414. King of the South of Xiling Town

Xiling Imperial City Ancheng

Since Xiling's imperial city in the north was forced to be ceded to Mo Xiuyao, the Xiling Emperor moved the capital to the present Ancheng. Fortunately, Ancheng has been managed by the Murong family for hundreds of years. Although it is not as majestic as Xiling's imperial city, it is also one of the most prosperous cities in Xiling. After the vigorous reconstruction of Xiling Emperor in the past two years, it is barely worthy of the title of imperial city.

It's no wonder that all the powers in the world dislike Mo Xiuyao. Not to mention Beirong, except for the Beirong king who lives in a small stone city, all the other dignitaries still live in tents. Xiling and Dachu, which were originally two powerful countries, lost their own imperial cities one after another. Dachu was relegated to Nanjing, and Xiling fled to Ancheng. However, the Dingwang family, who held two huge imperial cities at the same time, didn't care whether to ascend the throne or not, so it's no wonder that others were jealous and hateful.

In the Zhennan Palace in Ancheng, Lei Tengfeng sat on the first seat, looking at the empty palace below in a trance. He had wanted to ascend to this position very much. He had been proud of the Zhennan Palace since he was sensible. In his mind, the position of Zhennan King was much higher than the vain throne of the emperor. After all, his father was much more powerful than the emperor who only knew how to eat, drink and have fun in the palace. Therefore, all his dreams were to get his father's approval and become the ruler of the Zhennan Palace. But when he really sat on this position, he felt only desolation and coldness.

"Prince, what should we do next?" His Highness, there were three military generals and several men who looked like civil officials sitting beside him, one of them asked with some concern.

In fact, the worries of these people were nothing compared to the worries in Lei Tengfeng's heart. They rode back to Xiling at full speed, so the news from Feihong Pass had not yet been reported back. But Lei Tengfeng knew in his heart that his father... was gone.

Having lost the Zhennan Palace of King Zhennan, Lei Tengfeng felt a chill in his heart and his whole body went cold.

After a long while, Lei Tengfeng opened his eyes and looked at the people present calmly. Lei Tengfeng raised his hand, and a golden token appeared in his hand. On the token, a golden four-clawed dragon was coiled on the token, and the two characters "Zhennan" were engraved in the middle.

Except for the three generals, everyone was shocked. This was the most important token of the Zhennan Palace, representing the identity and power of the Zhennan King. Seeing the token was like seeing the Zhennan King, "Your Highness, I have seen you!"

When the more knowledgeable people saw the token, their faces immediately changed, knowing that something was not right. It was already strange that the prince who had been away fighting suddenly came back, and now he showed up with a token representing the power of the Zhennan Palace, which the prince would never give to anyone. How could this not make people feel uneasy?

"Everyone, please stand up." Lei Tengfeng said in a deep voice: "My father has ordered that from now on, everything in the Zhennan Palace will be under my command." Everyone looked at each other, but was a little hesitant. If it was the Zhennan King, everyone would naturally follow the Zhennan King. After all, compared to the incompetent Xiling Emperor, anyone with a discerning eye could see that the Zhennan King was much stronger. But if it was the Zhennan King's son, it would be different. It's not that Lei Tengfeng is not good, but that Lei Tengfeng is too young, and his reputation is far worse than Lei Zhenting's.

"I will obey your name, Your Majesty." The three generals bowed in unison.

Lei Tengfeng finally understood why his father had specially selected these three generals to come back with him. Of course, there were more powerful and outstanding generals in the army. However, those were veterans who had followed his father for many years, and he could not suppress them with his outstanding military achievements. He was afraid that they would have disloyalty if there were powerful people behind them. However, these three people were promoted by his father from ordinary soldiers, and they had all followed Lei Tengfeng and had a good personal relationship with him, so he did not have to worry about them having disloyalty in the short term.

"Master Wu, what do you say?" Lei Tengfeng nodded and looked at the person who was reluctant to express his opinion. Master Wu looked at Lei Tengfeng and said respectfully: "I wonder...what is the prince's plan?"

Lei Tengfeng's eyes darkened, and he stared at the people in front of him. Suddenly, a faint smile appeared on his lips, "This king... intends to try out the chair in Yong'an Hall. What do you think?"

Lord Wu's expression changed slightly, and he smiled and said, "Sir, this... isn't it a bit too hasty?"

