Chapter 23 Predicament

  With Thunder's bloody means, the obviously redundant and unreasonable generals in the city defense army were driven away. After a thorough investigation, it was found that among the more than 7,000 city defense soldiers on the training ground, less than 2,000 were real city defense soldiers, while the others were temporary recruits hired by those generals to deceive Lu Chengfeng!

  Those soldiers who had been identified were worried about how Lu Chengfeng would deal with them. As a result, on the suggestion of Wu Qi, all the soldiers present, whether they were real soldiers or those hired by the generals from Xiaoming City, were registered on the spot and their names were recorded in the military register, officially becoming the city guards of Xiaoming City.

  Lu Chongfeng spent all his private wealth to give a generous reward to the city garrison soldiers who were still in shock, temporarily stabilizing their morale. Afterwards, Zhang Hu and others immediately filled the military ranks and became the various generals of this city garrison.

  Do not beg, and put forward suggestions, disperse the various garrison troops and reorganize them, try to minimize the influence of the original generals, and ensure the stability of the newly organized city guards as much as possible.

  After all, Lu Chengfeng is the authentic military officer of Xiaomeng City. As long as he treats his soldiers with kindness and lets Zhang Hu and others train them hard, it's best to train them until their brains are sweating profusely. This army will no longer have any unexpected surprises. Over time, slowly gathering the hearts of the soldiers, the city guard of Xiaomeng City has truly become Lu Chengfeng's private army.

  Zhang Hu and others led the soldiers back to their respective barracks. Lu Chengfeng was in high spirits on his way back to the military headquarters.

  "Don't be too anxious, if it weren't for the sudden change in circumstances, I'm afraid we wouldn't have been able to take over this group so easily. Although there are less than two thousand old soldiers inside, everyone's qualifications are still pretty good, with some proper training, they'll make qualified soldiers."

  With a thoughtful gaze at Mo Xi, Lu Chengfeng smiled and said, "Come to think of it, we should thank that great thief who emptied the City Guard's treasury!"

  Don't beg, lift your head and gaze at the sky, smiling faintly: "Good people will be rewarded, that great thief has helped you, young master, with a big favor this time, he must have good fortune!"

  Lu Chengfeng nodded, looked up and down at Wu Qi for a while, and finally shook his head. This matter, no matter how you look at it, doesn't seem like something Wu Qi can do. Are the hundreds of guards in the City Guard Mansion vegetarians? Wu Qi's cultivation is only at the peak of acquired mastery, how could he infiltrate the City Guard Mansion and move out so many treasures overnight?

  He glared at Lu Chengfeng and sneered, "The city defense officials should have come to their senses by now. The people they planted in the Imperial Army were driven out, the useless people in the City Guard were also driven out, and the people they had in the City Guard were eliminated. Be careful that they don't cause trouble!"

  Lu Chengfeng furrowed his brow, lowered his head and pondered for a moment. He shook his head and said, "It's not that serious. Aristocratic families have their own rules, and I'm still representing the Lu family of Yuyang. As the military officer of Xiaoming City, I have the final say in military matters. Unless I commit treason or rebellion, they can't interfere with the city's defense army."

  After listening to Lu Chengfeng's words, Wu Qi didn't make a sound. Maybe he was right, or maybe he was wrong.

  But Yi Yan, that fat swine, would he really give up this big piece of meat, the city guard? The annual empty salaries of several thousand soldiers, the profits here are too great.

  One year ago, Lu Chengfeng's predecessor, the commander of the military, died in battle against the barbarians, and the military suffered heavy losses. Yi Yan immediately joined hands with several tribal brothers to oust the remaining capable generals from the army, either by forcing them out or making them become close guards of the city defense command.

  The only ones left in the Garrison of the Last City who still retained their full combat strength were the Heavenly Character Troop, which had been dispatched to Meng Village a few days ago, and this was also the last bit of elite left by Lu Chengfeng's predecessor.

  Under the control of Yi Yan and others, the empty salaries of thousands of city guards were a large sum of money. For a year, these city guards never went on duty, their weapons had no wear and tear at all, but the treasurer appointed by Yi Yan still reported losses according to the daily consumption of nearly 8,000 soldiers, and the thousands of suits of armor and weapons that were replenished also fell into Yi Yan's hands.

