Chapter 401: First Volume, Chapter 401: Teach a Lesson

First Volume, Chapter 401: Teach a Lesson

Starting from the day Qin Feng left the palace, the battle report confirming Huang Cheng's decapitation must be delivered to Jingdu within ten days.

Know that even on a galloping fast horse, it takes two days and two nights to reach Pingnan County from Jingdu; a slight delay en route extends it to three days, and once there, coordinating further operations adds another one or two days.

And returning the military report to the capital requires two more days.

Thus, the time left for Qin Feng to storm the city is at most five days, and at least only three!

Breaking a city in five days? Militarily speaking, it's unthinkable.

Qin Tianhu's heart was in his throat, but seeing Qin Feng's confident expression, he could only reluctantly believe.

Back at the Qin Residence, Qin Feng immediately began preparations to head for Pingyao County.

He directly issued orders to the Jin Yi Wei messenger to immediately notify Zhao Yuxiong, stationed in Beixi County, to lead the newly formed heavy cavalry to the Cheqi Chariot and Cavalry General's ZhuZhen.

He ordered Xu Mo to lead twenty Tianji Camp Guards to conduct reconnaissance and secret infiltration of the Cheqi Zhu Qu.

Qin Feng's strategy was clear: the core of attacking Pingnan County lies not in Pingnan County itself, but in the Chariot and Cavalry General!

After giving clear instructions, Qin Feng, under Jing Qianying's protection, set out lightly equipped.

Yet as soon as he stepped out of the Qin Residence, Qin Feng sensed something was off—the people of Jingdu had spontaneously flooded the streets, bowing and seeing him off at intervals.

The closer they got to the City Gate, the denser the crowd became.

"Young Master Qin, take care!"

Feeling the sorrow and grief in the people's eyes, Qin Feng instantly understood—Lin Taibao must have sent agents to spread rumors, stirring up the entire city, ensuring that if Qin Feng failed in the siege, he could not escape blame. For the people of Jingdu, Qin Feng's journey to Pingnan County was tantamount to walking a one-way path to death.

That was why the people had spontaneously come to see him off.

Qin Feng understood their good intentions; he immediately dismounted at the City Gate and bowed to the elders: "In ten days, I, Qin Feng, shall return to Jingdu. Dear elders, do not worry."

Hearing this, the crowd's sorrow deepened.

To them, Qin Feng's words were merely grandiose rhetoric before flocking like moths to flame.

Watching Qin Feng's retreating figure, the people sighed heavily.

"Alas! The Heaven has lost another fine young man!"

"More than that—Young Master Qin learned of rising grain prices in Jiangnan and feared the commoners couldn't afford food, so he opened the Qin Grain Shop, selling at fair prices, deliberately slashing grain prices regardless of cost to help the people of Shedynasty!"

"Good men don't live long!"

"After Young Master Qin departs, who will stand up for us commoners?"

Qin Feng and Jing Qianying each rode a swift horse, galloping toward Nanping County; at every Yizhan, they switched to military horses, drank a few mouthfuls of water, ate a few bites of coarse grain, and pressed on without stopping to rest or lodge.

First, to hurry; second, to prevent Lin Taibao from sending assassins to intercept them en route.

As long as Qin Feng moved fast enough, the ambushers couldn't catch them.

After two days and one night of intense travel, Qin Feng was less than fifty Li from Pingnan County, and not a single ambush appeared along the way.

Jing Qianying, physically robust, endured the journey effortlessly: "Feng'er, as you predicted, if you move fast enough, this entire journey remains calm."

Qin Feng was exhausted, pale-faced, drenched in cold sweat, his buttocks nearly worn raw: "Even relaying orders takes time—we're moving faster than the couriers. By the time the ambushers get word, we've already crossed the border. No need to worry about roadside attacks."

Jing Qianying nodded: "This place is less than fifty Li from Nanping County; the horses are nearly spent. Slowing down, we'll arrive in just one Envoy."

Qin Feng cut in cleanly: "We're not going to Pingnan County—we're heading straight for the Cheqi Chariot and Cavalry General's ZhuZhen!"

Qin Feng gritted his teeth, barely holding on until they reached the Cheqi Chariot and Cavalry General's ZhuZhen; upon seeing Zhao Yuxiong and the heavy cavalry, he collapsed instantly, tumbling off his horse and rolling several times on the ground, terrifying Jing Qianying and Zhao Yuxiong, who leapt down and rushed to support him.

"Feng'er, how are you?"

"Brother Qin!"

Qin Feng was lifted up by the two, his face flushing red with embarrassment: "Riding for pleasure and riding a thousand Li in a military dash are entirely different—nearly broke me apart."

Seeing Qin Feng was unharmed, the two exhaled in relief.

Qin Feng glanced at the heavy cavalry, his excitement surging; he pushed them aside, sprinted forward, and inspected the mighty Highland Horses: "Good, good, good—worth every ounce of effort I put in to bring back these treasures. Brother Yuxiong, how's the training going?"

Zhao Yuxiong's face lit with pride: "All according to your instructions—specialized training for both riders and mounts. The heavy armor was forged personally by Lu Ming, and the weapons and gear are Tianji Camp products. Each heavy cavalry unit costs as much as five heavy cavalrymen or ten light cavalrymen."

Zhao Yuxiong turned to face the five hundred men clad in heavy black armor, armed to the teeth, and roared: "Black Cavalry, at attention! Pay homage to Young Master Qin!"

The five hundred Black Cavalry erupted in a thunderous roar, shaking heaven and earth: "Pay homage to Young Master Qin!"

Qin Feng was ecstatic—now that Beixi County had heavy cavalry, his backbone was firm. And the name "Black Cavalry"? Simple, powerful—he learned it was Zhao Yuxiong's own naming.

"Brother Qin, I know you plan to attack Pingnan County. With military urgency, why come to the Cheqi Chariot and Cavalry General's ZhuZhen instead of heading straight to Pingnan County?"

Qin Feng grinned at Zhao Yuxiong's question: "That old bastard's been getting too bold lately—he needs a good beating."

Beat the Chariot and Cavalry General?

Zhao Yuxiong froze. Even the Liang Emperor respected the Chariot and Cavalry General. Even if the Black Cavalry was elite, they numbered only five hundred—the other five hundred were under Li Xu, stationed in Beixi County.

With so few men, marching into the Chariot and Cavalry General's ZhuZhen might mean never returning.

Qin Feng didn't care. He rubbed his blistered buttocks, swung onto his horse, and rode straight toward the Cheqi Dadu, head high and chest out.

Twenty Li from the Camp Gate, Cheqi Qingshe appeared to block them.

The Cheqi Qingshe was haughty, looking down at Qin Feng on horseback, barking: "Are you the Beixi County Soldiers? This is the Cheqi Zhuzhong. Without the Emperor's direct order, no one may approach. Violators—"

Before the scout finished, Zhao Yuxiong, under Qin Feng's silent signal, lashed out with a whip, striking the scout squarely across the face, coldly saying: "Get lost!"

The scout clutched his bleeding face, eyes wide: "This is the Cheqi Zhuzhong! How dare you force your way in?!"

Zhao Yuxiong's gaze was icy and sharp: "Special Envoy of Pacification has arrived! Order: Chariot and Cavalry General, present yourself immediately!!!"