Chapter 120: Dag Guang King, You’re A Terrible Host—get Down From The Dragon Throne And Let This Esteemed Guest Take A Seat
Eight hundred iron cavalry charged like a black torrent across the vast land, their hooves thundering like thunder, kicking up dust.
Night fell.
Bonfires burned.
The iron cavalry took care of their fine steeds. While the rider wasn’t tired, the horses, having run all day, were surely exhausted.
“Night Shine, it’s been tough recently. Once we reach the capital of the Dag Guang Dynasty, I’ll give you good food, spicy drinks, and find you a mare for a proper reward.”
Lin Fan gently stroked Night Shine’s abdomen. This fine steed was exceptionally spirited. Ordinary cavalry mounts were now so tired they could barely stand, but Night Shine seemed nonchalant, showing no signs of fatigue.
Night Shine seemed to understand, letting out a pleased snort.
It appeared quite intelligent.
“Great General, our current location means we’re about two days away from the capital of the Dag Guang Dynasty.”
An iron cavalry soldier took out a map and spread it before Lin Fan, pointing to the location of the Dag Guang Dynasty’s capital. He was an iron cavalry captain temporarily promoted by Deputy General Lu.
He was tasked with reporting the situation to the Great General during their charge towards the Dag Guang Dynasty’s capital.
“And along this route, there are six cities adjacent to us. Two of them are locations of Dag Guang Dynasty barracks. Therefore, I believe traveling from here will allow us to avoid them perfectly. If we’re lucky, we won’t be discovered at all.”
He felt that luck would have to be exceptionally good.
After all, eight hundred cavalry appearing was easily noticeable.
Once discovered, the enemy would undoubtedly pursue relentlessly, which would be very troublesome.
“Mm.”
Lin Fan nodded, “Military strategy states: ‘Strike directly at the heart of the enemy,’ ‘Capture the leader to capture the followers,’ and ‘Speed is of the essence.’ The goal is speed. Before anyone can react, we directly storm the capital and capture the Dag Guang King.”
The iron cavalry captain most admired the Great General’s composure and unflustered attitude in the face of events.
To be honest.
The brothers who went on this expedition with the Great General were all a bit panicked.
“Great General, after we storm the capital and capture the Dag Guang King, how will we safely retreat?” the iron cavalry captain asked.
Lin Fan smiled, “Don’t panic. Things will work out when the time comes. This General has a plan. I can’t guarantee anything else, but I can guarantee that I will bring you back safely, just as I brought you here.”
“Your subordinate believes the Great General.”
The iron cavalry captain said respectfully.
He had no other thoughts on the matter. His only thought was to unconditionally trust the Great General; nothing else was important.
“Let the brothers rest well. We depart as soon as day breaks tomorrow.”
“Yes.”
The next day, the morning mist had not yet dispersed, and the air was crisp.
Lin Fan mounted his horse, pointing his silver rod forward.
“Move out!!!”
With a command.
The eight hundred iron cavalry transformed into arrows once more, piercing the heart of the Dag Guang Dynasty.
…
In the Central Plains Dynasty, the imperial court.
“Report!!!”
Another messenger rushed into the hall.
With the outbreak of war, the court officials naturally attached great importance to such matters. Upon hearing of the messenger’s arrival, all officials looked towards the entrance with expectation.
Regardless of their attitude towards Lin Fan.
The most important matter now was to win battles and quell rebellions. Whoever could quell a rebellion would be a hero. Everyone present understood that without the imperial court, they would be like commoners on the street, easily dismissed.
It wasn’t because of their existence that the Central Plains Dynasty was strong.
Rather, it was because of the Dynasty’s existence that they held high positions, acted arrogantly, and considered themselves superior.
“Announce him!”
The Emperor, unable to wait, his face full of expectation, believed his beloved minister would not disappoint him.
The messenger entered the hall, knelt on both knees, held the battle report in his hands, and loudly declared, “Your Majesty, the Divine Martial Great General has achieved a great victory, capturing the rebel Wu Yun and recovering lost territories.”
“Quick, let me see!” The Emperor took the battle report and read it quickly. The more he read, the more delighted he became. He laughed heartily, “Good, very good! As expected of my beloved minister. How long has it been since he led the troops out? He has captured the rebel, and even without casualties! As expected of my beloved minister.”
“Look, all of you, look properly. This is truly my trusted minister!”
The Emperor was genuinely overjoyed.
The officials quickly flattered him. No one was foolish enough to speak against him, unless they had lost their minds.
