Chapter 1197

First Volume, Chapter 1197: Night Raid on Maguan Village

What?!

Qin Feng paused, eyes suddenly widening, staring at Liu Ming in disbelief.

"What did you say? Who's here?"

With matters already this far, Liu Ming could only lay it all out: "Your Highness didn't mishear—it's Second Miss Liu Hongyan…"

"In fact, Second Miss arrived three days ago."

"Before coming, she already sent a letter to Shu Xi through Third Miss, instructing secrecy from Your Highness."

"Now that Your Highness is personally heading to the Front Line, if Second Miss finds out, she might…"

Before Liu Ming could finish, Qin Feng cut in, thrilled: "Where's Second Sister?"

Seeing Qin Feng bore no ill will, Liu Ming finally exhaled in relief: "Second Miss has been hiding in the rear camp, saying she hasn't figured out how to explain herself to you yet."

"After all, this is a battlefield—she's a woman of the household, suddenly appearing at the Front Line—if she disrupts the battle, she'd be guilty of death a thousand times over."

"But since the other three Misses are all in Jingdu, Second Miss finally seized a rare chance to slip away, bringing… Third Madam and the Qiyang Commandery Princess to visit Your Highness."

Xie Yun'er and the Qiyang Commandery Princess are here too?!

Qin Feng had been missing them dearly, and now his longing had instantly become reality.

Though their sudden arrival at the Front Line was extremely risky, since the secrecy was so well maintained—even Qin Feng was kept in the dark—it meant the news hadn't leaked.

After a brief reunion, he'd simply send them back.

If delayed too long, and Lin Wenwan found out women had come to the Front Line, that woman would spare no effort to capture them as hostages to threaten him.

Qin Feng had no intention of taking that risk.

Qin Feng nodded: "I understand. If Second Sister or Yun'er look for me, tell them I'll be right back."

"That bandit gang is no more than a hundred men—nothing to worry about."

Seeing Qin Feng's firm resolve, Liu Ming no longer resisted and immediately released the reins.

Qin Feng didn't dare delay—he led four hundred Beixi Light Cavalry straight toward Maguan Village.

Meanwhile, the villagers of Maguan Village, already asleep, were suddenly jolted awake by a rapid gong.

The village men rushed out their doors to investigate, only to see Ma San, the night patrol militia man, standing beneath a large tree, striking a bronze gong hung from a tree branch with a wooden mallet.

"What's going on? Are bandits active nearby?"

Ma Hong, the village's youngest Village Chief, barely over thirty, who had inherited his father's role, shouted out in alarm.

Ma San put down the mallet and yelled to Ma Hong: "Village Chief, it's bad!"

"An hour ago, on the southern hillside, I spotted a cavalry unit—over a hundred strong!"

"These cavalrymen are resting on the hillside, wearing the armor of imperial troops, but… something's wrong."

Hearing this, Ma Hong's brow furrowed tightly.

He'd joined the army at thirteen with the village elders, retired at twenty after being wounded, then hunted in the nearby mountains until last year, when he became Village Chief and settled into farming.

His sense of danger was extremely sharp.

"Resting on the hillside? That means this cavalry unit is recovering their horses' strength—they're about to attack."

"Wearing armor confirms it."

"Imperial troops? There's never been any imperial army activity here, nor any enemy forces…"

Realizing these cavalrymen were likely hostile, Ma Hong immediately barked orders.

"All village men, rise—prepare for defense."

"Elders and women and children, go wait in the Ancestral Hall."

Because Maguan Village had produced many veterans, its men had been trained by elders and possessed basic military skills.

Moreover, Maguan Village was famously tough—last year alone, they repelled three separate bandit raids. Their combat experience was extensive.

Within just a few breaths, fifty-eight men were fully armed and standing at their posts.

Since folk laws forbade private possession of armor, the men wore makeshift armor made from pots, pans, and buckets.

If the Official Residence came to inspect, they could dismantle them instantly into household items; if danger came, they could arm themselves in an instant.

Though these armors offered nearly zero defense against Breakthrough Weapons,

they could deflect stray arrows.

On the Battlefield, to survive, one must arm oneself to the utmost, accumulating survival odds bit by bit.

Ma Hong wore a bronze pot on his chest and another on his back, gripping a crude Chang Mao, crouched atop the fork of the village's giant Huai Shu, watching the surroundings closely.

Ma San's words were true—soon, Ma Hong heard hoofbeats approaching from afar.

He spun and shouted to the village men: "They're coming!"

"Xiao Mazi, you go meet them—find out their purpose. Though their intent is unclear, they wear imperial armor—if we kill them by mistake, this will become a huge incident."

Xiao Mazi was only eleven, Ma Hong's own nephew. Since meeting them was too dangerous, he couldn't send anyone else.

The boy earned his nickname because, as a child, he'd survived smallpox—and was left with a face full of pockmarks.

Just as Xiao Mazi was about to head to the village entrance, Ma Changqian, Ma Hong's father, grabbed him.

"You go back—I'll go!"

Ma Hong frowned but didn't stop him.

Ma Changqian, fifty years old, walked barehanded to the village entrance.

Xiao Mazi didn't retreat to the Ancestral Hall—he picked up a short bow, climbed onto the roof, and joined several village adults, drawing their bows, ready to Beidi.

In an instant, Chen Yanzong led his cavalry to Maguan Village.

Seeing an elder standing at the entrance, Chen Yanzong froze in surprise.

At this hour, villagers should all be asleep—why was someone awake? Not just awake, but seemingly forewarned, waiting here for him specifically.

Could there be an ambush?

Chen Yanzong immediately dismissed this absurd thought—there were no imperial troops active nearby; what ambush could there be?

Even if there were, Chen Yanzong had full confidence he could charge in and out, slaughtering everything.

Ma Changqian hurriedly waved at Chen Yanzong and asked, "Military Master, why are you visiting Maguan Village in the dead of night?"

Chen Yanzong, shouldering his spear, rode slowly closer, his face twisted in a cruel grin.

"Why? You ask why I, this general, have come here in the middle of the night?"

"Naturally, to slaughter every last person in this village, down to the last chicken and dog."

At these words, Ma Changqian's brow instantly knotted: "Military Master, although Maguan Village lies in Jiangnan, it borders Lingzhou and has always been under Central Plains rule."

"Why, without cause, do you come to massacre us?"

Chen Yanzong snorted, too lazy to explain: "You talk too much!"

"Just know this: I am Deputy General under Qin Feng, here specifically to teach you unruly peasants a lesson!"

As his words ended, Chen Yanzong raised his spear and lunged it straight at Ma Changqian.