would he?"

Zhuang Chen laughed: "Have you forgotten that he kicked the First Imperial Prince in the street?"

Luo Xu was startled; he picked up the microphone on the table and made a call.

Shaman City, Military Supplies Department.

This was the general headquarters for military supplies in the entire Northern Frontier, occupying an area even larger than the Military Command Post, with several large warehouses and over a dozen small ones.

The security was also extremely tight, no worse than the Military Command Post.

The supervisor in charge of military supplies for Shaman City was named Zhang Anwu, forty-nine years old, with a cultivation base at the peak of the Qi Transformation stage.

Even though he was not yet at the Dao Foundation stage, he was able to secure his position as the supervisor of the Military Supplies Headquarters; Zhang Anwu's background was naturally extraordinary.

He was the eldest legitimate son of the head of the Zhang family in the province closest to the Northern Frontier defense line, North Hua Province.

Although the North Hua Province Zhang family was not as prominent as the "Ten Great Clans," the head of the Zhang family was the Garrison Commissioner of a prefecture and also held a hereditary title of Count, so they could barely be considered a first-class noble family.

In addition, Zhang Anwu had married the youngest daughter of the Northern Frontier Deputy Provincial Military Commander Luo Xu, becoming his son-in-law.

These two identities combined were enough to keep him firmly in the position of supervisor of the Military Supplies Headquarters, and there might even be a chance for him to go further in the future and become the Transport Commissioner in charge of all military supplies for the Northern Frontier!

When Zhang Anwu received the news, he was sleeping at home.

"You said the Marquis of Jing'an is heading toward the Military Supplies Department with over three thousand people?!"

Zhang Anwu was instantly wide awake, "You must hold him steady, wait for me to arrive!"

He put down the microphone, quickly put on his official uniform, and then took a car to rush to the Military Supplies Department.

The gate of the Military Supplies Department was very wide, but at this moment it was completely blocked by the people Li Fei had brought.

Li Fei's car had broken through a railing and driven straight in, stopping in the open space inside.

He did not get out of the car, and a circle of guards from the Military Supplies Department stood around it.

These guards were looking at each other in dismay.

They had been in the Northern Frontier for so many years, and this was the first time they had seen anyone dare to break into the Military Supplies Department like this.

Usually, all kinds of supplies needed by the border troops were issued by the Military Supplies Department.

When to issue them, whether the quantity was a bit more or less, whether the quality was better or worse—all of this could be decided by the Military Supplies Department.

Therefore, the military officers of every unit would maintain good relations with the Military Supplies Department, and few dared to offend them.

This had also made the people at the Military Supplies Department accustomed to acting like masters.

If it weren't for the fact that so many people had come from outside, and each one looked imposing and like a martial artist, the guards present would definitely have moved to flip Li Fei's car over!

But the current scene was too unexpected, and these guards did not dare to act rashly.

Soon, several officials from the Military Supplies Department came running over.

A middle-aged official with a sorrowful face came to the back of the car, cupped his hands, and saluted:

"Greetings, Marquis of Jing'an."

Hearing this title, the guards present were all shocked, and they were immediately glad that they hadn't taken action just now.

The news of Li Fei defeating the Green Frost Army's Martial Arts Master Chen Lixin had spread throughout Shaman City over the past two days.

The rear window of the car slowly rolled down, revealing a young face.

Li Fei turned his head to look at this middle-aged official:

"Where is Zhang Anwu?"

The official's expression became even more sorrowful: "Lord Zhang should be on his way here."

"Fine, then this Marquis will wait for him."

Li Fei said indifferently, with no intention of getting out of the car.

At the same time, inside a building at the Military Supplies Headquarters.

Zhao Hongcai, the Transport Commissioner in charge of all military supplies for the Northern Frontier, was playing chess with someone.

"Aren't you going to manage this, just letting the Marquis of Jing'an slap the face of the Military Supplies Department like this?"

The person playing chess with Zhao Hongcai asked.

Zhao Hongcai had a very cheerful face, which made people feel a sense of intimacy at first glance.

He laughed: "Everyone is a Level 16 official, and he is both a Martial Arts Master and a Blue Patrol Special Envoy, and now he holds military power; how dare I manage him?"

The person playing chess with him glanced at him: "Didn't Deputy Provincial Military Commander Luo Xu just call you?"