The Emperor looked at the messenger and asked, “When will my Great General return? I want to welcome him properly.”
“Replying to Your Majesty, the Great General said that the Central Plains Dynasty is not a place barbarians can come and go as they please. He is leading eight hundred iron cavalry directly to the capital of the Dag Guang Dynasty, to let the Dag Guang King understand that the Central Plains Dynasty cannot be violated,” the messenger reported truthfully.
“Ah!?” The Emperor rose in alarm. “Eight hundred iron cavalry? Why only eight hundred? This is deep into enemy territory, fraught with danger. How could he let my beloved minister take such a risk? Even if he wanted to retaliate against the Dag Guang Dynasty, he could have gathered a large army. I would have fully cooperated. How could he take such a risk?”
The Emperor was truly somewhat panicked.
He wasn’t this panicked when the First Prince colluded with the enemy and betrayed the country.
He wasn’t this panicked when Wu Yun raised an army in rebellion.
But now, he was truly panicked.
Not a single civil or military official in the court spoke. There were countless officials who wished Lin Fan dead.
In their eyes, Lin Fan was an extremely unstable factor. His presence could influence the imperial court, influence the choice of future emperors, and even if he were present in the court, no official would dare to oppose him.
This was because this person truly showed no deference to anyone.
If he disagreed, he would resort to physical violence.
Didn’t they see the Grand Tutor forced to resign and return home?
“Father Emperor,” the Second Prince stepped forward and stated, “The Great General is divinely brave and his plans are flawless. Since he has made this decision, he must have complete confidence. Your son believes that Father Emperor and all the court officials should have deep faith in the Great General’s capabilities.”
The Emperor nodded, “Mm, what my son says is correct. My beloved minister is invincible. How can mere barbarians be a concern? It seems I was worried for nothing.”
The Second Prince said, “Father Emperor, the Great General serves the country and the people, his merits are unparalleled. Furthermore, your son believes the Great General is loyal to the court and to Father Emperor. Upon his return from this campaign, your son believes he could be granted the title of Duke.”
The Second Prince desperately wanted to win over Lin Fan, but the idea of making him a king flashed through his mind only briefly. Making him a king would pose too great a crisis for him.
Once granted a royal title, he would undoubtedly have a fiefdom, and with a fiefdom, he would naturally need to maintain an army.
With the Great General’s might, if he possessed his own army, when the Second Prince became emperor in the future, if the Great General harbored ill intentions and led his troops into the capital, who could stop him? Who could deter him?
Therefore, making him a king was what the Second Prince least wished to see.
The Emperor looked at the Second Prince with deep eyes and waved his hand, “This matter is not urgent. We can discuss it later.”
This did not align with the Emperor’s intentions.
The title of Duke?
For others, it was certainly the highest honor, but the Emperor did not think so. He wanted to make Lin Fan a king. His beloved minister had confided in him wholeheartedly.
He believed him.
He might not have believed others; they would have been considered false loyalty before the throne.
But he believed what his beloved minister said. He saw no greed for power in his beloved minister’s eyes, only anticipation and impulse for action.
As Emperor, he naturally knew the state of the country. There were too many problems, too many hidden dangers.
He only wished to elevate his beloved minister to an extremely high position.
Even after he passed away, if someone harbored ill intentions and wanted to harm his beloved minister, they would be powerless. Because whether in terms of official position, honor, or military strength, they would be unable to deal with his beloved minister.
And his beloved minister only needed to stabilize the Central Plains Dynasty.
The throne could be changed, but the empire could not be lost.
In his years as Emperor, the country could not be called strong and mighty. It could only be said to be moderately stable. It had never expanded its territory, and the barbarians from the four seas had never truly submitted.
Now, with the appearance of his beloved minister, this awkward situation had been completely broken.
The Mengye Country ceded territory, allowing him, in his reign, to expand the dynasty’s borders for the first time.
Heian-kyō in Japan was pacified. With his understanding of his beloved minister, Japan would undoubtedly be trampled underfoot before long, thus bringing Japan into the empire’s territory.
Now, his beloved minister was campaigning against the Dag Guang Dynasty.
He knew his beloved minister never suffered losses, and would surely make the Dag Guang King bleed.
Combining all these factors, the dynasty’s territory had become vaster.
And as Emperor, all he had to do was live a long life, to witness the miracles his beloved minister brought him and the dynasty’s rise to its peak.
Live a long life, that’s right, just live a long life.
