Chapter 356: First Volume, Chapter 356: Achieving Success with Lightning Speed

First Volume, Chapter 356: Achieving Success with Lightning Speed

Jing Qianying guarded the wine house's main door, Zhao Yuxiong and Li Lang launched a frontal assault, while Wu Wei on the eaves continuously unleashed his divine arrow skills to ambush enemies.

If not for Lin Xiansheng holding the line, the axe-wielding soldiers would have long since collapsed in morale and scattered like birds and beasts.

Nearly two hundred axe-wielding soldiers failed to form any effective resistance.

The remaining axe-wielding soldiers hidden within the county city had not even reached the scene before being totally annihilated by yamen runners who suddenly emerged.

On the county city's only talou, Liu Leng stared toward the city gate—the hellish battlefield—sweat trickling down his forehead.

Four people.

Only four people turned Lin Xiansheng's two hundred axe-wielding soldiers into a chaotic mess of fallen helmets and discarded armor.

Is this the combat effectiveness of Qin Feng's companions?

Liu Leng silently rejoiced—he was glad he had made the right choice in time, or else the ones slaughtered tonight might have been himself.

Liu Leng bowed his head and shouted to the county commandant below the talou: "Hurry! Lead the yamen runners and the three squads to reinforce Young Master Qin—this is our best chance to declare our stance."

When the county's garrison forces, having annihilated the scattered axe-wielding soldiers, assembled and appeared behind Lin Xiansheng…

Lin Xiansheng's eyes finally revealed a glimmer of despair.

…………

Jingdu, Jingong Yushufang.

Hei Wei crouched behind the screen and reported softly: "Your Majesty, news has arrived from Changping County."

The Liang Emperor, who had been working through the night to review imperial memorials, set down his brush and stretched his stiffening arms: "By now, Qin Feng has been in Changping County for nearly ten days—it's time for word… How went the procurement of relief grain?"

Hei Wei's voice carried unmistakable complexity: "Qin Feng did not purchase any relief grain with the funds he brought from Jingzhong to rectify official conduct!"

Hearing this, the Liang Emperor raised an eyebrow and teased: "Did he embezzle it all? Hah, that brat has always been reckless—he actually dares to do such things."

Hei Wei dared not interrupt, only fulfilling his duty with careful report: "Whether Qin Feng procured relief grain no longer matters—the disaster in Changping County has likely been resolved."

The Liang Emperor, previously relaxed, blinked in surprise: "Resolved?"

"Only a few days have passed? I estimated the most optimistic scenario would take at least one or two months to show results."

"Now, with less than half a month gone, Qin Feng has already quelled Changping County?"

Hei Wei quickly explained: "At first, even I found it unbelievable, but according to the military intelligence report, this is now certain."

"Upon arriving in Changping County, Qin Feng did not enter the city. Instead, he hired civilian laborers from surrounding counties and began digging wells on-site. Five thousand laborers worked simultaneously, aided by Qin Feng's method of locating water sources and his remarkably efficient drilling tools—by now, Changping County likely has over ten deep wells."

The Liang Emperor's brow was now fully furrowed.

Even though he had seen and experienced much in his lifetime, Qin Feng's actions still struck him as utterly implausible.

"Changping County has suffered drought for years—where is there water? And what exactly is a deep well?"

Hei Wei's voice betrayed neither clear surprise nor admiration: "A deep well, as the name implies, is defined by its depth. The deepest well in Shedynasty is the Shenjing at the altar, six zhang deep. But the wells Qin Feng dug are at least ten zhang deep, and the water they yield is exceptionally sweet."

"According to Qin Feng, these deep-layer waters are far too precious for irrigation—used only out of desperation due to the disaster. Also, limited by the crude drilling tools, ten to twelve zhang is the maximum depth possible. If we could reach thirty zhang, the water source would be inexhaustible."

Thirty zhang deep?!

Even the Liang Emperor sharply narrowed his eyes, finding this claim absurd.

The crude drilling tools, capable of easily penetrating three to four zhang underground and precisely detecting water sources, had already shattered his understanding.

The Liang Emperor had already begun plotting how to make Qin Feng surrender this drilling method and water-prospecting technique to the Ministry of Works.

But his first words were met with a bucket of cold water from Hei Wei.

"You mean this deep-well drilling method was fully taught to the local people?!" The Liang Emperor nearly shouted, silently cursing.

That Qin Feng Xiao'er is a complete wastrel.

If the deep-well drilling method were controlled by the court, future well-digging by commoners would require imperial authorization—surely yielding a wave of public favor and awe.

But the deed was done; the Liang Emperor let it go and shifted topic: "What is the situation inside Changping County?"

"The Lin Family's reach has long extended into Changping County—otherwise, this disaster would not have dragged on so long."

"With the National War looming, it is not the time to openly break with the Lin Family. Sending Qin Feng was a last resort."

"If I recall correctly, Tianji Camp Guards were all dispatched to Beixi County or stationed in Jingdu—Qin Feng had no personal guards. To enter Changping County, he would inevitably clash directly with the Lin Family. Frankly, before he left, I feared he might never return."

…………

In the Imperial Palace's Western Flower Hall, an icy voice rang out.

"What? Say that again!"

The Imperial Consort stared at the maid before her as if she meant to devour her alive.

The maid turned deathly pale, kneeling on the floor and trembling: "Your Grace, even if I had a hundred lives, I would never dare speak falsehoods."

"Qin Feng has indeed taken the county city."

The Imperial Consort's eyes flared: "I think you haven't slept—how else could you spout nonsense in broad daylight?"

"Four hundred axe-wielding soldiers were hidden in the city, while Qin Feng brought only a handful of men—he could never possibly seize the city, no matter his talents!"

The maid nearly wept: "The letter clearly states it: Qin Feng led Zhao Yuxiong, Li Lang, Wu Wei, and Jing Qianying in a night raid. These four men alone killed dozens of axe-wielding soldiers. When the Changping County Ling saw the situation turn, he ordered the yamen runners to defect and attack the axe-wielding soldiers from behind."

"Lin Family's confidant was trampled to death by Zhao Yuxiong's warhorse; the remaining axe-wielding soldiers surrendered. And… the next morning, they were lined up outside the city gate and beheaded one by one. All who entered Changping County under the Lin Family's banner were slaughtered—none survived."

The Imperial Consort's eyes widened in disbelief, about to erupt—when a joyful laugh from the Chang Princess echoed from nearby.

The Imperial Consort's face darkened instantly; she kicked the maid aside and turned to leave.

The Chang Princess, rarely so delighted, shook her head in awe: "No wonder it's Qin Feng—only four men, yet he dared a night raid on a county city… and actually pulled it off."

The Qiyang Commandery Princess stared in utter disbelief: "How is this even possible?!"