Chapter 408

First Volume, Chapter 408: Attack the Heart Above All

"How many troops have actually arrived outside? Didn't the General say capturing Pingnan County would be as easy as reaching into a pocket, and that the Emperor has no energy to care?"

"Look at the banners flying outside the city—they're clearly from the Chariot and Cavalry General's army."

"What?! When we first rose up, the Chariot and Cavalry General didn't move a single soldier. Now that we've seized Pingnan County and made it our base, he shows up—could this be a trap set for us on purpose?"

"No! If he wanted to earn merit, the best time would've been before we took the city, ambushing us in the chaos. Now that we're holding the city, sending troops to besiege us makes no sense. The Chariot and Cavalry General is a National Pillar—how could he make such a foolish move? There must be deceit here—quickly report this to the General!"

At this moment, the Pingnan County Yamen was in complete chaos.

Messengers rushed into the Yamen one after another, bringing disaster after disaster.

"Your Excellency, the Chariot and Cavalry Army has arrived at the city gates—there are at least twenty thousand troops!"

"Your Excellency, in addition to the main force, supply trains and military equipment are steadily arriving beneath the city walls."

"Your Excellency, the County City is now completely encircled and utterly cut off from the outside world. Since last night, over twenty messengers sent to the Sanggan Army have failed to leave Pingnan County's territory. Aside from the Chariot and Cavalry Army, every inch of Pingnan County has been infiltrated and sealed off by scouts and Imperial Spies. Our messengers can't get out; Sanggan Army messengers can't get in."

At this moment, Huang Cheng was utterly overwhelmed, sitting beneath the plaque inscribed with "Justice Shines Bright," rubbing his forehead in silence.

He was cursing the Lin family's ancestors in his heart!

Originally, it was agreed that the Chariot and Cavalry, Piaoqi, and Border Army forces would not stir a single soldier; seizing Pingnan County would be as easy as reaching into a pocket. Then, instead of advancing south, we would gradually erode Ben Zhou's territory and strengthen our power.

At that time, the Lin Family would petition the Emperor to offer generous terms and issue a Pacification Edict to Huang Cheng's forces.

Meanwhile, the Northern Di Sanggan Army would capture Beixi County, restoring the standoff with Shedynasty, allowing all Powerful Clans to profit from the chaos. This is not rebellion or treason—it's a roundabout path to saving the nation.

If we seize this chance to remove Qin Feng, that thorn in our eye, and restore Shedynasty's legal authority, it would be an immeasurable merit.

Until yesterday, the situation had unfolded exactly as the Lin Family had planned—but this morning, everything turned upside down.

The Chariot and Cavalry General, who was supposed to watch from afar, had now led his troops to lay siege!

It was already noon—the Sanggan Army, which should have been launching a full assault on Beixi County, had made not a single move.

What filled Huang Cheng with utter despair was that the entire Pingnan County territory had been completely sealed off by Qin Feng's forces.

The last piece of information Huang Cheng had about the outside world was that Qin Feng had been appointed Special Envoy to suppress rebellion, leading five hundred Black Riders to oversee the campaign, having already executed over a dozen Chariot and Cavalry officers to establish military authority.

Huang Cheng swept everything off the table and stood up, roaring: "Who can tell me why Qin Feng Xiao'er, who was supposed to remain in Jingdu, suddenly appeared on the Northern Border?!"

"What the hell is the Sanggan Army even doing?!"

"The Northern Di are unreliable—the Lin Family is even more unreliable!"

The strategist beside him hurriedly calmed him: "General, don't panic. Pingnan County's city defense is strong. Even if Qin Feng leads a massive army to storm the city, we still have over ten thousand defenders—we can hold out by relying on the walls!"

Over ten thousand defenders?

As the rebellion's leader, Huang Cheng would never say anything to shake military morale—but inside, despair surged.

Those weren't ten thousand defenders—they were ten thousand useless sacks of rice and wine!

These rebel troops were all civilian laborers Huang Cheng secretly recruited from various regions. They couldn't compare to Regular Army soldiers, not even to the lazy, idle county guards. The reason they captured Pingnan County was purely through Bandit Collaboration—they barely lifted a finger.

If Huang Cheng had been given enough time to develop, he could have gradually absorbed and won over local guards and garrison troops to strengthen himself.

But the problem was, Qin Feng gave him not a single moment to breathe—just as they seized the city, Qin Feng's army was already at the gates.

Once this great battle begins, these defenders, lacking any military training, will likely collapse at the first strike.

Sensing Huang Cheng's anxiety, the strategist continued to reassure him: "Wasn't Beixi County just as weak? With only a couple thousand civilian laborers, they held off the Northern Di's massive army. Remember, the commander then was Chen Si! And in terms of city defense and defenders, how could Beixi County compare to Pingnan County?"

Huang Cheng glared, eyes wide: "Scholars ruin everything—only know how to recite textbooks, have no grasp of Adaptation Response! Beixi County had Xu Mo and Tianji Camp Guards stabilizing morale, and Lin Quqi and Qin Cheng Clan calming the people—that's how they barely held out, and it was a bloody battle. What do we have in Pingnan County to hold military morale?"

After being berated so harshly, the strategist turned red with shame and dared not speak again.

Just then, at this critical deadline, another messenger burst in: "General, disaster! The people across the city have risen in rebellion—countless defenders are fleeing. Someone must be secretly stoking the flames!"

Hearing this, Huang Cheng was plunged into utter despair.

The very thing Huang Cheng feared most had finally come to pass.

Meanwhile, Qin Feng, stationed outside the city, was listening to the report from the Brocade Guard messenger.

"Your Excellency, the Brocade Guard agents who infiltrated the city yesterday have begun spreading rumors that 'Huang Cheng intends to surrender,' 'the Chariot and Cavalry, Piaoqi, and Border Armies are uniting to suppress the bandits,' and 'those who resist to the end will be slaughtered.' The city is already in chaos."

Qin Feng nodded, his expression utterly relaxed, showing not a trace of the tension before a great battle.

"Open a gap in the siege lines—give the traitors inside a way out."

At this, Zhao Yuxiong frowned slightly: "Brother Qin, all rebels should be slaughtered—why let them go so easily?"

Qin Feng smiled faintly: "What else can we do? Force them into a corner and make them fight like cornered beasts? That would only make things harder. Once we open the gap, the rebel troops inside will have a choice—fewer will fight to the death, more will flee, and taking the city becomes easier. Before a great battle, attack the heart above all."

Hearing Qin Feng's explanation, Zhao Yuxiong suddenly understood, secretly admiring him.

Beside him, Jing Qianying chuckled lightly: "I thought this would be a brutal battle—turns out it's so easy."

Qin Feng shrugged: "Give Huang Cheng another month, and we'd have no choice but to fight a brutal battle. Now, while he's still unsteady, this effect is possible. The garrison inside are all civilian laborers and bandits with no war experience—just the sight of our army advancing will make half of them panic. Spread a few rumors, and their military morale collapses entirely."

At this moment, Jing Qianying and Zhao Yuxiong finally understood why Qin Feng had dealt with the Chariot and Cavalry General before attacking Pingnan County.

Mobilizing the army was secondary—the most important thing was to crush Huang Cheng's hopes.