Chapter 517: First Volume, Chapter 517: Implementation of the Plan

First Volume, Chapter 517: Implementation of the Plan

When Ning Hu threw two sacks of rope onto the ground of the Watchtower, Qin Feng could barely contain his joy; he quickly pulled out all the rope and roughly measured it by arm span, spending a full One Cup of Tea Time before he calculated the total length—about Two Hundred zhang.

According to Qin Feng's knowledge, the entire height of Qingyu Mountain was only about seventy zhang; factoring in its slope, just eighty zhang of rope would be enough to descend the mountain.

Qin Feng had two hundred zhang of rope in total, sufficient for two people to descend simultaneously; to evacuate all two hundred men would take roughly two hours.

In other words, if they began the evacuation after lunch, everyone could leave Qingyu Mountain by Nightfall.

Upon learning Qin Feng intended to evacuate using ropes, Ning Hu frowned deeply.

"Descending the mountain via rope isn't hard, but how do we escape the Enemy Army's blockade? Even if we leave Qingyu Mountain, we likely won't be able to cross the Beidi Frontier."

"We've fortified Qingyu Mountain into an impregnable stronghold; if we hold the MountainTop, we might even hold out until Reinforcements arrive. If we rashly descend, we risk being surrounded and suffer greater losses than gains."

Ning Hu's concerns were not without merit, but Qin Feng's resolve to evacuate Qingyu Mountain remained unshakable.

"The only Regular Army besieging Qingyu Mountain is the Xiongying Brigade—but it's already been shattered by Xu Qian and absorbed into the larger force. Qingyu Mountain isn't vast, yet it's far from small; even if the Enemy Army blocks the entire mountain, their patrol intensity won't be overwhelming."

"Second, Xu Qian is desperate for glory, fixated solely on annihilating us to return and claim credit. Clearly, he has already ignored the mountain siege plan."

"Third, I never said we're evacuating right now—why are you in such a rush?"

After Qin Feng's explanation, Ning Hu's tense heart finally eased slightly.

Yet whenever he thought of abandoning the impregnable Qingyu Mountain to take such a risky path, Ning Hu's brow remained furrowed.

"When do you plan to evacuate?"

Qin Feng did not answer immediately; instead, he stepped out of the Watchtower, hands behind his back, facing the howling night wind, his expression radiating unshakable confidence.

After a moment, Qin Feng spoke slowly: "Descending isn't hard—the hard part is where we go after leaving Qingyu Mountain. The evacuation requires meticulous planning; before abandoning Qingyu Mountain, we must find a foothold. Heading east means entering a neighboring country; though close, the risk is too great—we might be captured and handed over to the Di as prisoners."

"Heading west is farther, but once we enter Gaoshan Country, we'll gain protection."

Upon hearing "Gaoshan Country," Ning Hu's eyes lit up: "If I recall correctly, Gaoshan Country is one of our Tianji Camp's trade partners!"

Qin Feng nodded firmly, silently marveling at how fate defies human calculation—he himself had never anticipated that Gaoshan Country, which he had long cultivated as a commercial ally, would become their lifeline.

Ning Hu rubbed his chin, lost in thought.

"If we can enter Gaoshan Country, we gain protection and can use its secret trade routes to cross the Di Border blockade and return to Beixi County via Yinggang Mountain. But the problem is—this place is two thousand li from Gaoshan Country; how do we get there?"

Qin Feng's lips curled slightly; he didn't explain immediately, but ordered Ning Hu to gather all the Brocade Uniform Guards.

Eight of them stood before him, all poised and alert.

Qin Feng cut straight to the point, kicking the rope at his feet: "How long would it take to swing down the mountain using these ropes?"

The Brocade Uniform Guards exchanged glances; finally, Ma Ming, the newly promoted Captain, replied: "One Cup of Tea Time is more than enough."

One Incense Stick Time is roughly thirty minutes.

One Cup of Tea Time is roughly five minutes.

For Brocade Uniform Guards trained in professional skills, even a vertical descent of eighty zhang—let alone Qingyu Mountain's steep slope—was child's play.

With Ma Ming's confirmation, Qin Feng felt even more assured: "Tonight, the Enemy Army won't attack again. Ma Ming, take five Brocade Uniform Guards and descend immediately."

"The Di aren't like our Shedynasty—their commerce has always been weak, especially in this barren, remote region of Nan Jiang, where merchants mostly operate as itinerant traders."

"Once you're down the mountain, wander between counties. Whenever you spot a Merchant Caravan, plunder it—take only the carts and clothing."

"If you encounter those who value their lives, try not to kill them; if you meet fools who refuse to yield, eliminate them swiftly!"

In times of crisis, extreme measures are necessary; Qin Feng wasn't a killer, but to ensure his men's survival, he had no choice.

Then Qin Feng turned to the two remaining Brocade Uniform Guards: "You two, after descending, find out where Chen Ping is being held. I suspect Xu Qian won't bring Chen Ping up the mountain—if he did, Chen Ping's prestige would rally the Xiongying Brigade veterans to continue supporting him, and Xu Qian would be in trouble."

The Brocade Uniform Guard with dark skin and a mole on his forehead, resembling Erlang Shen, whispered: "Are you ordering us to kill Chen Ping?"

Qin Feng shook his head: "Not only must you not kill him—you must find a way to rescue him! That dog Xu Qian has been blinded by ambition; even if he exhausts every soldier under him, he'll still use his authority as Inspector and Prefect to conscript more men endlessly."

"Only Chen Ping can counterbalance Xu Qian—then, when the two fight, we'll reap the benefits!"

"Also, don't attempt a rescue lightly. Find a way to connect with the Xiongying Brigade veterans—they'll gladly help, since the enemy of your enemy is your friend."

At Qin Feng's command, the Brocade Uniform Guards wasted no time; they tied one end of the rope to a rock on the MountainTop and threw the other end down the slope, swinging down along the ropes.

"Ning Hu, go inform the men. Once the Brocade Uniform Guards bring back the disguise vehicles and clothing, we can begin preparing to leave this hellhole."

"But…"

"Never mind—deal with it later. Go now."

Watching Ning Hu sprint away with eager steps, Qin Feng sighed inwardly.

The best moment to evacuate is when the two armies are locked in close combat.

When the Enemy Army is exhausted and focused solely on retreat, their defenses are at their weakest.

But during the wait for the right moment, casualties are inevitable—and how many men will ultimately escape, even Qin Feng couldn't say.

Moreover, though the Brocade Uniform Guards are reliable, this is still Di territory; retrieving the disguise materials won't happen overnight.

In short, all they can do now is wait…