Even if he saw it at the last moment before he breathed his last, he would be content.
At this moment, the Second Prince retreated to his group and exchanged glances with the Grand Tutor and Grand Protector.
Their eyes communicated.
The meaning was clear.
Apparently, Father Emperor was not satisfied with his suggestion.
They had mentioned the Duke, and he was still not satisfied. It seemed Father Emperor was truly determined to make Lin Fan a prince of a different surname.
They understood that Father Emperor making Lin Fan a prince of a different surname was not an appeasement or a helpless move, but a genuine intention.
Oh dear!
Thinking of this, the Second Prince’s gums ached. What kind of monster did Father Emperor intend to foster? Was he truly going to foster someone who would be feared even by future rulers?
…
The next day.
In the capital of the Dag Guang Dynasty, the soldiers guarding the city gate stood lazily. Commoners entering the city were required to register honestly at the city gate. The soldiers didn’t bother to pay much attention.
When they saw a luxurious horse carriage entering the city, they instantly stood straight and meticulously.
This was the capital, after all, with many officials.
With one brick, you could hit three or even second-rank high officials.
Suddenly!
The sound of dense horse hooves came from the official road in the distance.
The guarding soldiers looked towards the distance with confusion. In the sunlight, the person in the lead seemed to be wearing imposing armor, reflecting a dark gleam. Behind him followed a large number of iron cavalry.
They were approaching aggressively, kicking up dust.
The soldiers were confused.
They never imagined that these iron cavalry were from the Central Plains Dynasty.
“Get out of the way, all of you, get out of the way!!!”
Lin Fan shouted loudly.
When people are stunned, their minds go blank. Seeing this, the guarding soldiers didn’t think much and quickly yelled at the commoners in front, “What are you all still standing around for? Hurry and get out of the way. If you get run over, you’ll bear the consequences.”
The guarding soldiers, intimidated by the momentum, instinctively dispersed the crowd, clearing a path.
The torrent of iron cavalry surged into the city gate, and the wind they stirred caused the soldiers’ armor and clothes to flutter.
“Well done, a reward for you!”
A silver ingot was tossed into a soldier’s embrace.
The soldier was stunned. When he realized it was a silver ingot, his eyes lit up.
“Many thanks, Gener—”
Before he finished speaking.
The soldier suddenly noticed that the inscription at the bottom of the silver ingot was incorrect.
‘Year 53 of Yonghe.’
Huh?
The soldier suddenly looked up towards the distance, at the disappearing iron cavalry, his face instantly turned ashen.
If he remembered correctly, Yonghe seemed to be a Central Plains Dynasty era.
Thinking of this.
He let out a heart-wrenching roar, “Quick, quick, notify the front! These iron cavalry are not from our country, they are enemy troops from the Central Plains Dynasty, quick… ah!!!”
But he discovered it too late.
Now that Lin Fan had led the iron cavalry into the capital, the danger was greatly reduced. The key was speed, to kill his way into the Dag Guang Imperial Palace before anyone could react.
At this moment, the iron cavalry had reached the Imperial Palace gate. The Imperial Guards on duty frowned as they saw a large number of iron cavalry approaching. The on-duty guards seemed to have sensed something.
“Close the—gate.”
*Slash!*
Before the words fell, a stream of light broke through the air and pierced him.
Everyone was greatly alarmed. Before they could recover, they saw a black figure rapidly charge forward, grab the iron rod stuck in the ground with one hand, and sweep it left and right, sending the two rows of Imperial Guards at the entrance flying.
“Charge with me, General!”
The iron cavalry entered the Imperial City, charging relentlessly. The Imperial Guards within the Imperial City had completely recovered and realized something was wrong, but it was too late. The mighty iron cavalry had already broken through to the interior.
At this moment.
In the imperial court.
The Dag Guang King sat on the dragon throne, presiding over the morning court.
“My esteemed ministers, Huo Ge led the troops north to conquer the Central Plains Dynasty. He has allied with the Wu Family and captured several cities. Their advance is like a bamboo breaking through. It is expected that conquering the Central Plains Dynasty is just a matter of time.”
“The Wu Family has also agreed to cede the Four Prefectures of Yunnan after success. At that time, we will occupy a strategic location, and the territory of the Central Plains Dynasty will be within our grasp, ready to be taken at any time.”
The Dag Guang King was greatly delighted.
He never expected that such an event would occur in the Central Plains Dynasty.
Truly, heaven has blessed Dag Guang.
