I just reached the maximum level, and you want me to be a puppet emperor?

Chapter 619 I'll definitely handle things 'perfectly'! (Please subscribe and vote with monthly tickets)

Xu Zifeng, sitting upright on his horse, glanced ahead. When his gaze fell on the face of the figure who was wearing an ordinary captain's uniform but standing straight, his pupils suddenly contracted and his whole body stiffened!
Before his adjutant could even shout a reprimand, he suddenly pulled on the reins and almost rolled off the saddle, his movements so hurried that he was almost disheveled!
He was about to kneel in greeting, but in a flash, his keen political sense made him realize that His Majesty was traveling incognito!
He abruptly stopped himself from kneeling, quickly forcing an extremely unnatural smile that even carried a hint of fear and respect onto his face, and scurried over to Li Chen.

Amidst everyone's incredulous gazes, she bowed slightly and cautiously began to speak: "Excuse me, may I ask how I should address you?"

Li Chen remained calm and said indifferently, "My name is Cheng Li, and I am the captain here."

Xu Zifeng instantly understood; His Majesty was playing the role of a junior officer!

He was immediately filled with boundless admiration: Look! This is a true wise ruler! Other emperors' incognito visits were just sightseeing and going through the motions;
Our Emperor is truly going deep into the grassroots, experiencing life firsthand, and sharing weal and woe with the soldiers!

He immediately straightened up and said in an extremely respectful tone, even as if reporting a task, "So it's Commandant Cheng! This humble servant is Xu Zifeng. I have just finished dealing with a skirmish between some Daluo cavalry on the border and have come to Hantie Pass to resupply and rest."

He briefly recounted the battle to Li Chen.

As Li Chen listened, a barely perceptible glint flashed in his eyes. Suddenly, as if remembering something, he said, "Hmm, well done. Come see me after I get off work; I have something to discuss with you."

"Yes! This subordinate understands!" Xu Zifeng immediately bowed and replied, his attitude so humble that he didn't seem like a noble prince or a vanguard general, but rather like a lowly soldier under Li Chen.

He immediately turned and ordered his troops: "All troops, return to the barracks and settle in! Do not disturb the civilians!"

Even after Xu Zifeng led his army away, the entire Han Tie Guan military camp remained in a state of extreme shock and silence.

After a long pause, someone murmured to themselves, "Did I see that right? Was that Prince Xu just now?"

"He...he was actually so polite to Commandant Cheng? He even bowed?"

"That's more than just polite! That's downright respect!"

"Just who is this Commandant Cheng?! Even the Prince of Zhennan's heir and the vanguard general are..."

"The sky over the Sihan Iron Pass is about to change."

Feng Shuo stared wide-eyed at Li Chen's calm profile, feeling that his "Brother Cheng" image had become even more mysterious and imposing, and at the same time, even more terrifying.

He knew how arrogant and domineering Xu Zifeng was. To be honest, Xu Zifeng would definitely dare to hit Han Zhen too.

But there are very few people who would get Xu Zifeng to have this attitude.

Feng Shuo even felt that it was somewhat impolite of him to be standing while talking to Li Chen.

He was right; if he had known Li Chen's true identity, it would have been inappropriate for him to stand there.

After Li Chen left, one of Xu Zifeng's longtime lieutenants cautiously approached and whispered, "Boss, what's the background of that Commandant Cheng? What do you think of him?" He made a respectful gesture, the meaning of which was self-evident.

Xu Zifeng immediately glared at him, his eyes sharp as knives, and warned sternly in a low voice, "Shut up! Don't ask what you shouldn't ask, and don't inquire about what you shouldn't inquire about! Open your eyes wider, and watch your mouth. This is for your own good, understand?" The man trembled in fear at Xu Zifeng's gaze and tone, cold sweat instantly pouring down his back. He nodded frantically, "Understood! Understood! I was too talkative! I'll go arrange for the brothers to set up camp right away!"

After saying that, he ran away as if fleeing.

Xu Zifeng himself acted like an obedient soldier, obediently returning to his temporarily assigned barracks, changing out of his battle-worn armor, putting on a relatively ordinary officer's uniform, and then actually running to the vicinity of Li Chen's barracks, waiting respectfully like a gatekeeper for Li Chen to "get off work".

The way he waited so respectfully suggested that even if his own father, the Prince of Zhennan, were to come, he would probably receive no more treatment.

Li Chen suddenly became interested in border conflicts because he remembered his system mission, "Sharpening the Blade in the Northern Territory".

The mission required him to earn 10,000 military merits and gain the approval of three senior generals.

During this peaceful period, the greatest source of military merit naturally came from military operations against the Great Luo Dynasty.

We can't just sit here and wait for the border to break out on its own.

Li Chen knew that the original intention of this system mission was probably to let him, as a "prince," train at the border for several years, accumulate military merits and prestige, and cultivate his own power so that he could go back and compete with the Third Prince.

But the system version was clearly not updated; he was no longer a prince, but the emperor!
The third prince had long been subdued by him.

He just wants to finish the task quickly, collect the rewards, and leave.

As soon as Li Chen stepped out of the barracks after get off work, Xu Zifeng immediately came to greet him, adopting an extremely humble posture.

The two walked side by side, with Li Chen asking about the specific situation along the border.

Xu Zifeng reported in detail: "Commander Cheng, the border is generally stable at present, but the cavalry and small groups of troops from the Great Luo Dynasty frequently cross the border to harass, plunder the border people's supplies, and test our defenses."
"This time, I was ordered to wipe out one of the more rampant groups. I have driven them out and dealt them a heavy blow. They should not dare to show their faces again for a while."

His tone carried the air of reporting after completing a task, suggesting that the conflict had been handled "properly."

However, after listening, Li Chen frowned slightly, his tone carrying a hint of dissatisfaction: "Just expel and severely injure? That's too lenient a treatment."

"Huh?" Xu Zifeng was taken aback, not quite understanding.

Conventionally, such border skirmishes usually involve expulsions and warnings to prevent the situation from escalating into a full-scale war.

Li Chen glanced at him, his tone calm yet meaningful: "The fact that they dared to harass us means their provocation wasn't strong enough, and the price they paid wasn't heavy enough. Next time, we can be more aggressive and our reaction can be more 'excessive'."
For example, if they cross the border by one mile, you chase them for ten miles; if they injure one of my men, you wipe out their entire squad. You need to make a big scene, and do it cleanly, efficiently, and beautifully, so that no one can find any obvious fault, understand?

Upon hearing this, Xu Zifeng was first taken aback, then his mind suddenly "understood" as if by lightning! His Majesty's true intentions were not what they seemed!

This isn't about calming the situation; it's clearly about deliberately creating trouble and finding a pretext for war! And they want to claim the moral high ground! His Majesty must have already devised a far more profound strategic plan!
He immediately straightened his back, a knowing look on his face, and said firmly in a low voice, "This subordinate understands! Please rest assured, Commander Cheng! This subordinate knows what to do! I will definitely handle things 'beautifully'!"

(End of this chapter)