Chapter 357

First Volume, Chapter 357: A Hard-to-Voices Secret (Tomorrow is the College Entrance Exam, Wishing Everyone)

The Princess of Qiyang Commandery simply did not believe that four people could capture Changping County City—it must be Qin Feng exaggerating to claim rewards.

"Even four hundred pigs would take a while to catch."

"The forces are a hundredfold apart; even tenfold, the chance of victory is impossibly slim."

In response to the Princess of Qiyang's skepticism, the Chang Princess appeared calm, her eyes brimming with boundless admiration for Qin Feng.

"If this were merely a military siege, even with a master like Jing Qianying present, it would still be like a fly trying to shake a tree."

"But before the siege, Qin Feng had already spread rumors to shatter the city's military morale; then, upon entering the city, he had local rascals and idle men impersonate Tianji Camp Guards, creating an atmosphere of paranoia and panic. The Lin family's morale collapsed, and facing Zhao Yulong—a warrior of unmatched prowess from a military clan—the outcome was inevitable."

"To be precise, Qin Feng began his Attack the Mind Tactic on his very first day in Changping County."

"Qin Feng delayed entering the city deliberately to pressure County Magistrate Liu Leng psychologically, until Liu Leng's betrayal became the catalyst for the siege."

The Princess of Qiyang stared, dumbfounded—she had never imagined Qin Feng could wield tactics with such mastery.

With only four men, he captured an entire city and executed all four hundred hidden soldiers as a warning.

Such a feat was beyond even many high generals in the court—it was enough to secure Qin Feng's name in the History Books.

But upon reflection, the Princess of Qiyang relaxed.

After all, Qin Feng had once led Tianji Camp Guards on a thousand-li raid against Beixi County, personally defeating the Di Raiding Cavalry and killing Zhong Ling.

Qin Feng had already been forged in war—how could the Lin family's servants possibly stand against him?

At that moment, the Chang Princess narrowed her eyes, a sharp gleam flashing within.

The moment she had long awaited had finally arrived.

"The Lin family's inner circle and all four hundred servants have been slaughtered by Qin Feng."

"The blood feud between the Qin and Lin families is now sealed; next comes the dogs fighting each other. If Qin Feng wins, he will rid Liang of a great menace. If Qin Feng loses, it will still weaken the Lin family's power… The Emperor invested so much effort into cultivating Qin Feng, this mad dog, precisely to confront the powerful clans entrenched across Liang."

"The chains are broken, the vicious dog is unleashed—wait and see. What follows in Jiangnan will be extraordinarily thrilling."

…

Inside the Changping County Yamen, the atmosphere was subtle.

Liu Leng sat in the County Magistrate's seat, while Qin Feng sat to one side, in the former position of the County Assistant Magistrate; below Qin Feng sat the Supervising Official sent from the Zhou Fu.

At this moment, all Changping County officials were present—including clerks, warehouse staff, and laborers—numbering at least dozens.

Everyone subtly observed Qin Feng with the corners of their eyes.

Qin Feng, however, sat with one leg crossed over the other, clutching a handful of grapes, occasionally plucking one and tossing it into his mouth, chewing loudly and mumbling: "The entire population of Changping County has nearly fled. Outside the city, ten villages are empty. A hundred granaries can't gather two jin of rice. Yet here in the County Yamen, there are still grapes to eat—don't you find that strange?"

The room fell dead silent.

No one dared to respond.

Liu Leng wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and quickly forced a smile: "The fruits and pastries in the County Yamen were meant for hosting Lin Xiansheng—the man trampled to death by horse hooves last night. To be honest, in today's world, officials like us cannot afford such luxuries. If Qin Young Master doesn't believe me, you may inspect the Inner Courtyard—aside from plain tea and simple meals, if there is even a trace of meat or fat, you may cut me down on the spot, and I shall offer no complaint."

Normally, at this point, one should praise Liu Leng for his incorruptible integrity.

But Qin Feng refused to follow convention, asking casually: "The County Magistrate's annual salary is several hundred taels of silver—how can you not even afford meat?"

Liu Leng let out a bitter laugh: "It's not that I can't afford it—it's that I have no face to eat it. As a Father Official, watching my people suffer while I am powerless to help fills me with shame. Thus, I ordered all county officials to uphold frugality, sharing the people's hardship."

At these words, Qin Feng flung the grapes in his hand at him: "Pah! Your face is thick indeed. The people are dying or fleeing, ten villages empty, households perishing one by one—and you still dare claim to share their hardship?"

Liu Leng plucked the grapes from his head, his face flushed crimson: "I have the heart to manage People's Livelihood, but lack the power to enforce it. Changping County is so close to Jiangnan that any new regulation the County Yamen proposes must first be approved by the Jiangnan Lin Family. If the Lin Family nods, the regulation proceeds; if they refuse, even Prefect Chen dares not act."

"To be frank, Qin Young Master, Changping County is no powerhouse, but it was once prosperous. My predecessors, though not entirely clean, never plundered the people's wealth—they were moderate. The County Yamen still holds thirty thousand taels of silver, yet I've spent three years and couldn't spend a single copper coin."

"The Lin Family says: if the grain is for the County Yamen's own use, we will sell it. But if it's for aiding the people, not a single grain will be sold. If Changping County buys cheap relief grain, won't every poor county rush to Jiangnan to buy? Then the Lin Family's grain merchants and grain shops would suffer losses."

Hearing this, Qin Feng fell silent for a moment, then rose and walked to the Shushu.

Liu Leng jumped, fearing Qin Feng would blame him for incompetence, and involuntarily stepped back.

Qin Feng merely reached out, brushed the grapes off Liu Leng's shoulder, straightened the slightly disheveled official robe, and sighed softly: "I understand."

Seeing Qin Feng had no intention of punishing them, all the county officials—including Liu Leng—breathed a collective sigh of relief.

Qin Feng scanned the group and asked gravely: "If you need not fear the Lin Family, can you govern Changping County well?"

Soon, a low voice rose from the crowd.

It was the County Commandant: "Damn it! Aside from the County Magistrate, who was transferred here from elsewhere, we are all native Changping people. Those fleeing elders are our kin—we can't bear to see our own die far from home. We want to help, but we're powerless!"

The County Assistant Magistrate sighed as well: "The famine here is so severe, we're more anxious than anyone! The starving have scattered far and wide—the Emperor must already know. If he investigates, every single official in this County Yamen will be executed. If Qin Young Master can keep the Lin Family's influence out of Changping County, we will spare no effort to govern it."

Undeniably, Qin Feng had initially assumed the Changping officials were all complicit with the Lin Family.

Now he saw these officials had their own suffering.

Amid this solemn scene, Qin Feng grinned, turned, and waved his hand: "No problem—I'll handle the grain for you too."