  Lü Guo's national power was strong and prosperous, with armor and military equipment of high quality. A complete set of military equipment was worth a lot, and the profit from thousands of sets would be enough to add another layer of white meat to Yi Yan's skin.

  This information all comes from Zhang Hu, who has been hanging out in Xiaomeng City for many years and is very clear about the changes in Xiaomeng City's city guard over the past few years. As for Yi Yan, the city defender, Zhang Hu understands him even better. Mo Qi doesn't believe it, but after coming to his senses, Yi Yan really can let Lu Chengfeng integrate the city guard.

  Looking at Lu Chengfeng who was full of spirit and confidence, Wu Qi coughed and pointed to his own tightly bandaged right shoulder.

  Lu Chengfeng's face suddenly turned gloomy. Intelligent people don't need many words; a single gesture can explain a lot of things.

  It's easy for the guests to provoke Lu Chengfeng in front of everyone, which is equivalent to Yi Hang provoking Lu Chengfeng in front of everyone. And when Yi Yan and others came to Xiaomeng City, a barbaric city, as the guardian of the city, they were just the illegitimate children of the Yi family. Openly showing malice towards Lu Chengfeng, this carries a strong conspiracy atmosphere. The signboard of Lu Chengfeng, the eldest son of the Lu family, is actually not very useful.

  As expected, when the group returned to the front gate of Chengshou Mansion, Yi Yan, who was as round as a small mountain, blocked their way. As soon as he saw Lu Chengfeng, Yi Yan jumped up and down, shouting: "Lu Chengfeng, you are indeed the military officer of Xiaoming City, but how can you be so reckless? You drove away all the senior generals in the army, can you guarantee its combat effectiveness?"

  Don't beg, lift your head and gaze at the sky. In the blue sky, large white clouds float gently by, as white as snow. The environment here is really good, very good!

  Lu Chengfeng didn't show any weakness and pushed forward, he walked up to Yi Yan with big strides, looked straight into Yi Yan's eyes and coldly sneered: "I am the military officer of Xiaomeng City, whatever I do is within my authority! If the city defense official doesn't agree, you can report it to the imperial court!"

  Yi Yan snapped his mouth shut with a "pa" sound, and his eyeballs spun rapidly, but it was unclear what he was thinking.

  He patted the belly of Yi Yan, which was even bigger than three to five pregnant women's bellies combined, and Lu Chengfeng said in a cold voice: "The old debts from before, I'll let it go for the sake of the face of the Shi family. Tonight, I'll burn all the military account books. From now on, no one is allowed to interfere with the city guard army. All military salaries and supplies must be provided on time and in full quantity, otherwise..."

  His gaze was like a knife, cutting through Yi Yan and the several Yi family juniors behind him. Lu Chengfeng shouted sternly: "I know what you're thinking! But don't forget, I am still the eldest son of the Lu family, my mother Rong Yang is still the current matriarch of the Lu family, and she is also the only daughter of Yuan Yang Hou!"

  Yi Yan's face lit up with a bright smile as he grabbed Lu Chengfeng's hand, his fair and chubby cheeks flushing with excitement.

  "Brother Lu, Brother Lu, you've misunderstood Yi Yan's meaning! Yi Yan is also afraid that the city guard's combat strength will decline, and those barbarians will again enter the city to harm the citizens! A kind intention, a kind intention! Haha, these past few days have been busy in the mansion, so I won't disturb Brother Lu. In a few days, please come to the mansion for a banquet, come to the mansion for a banquet! Haha, you must honor me with your presence, you must honor me with your presence!"

  With a smile on his face, Yi Yanqin politely opened the door wide.

  Lu Chengfeng sneered and strode into the City Guard Headquarters. Wu Qi walked past Yi Yan with a steady gait, suddenly turning his head to smile at him: "Sir, are you still afraid of the barbarians causing trouble? With just this wall of the City Guard Headquarters, with just the thousands of elite guards inside the City Guard Headquarters, how could the barbarians possibly break in?"

  Yi Yan was polite to Lu Chengfeng, but ignored Wu Qi. He snorted coldly and raised his head, saying in a cold voice: "What do you know? I pity the people of this small city! The barbarians are causing trouble, harming them!"