Just as Lei Tengfeng was about to speak, a guard outside the door announced, "Sir, the Emperor has summoned you."

Lei Tengfeng snorted softly and said, "I understand. Go down first."

Lei Tengfeng stood up and walked down from his seat. Everyone below hurriedly advised: "Prince, the emperor summoned me at this time. I'm afraid he has ulterior motives. Please be careful." Lei Tengfeng smiled faintly and said: "I suddenly returned to the capital. It would be strange if he didn't summon me. Besides, some things... should be dealt with sooner rather than later."

Lei Tengfeng casually walked up to Lord Wu and said with a smile: "Lord Wu, don't you think so?"

Lord Wu's face turned pale, and cold sweat quietly flowed down his hair. "Prince...Prince..." Lei Tengfeng snorted lightly, and a cold light flashed. Everyone only heard the sound of the sword being sheathed, and Lei Tengfeng had already walked out of the hall. Everyone looked down and saw Lord Wu lying on the ground with his eyes wide open, and a trace of blood slowly spread on his neck.

"We swear to be loyal to the prince till death!"

Lei Tengfeng turned around and said calmly: "Don't be nervous, everyone. We are all my father's confidants and trusted aides. As for Lord Wu... my father has already said that he... is not my man. The things are all here, you can take a look." Lei Tengfeng took out a memorial and placed it on the table, then walked out without even looking at the crowd's reactions.

Lei Tengfeng walked quickly in the palace. It was more like a villa converted from several connected mansions than a palace. After all, a palace could not be built in a short time.

"Prince of Zhennan, Prince of Rui, Lei Tengfeng, wishes to see the emperor." Lei Zhenting said loudly as he arrived at the door of a magnificent palace.

The sound of stringed instruments in the hall soon stopped, and soon an attendant came out and said cautiously, "Prince Rui, the emperor summons you to come in." Lei Tengfeng nodded and raised his foot to go in, but was stopped by the eunuch. The eunuch smiled and pointed at the guards and several general-like people following behind him, and said, "Prince, this...isn't it a little inappropriate?"

Lei Tengfeng raised his eyebrows and said, "I am bringing three generals back to the capital to report on their duties. What's wrong with that?"

"This..." The eunuch was in a dilemma with a bitter face. He knew that the generals would have to meet the emperor when they returned to the capital to report on their work, but the emperor also ordered that only Lei Tengfeng was allowed to enter.

Lei Tengfeng said in a deep voice: "Don't worry, if the emperor blames me, I will take full responsibility." The eunuch did not dare to stop Lei Tengfeng, who was so powerful. After all, the people of Zhennan Palace were not polite in the palace. Not to mention the servants, even the emperor was used to it.

Lei Tengfeng walked into the hall, and was greeted by the dizzying smell of alcohol and cosmetics. Even though outsiders might not know the inside story, seeing this scene when his father died in battle, Lei Tengfeng's eyes could not help but flash a hint of coldness.

"Your Majesty, I am Lei Tengfeng." Lei Tengfeng bowed his head and saluted.

The three generals following behind him also saluted, "Generals Feng Li, Zhang Yi, and Shangguan Qing pay their respects to His Majesty."

The Xiling Emperor looked down with drunken eyes and said with a smile: "It's Tengfeng, come and sit down." Lei Tengfeng stood up, walked to the front right seat and sat down, saying: "Tengfeng thanks Uncle Emperor."

The Xiling Emperor had lost some weight compared to two years ago in Xiling Imperial City. Years of drinking and sex had corroded his body, and his smiling eyes had become cloudy and lifeless. But when these eyes looked at Lei Tengfeng, they were full of meaning. "Tengfeng, weren't you following your father to attack the Mohist Army? Why are you back?"

Lei Tengfeng said, "My uncle, my father has received news that Nanchu has abandoned its alliance with our country and has switched sides with Prince Ding's Palace. Murong Shen and Nan Hou of Prince Ding's Palace personally led 300,000 Nanchu troops across the Yunlan River to invade Xiling. My father has specially ordered Tengfeng to come back to deal with this matter."

"Oh?" Xiling Emperor looked at Lei Tengfeng with some surprise, "Is this true?"

