Kill the enemy and get a wife? I'll single-handedly slaughter my way through the Northern Barba

Lin Feng looked Xia Bing up and down, then nodded slightly: "Not bad, you look quite sharp and energetic after washing up. Xia Bing, from now on you will serve me!"

Xia Bing nodded silently, when suddenly a soft "gurgling" sound came from her stomach.

Her pretty face flushed instantly, and she hurriedly covered her stomach; she was just too hungry.

These days, Xia Bing is selling amber on the black market, her mind preoccupied with how to get a good price so she can avenge her family.

Three meals a day were just something to get by with, just enough to keep me from starving.

Seeing this, Lin Feng looked around for a moment and said, "I remember there's a tavern two streets away. Let's go, the three of us, get something to eat."

Upon hearing this, Feng Qing's eyes lit up instantly: "You said it yourself, you're treating!"

Lin Feng chuckled, "Going out for dinner in the middle of the night, why should you two girls pay? Order whatever you want!"

Lin Feng and Feng Qing walked ahead, while Xia Bing followed silently behind.

As she watched Lin Feng's retreating figure, she couldn't help but ask herself: Could Lin Feng do it? Could he avenge her benefactor?

Xia Bing didn't know the answer, so she could only place all her hopes on the young man in front of her, praying that he would rise in rank and avenge her blood feud.

Feng Qing was overjoyed and couldn't resist teasing Lin Feng, "Tell me the truth, did you already know that girl was beautiful and only agreed to her request because you were after her looks?"

Her voice was so low that only the two of them could hear it.

Lin Feng reached out and gently pinched Feng Qing's cheek: "First, wipe the dust off your face, look in the mirror, and see if you can still recognize yourself. I'm not a god, how would I know she's beautiful?"

Feng Qing rubbed her cheeks, glared at him, and muttered under her breath, "That's true..."

Seeing her coquettish expression, Lin Feng chuckled inwardly.

Although he couldn't see Xia Bing's disguised appearance, with the system at his disposal, how could such a beautiful girl escape his senses?

That night, Lin Feng had a hearty meal with Feng Qing and Xia Bing.

Lin Feng then temporarily settled Xia Bing at Feng Qing's residence...

Three days later, at the military camp in Zhenyuan City.

Lin Feng was training his soldiers on the drill ground when Lü Zheng suddenly came running up to him and pulled him outside without saying a word.

"Brother Lü, what exactly happened? Please explain clearly first," Lin Feng asked, somewhat amused and exasperated.

"Let's talk on the way!"

Lu Zheng looked anxious and quickly explained the situation to Lin Feng as he walked.

Today, the imperial delegation has arrived in Zhenyuan City. Cao Kun, Minister of War of the Great Qian Dynasty, Yin Li, Minister of Rites, and their accompanying officials have all arrived.

"So fast?" Lin Feng raised an eyebrow. "Didn't you say the other day that it would take at least five more days to arrive?"

Lu Zheng smiled and said, "I was also surprised. I heard that it was Lord Cao who ordered the delegation to come day and night so that they could understand the situation in Zhenyuan City as soon as possible and make preparations in advance."

"The Northern Barbarian delegation is also on its way; we, the Great Qian, cannot afford to fall behind."

Minister of War, Minister of Rites...

Lin Feng clicked his tongue in amazement. With the addition of the three princes and Zhang Liao, the lineup for the peace negotiations in Zhenyuan City was truly impressive.

When Lin Feng and Lü Zheng arrived at the Zhenyuan City Palace, Li Ping'an was already waiting at the entrance.

Upon seeing the two arrive, he greeted them with a broad smile: "You two have finally arrived! Come in with me!"

Seeing his barely concealed joy, Lin Feng teased, "Brother Li, something good must have happened today, judging by your beaming face."

Li Ping'an smiled even more: "Of course it's a good thing, you'll see when you go in."

Inside the council chamber of the temporary palace, the three princes sat in the main seats.

King Li Yan of Qin was in the center, King Jin was on the left, and King Zhou was on the right.

Seated to the left and right on either side were Cao Kun, Minister of War; Yin Li, Minister of Rites; and a host of civil and military officials including Zhang Liao and Su Mo.

Before long, Lin Feng and his two companions entered the council hall side by side, bowing respectfully to everyone: "This humble general, Lin Feng, pays his respects to His Highnesses Prince Qin, Prince Jin, and Prince Zhou, and greets all esteemed officials!"

"This humble general, Li Ping'an (Lü Zheng), pays his respects to His Highnesses the Prince of Qin, the Prince of Jin, and the Prince of Zhou, and greets all my lords!"

King Li Yan of Qin smiled slightly and gestured, "The three of you need not stand on ceremony, please sit down!"

The relationship between Li Yan and Raymond Lam is quite delicate.

Although Zhang Liao mediated and persuaded him to forgive Lin Feng's past transgressions.

But Lin Feng's disobedience was ultimately a thorn in his side, deeply embedded in his heart.

His gaze swept over Lin Feng, and he felt somewhat uneasy.

The three men sat down as instructed, and then Cao Kun, the Minister of War, asked, "Your Highness, is this the hero who bravely beheaded Zheng Yan at Elephant Trunk Mountain?"

