Chapter 1070: First Volume, Chapter 1070: The True Leader

First Volume, Chapter 1070: The True Leader

Although Qin Feng deeply regretted Chen Si's death, the news spread with astonishing speed.

Li Zhang understood Qin Feng best; he knew that, aside from the Chen family, the only person who least wished for Chen Si to die was Qin Feng.

So Li Zhang, defying the wrath of Heaven, ordered a grand funeral for Chen Si.

After consulting with the Ministry of Rites, he erased Chen Si's record as a "traitorous general," posthumously naming him Beixi County War Hero, and widely promoted Chen Si's "Theory of Hatred."

He hoped everyone would inherit Chen Si's legacy and stop carrying battlefield hatred into daily life, where it only bred further tragedies.

For Li Zhang, this was also a good outcome.

After all, when his younger brother Li Lang died in battle, political pressures had nearly prevented him from even returning to the Imperial Ancestral Hall—if not for Qin Feng's unwavering stance.

Li Zhang's actions were simply putting himself in others' shoes.

On the other hand, Qin Feng did not need to prove anything to Elder Sister, but upon learning of Li Zhang's unilateral decision, he immediately informed her.

Even though Elder Sister still carried an unresolved heartache, upon hearing that Chen Si had been posthumously named Beixi County War Hero and the Chen family honored as Loyal and Martyrly Family Lines,

her gaze toward Qin Feng had indeed softened considerably.

Whether Qin Feng was acting in concert or manipulating hearts no longer mattered.

At least for the Chen family, this endless war had truly ended.

Elder Sister looked at the Chen Family Heirs beside her and whispered: "Remember this man's face…"

"If you ever meet him on the battlefield, kill him—avenge the Chen family."

"But remember: only on the battlefield…"

The Chen children's eyes, filled with hatred, finally showed a flicker of something else—confusion.

"Auntie, don't you hate him anymore?"

Elder Sister smiled bitterly: "I hate him—of course I do, with every fiber of my being. But your Uncle Chen has already proven his belief with his death."

"The one we should hate is Qin Feng, clad in Armor, commanding soldiers to slaughter on the battlefield."

"Not this Qin Feng, barefoot and clothed in simple robes, standing before us now."

The young nephew still half-understood: "Auntie, what's the difference?"

Elder Sister stroked the boy's head and explained gently: "The difference is great…"

"On the battlefield, we represent our respective sides. Off the battlefield, we represent only ourselves."

"If you kill Qin Feng outside the battlefield, it becomes pure personal vengeance—and his descendants will pursue you endlessly."

"This cycle will repeat, and this blood feud will never end."

The young nephew finally seemed to grasp Chen Si's belief.

Since Uncle Chen had fought Qin Feng, he had returned home several times—especially after his arm was crippled by Tianji Camp Guards, when he came home to recover.

The young nephew strained to recall Uncle Chen's time at home, but could not remember a single harsh word Uncle Chen ever spoke about Qin Feng.

In fact… Uncle Chen rarely mentioned anything that happened on the battlefield.

The clan's children hated Qin Feng only because some relatives brought home the news of deaths—and the clan spontaneously began to hate him.

It wasn't just Uncle Chen; Chen Mou and Chen Li, the two clan uncles, must have been the same.

After returning home, they only cherished their brief, precious reunions—and never spoke a word of the blood feud on the battlefield.

Chen Ba, who had once tried to assassinate Qin Feng, though possessing the qualities of a commander, lacked battlefield experience.

Because he had never endured life-and-death separations, Chen Ba could not achieve the same profound awakening as the three clan generals.

The young nephew turned to look at Qin Feng and saw no hatred in his eyes.

He couldn't help asking: "If you've left the battlefield, why did you kill our people?"

Facing the Chen Family Heir's accusation, Qin Feng offered no concealment: "Because I must protect my family…"

"Once Chen Ba died, others in the Chen family would keep trying to assassinate me—I had no choice."

The young nephew clenched his fists and shouted: "So it's our fault?"

Qin Feng shook his head, unmoved by the boy's outburst, and replied softly: "The fault lies with those who cannot let go of hatred—and they are destined to be utterly destroyed by it."

Qin Feng reached out to touch the Chen Family Heir, but as expected, the boy turned his head away.

Qin Feng's hand hung in midair, paused for a moment, then quietly withdrew.

"Child, no matter what, you must stop hating me."

"If you wish for revenge, you must rebuild the Chen family first—that requires your effort."

"If you don't wish for revenge, you should focus even more on developing the Chen family."

"I will issue an order: within two generations, the Chen family will never again take up arms against each other over hatred—you may return to your ancestral lands in Beixi County, to your homes."

Two generations—neither too long nor too short.

By the time these children grow, and their own children lay down their hatred, true peace will finally be achieved.

Brother Chen, watching from above, surely wishes his family to endure.

As Qin Feng turned to leave, Elder Sister's voice came from behind.

"Lord Qin, surely you won't break your word?"

Hearing this, Qin Feng did not turn around—only waved his hand: "As I said before: life or death, the choice lies in your hands, not mine."

Qin Feng returned to the Imperial Road Carriage and found Shen Qingci with her head bowed, her eyes filled with self-reproach.

Qin Feng didn't think much of it—he reached out and gently touched Shen Qingci's shoulder.

"Elder Sister, no need to blame yourself—you only meant well."

Shen Qingci smiled bitterly: "Wu Tang told me everything. I sent Liu Ming to kill the Chen family—it was really a challenge to your authority."

"Put kindly, I did harm with good intentions; put harshly, I only know how to cause trouble."

Qin Feng still smiled: "At least now you have experience—you'll become more mature the next time something like this happens."

"You're better at managing our Clan's relationships—if not for you, who would comfort us when bad things happen?"

Saying this, Qin Feng sat down, gazing at the scenery slowly receding outside the window, as if speaking to himself.

"What is a leader? A leader's role is not to fight on the battlefield, nor to handle Logistics or People's Livelihood, nor to train troops."

"Those who fight on the battlefield have commanders; those who handle Logistics and People's Livelihood have Officials; those who train troops have instructors."

"If we do everything ourselves, what use are others?"

"A leader's task is to place the right person in the right position, and to balance their power and relationships."