The playboy county magistrate

All the civil and military officials in the hall bowed and accepted the order, saying, "We obey!"

Zhou Lin felt a huge weight lifted from his heart and felt genuine admiration.

This young imperial envoy appeared gentle and refined, but in reality, he was ruthless and decisive.

He saw through the root of the chaos at a glance and acted with swift and decisive measures, more efficient than any previous border patrol minister.

Li Xuanzhi slightly raised his hand, and after the hall quieted down, he spoke again in a deep voice.

"I know the soldiers on the frontier are working hard, and the officials in charge of managing everything are also facing difficulties. Today, I am strictly enforcing military discipline and eliminating malpractices. This is not to criticize everyone, but to guard the nation's borders and protect the peace and stability of the thousands of people living on the frontier."

"As long as I remain on the frontier, I will never allow the northern bandits to provoke us and bully our border troops. Nor will I allow corrupt officials and parasites to wreak havoc on the people and damage the foundation of the nation!"

Just then, a scout rushed in from outside the hall, knelt on one knee, and spoke urgently.

"Report—My lord! A large force of cavalry from the northern deserts, numbering over a thousand, has assembled and arrayed themselves in battle formation across ten miles of desolate land beyond the pass. They are fully armored, with bows and swords drawn, and are approaching our pass's defensive line. Their intentions are unclear, but they seem poised to provoke us!"

The moment those words were spoken, the entire room was suddenly taken aback.

Previously, it was just scattered scouts spying and harassing the enemy. Now, a large number of regular cavalry are pressing in, clearly indicating that they have come to establish their authority upon hearing of the new official's arrival!

Zhou Lin's expression hardened, and he instantly gripped the hilt of his sword, his fighting spirit palpable.

"These bandits have gone too far! This humble general requests permission to immediately lead the troops out of the pass and form ranks to intimidate their cavalry!"

The generals below were all filled with fighting spirit and eagerly volunteered to go out and meet the enemy.

Li Xuanzhi sat upright in the main seat, his expression unchanged, and there was not a trace of panic in his eyes.

He slowly raised his eyes, gazing towards the direction beyond the pass where the wind and sand raged, a cold, sharp glint flashing across his lips.

Princess Ning'an couldn't wait any longer and wanted to confront him head-on at the border.

"No need to rush."

Li Xuanzhi slowly rose to his feet. "Send the order down: the entire army shall line up in front of the pass and be ready for battle. Today, I will go out of the pass with you and meet the Iron Cavalry of the Northern Desert."

No one expected that Li Xuanzhi, having just arrived at the border and just as the order to rectify the chaos was being implemented, would face a direct challenge from the iron cavalry of the northern desert.

Zhou Lin quickly stepped forward and offered his advice with clasped hands.

"My lord! A thousand cavalrymen are arrayed outside the pass in the northern desert. This journey is extremely dangerous and unpredictable. As a high-ranking official in charge of the border defense, you must not go to the front lines lightly! This humble general is willing to go out of the pass to repel the enemy in your stead, and will surely deter and drive back the bandits!"

The other soldiers echoed their sentiments and repeatedly tried to dissuade him.

They had never seen a high-ranking official come to oversee the border and have to personally risk his life. In the past, which of those people didn't hide in the safest place?

Moreover, in the eyes of many, it is a major taboo for military strategists to send civil officials into danger.

Li Xuanzhi possessed exceptional wisdom and was adept at managing the overall situation. Yet, no one had ever seen him personally lead troops into battle, directly confronting the iron cavalry. If anything went wrong on the battlefield, it would be a loss for the entire border region and even the entire Dayong Kingdom.

Li Xuanzhi lowered his eyes to adjust the talisman at his waist; the gilded talisman shone brightly in the sunlight.

This tally represents imperial authorization and the highest authority at the border.

His expression was calm, but his tone left no room for argument.

"Precisely because I am a high-ranking official in charge of border defense, it is all the more my duty to personally go to the front lines."

"The northern desert has mobilized troops to press on our borders not to conquer cities and seize territory, but to establish our prestige, test the bottom line of our Great Yong, and sow discord among our army and people."

"If I remain in the rear and choose to avoid the situation, it will be a sign of weakness. From now on, the northern deserts will become increasingly arrogant, and the border people will become increasingly fearful. The rectification orders I issue today will all become empty words."

What the other side wanted was not a bloody battle, but a show of force.

