Chapter 147

First Volume_Chapter 147 Entering the Finals

Xu Mo, his enthusiasm fading, nervously asked: "With heavy armor's advantage so great, could anyone possibly break the formation?"

Qin Feng tilted his head, thinking as he counted on his fingers: "Heavy armor formations aren't afraid of cavalry, but they require large armies—too few troops, and the formation isn't thick enough to stop a cavalry charge. Then there are archers armed with armor-piercing arrowheads; since heavy infantry move slowly, they can't stand up to halberds longer than a zhang. Then there's…"

Before Qin Feng could finish, Xu Mo interrupted, disheartened: "You've just killed my confidence."

Qin Feng patted Xu Mo's shoulder, solemnly: "The battlefield changes in an instant. The enemy will adjust tactics based on our moves. If we stand still while they change, aren't we asking for death? I bet the next Candidate Vice-Generals will all try to break through heavy armor."

"Next, we change the troop composition!"

Qin Feng handed Xu Mo a pre-prepared note, instructing him to adjust troop ratios according to the proportions listed.

As long as it didn't involve archers or cavalry—two troop types requiring technical expertise—all other troop types were interchangeable.

The second trial began.

"Xu Mo Army, face Li Qi Army!"

Li Qi's army hastily altered troop ratios: four-fifths of the soldiers became halberdiers, with only a few light infantry left for cover.

Li Qi, confident and smug, declared: "Halberdiers, with their superior reach, can perfectly suppress heavy infantry—Xu Mo will lose!"

As Xu Mo's army entered formation, Li Qi's smile froze on his face.

The Xu Mo Army, once entirely heavy armor, had undergone a complete transformation: one hundred heavy armor soldiers formed the center, one hundred archers on the left flank, one hundred light infantry on the right.

Li Qi paled, barking: "Light infantry, move! Kill those archers!"

In the next instant, Xu Mo's light infantry had surrounded the archers in three layers inside and out.

Meanwhile, heavy infantry blocked the halberdiers' advance; though they fell quickly, they bought the archers time—armor-piercing arrows rained down on the halberdiers.

The arrowheads were coated with lime; any mark on the chest or abdomen meant elimination.

The two sides were only dozens of steps apart—a distance where archers could hit targets blindfolded. Under continuous arrow rain, halberdiers were eliminated in large swaths.

Final result: Xu Mo's heavy armor soldiers were all eliminated; Li Qi's halberdiers were all eliminated. Facing the pincer attack of Xu Mo's light infantry and archers, the few remaining light infantry in Li Qi's army had no chance of victory.

Qin Tianhu's eyes gleamed—he was deeply impressed by this tactic, and all of it stemmed from Qin Feng, who was leaping around on the wall.

Qin Tianhu roared excitedly: "Xu Mo Army wins!"

The third and fourth trials followed in quick succession.

Under Qin Feng's instructions, Xu Mo's army kept changing formations: in the third trial, all light infantry used speed to break into the enemy's archer lines; in the fourth, they switched back to full heavy infantry, formed a wall, pushed the enemy light infantry into a corner, and annihilated them.

Li Xu's face turned pitch black as he watched Xu Mo's army storm into the Finals—if Xu Mo won, Qin Feng would firmly establish himself in the military, making it even harder to crush the Qin Family later.

"I never thought this kid not only had deep military strategy knowledge but also such rich battlefield experience—how could he possibly be a Jingzhong wastrel? He's clearly a battle-hardened veteran." Li Xu refused to admit it, yet had no choice but to admit it.

The civil and military officials stared at each other in shock—no one had expected Xu Mo's "old-man army" to reach the Finals.

Several military commanders, watching their own sons eliminated, flushed red with shame.

"This is absurd—Xu Mo's just a City Patrol Bureau Colonel, never fought a battle before. How does he use tactics so skillfully?"

"Ah! Xu Mo's a stubborn fool—brave but lacking wit. Look, it's clearly that brat on the wall behind him calling the shots."

"Hah, how strange… that kid's jumping around like a monkey, no dignity at all, yet he understands tactics so well. Then again, Qin Feng is Qin Tianhu's son—after all, a tiger doesn't raise a dog. It makes sense."

The Liang Emperor's attention was entirely fixed on Qin Feng on the wall, and he couldn't help murmuring: "What an Art of Gambling the Heart!"

Li Zhan beside him looked puzzled: "Art of Gambling the Heart?"

The Liang Emperor gave a light snort, a sly smile curling his lips: "Qin Feng's tactics are indeed varied, but his greatest strength is reading people's minds—he always strikes precisely where the enemy is weakest, proving he's already fully understood every Candidate Vice-General's thoughts!"

"The psychological duel between Commanders often decides the battlefield. This brat—where did he learn such skills? Compared to him, even I seem narrow-minded."

Li Zhan quickly smiled apologetically: "Your Majesty speaks too highly. Your Majesty is the true dragon—Qin Feng, no matter how capable, remains a subject."

The Liang Emperor glanced at Li Zhan, displeased: "Do you think I need you to tell me that?"

Li Zhan startled, immediately lowering his head, afraid to speak further—he'd served the Emperor for decades and still couldn't read his moods.

Flattery isn't something you hurl blindly—misplace it, and you invite the dragon's wrath.

The Second Prince silently observed the Liang Emperor's reaction, then glanced at the Seventh Prince and saw him smiling as he studied Qin Feng on the wall.

Clearly, the Seventh Prince's interest was fixed on Qin Feng.

The Second Prince cleared his throat, coldly asking: "Seventh Brother, what do you think of Qin Feng?"

The Seventh Prince immediately looked away, bowing respectfully: "Qin Feng is a once-in-a-generation genius. Whoever gains him gains a tiger's wings."

The Second Prince's eyes flickered with coldness, feigning indifference: "So you admire Qin Feng too?"

The Seventh Prince lowered his posture completely, never challenging the Second Prince: "To admire talent is human nature. I'm naturally curious about Qin Feng. But I've heard he holds himself in high esteem—even if I wished to befriend him, I'd likely lack the means."

The lute-playing woman rolled her eyes and whispered to the man in white clothes beside her: "The Seventh Prince is such a master of patience—he's one of the Crown Prince candidates, yet acts like a fallen prince. His scheming runs deep."

The man in white clothes glared at her and hissed: "What kind of place is this? Don't speak out of turn!"

At that moment, a voice rang out in the arena.

"Your Majesty, this humble official dares to offer advice: Xu Mo's army wears heavy armor and employs ever-changing tactics—they must have received guidance from a master. This is unfair to other Candidate Vice-Generals. Perhaps we should raise the difficulty."

The official offering advice was a low-ranking officer from the Ministry of Works…