The officials at this moment were also all smiles, “Your Majesty is wise. This is a heavenly blessing. The Central Plains Dynasty’s destiny is exhausted. When we occupy the Four Prefectures of Yunnan, our nation will be invincible.”
Who among those present did not wish to conquer the Central Plains Dynasty?
The fertile Central Plains were recorded in their history books. The ultimate goal of every Dag Guang King was to conquer the Central Plains Dynasty, but none had succeeded in previous generations. Now, the opportunity had arisen, and the chances were very high.
The Dag Guang King laughed, “My esteemed ministers, General Huo Ge’s campaign in the Central Plains deserves the greatest merit. How do you think he should be rewarded?”
A minister stepped forward and was about to speak when he heard a rumble from outside.
When they looked towards the entrance of the imperial court, they saw a jet-black fine steed leap high into the air. On its back, a person completely encased in armor appeared. This person held an iron rod, like a mountain, casting a shadow that stunned the assembled officials, who stared, bewildered as to what was happening.
“How dare you! This is the imperial court, and you dare to ride your horse in! You are truly…” an old minister stepped forward, enraged.
But before he could finish speaking, his chest was pierced by an iron rod, and he was pinned to a pillar in the hall, body and rod together.
With a loud crash.
The iron rod penetrated the pillar, causing a tremendous commotion.
Lin Fan dismounted, his gaze sweeping over the hall, finally settling on the Dag Guang King seated on the dragon throne at the highest point. He laughed heartily, “Dag Guang King, we finally meet. You old dog, you truly have the audacity to send troops north to invade the Central Plains. This General believes you are tired of living.”
As soon as these words were spoken.
The officials erupted in an uproar!
“Guards! Guards!” Some officials roared, hoping the Imperial Guards would quickly appear and apprehend this arrogant individual.
Lin Fan took out his Wild Goose Feather Dagger, took a step forward, and with a swift move, *slash*, he severed the official’s head. The head fell to the ground, and blood splattered across the hall. Instantly, silence fell upon the hall, astonishing everyone.
The iron cavalry at the entrance stormed in, lining the walls and surrounding the officials in the hall. The remaining iron cavalry stood in a standoff with the Imperial Palace’s Imperial Guards.
Lin Fan walked to the imperial desk, a smile on his lips, and placed his Wild Goose Feather Dagger on the Dag Guang King’s shoulder.
The Dag Guang King was still in a state of shock.
He was in his own imperial court, having his morning session with his ministers, and suddenly these iron cavalry appeared – where did they come from?
Soon, the Dag Guang King regained his composure, forcing a calm expression, and asked, “Who are you?”
“This General is Lin Fan, the Divine Martial Great General of the Central Plains Dynasty. What? Did your Dag Guang Dynasty invade the Central Plains without bothering to find out who was there?” Lin Fan retorted.
“You… how did you get here?” The Dag Guang King could not comprehend how the Divine Martial Great General had arrived. Were the garrisons along the way all blind? They allowed enemy troops to penetrate deep into their territory and now storm the Imperial Palace without any knowledge at all?
“Nonsense, of course, I rode here. Did you think I flew?” Lin Fan grabbed the Dag Guang King from the dragon throne with one hand and then sat down on the dragon throne, looking down with contempt. “You, as Emperor, how can you have no manners? A distinguished guest has arrived, and you don’t offer a seat? You’re just sitting there foolishly. It’s obvious you’re not very bright.”
The Dag Guang King, dragged from the throne, sat slumped on the ground, his eyes filled with anger and fear, then looked confusedly outside the hall.
Although the Imperial Guards had appeared, it was too late.
With all the civil and military officials, and even the Emperor himself, captured, what else could be done?
Because Lin Fan had killed two old ministers who had spoken out, his ruthless methods had long since terrified the officials in the hall. Not a single one dared to speak, only watching as the Dag Guang King was humiliated.
The Dag Guang King slowly rose, suppressing his fear, and said calmly to Lin Fan, “You have great courage, leading iron cavalry to storm this place. You are truly audacious, but have you considered the consequences? Have you thought about how you will leave here?”
Lin Fan stood up and walked in front of the Dag Guang King.
The Dag Guang King showed no fear, straightening his back and glaring at Lin Fan.
But no one expected Lin Fan to grab the Dag Guang King by the head. “Are you an idiot? I came here the same way I’ll leave. If you dare to act tough in front of me again, do you believe I’ll kill you?”
“Release His Majesty,” an old minister roared.
