Chapter 436

First Volume, Chapter 436: Autumn Harvest and the Imperial Examinations

The Imperial Palace, Grand Hall.

Minister of Revenue Li Xu was reporting to the Liang Emperor on the autumn harvest; the harvest was the paramount concern of Shedynasty, allowing not the slightest negligence.

"Your Majesty, the grain in Jiangnan ripened early; according to the Jiangnan Prefect's report, eighty percent of the harvest in the Twenty-seven Counties of Jiangnan has been completed. If this pace continues, the full harvest will be finished in seven or eight more days. Starting mid-month, each county in Jiangnan may begin taxation. This year is a bountiful harvest—three shi of grain per mu. Following tradition, we tax one in ten; thus, Jiangnan's tax alone is projected to reach one hundred thousand shi of grain."

"Once Jiangnan's harvest concludes, other regions will gradually begin their autumn harvests."

The Liang Emperor, long burdened by internal strife and external threats, sighed inwardly with relief upon hearing of Jiangnan's bountiful harvest.

Yet Jiangnan's bounty does not mean other regions are equally prosperous; the actual grain yield this year still depends on specific conditions.

But regardless, this was good news.

Meanwhile, the Director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices stepped forward to report: "After Jiangnan's harvest, the Imperial Examinations will follow. Those who passed the Provincial Examination in each region must now gradually arrive in Beijing to take the Metropolitan Examination. Preparations must be made in advance—the Examinations concern the nation's fate and cannot be neglected in the slightest. Yet in recent years, wealthy local gentry and armed villagers have frequently intercepted exam candidates on the road, offering high prices to buy official posts; once the candidates pass and assume office, they plunder the people's wealth."

"Such evil deeds must be severely punished, with not the slightest leniency."

The Liang Emperor had long heard of this; he recalled how the former County Magistrate of Beixi had committed precisely such crimes—if not for that dog's chaos in Beixi, how could Qin Feng now rule Beixi County with such power?

This matter was a deep wound in the Liang Emperor's heart; he immediately ordered: punish severely. Anyone caught violating this rule shall be executed on the spot, and their three clans exterminated.

Both the autumn harvest and the Imperial Examinations were paramount, but with both now beginning, it meant the Northern Border War was imminent.

Instantly, all eyes in the hall turned to the Qin father and son.

The Liang Emperor asked in a low voice: "Minister Qin, how are preparations for the Northern Border war proceeding?"

Qin Tianhu stepped forward quickly, bowing deeply: "Your Majesty, Beixi County is now impregnable. If the Di army dares to invade, they shall learn the valor of our Shedynasty's sons!"

Upon hearing this, the Liang Emperor did not know whether to rejoice or to fume.

The stronger Beixi County became, the more it deterred the Di; yet the harder it would be to reclaim Beixi County in the future. But with the current dire situation, everything must be deferred to the Qin family.

The Liang Emperor glanced at Qin Feng behind Qin Tianhu, wondering why this man was so unusually quiet today.

He was about to ask, when palace guards outside requested an audience.

"Your Majesty, the Northern Border Messenger has sent a ten-thousand urgent military report!"

All civil and military officials were startled—ten-thousand urgent? Had war already broken out?

The Liang Emperor's joy from the harvest instantly turned grave; he immediately summoned the messenger.

Soon, a messenger covered in small flags—signaling "urgent military intelligence, all checkpoints must yield"—strode into the Grand Hall, knelt, and shouted: "Your Majesty, three days ago, the Di army launched a major assault on Beixi County! The Beixi County Garrison fought back fiercely; both sides are now locked in a stalemate of attack on a fortified city."

Hearing of the front-line battle, the Liang Emperor frowned and turned to Qin Tianhu: "Minister Qin, you said Beixi County was impregnable. If so, why has the Di army not been easily repelled? Why the stalemate?"

Qin Tianhu's heart sank. According to Beixi County's strength, even against an enemy force exceeding fifty thousand, it should have handled the assault effortlessly—why was the military intelligence so urgent?

Confused, Qin Tianhu turned to Qin Feng.

Only after Qin Tianhu kicked Qin Feng did he snap out of his daze, mumbling an incoherent "ah."

Only then did everyone realize: this man had been daydreaming!

The Liang Emperor was furious—amid such an urgent crisis, Qin Feng still had the audacity to drift off? Had it not been for the Qin family's current power, the Liang Emperor would already have ordered the Palace Guards to drag him out and give him twenty staff strikes to wake him up!

It wasn't Qin Feng's fault—attending court was simply unbearably dull.

Yet sensing the murderous glares from the Liang Emperor and Qin Tianhu, Qin Feng reluctantly calmed down and said coolly: "Don't worry."

At this, the entire Grand Hall erupted in murmurs of astonishment.

The Pro-War Faction and the Taolin Party would not openly challenge Qin Feng, but their eyes betrayed utter disbelief.

The Di army and Beixi County were locked in a stalemate—meaning Beixi County was under severe pressure. How could such a critical matter be "not worth worrying about"?

Either Qin Feng possessed some decisive advantage, or he had been kicked in the head by a donkey.

Lin Taibao naturally seized this chance to mock Qin Feng: "Commander Qin, do you know what you're saying? Have you become so settled in Beixi County that you no longer care about the fate of the Shedynasty?"

Qin Feng smiled at Lin Taibao: "The war is being fought in Beixi County. Even I'm not worried—why are you, a man from Jiangnan, meddling like a salted radish pretending to be pure water?"

The hall erupted again.

Qin Feng's words were clearly an insult to Lin Taibao—everyone was equally corrupt, all tap water; why pretend to be purified? Who in Heaven doesn't know what the Lin family has done in Jiangnan?

And…

Lin Taibao was a top minister; Qin Feng had dared to speak so disrespectfully before the Liang Emperor and all civil and military officials—not merely a breach of etiquette, but an act of insubordination.

Lin Taibao's face darkened; he bowed sharply to the Liang Emperor: "This Qin Feng is arrogant and conceited, daring to speak so boldly before Your Majesty—he must be severely punished!"

The Liang Emperor detested Qin Feng, but since Qin Feng had voluntarily relinquished the post of Grand Commandant, he dared not risk shattering the fragile peace.

He thus ignored Lin Tianbao's accusation, fixed Qin Feng with an irritated gaze, and said: "Qin Feng, if you have something to say, say it plainly. Do not play riddles in the Grand Hall. If you dare speak out of turn again, I will show no mercy!"

Qin Feng clicked his tongue, bowed low to the Liang Emperor in apology, and took the opportunity to explain: "Since war has broken out, there's no need to conceal it—the Di's attack on Beixi County is merely a feint. The so-called stalemate? Beixi County is not fighting at full strength—it is deliberately entangling the Di army to preserve its strength for other uses."

Qin Feng's words were like a stone thrown into a thousand waves.

After all, the Di's strategy of Breaking the Cauldrons and Sinking the Boats to capture Beixi County was known throughout Heaven.

Shedynasty's war preparations had centered entirely on Beixi County—how could it suddenly become a feint? Wasn't this rendering the entire Shedynasty military effort useless?

Before the Liang Emperor could speak, Qin Tianhu, as Supervisor of War, could no longer stay silent—after all, he bore full responsibility for this war; he roared: "What is going on?!"