Chapter 250: First Volume, Chapter 250: Shocking the Court and Realm

First Volume, Chapter 250: Shocking the Court and Realm

Jingdu, Qin Residence.

Since Qin Feng left the capital, the residence had been cold and silent.

But today, it had swept away its gloom, bustling with activity!

Liu Hongyan stood at the door, hands on her hips, directing maids and servants with sharp cries: "Hurry up! The Young Master is returning soon—have the lanterns been hung? Where are the firepots? Where are the firepots? Who knows how much suffering he endured in Beixi County—he must be thoroughly cleansed of the dust."

Shen Qingci had also returned to the residence early, waiting to seize Qin Feng after his Imperial Audience and chat with him about the frontier scenery of Beixi.

Shen Qingci dreamed of stepping beyond the walls of the capital, but alas, her parents were alive, and she was a daughter's body—she simply could not leave Jingdu, this enclosed city.

Jing Qianying was the most eager; this time Qin Feng returned to the capital, he would surely bring news of their mother and Third Sister. With her hands behind her back, she said solemnly: "Elder Sister, Second Sister, do you think Mother might return to the capital this time?"

The two women exchanged a glance, revealing a forced smile.

Shen Qingci, abandoning her usual haughtiness, spoke softly: "Fourth Sister, don't worry too much. If Feng'er has already reunited with Mother and Third Sister, even if they can't return this time, our next meeting won't be far off. After all, don't you know Qin Feng's nature?"

Liu Hongyan covered her mouth and laughed lightly: "Indeed—even if the resistance were immense, we must believe Feng'er can overcome it. In such a short time, he was recalled from Beixi County and killed that Beidi Legendary Tooth General—tell me, who else in Heaven could do that?"

Hearing this, Jing Qianying's last trace of worry vanished.

Meanwhile, in the Imperial Palace's Grand Hall.

After returning to the Capital overnight, Qin Feng went straight to the Palace for Imperial Audience.

Qin Tianhu could barely conceal his excitement, stealing glances at his son from time to time—he had worried his brat suffered in Beixi, but seeing his smooth skin, fresh complexion, and spirited demeanor, he couldn't possibly link him to "suffering."

Of course! This brat was always cunning—how could he ever suffer himself?

All civil and military officials, even the Palace Guards, looked at Qin Feng with heat and excitement.

In contrast, Qin Feng stood with his hands behind his back, occasionally glancing at the Ministry of Personnel officials, grinning—so broadly that the Ministry officials felt cold sweat on their backs.

The Liang Emperor understood Qin Feng's feud with the Ministry of Personnel but said nothing, only smiling with delight: "Qin Feng, how did you kill Zhong Ling, the Tooth General?"

How did I kill him?

In the chaos of battle, Ning Hu speared me clean through—how else was I supposed to kill him? Did you expect This Young Master to charge into battle himself?

Qin Feng felt a surge of annoyance inside, but on his face he feigned fear, nervously saying: "Zhong Ling was no ordinary foe—he was the Beidi Imperial Clan's carefully chosen frontline role model, and deserved his famed title 'Beidi Wolf'! His tactics were divine, his elite Raiding Cavalry crushed all resistance, leaving devastation wherever they passed. Had I not been conveniently stationed in Beixi County, eliminating Zhong Ling would have cost countless soldiers' lives."

Qin Feng lavished praise on Zhong Ling, implying:

Zhong Ling was this powerful—and I wiped him out in one glance. Doesn't that make me even more powerful?

The Liang Emperor knew Qin Feng exaggerated, but he didn't care—killing Zhong Ling was a rare feat for Liang's military in recent years, certain to boost Liang Army morale!

As for Qin Feng's appointment of Lin Quqi as Acting Beixi County Magistrate, the Liang Emperor had already heard the Black Guard's report, and now asked with deep meaning: "Having achieved such a remarkable feat, what reward do you ask of me?"

At these words, Qin Feng understood.

The bastard—still the Liang Emperor's trickster ways!

Qin Feng reluctantly took the bait, bowing: "I ask for nothing else. But considering the suffering of the Beixi people, I beg Your Majesty to allow me to remain Beixi County Magistrate, though I am occupied with affairs in the Capital. I humbly request the privilege of In-Post Not-In-Location status, and the right to choose my own Acting County Magistrate!"

At these words, Minister of Revenue Li Xu hurried forward to advise: "Your Majesty, In-Post Not-In-Location Privilege has never existed in Shedynasty!"

The Liang Emperor glanced at Li Xu, visibly irritated: "Minister Li, fresh victories arrive from the Front Line, and all civil and military officials rejoice—save your objections for later."

Meaning: Everyone's happy—don't you dare ruin it with your nonsense, you're being ungrateful!

Li Xu's face flushed red, and he slunk back into the crowd.

The Liang Emperor snorted, ignoring Li Xu, and smiled warmly at Qin Feng: "Though unprecedented, given your extraordinary merit, I shall make an exception."

The Liang Emperor had originally planned to reward Qin Feng with tens of thousands of taels of silver and a marquis title.

Now he'd saved a fortune.

Moreover, Beixi County had long been desolate and a headache for the Liang Emperor—since Qin Feng willingly took over this mess, the expenses for governing people's livelihood would naturally come from Qin Feng himself.

Thus, it was a win-win situation.

Hmm—I win twice.

At that moment, Qin Tianhu suddenly advised: "Your Majesty, when Qin Feng went to Beixi County, he led only a hundred Palace Guards. Even after leaving dozens to garrison the County City, he still struck with minimal forces against Zhong Ling's hideout, shattered the enemy army, killed a hundred Beidi Soldiers, and eliminated six to seven hundred Beidi Bandits—proving the Palace Guards' exceptional strength, capable of one against a hundred! This also proves the New Army Strategy is not only viable, but reliable!"

This hit the nail on the head.

Had Old Qin not mentioned it, Qin Feng would have forgotten the whole thing—he'd been too focused on revenge against the Ministry of Personnel and Grand Commandant Gao.

With Qin Tianhu's words spoken,

the previously silent Grand Hall erupted into murmurs.

"These New Army soldiers are truly formidable! I once doubted Qin Feng's heavy spending on training them, but now I see every tael was spent wisely."

"True! Only dozens of Palace Guards, after repeated battles, beheaded Zhong Ling and slew hundreds of enemy troops, with only three casualties! The casualty ratio is terrifying."

"Such tactical advantage can only rival the Palace Guards!"

"Not so! The Palace Guards may be skilled fighters, but they're only good at guarding the Emperor—when it comes to marching and warfare, I doubt they match the New Army Soldiers."

The Palace Guards turned red and pale, thinking: You talk among yourselves—why drag us into this?

The Liang Emperor had originally allowed Qin Feng to lead his Palace Guards on a thousand-li rescue mission merely as an experiment—he never expected this battle to shock even him with the New Army's strength.

Such elite troops—no need for tens of thousands; even a few thousand would make the Beidi tremble in fear.