Chapter 1294: First Volume, Chapter 1294: Northern Border Downward Warning

First Volume, Chapter 1294: Northern Border Downward Warning

The first thing Zhao Yuxiong did upon arriving at Dingtao County was to climb the City Wall and gaze northward.

Although too far to see anything, Zhao Yuxiong felt the Northern Border was incredibly close…

After staring silently for a long time, Zhao Yuxiong let out a long sigh.

"Brother Qin, we will eventually meet on the battlefield—this is not what I wish to see, yet I have no other choice."

Was this mere coincidence, or fate's deliberate design?

As Zhao Yuxiong gazed north, Qin Feng stood atop the City Wall of Anyuan County, staring southward in silence.

According to the Brocade Guard's reconnaissance, Qin Feng had learned immediately of Zhao Yuxiong's arrival at Dingtao County.

In addition, Qin Feng had already fully grasped the garrison situation within Dingtao County.

At this moment, Dingtao County's total forces numbered around thirteen thousand, and this was merely the Vanguard—once full-scale war broke out, reinforcements would pour in endlessly.

Although Qin Feng was confident he could hold off the imperial army, the sheer number of enemy troops did trouble him.

At this moment, Zhao Zhenhai arrived.

"Prince Qin, the imperial court is continuously reinforcing Dingtao County with troops. Though we hold the advantage of home ground, the best decision now is to strike while the enemy army is still unsteady, catching them off guard."

"Whether to weaken enemy morale or inflict casualties on their fighting forces, both will accumulate conditions for victory in subsequent operations."

Qin Feng understood this logic perfectly—the more enemies killed now, the fewer of his own soldiers would be sacrificed in the full-scale battle.

Yet…

Qin Feng and Zhao Yuxiong had once been brothers; even now that they had parted ways, he still hoped for a peaceful separation.

Launching a stealth attack on Dingtao County to open the war was not the outcome Qin Feng wished to see.

Zhao Zhenhai naturally understood Qin Feng's thoughts and immediately tried to persuade him.

"If it were Zhao Yuxiong in your place, he would show not the slightest mercy."

"Though you and Zhao Yuxiong were brothers who shared life and death, now you serve different masters—he serves the Liang Emperor, while you serve the people of the Northern Border."

"If you cling stubbornly to past brotherhood, isn't that equivalent to being unkind to the people of the Northern Border?"

Zhao Zhenhai's words were not meant to blame Qin Feng, but to prevent missing such a golden opportunity—he hoped Qin Feng would issue the order swiftly and launch an immediate assault on Dingtao County.

The period of mutual standoff and probing had passed; full-scale war was unavoidable—the first to strike would seize the initiative.

Once the imperial army firmly established itself at Dingtao County and completed its defensive works, Zhao Yuxiong would surely launch a fierce assault on Anyuan County.

Zhao Zhenhai knew Zhao Yuxiong's character.

Zhao Yuxiong was no ungrateful traitor; right now, he surely felt guilt—but in matters of severing ties, Zhao Yuxiong was far more decisive, unmoved by brotherly sentiment.

Qin Feng sighed inwardly—even Zhao Zhenhai, his most loyal follower, was now impatiently urging him to give the order.

Clearly, the moment for action had arrived; further delay would mean losing the opportunity.

Qin Feng slowly closed his eyes, remained silent for a moment, and when he opened them again, his gaze had regained its usual resolve.

"Zhao Zhenhai, you are right—on the battlefield, clinging to past bonds is not the way of a true man."

"If the chance to fight has come and we miss it, will we not become eternal traitors to the Northern Border?"

"Beidi War Command: assemble the troops, launch a fierce assault on Dingtao County after nightfall."

After waiting so long for Qin Feng's order, Zhao Zhenhai froze upon hearing it.

"A fierce assault?"

"Dingtao County is a major stronghold—if we launch a direct attack, we'll only increase casualties. All commanders agree the best option is a night raid: a swift, sudden strike to disrupt enemy deployment, then withdraw our forces before they can counterattack."

Hearing Zhao Zhenhai's words, Qin Feng waved his hand, signaling his approach was too timid.

Now fully in war mode, Qin Feng's every decision was optimized for battlefield superiority.

"Precisely because Dingtao County is so impregnable, a stealth raid will fail."

"As long as the City remains standing, no matter how we harass them, the enemy can rely on the City Wall and remain invincible."

"And if we strike and retreat, Zhao Yuxiong can simply claim we were routed and forced to withdraw—this will only boost enemy morale."

"If we strike, we must make them feel the pain."

Hearing Qin Feng's explanation, Zhao Zhenhai finally understood, silently marveling that even two of him combined could not match Qin Feng's military acumen.

Zhao Zhenhai no longer hesitated and immediately went to mobilize the troops.

Compared to Dingtao County's thirteen thousand garrison troops, Anyuan County's garrison was smaller—only six thousand in total.

Yet due to home-ground advantage, and since no enemy infiltration had yet occurred, and no ambush was feared, Qin Feng could reinforce at any time with large numbers of troops.

By evening, five thousand Vanguard troops had been assembled: three thousand cavalry and two thousand infantry.

The two thousand infantry charged directly toward Dingtao County, while the three thousand cavalry split into left and right wings, encircling Dingtao County from two directions.

As soon as the army left Anyuan County, enemy Imperial Spies spotted the movement and rushed back to Dingtao County to report.

Learning Qin Feng's army was advancing, the atmosphere inside Dingtao County's Ying Zhang instantly grew grim.

After all, which Liang general did not know Qin Feng's reputation?

Facing Qin Feng's preemptive strike, the officers were shaken—but only Zhao Yuxiong's gaze remained firm, unshaken.

He calmly issued orders: "Immediately consolidate our forces—withdraw all garrison troops to the City's perimeter and defend behind the City Wall."

"This battle does not aim to kill enemies—only to hold the enemy's assault and repel them—that is our Strategic Goal."

Hearing this, the officer named Zhou Tao frowned deeply.

"General Zhao, is it possible the Northern Border Army's night attack is not a stealth raid, but a full-scale assault? This seems illogical."

"After all, to launch a Siege Warfare, you must deploy several times the enemy's strength."

"Could the General be overreacting?"

Facing Zhou Tao's doubt, Zhao Yuxiong raised his hand, cutting him off, his voice firm: "If this were a stealth raid, the Northern Border Troops would have sent only one or two thousand men."