Chapter 455

First Volume, Chapter 455: Interlocking Chains

"Tell them: if the enemy attacks, just roll down logs and stones, pour boiling oil and fecal slurry onto the Wengcheng. Close combat? The defenders will handle it."

Lin Quqi didn't stop walking; he didn't even have time to speak to Qin Feng before turning and running back.

Prince Li Zhang, who had witnessed the entire scene, felt a wave of complex emotions.

Qin Feng had remained in Jingdu, maneuvering against political rivals in court, and now, having just arrived in Beixi County, he faced the nightmare of the Border Army's city falling.

Yet instead of showing any panic, he issued a string of orders—all thorough, all precise—in one breath.

Had he not seen it with his own eyes, Li Zhang would never have believed Qin Feng was a newcomer—he seemed as if he'd been holding the line in Beixi County, fighting the enemy nonstop, all along.

Otherwise…

How could he understand the battlefield so intimately?

Li Zhang's own pride in his military mastery now crumbled before Qin Feng, leaving only shame.

Seeing Li Zhang's dimmed gaze, the Ming Prince spoke solemnly: "Of all in Shedynasty, only Qin Feng can match Chen Si in strategy. Look—he's barely set foot in Beixi County, yet he's turned the tide. This time, Chen Si will finally feel pain."

Li Zhang sighed, unsure whether to admire or to blush, and offered a bitter smile: "Compared to Brother Qin, I am but a speck of dust beside the full moon."

The Ming Prince clapped Li Zhang's shoulder and whispered gently: "Qin Feng sees through men with razor-sharp eyes—he's seen you clearly. What you lack is only experience. Otherwise, why would Qin Feng entrust you with Beixi County's command? Do you know how great a risk he took? If the Emperor learned you held the army, he'd lose sleep and appetite."

With this, Li Zhang awoke from his daze; his gaze toward Qin Feng now brimmed with admiration and gratitude.

…

At the Bei Di Qian Feng Da Ying, a messenger rushed in.

"General! The Eastern Front has reignited!"

Chen Si, arms behind his back, gazed at the burning Bian Jun Zhong Zhen in the distance and replied casually: "Understood. Withdraw."

The Vanguard Commander beside him frowned: "Chen Si, if the Eastern Front breaks, our Western Front will be crippled."

Chen Si remained expressionless: "It's merely Cheng Wei Jiu Zhao. Our forces have already breached the Liang Kingdom's Border Army stronghold; our Piao Cavalry is pushing hard to reinforce the border. We're stretched thin just holding them off—how could we spare men for the Eastern Front? Our priority is to block the Piao Cavalry reinforcements and annihilate the Liang Border Army."

"As for the Eastern Front: six thousand infantry hold the Front Line, and three thousand light cavalry remain in the Rear. Even if they can't stop Beixi's assault, they'll buy us enough time to take the Border Army."

Chen Si held victory in his grasp—within hours, the defenders inside the city would be slaughtered.

Once the Northern Border lost this gate tooth, fire would blaze deep into the Liang Kingdom North Border. Even if the remaining Piaoqi and Che Qi armies remained, with no border to defend, they'd be forced into open field battle—and then the Liang Army would learn the might of the Di iron hooves!

Soon after, another messenger arrived.

"General! Liang reinforcements have appeared on the Eastern Side!"

At this, Chen Si frowned: "Reinforcements? At this hour, where could reinforcements come from?"

The Vanguard Commander was stunned and barked: "You liar! Did your front line fail to hold the Piao Cavalry reinforcements? How dare you falsify Beidi War Intelligence in such a critical battle? Soldiers! Bring the Main General in charge of blocking the Piao Cavalry reinforcements here for court-martial!"

The messenger hurried to explain: "Grand General, the Piao Cavalry reinforcements attacked fiercely but did not break our DefensiveLine. The Eastern reinforcements are not the Piao Cavalry!"

The Vanguard Commander waved his hand, halting the Supervisor of the Army preparing to arrest the Main General, his eyes filled with confusion: "Not Piao Cavalry? Then Che Qi? No—Che Qi would never advance recklessly. Without their main force guarding the rear, why would we be struggling to crack this hard nut? We'd have marched straight into the Liang rear area!"

At that moment, Chen Si's cold voice cut through: "No need to guess—it's Beixi County's reinforcements!"

"Beixi County's attack on the Eastern Front isn't Cheng Wei Jiu Zhao—it's Sheng Dong Ji Xi. It's meant to make our troops on the Eastern Front hesitate, so Beixi can divert forces to reinforce the Border Army."

The Vanguard Commander's eyes lit up instantly: "Then the force attacking the Eastern Front must be the Beixi Black Cavalry—and the reinforcements heading for the Border Army are light cavalry and infantry! Beixi County is now defenseless—a hollow city! Send word: gather our troops on the Eastern Front, bypass the Black Cavalry, and strike Beixi County directly!"

"As for the Beixi reinforcements—just light cavalry and infantry, nothing elite. Send five thousand cavalry from the Front Line to intercept them."

At this critical moment, another messenger arrived.

"General! The Eastern reinforcements aren't heading for the Border Army—they're moving toward the Piao Cavalry battlefield!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Si's face darkened instantly: "No!"

Faced with Beixi County's chain of maneuvers, Chen Si was now out of his depth. Sending reinforcements toward the Piao Cavalry was too late.

All Chen Si could do now was order every remaining troop to the Bian Jun Zhong Zhen, encircling it completely to cut off all communication between inside and outside.

He must not let the Border Army learn of the battlefield's shifts—otherwise, they'd fight to the death with even greater ferocity.

From dawn until nightfall, messengers kept rushing into the Vanguard Camp.

"General! Beixi County's siege is stalled—the city has heavy defenses. Due to rushed troop movements, siege equipment couldn't reach the battlefield. The Beidi War Machine can't break through Wengcheng—we've suffered heavy losses."

"General! The Beixi Black Cavalry attacks then retreats. When our light cavalry engages, they withdraw from the Eastern Front Battlefield, shake off the infantry, then fight us in open field. Their armor is thick, their offense devastating—only the Xiongying Brigade can stop them. Every time we retreat, they charge back."

"General! Critical Beidi War Intelligence: the three units blocking the Piao Cavalry reinforcements have been ambushed from front and rear by the Piao Cavalry and Beixi County troops. Heavy losses. The Main General has ordered a military retreat."

"General! The Piao Cavalry reinforcements and Beixi County reinforcements have approached Biancheng…"

"General! The Border Army has retreated to the Du Jun Fu, holding out desperately. Roads inside the city are narrow—only chariots can pass. Siege equipment can't reach the Residence. The Border Army inside fights to the death without surrendering."

Chen Si, once certain of victory, slumped into his chair, one hand dragging over his forehead, face etched with despair.

Prince Li Zhang of Liang, though skilled in strategy, was still young—yet today's maneuvers were so practiced, so ruthless—it was as if he'd become a different man.

Chen Si suddenly stood up, eyes wide: "Qin Feng—is it you?!"

The Black Cavalry's attack on the Eastern Front wasn't pure Cheng Wei Jiu Zhao—it was meant to be seen through, so Chen Si wouldn't divert troops to reinforce it.

Thus, using Eastern Front forces to strike Beixi County directly became impossible. Meanwhile, the reinforcements directly relieved the Piao Cavalry, then joined forces to aid the Border Army.

Even if the Border Army perished, the union of Beixi and Piao Cavalry forces would strike the enemy head-on, achieving One-Strike Victory and retaking the Bian Jun Zhong Zhen.

"Qin Feng! This is your doing!"