"What Tengfeng said is absolutely true. If Uncle Emperor is not able to do it, you can send someone to investigate. I'm afraid that fighting has already started on the Yunlan River." Emperor Xiling nodded and said, "If so, what is Tengfeng's plan?" Lei Tengfeng looked up at Emperor Xiling and said, "Tengfeng plans to ask Shangguan Qing and Feng Li to lead an army of 500,000 to fight Murong Shen and Nan Hou."

"Five hundred thousand?" Xiling Emperor looked at Lei Tengfeng and asked, "Where can we get so many soldiers?" Lei Zhenting had taken most of Xiling's elite soldiers with him when he went to fight against the Mohist Army, not to mention that there were already a large number of soldiers stationed in Yunlan River. It's no wonder that Xiling Emperor was worried when he took so many soldiers out from Xiling.

Lei Tengfeng lowered his eyes and said calmly: "Otherwise, what do you think we should do, uncle?"

Emperor Xiling was silent. He had been suppressed by Lei Zhenting all his life and had never been involved in military affairs. Even a genius would eventually run out of talent and wisdom, not to mention that he was not a genius in the first place. Lei Tengfeng had been fighting overtly and covertly for so many years because of his legitimate status as an emperor and his natural proficiency in intrigues in the royal family. But this method obviously did not work in military operations. Emperor Xiling had been thinking about how to take back the power of the emperor all his life, but he had never thought about how to be a good emperor after taking back this power.

Lei Tengfeng hid the disdain in his eyes and said in a cold voice: "Murong Shen and Nan Hou are both veterans who have experienced many battles. My father is not here now... If we don't send a large army to stop them, I'm afraid that the Mohist army will once again besiege the city... right before our eyes."

Emperor Xiling frowned and sighed. He habitually reached out to take the wine glass on the table, waved at Lei Tengfeng impatiently and said, "Forget it, go ahead. I'll do as you say." Lei Tengfeng had just breathed a sigh of relief when suddenly a man who looked like an eunuch hurried in from outside and whispered a few words in Emperor Xiling's ear. Emperor Xiling's expression changed, and the look he gave Lei Tengfeng became full of exploration and testing.

Waving his hand to let the eunuch leave, the Xiling Emperor frowned and thought for a moment, then asked, "Teng Feng, you haven't told me yet, how is the battle between our army and Prince Ding's Mansion going?"

Lei Tengfeng said calmly: "Your Majesty is right. Tengfeng was planning to report this to the Emperor."

Emperor Xiling nodded with satisfaction and said, "That's good. I was a little worried as well. Please don't... deceive me." Deceiving the emperor... is a capital crime.

A hint of coldness flashed across Lei Tengfeng's brows, and he said in a deep voice: "Tengfeng dare not, report to the emperor, I am afraid that our army is... no match for the Mo family army... and will definitely lose!"

"What?!" Xiling Emperor said in shock. Although he was incompetent, he had no grudge against his kingdom. Originally, he felt a little schadenfreude when he heard the servants report Lei Zhenting's defeat. But when he heard Lei Tengfeng's heavy words of defeat, he couldn't help but be shocked. He really didn't want to experience the feeling of the Mo family army approaching the imperial city again. What's more... last time they moved from the north to Ancheng, if Mo Xiuyao came to the city again this time, where can they go?

For the first time in his life, Emperor Xiling realized that the absence of Lei Zhenting in Xiling might not be a good thing.

"Teng Feng...your father..."

Lei Tengfeng did not hide it and said in a deep voice: "Yes, if what Tengfeng expected is correct, my father has already... died for his country." Hearing this, the Xiling Emperor could not help but be stunned. He had lived in fear under the pressure of Lei Zhenting all his life, and although he had been thinking about how to kill Lei Zhenting all the time, when he really heard the news of Lei Zhenting's death, his first reaction was not joy, but helplessness.

"Now...what should we do?" said Emperor Xiling.

Lei Tengfeng lowered his eyes and said calmly: "These three generals are the talents that my father left for Xiling. Tengfeng intends to send two of them to lead the troops to fight against Murong Shen and Nan Hou. If Mo Xiuyao personally leads the troops to attack Xiling, Tengfeng is willing to live and die with Xiling."

