Great Wilderness Demon Lord

Upon reaching the outskirts of the city, everyone stopped in their tracks, slightly bent their forelegs, straightened their upper bodies, and bowed respectfully to Xiao Yunlan, placing their hands on their chests in a gesture of reverence and solemnity.

Helian Jinzhang strode towards Xiao Yunlan. He was tall and imposing, half a head taller than Xiao Yunlan, but his face was full of humility. He said respectfully, "General Xiao, I am late. I hope you will not be offended."

Xiao Yunlan nodded slightly, clasped his hands in return, and said in a calm yet dignified tone: "Your presence in the Golden Tent is a great honor to Wangbei Fort. Please come into the city quickly."

Helian Jinzhang laughed heartily, his voice cheerful, and then waved to his men to present the gifts: ten jars of mellow mare's milk wine, twenty dried and firm mutton legs, and several exquisitely patterned and thick grassland blankets, all local specialties of the grasslands.

Xiao Yunlan nodded in agreement, instructing Xiao Duo to make proper arrangements for the horsemen to enter the city, while the horsemen's horses would remain outside the city, under the care of designated personnel to ensure their safety.

As noon approached and the sun gradually rose to its zenith, a sizable convoy suddenly appeared from the direction of Zhenhuang Pass, its imposing presence visible from afar.

Standing at the city gate, Xiao Yunlan saw a procession stretching for miles, amidst the billowing dust. It included merchant wagons loaded with goods, cavalrymen in bright armor and full of vigor, and several simply decorated light carriages. The procession was magnificent and impressive.

At the very front of the procession was the Xiao Family Chamber of Commerce's convoy, personally overseen by Liu Heyang. Behind them were five large carts fully loaded with goods, including silk, tea, exquisite porcelain, and several jars of fine wine specially transported from the capital, all prepared for the celebration.

Following the convoy was the Northern Expeditionary Army, their banners fluttering brightly in the wind. Han Chong, dressed in casual clothes, rode a tall horse with a cheerful expression. Behind him were twenty elite cavalrymen, each with a sword at their waist, standing tall and exuding an imposing aura.

Following the cavalry were several more carriages, one of which, a small carriage with a blue canopy, was particularly plain, and the guards beside it were more respectful than those of the other carriages, clearly indicating that it was the Princess's entourage.

Xiao Yunlan quickly stepped forward to greet him.

The three groups of people stopped almost simultaneously. Liu Heyang, Han Zhong, and Aunt Chen, who slowly stepped down from the green-curtained carriage, walked forward together to greet Xiao Yunlan.

Liu Heyang bowed slightly, his expression respectful and his tone sincere: "Second Young Master, I have come on behalf of the Xiao Family Chamber of Commerce to offer my congratulations to Wangbei Fort."

Han Chong dismounted and strode forward, patting Xiao Yunlan's shoulder with a smile. His tone was casual and friendly: "You're holding a celebration, and I just happened to have some free time, so I came to join in the fun. What, you're not welcoming me? By the way, this is Aunt Chen, the Princess's personal maid. His Highness is too busy with military affairs to come, so he specially sent her to deliver the congratulatory gift."

Aunt Chen curtsied gracefully, her demeanor gentle and proper, her tone respectful: "General, His Highness is too busy with military affairs to come in person, so he specially sent me with congratulatory gifts to offer my congratulations and wish the North Fortress celebration a success."

Xiao Yunlan returned the greetings with a bow, speaking in a calm tone: "Manager Liu has had a long journey, Vice Commander Han is very kind, and Aunt Chen has come from afar. Please come into the city to rest and make some adjustments."

Liu Heyang smiled and waved his hand: "I'm not tired, young master, please attend to your business first, don't worry about me."

Han Zhong waved his hand casually, "When in Rome, do as the host says. Just make the arrangements. We're fine with whatever you say."

Aunt Chen simply smiled gently, said nothing, and stood quietly to the side, displaying her dignified demeanor.

