Chapter 476: First Volume_Chapter 476: Third Sister's Identity!

First Volume_Chapter 476: Third Sister's Identity!

The Former General moved directly into the side rooms of the County Yamen, claiming on the surface that he was discussing military strategy with Qin Feng, but in reality he was freeloading on Beixi County's Materials and Supplies, taking whatever he laid eyes on.

Beixi County had no shortage of Candy, and the Former General was like a kid let loose in a candy store. He snuck into the storeroom and stuffed sackfuls of the Candy that was ready for shipment into a burlap bag, only to be caught red-handed by Qin Feng.

"Grand General, just what do you think you're doing?!"

Qin Feng's face was full of exasperation. He thought to himself: I kindly treated your Arrow Wound, and not only does this old bastard refuse to show gratitude, he even has the nerve to steal from his host. Where is the dignity befitting a Grand General?

This is clearly inviting a wolf into the house!

Facing Qin Feng's rebuke, the Former General hurriedly tucked the burlap bag full of Candy behind his back, grinned broadly, and said: "Little Qin, you know my Bian Jun Zhong Zhen is short on Materials and Supplies. Your Beixi County is dripping with wealth — you won't miss this little bit."

What kind of talk is that?

Besides, the Border Army is the First Line of defense against foreign enemies and ought to receive the most generous treatment. Yet now they are allocated only just enough Military Expenditure, and the Grain and Forage and Materials and Supplies are kept at the bare minimum.

Why does the Border Army live so miserably? Why does the Liang Emperor target the Border Army at every turn? Does this old bastard really not know? And he still has the nerve to complain — what a shameless man!

Qin Feng snatched the burlap bag away and said irritably: "Grand General, if you were asking for some Grain and Forage or meat and rice, that would be one thing. But this Candy is the darling of the literati and nobles within the realm — it's all dispensable stuff. Your Arrow Wound hasn't healed yet; don't waste your precious energy on these worldly trifles."

The Former General pouted: "Why go on and on? You're just stingy!"

Stingy?

Truly, a measure of rice given in kindness becomes the cause of hatred. Qin Feng fumed inwardly: "Old bastard… ahem, Grand General, stop beating around the bush. Just tell me straight — what's your real intention in latching onto my Beixi County and refusing to leave? If you're here to steal Materials and Supplies, do you believe I won't have the Yamen Runners arrest you?"

Seeing that Qin Feng was showing no mercy, the Former General not only was unangered but actually laughed. He reached out and patted Qin Feng on the shoulder, but the motion tugged at his wound, and he couldn't help grimacing in pain.

Serves you right!

Qin Feng felt a surge of satisfaction in his heart.

The Former General clutched his wound, and once the pain subsided, he let out a long breath of relief and once again flashed an utterly shameless grin: "Little Qin, with your intelligence, you naturally know why this general is staying in Beixi County. Why ask what you already know?"

"There are no outsiders here. This general will open his heart to you."

"The grudge between this general and the Sage has a long history. Holding a large army under my own command was a measure of last resort. The moment I relinquish military power, the Sage will not hesitate to turn the butcher's blade on me."

Qin Feng did not doubt the Former General's words. Anyone who threatened imperial authority, the Liang Emperor would not hesitate to eliminate.

Qin Feng's mind was crystal clear, but on the surface he pretended to be confused: "Why is the Grand General telling me all this?"

Although the Former General had been stationed at the Border for over a decade and had long been absent from factional struggles, he still possessed the most basic cunning. He naturally understood that Qin Feng would not commit until he saw concrete gain.

Seeing this, the Former General stopped wasting words and got straight to the point: "This general's fall to his current state cannot be separated from your Qin Family."

At these words, Qin Feng could not help frowning slightly, his heart full of misgivings. How did the entanglements of grievances in the Northern Border drag the Qin Family into this?

The Former General did not hold back either. Just moments ago he had been beholden for accepting Qin Feng's hospitality, but now his face was full of smugness: "Back when the Sage had not yet inherited the Imperial Throne, during his time on the Rong Border in the Northern Border, he fathered a dragon son with a Folk woman. This dragon son threatened the position of a certain noble consort in Hou Gong, and was immediately hunted down."

"This general once stood in the Imperial Court to protect the lost pearl of the Folk, but was instead transferred to garrison the Rong Border in the Northern Border. Once I left, it was over a decade."

At this point, the Former General said with deep meaning: "Do you know who the lost pearl this general speaks of is?"

There was no need to think it over carefully — Qin Feng already had the answer in his heart. After all, he had long suspected that person's identity: it was none other than Third Sister Li Xiaolan.

First, she bears the surname Li. Second, she is an adopted daughter of the Qin Family. Third, she has always stayed in the Northern Border with the Cheng Clan of the Qin Family. And she has been relentlessly hunted by a Top-Tier assassin like Wei Xiao.

Wei Xiao once admitted to Qin Feng in person that the mastermind behind him was a certain noble consort in Hou Gong.

Every one of these details lines up perfectly.

Li Xiaolan is the daughter of the Liang Emperor — a堂堂 Princess of Liang!!!

The reason Liu Hongyan has always maintained close contact with Li Xiaolan is precisely because she knows Li Xiaolan's true identity. Moreover, the backbone of the Jinyiwei is made up of soldiers who have been secretly protecting Li Xiaolan.

The mystery of Li Xiaolan's identity was finally brought to light, and Qin Feng let out a long sigh of relief.

He immediately cupped his fists and bowed to the Former General: "On behalf of the Qin Family, I offer you my highest gratitude."

At this, Qin Feng's gaze turned resolute as he said: "Since the Former General once protected a member of the Qin Family, you are a friend of the Qin Family. On that basis alone, should the Former General have any needs in the Northern Border in the future, as long as it does not cross my bottom line, Beixi County will give its full support."

That was exactly what the Former General had been waiting to hear.

With the support of Qin Feng and Beixi County, the Former General could remain unshakable in the Northern Border.

Although he had effectively formed a private alliance with the Former General, Qin Feng did not fully trust him in his heart. He probed: "May I ask which Powerful Clan the Former General is loyal to?"

As if he had long anticipated Qin Feng's question, the Former General flashed a cunning smile.

"This general is loyal to no one! The matter of my secretly colluding with the Southern Nobility was nothing but a rumor I deliberately spread for self-preservation."

This was something Qin Feng had not anticipated.

But on second thought, it made sense. After all, any Official who had risen to a high position — whether civil or military — was sharper than a monkey.

After all, Shedynasty had been founded for so long that those brash, brainless muscle-heads had long since become the Sacrifice of factional struggles, cleaned out by the Li Imperial Clan.

If before, Qin Feng's alliance with the Former General had been purely out of gratitude, his feelings had now undergone a complete transformation.

The Former General and the Border Army, who had long been isolated and without support, would absolutely cherish their alliance with Beixi County. In this way, Beixi County's position in the Northern Border would become unshakeable.

The old and the young exchanged glances and simultaneously broke into shameless grins.

Taking advantage of Qin Feng's inattention, the Former General snatched the burlap bag full of Candy: "Hand it over!"

With this new relationship, the Former General grew even more brazen. Right in front of Qin Feng, he helped himself to box after box of the finest Candy.

Though Qin Feng cursed the shameless old thief in his heart, he kept a smile on his face. He took out all the newly produced, expensive Liquor-Filled Candy, and stuffed the bag with the cheapest Tea Candy instead.

"Grand General, this Tea Candy is the best. Take plenty of this. The other Sugar is all cheap stuff, just to fool people…"