Zhao Hongcai's expression did not change: "What call? I didn't hear anything."

"Have you really thought it through?"

"Let's first see the methods of this Marquis of Jing'an."

"."

And so, this Transport Commissioner continued to play chess with the person in the room.

In the entire Military Supplies Headquarters, he was the only one qualified to talk to Li Fei on equal footing.

With him not showing his face, the other officials were even less able to stand tall in front of Li Fei.

Thus, the car remained parked in the open space, and the gate of the Military Supplies Department remained blocked.

When Zhang Anwu's car arrived near the Military Supplies Headquarters, he saw the gate blocked so tightly that not even water could pass through.

It even extended from the gate all the way to the street outside.

This caused many vehicles that needed to enter the Military Supplies Department to be blocked outside, and the congestion only grew.

Zhang Anwu couldn't help but feel his scalp tingle; he hurriedly got out of the car and, with his driver and guard, forced his way inside.

"Make way, this is the supervisor of the Military Supplies Department!"

"Make way..."

After a great deal of effort, Zhang Anwu finally managed to squeeze through the gate of the Military Supplies Department with his guards.

He saw the car surrounded by his subordinates at a glance, took a deep breath, and walked up, biting the bullet.

"Military Supplies Department supervisor Zhang Anwu, greetings to the Marquis of Jing'an."

Zhang Anwu came to the back of the car and saluted toward the open window.

"You are Zhang Anwu?"

Li Fei glanced at the other man. "You are quite imposing; not only must I, the Marquis, come to see you in person, but you also make me and so many others wait for you."

Zhang Anwu's body trembled:

"Has the Marquis misunderstood something? This subordinate has never asked the Marquis to come to the Logistics Department to see me in person. I do not know why the Marquis has brought people to block the gates of my Logistics Department today?"

"The day before yesterday, I sent people to the Logistics Department to collect supplies. What did your people say?"

Zhang Anwu's expression remained unchanged: "This subordinate has many matters to handle every day. I do not know which matter the Marquis is referring to for the moment; allow me to ask first."

After speaking, he turned to ask the weary-looking middle-aged man who had just saluted Li Fei:

"Wang Yankang, do you know about this matter?"

The middle-aged official named Wang Yankang hurriedly said:

"The day before yesterday, the Marquis of Jing'an did indeed send people to collect the Essence-Replenishing Pills, but three days ago, Panshi City had just sent people to collect a batch of Essence-Replenishing Pills. They requested a large quantity this time, almost clearing out the inventory, so this subordinate told the people sent by the Marquis of Jing'an that the inventory was tight and there were no Essence-Replenishing Pills for the time being, and that they would need to wait for some time."

"So that is how it is."

Zhang Anwu looked enlightened and turned to salute Li Fei:

"Marquis, you have heard it too; it is not that we are intentionally making things difficult, but that the inventory is indeed tight. If the Marquis does not believe it, this subordinate can show you the detailed records of this batch of pills leaving the warehouse.

How about this: if the Marquis is in a hurry for the Essence-Replenishing Pills, this subordinate will have people check the warehouse right now and load up all the remaining Essence-Replenishing Pills for the Marquis. After returning, this subordinate will certainly urge the rear to hurry, and as soon as new Essence-Replenishing Pills enter the warehouse, I will send people to deliver them to the Marquis immediately!"

He kept his posture extremely low, and his explanation was flawless, smooth enough that one could find no fault.

Li Fei looked at him expressionlessly:

"So, you are saying that the Logistics Department truly has no Essence-Replenishing Pills now?"

Zhang Anwu nodded: "There is indeed no stock left."

With a click, the carriage door was opened.

Li Fei, who had been sitting in the carriage the whole time, finally stepped out.

He walked step by step to stand before Zhang Anwu, looking at this head-bowing, waist-bending head of the Logistics Department:

"Zhang Anwu, do you know what the crime is for embezzling military supplies?"

Zhang Anwu's body trembled, and he suddenly raised his head to look at Li Fei, his face blank:

"What is the Marquis of Jing'an saying? How could I do such a thing?"

Li Fei stared into his eyes:

"Zhang Anwu, I, the Marquis, will ask one last time: does the Logistics Department really have no Essence-Replenishing Pills left?"

