Chapter Fifteen: Guarding the City

  At the end of the road, Xiaoming City is in sight.

  Don't frown, the appearance of Xiaoming City is really disappointing. The three-zhang high rammed earth city wall, the low and short gate tower, the big flag wrapped around the flagpole on the city gate with no energy, plus a few listless soldiers standing at the city gate, Xiaoming City's first impression is shabby.

  As we approached the city gate, I saw many thatched cottages that had emerged from the city walls, swaying gently in the wind. On top of the gate tower, there was a wild fruit tree over 20 feet tall with lush branches and leaves, and dozens of small fruits the size of a child's fist hanging among the branches.

  "Squeak"

  Don't beg for a tooth, and drew a cold breath from between his teeth.

  Lu Chengfeng's face turned even uglier, he tilted his neck and stared at the city wall of Xiaomeng City with a dead gaze. After a long time, he let out a weak hum. But he soon laughed again, narrowing his eyes and smiling in a rather disdainful manner: "Don't worry, fortunately I'm not the garrison commander here, I'm just the military governor! Aren't you going to congratulate me?"

  She glared at Lu Chengfeng, and with a weak smile, she bowed to him: "Congratulations, young master, congratulations! It's indeed the greatest fortune in life that you're not the guardian of Xiaomeng City! How strange, why would such a dilapidated city still be placed here?"

  Riding a steed, Zhang Hu galloped over and boomed, "For the medicinal herbs, minerals, timber, animal hides and meat of Mount Meng, and for the barbarians!"

  Zhang Hu pointed at Xiaomeng City and talked about it, introducing the situation of Xiaomeng City.

  Mengshan is rich in products, and no one can ignore Mengshan's output. Therefore, the Lü State, which has the right to govern Mengshan, deliberately built a city outside Mengshan to collect and transport all the products of Mengshan. At the same time, the barbarians inside Mengshan often came out of the mountain to harass the Lü State, and building a city in Xiaomeng also played a role in early warning and defense. When the barbarians came out, Xiaomeng City was the first to bear the brunt, and even if it couldn't stop them, it could delay them for a while.

  So the fixed population of Xiaoming City is only about 300,000 to 500,000 people. The floating population that eats and lives in the city exceeds 2 million, and there are also three brigades and twelve battalions of the Tian Di Ren garrison troops stationed here, with a total military strength of nearly 8,000 people.

  Eight thousand garrison troops, even in other prosperous big cities of Lü Guo, there are few such military numbers.

  "Ah, I see!" Lu Chengfeng nodded thoughtfully: "Even if the garrison of Luyang City, the foundation of the Lu family, is only three thousand. This small city actually has eight thousand troops, no wonder it needs to be paired with a commander-in-chief!"

  As they spoke, a group of people had already arrived at the city gate. Zhang Hu then made a fist to Wu Qi and Lu Chengfeng.

  "Don't be sad, Brother Lu, we'll part ways here for now, but we'll meet again someday! Don't be sad, Brother, this small Meng City isn't big, if you have that thought in mind, just come find me, Big Brother. Our group of brothers usually stay at the 'Meng Hu Yuan' (Fierce Tiger Mansion) in the east part of the city. That's our old haunt!"

  Loudly instructed a few words, especially emphasizing the importance of not begging, Zhang Hu looked at Lu Chengfeng without even looking at him, and with a wave of his hand, he led a group of subordinates to ride on the mounts of Lu Chengfeng's dead bodyguards, rushing quickly into the city.

  Lao Hei and Xiao Hei's faces looked a bit unsightly, their dark complexions scrunched up into a ball.

  Lu Chengfeng couldn't help but laugh: "This guy is great, he's got a story to tell. He sees the young master of the Hao family as a poisonous insect and a fierce beast, he's a perceptive person, but also a boring one. What do you think?"

  Looking at Zhang Hu and others' distant backs, Wu Qi said very sincerely: "Zhang Hu big brother is a good person!"

  Lu Chengfeng patted his forehead and chuckled: "Ah, indeed a good person. Alright, the hunters can't avoid dealing with the city guards, so from now on, I'll take care of them as the commander! Hmm, don't they need to buy their clothes, armor, and weapons from me?"

