As an official, what's wrong with raising a few monsters?

Chapter 403 Qin Lou's Southern Expedition, Mingchen's Return Home

The autumn wind is bleak, and the banners flutter in the wind.

At the gates of the Northern Lie Kingdom, hundreds of thousands of soldiers were arrayed and gathered in a well-ordered formation.

The soldiers all had solemn expressions and sharp eyes.

Everyone looked up in unison, all looking in the same direction.

Some people are born radiant; just by standing there, they are enough to attract attention and draw people to follow them.

At the very front of the procession, a spirited horse, much stronger than an ordinary galloping horse, raised its head and neighed.

On his back was a strong man of similar stature.

It's not easy to be under everyone's gaze, let alone this imposing and fierce army. Ordinary people would tremble with fear just standing here.

Only the most domineering and valiant generals can command such a group of soldiers.

The burly king, with his sharp tiger eyes, looked down at the dark mass of soldiers in front of him.

This is the foundation of Bei Lie's forces. He will lead these soldiers to conquer battlefields, live and die together, and realize Bei Lie's long-cherished wish of hundreds of years.

In recent days, he has persuaded his ministers and made all the necessary arrangements.

We're finally about to set off.

Thinking of this, he raised his Overlord Spear and shouted loudly, "Everyone, since the chaos began at the end of the Xia Dynasty, the vast continent has been in turmoil and has never been unified. We, the people of Beilie, live in the bitter cold north, and the national humiliation of the past century is still fresh in our minds."

"The southerners are cunning and greedy, unworthy to occupy this fertile land. We, the fierce and brave men of the north, are destined to roam the world and become the masters of this land."

"Today is the day to set out on the expedition, and I wish to go to the battlefield with you all!"

"I want you all to join me, to ride across the camps and gallop across the battlefield!"

"I want you to join me in conquering the world and establishing an everlasting legacy."

Standing before the army, Qin Lou did not spout grand rhetoric or say anything about the Qian Yuan invasion or the need to defend the country—things that could easily boost the soldiers' morale. He did not embellish his purpose with a fancy facade.

Instead, he gazed intently into the distance, brazenly displaying his ambitious aspirations to his soldiers.

Since the end of the Xia Dynasty, the feudal lords have divided the land among themselves.

This world has been in turmoil for a long time.

My goal is to unify this continent and become the monarch who ends the chaos and unifies the world.

My goal is to restore this land to one family.

Would you like to come with me?
Qin Lou has his own unique charm.

This extremely domineering monarch has faced many trials since ascending the throne, but he has never bowed his head.

He reformed the military system diligently, developing Beilie into the most powerful nation and making the people of Beilie stand tall.

He became a totem for the entire country and an idol revered by the people.

In Beilie, Qin Lou doesn't need to wave any banner of righteousness; he embodies the righteousness of the people of Beilie.

Wherever his troops pointed, the Northern Lie people were willing to charge forward, one after another.

This man, clad in armor and armed with weapons, stood at the front of the battle, riding a spirited horse, and freely shouted his ideals to his soldiers.

How to make them feel excited.

Fight alongside His Majesty!

What a great honor!
The negative emotions brought by the news of Tian Hong's death and the fall of the Three Passes were swept away.

With His Majesty personally leading the expedition, how could we possibly lose?

How could that woman from Qian Yuan compare to the brave and spirited Northern Emperor?

A sense of heroic spirit surged through them, their blood boiled, and the warriors were willing to fight and bled for him, to fulfill the wishes of this valiant monarch.

"Boom boom boom!"

The strong man beat the war drum with all his might, stirring the hearts of the soldiers.

"war!"

"war!"

"war!"

"The Northern Fierce Warriors are mighty!"

"I am willing to die for Your Majesty!"

The soldiers gripped their weapons tightly and shouted incessantly.

The roar shook the heavens and its power seemed to swallow the entire world.

At such a moment, under the gaze of everyone, and listening to the shouts of the soldiers around him.

Qin Lou's expression and state of mind were surprisingly calm.

Stepping out of the palace and standing before the army formation, he felt as if he had truly come back to life. The air was filled with a chilling atmosphere, which was surprisingly pleasant.

He should have been an emperor on horseback; that would have been the most suitable way for him to live.

His gaze swept over the spirited army, and he seemed to be able to read the emotions of each soldier and feel the power hidden deep in their souls.

Immersed in it, he felt he could mobilize everything.

He gripped the spear bestowed upon him by the immortals, feeling a chilling aura rising steadily, as these soldiers transmitted boundless power to him.

