Chapter 1212

First Volume, Chapter 1212: En Mountain's Rebellion Suppression

"Otherwise… would you stay a few more days at the camp?"

Hearing Qin Feng's words, Xie Yun'er, who had been worried she'd be sent away, immediately lifted her head, triumphant.

"I don't care for it—I'm returning to Beijing first thing tomorrow."

Liu Hongyan chimed in beside her: "Hmph, weren't you the one who told us to go back early? Then follow your own advice—we have no interest in disturbing you here."

Watching the two women team up to tease him, Qin Feng's face fell into a mournful grimace.

"Don't be like that—since you've come, just stay a little longer with me."

"Earlier, I was worried about your safety, which is why I insisted you return quickly."

At this, Xie Yun'er perked up even more, hands on her hips: "So now you're not worried about our safety anymore?"

Qin Feng's expression turned earnest: "The situation has indeed changed."

"Thanks to Wu Heli's meddling, every corner of southern Gusu City is now swarming with brocade-clad scouts and reconnaissance riders. Aside from the troops defending Gusu, all other soldiers have dispersed in groups."

"For the short term, there will be no battle on the front line, and no one can harm you under my very eyes."

"So… stay a few more days, please?"

Seeing Qin Feng's pitiful expression, Liu Hongyan and Xie Yun'er remained unmoved—but Princess Qiyang burst out laughing.

When she had clashed with Qin Feng in Wang Du, she'd found him utterly insufferable.

But now, as she interacted with him more and understood him deeper, Princess Qiyang found this man increasingly fascinating.

"I never imagined the King of the Northern Border, the man who holds Liang's fate in his hands, could be so henpecked."

"Begging his own family members in such a humble tone—hahaha."

Qin Feng paid no mind to Princess Qiyang's mockery—he wasn't ashamed to beg his wife.

After Qin Feng's persistent coaxing, Xie Yun'er and Liu Hongyan finally agreed to stay another month.

Qin Feng was overjoyed—he'd been a monk on the front line for so long, and now women were back by his side; nights would inevitably be filled with revelry.

The next morning, as dawn barely broke, Qin Feng summoned all his direct subordinates for handover.

"I'm heading to En Mountain for bandit suppression—minimum three to five days, maximum ten to fifteen."

"During my absence, all major matters on the front line are under Xu Mo's command—his orders are my orders."

"Liu Ming, you remain here to assist Xu Mo."

"Brother Yuxiong, Zhao Zhenhai—you two accompany me to En Mountain."

Compared to Liu Hongyan and Xie Yun'er, the men present appeared calm and composed.

In their eyes, Wu Heli hiding in En Mountain wasn't even a problem—compared to nearby Gusu City, he was but a speck of sand.

Even though they knew Wu Heli still had six or seven hundred men, and that number might even grow.

Yet when Qin Feng decided to take only two hundred men to En Mountain, not a single soul in the military camp objected.

Even Zhao Zhenhai felt that two hundred men were overkill—like using a butcher's knife to kill a chicken.

After all, these two hundred were Qin Feng's most elite troops, their combat effectiveness unquestionable.

But Liu Ming still voiced his concern.

"Your Majesty, compared to Wu Heli, the greatest danger on this mission is En Mountain itself."

"Behind En Mountain lies Qilian Mountain—if you're unfamiliar with its terrain and get lost, the consequences could be catastrophic."

"Besides the accompanying soldiers, I've selected three brocade-clad scouts who know Qilian Mountain's terrain, to ensure absolute safety."

Qin Feng nodded, deeply approving of Liu Ming's meticulous planning.

"Liu Ming, though there has been no battle on the front line and both sides remain in standoff, intelligence must not be compromised in the slightest."

"Close combat is merely the final strike—before that, the war of intelligence and public opinion has already begun."

"Only by steadily accumulating advantages can we deliver a fatal blow to the Southern Border Rebel Party in the end."

Liu Ming bowed deeply: "Your Majesty, rest assured—I will not fail this mission."

With camp arrangements settled, Qin Feng wasted no time—he mounted his warhorse, led by Zhao Yuxiong and Zhao Zhenhai, and set out with two hundred soldiers toward En Mountain.

These past days, the Gusu region had warmed up; spring plowing drew nearer.

Correspondingly, the trees on En Mountain had sprouted anew; in another half-month, En Mountain and Qilian Mountain would be drowned in green.

Thus, now is the best time to eliminate Wu Heli—if we delay further, once the mountains grow thick with foliage, finding Wu Heli will be like searching for a needle in a haystack.

Qin Feng and the two others rode in the center of the column.

As En Mountain gradually came into view, Zhao Yuxiong said gravely: "Brother Qin, if I were Wu Heli, I'd set ambushes along the route."

"The closer we get to En Mountain, the more dangerous it becomes—why not send scouts ahead?"

Hearing this, Qin Feng chuckled lightly.

"Don't worry—you're you, Wu Heli is Wu Heli—he can't possibly match you."

"After investigating him over this period, I know Wu Heli is capable—but alas, even a clever housewife can't cook without rice."

"No matter how skilled Wu Heli is, his soldiers are nothing but hired thugs—useless in battle."

Qin Feng had never taken Wu Heli's troops seriously because they slaughtered innocents.

Soldiers who spare neither women nor children—how elite could they possibly be?

Not just Qin Feng's army—even the Imperial Guard or Central Plains forces strictly obey orders from above.

Those Southern Border soldiers following Wu Heli are less soldiers than bandits, engaged in vile, hidden deeds—they'd collapse instantly upon facing a Regular Army.

Zhao Yuxiong remained uneasy: "Better safe than sorry."

Since Zhao Yuxiong insisted so firmly, Qin Feng no longer argued—after all, everything was for victory.

Qin Feng immediately dispatched ten men ahead.

And as it turned out, Qin Feng's suspicions were correct—throughout the journey, all was calm; even upon reaching the mountain foot, not a single enemy was seen.

Qin Feng's confidence was not arrogance, but because the terrain near En Mountain was unsuitable for ambush.

There was no cover nearby, and the trees had not yet sprouted leaves, making it too difficult to conceal troops.

Zhao Yuxiong, though brave and skilled in battle, unmatched in martial prowess and born a general, still had relatively little experience commanding overall; with more time and training, he would naturally be capable of standing alone.

Qin Feng and the others dismounted, tied the War Horses below the mountain, counted all their equipment and Materials and Supplies, confirmed everything was flawless, then steadily ascended the hill.

On the other side, Wu Heli had long since learned of Qin Feng's arrival.