  Don't turn your head, facing Yi Yan with a smile, pointing to the direction of the back yard of the City Guard Mansion: "Sir, you are rich and wealthy, if you really pity those small people, just pull out a few hairs and build the city wall of Xiaomeng City as strong as the city wall of the City Guard Mansion. What's there to fear from the barbarians?"

  With a strange smile, Wu Qi walked into the City Guard Bureau with an unsteady gait.

  His easily settled heart was suddenly stirred up by the mention of the painful matter, he abruptly opened his mouth and let out a loud, ear-piercing cry: "My money! My money! Where's my money?! Who's the bloody thief that stole all my money?!"

  After Yi Yan's body was taken away, Yi Xing, Yi De and Dian Xingguan Yi Qu all wailed in unison: "Big brother, you still have a golden bed left, but we've been robbed of even our personal belongings! This thief must be captured alive!"

  The brothers were in a mess again at the door, their bodies fat and weak. Yi Yan thought of his huge loss of property and immediately fainted after a few gasps, rolling up his eyes. Even though he was foaming at the mouth and fainting on the ground, he still muttered "my money, my money"!

  He turned back and took a glance at the chaotic city gate, then laughed loudly as he returned to the General's Mansion.

  Lu Chengfeng was already seated in the main hall of Dianjun Mansion, staring at Lao Hei with an unpleasant expression.

  Don't rush over hastily, looking at the two of them in surprise: "What's going on? Young master? Old Hei? What are you doing?"

  Lu Chengfeng coughed lightly and rubbed his cheeks, making his expression a bit more relaxed. He looked at Wu Qiguan with a wry smile: "Just now on the training ground, I rewarded those soldiers with a lot of silver to win their hearts. Just now, Old Black told me that now my entire family's assets are only left with ten gold bars!"

  Mo Qi furrowed his brow, nodding solemnly: "Indeed, it's a very serious problem. A great man cannot be without power for a single day, nor can he be without money. Do you want to rely on your salary to make ends meet? How much is your annual salary?"

  Lu Chengfeng's eyebrows were deeply furrowed, his fingers heavily tapping on the desk a few times, shaking his head and saying: "It's just the silver for the rations of a hundred soldiers."

  Don't beg for Lu Chengfeng's gaze, there are no more words.

  Unlike He Yiyan, who is purely a corrupt official, Lu Chengfeng cannot rely on the mountains to eat the mountains and rely on the sea to eat the sea. As the commander of Xiaoming City, he can only try his best to expand the city's defense army and his personal guard, which is in line with Lu Chengfeng's interests. Learning from He Yiyan's example, sucking blood and making money from the city's defense army has no value for Lu Chengfeng.

  Lu Chengfeng needs a lot of money to build the city guard of Xiaomeng City into a strong army and to recruit many door guests for his own use.

  Especially the door guests, a wealthy young master, until now, there are only two door guests, Wu Qi and Zhang Hu, this is very embarrassing. Without many powerful door guests, Lu Chengfeng, the eldest son of the Lu family, can't even get anyone to listen to him when he speaks.

  Sitting cross-legged beside Lu Chengfeng on the wooden bench, Wu Qi hesitated for a moment before speaking slowly: "Perhaps I can help you resolve your current financial difficulties, young master."

  Lu Chengfeng was overjoyed at once.

  With his eyes narrowed, and his hands hidden in his sleeves, he said calmly: "However, I'd like to know, as the eldest son of the Lu family of Yuyang, why would you be so destitute? Not having money is one thing, but being sent by your family to such a remote place to be a small military officer. Even the younger son of the Yi family, who has always been on good terms with the Lu family, dares to provoke you. What's the reason behind all this?"

  Lao Hei's face turned ugly and he glared at Wu Qi with a fierce stare.

  Lu Chengfeng sighed deeply and looked at Wu Qishan, asking: "Do you really want to know?"

  Don't hastily nod your head, for in his soul, that part of the evil taste belonging to Le Xiao Bai emerged.

  "I really want to know!"

  ****

  Strive to solve the difficulties of one's own son, this is the enlightenment of a chief door guest!

  Work hard to vote for Pig Head, this is the awareness that fellow book readers of Pig Head should have!

  Tickets, tickets, tickets, a large piece of white and greasy tickets like the fat on Yi Yan's body!