Chapter 248

First Volume, Chapter 248: Good News Reaches Beijing

The Liang Emperor's gaze turned cold, his words steeped in frustrated disappointment: "Helpless? He's always been capable—so why, when faced with political suppression, has he lost even the courage to resist? I know full well the suffering of Beixi County's people; I'll send officials there to clean up the mess when the time comes."

"Must I personally intervene in every matter to prop him up? This time, I'm stepping back to see just how capable he truly is. If Qin Feng Xiao'er is this useless, he's not worth my attention at all!"

Seeing the Liang Emperor furious over this "misplaced favor," Li Zhan, though wanting to defend Qin Feng, dared not speak further.

At that moment, the Imperial Eunuch rushed in: "Your Majesty, the Minister of War requests an audience."

The Liang Emperor sneered inwardly: Qin Feng's ability to escape Beixi's stagnant waters depended solely on his own merit—no one could plead for him, not even Qin Tianhu!

He snapped irritably: "Summon him!"

Qin Tianhu clutched the military dispatch, his face flushed with excitement, and immediately knelt to bow: "I disturb Your Majesty late at night—this servant deserves death ten thousand times over."

Deserve death ten thousand times over?

The Liang Emperor glanced at Qin Tianhu—the old man's face beamed with triumph, not a trace of remorse.

Hmph!

Father and son, cut from the same cloth.

The Liang Emperor feigned indifference: "Qin Senior, no need for restraint—speak plainly."

Qin Tianhu cut straight to the point, suppressing his glee only slightly: "My son, Qin Feng, has sent a military dispatch…"

At these words, the Liang Emperor's expression darkened instantly: "Qin Senior, are you here to plead for Qin Feng's recall to Beijing? Without major merit, promotion remains under long-term planning. Governing the people's livelihood is no quick task—wait until Beixi County becomes a strong county before we discuss it."

In the Liang Emperor's view, Qin Feng had chosen the most foolish path: relying on diligent governance of the people's livelihood to earn promotion and recall to Beijing.

Qin Tianhu sensed the Emperor's anger—and instead of fear, he felt joy. Clearly, the Emperor still cared deeply about Qin Feng.

Qin Tianhu hurried to explain: "Your Majesty misunderstands—I come to report Beidi war intelligence."

"Your Majesty has surely heard that upon arriving in Beixi County, Qin Feng immediately clashed with Bei Di raiding cavalry. Four days ago, Qin Feng led his guards to annihilate the enemy's remaining forces, beheading their commander—the head has been delivered to Beijing along with this dispatch."

"Though the ice used to preserve the head has melted and signs of decay have appeared, the features remain identifiable: this man is Zhong Ling."

Upon hearing "Zhong Ling," the Liang Emperor's expression shifted completely—his eyes filled with shock: "What did you say? Who was the enemy commander beheaded?!"

Qin Tianhu, unable to contain his pride, shouted: "Zhong Ling!"

The Liang Emperor drew a deep breath, fixing Qin Tianhu with a piercing stare: "The so-called Beidi Wolf—the Legendary Fang General?"

Qin Tianhu nodded firmly: "Exactly!"

The Liang Emperor stepped forward, personally helping Qin Tianhu to his feet, his excitement unmistakable: "For years, our borderlands have suffered relentless raids by Bei Di cavalry—especially from Zhong Ling! Thousands of civilians and soldiers have fallen to him. He has slain several of our grain transport ministers and countless border army colonels and officers."

"A mere tooth general—yet even I have heard his name!"

"I still find it hard to believe the man slain by Qin Feng is truly Zhong Ling."

Qin Tianhu clenched his fists, breathing heavily with exhilaration.

When he first received the news, Qin Tianhu could not believe it either—only after seeing the head could he confirm it.

Without further explanation, Qin Tianhu turned and roared: "Bring Zhong Ling's head forward!"

Soon after, the Imperial Eunuch carried an ice box to the Liang Emperor's side.

Just a crack in the lid was enough.

The Liang Emperor waved his hand, signaling the eunuch to withdraw, then returned to his shushu and wrote furiously on the imperial edict.

Finally, he declared loudly: "Qin Feng has slain the enemy commander Zhong Ling—this is an extraordinary feat! Transmit my imperial decree: display Zhong Ling's head before all court ministers! Summon Qin Feng to Beijing immediately to receive his reward!"

…

Gao Fu.

Gao Ming, calmly sipping tea, suddenly leapt from his armchair, staring in disbelief at Li Xu, who had brought the news: "Li Senior—is this true? Qin Feng Xiao'er really killed Zhong Ling of Bei Di?!"

Li Xu's expression was complex: "Absolutely true."

Gao Ming slumped back into his chair, his eyes hollow with defeat: "Zhong Ling has achieved countless feats—he is a hero of the Bei Di front line. His low rank as a tooth general is no accident; the Bei Di Imperial Clan deliberately kept him there to boost frontline morale and establish a symbol."

"Had he been rewarded properly, Zhong Ling would long ago have been promoted to Former General!"

"With Zhong Ling dead, Bei Di's military morale will be shattered—and ours will be lifted."

"I never imagined—truly never imagined—that I thought Qin Feng had given up, that he'd remain trapped in Beixi County for years… yet he quietly achieved this astonishing feat! Beixi's trap is broken—this man will return to Beijing soon and will surely retaliate fiercely against us… We must prepare early."

Saying this, Gao Ming's brow furrowed deeply, his eyes flickering with unspoken thoughts.

Li Xu knew Qin Feng's vengeful nature well—but he was not alarmed. After all, this "praise with hidden malice" scheme was devised by Gao Ming and the Ministry of Personnel—no matter what fell from the sky, it wouldn't crush the Ministry of Revenue.

Yet the thought that Qin Feng had shattered the dead end so swiftly—by slaying the Bei Di Legendary Fang General—

Left Li Xu with not just regret, but a growing sense of dread…

…

Not long after, a messenger sprinted into the Beixi County Courthouse.

"Qin Senior, word from Beijing—it's an imperial summons!"

Qin Feng, lounging with one leg crossed, playing "Zha Jin Hua" with the new County Assistant Magistrate and County Commandant, having won seven or eight taels of silver, heard this and leapt over the table, snatching the imperial edict.

Seeing it only ordered his recall to Beijing with no mention of rewards, he sneered, gathered the "winnings" from the table, and tossed them into the messenger's hands: "Fine, I understand. Thanks for your trouble."

Learning Qin Feng was returning to Beijing, the new county officials wailed in protest.

"Qin Senior, you're being recalled to Beijing already?! Isn't this too fast? You've only been here a few days!"

"Qin Senior, you can't leave! If you go, the hope the people of Beixi County have just begun to feel will vanish completely!"

Facing their pleas, Qin Feng merely sneered, visibly annoyed: "Don't drag me down! My family, friends, property—all are in Beijing. I'm stuck in this godforsaken county, and my wealth might end up in someone else's hands."

"Besides, how does the length of my tenure relate to governance?"

"I cleared Chen Li's lifetime backlog of paperwork in a few days—what's there to cry about?"

When Qin Feng first clashed with Zhong Ling, he knew: whether he could be recalled to Beijing depended entirely on this man's head.

After all, the only path out of Beixi was promotion.

And every form of promotion was painfully slow.

To achieve this in a short time, one must accomplish a remarkable feat and be summoned by the Sage.

Zhong Ling's severed head is the stepping stone Qin Feng will use to return to Jingdu.

Yet even so, Qin Feng has no intention of letting go of Beixi County…