By the time they returned to Winter Frost City, everyone was already exhausted. The twenty thousand advance guard troops had been killed, exhausted, or starved to death along the way. As a result, there were only eleven thousand people left when they arrived outside Winter Frost City. About two hundred of them were from the Yangwei Army, which was the foundation for Min Yulin's army to rise again. After stationing the advance guard outside the city, Min Yulin, Xu Ying, and the others followed Lin Muyu into Winter Frost City.
The city wall that had been damaged in the tragic battle a few years ago had been repaired. Due to the arrival of the Longdan Army Camp, a new city wall was built outside Winter Frost City, which nearly doubled the size of the city. Merchants, cultivators, hunters, and civilians gathered in the city. Most of them were attracted by the mineral veins of Bronze Helmet Mountain. Winter Frost City was now quite prosperous, no longer as desolate as it used to be.
Lin Muyu rode on Treading Snow and followed the crowd. Beside her, Min Yulin was riding on a black horse. He looked at everything around him and was filled with emotion. Back then, the Yangwei Legion had been trapped in this desolate city. They had to kill horses and eat meat. In the end, they had to dig up worms to fill their stomachs. Shi Huo and the other despicable people had even cooked the corpses of the dead. Now that they had returned to this place, Min Yulin's heart was in turmoil.
After seeing through Min Yulin's thoughts, Lin Muyu smiled playfully. "Marquis, now the population of Winter Frost City is close to a million, and the army is close to 200,000. It's the first city to guard the eastern region and resist the Devil Army."
Min Yulin had heard a little about the war between the empire and the Devil Race. He cupped his fists and said respectfully, "King Qin, you're a great man. Without you, the Qin Empire would have been torn apart."
"You flatter me, Marquis. I'm just doing what I should do." Lin Muyu nodded and thought about it. She had received Qin Yin's kindness in Lanyan City. At least in this world, as a subject and Qin Yin's lover, this was what she should do, because it was the responsibility of a man.
The City Lord's Mansion had already been renovated and replaced with a plaque with the words "Qin King's Mansion" written in gold. Everything was done by Situ Xue. This female general was able to defend against the enemy and manage the mansion. She was indeed a rare treasure for the Valiant Dragon Army.
Min Yulin raised his head to look at the golden board. He didn't feel good about it. Back then, Lin Muyu had followed the army as the Sacred Hall's Grand Deacon, and Min Yulin had looked down on him. But now, it was this young man who had toppled the Demon Race and the Yihe Kingdom, single-handedly creating the era of the Great Qin Empire's Three Kings.
After entering the King Qin ', Min Yulin respectfully, Min Yulin, King Qin, and King.
Lin Muyu thought for a moment and said, "About 50 kilometers east of Winterfrost City, there is a prefecture called Winterplain Prefecture. It has a population of about 400,000 and is the largest prefecture in the Lingdong Province. It has abundant resources and is less than five kilometers away from the steel fence. If the Devil Race attacks the steel fence from the east, Winterplain Prefecture is a place they must pass. So, it's a strategic location and I need a general to guard it. I haven't found a suitable candidate, but now that Marquis is back, I can go."
"Yes."
Min Yulin saluted and said, "Once the vanguard is rested, I will immediately lead them to Winterplain Prefecture."
"No, there's no hurry." Lin Muyu smiled and said, "I still need to replenish your army with soldiers, equipment, horses, and provisions. There's no hurry. Besides, the vanguard can't be called the vanguard anymore. It has to be reorganized into the Yangwei Army. I will replenish the Yangwei Army to 50,000 soldiers as soon as possible. Then, I will ask Brother Feng and Ah Yan to transfer new soldiers from Lingnan and Lingbei to restore the Yangwei Army to 100,000 soldiers. In addition, Marquis' seal and tiger amulet also need to be reforged, which will take time. Before everything is ready, Marquis can stay in King Qin's Mansion."
Min Yulin trembled. He was just a defeated general who had defected to the enemy, but Lin Muyu put him in such an important position. How could he bear it?
He hurriedly stepped back and knelt on the ground, making a deep salute. "I … I, Min Yulin, thank King Qin for your grace."
Lin Muyu quickly helped him up. "Marquis, you don't have to be so polite. In my eyes, you will always be an important minister of the empire. Although the Devil Clan has retreated to Tongtian Province, they still have their strength. The empire needs a general like you who can fight."
"Yes, I will repay the empire with my life!"
In fact, Lin Muyu knew very well that Min Yulin was too proud to surrender to the Devil Clan, which was why he had been imprisoned in the Devil Sealing Valley for five years. Min Zhan and Xu Ying had really surrendered, but Min Yulin had never surrendered to the Devil Clan. As for Min Zhan and Xu Ying, Xu Ying had to do it for Min Yulin's safety, while Min Zhan was eager to protect his father. At the same time, he was frightened by the Devil Clan's army. It was understandable. From the fact that they besieged the Divine Shadow City but didn't kill any innocent people, it could be seen that these former soldiers of the Yangwei Army still had a conscience and were always loyal to the empire. They could be of great use to the empire.
