As Xiao Yunlong's army returned to the Northern Border Great Camp, the powerful figures from the five great banners within the territory rushed to offer their congratulations with lavish gifts.
This was, of course, a demonstration of their attitude, an acknowledgment and even submission to the return of King Bei Xiao and his resumption of control over the Northern Border.
Although over the past year, some wealthy and influential families among the five great banners had wavered in their loyalty, even attempting to curry favor with the Imperial Capital, Xiao Yunlong chose to overlook their transgressions as long as they hadn't truly betrayed him. This decision brought a collective sigh of relief to many.
However, Xiao Yunlong issued a command in the presence of these Northern Border dignitaries: immediately reorganize all military affairs within the territory, consolidating all military power under the Great Camp's control. Any who disobeyed would face direct military justice!
Upon the order, General Qinglong and General Xuanwu each led twenty thousand elite troops to the various banners.
In reality, everyone present understood that this order was primarily directed at the Zhenghuang Banner and the Yongzheng Banner.
Among the five great banners of the Northern Border, Chen Beiding of the Beiding Banner had already voluntarily relinquished all military authority. It was precisely for this reason that Banner Lord Chen Beiding was able to retain his position.
As for Yang Guangxuan of the Heixuan Banner, he had been executed for disobeying orders, and the military power of the Heixuan Banner was entirely reassumed by Xiao Yunlong.
Furthermore, the Zhenglan Banner, which had previously pledged allegiance to Zhang Qingyun, now naturally saw its authority returned to King Bei Xiao following Zhang Qingyun's submission.
As for the Zhenghuang Banner, although Chu Tiange had been appointed acting banner lord by Xiao Yunlong, he currently commanded only fifty thousand troops, with the remaining over a hundred thousand soldiers still being held by several powerful generals.
At the time, due to the pressing front-line battles, Xiao Yunlong had not had the opportunity to deal with these powerful generals. Now that the war had subsided, he could no longer tolerate such a situation.
The last banner, Yongzheng, was a thorn in Xiao Yunlong's side. Everyone in the Northern Border Great Camp now knew that the reason King Bei Xiao had been ambushed in the capital a year ago was entirely due to the betrayal of Banner Lord Lan Yongzheng and his son.
Currently, Lan Yongzheng had fled to the Imperial Capital with his elite guards and, by betraying King Bei Xiao, had successfully entered the Tian Ce Mansion. His son, Lan Mingyu, had previously served as Xiao Yunlong's adjutant and was Xiao Yunlong's most trusted confidant. It was unexpected that he would ultimately be stabbed in the back by the brother he trusted most.
Although Xiao Yunlong remained silent on the matter, everyone in the Great Camp understood that the more he remained silent, the greater his anger.
At this moment, Xiao Yunlong sat on the throne in the main hall, looking at the Northern Border dignitaries below who dared not even breathe heavily. The atmosphere was somewhat heavy and oppressive. He smiled slightly and said, "Esteemed lords, I have decided to hold a grand celebration banquet in three days. If you do not find it beneath you, please stay and celebrate with me!"
"Thank you, Your Highness King Bei. It is our honor to be able to attend the celebration banquet!" the many Northern Border dignitaries said, cupping their hands in salute.
Xiao Yunlong nodded slightly. After admonishing and then appeasing these powerful families and dignitaries of the Northern Border, he immediately rose and returned to the rear courtyard, subsequently announcing a three-day seclusion for cultivation.
The reason for his seclusion was that upon breaching Aslianze City and entering the City Lord's mansion, Xiao Yunlong had obtained a five-hundred-year-old ginseng from the treasury.
In fact, after entering Aslianze City, although Xiao Yunlong had ordered his soldiers not to harm the city's inhabitants, he had not spared the city's treasuries, including the largest bank. Of course, he was not so foolishly benevolent as to do so.
Within a mere half-day, Xiao Yunlong had ordered a secret unit to loot and empty these treasuries, transporting the treasures out of the city overnight to the Northern Border.
It was precisely because of this that Xiao Yunlong discovered this five-hundred-year-old ginseng. However, to his slight regret, despite the vast amount of rare treasures stored in the treasury, apart from this ginseng, no other jade treasures containing spiritual energy were found.
