Chapter 441: First Volume, Chapter 441: Emergency Mobilization

First Volume, Chapter 441: Emergency Mobilization

After resting one day in Beixi County, they again sent troops to assault the Border; after a fierce battle, they lost hundreds of corpses before being repelled once more and retreating back to the County City.

Having lost both battles, Li Zhang no longer rushed to attack; he immediately entrusted the Cheng Clan and Lin Quqi to lead the four daughters of the Qin Family through the city to comfort the soldiers, soothe military morale, and inform everyone that the two defeats were anticipated—though they could not break the enemy, they had successfully pinned down the Enemy Army; whenever Beixi County launched an offensive, Chen Si would be forced to redeploy troops to meet it, thus implementing Cheng Wei Jiu Zhao to relieve pressure on the Border Army.

……

Beidi War Intelligence had been sent to Jingdu; Qin Tianhu was hastily summoned into Gong Zhong by the Liang Emperor to discuss the matter.

At this time, Qin Feng was also not idle, scrambling to prepare carts—either purchasing them outright or commissioning their construction—and sending all these empty carts to the Northern Border to distribute among local civilians for transporting supplies. Carts were cheap; what mattered were the horses pulling them. Alone, Qin Feng could never supply so many horses.

This matter required consultation with all sectors of Jingdu, with each sector providing financial support.

Qin Feng immediately convened an Emergency Materials Preparation Conference under the title of Supervisory Special Envoy.

As Qin Feng had expected, almost no merchants from Jingdu's various sectors attended; the Qin Family compound stood cold and empty.

Qin Feng knew well: the merchants' refusal to attend was not due to ignoring the Northern Border war, but simply because they looked down on him.

Qin Feng's reputation had become thoroughly polarized: rising in the countryside and among commoners, yet infamous among Jingdu's aristocratic merchant circles.

Not surprising!

As a "privileged beneficiary," Qin Feng did not prevent him from becoming an enemy to other privileged beneficiaries. This move naturally stirred up all factions: why should Qin Feng reap both fame and fortune while we must spend money to suffer? All merchants' sons rejected any event or call initiated by Qin Feng.

In the end, Qin Feng directly ordered the Jingzhao Yin to compel everyone's attendance, and only then did merchants gradually arrive.

The preparation conference, meant for morning, dragged until evening before all prominent Jingdu merchants had barely arrived.

Yet, whispers and sneers filled the hall endlessly.

"Hmph! This Qin Feng is the worst! Leveraging his current power to torment Jingdu's merchant sons. Just watch—he'll invent another pretext to bleed us dry today."

"Need you think? Whenever Qin Feng comes to us, it's never good news!"

"If anyone else held this Materials Preparation Conference, I'd wholeheartedly support it. But if it's Qin Feng? Forget it!"

"We're not against contributing—but what about Killing the Donkey After Grinding? We spend large sums of Silver, gain no reputation, gain no benefit—why?"

Hearing the murmurs and the scornful glances from all sides, Qin Feng paid no mind.

After all, no man is perfect; at his current position, perfect balance is impossible.

Favoring the people inevitably angers the powerful.

Favoring the powerful inevitably earns the people's scorn.

Qin Feng must pick a side!

"I know your grievances have festered long—ice three feet thick does not form in a day. I don't expect a few words to erase past enmity. You may look down on me, need not give me face—but with National War upon us and the Northern Border crisis dire, I beg you, for the sake of the common people, lend your strength."

Qin Feng cut straight to the point: "The materials needed for the Northern Border are listed: eight thousand carts, thirty thousand young, strong Civilian Laborers, three thousand guards, and grain and forage sufficient to sustain the laborers and guards en route—totaling ten thousand shi of Grain."

"The carts will help Northern Border civilians transport their Autumn Harvest grain; the laborers will assist in stockpiling grain and building temporary Granaries; the guards will escort and maintain order upon arrival."

"All of this requires money. I, Qin Feng, could afford it alone—but I must not. If I spend all my funds, how will I sustain Beixi County's continued warfare?"

"Now, we need patriotic souls from all sectors to generously contribute and help Shedynasty overcome this crisis."

At these words, mockery erupted.

Merchants remained silent, coldly watching Qin Feng.

The aristocratic sons, however, sneered at him.

"Now you remember us? Where were you before?"

"Qin Feng! Aren't you called Jingdu's First Young Master? Can't you handle this yourself?"

"Heh, haven't you ruined Jingdu's sons enough?"

"You keep your money to support Beixi County—our money supports National War? Qin Feng, you're playing a clever game. When the war ends and Beixi County is strong and well-equipped, won't you be even more untouchable?"

Insults, doubts—he endured them all.

After all, with National Crisis upon them, Qin Feng had to bow.

But Xie Yun'er, standing nearby, could no longer bear it; she glared at the loudest critic and snapped: "Patriotic souls? Pah! Are you even men?"

"When the nation is in peril, every commoner bears responsibility!"

"Though I am but a woman, I dare not forget the state's plight!"

"No matter how deep your grudge against Qin Feng, can it outweigh national crisis? Will you let national ruin and mass suffering continue just to settle personal scores? If all of you are so selfish, then Qin Feng's past actions against you? Heaven itself would applaud!"

Facing Xie Yun'er's rebuke, some were furious but silent; some harbored resentment—but none dared refute her.

After all, her words rose to the level of national righteousness and struck their weakest point: if they refused aid now and threw Stones at One Who Has Fallen, wouldn't all Heaven despise them?

Yet…

Helping Qin Feng? They simply couldn't cross that mental barrier.

Qin Feng secretly rejoiced: some words he could not say plainly, but spoken by Xie Yun'er, saved him much effort.

Moreover, Xie Yun'er still commanded authority in Jingdu—after all, even Qin Feng dared not provoke the she-tiger; who would dare resent her?

Seeing the chaotic hall gradually quiet, Qin Feng seized the moment.

"If you lend your aid, I, Qin Feng, will repay you!"

"The Imperial Examinations draw near; I shall petition the Emperor: all who serve the state shall have their descendants prioritized in the examinations."

At these words, several older merchants immediately perked up.

After all, securing official posts for one's descendants was the proper path.

If spending silver could secure a bright future for one's heirs, it was a most profitable investment.