Chapter 249: First Volume, Chapter 249: Entering the Capital to Receive Rewards

First Volume, Chapter 249: Entering the Capital to Receive Rewards

Seeing the county officials' reluctant expressions, Qin Feng smirked and pressed his hand down, whispering: "Don't worry—I may be leaving Beixi County, but this County Magistrate position won't be handed over so easily… After all, this small county has consumed no small amount of my effort; I'll appoint a provisional County Magistrate to take over."

At these words, the officials exchanged glances.

What does that mean?

Are you, a mere County Magistrate, planning to appoint your own successor?!

At that moment, Lin Quqi, now dressed in official robes, stepped out through the curtain, looking embarrassed: "Brother Qin, when you first brought me to Beixi County, you said it was to share the administrative burden—but you never said you'd dump the entire county on me! Besides, I'm just a scholar; serving as provisional County Magistrate makes no sense—if the Ministry of Personnel finds out…"

Before Lin Quqi could finish, Qin Feng slammed his fist onto the table, startling everyone.

Don't mention the Ministry of Personnel—it's enough to make me furious: "What do I care about those old bastards? As long as I'm still Beixi County Magistrate, I'm the one calling the shots! You stay and run Beixi County—I'll send you letters guiding your administration and people's livelihood planning; just follow them."

"As for the Ministry of Personnel! When I return to Jingdu, we'll settle this account slowly!"

"Damn it!"

Qin Feng had been badly betrayed by the Ministry of Personnel and Grand Commandant, and he still seethed with rage, his fists clenched until they cracked—so much so that the surrounding county officials were terrified, even forgetting to question his unauthorized appointment of a County Magistrate.

Lin Quqi would carry out Qin Feng's will, continuing to enforce the New Regulations, until he transformed this barren, impoverished county into a strong one.

Qin Feng refused to let go of Beixi because its geographical position was extremely vital.

First, it was a gateway county, ready to serve as a stepping stone directly toward the front-line fighting.

Second, it bordered Liang's most important raw sugarcane production region—Qin Feng had not forgotten his shameless ambition to control the source of sugar.

And third, it concerned Li Xiaolan.

Since returning from Yinggang Mountain, Qin Feng had repeatedly asked Cheng Shi about his Third Sister's origins—how had she become linked to the Heavenly Ranking?

Each time he brought it up, he got slapped.

Cheng Shi only scolded Qin Feng not to pry.

Clearly, Third Sister's identity was highly unusual; for safety's sake, she could not yet be taken to Jingdu—she must remain in Beixi County under a false name, with plans to be made later.

Moreover, Lin Quqi was soft-natured; without someone to hold the line, the local gentry might band together and rebel.

On the night before his departure, Qin Feng summoned Lin Quqi and reiterated: "If you get any chance, kill those gentry! Keeping them here is always a threat! As for their assets and land—either seize them for the County Yamen's treasury, or distribute them to the people; decide yourself."

Lin Quqi gripped Qin Feng's hand, pleading: "Brother Qin, when will you return? Or rather, when can I go back to Jingdu?"

Clearly, Lin Quqi also despised this remote, impoverished backwater.

Qin Feng calmly withdrew his hand, patted Lin Quqi's shoulder, and spoke solemnly: "Once I find a suitable replacement, I'll send them immediately. By the way, I'm leaving Qi Meng behind, and I'll assign you ten guards—if all else fails, shall I send you a few young women?"

Lin Quqi's face flushed red; he waved his sleeve: "Young women? Brother Qin, how can you still be so crude? Besides, I'm merely a scholar—according to the Great Liang Code, I may take only one concubine. Send me just one!"

Hearing this, Qin Feng sneered: "Brother Lin, you've gone bad."

Lin Quqi snorted: "That's called 'near vermilion, one turns red; near ink, one turns black'! You tricked me here—I'm only asking you to compensate me with one maid. Is that too much?"

Qin Feng immediately beamed: "Not too much, not too much, hehehe."

From the start, Qin Feng had already decided to hand Beixi County over to Lin Quqi—but since this place was poor and harsh, he feared Lin Quqi wouldn't come, so he lied about sharing administrative burdens.

Now, the trick… worked.

With Lin Quqi here, Qin Feng was utterly at ease!

After finishing his instructions to Lin Quqi, Qin Feng returned to the Back Courtyard.

Cheng Shi and Li Xiaolan had not yet retired; they sat in the Cool Pavilion, apparently waiting for Qin Feng.

"Feng'er, come here."

Cheng Shi waved him over; recalling Qin Feng's achievements since arriving in Beixi County, her brow brimmed with pride and indulgence: "The ImperialCommand only summoned you to Jingdu—it didn't mention us mother and daughter. If we go to the capital without authorization, it might appear as defiance of the ImperialCommand."

"You should return to Jingdu alone, without worry."

"As for when your mother can join you in Jingdu, and reunite with your father and your three sisters—that depends on your ability."

Qin Feng took a deep breath and swore solemnly: "Mother, Third Sister, don't worry—I'll spare no effort to bring you back to Jingdu. If I can't, I'll move the entire Qin Family here to Beixi County to keep you company."

Hearing this, Cheng Shi felt reassured; she shifted tone: "Li Qi of Feiying Stockade escaped—he's still a threat. Before you leave, give him some attention."

Qin Feng nodded, agreeing without hesitation—but inwardly, he gave Li Qi little thought.

It wasn't arrogance—he simply didn't matter.

Li Qi was willing to sacrifice everything just to kill him; clearly, he was acting on orders from some hidden force. But who that force was—clearly not something Qin Feng needed to worry about yet.

And…

This journey away from Jingdu had been perilous at every step.

It only reinforced Qin Feng's conviction: his enemies extended far beyond the Imperial Court.

Anyone connected to the war with Di likely saw him as a thorn in their side, a splinter in their flesh, desperate to remove him.

And the elusive Elder Fourth was the most troubling.

As long as Elder Fourth lived, Qin Feng would never sleep or eat in peace.

But before Cheng Shi, Qin Feng said nothing—mainly out of concern for Li Xiaolan.

Li Xiaolan rose, wrapped her arms around Qin Feng's head, clinging tightly.

Then she leaned close to his ear, her breath sweet as orchids: "Good little brother, don't forget your sister—or I'll come to Jingdu to find you, and then…"

Li Xiaolan didn't finish—instead, she jabbed her finger sharply against Qin Feng's lower abdomen. The meaning was unmistakable.

You keep me from returning home? I'll make sure you have no descendants.

Qin Feng suddenly felt that compared to Li Xiaolan, his three sisters in Jingdu were as gentle as water.

The next morning, Qin Feng led Ning Hu and the guards toward the City Gate.

To avoid drawing attention from the locals, they left quietly.

Yet the moment they stepped beyond the City Gate, they were stunned by the sight before them.

A dense sea of commoners knelt in unison—not pleading for him to stay, but shouting: "Honorably send off County Magistrate Qin to Jingdu!"

Qin Feng's nose suddenly stung with unexpected emotion.

Although he had no blood ties to these commoners, he felt their suffering as if it were his own.

Qin Feng mounted his horse, turned his head to glance at the dilapidated City Gate of Beixi County, took a deep breath, and his voice, neither loud nor soft, echoed across the scene: "Wait! When I return, Beixi County will be the strongest of the eighteen counties—a frontier stronghold no Northern Di bandits shall ever cross!"

The scene fell utterly silent.

All the commoners silently watched Qin Feng's back, their eyes blazing with heat and anticipation!

They believed that once Qin Feng made a promise, he would surely keep it.