Chapter 1196

First Volume, Chapter 1196: Second Sister Has Arrived at the Front Line

Within two days, Chen Yanzong locked onto his target again!

This time, it was Maguan Village, seventy Li from Gusu City.

Maguan Village was also a large village, with over two hundred residents; during farming season, villagers worked the land, and during off-season, they supplemented their income by hunting.

Since many able-bodied men in the village possessed martial skills, and there were ten plus militia members, ordinary bandits always kept their distance from Maguan Village.

Chen Yanzong intended to strike exactly such a village—to shake the mountain and frighten the tiger, delivering a downward warning to Qin Feng.

At dusk, Chen Yanzong led two hundred cavalry straight toward Maguan Village.

Their route naturally avoided the imperial army; as long as he wasn't catastrophically unlucky, Chen Yanzong could strike Maguan Village unseen and unleash a massacre.

Unbeknownst to him, shortly after leaving camp, Chen Yanzong was spotted by a hidden Jin Yi Wei patrol.

The Prince of Qin had issued a death order: eliminate Wu Heli's bandits within one month.

Thus, Liu Ming had deployed nearly all his Jin Yi Wei across the northern region of Gusu City.

The Jin Yi Wei lay hidden in the Cao Cong, watching Chen Yanzong depart, then immediately rose, secured a fast horse, and raced toward the Qian Xian Zhu Di.

At this moment, Qin Feng was still studying the map of Gusu City's surroundings, especially the distribution of civilian settlements.

Only by pinpointing all civilian locations could he effectively counter Gusu City Garrison's ambushes.

As for secret passages connecting Gusu City to the outside world, finding them in the short term was clearly unrealistic.

Just then, Liu Ming rushed in: "Your Highness, Wu Heli's Rebel Party has moved again."

"The Jin Yi Wei spotted Wu Heli's trail near Xiaoshangang in the Northwest, heading northeast."

Hearing this, Qin Feng stood up instantly and growled: "When did this happen?"

Liu Ming dared not hesitate: "Based on timing, the Jin Yi Wei's precise sighting of Chen Yanzong should have been… one Envoy ago."

One Envoy?!

That's enough time for Wu Heli to massacre an entire village inside and out.

Even so, Qin Feng could not give up—he quickly located Xiaoshangang on the map and asked sternly: "What was their horse speed?!"

Liu Ming answered swiftly: "Though it was dusk and darkening, the Jin Yi Wei judged from hoofbeats that their speed was slow."

Slow speed? Cavalry moving at a slow pace had only one reason: to conserve horse strength.

This meant the bandits' target was certainly not nearby.

Qin Feng traced northeast from Xiaoshangang, scanning the area—either dense mountain ranges or tangled rivers.

There were a few small villages in between, but each held only dozens of households.

According to Liu Ming, the enemy cavalry numbered at least one hundred.

To massacre a small village, sending a hundred men was excessive—and Wu Heli surely knew Qin Feng was hunting him; he should be extra discreet now.

Finally, Qin Feng's gaze settled on one large village: Maguan Village!

Maguan Village was seventy Li from Gusu City, so no major troops operated nearby.

Meanwhile, Maguan Village lay roughly ninety Li from Xiaoshangang—a distance requiring cavalry to conserve horse strength.

"What's the situation in Maguan Village?"

In response to Qin Feng's question, Liu Ming carefully recalled—he had memorized the entire Jiangnan terrain map by now, and soon retrieved Maguan Village's details.

"Maguan Village's registered population is two hundred sixteen, with about fifty able-bodied men."

"And Maguan Village has a hunting tradition; with bandits frequently active nearby, over ten villagers have armed themselves as militia."

"The village has even built makeshift fortifications."

"By the way, Maguan Village once produced a famous general, so its men are extremely eager to join the military."

"There are at least thirty veterans and new recruits with prior service experience!"

Qin Feng nodded, his mind racing—by the time he reached Maguan Village now, it would likely be too late.

But…

Qin Feng had to gamble: if the men of Maguan Village could delay the enemy long enough, he could not only save the villagers but also destroy Wu Heli!

Qin Feng wasted no more time—he stepped out and barked: "Beidi War Command!"

"Deploy five hundred Beixi Light Cavalry!"

"One hundred from the left flank—depart immediately at maximum speed. Target: Duhekou, five Li north of Maguan Village."

"Our forces have no presence near Duhekou. Left flank cavalry must hold Duhekou—any soldier spotted, regardless of uniform, is to be killed on sight!"

Since the enemy was cavalry, they would flee immediately if they realized they were outmatched.

The only escape route northward was Duhekou!

Qin Feng first cut off the bandits' retreat, then took the armor handed to him, donning it as he continued issuing orders.

"Four hundred main force—advance at steady pace. When reaching Chen Family Gully, split into two wings: right flank sweeps southwest toward Maguan Village, conducting wide-area patrol and surveillance!"

The bandits' other escape route was naturally toward Xiaoshangang.

Qin Feng could not yet determine the bandits' base camp location, only that they had passed Xiaoshangang and were operating in that area.

Digging out their hideout would take time—so blocking their other escape route was critical.

Aside from Duhekou and Xiaoshangang, the bandits had no other escape paths.

To the east lay Lingzhou territory, where twenty-seven strongholds were under construction and farmland reserves being opened—many troops were active there.

Directly south lay Qin Feng's own front-line army.

After sealing off the bandits' retreat, Qin Feng donned light armor and mounted his horse.

As he accepted the spear and bow and arrow from his subordinate, Liu Ming suddenly grabbed the reins.

"Your Highness, since the plan is set, let your subordinates execute it—you are the King of the Northern Border; how can you personally charge into battle?"

Qin Feng frowned—logically, anyone might try to stop him, but Liu Ming never would.

After all, Liu Ming's duty was to provide Military Intelligence; he was merely a Spy Chief, and neither combat nor advice fell within his responsibilities.

What's gotten into Liu Ming today? Why is he acting so out of character?

But Qin Feng was now desperate and had no patience to dally with Liu Ming; he growled: "If I hadn't let Wu Heli escape back then, how could that beast have gone on a killing spree in Jiangnan?"

"I even suspect the civilians slaughtered earlier were also his doing."

"I will cut off his head myself to make up for my past failure."

Liu Ming still refused to let go; after hesitating again and again, he whispered softly: "Your Highness… Second Miss has arrived."