As long as the Dayong garrison shows the slightest sign of weakness, Princess Ning'an can seize the opportunity to solidify the rumors that the "newly appointed border governor is cowardly and incompetent."

Zhou Lin was taken aback upon hearing this, then suddenly realized that he admired the vision and perspective of this young high-ranking official even more, and immediately nodded emphatically.

"Understood, sir!"

"Zhou Lin, listen to my command." Li Xuanzhi raised his eyes, his voice sharp and clear, each word distinct and forceful.

"Immediately muster two thousand elite troops from Zhenxi Pass and have them follow me out of the pass to form ranks. Archers and crossbowmen in front, spearmen in the middle, and cavalry at the rear. Simply form ranks and do not provoke any conflict. If the enemy does not move, we will not move; if the enemy dares to cross even half a step beyond our boundaries, we will immediately counterattack!"

"Yes, sir!"

The military order was swiftly transmitted, and the entire city gate was instantly put into operation.

All the banners on the city wall were unfurled, and the soldiers guarding the city quickly returned to their positions.

The archers stood in formation at the crenellations, arrows nocked, ready for battle.

Below the city gate, two thousand elite border troops quickly assembled.

Their armor gleamed, their steps were perfectly synchronized, and their chilling aura soared to the heavens.

Li Xuanzhi, still in his official robes, wore a black windproof cloak over them. His posture was as upright as a pine tree, standing at the very front of the formation.

Without armor to protect him, and without a sharp weapon in his hand, he relied on his calm and composed aura to bolster the morale of the entire army.

Tang Zheng personally led his bodyguards, following closely behind, their eyes sharp. They were on high alert, protecting Li Xuanzhi at all times.

"Open the city gates!"

Boom—

The heavy Zhenxiguan Gate slowly opened inward, dust flew up, and a long wind rushed in.

Li Xuanzhi lifted his foot and stepped out of the city gate, facing the vast yellow sand beyond the gate.

Two thousand elite troops followed closely behind, forming orderly ranks, facing the cavalry from the northern desert beyond the Great Wall.

More than a thousand iron cavalrymen from the northern desert stood in neat formation, with scimitars hanging at their waists and longbows on their backs.

The cavalry formation was tight and fierce, exuding the killing intent of years of warfare, wild and sharp.

Leading the charge was a general from the northern desert, with a burly build, a rugged, dark face, and arrogant, haughty eyes.

Looking at the Dayong army arrayed outside the pass, his eyes were filled with contempt and provocation.

This man was none other than Batu, the vanguard general of the northern desert, who was ordered to lead his cavalry to press on the border, specifically to test the capabilities of the newly appointed border governor and disrupt the border defenses of the Dayong.

Batu immediately spotted Li Xuanzhi, who stood unarmored and unarmored at the front of the battle, his figure handsome and refined. Upon recognizing him as a civil official, he burst into a sneer. His rough, hoarse voice echoed across the desolate plains.

"I heard that the Great Yong Dynasty has recently appointed a young imperial envoy to guard the border, but it turns out he's just a weak scholar who can't even kill a chicken!"

"Our thousand cavalry from the northern deserts are arrayed here, and you actually send a mere civil official to confront us? It seems the Great Yong court truly has no one left to rely on!"

Arrogant and sarcastic, unrestrained, and utterly contemptuous and humiliating.

The group of Northern Desert Knights behind him burst into laughter, their arrogance growing ever stronger.

Many people raised their hands and struck the scabbards, producing a series of crisp sounds, clearly demonstrating their defiance.

Upon hearing this, the soldiers of the Dayong army turned pale and clenched their fists.

Li Xuanzhi's expression remained unchanged, his eyes showing no anger, only a cold and composed demeanor.

He stood quietly at the front of the formation, his gaze sweeping straight over the thousand cavalrymen opposite him, neither afraid nor avoiding them.

After the other person's laughter subsided, he slowly spoke, his voice clear and resonant, piercing through the howling sandstorm.

"The Iron Cavalry of the Northern Desert has always been known for their fierceness and bravery. Originally soldiers who were supposed to defend the land and protect the people, they have now degenerated into bandits who provoke trouble, cross borders, and harass the frontier."

"You have stationed troops on the edge of my Great Yong territory, disregarding diplomatic relations between our two countries and the stability of our borders. Do you know that this constitutes a serious crime of crossing the border and provoking trouble?"

Batu raised an eyebrow dismissively upon hearing this, spurred his horse forward a few steps, looked down at Li Xuanzhi from his elevated position, and arrogantly said: