Chapter 170: First Volume, Chapter 170: Fooled

First Volume, Chapter 170: Fooled

The ShiZhen space was too narrow for the cavalry on both flanks to maneuver, but no maneuvering was needed—they only had to hold their ground and mix into the rebel ranks to prevent the rebels from launching a flank attack on the Central Formation. Meanwhile, the thirteen hundred men of the Central Formation formed a human wall and engaged the rebels in close combat.

For anyone, death is merely a matter of time.

And time was precisely the most critical thing right now.

At that moment, a soldier drenched in blood ran toward them, shouting: "Disaster! The rebels have broken through the City Gate! Lord Qin and the two Grand Generals, Piaoqi and Weiwu, are already dead! The rebels are advancing like a bamboo shoot splitting open—we cannot hold them!"

What?!

Old Qin… dead?

First his sisters, then his father—the mighty Qin Family now left with only Qin Feng alone…

Unprecedented grief and rage exploded within Qin Feng.

But this was no time for weeping. Qin Feng's eyes were bloodshot; he raised his Small Golden Mace and pointed it at the soldier delivering the news, roaring: "Sowing panic in the ranks? Execute him on the spot! Hold your ground, none of you dare panic—we are all prepared to die with honor!"

Chen Ge, closest to the soldier, kicked him down and raised his "bone club," ready to smash it into the soldier's skull.

Just as the soldier's brains were about to splatter, Qin Tianhu—who should have been dead—shouted: "You are all fine sons of Shedynasty!"

Chen Ge's bone club hung frozen in midair; his eyes went blank. Then the "panicking" soldier revealed a sly smile.

Qin Feng on the platform also froze in shock, turning swiftly toward the voice—and saw Qin Tianhu and the two Grand Generals standing atop the wall, their gazes filled with profound pride and warmth as they surveyed the young recruits below.

Before Qin Feng could react, the heavy Door behind him groaned and slowly swung open.

Under the protection of the Imperial Guard, the Liang Emperor stepped out of the Camp, flanked by Imperial Clan Members and civil and military officials, his face beaming with satisfaction.

"At Po Zhen Guan and Military Strategy Pass, all Candidate Vice-Generals have shown victory or defeat. But in this final Adaptability Pass, all of you have passed!"

At these words, the recruits who had prepared to die stared at each other in stunned silence.

Qin Feng was utterly bewildered.

What the hell? Had everything just now been staged?!

The Liang Emperor walked over to Qin Feng, patted his shoulder, smiled faintly, said nothing, then turned to the assembled recruits and new soldiers and announced loudly: "All sons of official families shall receive One Thousand Liang of White Silver and be granted the rank of Hundred Households! All soldiers shall receive One Hundred Liang of White Silver and be granted the rank of Ten Households!"

The stunned crowd instantly erupted into cheers, as if they had just won a great battle.

The silver rewards meant little—barely worth mentioning.

What mattered was Ten Households and Hundred Households: the right to be supported by subjects, ensuring lifelong comfort.

Especially for those granted Hundred Households—they had already stepped halfway into officialdom.

Amid their excitement, everyone knew clearly this was all thanks to Qin Feng.

In an instant, scorching gazes from all directions converged upon Qin Feng.

The Liang Emperor turned to Qin Feng, ignoring the rewards entirely, and asked with deep meaning: "Your entire family was slaughtered outside the city, your father died on the Front Line, and the news kept pouring in. You've always valued family above all—why then did you ignore them, and only focus on organizing troops to Beidi?"

Qin Feng's emotions were undeniably complex.

After hearing the repeated deaths of his family, Qin Feng had nearly broken down, driven only by the narrow, vengeful thought of retaliation.

In his heart, Shedynasty meant nothing compared to his own family.

But facing the Liang Emperor's question, Qin Feng could not answer truthfully.

His earlier fury and madness had vanished; Qin Feng forced a tearful expression: "I thought Shedynasty was finished! May Your Majesty know: Yi Guo Yi Jia. Without a nation, how can there be a home? If what happened today were real, I would gladly die to join my family—but before I die, I will spill every last drop of blood to protect Shedynasty's Cultivation Foundation!"

Not only the Liang Emperor, but even the Imperial Relatives behind him were moved, their eyes glowing with emotion.

The Liang Emperor had no hesitation; he immediately declared: "I shall set this precedent! Though Qin Feng holds no official rank or title, I hereby entrust him fully with the Canjiang Appointment authority for this northern campaign against Di! Minister of Works, you shall fully assist Qin Feng in any request he makes."

Qin Feng had previously resented the Liang Emperor—after all, the old bastard had hired so many "extras" to stage this grand performance, even fooling Qin Feng completely.

But now, these words from the Liang Emperor wiped away all resentment; Qin Feng felt ecstatic, as if floating on air.

The Canjiang Appointment authority seemed minor, almost insignificant to the grand scheme—but it effectively controlled the upward mobility of "newcomers" in Jingzhong, especially Wu Jiang Hou Ren.

For the sake of their descendants' official futures, ministers and Grand Generals alike would be forced to cooperate with Qin Tianhu.

Everyone with eyes understood: the Liang Emperor intended to hand as much military power as possible to the Qin Family—only when the Qin Family held the spear could the Liang Emperor rest easy.

Everyone's gaze toward the Qin father and son shifted once more.

As for Li Xu and others, their faces had long turned dark, but they had nowhere to vent their anger…

The Qingyi Ceremony ended perfectly.

The Liang Emperor, satisfied, returned to the Imperial Palace under the escort of the Imperial Guard.

At this moment, ordinary-looking buildings in the ShiZhen began spilling out armed-to-the-teeth Imperial Guards—visible and hidden combined, over five thousand men! Even if the rebellion had been real, these elite Imperial Guards alone could hold off the enemy until reinforcements arrived.

The Liang Emperor's depth of strategy even impressed Qin Feng secretly.

With the Liang Emperor's departure, the once-bustling ShiZhen gradually quieted.

Of all the Imperial Clan Members, only Chang Princess and her daughter lingered.

Chang Princess approached Qin Feng, smiling warmly, clearly pleased with his performance today, her voice soft and alluring: "The Qin Family's heir has not disappointed. You have won the Emperor's trust—even without official rank, your future is boundless."

Feeling the warmth in Chang Princess's gaze, Qin Feng couldn't help but suspect: Was this cruel rebellion drill her idea? A final test of the Qin Family?

This suspicion was no groundless rumor—among the entire Imperial Clan, no one matched the cunning of the Liang Emperor and Chang Princess, brother and sister.

Princess of Qiyang snorted, disgruntled: "You're clever—if you hadn't fought to the death just now, hmph!"

She didn't finish, but her meaning was clear.

Watching the mother-daughter pair leave, Qin Feng couldn't help but smile bitterly, wondering what sin he'd committed in his past life to be haunted by these "demons."

In the end, even wanting to be a mere Wanfu was impossible…