Chapter 302: First Volume, Chapter 302: Everyone Is a Pawn

First Volume, Chapter 302: Everyone Is a Pawn

Killing a government official is an unforgivable grave crime.

Even if Qin Feng was furious, he was far from losing his reason.

Even if you beat Sun Feng until his own mother doesn't recognize him, as long as he's still breathing, the worst you'll be charged with is assaulting a government official.

If you truly kill Sun Feng, then the nature of this matter changes entirely.

Qin Feng heard another round of curses coming from outside the gate, from the Dragon Tiger Army.

Qin Feng set down his tea cup, clasped his hands behind his back, strolled lazily up to the wall, and slumped over the parapet, head only visible, looking down at Commander-in-Chief Zhao Li with a smirk: "Commander-in-Chief, you're not tired of yelling, but I'm tired of listening. Why not let your men stand guard outside while you come in? Let's discuss the matter of the From-Participant position in Tianji Camp."

"Your son, Zhao Yulong—is he still idling in Jingdu?"

Zhao Li stormed in with fury; he didn't care about the stakes. Since Qin Feng had broken the law, it was his duty to take him back for trial.

But upon hearing the words "From-Participant," Zhao Li's mood shifted drastically. He cleared his throat twice to mask his embarrassment: "You've committed a grave crime today—your life is already in jeopardy. How can you even speak of a From-Participant position? The Commander of Tianji Camp is likely to change hands."

Hearing this, Qin Feng offered no defense, only shrugged: "If the Commander-in-Chief has no interest, then forget it."

Qin Feng turned to the West Camp General: "General, go back and ask your West Camp Commander if he'd be willing to send his son to Tianji Camp as a From-Participant."

Before the West Camp General could reply, Zhao Li roared: "Qin Feng! This isn't the place to talk! Wait until I enter, then we'll settle this!"

Saying this, Zhao Li immediately dismounted and waved to the West Camp General: "You all leave—this has nothing to do with you."

Seeing Zhao Li truly intend to enter Tianji Camp, the Deputy General hurried to block him: "Commander-in-Chief, think carefully! This is likely Qin Feng's trap—if anything happens to you…"

Zhao Li was too impatient to listen to his deputy's rambling. He shoved the man's hand away irritably: "What do you know? Surrounding Tianji Camp is just a formality. If the Emperor truly meant to punish Qin Feng, his decree would've arrived long ago."

"Beixi County repelled Chen Si's Army and held the city—that's a monumental achievement. Do you think the Emperor won't notice? As for troops rampaging in Jingdu, yes, it's a grave crime, but you must consider who the target is—a mere From-Seventh-Rank Ministry of Works Director."

"Besides, that man intercepted imperial messengers—that alone is a death sentence. He'll be arrested by Dali Temple the moment he leaves Tianji Camp. Either way, he's dead."

"The two Referral positions are already taken by Ning Hu and Xu Mo. Only two From-Participant slots remain, and I must secure a good path for my son. If you keep obstructing this, I'll beat you."

Unbeknownst to him, Qin Feng's heart was bleeding.

Those two From-Participant slots were clutched tightly in Qin Feng's hands, treated like his most precious treasure.

All military officers in Jingzhong were fixated on these two slots, desperate to shove their own sons into Tianji Camp.

After all…

With the National War looming, both armies are still in the probing, intelligence-gathering, and consumption phase. When the full-scale battle finally begins, it could be years away.

Seeing Tianji Camp, anchored by Beixi County, repeatedly achieve extraordinary feats, how could the Jingzhong generals not be envious?

Even if you step back ten thousand paces…

The larger the war, the greater the responsibility.

If the National War breaks out, any command error could determine the fate of the nation—and invite death.

In comparison, a localized conflict like Beixi County is the best way to polish one's career.

The From-Participant slots are worth more than a thousand gold pieces!

Giving one slot to the Dragon Tiger Army was done out of necessity.

After all, Tianji Camp is surrounded, and the imperial decree hasn't arrived—clearly, the Liang Emperor, that old fox, is using this to warn him.

Qin Feng genuinely feared… that the Dragon Tiger Army might storm in directly.

