Chapter 340

First Volume, Chapter 340: The True Ambition

Just as Lin Quqi was frantic yet helpless,

A short, disheveled man suddenly rushed onto the city wall, knelt down, and bowed with tears streaming down his face: "Thank you, Acting County Magistrate, for opening the gates and giving us a path to survival. This commoner is eternally grateful."

Faced with the starving masses' gratitude, Lin Quqi could not bring himself to feel joy; he merely waved his hand: "Understood. Withdraw. The city wall is no place for you."

The starving man rose and left.

Everything seemed perfectly normal—but where the starving man had just knelt, a stone had appeared out of nowhere.

Li Xiaolan's sharp eyes spotted it; she casually picked up the stone and indeed found a military dispatch beneath it, which she quietly tucked away.

Seeing this, Lin Quqi froze: "That starving man…"

Before Lin Quqi could finish, Li Xiaolan shook her head to cut him off, signaling him to stay silent and pretend nothing had happened.

Li Xiaolan unfolded the military dispatch, scanned a few lines, then slipped it back into her sleeve and whispered softly: "Feng'er already knows the situation in Beixi County."

Hearing this, Lin Quqi's eyes lit up with hope, and he asked eagerly: "What does Qin Feng mean?"

Li Xiaolan was also surprised by Qin Feng's decision, but knowing Qin Feng never acted without certainty, she relaxed. Under Lin Quqi's intense, hopeful gaze, she spoke lightly: "All starving refugees entering Beixi County are to be accepted and housed within the city."

Lin Quqi thought he had misheard; he gasped in disbelief: "What?!"

"Already, nearly ten thousand starving refugees have entered the city. Beixi County's size can only accommodate three thousand garrison soldiers and five thousand civilians. This place is too close to the border—unlike inland counties, Beixi is half-town, half-fortress, with minimal civilian infrastructure. Soon, there won't even be space to stand, let alone settle them."

"Blindly accepting refugees will only collapse order within the city, bringing nothing but harm."

Li Xiaolan knew Lin Quqi acted solely for Beixi County's sake, so she did not anger at his fierce protest—she understood.

Li Xiaolan turned to gaze at the devastation outside the city, speaking calmly: "Young Master Lin, you are now Father Official of Qingyun County. Anyone else may panic, but not you. Your temperament still needs refinement."

Hearing this, Lin Quqi frowned and forcibly suppressed his impatience: "Please, Third Miss, clarify."

Li Xiaolan's eyes flickered with depth: "The flood of starving refugees cannot be stopped. Feng'er's meaning is clear: do not see them as a burden—rethink them as an opportunity."

"Beixi County was already weak, and has suffered repeated war devastation; its original population is now down to ten-to-one casualty ratio. Even after the war ends, it will face massive depopulation. This refugee wave can fill Beixi's void. Though it will shock military supplies beyond imagination, if we survive this, Beixi County's strength will leap qualitatively."

"With population, we can rebuild Beixi County. When it becomes a border stronghold where military and civilians are united, defensible and impregnable, the Di will naturally lose all desire to lay claim."

Lin Quqi fell silent.

He pondered inwardly.

Qin Feng's decision was a desperate gamble—slight misstep and it would collapse Beixi County entirely, rendering all prior efforts worthless.

But if it succeeded, it would secure Beixi County with a lasting, overwhelming advantage.

The greater the risk, the greater the return. As for whether they could survive the crisis—Lin Quqi chose to believe in Qin Feng.

After all, since joining Qin Feng's side, Qin Feng had given Lin Quqi too many surprises.

If anyone in this world could turn decay into wonder, it was none other than Qin Feng.

At that moment, Li Xiaolan pulled a sheet of paper from the dispatch and handed it to Lin Quqi—it was a blueprint.

Lin Quqi examined it carefully, weighed every detail, and his lifeless eyes grew increasingly bright.

"I truly underestimated Qin Feng's ambition!"

"If this blueprint is carried out, this is no longer a border stronghold—it's a new city!"

According to Qin Feng's plan, Beixi County's original site would become the Inner City, while a designated area outside the walls would become the Outer City. The Inner City would focus on military functions; the Outer City on people's livelihood. Thus, the Inner City could house at least ten thousand soldiers, and the Outer City could accommodate fifty thousand civilians!

This was no mere reinforcement of city defense—it was massive construction, transforming Beixi County into a new city that would make any enemy lose all desire to attack.

Though this grand vision was thrilling,

The financial investment required was equally beyond Lin Quqi's comprehension.

The more money was scarce, the more they had to pour it into construction—Lin Quqi racked his brain but could not fathom Qin Feng's reasoning.

In this high-stakes gamble, Lin Quqi had no choice but to trust Qin Feng unconditionally.

On the Jingdu Official Road, three carriages moved in orderly procession.

Qin Feng lay on a soft velvet blanket, clutching a secret letter just delivered by the Brocade Guard.

Jing Qianying, traveling with him, watched his fluctuating expression and, after much hesitation, finally asked: "Has something happened again?"

Qin Feng silently tucked away the letter and handed it to Xiao Xiangxiang.

Xiao Xiangxiang and Qin Feng had long developed a tacit understanding; without a word, she took a fire striker, burned the secret letter to ashes, and scattered the ashes out the window.

Qin Feng exhaled slowly, smiling bitterly: "The merchant caravan to Gaoshan Country has returned. The deal to trade white sugar for warhorses is settled—but Gaoshan Country is sparsely populated, and its specialty Highland Horses are scarce. The first batch can only supply one thousand horses. The Emperor's Heavy Cavalry must wait; priority goes to the Tianji Camp Heavy Cavalry."

Hearing this, Jing Qianying frowned: "This is good news—why the gloom?"

Qin Feng shook his head helplessly: "The Tianji Camp went through great lengths, crossing enemy territory, just to negotiate horse purchases—clearly, our need for Highland Horses is desperate. Gaoshan Country seized this opportunity and raised prices wildly: one warhorse costs one thousand liang of silver. If paid in white sugar, they demand ten catties of sugar per horse."

"The sugarcane plantations have nearly halted—raw material supply is insufficient, sugar is growing rarer and more valuable. This deal is bound to be a massive loss. Fortunately… Gaoshan Country still has guts—they allow credit. Otherwise, this long-distance trade mission would've been a complete waste."

"But… other business deals went quite smoothly."

Other business?

Jing Qianying and Xiao Xiangxiang both paused in surprise.

Xiao Xiangxiang exclaimed in disbelief: "Young Master, besides buying horses, did you make other preparations?"

Qin Feng shrugged, as if stating the obvious: "It's a long, costly journey to Gaoshan Country—just the losses along the way would shock you. Would it make sense to go there just to buy horses? Naturally, I had to set up some side ventures…"