Chapter 168: First Volume, Chapter 168: Sudden Incident

First Volume, Chapter 168: Sudden Incident

Seeing Jing Qianying, usually so cold and composed, react so violently, Shen Qingci and Liu Hongyan were both puzzled.

Liu Hongyan frowned in confusion: "They're just City Patrol Bureau soldiers—everywhere in the city. What's so surprising?"

Jing Qianying drew her sword in one swift motion, her cold eyes flashing as she snapped: "Heavy armor is strictly regulated by the Ministry of War. City Patrol Bureau soldiers are tasked with Jingdu's local governance—why would they be clad in heavy armor? Besides, this is the Garrison Army's military garrison, surrounded by troops—there's no need for the City Patrol Bureau to handle security. This must be a coup!"

As she spoke, Jing Qianying spotted dozens of soldiers pushing a battering ram—her face paled as she cried out: "The City Patrol Bureau has mutinied! Shu Feng, hurry and escort the two young ladies away!"

This shout was heard not only by the Qin Family members, but by every Noble Youth gathered nearby.

In that moment, the City Patrol Bureau Commander drew his sword and pointed it straight at the garrison: "Everyone here—leave no survivors. Kill!"

The armored soldiers advanced steadily, while simultaneously, over a hundred cavalrymen from the Garrison Army surged out from both flanks, charging toward the garrison.

No wonder the City Patrol Bureau was clad in heavy armor and pushing a battering ram.

The City Patrol Bureau and the Garrison Army had secretly colluded!

Were they planning to wipe out every noble inside the garrison during the Qingyi Ceremony?!

Even though Jing Qianying was highly skilled in martial arts, facing a disciplined, organized army, she could only guarantee her own escape—protecting Liu Hongyan and the others would mean certain death.

At the same time, the sentry atop the garrison's watchtower turned pale with shock and immediately began pounding the war drum.

The Civil and Military Officials, busy celebrating the successful conclusion of the Qingyi Ceremony, froze at the sudden drumming.

Qin Tianhu frowned and barked: "What's going on? Why is the war drum beating so fiercely?!"

Soon after, a soldier with a deathly pale face ran over: "Disaster! The Garrison Army and City Patrol Bureau have joined forces in rebellion!"

At these words, silence fell over the crowd—then erupted into deafening screams.

"Impossible?! The Garrison Army is the Imperial Clan's personal guard—how could they rebel?!"

"The City Patrol Bureau and Garrison Army control thirty percent of Jingdu's defense forces—what do we do?!"

"Quick! Send someone to summon the Longhu Army at City South!"

"For safety, deploy the East and West Camps' armies to protect His Majesty!"

Qin Tianhu let out a thunderous roar: "All of you—shut up! Two Grand Generals, immediately mobilize all soldiers inside the garrison and prepare to defend! Is the Garrison Army Vice General here?!"

Soon after, a middle-aged man clad in armor ran over, face trembling with panic: "My lord, I knew nothing of this!"

Qin Tianhu's face darkened, teeth clenched: "Whether you knew or not doesn't matter now—His Majesty's safety is paramount. Does this garrison have a back door?"

The Vice General turned ashen, swallowing hard: "No. The garrison has only one entrance—the main gate."

Hearing this, Qin Tianhu nodded and gave the order: "If there's no exit, abandon escape. All of you—stand with me and defend this garrison to the death! The Longhu Army has many spies—they've surely received word. We must hold out until the Longhu Army and the East and West Camps arrive to reinforce us."

Under Qin Tianhu's command, every Regular Army soldier inside the garrison rushed to the main gate, preparing for a final stand.

The moment the war drum sounded, the Liang Emperor and all Imperial Clan Members had already been escorted into the garrison's camp by the Imperial Guard.

One hundred Imperial Guard soldiers stood inside the camp, protecting His Majesty; two hundred formed a battle line outside the camp, ready to defend it to the death.

The Commander of the Imperial Guard shouted: "Civil and Military Officials—enter the camp at once! We will fight to the death to preserve the foundations of Shedynasty!"

The officials surged into the camp.

Thud!

A muffled crash—the camp gate slammed shut.

Qin Feng stood frozen, dumbfounded.

"Wait… what?"

"What the hell is going on?! A mutiny? That's the Garrison Army—the Imperial Clan's personal guard! How could they turn so suddenly?!"

"Besides! What's the point? The Liang Emperor is still in his prime, the Princes may be scheming for the Crown Prince position, but they don't need to resort to Breaking the Cauldrons and Sinking the Boats. Who else could be behind this? Could it be bribery from the Di? Come on—had the Di this kind of power, they'd have already crushed us in battle!"

"Could this… be fake?"

Qin Feng's mind raced, instantly conjuring countless possibilities.

Just as Qin Feng began to think this sudden, inexplicable mutiny was merely a surprise drill, screams erupted from outside the garrison.

Qin Feng froze, then sprinted toward the city wall. Seeing Lin Quqi stumbling down the tower, he roared: "What's happening?! Where are those screams coming from? Are the Qin Family members safe?!"

All Qin Family members were waiting outside the garrison!

Lin Quqi lost his footing and tumbled down the stairs—he was a scholar, unaccustomed to violence, now ashen-faced with terror: "It's over… everything's over! The commoners outside the garrison—they've all been trampled by cavalry!"

Qin Feng's chest tightened. He grabbed Lin Quqi by the neck and screamed hysterically: "Impossible! My Fourth Sister's martial skill is unmatched—she'll protect our family! I don't believe it!"

Qin Feng turned to run up the wall, but Lin Quqi clung to his leg.

Lin Quqi abandoned all scholarly dignity, wailing: "Fourth Miss is surrounded! Heavy infantry surrounds her on all sides! Her sword is ceremonial—useless in battle! Otherwise, why would soldiers let her enter so close to His Majesty? That blade can't pierce armor—it only cut one rebel once… then snapped in half…"

"You can't go up—it's too dangerous!"

Screams rose and fell. Qin Feng stood motionless.

He didn't know how long it lasted—until the screams ceased entirely, leaving only the cries of battle—only then did he snap back to reality.

His eyes, bloodshot and blazing with fury.

"Sisters…"

"Damn it!"

Qin Feng grabbed Lin Quqi by the collar and dragged him back into the camp.

Outside the camp gate, a crowd had gathered.

The camp was cramped—only Imperial Clan Members and Court Heavy Ministers were allowed inside.

The Noble Youth kept outside were in chaos, wailing and crying out in panic.

Qin Feng ignored them, screaming at the top of his lungs: "Xu Mo! Ning Hu!"

The two pushed through the crowd. Though terrified, they still held their ground.

Qin Feng gritted his teeth: "Gather our people—we're going to the city gate and fight those bastards to the death!"

Xu Mo knew that without a fight, they'd only be slaughtered—he clenched his jaw: "Fine! Let's fight!"

Xu Mo sprinted off to instruct those three hundred guards.

Ning Hu frowned deeply and said in a low voice: "The thousand Imperial Guards I previously deployed have already accompanied Lord Qin to the ShiZhen Door."

While speaking, Xu Mo returned with the three hundred guards.

Qin Feng pointed at the Cavalry Archers who had not yet removed their Heavy Armor and roared: "Except for the hundred Bow Infantry, all other guards return and don Heavy Armor! The hundred Bow Infantry are under Ning Hu's command, the two hundred Heavy Armor guards are under Xu Mo's command—every last one of you switch to Breakthrough Weapons! I'm going to smash the brains out of those bastards!"