Lin Fan frowned. “Cut him down.”
The iron cavalry standing behind the old minister drew their swords without a word and stabbed through the elder’s body from behind. They kicked him away and returned to their positions.
The officials in the hall gasped. In such a short time, three old ministers had been killed, which had thoroughly shattered their courage.
The Dag Guang King looked at the dead old ministers, his heart filled with rage, and gritted his teeth, “Even if you kill me, it’s useless. I have already issued an edict, and you will absolutely not be able to leave here.”
“Is that so? Then I’ll kill all your princes. What will you do then?” Lin Fan asked with a smile.
The Dag Guang King remained defiant, “Do you think you can still leave this imperial court?”
Lin Fan looked mockingly at the Imperial Guards confronting the iron cavalry outside. “Are you talking about them?”
The Dag Guang King remained silent. As the ruler of a nation, even if his life was in the hands of an enemy general, he could not falter. The strength of the court was not diminished in the slightest; how could he be afraid?
“So what if they are? Surrounded by thousands of troops, no matter how powerful you are, you cannot escape.” The Dag Guang King said solemnly.
“Hahaha…” Lin Fan burst into laughter, pushed the Dag Guang King away, and walked downstairs step by step. Passing a pillar, he reached out and pulled out the iron rod. “This General may not have heaven-defying abilities, but making your so-called Imperial Guards tremble in fear is not a problem. Watch, wait, I’ll warm up.”
With that, Lin Fan brandished the rod and exited.
“All of you, keep an eye on the people inside. Do not let a single one escape.”
Then, Lin Fan charged towards the Imperial Guards.
Soon.
Roars continued.
Screams continued.
The officials waiting in the hall trembled. They could not see clearly what was happening outside, but from the sounds, they could tell that a world-shattering, extremely terrifying battle was taking place outside.
The screams were piercingly shrill.
After an unknown amount of time, perhaps half an hour, perhaps an hour, it did not seem very long, but to the people inside the hall, it felt like an eternity.
Those inside the hall smelled the scent of blood.
*Thump thump thump!*
A dull sound of footsteps approached from afar.
The ministers looked in horror at the Divine Martial Great General covered in blood. The silver iron rod was stained red with blood, and drops of blood fell into the imperial court.
A bad premonition surged through everyone’s hearts.
But the officials were incredulous and unwilling to believe.
Lin Fan walked up to the Dag Guang King, the strong smell of blood causing the Dag Guang King to cough violently. Before he could speak, Lin Fan grabbed his head and dragged him outside.
When the Dag Guang King saw the scene outside, his face turned ashen, and his body went limp. If not for Lin Fan holding him, he would have completely collapsed on the ground.
“Is this what you considered your reliance?” Lin Fan asked.
Looking around, bodies lay everywhere, blood flowed like a river, and severed limbs were mixed with shattered armor, covering the entire plaza. The Imperial Guards he prided himself on had suffered countless casualties.
His Imperial Guards had truly been… massacred.
Lin Fan dragged the Dag Guang King back into the hall and looked at the assembled civil and military officials. He said, “Whoever can speak with authority, quickly give orders for the area to be cleaned. This General is allergic to the smell of blood; the longer I smell it, the stronger my killing intent. Lest I go on a killing spree and chop you all down.”
If he hadn’t said the latter half of the sentence, no official would have dared to step forward.
But with the latter half added, an eunuch was immediately ordered to clean the area.
At this moment, the Dag Guang King deeply understood that the Divine Martial Great General Lin Fan possessed strength beyond his imagination, and his cruel methods further confirmed that if he did not comply with the other party’s wishes, he would truly slaughter the entire royal family.
Thinking of this.
The Dag Guang King’s lingering pride vanished completely.
“General Lin, what exactly do you want?” The Dag Guang King asked in a deep voice.
Lin Fan was speechless. “Are you crazy? You ordered Huo Ge to lead troops north to invade the Central Plains, and now I’ve come, captured you, and you’re asking me what I want? Tell me, are you out of your mind?”
Even though he was being so humiliated, the Dag Guang King did not dare to utter a single complaint.
He lowered his head in silence.
Seeing that the Dag Guang King remained silent, Lin Fan was too lazy to say more. “Give orders for the imperial kitchen to prepare palatable meals for eight hundred people. To capture you, this General and these brothers haven’t eaten a decent meal.”
“Brothers, this time your General will treat you to a good meal. Let’s see how skilled the imperial chefs of the Dag Guang Dynasty are.”
