Chapter 1112: First Volume, Chapter 1112: Yuezhao Kingdom Death Warriors

First Volume, Chapter 1112: Yuezhao Kingdom Death Warriors

According to Qin Feng, mercenaries have an extremely long history; the famed "Wudang Feijun" were mercenaries—and even foreign mercenaries!

These elite troops, hired to eliminate threats for payment, possess formidable strength.

If they're crushed at first glance, wouldn't that be a pointless death? How could they possibly return alive to claim their reward?

Although the enemy numbered only a few dozen, Qin Feng dared not underestimate them for a moment.

"Brother Yuxiong, if I hadn't known about this, I could have ignored it—but now that I've heard, how can I let these old, weak, women, and children die senselessly?"

"Have you forgotten our original purpose? To ensure all Liang's people live in peace and prosperity?"

"If today we abandon these elderly, weak, and sick, tomorrow we may abandon a city, the day after, an entire nation."

"We cannot leave behind a single one!"

Zhao Yuxiong deeply admired Qin Feng's righteousness, but was it truly worth delaying his marriage contract—and thereby jeopardizing next spring's campaign—for these old, weak, and defenseless?

Qin Feng saw through Zhao Yuxiong's concerns and said gravely: "If we strike swiftly and decisively, we can return in time."

"Now, traveling to the Land Temple and returning will take two Envoy—we only need to keep the entire operation within three Envoy."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yuxiong frowned slightly.

Although he never doubted Qin Feng's strength, the enemy was fresh and waiting, entrenched within the Land Temple, holding terrain advantage.

The Black Cavalry were heavy armored cavalry, suited only for holding lines and breaking formations—utterly ineffective against siege warfare.

To resolve the battle within one Envoy was no easy feat.

"Brother Qin, if you were accompanied by Tianji Camp Guards, they could certainly finish the battle in one Envoy—but now we have only the Black Cavalry…"

"And you heard it too—these bandits are no ordinary lot."

Qin Feng snorted lightly: "No ordinary lot? They're far worse."

Qin Feng turned to Li Shun and asked gravely: "Are these bandits from Liang?"

Li Shun lowered his head, recalled for a moment, then shook his head firmly: "Their accent doesn't sound like Liang's, and their faces… look strange."

"Moreover, from start to finish, only their leader spoke—the rest never uttered a word."

Hearing this, Qin Feng's suspicions solidified: these bandits were certainly foreign mercenaries hired at great cost by a powerful clan of Nan Jing!

"Brother Yuxiong, these men are almost certainly bounty death warriors from beyond our borders!"

Upon hearing the words "bounty death warriors," Zhao Yuxiong's expression turned grimly serious.

"All death warriors are seasoned, battle-hardened veterans!"

Qin Feng narrowed his eyes and snorted coldly: "It's more than that."

"Both Liang and the Northern Di wage war on open battlefields—unstoppable, unyielding—we have no need to train death warriors."

"Among neighboring foreign states, only two nations produce exceptional death warriors."

"One is Gaoshan Country, but Gaoshan excels in cavalry."

"The other is Yuezhao Kingdom."

"Moreover, Gaoshan people resemble Liang's in appearance and speak with a faint accent—so these death warriors who slaughtered Li Family Village are almost certainly from Yuezhao Kingdom."

Zhao Yuxiong's frown deepened; as a scion of a military clan, how could he not know the name "Yuezhao Kingdom Death Warriors"?

Although on open battlefields Yuezhao Kingdom was extremely weak—easily crushed by either Liang or the Northern Di—their regular army was no match.

But Yuezhao's small bands of death warriors had long been infamous for murder, plunder, guerrilla raids, and ambushes.

Many of the former Northern Di Night Owls had once been Yuezhao death warriors.

"Brother Qin, if these are Yuezhao Kingdom Death Warriors, then not only can we not strike swiftly—we risk walking straight into a trap by going there."

"For safety's sake, we should return to Beijing immediately!"

But Qin Feng's gaze turned icy: "Anyone who harms Liang's people shall be killed without mercy!"

"Even Yuezhao Kingdom Death Warriors shall die without burial!"

"Head for the Land Temple at once!"

Though Zhao Yuxiong had no hope, since Qin Feng had given the order, even if it meant walking to death, Zhao Yuxiong felt no resentment.

He obeyed without hesitation, immediately ordering the Black Cavalry to advance straight toward Ci County's Land Temple.

Simultaneously, he dispatched five Black Cavalry to escort Niu Er and his mother ahead to Beijing.

Forty-five Black Cavalry began donning armor in batches only when they were less than five li from the Land Temple—ten at a time, while the rest held halberd and bow, guarding the perimeter.

Once the first ten were fully armored, another ten rotated in to don armor, preventing ambush.

After all were fully armored, they continued advancing toward the Land Temple.

But when they were only three li away, a swift horse suddenly charged toward the Black Cavalry, shouting from afar: "Do not come closer!"

"The enemy has set a bandit trap around the Land Temple, armed with strong crossbows and hard bows!"

The Jin Yi Wei dismounted and rushed forward to report to Qin Feng.

"The enemy knew full well you were accompanied by heavy armored cavalry—they pre-equipped strong crossbows and hard bows!"

Hearing this, Qin Feng's gaze remained unwavering, unaffected.

"So these Yuezhao Kingdom Death Warriors plan to kill me here."

"Yet even if the powerful clans of Nan Jing possessed heavenly abilities, they could never bypass layer upon layer of inspections to smuggle strong crossbows and hard bows—such armor-piercing weapons—into such a core region."

"Clearly, there is a traitor in Jingzhong!"

At this, Zhao Yuxiong blurted out: "Brother Qin, you mean… Nangong Empress?"

Qin Feng snorted: "Who else could it be?"

"The Nangong Empress predicted I would come to rescue them, and that I'd have only the Black Cavalry—so if she destroys the Black Cavalry, I am certain to die."

Hearing this, Zhao Yuxiong asked again: "Then… do we still go?"

Qin Feng suddenly sneered: "Of course we go!"

"Empress Nangong, weren't you planning to present this marquis with a grand gift on the day of the Da Huo?"

"This marquis shall certainly return the favor!"

"The Black Cavalry cannot advance further, but as long as they are sealed inside the Land Temple, that will suffice."

"Group every ten Black Cavalry into one Yi Zu, surround the Land Temple, and under no circumstances approach without authorization—stay approximately three li away from the Land Temple."

"Although the Black Cavalry are poor at pursuit, the surrounding terrain is all open plains—even if Heavy Armor cavalry are clumsy, four legs chasing two legs is still more than enough."

"I refuse to believe Empress Nangong has such influence that, beyond Strong Crossbows and Hard Bows, she can supply Warhorses to these Dead Soldiers."

At Qin Feng's command, the forty-five Black Cavalry were reduced to five remaining beside Qin Feng and Zhao Yuxiong.

The Captain of the Brocade Robe Guards responsible for patrolling this area had also arrived before Qin Feng.

"Your Grace, the Brocade Robe Guards risked their lives to approach and spy—thirty Dead Soldiers are ambushed outside the Land Temple, and another forty are inside."

"Seventy Dead Soldiers in total—equipped with superior arms!"

"The thirty Dead Soldiers outside are divided into two Yi Zu, spaced less than TwoHundredSteps apart, ready to reinforce each other at any moment."