There was no other way now, so the Emperor of Xiling didn't say any more and nodded, saying: "Okay, I will now appoint you as the new King of Zhennan, to guard the Great Mausoleum on behalf of my brother. In addition, I will appoint the three generals Feng, Zhang and Shangguan as the generals of Protecting the Country, the generals of Stabilizing the Country and the generals of Safeguarding the Country." With these words from the Emperor of Xiling, the three generals who were originally only deputy generals immediately became the first-rank generals of Xiling.

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Lei Tengfeng bowed his head.

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace."

When Lei Tengfeng left the hall, the magnificent palace regained its tranquility. A man who looked like an eunuch came out from the back, looked carefully at the Xiling Emperor who was sitting in the dragon chair with his eyes closed, and said softly: "Your Majesty, why... don't you..." Originally, they had made arrangements to capture Lei Tengfeng as soon as he arrived. Without Lei Zhenting, although Lei Tengfeng was powerful, he was still young. But if he was given a few more years to become more mature, that would not be the case.

However, they did not hear any signal from Emperor Xiling, and the assassins lying in ambush on the side could only watch Lei Tengfeng walk out.

The Emperor of Xiling waved his hand and said, "Lei Zhenting is dead... If Lei Tengfeng is killed again... What will happen to Daling?" Over the years, his remaining children have all died or married off. In this huge palace, apart from those concubines who only know how to flatter him, he is the only one left. He can be said to be a real lonely man. Now even his lifelong enemy is dead, but Daling is still there... He must leave something for Daling.

"Forget it, go ahead. Pass on my order to confer the title of King of Zhennan on Lei Tengfeng. The previous King of Zhennan, Lei Zhenting, died for his country and was given the posthumous title of "loyal and brave". In addition, I... am not feeling well, so King of Zhennan will be the regent first."

The eunuch was stunned for a moment, obviously not understanding why the emperor changed his mind in such a short time. But he had to obey the order of the Emperor of Xiling, "I obey your order, I will take my leave." It seems that in the future of Xiling... the Zhennan Palace will still have the final say.

Lei Tengfeng left the palace. Although he had obtained the full command of the Xiling army as he wished, his face was still as gloomy as water. Just now... he really wanted to kill the Xiling Emperor. He also knew that the Xiling Emperor had deployed assassins in the palace, but he did not expect that the Xiling Emperor, who had always been incompetent, would suddenly make such a decision at that time. After a moment of hesitation, he had already lost the previous murderous intention. Lei Tengfeng couldn't help but smile bitterly. Compared with his father, he was still far behind.

"Lei Tengfeng..."

"Who is it?" Suddenly, a deep voice came into his ears. Lei Tengfeng's face changed and he looked towards the source of the voice. He saw a middle-aged man in blue cloth standing up a few steps away and looking at him indifferently.

"Ling Tiehan!" Lei Tengfeng gritted his teeth. The voice he just heard was clearly from far away, but Ling Tiehan had already appeared in front of him silently. However, in such a short period of time, Ling Tiehan's martial arts skills had reached a new level.

Ling Tiehan nodded, raised his hand and threw something at Lei Tengfeng. Lei Tengfeng wanted to let go reflexively, but suddenly thought of something when he turned sideways, and reached out to grab the thing Ling Tiehan threw to him. It was a very ordinary white porcelain jar, although it was wrapped in a layer of cloth, but as soon as Lei Tengfeng took it in his hand, he felt what was inside. At the same time, he also guessed why Ling Tiehan threw this thing to him.

“This… this is…” Lei Tengfeng tightly grasped the thing in his hand and stared at Ling Tiehan.

Ling Tiehan said indifferently: "This is Lei Zhenting's ashes."

"You burned my father!" Lei Tengfeng felt a surge of anger rushing into his head, and glared at the man in front of him with hatred. Ling Tiehan glanced at him indifferently, sneered and said, "You should be thankful that Mo Xiuyao was willing to let me burn Lei Zhenting and bring him back."

Lei Tengfeng was silent. He certainly knew how many people treated the enemy generals who were killed, especially when the person's status was very unusual. But at least... the last dignity of the King of Zhennan was preserved.

"The Zhennan Palace will remember this incident." Lei Tengfeng said seriously.

A mocking smile appeared on Ling Tiehan's lips. He turned around and left without even looking at Lei Tengfeng.

On the street outside the Zhennan Palace, Lei Tengfeng held the ashes in his hand in silence, "Father... I will definitely not let you down..."