Lin Fan smiled.
“Thank you, Great General.”
The iron cavalry felt much more relaxed now. When they were surrounded by the Imperial Guards, they had been panicked, but after the Great General’s fierce assault, which sent the Imperial Guards fleeing in terror, running or dying.
Not a single one dared to approach.
The imperial court was now like Lin Fan’s solo stage. He could do whatever he wanted, and no one dared to object.
The Dag Guang King spoke, “Great General, this was indeed the Dag Guang Dynasty’s mistake. I hope the Great General will show mercy. Our Dag Guang Dynasty is willing to surrender and pay tribute to the Central Plains Heavenly Dynasty for generations.”
Lin Fan smiled and said, “Ridiculous. You want to surrender just because you can’t win? Thinking of paying tribute to the Central Plains Dynasty? But who told me to be kind-hearted? Since you’ve said so, this General will have to see your performance.”
The Dag Guang King hurriedly said, “What are you all still standing around for? Quickly give orders to the imperial kitchen to prepare a lavish state banquet for the Divine Martial Great General and the soldiers of the Central Plains Heavenly Dynasty.”
The officials were surprised by their Emperor’s swift change in attitude.
Immediately, someone gave instructions to the eunuchs.
After a long time, with the hard work of the eunuchs, tables extended from the hall all the way outside.
The eunuchs who were cleaning up the blood and corpses outside looked at the situation inside the hall with confusion. They were very bewildered and completely did not understand what was happening.
There had been so much blood, why were they having a feast?
Little did they know that the Dag Guang King had been scared witless. Since Lin Fan had caused a river of blood, his defenses had completely collapsed.
He had collapsed.
Not long after.
Delicious dishes were served by the eunuchs.
“Enjoy yourselves.” Lin Fan said.
“Thank you, Great General.”
The iron cavalry soldiers laughed heartily, already drawn to the delicacies. Lin Fan tasted a few bites beforehand; there were no problems. It made sense, after all, where would poison be in the Imperial Palace?
Why would you need poison?
The Dag Guang King stood respectfully beside Lin Fan. “Great General, I have a performance for you.”
He then signaled to an eunuch.
In the blink of an eye, a group of mature women were brought into the hall in fear. These women were the wives of court officials, as well as some unfavored concubines from the palace.
Some ministers saw their concubines present and could only glare, their hearts filled with anxiety.
“What are you doing?” Lin Fan asked with a frown.
The Dag Guang King replied, “Great General, the soldiers have worked hard. I have specially arranged for them to serve the soldiers and relieve their fatigue.”
Lin Fan pointed to a woman below. “Are you married?”
The woman said fearfully, “This concubine… is married.”
As soon as she said this, Lin Fan slammed his hand on the table and angrily shouted at the Dag Guang King, “You scoundrel! You brought other people’s wives and concubines here to serve my brothers. What do you take my Central Plains Dynasty’s soldiers for? Do you think they enjoy defiling other people’s wives and concubines?”
This sudden outburst of anger made the Dag Guang King’s face turn pale.
“Great General, please calm your anger. Great General, please calm your anger. I will immediately have them leave.”
Lin Fan snorted coldly. Such behavior was absolutely unacceptable. He noticed that many of the wives and concubines present belonged to some of the ministers here.
His primary purpose for coming was to intimidate the Dag Guang Dynasty, not to make them hate him. If his soldiers were to insult these wives and concubines, who could bear it?
He truly did not expect the Dag Guang King to do such a thing?
Did he himself have a penchant for this?
And therefore thought others would like it too?
As he made this move, some of the trembling ministers cast looks of gratitude towards Lin Fan.
Noticing these expressions, Lin Fan couldn’t help but feel like laughing.
I’m humiliating your King like this, and you’re still grateful.
After a while.
Footsteps were heard from outside again.
A group of young women were brought in in fear. They appeared to be quite young, the oldest being no more than eighteen or nineteen years old.
The Dag Guang King said, “Great General, these are all unmarried young women. This should be acceptable, right?”
In the Dag Guang King’s understanding, soldiers simply liked these kinds of things. This should be acceptable, shouldn’t it?
“You scoundrel!!!” Lin Fan shouted angrily. “What do you take my Central Plains Dynasty’s royal army for? Are we like rapists and plunderers? These girls are your subjects. How can you send them here, let alone all unmarried ones? Even if nothing happens, gossip is powerful. How will they face the eyes of those around them in the future? As a King, you not only fail to protect your subjects but even want to push them out. It’s simply unreasonable.”