A surge of energy welled up in his chest.

He suddenly swung his spear, pointing it towards the sky and thrusting it upwards.

A single, cold glint, its power piercing the heavens.

It tore a huge crack in the clouds above the dome.

"Roar!"

The tiger's roar was deafening, echoing in the ears of all the soldiers.

In a daze, it seemed as if that terrifying beast was right in front of me.

Surprisingly, no one felt fear. They only felt their hearts pounding more violently and their pupils becoming bloodshot. They seemed to have forgotten the pain, as if an endless power was bursting forth from the depths of their souls, urging them to fight and to slaughter.

"kill!"

"kill!"

"kill!"

The shouts of battle were deafening, terrifying, echoing through the heavens, invincible, and demonstrating the united will of the people.

It is unstoppable by heaven and earth, unimpeded by ghosts and gods, and even celestial beings must retreat before it.

Qin Lou raised his eyebrows and spurred his horse forward: "Gentlemen, how about we go and see the scenery of the south together?"

……

Dark clouds loom over the city as the Northern Fierce Army assembles a massive force to march south, while Qin Lou personally leads the expedition, preparing for a final all-in battle.

The atmosphere was completely different on Mingchen's side.

He didn't know what was happening a thousand miles away. The autumn air was crisp and clear, and birds were riding the gentle breeze back to their hometowns.

Qingchi in Qingzhou, the hometown of Mingchen.

Because of Mingchen's strategic plan to lead Xiao Xinyue to the southwest, this area had not been ravaged by the chaos of war.

With Xiao Xinyue returning to the old capital, she revived the Qian Yuan dynasty and destroyed the Great Qi dynasty...

This can be seen as bringing an end to the five years of chaos, and completely announcing to the world who the ultimate winner of this chaos is.

Meanwhile, Mingchen, who repeatedly performed extraordinary feats and single-handedly helped to lift up the entire Qian Yuan Dynasty, also became famous throughout the world.

Naturally, the status of his hometown also rose accordingly.

Originally just an obscure little county town, it has now become the second most prosperous city in Qingzhou, second only to Jiqu, the capital of the new dynasty.

The people were all proud to have seen Mingchen.

Mingchen didn't have much free time to wander around the city, to put on a show in front of people and let the common people see him.

He landed directly in the courtyard.

"who?!"

Something fell from the sky inside the Ming family mansion, startling several maids and servants, causing some noise.

However, upon seeing him in person, he was utterly shocked: "Young...Young Master..."

"Madam, the young master... the young master is back!" Several quick-thinking maids had already run straight to the backyard.

"Hey, Tiger."

Mingchen patted a guard on the shoulder and asked with a smile, "How's everything at home lately?"

They grew up together. When Mingchen was a child, he was naughty and mischievous, and Huzi was his follower, helping him with a lot of rough and tiring work.

The young master still looks the same.

But when I think of those rumors about him, I can't help but feel a little apprehensive and awkward.

Tiger stammered, "Uh... okay, it's alright."

"Young master, why are you back?"

My childhood friends all have thick barriers now.

Mingchen smiled and simply said, "I have some things to take care of when I got back."

"Oh……"

The two didn't exchange more than a few words.

A woman came rushing over, calling out urgently as she went, "My son, my son is back!"

The child travels thousands of miles and the mother is worried.

The childhood friend who grew up with Mingchen became reserved because of Mingchen's identity and the rumors surrounding him.

But in a mother's eyes, no matter how far her child goes, how great his achievements are, or how much of a hero he becomes, he is still her child.

Li Huixiang gently stroked Mingchen's face, saying with concern, "You haven't been eating properly because you've been working so hard for the country, have you? You've gotten so thin..."

He certainly worked hard, but it probably wasn't for the country.

Mingchen said helplessly, "Mom, I've always been like this! How have I lost weight?"

There's a kind of thinness that your mother thinks you've lost weight.

Li Huixiang just glared at him and said, "If your mother says you've lost weight, then you've lost weight!"

"Why did you come back so suddenly? You didn't even tell your mother beforehand so that I could prepare your favorite dishes and pastries for you."

"Where's Ling Yu? Hasn't she come back?"

How long do you plan to stay this time?

Before Mingchen could speak, Li Huixiang asked a string of questions.

Mingchen's smile froze for a moment at his mother's question.

People living in this world will always have some attachments, otherwise... they would just drift away.

Even a carefree and shameless playboy like Mingchen felt a little heavy-hearted when he met his mother's bright eyes.

Mingchen felt that he was actually quite lucky.