As he spoke, his gaze fell on Lin Feng, full of praise and high regard.

Li Yan nodded slightly and followed up, saying, "That's right! He is Lin Feng, the deputy general under General Zhang Liao, and now he is a great hero of Zhenyuan City."

Although the words were complimentary, the tone was flat and devoid of any emotion.

Seeing this, Zhang Liao laughed and smoothed things over, saying, "Your Highness is too kind! This lad is young and impetuous, and his temperament is somewhat unruly."

"If we're talking about heroes, the peace and tranquility of Zhenyuan City today is entirely thanks to Your Highness's leadership. Your Highness is the greatest hero of Zhenyuan City!"

"The people in the streets and alleys all praise and admire His Highness."

These words deepened the smile on King Li Yan's face. He waved his hand and said, "General Zhang, you flatter me. I was merely doing my duty as entrusted by my father."

"Minister Cao, Minister Yin, what do you think?"

Cao Kun and Yin Li exchanged a glance and instantly understood Li Yan's meaning.

Yin Li stood up and said loudly, "Your Highnesses, now that everyone has arrived, I will read out the imperial edict."

The highlight of today is the imperial court's bestowal of honors upon the civil and military officials of Zhenyuan City.

This is why Li Ping'an was all smiles just now.

Upon hearing this, Lin Feng sat up straighter.

His current official position is only the deputy general of Zhenyuan City, which is still a low-ranking military officer.

There was neither an official imperial decree nor any title or military merit.

Only by receiving a formal investiture from the imperial court can one be considered to have truly entered the inner sanctum.

The Prince of Jin smiled slightly and said, "Minister Yin, please!"

Yin Li raised his hand to signal, and a servant who was waiting nearby quickly stepped forward with a brocade box in his hand.

King Qin, Li Yan, kept his gaze fixed on the brocade box from beginning to end.

He fought bravely and relentlessly, slaying the northern barbarians, all for the sake of making a name for himself and being recognized by the emperor and his officials in the capital.

Now, the time for harvest has finally arrived!

Yin Li took out the imperial edict and took a deep breath.

The entire hall fell silent. From Prince Qin, Li Yan, down to his deputy generals like Lin Feng, everyone rose and knelt down.

Yin Li unfolded the imperial edict and proclaimed loudly: "By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: I have heard that the northern barbarians have invaded our borders, and the beacon fires have been lit. The isolated city of Zhenyuan is in grave danger, like a pile of eggs."

"You civil and military officials, with loyalty and courage, whether you fought to the death to defend the city, launched surprise attacks to defeat the enemy, or won decisive victories on the battlefield, you have ensured that not an inch of land south of Youzhou is lost, and that the common people can live in peace."

"This is truly a blessing for the nation, and also a result of the efforts of all of you."

"Today, a great reward is given to demonstrate loyalty and righteousness, and this is announced to the world so that all may know."

"Deputy General Lin Feng, as the commander of a detachment, you faced a formidable enemy without fear. When defending Zhenyuan, you led from the front, launching a surprise attack at cockcrow and striking straight into the enemy's heartland."

"In the Battle of Elephant Trunk Hill, he personally beheaded the renowned Northern general Zheng Yan, displaying his head at the gate, greatly enhancing the prestige of our Great Qian Dynasty. What a magnificent feat, his bravery surpassing all others in the army!"

"He is hereby awarded one hundred yi of gold, promoted to baron, and granted the hereditary title of sixth-rank Yunqiwei, in recognition of his merits."

The first reward from the imperial edict was given to Lin Feng, a rising star in the military.

Lin Feng raised his head and loudly accepted the decree: "This humble general, Lin Feng, thanks Your Majesty for your great favor!"

Gold is ultimately an external possession, but the title of baron and the hereditary position of sixth-rank Yunqiwei are real honors and guarantees.

With the title, he was completely detached from his status as an ordinary citizen.

From now on, anyone who wants to make things difficult for him or trip him up will have to think twice about the weight of his title.

The sixth-rank Yunqiwei was already an honor for a military officer, and the addition of the word "hereditary" meant that this honor could be passed down to future generations!

The emperor's reward was incredibly generous, more than enough to justify his life-and-death struggle for the Great Qian Dynasty.

Zhang Liao, Li Ping'an, Lü Zheng, and others were all genuinely happy for Lin Feng.

Only a few people, including Prince Qin Li Yan and Fang Hui, showed slightly unusual expressions.

Yin Li continued reading: "When the defending general Zhang Liao was isolated and on the verge of death, he stepped forward and single-handedly held the city in peril. He defended the city for more than a year with unwavering determination."

"Furthermore, in the Battle of Niujiaoyuan, he led his troops to aid the King of Qin, joined forces to attack the Northern Barbarian commander Boyan Mengke, and utterly defeated the enemy, turning the tide of the battle."

"Possessing both loyalty and bravery, they are truly pillars of the nation!"

"He is now promoted to the rank of Senior Light Cavalry Commandant of the Third Rank, granted the title of Marquis of Bravery and Resilience, and granted the privilege of sending one of his sons to the Imperial Academy, in recognition of his loyalty."