Chapter 435: First Volume, Chapter 435: The Final Gambit

First Volume, Chapter 435: The Final Gambit

As the old master and servant exchanged pleasantries, Prince Li Zhang walked over, bowing to the Three Great Generals with a light smile: "Greetings, Three Great Generals."

The three immediately returned the bow: "We old ministers dare not accept such courtesy. Your Highness has been in Beixi County for days, yet we never came to pay our respects—it was impolite. We beg Your Highness's forbearance."

Li Zhang nodded with a smile, then shifted tone: "Thanks to Brother Qin's favor, our family was able to relocate to Beixi County and escape that prison."

At these words, the Three Great Generals fell silent instantly.

After all, the relationship between Prince Ming's family and Qin Feng was already common knowledge.

And prior to this, the Three Great Generals had been, in effect, half-enemies to Qin Feng. Now that Qin Feng held the title of Supervisory Special Envoy and had the support of Prince Ming's family, he held absolute authority in the Northern Border. The Three Great Generals could not help but secretly wonder how they would position themselves going forward.

Li Zhang was incredibly sharp!

He immediately smiled: "Great Generals need not worry. Since my father and I have taken up residence in Beixi County, we naturally intend to restore our old goodwill with you three. Moreover, I've heard you sent word to the Jiangnan Commander to protect Ning Hu's return to the Northern Border. One hundred thousand shi of grain will be sent first to the Che Ji Army."

"Later, the Piaoqi General and the Former General will each receive one hundred thousand shi of grain—this is Beixi County's humble gift."

"The Northern Border is the gateway to Shedynasty. The Bei Di army points its spear here—we must stand united, defend the Northern Border's safety, and protect Shedynasty's people. What do you think, Great Generals?"

Li Zhang had made himself perfectly clear—even a fool would understand.

Yet… the Three Great Generals each owed loyalty to different powerful clans, each with their own burdens.

Seeing the Three Great Generals remain silent, Li Zhang showed no surprise; his smile deepened, but his tone grew sharper: "The Bei Di army has fully regrouped and may launch an attack at any moment, with Chen Si overseeing the campaign. A brutal battle is coming—Beixi County cannot afford distraction. All destabilizing elements must be eliminated!"

Clearly, Li Zhang offered a sweet plum, then immediately struck a blow—combining kindness and authority.

His meaning: don't push your luck. If you continue to watch from afar, you three might as well stay in Beixi County permanently. Even if they had a hundred times the courage, none would dare act against Beixi County at this deadline.

The Che Ji General frowned deeply and said sternly: "Is this your words, Prince, or Qin Feng's?"

Li Zhang's lips curled into a cold smile: "My words are Brother Qin's words. My father and I share the same fortune and misfortune as Beixi County."

The Piaoqi General took a deep breath, as if making a decision, and bowed firmly: "We each have our burdens—we cannot fully align with Beixi County. But even out of respect for the old Prince's name, we will never abandon you in peril. If Beixi County is in mortal danger, we will send troops to rescue you."

Hearing this, Li Zhang laughed: "Beixi County in mortal danger? Hahahaha! Great General, you misunderstand. Didn't you notice the Outer City has been fully repaired? Brother Qin has already gained authority to expand the army—all idle civilians in the city have been drafted."

"Beixi County is an iron barrel! Rather than worrying about Beixi County, you should worry more about yourselves."

The Former General, stationed on the First Line, frowned deeply and asked: "What do you mean, Prince?"

Li Zhang did not hesitate—he pulled a secret letter from his sleeve: "This is Brother Qin's war report. The key to this battle lies not in Beixi County, but in the Bian Jun Zhong Zhen. Brother Qin has thoroughly studied Chen Si. With Chen Si's talent, he would never commit all his strength to a direct assault on Beixi County."

"Everything so far has been a deliberate ruse by Bei Di, meant to draw the Northern Border Army's attention entirely to Beixi County. Thus, they can feint east and strike west—attack the Bian Jun Da Ying. Once the Front Line collapses, they can encircle Beixi County and starve it into submission—that is the superior strategy."

"Brother Qin anticipated this and turned their plan against them. On the surface, all military preparations appear to strengthen Beixi County's city defense. But when the battle begins, Beixi County's primary mission will not be self-preservation—it will be to reinforce the Bian Jun Zhong Zhen."

At these words, the Three Great Generals stared in stunned silence.

Who could have imagined the depth of Qin Feng's gambit against Bei Di?

Li Zhang pressed on, fixing his gaze on the Former General: "We have no desire to rescue ungrateful wolves—wasting Beixi County's strength to reinforce the Front Line, only to be betrayed by them afterward."

The Former General took a deep breath, no longer hesitating—he dropped to one knee, voice resolute: "Thank you, Prince, and Qin Qianhu, for guiding us out of confusion. Had you not enlightened us today, the Front Line would have been lost! Rest assured, Prince—as long as I hold my post, the Front Line will never be an enemy of Beixi County!"

The Che Ji General and the Piaoqi General exchanged glances, then immediately bowed in unison: "Never an enemy!"

Li Zhang was deeply satisfied with this outcome—after all, expecting the Three Great Generals to fully defect to Beixi County was unrealistic.

Li Zhang immediately helped the Former General to his feet; the earlier tension vanished instantly. Under Prince Ming's presence, the atmosphere gradually warmed.

Meanwhile, the Bei Di Qian Feng Da Ying had already assembled for battle.

The official roster of the Vanguard Camp listed fifty thousand troops, but secretly, it held nearly eighty thousand! Not only that—it was equipped with vast quantities of supply train and military equipment.

Meanwhile, the Sanggan Army had left only ten thousand troops, to serve as a decoy.

Fifty li behind, the Yingsheng Army stationed forty thousand troops, ready to reinforce the Front Line at any moment.

The entire Front Line had been thoroughly infiltrated by Ye Xiao—every Liang Kingdom spy or messenger was either driven off or assassinated. Even the Brocade Guard had no choice but to retreat, withdrawing to Beixi County.

As a result, Liang Kingdom could only prepare for battle based on the initial estimate of "fifty thousand" enemy troops. The true force, however, reached one hundred thirty thousand!

Chen Si, stationed in the Sanggan Army camp, gazed toward Beixi County with an expression of profound gravity: "I have exhausted every tactic to convince all factions of Liang Kingdom that the decisive battle will be at Beixi County—thus securing the opportunity to seize the Bian Jun Da Ying. This battle stakes the very fate of Great Di. One-strike victory, then decline, then exhaustion."

"If we still cannot break Liang's Front Line, we will have no strength to raise another army for thirty years."

"Though I despise it, I still hope… Qin Feng dies in the court factional struggle. After all, in heaven and earth, only Qin Feng can break my tactics!"

The Deputy Generals beside him exchanged glances, startled by Chen Si's deep fear of Qin Feng.

Yet Qin Feng was not even in the Liang Kingdom Northern Border—he was trapped in the mire of court factional struggle, unable to extricate himself.

How could he possibly manage the Northern Border campaign?!