The accompanying guards immediately began unloading the gifts, with clear division of labor and orderly process.

The five truckloads of goods from the Xiao Family Chamber of Commerce were counted by a designated person and then directly sent to the warehouse for proper storage.

Han Zhong brought a set of exquisite armor and a copper-inlaid horizontal sword, which Xiao Duo carefully registered and put away.

The two red lacquered boxes brought by Aunt Chen were also carefully carried down—one box contained exquisitely crafted writing implements, and the other box contained a newly made map with detailed drawings; both were extremely practical congratulatory gifts.

In addition, there was a fine bow sent by Captain Lu Zheng, a box of precious medicinal herbs sent by Captain Yan, and congratulatory gifts from several captains and military advisors, all of which were also presented and recorded in the accounts.

The city gate was bustling with activity, filled with the sounds of people and objects clattering together. Xiao Yu gripped his pen and wrote rapidly in the register, his pen never stopping. He couldn't help but sigh inwardly: In just a few short months, Wangbei Fort has already achieved such a grand atmosphere and attracted so many guests. It's truly remarkable.

Xiao Yunlan personally led the way, accompanying Han Zhong, Liu Heyang, Aunt Chen and others into the city, heading towards Tuoxintang.

Behind them, soldiers carried boxes of gifts into the fort in an orderly fashion, attracting soldiers and civilians along the way to stop and watch, their faces full of pride and joy.

After noon, all the guests took their seats, and the celebration officially began.

At noon, the sun was at its zenith, and the sunlight shone on the square in front of Tuoxin Hall, warm and cozy, yet not scorching.

In the square in front of Tuoxin Hall, all the guests were already seated in an orderly manner.

The central seat naturally belonged to Xiao Yunlan, with Han Zhong, Liu Heyang, Aunt Chen, and other distinguished guests from Zhenhuang Pass seated on either side.

Further out, there were the leaders of various tribes, including Helian Jinzhang, the old chief of the Gray Horned Deer clan, and the leader of the Stone Root tribe, who were talking quietly among themselves in a harmonious atmosphere.

Outside the square, a large number of soldiers, laborers, and even some curious jackals had gathered to watch the spectacle. The crowd was bustling and noisy, creating a lively scene.

Xiao Yunlan slowly rose, picked up the wine bowl on the table, and glanced at all the guests present. His tone was solemn yet calm: "Today, Wangbei Fort is hosting this banquet to celebrate the successful harvest of the summer grain, which has been a reward for everyone's hard work; and to thank our tribal friends for their continued support and assistance. The food on the table is nothing more than simple wine and vegetarian dishes, which are not much of a token of our appreciation. Please enjoy yourselves and drink to your hearts' content."

Everyone stood up, picked up their wine bowls, and responded in unison. They then drank the wine in one gulp, the warmth of the wine reaching their hearts.

After several rounds of drinks and dishes, the guests' conversations gradually became more lively, and the atmosphere in the square became increasingly festive.

Xiao Yunlan looked up at Zhao Meng standing to the side, nodded slightly, and signaled for the martial arts demonstration to begin.

Zhao Meng understood, strode to the center of the square, stood still, and then shouted loudly, "The martial arts demonstration begins!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a group of soldiers marched into the field in neat steps, their footsteps steady and powerful, making the ground creak slightly.

These fifty men were all veterans and elite recruits carefully selected from the soldiers in the fortress. They were dressed in full armor, and the swords and spears in their hands were polished to a gleaming shine, gleaming coldly in the sunlight.

They quickly formed a neat square formation in the center of the square, and began practicing basic battle formations as a drummer struck a beat.

The soldiers marched in unison, their movements perfectly synchronized, without the slightest error.

Turning, advancing, retreating, changing formations—every movement was crisp, clean, and powerful, showcasing the competence and dignity of soldiers.

Under the sunlight, the blades and spears gleamed coldly, dazzling the eye. The orderly footsteps, deep and resonant like muffled thunder, struck the hearts of everyone present, leaving a profound impact.