One thousand Heavy Cavalry aren't to be trifled with—just a couple of charges could trample dozens to death.

Zhao Li slipped through the gate into Tianji Camp and got straight to the point: "One of the From-Participant slots must go to my son. Otherwise, I'll have the Dragon Tiger Army crush Tianji Camp. Your three hundred Tianji Camp Guards, no matter how heroic, will be nothing but meat mud beneath Dragon Tiger Iron Hooves."

That was a bold statement!

…No flaw in it.

No matter how bold Qin Feng was, he wouldn't dare send his three hundred guards into open field battle against a thousand Heavy Cavalry—it would be suicide.

But then again…

The Dragon Tiger Army was obscenely wealthy. The sight of the Heavy Cavalry before him made Qin Feng's mouth water, and he silently resolved to train his own Heavy Cavalry.

Qin Feng rubbed his nose, helplessly saying: "Commander-in-Chief, since you show such favor, I won't beat around the bush. Have your son report to Tianji Camp tomorrow. But I'll say this plainly: on the battlefield, swords don't recognize kin. If your son meets misfortune, don't come blaming me."

Zhao Li snorted: "If he dies on the battlefield, it's his own incompetence—what's it to you?"

That's all I needed to hear.

Qin Feng bowed theatrically: "Please have the Dragon Tiger Army withdraw."

Zhao Li scowled, refusing to budge: "No way. Without the Emperor's decree, the Dragon Tiger Army stays right here. Qin Feng, since you call yourself 'nephew,' I'll give you a warning: your Tianji Camp Guards are skilled in Special Operations, no doubt brave—but they're too few, and they're infantry."

"My Dragon Tiger Army, the East and West Camps of the Imperial Capital Garrison, the Palace Guards, the Imperial Guard—there are more than enough forces here that could wipe you out, I couldn't even count them on one hand."

"When your mother was alive, your father, Qin Tianhu, was like a tiger with wings—and still he had to cower. You, brat, dare to stir up trouble in Jingdu? Grow up."

He didn't need Zhao Li to remind him of that.

Qin Feng knew it well.

He dared to order his troops to arrest people precisely because he was certain: the Liang Emperor, given the matters in Beixi and Fuyun Counties, would never truly punish him—maybe just a symbolic reprimand.

Perhaps, if the old man was in a good mood, he might even reward him instead.

But then again, wasn't Qin Feng gambling the whole time?

Since ancient times, anyone who enters Jingdu walks beneath a sword hanging overhead—slip once, and your head rolls.

Qin Cheng Clan in Beixi County, Qin Tianhu in Jingdu—this separation of Qin Feng's parents was the Liang Emperor's strategy.

Put bluntly, the family in Jingdu are all hostages in the Liang Emperor's hands. Everyone here is merely a pawn on the old fox's chessboard.

The only difference is which pawns are useful, and which are expendable.

Even a Three Duke like Gao Ming, according to Imperial Ancestral Precedent, could, if all Three Dukes united, directly threaten the Liang Emperor's rule—and even depose him if necessary.

And yet, didn't he get stripped of power in a moment's carelessness?

The saying goes: the imperial family has no mercy; the HeavenlyDao is cruel. That's all there is to it.

As Qin Feng dealt with the Dragon Tiger Army, the Chief Justice of Dali Temple had already arrived personally at Gao Fu.

Gao Ming and his entire family knelt on the ground to receive the Imperial Edict.

The Chief of Dali Temple, expressionless and looking down from above, recited: "Gao Ming has abused power for personal gain and caused chaos in his region; he deserves execution. Yet considering his former rank among the Three Dukes, though he has brought no merit to Shedynasty, he has at least endured hardship. I am not a heartless ruler. I strip you of your post as Grand Commandant and demote you to the Ministry of Rites to fill the vacancy of Vice Minister of Rites. May you reflect upon yourself."

From the pinnacle of power as Grand Commandant, he was directly banished to the position of Vice Minister of Rites, a From Three Rank OfficialRank.

Though he had not lost his life, his fate was already sealed, and who knew which day he might receive Three Feet of White Silk…

Gao Ming's face was filled with bitterness as he received the Imperial Edict with both hands: "Thank the Sage for sparing my life…"