Chapter 402: First Volume, Chapter 402: A Mayfly Attempts to Shake a Tree

First Volume, Chapter 402: A Mayfly Attempts to Shake a Tree

The Chariot and Cavalry General, in terms of rank, status, and military authority, far outshines Qin Feng; to lead five hundred cavalry and storm the Chariot and Cavalry General's garrison, in the eyes of the scouts, is no different from a mayfly attempting to shake a tree—a suicidal act.

But Qin Feng didn't care at all.

At this moment, inside the military camp's command tent, the Chariot and Cavalry General sat cross-legged behind his shushu, studying military texts.

The messenger rushed into the tent in haste: "General, the Special Envoy for Pacification, Qin Feng, has arrived."

The Chariot and Cavalry General's grip tightened on the military text; he hesitated a moment before slowly lifting his head and glancing at the messenger: "Special Envoy for Pacification? When did the Emperor appoint him? Why have I not been informed?"

The messenger's expression was grave: "Qin Feng arrived lightly equipped, riding hard and faster than our messengers—by now, the Emperor's verbal edict may still be en route."

Hearing this, the Chariot and Cavalry General snorted: "Since the Emperor's edict has not arrived, I do not recognize any such 'Special Envoy for Pacification.' Let that Qin family brat go somewhere far away and stay there—don't disturb my peace."

The messenger hesitated, caught between advance and retreat: "This matter requires your personal intervention—Qin Feng did not wait for formal announcement; he has already led his men into the camp. Several Deputy Generals tried to stop him, but the result… they were either beaten, or…"

Before the messenger finished, the Chariot and Cavalry General slammed the military text onto the shushu with a sharp crack, leaping to his feet, eyes blazing:

"Unthinkable! Is that Qin Feng Xiao'er mad enough to have eaten bear's heart and leopard's gall? He dares strike my men? What are my subordinates good for? Arrest that arrogant brat and punish him severely!"

The messenger wiped sweat from his brow: "Qin Feng leads five hundred Black Cavalry—if we act rashly, it may trigger conflict."

The Chariot and Cavalry General's face turned ashen. Five hundred Black Cavalry? Even if those Beixi County horsemen were forged from gold, to dare penetrate the camp's heart was nothing but a rabble.

How could the mighty Chariot and Cavalry Army fear five hundred Black Cavalry? It was not just infuriating—it was laughable!

Where was military dignity?

Just as the Chariot and Cavalry General prepared to order Qin Feng disarmed, his strategist rushed in: "General, do not."

"Qin Feng rode a thousand li in a single dash, faster than our messengers—he came for the Pingnan County Rebellion. This 'Special Envoy for Pacification' is no empty rumor. If you strike Qin Feng, it is tantamount to rebellion!"

"A general in the field may disregard military commands; the Emperor may turn a blind eye. But if you bear the charge of rebellion, the nature of this affair changes entirely. Even under immense pressure from all sides, the Emperor will surely mobilize a great army to crush you—he will never permit a situation of internal and external crisis!"

"Beyond the Imperial Capital ZhuZhen, the garrisons of the Three Sixty Counties, there are also the Imperial Party forces from the Central Plains. Even a dead camel is bigger than a horse—do not provoke the Emperor!"

Faced with the strategist's desperate pleading, the Chariot and Cavalry General weighed the stakes deeply and forced himself to suppress his rage.

Since the Deputy Generals could not stop Qin Feng, the Chariot and Cavalry General decided to confront the Qin Feng Xiao'er himself.

"Hmph! I've spent half my life with spear and sword—how dare a greenhorn defy me!"

The Chariot and Cavalry General immediately donned his armor, seized his sword, flung open the tent flap, and led fifty guards armed with zhan dao straight toward the Camp Gate.

At the Camp Gate, Qin Feng and his men were surrounded by a ring of officers.

Over a hundred archers pointed their bows solely at Qin Feng; with a single command, they could turn him into a hedgehog in an instant.

Qin Feng sat tall on his horse, facing the disciplined troops—not a trace of tension on his face, only a relaxed, almost imperceptible smile.

"Brother Yuxiong, see this? These are the Chariot and Cavalry Army's soldiers. When facing the Di army, they won't even let out a fart—only cower in the rear. But when it comes to their own kind, they bare their teeth and snarl."

Zhao Yuxiong's gaze remained calm and still; he spoke with effortless detachment: "The Chariot and Cavalry General is a pillar of the state, who once won great glory for Shedynasty—I once admired him deeply. But age has made him forget to cherish his reputation… his former fiery passion has now turned into mere power-play. This is the common failing of all old generals."

Faced with Qin Feng and Zhao Yuxiong's mockery, every officer present flushed crimson.

They had come to the Northern Border with the original intent to fight the Di army—but since garrisoning here, the army had not moved an inch. Each time they received a Beixi County War Report, their spirits sank.

The entire Northern Border front line had only Beixi County standing in resistance—this was a disgrace to Shedynasty's soldiers.

Yet…

As subordinates of the Chariot and Cavalry General, they owed loyalty to their commander; their own thoughts mattered nothing.

Deputy General Chen Li, clad in armor and helmet, gripped a seven-foot-long zhan dao with fierce resolve: "Qin Feng, if you dare take another step forward, don't blame me for being uncivil!"

"Oh?" Qin Feng raised an eyebrow, nudged his horse forward with his heels, and closed the distance several paces—his provocation unmistakable.

"Deputy General Chen, just how exactly do you plan to be 'uncivil' toward me?"

Facing Qin Feng's provocation, Chen Li clenched his teeth and slowly raised his zhan dao.

Zhan dao come in two types: the short blade is standard for ji zhan, used as a secondary weapon.

Those who wield the long blade are invariably highly skilled warriors, mostly bodyguards or elite escorts.

The instant Chen Li raised his zhan dao, a clatter erupted behind Qin Feng.

The five hundred Black Cavalry raised their horse lances simultaneously.

Zhao Yuxiong gripped the reins in his left hand, the lance in his right, the shaft tucked under his armpit—the razor-sharp tip of the lance now directly aimed at Chen Li; should Chen Li make a move, Zhao Yuxiong could pierce him through in an instant.

As the Black Cavalry moved, the surrounding soldiers also drew their weapons.

Tension crackled between both sides—the battle was moments from breaking out.

At that moment, a roar rang out: "Qin Feng Xiao'er, you're asking for death!"

The Chariot and Cavalry General, flanked by fifty guards armed with zhan dao, appeared before Qin Feng, eyes blazing, aura fierce.

"With only this small force, you dare storm my camp? Did Qin Tianhu never teach you how to write the word 'death'?"

Undeniably, even the most elite Black Cavalry would be annihilated instantly under such encirclement.

But Qin Feng showed no fear; instead, he grinned: "General, you lower your weapon, and I'll treat you leniently. How about that?"

The Chariot and Cavalry General was already seething, his authority severely challenged.

Hearing Qin Feng's audacious words, he burst into a bitter laugh: "What a bold brat! If I refuse, what will you do?"

Qin Feng shrugged, utterly relaxed: "The Pingnan County Rebellion is so close to your garrison, yet you stand idly by. As Special Envoy, I have reason to suspect you're colluding with the rebel leader, intending to use Pingnan County as a base to encroach upon the Central Plains."

"If you refuse to cooperate with me, I shall strip you of your command and hand you over to Dali Temple for strict trial. Anyone who resists—kill on sight!"

The Chariot and Cavalry General had intended to intimidate Qin Feng into retreating—but instead… Qin Feng was this bold!