Chapter 399: First Volume, Chapter 399: Sudden Rebellion

First Volume, Chapter 399: Sudden Rebellion

Lin Taibao ignored Qin Feng and bowed to the Liang Emperor: "My loyalty is evident to heaven and earth!"

The Liang Emperor's face showed no expression, but inside he sighed—regardless of whether Lin Taibao was truly involved.

Even if Lin Taibao himself ordered the Northern Border to rebel, what could be done?

To the south, powerful clans pressure us; to the north, the Di barbarians lurk. Now, amid internal strife and external threat, we absolutely cannot break with Lin Taibao.

The Liang Emperor immediately sternly told Qin Feng: "Lin Taibao is a court heavy minister, the very pillar of Shedynasty—I trust him completely. Today's court session concerns only the Pingnan County Rebellion; no other matters!"

Qin Feng naturally understood the Liang Emperor's predicament, even though he knew the Pingnan County Rebellion had surely been triggered by the Qin Family's Grain Shop.

After all, it had already posed a real threat to Jiangnan's grain price.

But now, confronting Lin Taibao would be not only meaningless, but counterproductive.

Qin Feng only needed to point out Lin Taibao—he knew everything.

"Pingnan County is a major county on the Northern Border, located at the vital throat between the Northern Border and the Central Plains, with extremely tight city defense! These mere rebel bandits, even if they plundered the armory and were armed to the teeth, could never capture Pingnan County—that would be like a fool dreaming. There must be a traitor inside Pingnan County!"

"Although we lack precise data on the rebel army's numbers and strength, we can roughly estimate based on Pingnan County's scale."

"The rebel army has taken Pingnan County as its stronghold and must have concentrated all its forces within the city walls. If they deployed troops outside, they would be utterly vulnerable—this is something the enemy clearly understands. Pingnan County can accommodate roughly eight thousand troops; in the worst case, twelve thousand."

Upon hearing this, Qin Tianhu, as Supervisor of War, could not help but grow grim: "If there truly are over ten thousand rebels holding Pingnan County as a stronghold, suppressing them will require at least fifty thousand troops. If we rashly mobilize the army, the Northern Di will surely exploit the weakness—then one hair pulled will move the whole body."

Qin Tianhu's words struck right to the Liang Emperor's heart—under normal circumstances, a rebellion of this scale would be no concern at all.

But now, under the backdrop of national war, Shedynasty must guard against the Northern Di marching south, leaving us powerless to quell the rebellion.

Just as the emperor and ministers were all frowning in despair, Qin Feng let out a cold snort, his voice sharp: "From today, issue an edict to Pingnan County! Order the rebels to lay down their arms and surrender—they shall be pardoned. Those who resist to the end shall be massacred, as a warning to others!"

This cannot be tolerated—rebellion is a spark that can ignite a prairie fire!

If the Pingnan County Rebellion is mishandled, it will trigger imitation uprisings across the land.

Qin Feng shed his wastrel demeanor, his resolve unprecedentedly firm: "The Pingnan County Rebellion must be crushed with thunderous force!"

Before the Liang Emperor could respond, the Assistant Minister of Justice snapped: "Rash words!"

"Ten thousand enemy troops, entrenched in Pingnan County—how easy is it to suppress them?"

The Director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices immediately retorted sharply: "Are we to let the rebellion go unchecked? Where is our nation's dignity? Where are the people of Heaven?"

The Minister of Justice snorted: "Easy to say, hard to do. The Court of Imperial Sacrifices oversees the imperial examinations—aren't you just talking nonsense on paper? Do you know it takes ten times the troops to lay siege?"

The President of the Imperial Academy bowed respectfully: "Minister, why denigrate all scholars of Heaven? If I recall correctly, aren't you yourself an imperial examiner?"

Before the Pro-War Faction could speak, the Taolin Party clashed with the Taibao Faction.

At that moment, Qin Feng barked sharply, cutting off the debate: "Suppressing a single Pingnan County—why mobilize the entire army? Within ten days, if you do not bring me Huang Cheng's head to hang on the Wu Gate as a warning, I, Qin Feng, will submit myself to military law!"

At these words, the Grand Hall fell silent.

Lin Taibao narrowed his eyes: "Qin Shi Hu, you've boasted too wildly. Have you thought this through? This concerns the fate of the state. If you swear a military oath, you must see it through to the end."

This dilemma was less for the Liang Emperor—it was tailor-made for Qin Feng.

As long as Pingnan County remains rebellious, the Beixi trade route will never flow smoothly—it threatens Beixi's safety up close and undermines Qin Feng's grain business from afar.

This is Lin Taibao's powerful response to Qin Feng's interference in the grain trade—how could Qin Feng back down?

The Liang Emperor, right now, has only Qin Feng to rely on.

His gaze grew deep: "Fine! I grant you ten days!"

Qin Feng bowed: "But I have one request."

As long as the rebellion could be quelled, the Liang Emperor was eager to support him: "Qin Shi Hu, speak!"

Qin Feng took a deep breath and said solemnly: "I beg Your Majesty to appoint me Special Envoy to suppress the rebellion, granting me authority to mobilize all forces on the Northern Border."

At these words, the Minister of Justice roared: "Impossible! Our front line is already strained against the Di—how can you entrust such power to Qin Feng?"

"One hair pulled moves the whole body—if this disrupts the national war strategy, the Qin Family bears infinite guilt!"

The Liang Emperor knew clearly: Qin Feng sought this authority not merely for the Pingnan County Rebellion, but for something far greater.

After weighing his options, the Liang Emperor was about to agree—when Lin Taibao cut in first.

"Your Majesty, think carefully!"

"The rebel leader of Pingnan County must be linked to the Di. If we shift troops to the front, the Di will surely strike! The Sanggan Army is already nearing the front line—this is known to all court heavy ministers!"

The court heavy ministers had long heard of the Di's mobilization of the Sanggan Army—such a military movement could only mean a major war was brewing, and the Pingnan County Rebellion was likely its spark.

Emotionally, rationally, publicly, privately—Shedynasty's urgent priority must be confronting the Sanggan Army.

Faced with pressure from the Taibao Faction and the grim military reality of the Northern Border, the Liang Emperor hesitated.

But then he looked at Qin Feng—and remembered those words: "The strategy for a rich nation and strong people."

The Liang Emperor took a deep breath and overruled them all, each word deliberate: "I appoint you Special Envoy to suppress the rebellion!"

"Thank Your Majesty!" Qin Feng bowed his head.

The Taolin Party members also bowed in unison, chanting: "Your Majesty is wise."

Lin Taibao's face darkened, coldly saying: "Though Your Majesty has spoken, I still strongly urge: this must not happen! If Shedynasty's foundation trembles because of this, how will Your Majesty face the late emperor?"

As Lin Taibao prepared to invoke the "Taibao Privilege" to pressure the Liang Emperor,

Qin Tianhu, fully aware of the battle's significance, led the Pro-War Faction to support Qin Feng's Taolin Party.

Qin Tianhu snapped coldly: "Lin Taibao, are you using the Imperial Ancestral Precedent to coerce the Emperor?!"

Lin Taibao glanced sideways: "Coerce? The Imperial Ancestral Precedent is the very foundation of Shedynasty. The duty of the Three Dukes is to speak truth at the risk of death—Qin, be careful with your words!"

The Assistant Minister of War snorted: "To invoke the Imperial Ancestral Precedent requires the joint consent of all Three Dukes. Are you trying to monopolize power?"

The Minister of Justice quickly added: "The Grand Commandant's post is vacant; the Grand Tutor is in filial mourning and has not returned. The Three Dukes are incomplete—do we just let state affairs go unattended? What sense is there in that? Is state affairs more important than formality? In extraordinary times, extraordinary measures are required!"