Chapter 1170: First Volume, Chapter 1170: Considerations Beyond Strategy

First Volume, Chapter 1170: Considerations Beyond Strategy

When a state prospers, the people suffer; when it falls, the people suffer.

What Qin Feng most dreaded was a Southern Campaign war that would shatter the land and rivers of Nan Jing, leave the people destitute, and require decades—or even generations—to heal the wounds of war.

If this were truly to happen, what purpose would there be in continuing this Southern Campaign?

How to minimize losses and seize Nan Jing was what Qin Feng needed to consider.

Today, he stole a moment from his duties to observe the people's condition, preparing for the future; if he could gain the support of Nan Jing's civilians, this war would secure the advantage of "Harmony Among the People."

The weather will soon warm; both sides possess the advantage of timing.

As for terrain, the native soldiers of Nan Jing clearly held the upper hand.

Thus, Qin Feng could only act on the aspect of "Harmony Among the People."

Not long after, a typical Jiangnan village came into view.

The village lay at Mountain Foot, hidden among trees; fortunately, it was early spring, and the trees had yet to sprout.

Had it been high summer, with dense foliage, Qin Feng might truly have missed this unremarkable little village.

As they drew nearer, the entire village was eerily silent.

At that moment, the scouting cavalry returned.

"Your Majesty, the village ahead is empty—no villagers found. It appears to be an abandoned settlement."

Hearing this, Qin Feng was unsurprised and continued riding toward the village.

Zhao Zhenhai could not help but frown in confusion.

"The villagers here must have known about the fighting in Gusu City and fled. Why not head to the next village?"

Qin Feng, however, smiled and shook his head, gazing at the towering mountain behind the village.

"Jiangnan rains frequently; the mountains are full of caves—deep, bottomless caves."

"This differs greatly from our North."

"Moreover, this small mountain village has over thirty households, and many houses are built of stone and timber; though still crude, they are among the better dwellings for ordinary folk."

"We ride horses—our presence cannot be hidden. The villagers must have heard the rumors and fled to the mountains for refuge."

Seeing Qin Feng so certain, Zhao Zhenhai said nothing further and followed him closer to the village.

As they entered the village entrance, Liu Ming could not help but smile.

"No wonder you're the Qin Wang—you hit the mark exactly."

"The villagers here must have left only recently."

Zhao Zhenhai was baffled: "How can you tell?"

Liu Ming pointed to the village path: "Weeds grow thick on both sides, yet the path itself is clean—that's not the mark of long-term abandonment."

"In a village like this, once deprived of human presence, it takes only days for weeds to swallow it whole; wild beasts from the mountains will move in and take over."

Hearing this, Zhao Zhenhai re-examined the village and indeed found it remarkably clean, with no signs of decay.

Yet when he looked toward the towering mountain behind the village, he sighed again.

"Even if they've hidden, we can do nothing."

"The mountain is so vast, the refuge caves must be extremely hidden—how can just a few of us possibly find them?"

Liu Ming smiled without speaking, glancing at Qin Feng—his gaze seemed to say, Qin Feng came to the village for a reason.

Indeed!

Qin Feng dismounted immediately—but did not enter any house; instead, he sat upon a large rock in the center of the village.

"No one is to enter any civilian home."

"Then wait."

Though Zhao Zhenhai doubted this wait-and-see tactic would yield results, his greatest strength was obedience.

Whatever order Qin Feng gave—even if absurd or foolish—he would execute without hesitation.

The eleven men tied their War Horses to a nearby large tree and gathered at the village entrance, waiting.

Meanwhile, behind a rock on MountainWaist, a pair of eyes carefully observed the village's movements.

Seeing the invaders did not plunder, nor even enter any courtyard gate, the lookout boy found this strange.

He turned and ran swiftly to the cave where the villagers hid.

"The soldiers have arrived—but something's odd…"

"They've all gathered in the village center, not touching a thing."

Hearing the boy's words, the villagers exchanged glances.

The Village Chief lowered his head, thought for a moment, then waved his hand: "Ignore them!"

"It's just a trap to lure us out. If we descend, we'll surely face plunder."

"No matter whether they're good or evil, or whose troops they are—if they want to wait, let them wait."

Since the Village Chief had spoken, the boy said nothing more.

As time passed, the boy was astonished to see the invaders finally rise—but did not leave; instead, they pointed at one of the courtyards.

He suddenly realized something and rushed back to the cave.

"Village Chief! Our hidden pigs have been found!"

What?!

The Village Chief's face turned instantly pale. The village had raised three pigs—collective property, all ready for slaughter.

If they were taken without cause, they would suffer a great loss.

The Village Chief rose and followed the boy to investigate.

An old man and a boy crouched on the rock at MountainWaist, watching the village below.

"Creepy!"

"They didn't even take it?"

"Ain't these guys soldiers?"

The Village Elder watched the invaders return to the center of the village and wait, a strange feeling rising in him.

This was wartime—if soldiers spotted the village's fat pigs, they'd definitely "requisition" them.

But these men showed no interest in the fat pigs; the Village Elder found this utterly baffling.

The young man beside him couldn't help but remark.

"Even soldiers or bandits—even ordinary people—would be tempted if they saw three fat pigs sitting there with no one around."

The Village Elder thought that made sense; these men were indeed different.

After much thought, he gritted his teeth, told the young man to stay put, and descended the mountain himself to investigate.

He was an old man anyway; if he died, the village wouldn't lose much.

At this moment, Qin Feng and Liu Ming were discussing the three fat pigs, not planning to "requisition" them, yet still marveling.

Such a small village could afford fat pigs—this meant their basic needs were fully met.

If all villages under Heaven were like this, how wonderful would it be?

Almost as soon as Qin Feng thought this, his accompanying soldiers tensed, turning to see an elderly man with snow-white hair shuffling toward them.

Zhao Zhenhai's eyes lit up—he thought, Amazing!

Qin Feng had seemed to foresee it—he'd just waited right there, and sure enough, the villagers had returned.

When the Village Chief saw the appearance of Qin Feng and his men, his heart sank.