Frontier Army Warrior

Chapter 861 Three Roads

Lin Feng believed that as long as Lin Qiaomei did not make any major mistakes, with the combat effectiveness and military equipment of the Zhenxi Army, those pirates with lax behavior should not be their match.

Hearing that Han Qi was coming, Lin Feng stood up and went to the door of the military tent to greet him.

Don't treat him as the prime minister of the current dynasty, just an elder.

The two men bowed and sat down in the military tent.

Pei Qiyin served tea and stood quietly aside.

Han Qi looked at Lin Feng twice and nodded in praise.

"Duke Jingguo's methods are very advanced. Whether it is the imperial court or Zhao Zheng's rebels, they are all under your control. Such wisdom is not something that humans possess."

Lin Feng laughed and said, "Prime Minister, are you praising me or scolding me?"

“Of course, I admire it sincerely.”

Lin Feng waved his hand: "It's not that mysterious. It was the imperial court of the Great Sect that excluded me and used all means to kill me. Lin Feng was just defending himself."

Han Qi was unable to explain the twists and turns, but he knew that someone in the court was secretly plotting something.

Including himself, he had also planned to find something to hold against Lin Feng.

"Duke Jingguo, what do you think of the current situation?"

Han Qi changed the subject.

Lin Feng pondered for a moment and said, "Prime Minister, the Dazong Dynasty is over. It should be replaced by the Dazheng Dynasty. The current emperor of the Dazheng Dynasty is Zhao Zheng. A notice has been issued, declaring Zhao Zhen a traitor to the Dazheng Dynasty. The people of the world should rise up and arrest him."

Lin Feng glanced at Han Qi.

“And the rewards are very generous.”

Han Qi coughed twice awkwardly.

“Ahem, uh… Duke Jingguo, after all, is the Duke Jingguo of the Dazong court, how can he speak like that.”

"Is there such a thing? Lin Feng is already a commoner, how can he enjoy the benefits of a noble title?"

"The Dazong court has replaced you as the commander of the Imperial Guard, but your title of Duke has not been revoked."

"How much salary does the court owe me? Can you still pay it?"

Han Qi smiled bitterly and shook his head: "The salary of this old man, the Prime Minister, has been in arrears for many years."

Lin Feng clapped his hands: "So, these false names no longer exist in name, and have actually disappeared. It is better not to mention them."

Han Qi nodded in agreement, then turned and stared into Lin Feng's eyes.

"Lin Feng, Zhao Zheng will not allow you to occupy the eight prefectures of Zhenxi. Once he stabilizes the situation, he will definitely attack you."

Lin Feng shook his head: "It's all the Zhao family's world. Who knows, Zhao Zheng might even confer me a title of Duke or something, and not delay my salary."

"Are you just going to recognize a traitor as your leader?"

"Who is the traitor is determined by the victor. As the old saying goes, the victor is the king and the loser is the bandit. The Prime Minister should understand this principle."

Han Qi lowered his head and thought for a moment, and when he looked up again, his face was serious.

"Lin Feng, given my many years of experience as prime minister, do you acknowledge my ability to govern the country?"

"You have been Prime Minister for many years, so you must have some brilliant methods. However, when it comes to governing the country, you and I have different ideas and cannot work together."

"I can help you become the master of a great sect."

Han Qi's eyes were burning and his tone was sincere.

Lin Feng smiled and said, "I am not interested in being the emperor."

"But if you want to implement your way of governing the world, you must hold the power of the world."

Lin Feng looked at Han Qi with a warm expression.

"Do you think I can be the emperor?"

Han Qi nodded firmly: "I have never seen anyone more capable than you."

"Including the Zhao brothers?"

"I'm talking about everyone in the entire Dazong world."

"You're praising me too highly. Aren't you afraid that I'll fall to my death?"

"Perhaps I have underestimated you."

Lin Feng sighed: "Prime Minister, your behavior will chill the emperor's heart. After assisting him for many years, if you change your mind in one day, who would dare to use you?"

"A wise bird chooses the right tree to roost in, a wise minister chooses the right master to serve. I don't think there is anything wrong with that."

Lin Feng waved his hand: "Let's not talk about this. You just stay safely in Jingxi City and pay enough rent. I can guarantee your safety."

Han Qi lowered his head in disappointment, his gray hair and beard making him look very old.

Lin Feng wanted to collect rent, but those court ministers had no problem because they all had money.

But Zhao Zhen was embarrassed because he really had no money.

Zhao Gui was so sad that he wanted to vomit blood.

Without the support of Jingxi Prefecture, his 18,000-strong personal guard battalion could not survive a single day.

As the commander of the Royal Guard Battalion, he couldn't even come up with half a tael of military supplies. With nearly 20,000 troops, who would listen to his command?

Forced into a corner, Zhao Gui pulled Zhao Shuo and came to Lin Feng's camp.

When he saw Lin Feng, Zhao Gui bowed deeply.

"Duke Jingguo, please give us a way out. The 18,000-man Imperial Guards will collapse in two days if they don't have overnight rations."

Lin Feng sat still, looking at the two of them indifferently.

"If you ask me, keeping these soldiers is a waste of money. It's better to let them disperse. They can farm and do handicrafts, and they can support themselves and their families. What do you think?"

Zhao Gui's eyes widened. "But... the emperor only has this team. Without the personal guard battalion, how can he be protected?"

Lin Feng smiled: "The emperor has paid enough rent, and the Zhenxi Army will naturally protect its safety. You can rest assured."

Zhao Gui murmured: "Without the army, how can the emperor..."

Lin Feng interrupted him: "The emperor has no money, how can he continue to support himself?"

Zhao Gui suddenly fell to his knees with a thud, his voice choked with sobs.

"Duke, please lend a hand to our Zhao family. We have wronged you in the past, but from now on, the Emperor will definitely grant whatever you desire..."

Zhao Shuo also knelt down with him, but kept his head down and remained silent.

Lin Feng sighed, "Oh, if I had known this would happen, I wouldn't have done it in the first place."

"It's all because of those old guys who don't want to give up the power in their hands and are blinded by greed."

Zhao Gui cried like a wronged woman.

Lin Feng held up two fingers and said, "I'll give you two ways out, but do you want to hear them?"

Zhao Gui immediately stopped crying, raised his head, and looked at Lin Feng with tearful eyes.

"My Lord, please speak."

"The first way is to take your 18,000-man personal guard battalion, cross Jinjiang, go to Jinggao Prefecture, and seek refuge with Zhao Xun."

Zhao Gui rolled his eyes.

"What about the second way?"

"Eighteen thousand people will be accepted for reorganization. After assessment, those who pass the test can be assigned to the Zhenxi Army Engineering Battalion to do some work within their capabilities and support themselves."

Zhao Gui looked at Zhao Shuo and saw that he had no expression on his face, so he could only nod.

"Duke, would you allow me to speak to the Emperor and then give you a reply?"

Lin Feng waved his hand: "Hurry up and go, if you are any later, there will be no food to eat."

Zhao Gui got up, pulled Zhao Shuo and ran away.

In Kyoto, although Zhao Zheng sat on the throne he had longed for, he was not in a hurry to hold a coronation ceremony.

He wanted to capture Zhao Zhen and have everyone in the Zhao family come to watch him ascend the throne as emperor.

Such an ascension to the throne is meaningful and is also a release for his years of accumulated resentment.

From then on, there was no more knot in my heart.

At this time, Zhao Zheng was sitting in the Chengde Hall of the imperial palace, and his four trusted ministers were standing in front of the desk.