Chapter 161: First Volume, Chapter 161: Only Because Someone Bears the Burden and Presses Forward

First Volume, Chapter 161: Only Because Someone Bears the Burden and Presses Forward

When the party involved spoke up, the Vice Minister of Revenue immediately stood and pointed at Qin Feng, shouting: "Audacious! The Sage has already rendered judgment—how dare you pick and choose? Qin Feng, don't think your golden sash grants you impunity to defy your superiors!"

Qin Tianhu hadn't expected Qin Feng to be so insolent and quickly barked: "Qin Feng, show some respect!"

Facing the rebukes, Qin Feng merely shifted his posture and went on scratching his ear: "When did I question the Sage? Since this is a policy debate, it must be rigorous—isn't 'defending the city to the last' common knowledge? Can't that count as a policy?"

Chen Ge's cheeks flushed crimson at Qin Feng's challenge.

The Liang Emperor smiled and waved a hand: "Qin Feng's words have merit—this policy is usable, but not the best."

At these words, Chen Ge immediately deflated and slumped back into his seat.

The Vice Minister of Revenue could only sweep his sleeve and give up.

Then Lin Rong submitted his policy.

Qin Tianhu glared at Qin Feng, warning him to behave, then continued: "A city with eight thousand defenders, situated at a border fortress, is no small town—it is a major stronghold. Though the enemy army numbers one hundred thousand, turning this isolated city into an iron barrel is no easy feat. They should send raiding cavalry to scour the surrounding areas for grain. Siege warfare lasts from months to years; even if the city eventually falls, the enemy's losses will be several times greater than ours, leaving them too depleted to ever threaten the Central Plains' rear areas."

Before the Liang Emperor could rule, Li Xu stood abruptly and bowed: "Your Majesty, I believe Lin Rong's proposal is highly pragmatic."

Officials from the Ministry of Revenue all chimed in agreement.

"This strategy may not break the siege, but it is the best feasible solution: trading one city's loss for the safety of the rear areas. If we can sustain prolonged consumption, then when reinforcements counterattack, we will surely crush the enemy army!"

"Precisely. Using the isolated city as a strategic anchor, Lin Rong, despite his youth, already demonstrates grand strategic vision—truly rare."

Qin Feng tilted his head, grinning mockingly.

According to Qin Feng, Lin Rong's father was the Wei Wu Grand General, and the Wei Wu Grand General had long been cozying up to the Ministry of Revenue. Anyone from the Ministry, Qin Feng dismissed outright.

The Liang Emperor did not rush to judge but turned to Qin Feng and asked with a smile: "The ministers' words hold weight—Qin Feng, what is your opinion?"

Fine, if they wouldn't let him speak, he'd let it slide.

But now that they were letting him speak, This Young Master wouldn't hold back—he opened his mouth wide and launched into a torrent: "One hundred thousand enemy troops besieging an isolated city, expecting to break it in months or years? I'd wager the enemy army is full of old men, weaklings, and the sick!"

Lin Rong had long despised Qin Feng and gritted his teeth: "Qin Feng, just say what you mean—why speak in such sarcastic riddles?"

Qin Feng spread his hands, feigning innocence: "I'm merely stating facts—if one hundred thousand enemy troops can't take a city defended by eight thousand, what else could they be but old, weak, and sick? Pay attention to the question: one hundred thousand enemy troops besiege an isolated city, eight thousand defenders with no reinforcements. They've already sealed the city off—why still talk about border fortresses?"

"True, a well-supplied major city can hold out for months or even years in a siege, but to break a mere eight-thousand-man garrison? Ten to fifteen days is more than enough."

Lin Rong's father, the Wei Wu Grand General, slammed his fist on the table and leapt to his feet, furious: "You insolent brat, how dare you speak so boldly! Even if you were given a month, could you possibly take my Liang border fortress? I say you're spouting nonsense—utterly lacking military common sense. The tactics you used at Po Zhen Guan? They were surely taught to you by Qin Tianhu!"

The Piaoqi Grand General, who had already been seething since Qin Feng tormented Chen Ge, now sneered: "He's just a wastrel, lacking even basic military knowledge. Attacking fortified cities has always been the worst strategy, a last resort. To breach a city, you need at least ten times the enemy's strength and must accept three to five times the casualties. If you can trade one isolated city to cripple the enemy's BuddingSpirit, isn't that a guaranteed win?"

Seeing the two Grand Generals enraged, Qin Tianhu quickly bowed: "Generals, please calm down—my Quan Lang is young and hot-headed, speaking without thought. Don't take him seriously."

The Liang Emperor also frowned slightly—such a scene, with both Grand Generals enraged, was exceedingly rare in the Imperial Court. To ease the tension, he sternly asked Qin Feng: "Even I don't believe it. How could you possibly capture an isolated city in a month? If you can't explain it, I'll punish you for false speech—twenty lashes on the mouth!"

Even if the Liang Emperor favored Qin Feng, he could not possibly side with him now that both Grand Generals were so furious.

Xu Mo turned pale with fear—he should've just handled the policy question himself. Qin Feng was clearly trying to tear the heavens apart.

But Qin Feng acted as if nothing had happened, grinning: "Do any of you know what 'Xijun' is?"

The room, moments ago filled with shouts, fell utterly silent.

Everyone exchanged bewildered glances—the term "Xijun" meant nothing to them.

The Liang Emperor, accustomed to Qin Feng's bizarre ideas, knew any unheard-of term concealed hidden depth—he leaned forward eagerly: "What is Xijun?"

Qin Feng didn't delay—he explained bluntly: "What's most common on the battlefield? Corpses. Gather them, launch them into the city via catapults. As they rot, the poisonous substances seeping from them will spread through the entire city. Within a month, plague will rage, and the city will fall without a single attack. Moreover, I believe the psychological horror of this tactic is so overwhelming that the garrison will collapse long before a month passes."

"If catapults are lacking, place the corpses in water sources near the city. All water sources are connected underground. Once contaminated, no fresh water can be replenished—adults will die of dehydration in three days. Even drinking urine or slaughtering warhorses for blood can only sustain them ten to fifteen days."

Hearing this, even the Liang Emperor was secretly stunned.

The two Grand Generals stared at each other, utterly speechless.

The Princess of Qiyang could no longer bear it and snapped: "You monster! How could you conceive such a vile tactic? This dishonors the dignity of our Shangbang—only barbaric savages would use such a disgraceful strategy!"

Facing the Princess's rebuke, Qin Feng merely smiled: "Your Highness is right—but in the struggle for Heaven, victory alone defines heroes. Even if this Xijun tactic were ten times more cruel, ten times more despicable, I'd still use it without hesitation if it protected our homeland and expanded our borders."

"If no one is willing to bear the burden of eternal infamy, I will."

"There is no peace in this world—only because someone bears the burden and presses forward!"