Way of Overlord
Chapter 145: The Substitute

Chapter 145: The Substitute

Qiao Meng, the current ruler of Nurshira in the absence of the Ji family, resided in a palace that exuded the wealth and opulence of his city.

His residence is adorned with intricate wooden carvings and beautiful paintings that told stories of ancient legends.

Most of them are stories of the Ji family and every once in a while, there is painting about Gaozu slaying the white snake.

The main hall, where he currently reclined with his head resting on the lap of a beautiful slave, featured grand wooden pillars and beams.

Silk curtains with rich patterns, woven by skilled artisans, adorned the windows, allowing filtered sunlight to gently illuminate the room.

The floors is covered with woven rush mats, softening the steps of those who moved about.

Servants attended to Qiao Meng’s needs. They poured tea into finely crafted porcelain cups and placed platters of fruits and snacks before him.

Despite his scholarly attire, Qiao Meng’s appearance did not match the virtuous image of a sage.

His potbelly is visible through his robes, and his meticulously groomed beard framed a face marked by cunning and greed.

His hair, neatly combed and adorned with a jade pin, hinted at his wealth and status.

Qiao Meng could be considered a corrupt scholar, only in his position because of his family connection

This corrupt scholar revelled in the lap of luxury, using his power and wealth to exploit those under his rule.

His residence is a symbol of his decadence, a stark reminder of the injustice that thrived under his rule in the Yan Dynasty.

Qiao Meng, immersed in his indulgence, was abruptly jolted from his reverie as an attendant burst into the room without regard for decorum.

Qiao Meng, his eyes wide with shock, quickly pulled his head from the beautiful lady’s lap and sat up.

His voice trembled with anger and surprise.

"Bold!" he shouted, his face reddening with irritation.

"What is the meaning of this intrusion?"

The attendant, his face white with fear, fell to his knees before the ruler.

"My lord! Danger!" he stammered, struggling to regain his composure.

Qiao Meng’s annoyance turned to alarm.

"What do you mean?" he demanded, his voice quivering.

He had been living a life of hedonism, shielded from the outside world.

The news had to be dire for an attendant to break into his chamber so abruptly.

"The Great Steppe is coming down south!"

The attendant’s voice was almost a shout, and the words hung heavy in the opulent chamber.

For a brief, heart-stopping moment, there was a suffocating silence.

Qiao Meng’s face, once flushed with anger and shock, drained of colour, and his body seemed to weaken.

He nearly fainted right there on the luxurious cushions, but sheer terror kept him upright.

With a visible effort, he shook his head as if trying to dispel a nightmare. His voice trembled as he issued orders, "Sound the horn!"

The tension in the room tightened further as the attendants rushed to comply, the shrill blast of the alarm horn echoing through the once-peaceful residence.

Panic is now a palpable presence, and the ruler of Nurshira realized that his days of carefree living is at an abrupt end.

The Great Steppe after decades of not coming down south, is coming down again!

....

As the news of the Great Steppe warriors descending upon Nurshira spread like wildfire, a palpable wave of shock and terror swept through the city’s residents.

The atmosphere that had once been filled with the everyday hum of city life now became charged with fear and uncertainty.

In the bustling marketplaces, people dropped their wares and coin purses, their faces draining of colour as they heard the grim tidings.

Street vendors abandoned their stalls, and shoppers fled in all directions, desperately seeking shelter or some form of protection.

In the city’s residential areas, doors were barricaded, and families huddled together, whispering prayers for safety.

The elderly clung to their grandchildren, while mothers held their babies close, trying to shield them from the impending danger.

City guards were dispatched to the city walls, their armor clattering loudly as they hurried to prepare for the impending attack.

The shouts of commanders echoed through the streets as they tried to organize a hasty defense.

The common people of Nurshira, who had enjoyed the peace of their city for so long, were now confronted with an unimaginable threat.

Their world is now turned upside down, and panic reigned in the streets as they braced for the arrival of the Great Steppe barbarians.

the people of Nurshira had become complacent in their decades of peace, but they are now harshly reminded of a fundamental truth: a tiger is always a tiger, and its nature cannot be changed.

They think that they have tamed the tiger and turn it into a house cat.

The Great Steppe, like a sleeping tiger, had now awoken, and it was coming for them with all its ferocity.

Peace had lulled them into a false sense of security, and they had forgotten the volatile nature of their northern neighbours.

The warriors of the Great Steppe is not to be underestimated, and the city of Nurshira is about to face the consequences of its complacency.

In this moment of crisis, they could only hope that their hastily assembled defense would hold against the impending onslaught, for the Great Steppe was a force of nature that could not be appeased or tamed.

Qiao Meng, now atop the city walls, is a stark contrast to the indulgent and corpulent man he had been moments ago.

He is adorned in a suit of iron armor that gleamed under the pale sunlight.

The armor covered his entire torso, providing protection for his chest, back, and shoulders. It was intricately designed with motifs of dragons and phoenixes, signifying his allegiance to the Yan Dynasty.

His helmet, adorned with a crimson horsehair crest, shielded his head from harm. Its cheek guards and nose guard were designed for both protection and intimidation.

His eyes, which had once been lidded with indulgence, now burned with a frantic determination.

On his left hip hung a well-crafted sword, its blade sharp and glistening in the sunlight.

The hilt is wrapped in leather, providing a firm grip. Qiao Meng fingers nervously tapped against the hilt as he surveyed the approaching threat from the Great Steppe.

The clinking of his armor and the heavy thud of his boots on the stone battlements were drowned out by the clamour and chaos that had erupted within the city.

Qiao Meng’s appearance, armoured and standing on the city walls, might have given the impression that he is ready for battle, a battle-hardened general ready to lead his troops.

However, the military officers and generals around him knew better.

Qiao Meng is no seasoned warrior, and he certainly couldn’t be the one to defend the city effectively.

In Yan, bureaucracy and hierarchy in rank is deeply ingrained, and this situation is no exception.

The civilian ruler is expected to be present, even in times of crisis, to show leadership and to maintain the chain of command.

The true military leaders knew that they would be the ones directing the city’s defense, while Qiao Meng role is largely ceremonial, aimed at maintaining civilian morale and the perception of unity.

It is not that the ruler could not lead armies.

If the Ji family is here, then they would surely lead the troops. It is just that Qiao Meng position is unique. He is a substitute, only meant to become a ward for the city as a temporary city lord.

When the city ruler comes back, then the position would be relinquished. Because of that Qiao Meng role for this time is just ceremonial.

Of course, if Qiao Meng really wanted to take control of the military, he could.

But could the military trust someone like him? Even just hearing the news that the barbarians comes to attack, he had already nearly fainted

How do you expect someone like that to lead the army? Hence, the military leader all expect that when the battle starts, Qiao Meng would give the control to them

As Qiao Meng stood on the city gate wall, a military officer reported to him about the unfolding situation.

However, with each passing moment of hearing the report, his fear grew more palpable, and his face drained of colour.

He struggled to comprehend the grim news he was receiving.

"How many?" Qiao Meng stammered, as if unable to believe the reports.

"We estimate that around fifty thousand barbarians have breached the Wall and are now ravaging the entire western side. There are approximately seven recognized tribes among them," the officer replied.

The sheer magnitude of the threat left Qiao Meng so shocked that he collapsed into his chair.

Even his servant, who stood nearby, was caught off guard and failed to prevent his fall.

Qiao Meng gulped and look at the horizon. They could see in the distance the smokes wafting through the air.

Maybe in just a few hours ride and the warriors of the Steppe would be right on their city gates

He gulped and then he ordered the men to gather more information

New came a little later. From the smoke, it seems like there is a large invasion force that is coming.

"What should I do?" Qiao Meng muttered to himself

The entire city is in a state of fear and anxiousness as the Great Steppe warriors is fast approaching

...