Chapter 20

Only see the iron-armored personal guard of Fei Yanggu let out a loud shout, directly using his body to block in front of Fei Yanggu.

Only heard a "Peng!" explosive sound, that guard's iron armor was shattered by the iron arrow.

Immediately after, the guard's body appeared, a front-to-back penetrating blood hole appeared, inside the organs still functioning and beating.

After piercing the guard, the force on the arrow shaft had not yet been exhausted,

In the despairing gaze of all Qing soldiers, it pierced Fei Yanggu's chest, the penetrating force even brought his body down from the horseback.

Thick fresh blood flowed from Fei Yanggu's mouth, dyeing the ground's black soil a sheet of bright red.

This commander who led the vanguard of the Qing army's 50,000-strong force has now become a corpse.

His eyes were wide open, obviously he did not anticipate this outcome.

Boom!

This scene made the Qing soldiers' heads ring on the whole battlefield, as if they were about to explode.

General!

The officers and personal guards beside Fei Yanggu were red-eyed, each person's expression suddenly changed drastically.

Losing a battle and losing the commander are two different matters!

Fei Yanggu died; as his personal guards and subordinates, even if they fled back, they cannot escape responsibility.

At this moment, Jia Jing had already sat back on his horse; the specially made three-stone iron-fetal great bow in his hand, because he exerted too much force, snapped cleanly in two.

This not only shocked the Qing army, but also Zhu Que who rushed over to guard Jia Jing was shocked,

You know this iron-fetal great bow was personally ordered by him to be forged from black iron,

It is said to be a three-stone bow, but to pull it until it breaks into two pieces, the force required is surely far beyond what three stones can achieve.

The general's divine strength is truly astonishing!

"The general's stamina and godlike archery have opened our eyes!"

Zhu Que exclaimed in surprise, praising.

The Qing troops surrounding Jia Jing were also terrified, subdued by his martial might and aura, and with the commander dead, they lost the will to keep fighting.

Meanwhile, Han Army's Feng Ziying, Han Qi, etc., after shock, felt ecstatic excitement.

"The general truly possesses heavenly might that covers the world!"

"The enemy commander is dead, kill……"

The Han Army soldiers, already exhausted from fighting deep behind enemy lines,

now seeing this scene, all raised their fighting spirit and charged again.

The Qing army, after being attacked from inside and outside by Jia Jing and Qin Qiong, originally a 40,000-strong force, now numbers less than 30,000.

Moreover, the remaining masses have completely collapsed and are retreating in panic, fleeing in disorder.

"Run! We've lost!"

"The general is already dead; if we don't withdraw now, we won't be able to run!"

"That Han commander is hardly human, run!"

At this moment,

a complete defeat like a collapsing mountain.

Jia Jing led his troops to take advantage, striking in and out seven times, joining forces with Qin Qiong's army at one point, completely securing the advantage.

It took a full half day before this battle could be considered over.

"Today's battle is the most satisfying I've ever fought! Killing feels great! I alone slew dozens of Qing soldiers; this time, when I report merit, I'll surely be promoted another rank!"

Feng Ziying, soaked in blood, his armor battered, rode up to Jia Jing and couldn't help laughing heartily.

"Yes! It's still comfortable following the general into battle! Just now the general shot Fei Yanggu dead with one arrow—I was dumbstruck!" Han Qi added, feeling moved.

"I, the subordinate, have met the general! This battle finally fulfills my duty!" Qin Qiong dismounted, bowed to Jia Jing, and solemnly received the order.

"Shubo, no need for excessive courtesy! This victory was thanks to your timely arrival; otherwise, even if we won, the few thousand troops of Jinzhou City wouldn't have survived."

Jia Jing waved at Qin Qiong with a smile.

Looking at the battlefield dyed red with blood, Jia Jing's expression grew solemn:

"This battle, though we won, but many brothers were killed or wounded; we must properly handle consolation and medical treatment."

"Also, hurry to clean the battlefield, tally the captured equipment, seize fleeing Qing soldiers! And send someone to report victory to the Pingliao General's Office! This task is assigned to Ziying and Han Qi."

"Shubo, work hard; the remaining three gates still have several thousand Qing remnants; they should already know we've lost. Take half the cavalry to pursue them—they're just infantry; try not to let them escape!"

Jia Jing ordered.