Whether it was Zhuangzi dreaming of a butterfly or a butterfly dreaming of Zhuangzi, it was born into this family carrying memories of another era.

There was nothing as tragic and full of hatred as depicted in movies and novels, nor were there any heavy rules.

He came from a wealthy family, lived a carefree life, and his parents doted on him.

His path to adulthood was very smooth.

Old Ming seems a bit rigid and is always arguing with Mingchen, but he actually loves him very much. Although Mingchen always complains about him and argues with him, compared to other feudal patriarchs, he is already extremely open-minded.

In a corner where Mingchen couldn't see, Old Ming was also deeply proud of his son.

Not to mention his mother, from childhood to adulthood, no matter how naughty Mingchen was, she never said a harsh word to him. She just loved and cared for him like water. If it were anyone else, they would probably have been spoiled.

Mingchen has now achieved great success and his status is second only to the emperor.

However, his parents did not follow him to the capital to enjoy wealth and luxury. Instead, they lived a secluded life in their ancestral home in this small town, quietly missing their son. They even became more low-key, severing ties with many families.

I only visit my children by horse-drawn carriage during the Lunar New Year.

He fully supports all of Mingchen's decisions and doesn't interfere at all.

Mingchen has already reached a level that they cannot touch or imagine, so their life advice may not be able to guide their son in any way.

In Lao Ming's words, "We can't help the child much, but at least we shouldn't cause him any trouble."

Mingchen is a very cold person. When he was born, he did not think he would accept the family in this world.

A toddler's body houses an adult's soul and mature thoughts, making it difficult for him to accept new parents.

However, without realizing it, he had already become part of this place.

Having traveled far from home, the sixteen-year-old boy has now grown into a twenty-four-year-old.

He achieved great success and amazed the world, but it seems he did not fulfill the responsibilities and obligations of a human being.

Lost in thought, he lowered his eyes and smiled at his mother, "I miss home, I want to eat Mom's cooking, and I want to talk back to Dad, so I came back to stay for two days."

He couldn't bring himself to say something like, "I'll only stay for a little while."

"Ling Yu has some military affairs to attend to, so she won't be coming."

The little fox perched on the wall, watching Mingchen with great interest.

This person... is really hard to understand.

This was her first time visiting Mingchen's hometown, and it was also the first time she had ever seen Mingchen with such an expression.

Li Huixiang glared at him reproachfully: "If you miss home, come back and visit more often~ What do you mean by talking back to your father? You're just making your father angry."

She kept nagging, "Although Lingyu is different from girls from ordinary families, she's still a girl. You've never been good at taking care of people, so you have to take good care of her and not tire her out..."

"Why don't I know how to be caring?"

Mingchen muttered softly, but still raised his hand in surrender, saying, "I know, I know~"

"Brother~ Brother~"

The mother and son exchanged a few words after their reunion.

Another urgent shout came from not far away.

A breeze swept by, and the graceful young woman had already rushed into Mingchen's arms.

"Ouch~"

"Our Xuanxuan has grown into a young lady!"

Time flies by and quietly changes many things.

They are at the age when they grow the fastest.

Before we knew it, the little girl who used to ask Mingchen for candy had grown into a graceful young woman.

Despite not having seen each other for a long time, they were as affectionate as ever. She snuggled into her brother's arms and asked sweetly, "Where's my sister-in-law? You haven't been back for so long~ Did you bring me any gifts, brother?"

Mingchen smiled and poked her forehead: "I brought you your favorite big slap."

"Brother~"

Li Huixiang tugged at the unlucky girl and scolded her, "Go away! How old are you? Still clinging to your brother!"

"Get down quickly, don't crush your brother."

"Hehe~ It won't break, it won't break~"

The little girl just chuckled, her eyes crinkling, just like Mingchen's mischievous grin.

"Brother!"

On the other side, the younger brother was a bit more reserved, dressed in a scholar's robe, and nodded slightly to Mingchen.

He behaved politely, but his eyes were full of longing.

This family seemed to have come back to life because of Mingchen's arrival.

Mingchen patted his younger sister's head, then, as if remembering something, asked Li Huixiang, "Mother, where's Father?"

The scene was a bit too heartwarming; he felt a little uncomfortable if he didn't banter with the old man a bit.

"Forehead……"

Upon hearing this, Li Huixiang twitched the corner of her mouth, and Mingchen, as if trying to cover up the truth, said, "He went out on some business, he'll be back in a little while."

"Don't worry about him!"

"You must be tired from your journey, take a rest~"

(End of this chapter)