Chapter 229

First Volume, Chapter 229: Shocking Battle Losses

"Qin Feng lost only a handful of men and annihilated my entire vanguard of a hundred. The Daliang New Army lives up to its reputation. If we fight on, the remaining hundred will meet the same fate. Since we've already penetrated Daliang's rear area and the border crossing is sealed by the Daliang Bianchui Army, we're trapped—so we must exploit this trap!"

"As long as we remain alive, Daliang's borderlands will never sleep in peace."

Hearing this, the Vice Commander ceased his hesitation and immediately beat the drum to issue orders.

The remaining hundred bow infantry instantly turned and retreated.

Zhong Ling led the remnants to the mountain foot, mounted his horse, looked at the hundred remaining warhorses, heart aching but decisive: "Kill every horse we can't take—leave not a single one for Daliang!"

By the time Qin Feng and his guards reached the mountain foot, only piles of dead warhorses remained—Zhong Ling and the cavalry were gone.

Ning Hu stamped his foot, teeth gritted: "Damn it, he got away!"

Qin Feng's eyes darkened with gravity; he immediately ordered: "Ning Hu, take fifty guards and pursue them. Unless we eliminate these Beidi cavalry, Beixi County will never know peace."

Ning Hu did not hesitate—he led the guards sprinting off.

Qin Feng, however, frowned deeply, unexcited despite the first victory.

The earlier question resurfaced in Qin Feng's mind.

How did the Beidi raiding cavalry precisely track our movements? Was someone leaking information? He couldn't yet identify who—but he was certain: there was a jianxie inside Daliang!

This place was too dangerous to linger. Qin Feng did not delay—he led his men back to Beixi County City.

Back at the Beixi County Yamen, he found Chen Li had returned, and summoned him to arrange lodging for his mother and Third Sister.

Chen Li dared not delay—he immediately gave up his own bedroom, moving his wife and four concubines to the side quarters.

Soon after, news of Qin Feng's defeat of the Beidi cavalry reached Beixi County.

Upon hearing this, Chen Li's back turned icy, his heart filled with terror and despair.

In front of Qin Cheng Clan, Qin Feng snapped at Chen Li: "What's your report? Are there any survivors in Qingshizicun?"

Chen Li glanced at Qin Cheng Clan, then stole a look at Qin Feng—sweating profusely, trembling: "R-Report, Young Master… those Beidi raiding cavalry were elite, struck swiftly and cleanly. Clearly, no one survived except the Lady and the Young Miss."

Beidi Elite Troops!

Qin Feng's emotions churned—sympathy for the people of Qingshizicun, yet awe at Third Sister Li Xiaolan's skill.

Facing sixteen elite raiding cavalry, she had killed seven in succession! Though her martial arts weren't as refined as Fourth Sister Jing Qianying's, her assassination-technique was truly chilling. Yet when he looked at Li Xiaolan—her smile bright as sunshine—how could anyone believe she was a killer without mercy?

One Li Xiaolan, one Qin Cheng Clan—this mother-daughter pair were truly cut from the same mold, both masterfully cunning. No wonder Old Qin had sent Third Sister back to the Ancestral Land with their mother, not the cold and aloof Fourth Sister Jing Qianying.

Qin Cheng Clan felt a wave of sorrow.

She had lived in Qingshizicun for so many years—neighbors, familiar faces, always crossing paths.

Many among them were kin to the Qin Family; over the years, none had abused the Qin name for wrongdoing, proving themselves honest and upright.

Now they'd been slaughtered by Beidi raiding cavalry—how could Qin Cheng Clan not grieve?

Yet…

Though her heart ached, Qin Cheng Clan's face never lost its smile—this mastery of concealing emotion was befitting a Lady of Imperial Rank.

Qin Cheng Clan studied the trembling Chen Li, speaking with solemn gravity: "Chen Official, you are Father Official of Beixi, commanding the yamen runners and County Commandant. The security of Beixi County is your duty. Knowing Daliang and Beidi are locked in fierce war, and Beixi lies merely forty Li from the border—you stationed only four Village Guard Posts, with a mere handful of men guarding the key passes."

"Is it lack of manpower—or did you deliberately reduce defenses to embezzle provisions and pay?"

Facing Qin Cheng Clan's gentle yet piercing inquiry, Chen Li's sweat streamed down his face; he gasped: "Madam, your insight is flawless! Even if I had a hundred times my courage, I would never dare weaken the defenses!"

First Squad Captain Qi Meng glared fiercely: "Bullshit! My hundred men charged straight to the City Gate, stormed the County Yamen—and the alarm bell only rang late! This proves your lax readiness, your soldiers' sloth! You, this negligent dog, deserve to be beheaded!"

Qi Meng's roar sent Chen Li collapsing to the ground in terror.

As County Magistrate of a border region, his burden was immense—negligence in duty was indeed a death penalty.

Moreover… his office was illegitimate.

Years ago, he'd bought this barren, backwater post for its cheapness, counting on the Emperor's distance. But fate mocked him—he never imagined Daliang would go to war with Beidi. This forgotten, impoverished county instantly became the center of every eye.

Qin Cheng Clan sighed softly, speaking gently: "Feng'er, the people of Qingshizicun cannot die in vain."

At these words, Qin Feng understood.

He gestured to Chen Li with a polite motion: "Chen Official, please."

"Please" meant being dragged out by guards.

In the Beixi County Courthouse, Chen Li knelt helplessly on the floor; crowds of commoners pressed against the courthouse door, watching the spectacle.

In the past, they'd have been driven off by yamen runners.

But now, the once-bullying yamen runners stood silent beside the fierce, martial guards—not a single peep.

Qin Feng sat without restraint beneath the plaque reading "Rectitude and Brightness," legs crossed, summoning the former County Assistant Magistrate—a man with a sly, shifty look—to record beside him.

He stretched lazily, easing the fatigue of long travel, muttering half-heartedly: "I am but a commoner, here in Beixi for personal matters—I have no authority to judge Chen Official."

Even the smallest official is still an official!

No matter Qin Feng's honors, he remains a commoner.

How could a commoner judge an official?

As Qin Feng sent men to summon Chen Li's entire family to the courthouse, he muttered with exaggerated humility: "Chen Official, don't be nervous—I'm merely recording your accomplishments. How you're punished will be decided by the Ministry of Personnel."

Chen Li's face turned ashen.

Whether Qin Feng judged him didn't matter—what mattered was that if this scandal reached the Ministry of Personnel, he was dead for sure!

Yet despite knowing Qin Feng was merely a commoner, not a single soul in the entire yamen dared resist.

Under countless watching eyes, Qin Feng upheld his "commoner's demeanor," slouching lazily: "Let's start with the crimes I know. County Assistant, write this down. First: enemy forces entered the city, yet you were unaware—according to the Da Liang Code, this is negligence in duty. Second: you reduced defenses and embezzled provisions and pay—this is embezzlement. Third…"