"Yes!"

Several people promptly received the orders and departed.

…………

Several days later.

In Shenjing City, within the Qian Qing Gong.

Jing Sheng Di sat behind the desk, still holding the Liaodong frontline victory report just handed to him by Xia Shouzhong,

He looked over and over, his face showing uncontainable delight.

He couldn't help but rise, pacing left and right inside the hall,

Suddenly he lifted his head and asked the attending Xia Shouzhong: "Feng Ziying went to the Ministry of War to report on his duties; why hasn't he arrived yet?"

This is already the third time he's asked about Feng Ziying's whereabouts.

This time, the frontline scored a great victory: Jia Jing defeated the Qing army of 50,000, beheading their commander Fei Yanggu,

which is truly a rare major victory for the Han Dynasty against the Manchu Qing in the past ten years.

Feng Ziying is precisely the envoy sent back by the Pingliao General's Office in Liaodong to report the victory.

Jing Sheng Di couldn't wait to meet him and learn the detailed situation at the front.

Xia Shouzhong understood Jing Sheng Di's joy, and replied with a chuckle: "We've already sent someone to inquire; Feng Ziying has already entered the palace and is now rushing to Qian Qing Gong!"

Moreover, the head of the False Qing's first-rank leader of the imperial guard, Fei Yanggu, has also been sent in a box to the capital, and has now been handed over to the Ministry of War.

Hearing this, Jing Sheng Di lowered his head to look at the victory report in his hand, his eyes full of brightness, and muttered to himself:

With over ten thousand troops defending Jinzhou City for more than ten days without loss, they instead sent a surprise force to circle behind the enemy, and at the critical moment marched out to engage the enemy in open battle, attacking from both inside and outside, crushing forty thousand enemy troops.

In this battle, one man alone killed hundreds of enemies and seized an enemy general's head amid ten thousand troops—truly mighty in valor, astonishing in courage......

Originally, Jing Sheng Di had already high hopes for Jia Jing; although these past two years Jia Jing had not won any major victories, he had continually won in small-scale engagements against the enemy, gaining considerable spoils.

But after all, previously they had only fought small-scale actions; now facing the mighty advance of the Qing's 150,000-strong army, no one dared claim certain victory,

Moreover, the court was filled with many pessimistic peace proposals; it was only because Jing Sheng Di withstood the pressure, giving money when money was needed and grain when grain was needed, that the front could remain undisturbed and fight the Qing Army.

But no one expected this victory to come so swiftly, and yet it was such a clean and decisive great triumph.

Now, Jing Sheng Di actually wants to see, among the entire court's civil and military officials, who still dares to say that we should not pursue war?

Who still dares to say that the Qing Army cannot be resisted even with a hundred thousand?

Who still dares to say that his favor and trust toward Niu Gengyao and Jia Jing are excessive!!

Such merit greatly shakes the might of our Han Dynasty! Niu Gengyao may be ennobled as a second-rank marquis, and Jia Jing may be ennobled as a first-rank viscount.

Let the entire court's civil and military officials see that I am not the heartless, ruthless ruler who rewards no merit, as people say!

Jing Sheng Di muttered to himself while pondering, his eyes full of fighting spirit and a hint of repressed sternness.

Now the state of affairs is stagnant; it appears not that the Han Army cannot fight, but that too many officials are merely occupying their posts without doing any work.

Those like Cao Guogong and his ilk—give them even more troops, and they will only suffer defeat!

For meritorious officials, he naturally can bestow rewards without end, and be tolerant and forgiving.

But for those corrupt and lawless incompetent officials, he also has no choice but to vigorously purge them.

Therefore, Jing Sheng Di believes his governing strategy is correct, and the New Policies will be meritorious for ages!

He merely needs to promote more people who are truly loyal and talented.

"Great companion! Go summon the Hall of Literary Glory University Scholar Zhang Tingyu, the Hall of Martial Brilliance University Scholar Li Guangdi, the Hall of Literary Depth University Scholar Chen Tingjing, the Hall of Preserving Harmony University Scholar Gong Dingzi, the Left Deputy Governor Niu Jizong, and the Right Deputy Governor, Duke of Zhao, Xu Ding, to come; let them also come to discuss!"

Jing Sheng Di's expression returned to calm, and he ordered the nearby Xia Shouzhong: