Chapter 1014

First Volume, Chapter 1014: The Beixi Army Has Arrived

The battle that erupted in Changshui County had stretched all the way into the core Jingji region; initially, Qin Feng only wanted to open a communication route to contact the Jin Yi Wei outside.

But when Ning Hu effortlessly crushed the enemy forces near Qingshan County, and Zhang Zhenhai led the cavalry all the way back with almost no losses, Qin Feng realized that the Northern Di Imperial Court was now on the brink of collapse.

Qin Feng was in high spirits, yet he still recalled Ning Hu and the six hundred infantry, leaving only Zhang Zhenhai with the cavalry to continue guerrilla operations outside.

According to Liu Ming's military intelligence report, Chen Si, Wu Kang, and Jing Peng had conspired to withdraw large numbers of troops, heading toward Bozhou, plundering county cities along the way to procure materials and supplies.

Clearly, Chen Si and his allies had not abandoned resistance—they had chosen an indirect path to save the nation.

As for Li Zhang and Xu Mo's armies, they had not yet reached the Jingji region because they were waiting for Chen Si's forces to fully withdraw.

As the saying goes: never pursue a desperate enemy; the more a force is cornered, the more dangerous it becomes to force a confrontation, for it may ignite an unprecedented fighting spirit—since death is inevitable anyway, they might as well fight to the end.

Thus, to preserve their strength, Li Zhang and Xu Mo reached an agreement: they simply watched as Chen Si withdrew, waiting until the Bei Xian defenses were completely open before advancing with their main army.

Qin Feng fully agreed with their decision; since the overall situation was settled, there was no need to risk bloody battles.

After all, this was a battlefield, not a petty skirmish—any large-scale conflict carried bloodshed and sacrifice.

Qin Feng also realized that this Winter War had reached its final stage; when to take over the Northern Di was merely a matter of time.

Just as Qin Feng prepared to hold Changshui County and wait for Li Zhang's arrival, a group of "uninvited guests" appeared outside the city.

These were either local garrison commanders from the Jingji region or civil and military officials from court.

Without exception, all of them had come to surrender to Qin Feng.

Qin Feng gladly accepted, immediately opening the city gate to let the Northern Di commanders and officials enter, while ordering their accompanying soldiers to retreat five hundred steps beyond the gate and wait on the spot.

One must not harbor ill intent, but one must never let down one's guard.

Even if Qin Feng were foolish, he would never allow them to bring troops inside the city—if this was a Zha Xiang ploy, the joke would be far too dangerous.

Soon, the County Yamen was filled with people; Qin Feng quickly counted them—thirteen in total.

Yet their official ranks and noble titles were not high; they were likely representatives of the behind-the-scenes ministers and main generals, since Qin Feng had already detained Zhang Chao and Jing Ci, and these main generals and ministers naturally sent their confidants to test the waters, avoiding becoming Qin Feng's prisoners.

Qin Feng did not beat around the bush: "Although my main army has reached E Bei, it will take at least seven or eight more days to march into the Jingji Region. Right now, your Monarch still holds power—why come to surrender now, if you fear retribution from the Northern Di Monarch?"

In response, the lead Minister of Works Langzhong immediately bowed deeply, showing extreme respect.

"Lord Qin need not worry—today, the court exists only in name; all officials have already sought new paths, and no one remains to oversee them."

"Earlier, the Monarch still boasted of personally leading the army into battle, yet no one answered his call; now, he can only rely on the Imperial Palace for his final resistance."

"Inside and outside the palace, two entirely different worlds."

Hearing this, Qin Feng breathed a long sigh of relief; honestly, even though the war had reached its end, he still feared the Northern Di Monarch might make a desperate last stand—though he could not reverse the tide, any damage he inflicted on Qin Feng would be as nauseating as swallowing a fly.

If the Northern Di Monarch merely held the palace, demonstrating the last dignity of the Imperial House, that could be understood—even admired.

As for these civil and military officials before him, who betrayed their lord for personal gain, Qin Feng despised them deeply in his heart, even loathed them—but his face showed no sign of it; instead, he was warmly welcoming.

Even if these officials were useless and needed to be removed, it was not yet the time.

At least not until years later, when Jing Qianying had firmly secured her position, seized all authority, and cultivated her own trusted officials to gradually take over power—only then could these men be sent home to retire.

Qin Feng's task now was simplicity: avoid fighting if possible, use soft tactics where feasible, win over every official he could, then deal with the remaining diehards.

But given the current situation—even Chen Si and Wu Kang had directly betrayed the Northern Di Monarch—how many diehards could possibly remain in the entire Northern Di?

Thinking this, Qin Feng wasted no time; he waved his hand, ordering Liu Ming to take the official representatives away and treat them well, and he accepted their surrender without hesitation.

Moreover, Qin Feng used these officials' mouths to spread word: anyone willing to cooperate with him, regardless of past party affiliation or past misdeeds, would be granted full amnesty.

As more and more officials flocked to Changshui County to pledge allegiance, the entire Jingji region—even Wang Du—had become effectively meaningless.

The Northern Di Monarch had concentrated all Imperial Guard troops within the palace, relying on the Imperial Palace Wall for defense.

Meanwhile, the city wall garrison troops in Wang Du had, under the manipulation of officials and commanders, been almost entirely withdrawn.

Yet since Li Zhang's main army had not yet arrived in the Jingji region, Qin Feng dared not leave Changshui County to advance on Wang Du—should someone close the door and beat the dog, it would be no laughing matter.

Zhang Zhenhai, who had been conducting guerrilla raids outside the city, delivered a reliable report: he had led merely four hundred cavalry through the Jingji region as if it were empty, encountering almost no serious resistance.

On their farthest raid, they even reached the vicinity of Wang Du; though they refrained from further advance due to the heavy garrison around the city, they merely observed the city from afar—yet this act already signaled that the Northern Di Dynasty existed only in name.

City residents began fleeing en masse, seeking refuge with relatives elsewhere; those who could not escape could only pray in the streets, hoping to survive this calamity.

During this time, Qin Feng spent his days drinking and feasting with the surrendering officials and commanders, enjoying great merriment.

After seven days, a messenger finally appeared outside the city, shouting at the top of his lungs: "I am a messenger of the Beixi Expeditionary Brigade, sent by General Xu Mo to deliver news to Lord Qin!"

Ning Hu, who had been guarding the City Wall, heard the news and slapped his thigh in delight: "Hahahaha! They've arrived! Finally!"