knife

Chapter 134 will show you what arrogance and domineering really mean.
Wei Yi looked at the troops standing guard a short distance away and hesitated.

Five hundred heavily armored cavalry and one thousand heavily armored infantrymen were the formation that Xiao Changche and Li Dachui brought out to welcome Wei Yi.

A thousand heavily armored infantrymen were divided into two square formations, one on the left and one on the right, forming a V-shape. In the inner part of the square, five hundred iron cavalrymen stood. Before the cavalry, Xiao Changche and Li Dachui reined in their horses. One was fully armored, the other dressed in plain clothes; one wore a demon mask, the other wore a smile, a smile like that of Maitreya Buddha.

Fifteen hundred people gathered, yet not a single sound could be heard; even the horses had their muzzles bound.

The men and horses looked like sculptures on the wilderness. If it weren't for the black Qin banners fluttering in the wind, Wei Yi would have seriously doubted whether these soldiers were even alive.

He turned to look at Ma Liang.

Ma Liang said in a low voice, "These are the three thousand iron cavalry that Xiao Changche relied on to rampage across the border. Now that they have been integrated into Li Dachui's Tianzi Camp, their strength has increased by more than one level."

"The Heavenly Battalion?"

"Li Dachui's Tianzi Battalion is no less famous than Xiao Changche's troops outside the Great Wall. Three years ago, no, it should be said that it was four years ago, Li Dachui and Xiao Changche cooperated in the battle, leading three hundred cavalrymen of the Tianzi Battalion to charge into the tens of thousands of troops of the Northern Yuan Wutu. They moved freely and eventually forced the Wutu to abandon tens of thousands of young men and countless supplies. After that battle, Li Dachui became famous outside the Great Wall!"

"Three hundred men against ten thousand cavalry?" Wei Yi found it hard to believe his ears.

"How is that possible?" A voice of doubt came from behind. Ma Liang turned around and saw Lu Tie, an officer of the Imperial Guard, looking at him with disdain. "This is no way to brag! Has anyone seen it with their own eyes?"

Ma Liang smiled: "No one saw it. But everyone knows the result afterwards. Astu, the Left Wise King of the Northern Yuan, was utterly defeated by Xiao Changche and barely escaped with his life. Astu's general, Wutu, didn't even have time to support him for a whole month. As for whether this army is strong or weak, isn't it right in front of us now? General Lu might as well verify it!"

"Everyone says that the troops outside the pass are arrogant and fierce, much stronger than our Imperial Guards. This time, we'll see for ourselves!" Lu Tie said.

Wei Yi glanced at Ma Liang, who was smiling strangely, and then turned to reprimand him: "General Lu, you are here to escort me to deliver the imperial decree. You must obey my orders in all actions and must not provoke or cause trouble. Otherwise, I will have someone transfer you to Xiao Changche's command and you will not need to return to Chang'an!"

Lu Tie's face turned ashen, and he nodded in agreement.

He could argue with Ma Liang, and even dare to contradict Ma Dacheng in Yangguan, but he really didn't dare to be presumptuous in front of Wei Yi, a mere scribe.

It wasn't because Wei Yi was an imperial envoy this time, but because Wei Yi truly managed to keep him in this dangerous place outside the Great Wall, where tigers and wolves roamed, to serve as an official.

Wouldn't that be terrible?

Ma Liang felt a pang of regret.

Lu Tie was incredibly arrogant the whole way. I wanted to provoke him into messing with Xiao Changche. Given Xiao Changche's temper, even if he didn't kill him, he would at least make him suffer.

Who is Xiao Changche?
Even General Wei and General Zuo are ruthless characters who dare to block the door and slap them in the face. You, Lu Tie, a mere guerrilla general, are nothing but a fart in front of him.

Unfortunately, Wei Yi saw through his thoughts and blocked that path in one fell swoop.

Wei Yi stopped his horse and did not move forward.

Looking at the general under the central banner in the distance.

Although I don't intend to put on airs, nor do I expect the other party to set up an incense table or kneel before an imperial edict, I can't just rush over to talk to them, can I?
In any case, I am here representing the imperial court.

"General Xiao!" Zhang Ruo approached and whispered a few words.

Xiao Changche grunted in agreement, dismounted, and glanced back at Li Dachui, who was still sitting on his horse, saying, "Get down, let's go greet the imperial envoy together!"

"Me too? Isn't that inappropriate?" Li Dachui said. "Scholar, why don't you come together?"

Zhang Ru shook his head: "My current status is that of a criminal exiled to the army. How could I be qualified to welcome the angel? Young Master Li can accompany the general. After all, this time, your name has reached the ears of the heavens, and you will surely be rewarded."

"Let's go, why so much nonsense?" Xiao Changche said impatiently. "I've received the decree, I'll go get to work myself, and you can handle the rest!"

"Fine!" Li Dachui had no choice but to accept Xiao Changche's decision to shirk his responsibilities.

Xiao Changche strode forward, while Li Dachui followed half a step behind, keeping pace with him.

"General Xiao Changche of the Beiting Protectorate greets the Imperial Envoy. Please forgive me for not being able to perform the full ceremony due to my armor!" Xiao Changche said hastily, bowing without even removing his mask.

"This humble commoner, Li Dachui, respectfully welcomes the angel!" Li Dachui crossed his hands to his eyebrows and gave a proper bow.

Of course, the etiquette Li Dachui performed was worlds apart from the proper etiquette of the Qin Dynasty.

Ordinary people like him should now prostrate themselves in reverence and kowtow three times and nine times.

Wei Yi stared blankly at Xiao Changche. He had heard Ma Liang say before that Xiao Changche had a feminine appearance and was much prettier than the average woman. He had originally wanted to see for himself, but now Xiao Changche was greeting him without even taking off her mask.

They are indeed very arrogant and domineering.

But after only a slight pause, Wei Yi dismounted and offered a hand to help him up, saying, "General Xiao is a pillar of the Qin Dynasty. I have long admired your name in Chang'an and have always wanted to meet you in person. So when I learned that I had the opportunity to come to the border, I shamelessly went through some back channels and got this job. General Xiao, I have long admired you!"

"I am no pillar of the state, but merely fulfilling my duty as a general of the Great Qin!" Xiao Changche's voice was indifferent, revealing no emotion whatsoever. "The envoy has come from afar with great difficulty."

"No trouble at all!" Wei Yi laughed loudly. "General Xiao, why don't we return to Bao Ping City first, and then announce the imperial decree?"

"No need for such trouble!" Xiao Changche stretched out his hand to him: "Give it to me now! I'm very busy, I have several military meetings to attend today! Everyone is waiting for me in the military camp. The situation outside the pass is tense, and we are on the verge of war. If we are not careful, it could lead to our downfall. I hope you will be considerate!"

Before Wei Yi could speak, Lu Tie behind him was already furious.

"How dare you be so disrespectful in front of the imperial envoy? Are all the soldiers outside the Great Wall so utterly lacking in manners and etiquette?"

Xiao Changche narrowed his eyes and looked at Lu Tie: "Who are you?"

Wei Yi frowned slightly, but surprisingly did not stop him.

"I am Lu Tie, the guerrilla general of the Left Battalion of the Imperial Guards!" Lu Tie shouted sternly, "Why don't you clear the way ahead, welcome the imperial envoy into the city, put on your ceremonial robes, set up an incense table, and respectfully welcome the imperial edict!"

Xiao Changche snorted coldly, and Wei Yi felt a blur before his eyes, and then he heard Lu Tie's angry roar.

Turning around in horror, he saw Xiao Changche, clad in heavy armor, standing in front of Lu Tie. Lu Tie had his hands crossed, supporting one of Xiao Changche's hands. However, Lu Tie's face was flushed red, and his legs were trembling and slowly bending downwards.

Lu Tie was an eighth-rank expert, a figure of considerable importance in Chang'an. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been the one to escort me. His actual skills were quite formidable, yet he was utterly powerless against Xiao Changche and was about to be forced to his knees by Xiao Changche.

The accompanying imperial guards erupted in commotion, and even Wei Yi's two attendants stepped forward.
But they only took one step, because Li Dachui had already appeared in front of them.

Although Li Dachui still had a smile on his face and his hands behind his back, he released the aura of a peak ninth-grade martial artist without any restraint. Ordinary people might not notice it, but any martial artist who had entered the Qi Control level would immediately feel the pressure as heavy as a mountain.

The higher one's martial arts cultivation level, the more pronounced this feeling becomes.

As the Imperial Guards stirred, the sound of drums rose from two heavy infantry formations in the distance. With a single drumbeat, all the spears were raised, and two forests of spears instantly formed. In the V-shaped formation, five hundred heavily armored cavalrymen slowly advanced.

The battle-hardened soldiers' killing intent instantly surged to its peak. Behind Wei Yi, over a thousand imperial guards paled in horror, and even the warhorses, assaulted by the killing intent, neighed and retreated step by step.

With a thud, Lu Tie was forcefully pressed to his knees by Xiao Changche.

"Xiao Cheqi, show mercy!" Wei Yi exclaimed. "This man is ignorant. I apologize on his behalf!"

Xiao Changche chuckled, then suddenly withdrew his hand, releasing all of Lu Tie's pressure. However, the force that Lu Tie was desperately resisting upwards could not be withdrawn, and it shot straight into the sky with a whoosh. But just as it took off, Xiao Changche grabbed its calf and pulled it back, slamming it to the ground and then slapping it twice across the face.

These two slaps, delivered without using any real energy, still left the opponent's face swollen high.

"Outside the Great Wall, might makes right!" Xiao Changche coldly uttered these words, then turned and walked up to Wei Yi: "Where is the imperial edict?"

Wei Yi took a deep breath and glanced at one of his men.

The man understood and took a package off his horse, took out a box from it, and then took out a scroll from the box, handing it to Wei Yi.

Wei Yi took the imperial edict and handed it directly to Xiao Changche.

Today he finally understands what arrogance and domineering really mean.

Xiao Changche unfolded the imperial edict, glanced at it from beginning to end, and then casually tossed it to Li Dachui, saying, "From this day forward, I am the Second-Rank General of the Cavalry of the Great Qin. Li Dachui, you are now the Deputy Protector-General of the Anxi Protectorate. As for the rest, such as establishing your own government and military headquarters, you, Scholar Zhang, and Mao Daxian can prepare for it. I'm leaving!"

So, to the astonishment of Wei Yi and the others, Xiao Changche turned around, mounted his horse, and rode away.

Five hundred heavily armored cavalry turned their horses around and followed Xiao Changche. Meanwhile, a thousand infantrymen, combining into one, trotted to catch up with the cavalry in pairs to the sound of long horns, and also set off.

The welcoming ceremony has now concluded!

Only Li Dachui, still smiling, and Zhang Ruo, looking extremely embarrassed, remained in the room.

(End of this chapter)