  Mo Qi nodded and looked up and down at Lu Chengfeng for a while. This commander, was he also in charge of managing the military equipment of Xiaoming City?

  The villagers of Meng Village also greeted Wu Qian and quickly escorted dozens of large carts into the city. They too couldn't stand Lu Chengfeng, this rich young master, always feeling like there was a thick wall between them and Lu Chengfeng, whether he spoke or acted, they all felt extremely awkward.

  Especially when Lu Chengfeng's bodyguard escaped and injured several villagers in Mengcun, the villagers were even less likely to have a good impression of Lu Chengfeng.

  Although Lu Chengfeng generously gave the villagers of Meng a large sum of medical expenses, he donated all the horses of the dead guards to Zhang Hu and others, and also sent out all the weapons and some spare money of the black-clad men, but still failed to win over the goodwill of the villagers of Meng. These simple men are just single-minded, Lu Chengfeng's guard provoked them, and even he himself became inhuman.

  Helpless, Lu Chengfeng let out a sigh and gently patted his hands together as he looked at Wu Qiu with a bitter smile.

  Don't beg, shaking his head, pointing to the twenty or so guards following behind, hanging their heads in defeat like defeated roosters, he coldly said: "Young master should think of a way to recruit more people in Xiaomeng City. Relying on them is useless, it's better to send them back and save food."

  Lu Chengfeng clapped his hands and laughed loudly: "Right! They are my guards, leaving them here would be a waste of military rations to support them. Forget it, forget it, you can leave your horses behind, I will make use of them. You go back to Yuyang and tell Madam that I have arrived safely in Xiaoming City!"

  Those guards heard Wu Qi's words, and their faces were a bit off. After hearing Lu Chengfeng's order, they had the heart to kill Wu Qi. Leaving behind their mounts, would they walk back to Yuyang on foot for thousands of miles? Isn't this taking someone's life?

  What's even more infuriating is that they were chased away by the young master who was served by their own family, how would their family look at them? This time when they go back, their skin will be peeled off.

  More than twenty knights rolled off their horses and crawled on the ground, not minding the dirt, hastily kowtowing to Lu Chengfeng to apologize.

  Don't beg for cold eyes staring at these people, with a gloomy face said: "Young master, look at you. They don't seem to take your words seriously!"

  Lu Chengfeng's face turned even more iron-blue, and he shouted sternly: "Leave your horse behind and get back to Yuyang! Do you want me to use family law on you?"

  Those guards shuddered together, looked at each other, and didn't dare to make a sound anymore. One by one, they hung their heads in shame, shouldered their weapons and luggage, and slowly turned around to walk back the way they came.

  "Don't beg, calmly said: 'Seeing the enemy and fleeing is cowardice; abandoning one's lord without regard is disloyalty; not obeying one's lord's orders is even more a heinous crime. What can be expected of such useless people staying by the young master's side? It would be better to recruit some useful men in Xiaoming City, which would be more cost-effective.'"

  Lu Chengfeng gazed at Wu Qi with a thoughtful expression, nodding his head in great agreement.

  Mo Qi smiled faintly, not avoiding eye contact with Lu Chengfeng. Lu Chengfeng's gaze was profound and complex, his dull eyes seemed to be shrouded in a thick black veil, hiding countless secrets. Mo Qi's eyes were clear as water, his pupils shining brightly without any impurities, but deep within his pupils was a dark blue wave, beneath the calm surface of which lay unknown whirlpools that could take lives.

  The two of them exchanged a smile and looked towards the gate of Xiaomeng City together.

  Suddenly, the city spread a dense footsteps, as many as three or four hundred people lined up in a ceremonial procession, quickly welcoming them to the city gate. At the forefront of these people was a round and plump meat mountain, walking step by step with difficulty, panting and wiping away the sweat flowing down his face.

  "But has Master Lu arrived? General Dian, General Dian, you've come! Our little Meng City's city guard now has a backbone!"

  At a distance, the fatty suddenly shouted in that oily and sweet voice of his. Listening to what he said, it was clear that he had come to welcome Lu Chengfeng.