…
After entering the hall, a maid carried a delicate cage and handed it to Lin Muyu. In the cage, the little cyan swan's wings were even fuller. It spread its tender wings and greeted her as if it recognized its master. Lin Muyu couldn't help but feel warm. She smiled and said, "Little guy, how are you doing in Winter Frost City?"
The little cyan swan chirped, but Lin Muyu couldn't understand what it was saying.
Situ Xue said respectfully, "The banquet for Marquis Wei is preparing. It will start in two hours. Please wait patiently."
Min Yulin, Min Zhan, and the others all expressed their gratitude.
At this time, a Captaincy General walked over. It was Fengxi. He cupped his fists and said, "Your Highness … Princess Ning wants to see you. She said she wants to talk to you."
"Feng Ning 'er?"
"Yes." The corners of Feng Xi's mouth curled up in a playful smile, "Your highness, you've returned from the Blood Red Abyss but you've never gone to see His Highness Ning. He's been thinking about you.
"Got it. I'll go now. Lead the way."
"Yes!"
Since Feng Ning 'er had something to say, he might as well listen to her. After all, the war between the empire and the demons was in a stalemate. The demons were afraid of the power of the magic crystal cannons and the steep steel walls, so they couldn't fight back. On the other hand, the Longdan Army Camp didn't dare to touch the Tongtian Province because the demons had been running the Tongtian Province for many years. The land was desolate, and the official roads were in disrepair, so they couldn't transport heavy artillery. This stalemate had lasted for four years. Maybe it would be good to listen to what Feng Ning' er had to say.
…
Feng Ning'er's residence was in the Elegant Garden in the backyard of King Qin's Mansion. The scenery could be said to be superb. There were pavilions, terraces, mountain rocks, flowing water, and a bamboo forest slowly swaying in the breeze. The only flaw was that the Elegant Garden was surrounded by the Brave Dragon Battalion guards. There were even arrow boxes on the wall. The Brave Dragon Battalion valued this little demon princess too much, and they couldn't let anything happen to her.
"Open the door," Fengxi said in a low voice.
Several guards immediately bowed respectfully. "Greetings, Your Highness!"
After the door opened, Lin Muyu walked in. He didn't even have time to change out of his advance guard armor. However, it didn't matter. His handsome face was full of calmness and confidence. This kind of temperament wasn't something an ordinary person could have. He could handle it no matter what clothes he wore.
"Creak …"
After pushing open the carved wooden door, Feng Ning 'er stood up in a plain dress and bowed respectfully. "Feng Ning' er greets Your Highness King Qin."
"There's no need to be so polite, Your Highness Ning. You may rise."
Lin Muyu walked into the hall and said, "May I know why Your Highness Ning is looking for me?"
Feng Ning 'er blinked and said, "Your Highness King Qin, do you know how many years it has been since I last saw my father?"
"Six years." Lin Muyu said without hesitation, "You were captured by the imperial army in April, 7735, and today is 21st August, 7741."
As he spoke, he couldn't help but feel a little sentimental. He said, "Your Highness Ning 'er has suffered. You've been imprisoned for more than six years. If not for your father starting this war, I think Your Highness Ning' er would still be enjoying your family in the Tongtian Gorge."
Feng Ning 'er's beautiful eyes were covered with a layer of mist. She said, "I believe Your Highness King Qin is not a cold-blooded person. I've written a letter to my father. I hope Your Highness King Qin will send someone to deliver it to my father. Is that okay?"
She took out a piece of paper.
Lin Muyu glanced at the yellowed rice paper in her hand and said, "Your Highness, can I see the contents of the letter?"
"En." Feng Ning 'er nodded. She knew that this kind of thing couldn't be done carelessly. After all, Lin Muyu was the highest commander of the entire Lingdong Province. He didn't dare to be careless.
After reading the letter, it was nothing more than words of longing. Lin Muyu used her divine power and carefully observed for a while. There were no tricks on the rice paper, and it wasn't some acrostic poem. She believed that it wasn't about passing on military secrets. She nodded and said, "Okay, I'll send someone to deliver the letter to the demons. Your Highness, don't worry."
"Then … thank you, Your Highness King Qin!" Feng Ning 'er slowly bowed and gave an imperial lady's bow. She had stayed in the territory of the empire for so long that she had almost forgotten her identity as a demon.
"If there's nothing else, I'll return first. There are still many things waiting for me to do," Lin Muyu said indifferently.
"Also …" Feng Ning 'er's eyes flickered with fear. She wanted to say something but stopped.
"What else is there?" Lin Muyu turned around.
"Also, it's my birthday in half a month …" Feng Ning 'er said.
"Got it."
Lin Muyu turned and left without looking back. Feng Ning 'er had already mentioned in the letter that she hoped the Demon Emperor and the humans would have a truce. She also hoped that she could see her father, whom she hadn't seen for six years, on her 22nd birthday.
Truce?
The Demonic Race was willing, but the humans weren't. This land originally belonged to the empire. Even if the Demonic Race surrendered, Lin Muyu would still sweep through the entire Tongtian Gorge and uproot the Demonic Race from this land. They had done too much to the empire, they didn't deserve to be forgiven.
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