"That’s only natural, but with border conflicts happening frequently, I’m afraid the Grand Commander doesn’t have much free time right now."
Vice General Ding slowly said, "How about this, I’ll arrange for you to go to a place where there are quite a few elite students from the Heavenly Position Academy, maybe even some of your friends."
Ling Feng nodded, "That’s all that can be done."
"Then I’ll send someone..."
"Wait..." Ling Feng suddenly thought of the Ninth Prince Mo Feng, who had been assigned to supervise the Southern Military Region half a year ago, and asked, "What about the Ninth Prince? Where is he now?"
Vice General Ding’s eyes flickered visibly as he replied with an embarrassed smile, "The Ninth Prince is naturally at the Jing Royal Mansion."
"Wow, Brother Feng even has his own mansion now!"
Behind him, Jiang Xiaofan couldn’t help but get excited upon hearing this. A prince’s mansion must be more luxurious than Ling Feng’s General Mansion.
However, Ling Feng noticed something in Vice General Ding’s eyes and asked casually, "Is there also a mansion built here in the Tianmang Fortress?"
"Naturally, the Jing Royal Mansion is not in the fortress but in Iron Wolf City. The Prince, being of such high status, certainly can’t suffer here with the rough soldiers in the fortress. So, half a year ago, the Grand Commander personally ordered its construction, and then the Ninth Prince moved into the Jing Royal Mansion. It’s safe, and he doesn’t have to endure hardships in the fortress, don’t you think?"
Ling Feng narrowed his eyes slightly. Mo Feng was supposed to supervise the Southern Military Region, but he was directly sent to Iron Wolf City by the Grand Commander. How can he supervise the army like that?
Moreover, from what Ling Feng knew about Mo Feng, he wasn’t one to shy away from hardships. It seemed like they were building a mansion for the Ninth Prince, but in reality, it was the high-ranking officers in the Southern Military Region who didn’t want to delegate power to the Ninth Prince, so they isolated him instead.
Ling Feng raised his eyebrows, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.
It seemed that over the past half year, Mo Feng’s days had not been easy.
Vice General Ding glanced at Ling Feng and said in a deep voice, "General Ling, will you stay at the fortress, or will you go to Iron Wolf City to find the Ninth Prince? If you want to go to the Jing Royal Mansion, I can arrange for someone to take you there."
"No need, I’ll wait at the fortress for the Grand Commander’s response."
Ling Feng touched the bridge of his nose, speaking slowly.
"Alright, alright!" Vice General Ding beamed with smiles, turning to Lee Bufan and the others, and said respectfully, "Please state your names and backgrounds, so I can register them."
In a short while, Lee Bufan and the others had given their basic information. Upon learning that Lee Bufan was the son of the Grand Commandant, Vice General Ding was again taken aback.
Once the information registration was completed, Vice General Ding chuckled, "General Ling and Young Master Lee’s situations are unique, and you’ll have to wait for the Grand Commander to personally appoint you. As for Mr. Jiang, you can first go to the Vanguard Camp to serve as an Assistant General. What do you think?"
"Assistant General? I think I’d rather stay by my brother’s side." Jiang Xiaofan scratched the back of his head, laughed foolishly.
Vice General Ding swallowed. He had just assigned Jiang Xiaofan the rank of Assistant General, yet he did not want it!
To know that ordinary students from the Heavenly Position Academy start as Centurions when they join the military, and he had already upgraded Jiang Xiaofan to an Assistant General, two ranks above him.
Zhao Dabiao, standing nearby, was full of envy. Unlike him, who had been in the army for seven or eight years before becoming a mere Deputy Commander of a patrol camp, Jiang Xiaofan was offered an Assistant General rank the moment he arrived and still turned it down.
How can there be such a gap between people!
"Then let’s wait," Vice General Ding smiled, turning his gaze to Mu Qianxue and the two other women, "You ladies, we do have female officers in the Southern Army..."
"We don’t need assignments either."
Before Vice General Ding could finish, Lin Xian’er and the others interrupted him, thinking they’d rather stick with General Ling!
Vice General Ding smiled wryly, having served as Vice General for decades, this was the first time he encountered such an odd situation.
To come and join the army directly with the rank of General, this must be a first!
As they say, a higher official rank crushes lower ones; Ling Feng is a General, countless ranks above him, leaving him no voice in front of Ling Feng.
Vice General Ding cleared his throat and turned to Zhao Dabiao, saying, "Deputy Commander Zhao, please take General Ling and his group to the barracks assigned to the Heavenly Position Academy students."
Zhao Dabiao nodded and led Ling Feng and his group out of the barracks.
Before long, the group arrived at a relatively remote barrack where uncleared new recruits were housed. However, due to being candidate officers, the conditions here were rather good.
Even before entering the camp area, a crowd could be seen gathering outside, seemingly engaged in sparring.
This was a temporary lodging for graduates of the Four Great Universities, who generally formed bonds with fellow alumni, especially when arriving at a new military environment, prompting some friction now and then.
Such is the exuberance of youth!
"Pardon the sight, General Ling."
Zhao Dabiao glanced at Ling Feng, smiling awkwardly, "Recently, the Great Generals have been extremely busy, so many students haven’t been allotted to specific camps, resulting in this buildup. Sometimes, to claim a better barrack, they compete among themselves, a practice the superiors tacitly allow. After all, as soldiers, we need to show some bloodlust."
Saying this, Zhao Dabiao quickly added, "But rest assured, General Ling, your status exempts you from these trifling competitions."
"Why not?" Ling Feng shrugged, eyes moving towards a makeshift stage, his lips curving into a light smile.
At that moment, two men were locked in combat on the stage, one of whom Ling Feng recognized.
Surrounded by flames, wasn’t that Muu Liufeng from the Central Courtyard Sword Team, a genius swordsman!
Among the loudest voices below, the vice-captain of the Central Courtyard Sword Team, Luu Qingshan, and even Li Yunting, were there.
"So they all chose the Southern Army!"
Ling Feng touched his nose, laughing heartily, "Let’s go, take a look!"
"Great! Haha, my Silence Sword can’t wait any longer!"
Jiang Xiaofan had long been boiling with excitement, this fellow, at his core, was a combat enthusiast!
Lee Bufan was no less excited.
Mu Qianxue and the two other women exchanged a smile, knowing Ling Feng and the others couldn’t contain their excitement upon seeing old rivals like Li Yunting.
Zhao Dabiao quickly followed, now seeing Ling Feng as a benefactor in his life, determined to follow him closely, believing his future position wouldn’t just stay as a mere Deputy Commander!