Chapter 1253: First Volume, Chapter 1253: Subordinates Seize Power

First Volume, Chapter 1253: Subordinates Seize Power

Shen Qingci's heart softened instantly—how could she bear to see Qin Feng's heart torn apart?

Moreover, Shen Qingci had never imagined that she was so vital to Qin Feng—that he could not live without her, and that she, in turn, could not live without him.

Shen Qingci gathered her courage and embraced Qin Feng, feeling the strength of his firm arms, and warmth spread through her chest.

"Since you fear nothing, neither do I."

"Honestly, being your Elder Sister is already more than enough for me."

Hearing this, Qin Feng's heart stirred—he was about to lift her up when footsteps suddenly sounded behind him.

The discordant sound made Qin Feng and Shen Qingci instinctively pull apart and turn together toward the entrance of the Ying Zhang.

There stood a soldier at the door, looking hurried and agitated.

"Prince Qin, please come to the Jiaochang—General Zhao and Lord Liu are in a standoff."

At first Qin Feng was annoyed, thinking this brat had ruined his moment—but when he heard Zhao Yuxiong and Xu Mo were locked in a tense confrontation at the Jiaochang, his rebuke died on his lips.

"What's happened?"

The messenger's eyes flickered as he answered, as if hiding something unspeakable.

"It can't be explained in a few words—Prince Qin, you must see for yourself."

Realizing something serious had occurred, Qin Feng no longer hesitated—he waved his hand to dismiss the soldier, then turned to Shen Qingci, whose face was flushed red.

"Elder Sister, I'll be right back—wait here for me, and don't run off."

Shen Qingci shot him a glare, irritable: "Where could I possibly run to?!"

Qin Feng chuckled, then turned and headed for the Jiaochang. By the time he arrived, the entire field was packed—every senior officer among the Front Line Garrison Troops was present.

Upon seeing Qin Feng, the officers all bowed in salute, but Zhao Yuxiong and Liu Ming in the center of the Jiaochang remained oblivious, still locked in Zhen Du.

Liu Ming pointed directly at Zhao Yuxiong's nose and shouted without mercy: "Zhao! You're an ungrateful wretch!"

"Without Prince Qin's patronage, where would you be today?"

"Now that you've grown strong, you dare secretly impeach Prince Qin behind our backs—you're a thankless traitor!"

Impeach?

Qin Feng frowned slightly, his gaze fixed on Zhao Yuxiong—who stood tall, unshaken, showing no shame.

Not even the accusations from Liu Ming or the pointing fingers of the surrounding soldiers moved him.

"Even the Son of Heaven is subject to the law—why should Prince Qin be excused for his mistakes?"

"I joined the military to serve the people of Heaven, not to serve any one man or faction."

"I bonded with Qin Feng through shared ideals and fought side by side many times—we called each other Comrade. Now, Qin Feng acted recklessly and nearly caused disaster. I followed protocol to impeach him—what fault is there in that?"

"If Qin Feng reforms, we remain brothers bound by life and death. If not, then you take your broad road, and I'll take my narrow one."

Hearing this, Qin Feng felt a sharp pain in his chest.

Though he had suspected Zhao Yuxiong's deep discontent with the Eastern Front campaign, he never imagined Zhao would directly impeach him to the court.

Liu Ming laughed bitterly, fists clenched, teeth grinding.

"Ha ha ha—what a noble 'life-and-death bond'! Then why, when you were sent to reinforce the Eastern Front, did every single cavalry soldier under you vanish without a trace?"

"Since we're speaking plainly now, I'll say it all: Zhao Yuxiong, I've long seen through you."

"You'll stop at nothing to achieve your goals!"

"For the sake of your so-called great cause, you're willing to sacrifice anyone!"

"Am I wrong?"

Zhao Yuxiong did not flinch from Liu Ming's accusations—he stood upright, unyielding, and replied firmly: "On the Battlefield, sacrifice is inevitable. Sacrificing the small self for the greater good is standard strategy."

"Though my five hundred cavalry were annihilated, I reached Qin Feng's side and protected him, boosting Military Morale."

"Let me ask Lord Liu: which is more important—the five hundred cavalry, or Prince Qin?"

As Spy Chief, Liu Ming was eloquent—but faced with Zhao Yuxiong's rigid logic, he found no opening.

At that moment, the surrounding officers began to condemn Zhao Yuxiong.

Especially Zhao Zhenhai, who roared: "Prince Qin is just as important as those five hundred cavalry! If it were Prince Qin, he would never sacrifice them!"

Hearing this, Zhao Yuxiong countered: "Then why did Prince Qin risk everything to rescue Xu Mo?"

Zhao Zhenhai snapped back: "Xu Mo is Main General of the Eastern Front—if he dies, the entire Eastern Front collapses into chaos!"

Zhao Yuxiong raised an eyebrow: "And if Qin Feng dies?"

This silenced Zhao Zhenhai completely—by his own logic, if the Main General mattered most, then Qin Feng's reckless rescue of Xu Mo, at the cost of the entire Southern Campaign, was an even greater error.

Sun Bo frowned deeply and urged: "Everyone, calm down. Prince Qin risking his life to rescue General Xu was a morale-boosting act—why turn a good thing into a quarrel?"

Zhao Yuxiong dismissed him outright, waving his hand coldly: "Qin Feng only survived because countless troops sacrificed themselves without hesitation to rescue him."

"If Shen Qingci and the Tianji Camp Guards hadn't arrived in time, not only Qin Feng, but also me, Xu Mo, and the entire Eastern Front force would have been wiped out."

"The Southern Campaign would have failed entirely."

"This wasn't strategy—it was blind luck."

"Even if we won, the crimes involved cannot be overlooked."

At that moment, every eye turned to Qin Feng. Zhao Yuxiong noticed him too—but did not retract his words. Instead, he bowed formally.

"Now that Prince Qin is here, I'll speak plainly: I believe you are no longer fit to hold power or lead the Southern Campaign."

"When we pursued Wu Heli in the Qilian Mountains, I already sensed your mind was no longer on the Battlefield."

"Better to step aside voluntarily than to lead half-heartedly."

The officers stood stunned—no one had expected Zhao Yuxiong, the most dutiful among them, to seize power so brazenly.