Of course, such things were a matter of chance, and Xiao Yunlong did not deliberately force them.
The five-hundred-year-old ginseng did not contain much spiritual energy, nor was it very pure. However, on the principle of "every little bit helps," Xiao Yunlong did not wish to waste it.
Upon entering the secret chamber, Xiao Yunlong quickly entered a meditative state and began to cultivate the Art of the Three Thousand Divine Kingdoms.
Xiao Yunlong was well aware that his successful return and resumption of control over the Northern Border were largely due to this Art of the Three Thousand Divine Kingdoms.
In fact, this mysterious and powerful technique had become Xiao Yunlong's foundation, so he chose to cultivate it whenever he had the opportunity or time.
Time quietly slipped away. Two days quickly passed. It was in the early morning of this day that urgent military intelligence arrived from Tianzang Mountain.
As Xiao Yunlong had predicted, the eighty thousand vanguard troops of the Snow Wolf Kingdom were advancing south, likely intending to take advantage of the Northern Border army's post-war fatigue for a surprise attack, thereby rescuing the prisoners such as Bruzag Brownie, who were held captive in Jiacheng Pass.
On that night, the vanguard troops of the Snow Wolf Kingdom were rushing to pass through Tianzang Mountain to launch a surprise attack on Jiacheng Pass!
However, they were caught off guard by Zhang Qingyun's one hundred and eighty thousand troops, who had long been ambushed deep within the heart of Tianzang Mountain.
The eighty thousand vanguard troops of the Snow Wolf Kingdom were ultimately completely encircled by Zhang Qingyun and annihilated, with even their vanguard general being captured and brought back to Jiacheng Pass.
News of this battle once again caused a stir throughout the Northern Border Great Camp, and many were even more impressed by King Bei Xiao's strategic and military talents.
Of course, this ambush also served to further deter the three northern desert kingdoms, led by the Snow Wolf Kingdom. Although the three northern desert kingdoms subsequently mobilized an additional four hundred thousand troops to advance south, they were so intimidated by Xiao Yunlong that they dared not make any further rash moves.
Xiao Yunlong, the absolute protagonist of this campaign, was unaware of this, as he was still in seclusion, cultivating in the secret chamber.
It was not until the third day, when the ginseng in Xiao Yunlong's hand had completely withered, that he ended his cultivation and slowly opened his eyes.
Although the ginseng did not contain much spiritual energy, this period of cultivation had allowed him to open up eight more Divine Kingdoms within his body, increasing from one hundred and forty to one hundred and forty-eight, and his combat power had been further enhanced and strengthened.
On this morning, Xiao Yunlong finally emerged from his seclusion, and Zhang Qingyun happened to be returning with his troops in triumph.
That afternoon, under Xiao Yunlong's orders, the Northern Border Great Camp held a celebration banquet for the entire camp!
However, just as the celebration banquet began, three envoys representing the three northern desert kingdoms suddenly arrived, appearing to be there for negotiations.
After a series of symbolic pleasantries, the Snow Wolf Kingdom's representative, as the chief envoy, said with a stern face, "King Bei Xiao, our Great Marshal of the Snow Wolf Kingdom states that your act of arbitrarily detaining our soldiers this time is shameless and despicable. He demands that you release them immediately and unconditionally!"
"That's right, our Stan Kingdom and Umong Kingdom have the same demand. You must release our people immediately!" the other two envoys said indignantly.
"Unconditionally release?"
Xiao Yunlong smiled and said coldly, "Although we have an old saying in Long Country that says envoys are not to be killed in war, for you defeated nations to dare speak to me in such a manner is truly audacious and arrogant!"
"Seize them, beat them with shoes, and smash their teeth before speaking!"
With an order, several guards immediately stepped forward, seized the three men, and began to beat them furiously with shoes.
Soon, the three envoys were beaten until their teeth fell out one by one and spat out, their mouths filled with blood, before they were stopped.
Xiao Yunlong slowly walked over, looked down at them, and asked, "I ask you now, do you still dare to speak of demanding unconditional release?"
The three envoys were completely beaten into submission and no longer dared to speak. They could only shake their heads repeatedly.