  When this mountain of flesh walked in front of him, Wu Qian finally saw his appearance clearly and was immediately deeply infatuated.

  This guy's height is almost the same as that of a Mongolian, around two meters or so, but his waist circumference is probably twice his height. His entire body is covered in soft and white fat, like ripples on water, even his ears, which are usually hard to accumulate fat on, are piled high with layers of fine white flesh, looking almost no different from a pig's ears.

  His facial features are even more exquisite, a round and fluffy pancake face is nothing to be surprised about, but the delicate features on his fair face are so refined that they leave people speechless.

  Sparkling peach blossom eyes, unfortunately two sizes too small. A straight and high nose bridge, unfortunately half an inch too short. Delicate, really about the same size as a red cherry, the cherry-like small mouth, with a rosy complexion, was dotted on his face slightly below the center, that sweet voice, came out of this little mouth.

  He suddenly shivered, and didn't dare to look at the person's figure again. A pair of gleaming eyes merely swept quickly over Da Baozi's clothes.

  The clothes were made of good silk. Don't worry, even if you relax for a moment, there's no way to go wrong with silk products.

  The golden crown on his head was cast from purple gold, shining brightly with a purple aura rising. Purple gold is a good thing, in the stolen scriptures, purple gold is a widely used basic material, and cultivators, whether they are making flying swords or treasures, cannot do without using large amounts of purple gold. This person can make a hair crown with purple gold, it can be seen that there is a purple gold mine here, collecting a large amount of purple gold is not a difficult task.

  On the golden crown, three thumb-sized gems and four pearls were inlaid. The three gems were bright red like blood, and at a glance, they felt hot all over. These are three gems that contain fire energy, also a treasure that cultivators can use.

  Compared to the four pearls, the beads are ordinary goods. Mongshan is not by the sea, and having four pearls inlaid on a hair crown is already a very luxurious decoration. It's those three gems that must be figured out whether they were purchased from outside or produced locally in Mongshan.

  In addition, the fat man's waist had a very eye-catching jade belt, especially the fist-sized oval-shaped aquamarine gemstone in the center of the jade belt, which made Mo Qi's heart move. That was no ordinary gemstone, but a mid-grade "Green Ripple Stone", a type of water-attribute spirit stone.

  But the most valuable thing was not these things, but a gold ring on the thumb of the fat man's right hand, inlaid with a red crystal as big as a soybean, shining brightly. When he saw this ring, Wu Qi's heart almost jumped out.

  The golden ring is made of 'Tian Zhuo Jin' and is a high-quality Gangjin attribute material. Even such a small amount of Tian Zhuo Jin, just the size of this ring, can be melted into other materials to forge a powerful Gangjin attribute magic weapon.

  And that red crystal is a top-grade 'Crimson Fire Spirit Crystal' that can automatically absorb the free fire attribute spirit energy between heaven and earth. This thing can be used as a spiritual stone to assist in cultivation, or it can be consumed once to forge a top-grade treasure.

  Although this fat guy looks a bit ugly, his whole body is treasure!

  With a diligent smile, he jumped down from the carriage and quickly walked to the front of the fat man, bowing his hands in greeting.

  "May I ask your honorable surname and given name?"

  He asked with great courtesy and elegance, just like a noble young master like Lu Chengfeng's guest should have.

  Dà Pàng Zǐ (Big Fatty) let out a few gasps, squeezed out a faint smile and said to Lú Chéng Fēng: "Lú Tiān Jūn, this humble officer is indeed the one guarding this city, Yì Yuǎn!"

  He swallowed a mouthful of saliva, and Yi Yan smiled and explained: "Yi is the yi in Zhouyi; Yan is the yan in Tianji Yanhua. I come from the Yang family of Miyang, and we have been close friends with the Lu family of Liuyang for generations!"

  Lu Chengfeng laughed and jumped off the carriage, formally greeting the big fat man.

  Can't help but smile at the sight of Yi Yan's chubby face, feeling an indescribable joy.

  This glittering and precious big fat man is all treasure from head to toe!

  Comrades, let's work hard to cast our votes!