Lin Fan’s words were forceful and resonant.
The Dag Guang King’s face flushed red from these words.
The young girls in the hall, seeing Lin Fan in armor before the Emperor, were all captivated. They found him incredibly heroic and imposing.
When they were brought there, they heard the news.
The Central Plains Dynasty’s army had stormed the palace and captured the Dag Guang King, and they had been summoned. Some had already thought they were going to be violated.
But there was nothing they could do.
They were just women, with no power to resist.
Lin Fan smiled slightly. “Young ladies, do not be afraid. We are the army of the Central Plains Dynasty. We do not commit evil deeds. You may all return. You are not needed here.”
If the Japanese people could see this scene, they would undoubtedly roar.
“You’re playing favorites.”
“Why do you kill us so readily, without any remorse?”
Lin Fan’s charm was immense. While the brought women might not have been willing to accompany others, many had their hearts set on Lin Fan.
“Send them all away, send them all away,” the Dag Guang King said.
As the women left, Lin Fan looked at the Dag Guang King with displeasure. “Since you like having people accompany us so much, go and call your favorite, most beautiful, and best-figured princess. Have her accompany this General.”
“Yes, Great General.” The Dag Guang King was immediately overjoyed upon hearing this. He never expected such a good thing to happen.
He immediately ordered an eunuch to summon his favorite Princess Xiyu, ensuring she was elaborately dressed to attend to the Great General.
The iron cavalry watched the two groups of women, their eyes darting around. Some of the soldiers hadn’t seen a woman in years. They thought there would be good things happening, but unexpectedly, their Great General was so radiant.
They felt ashamed. They had followed the Great General all the way here, and they were soldiers approved by the Great General.
How could they have such thoughts?
They had to change, they must change.
A moment later.
Princess Xiyu slowly entered, her voice soft and sweet, “This concubine greets Father Emperor.”
The Dag Guang King said, “Princess, quickly, this is the Divine Martial Great General of the Central Plains Dynasty. You must attend to the Great General well and must not be negligent.”
“Yes, Father Emperor.” Princess Xiyu’s eyes were alluring, and when she saw Lin Fan’s handsome and mighty appearance, [Truncated: Max tokens]
The first time Lin Fan saw her, he was quite satisfied. Her appearance was indeed good, and her figure was excellent, but wait, as he looked a few more times, he noticed that Princess Xiyu’s gaze seemed like she wanted to devour him.
He felt that something was wrong.
Princess Xiyu sat next to Lin Fan and actively leaned into him, behaving very wantonly, and Lin Fan’s sense of smell was exceptionally keen.
Damn!
There is a strange smell.
Gynecological diseases!
Without even thinking, he raised his hand and slapped her, knocking Princess Xiyu to the ground. Half her face instantly swelled and reddened. He said furiously, “Dag Guang King, where did you find this slutty fox? Stinking of lust, what do you take this general for?”
“Great General… I!!!”
At this moment, the Dag Guang King was truly bewildered.
He found Lin Fan to be truly difficult to please. He didn’t know what to do; this wasn’t satisfactory, that wasn’t satisfactory. What would it take for you to be satisfied?
“Wuwuwu…” Princess Xiyu, who had been slapped, clutched her face and wept.
“You vixen, shut up! Cry one more time, and I’ll cut you down,” Lin Fan roared.
Princess Xiyu instantly stopped crying.
“Scram, go back where you came from. Your presence here is affecting my appetite,” Lin Fan said.
Princess Xiyu covered her face and fled the scene in disarray.
The Dag Guang King said, “Great General, tell me, what exactly do you want?”
“I don’t want anything specific; I want the civil and military officials present to accompany and serve my brothers well,” Lin Fan said.
“Ah!?”
Let alone the Dag Guang King, who was bewildered.
Even the soldiers were bewildered.
It’s not that… Great General, we are all men, what do we need these old men to accompany us for?
Lin Fan chuckled, “Brothers, these old guys are all high-ranking officials of the Dag Guang Dynasty. They are used to being served, so they must know how to serve people. As the saying goes, ‘old ginger is spicier.’ You all enjoy yourselves. Only by following me can you experience such treatment.”
Iron Cavalry A: …
Iron Cavalry B: …
Iron Cavalry C: …
Soon, a shocking scene unfolded.
A group of old officials, with smiling faces and obsequious postures, half-knelt beside the iron cavalry, pouring wine and serving food. The iron cavalry, however, remained stiff, expressionless, and even looked constipated.
