Chapter 520

First Volume, Chapter 520: Hunting Qin Feng

At San Die Pass, Zhongjun Daying, Chen Si frowned as he stared at Ye Xiao, who knelt on one knee.

"What do you mean you cannot investigate the enemy's main general? Qingyu Mountain is within our great Di territory—aren't you Ye Xiao, famed as equal to Liang's Black Guards? How can you fail to uncover the enemy within your own borders? And as for Beixi County, you still cannot infiltrate it—so-called Ye Xiao is nothing but a sham!"

This was the first time Chen Si had lost his temper so severely.

The war was growing ever more desperate, and Qingyu Mountain—where Chen Si had staked everything—had yielded nothing at all; it was outrageous!

Ye Xiao knelt on one knee, his brow equally furrowed: "Qingyu Mountain is sheer cliff on three sides; only the southern slope leads to MountainTop. We are spies, not divine soldiers descending from heaven—how can we uncover the enemy's main general under the eyes of Tianji Camp Guards?"

Though Ye Xiao's status paled beside Chen Si's, he was a confidant of the Northern Di King, his position unique—so even if he openly contradicted Chen Si, he need not fear "insubordination."

Ye Xiao's gaze grew even more grim—whether from desperation or righteous fury, it was hard to tell: "And as for Beixi County, General, do you know how many of my men have died trying to infiltrate it?"

"That county appears isolated, yet it is as solid as a fortress—let alone the garrison, even the civilians are hyper-alert; any stranger is reported to the Yamen immediately."

"My men have perfected disguise and impersonation to the peak of mastery—yet once they enter Beixi County, their trail is exposed within one Envoy."

"That… that Beixi County… even… even the dogs watch us!"

Seeing Ye Xiao so agitated, Chen Si sighed deeply, calming his agitation—indeed, infiltrating Beixi County was an impossible task for Ye Xiao.

Even Liang's own Black Guards could not enter Beixi County's Door—how could Ye Xiao?

Chen Si's tone softened slightly: "After all these days, what progress has been made in the Search and Exterminate Army's campaign on Qingyu Mountain?"

Ye Xiao clenched his teeth and blurted: "Half our forces are dead or wounded."

Chen Si exhaled in relief: "Tianji Camp Guards are all at the peak of Ji Zhan, invincible in combat, holding their ground with terrain advantage—killing a hundred of them is already remarkable. As their numbers dwindle, attacking them grows easier. If this continues, we won't even need to identify the enemy's main general…"

Ye Xiao cut him off: "General, you misunderstand. I didn't mean the Tianji Camp Guards lost half their numbers—I meant the Search and Exterminate Army lost half its men."

At this, Chen Si froze for a long moment before processing it.

His eyes shifted from shock to fury, then settled into blank disbelief.

Eight thousand County Garrison Soldiers, plus three thousand elite Xiongying Brigade troops—surrounding merely two hundred men—even if they were Tianji Camp Guards—how could five thousand be wiped out?

Even five thousand dogs would have torn the Tianji Camp Guards to shreds!

Chen Si felt his head spin—the desperate frontline, the worsening situation, and now this disaster from the rear—even he felt he might collapse under the weight.

When Ye Xiao recounted the full details of the Qingyu Mountain campaign to Chen Si.

Chen Si pressed his forehead against his Shushu, exhausted: "No need to investigate further—the main general on Qingyu Mountain is undoubtedly Qin Feng."

"Who else but Qin Feng could accomplish such a feat?"

"Take my command seal, go straight to Qingyu Mountain, cut off Xu Qian's head—I take full responsibility for this."

"Then appoint Chen Ping as Inspector, and transfer three thousand Xiongying Brigade cavalry and two thousand Snow Wolf Brigade cavalry—five thousand horsemen total—to reinforce Qingyu Mountain."

"If you can capture Qin Feng alive, best—but if not, I demand to see his corpse."

"Eliminating Qin Feng, this formidable foe, brings only benefits to our Northern Di."

No sooner had Ye Xiao left with the command seal than the Vanguard Commander stormed into the Camp, face dark.

"Chen Si! Why pull troops from the Front Line at this deadline? Especially the elite Xiongying and Snow Wolf Brigades!"

Chen Si was utterly drained; he didn't bother explaining, only blurted: "Qin Feng is inside our great Di territory."

…

Three days later, five thousand cavalry from the Xiongying and Snow Wolf Brigades were transferred. The Front Line grew not less desperate, but even more brutal.

The vanguard force that had been holding the Chariot and Cavalry General in standoff had been recalled entirely, now charging straight at Beixi County's DefensiveLine.

Chen Si's intent was clear: breaking through the Chariot and Cavalry General's DefensiveLine was now nearly impossible—better to gamble everything on Qin Feng, while tying down Beixi's troops so they could not reinforce him.

Beixi's forces were already fighting desperately; faced with the sudden arrival of the Northern Di vanguard, Zhao Yuxiong and Xu Mo had no choice but to merge their armies in joint defense.

According to plan, Li Zhang should have led the Beixi Bu Zuo to join them—but two full days passed without his appearance. Only when a messenger appeared before Zhao Yuxiong did they learn Li Zhang was surrounded and could not break out.

Zhao Yuxiong and Xu Mo were barely holding their DefensiveLine; they had no spare troops to send aid, so they sent word to BeixiCounty for reinforcements.

Li Zhang and the Ming King heard this and remained silent for a long while.

Beixi County's military capacity was already at its limit—how could they spare men to rescue Li Zhang when they couldn't even spare any to save Qin Feng?

Finally, the Ming King decided: rescue efforts would be decided from Long-Term Planning—hoping Li Zhang could hold out, carve a bloody path through the encirclement.

At "Ten Li Pavilion," less than thirty Li from Zhao Yuxiong's forces, the place was packed with men—its natural stone pillars, weathered over centuries, now stained crimson with blood.

Since the war began, Li Zhang had led his Infantry, fighting relentlessly on the First Line, like a nail holding the Northern Di army firmly at bay beyond Ten Li Pavilion.

But precisely because his battle line had pushed too far forward, Li Zhang could not retreat in time—he was now surrounded by an enemy force many times his own.

According to repeated reports from his subordinates, he estimated roughly two thousand to two thousand five hundred men still stood with him.

Li Zhang wielded a seven-foot Long-handled Great Axe, a bone club at his waist; his Armor was caked in blood. As Main General, he had no choice but to engage the enemy in close combat.

The enemy was so numerous he could no longer tell friend from foe around him.

He swung his axe, cleaving an enemy's shoulder nearly in two—his Armor was useless against such force—but after kicking the corpse aside, his legs buckled, nearly collapsing from exhaustion.

Two days and two nights without sleep, fighting nonstop in blood—he was simply too tired…