Zhang Anwu stood straight in front of Li Fei and said decisively:

"I have already said it just now; even if the Logistics Department still has Essence-Replenishing Pills, it is only a small amount, and it will definitely not exceed ten boxes!"

"Good."

Li Fei nodded and turned to look at the crowd outside the gate:

"Everyone, come in!"

Whoosh—

Hearing this, the crowd swarmed into the gate of the Logistics Department.

Li Fei bypassed the group of Logistics Department officials, looking as if he were going to continue charging inside with over three thousand martial artists!

Zhang Anwu's expression changed, and he shouted loudly:

"Someone come here!!"

As his voice fell, over a hundred guards immediately rushed out and blocked the path in front of Li Fei and the others.

He ran to Li Fei: "What is the meaning of this, Marquis of Jing'an?"

Li Fei: "Since you say the Logistics Department has no Essence-Replenishing Pills, then I will take my people to search for them."

Zhang Anwu's face changed drastically:

"Marquis of Jing'an, you are too presumptuous!"

He suddenly erupted, startling many people present:

"Today, I have repeatedly tolerated you, yet you are pushing your luck. What do you think this place is? This is not your Marquis Mansion; this is the Northern Border Logistics Headquarters!"

"You asked me so many questions just now, so now I will ask you: do you know what the crime is for trespassing into the Logistics Headquarters? Do you know that military law is merciless!"

Zhang Anwu scolded loudly without any courtesy.

It was not that he had suddenly become arrogant, but that if Li Fei really wanted to force his way into the Logistics Headquarters, then even if the matter were taken to Prince Cheng, he would still be in the right!

If Li Fei dared to truly take action and force his way in today, he would have no place left for him in the Northern Border from now on!

The group of martial artists following Li Fei also became restless, and many showed signs of unease.

If Li Fei did not have a justification and just led them to force their way in like this, they would certainly not dare to continue.

In the end, Li Fei might be fine, but they would be the ones losing their heads!

Li Fei looked at the righteous-looking Zhang Anwu and smiled:

"Who said I, the Marquis, am forcing my way into the Logistics Headquarters today? I have received a report that someone is embezzling military supplies, and I am here specifically to make an arrest!"

Zhang Anwu's expression changed, and he stared fixedly at Li Fei:

"Who reported it? Who was reported? Is there concrete evidence? Even if this matter is true, it falls under the jurisdiction of the Military Law Department. What qualification do you have to interfere in the military affairs of my Northern Border?"

"The one reported is you, Zhang Anwu!"

Li Fei's voice was not loud, but it could be clearly heard by everyone present:

"You embezzled military supplies, and the evidence is right here inside the Logistics Headquarters. As for what qualification I, the Marquis, have to manage this matter? I am the Blue Patrol Special Envoy personally appointed by His Majesty, concurrently serving as the leader of the Blue Patrol Pavilion's inspection team. I have the authority to supervise all matters involving the Blue Patrol Pavilion!"

The Blue Patrol Special Envoy supervises all officials, but cannot manage the military. Normally, Li Fei would indeed have no qualification to manage the military affairs of the Northern Border.

But now, the Blue Patrol Pavilion had recommended over three thousand martial artists to come to the Northern Border.

These three thousand-plus people had not yet been officially incorporated into the border army, and in name, they still belonged to the Blue Patrol Pavilion.

This gave Li Fei a reason to intervene!

He was the leader of the Blue Patrol Pavilion's inspection team, and he had the qualification to manage anything related to the Blue Patrol Pavilion!

Zhang Anwu was a bit panicked upon hearing this, but he still did not back down:

"This is the Northern Border Logistics Headquarters, a vital military area. Without an order from the Military Department, no one is allowed to trespass!"

He raised his hand, and the hundred-plus guards behind him drew their blades!

The atmosphere became tense in an instant.

"Under the vast heaven, is there any land that is not the King's? Regardless of your Northern Border or Southern Border, no matter how great military law is, is it greater than the King's law?!"

Li Fei's voice was like thunder, resounding throughout the entire Logistics Headquarters:

"I, the Marquis, am acting according to the law today, executing first and reporting later, with imperial authority! Who dares to stop me?"

As he spoke, he stepped forward.

With one step taken, Zhang Anwu and the hundred-plus guards behind him fell one after another!

(End of chapter)