But the Great General was watching, so they couldn’t refuse to eat.
They could only reluctantly swallow the food served by the old men.
…
The next day.
Huo Ge led a large army to the capital. Although he failed to take the Central Plains, this trip was not a total loss; at least he plundered a significant amount of gold and silver jewelry.
He ordered the army to encamp outside the city while he, leading his personal guards, escorted the treasure-laden horse carriages towards the city.
“Hmm, strange, where is everyone?”
Huo Ge frowned. Although he was not returning in triumph, His Majesty should at least have sent someone to welcome him.
Alas!
Perhaps His Majesty truly felt resentful because the mission was not accomplished.
Upon arriving at the Imperial Palace gate, Huo Ge entered with his guards. As he passed by, he turned his head, curiously observing the guards at the city gate.
He noticed they were all wearing armor, and as far as he recalled, the guards’ armor didn’t look like this.
Could it be that during his absence?
The palace guards’ armor had undergone a new stylistic change?
He didn’t think much of it.
As Huo Ge completely entered the Imperial Palace and moved further away, he suddenly looked back and saw the Imperial Palace gate slowly closing.
“Is the morning court not being held? Have the civil and military officials arrived so quickly?”
Huo Ge was filled with questions, finding the situation rather odd.
He also sniffed the seemingly fresh air and detected a faint scent of blood.
He instructed his guards to wait outside the hall and strode towards the interior. Upon reaching the imperial court, he saw that all the civil and military officials were standing respectfully inside.
“I, Huo Ge, have returned.” Seeing no one on the dragon throne, Huo Ge relaxed and greeted the officials.
The officials managed a strained smile, “Great General, you’ve returned.”
“Nonsense, didn’t I send a messenger back in advance to inform you? Did you not receive it?”
“Yes, yes, we received it.”
“Why are you all here so early today, and why was no one there to welcome me back?” Huo Ge asked.
An old official said, “Great General, it is not too early; it is time to begin the morning court.”
Huo Ge looked at the sky outside and didn’t feel it was particularly early. However, he was still somewhat displeased as to why no one had come to welcome him, which would surely dishearten the soldiers who had marched on a campaign.
Huo Ge looked around and said, “Hmm, you’re all here, but where are Minister Wang, Minister Hao, and Minister Li?”
“General, the three ministers are indisposed and have requested leave.”
“Oh.”
Huo Ge rubbed his chin, not thinking much of it, other than feeling that the atmosphere today was a bit strange.
Suddenly, a eunuch’s sharp voice rang out.
“His Majesty, arrives!!”
The officials prostrated themselves, shouting their welcome. Huo Ge naturally knelt as well, lowering his head in respectful greeting.
“You may rise.”
Huo Ge heard the voice and frowned slightly. This voice was not the Dag Guang King’s voice he was familiar with; instead, it sounded very young and even carried a hint of amusement.
When he looked up and saw the dragon throne, his eyes widened abruptly, as if he had seen a ghost.
“You… you.”
Huo Ge pointed at Lin Fan, who was seated on the dragon throne, then looked at the Dag Guang King, who was standing respectfully and constantly signaling to him with his eyes. His mind went blank, and his thoughts completely fractured.
Lin Fan chuckled, “General Huo Ge, you’ve returned quite early. I, for one, would like to ask how powerful the Divine Martial Great General Lin Fan you encountered in Yunnan was, that he scared you into fleeing overnight?”
“You… how are you here, Your Majesty, he… he.” Huo Ge exclaimed in shock, his voice trembling, unable to accept or comprehend the situation before him.
Lin Fan said, “Nonsense, it’s one thing for you to seize this opportunity to escape, but to plunder local wealth as well! Do you truly think the Central Plains Dynasty is a place you can swagger about?”
“I led my army on a swift march precisely to wait for you here.”
“Now that I’ve caught you, do you think you can still escape anywhere?”
Lin Fan said with a chuckle.
Huo Ge, his face ashen, shouted, “Guards, guards…”
“Stop shouting. The moment you entered the hall, your men were already apprehended by my iron cavalry soldiers. Even if you scream your lungs out now, no one can come to save you.”
Lin Fan stood up and walked step by step towards Huo Ge, who was below.
Terrified, Huo Ge retreated repeatedly, turned, and tried to escape in disarray, but the entrance was already blocked by iron cavalry soldiers, all staring at Huo Ge menacingly.
