Chapter 656: First Volume, Chapter 656: The Liang Emperor

First Volume, Chapter 656: The Liang Emperor's Surprise

Imperial Palace, Imperial Study.

The Liang Emperor sat upright behind the Dragon Case, his expression more solemn than ever before.

Just moments ago, the Black Guard reported.

The Northern Di Envoy Group had just entered Jingdu City when they clashed with Qin Feng, escalating into a bloody incident.

All the military personnel accompanying the Northern Di Envoy Group were slaughtered.

The chief envoy of the peace talks, Northern Di Pillar of the State Lü Li, was thrown from his horse and captured alive on the street.

The remaining diplomatic envoys also suffered varying degrees of beatings.

One could say, this peace talk had ended before it even began.

The Liang Emperor was furious!

He was not angry at Qin Feng, but at the Northern Di Envoy Group's complete lack of strategic vision.

Even in the face of such a major event as two nations' peace talks, they still dared to play petty tricks!

If it had been envoys from any other nation, they would have dismounted long before reaching Jingdu City and walked in on foot.

Even at the city gate, they would not have entered directly, but first sent word through the welcoming civil officials.

To demonstrate sincerity in peace talks.

But the Northern Di Envoy Group did the exact opposite.

Not only did they ride their horses straight through the streets, but they also publicly injured the Heavenly Son's Subjects—calling it impolite was too mild; it was outright treason!

Qin Feng's interception, though resulting in bloodshed, was indeed inappropriate.

But to tolerate the Northern Di Envoy Group's arrogance would be tantamount to Liang's surrender.

If we truly sat down at the negotiation table, what room for negotiation would Liang have left? Would we not be entirely at the mercy of the Northern Di envoys?

Those who didn't know might think Northern Di was the victorious nation, and Liang the submissive defeated one.

"Furious! Even more hateful!"

"Since Northern Di's founding, they have been Bo Bing Du Wu, waging war everywhere, rarely suffering defeat."

"Now that they've lost to my Great Liang, they still refuse to lower their pride, repeatedly committing acts that trample our national dignity."

"Good riddance!"

The Liang Emperor slammed his fist on the table, feeling deeply satisfied.

Yet, even as he felt satisfaction, he could not help but sigh deeply.

The failure of peace talks meant the resumption of Ji Zhan Bing Zhong.

With Liang's current national strength, another National War could be sustained purely from a military standpoint.

But the people could not endure it.

As the Liang Emperor frowned, his expression growing darker still,

the Black Guard appeared before him once more.

"Your Majesty, Qin Feng has issued three military orders."

"First, mobilize the Northern Border Troops to immediately attack Northern Di."

"Second, seal off all news from Jingdu."

"Third, hire literati to fabricate songs praising the peace talks."

Upon hearing this, the Liang Emperor's eyes lit up.

He felt a surge of admiration.

No wonder it was Qin Feng—his Adaptation Response speed was truly unmatched.

Having punished the Northern Di Envoy Group, he immediately followed up with military deployment.

"Zhang Xiuye! Bring me the Northern Border map!"

As Zhang Xiuye unfurled the map, the Liang Emperor's eyes grew brighter still.

"Excellent! Excellent! Excellent!"

"Northern Di lacks sincerity in peace talks? Then make them bleed!"

"Though no one wishes to see Ji Zhan Bing Zhong resume, given the circumstances, we cannot be blamed!"

Seeing the Liang Emperor so elated, Zhang Xiuye could not help but feel puzzled.

"Your Majesty, during our previous war, even with terrain advantage, our soldiers fought with extreme difficulty."

"Now, launching an offensive into Northern Di territory will surely be even harder."

Zhang Xiuye spoke very tactfully.

In his view, this aggressive military plan was tantamount to suicide.

After all, the borderlands shared by Northern Di and Liang were vast, flat steppes—perfect terrain for Northern Di Cavalry.

Both terrain and morale favored Northern Di.

Yet even Zhang Xiuye knew this—how could the Liang Emperor not see it?

"Hah! No problem!"

"Liang only needs to seize the advantage of timing!"

"Qin Feng's three orders strike straight at the heart!"

"Whether sealing off Jingdu or hiring literati to fabricate praise for the peace talks, all are meant to deceive Northern Di."

"No matter how hard Northern Di tries, they will never suspect we will launch an attack while pretending to negotiate."

"And the main force leading the assault will be the fiercest Northern Border Army."

"Northern Di cannot avoid bleeding!"

Even though it was clear that Shedynasty held the upper hand in this war.

But the Liang Emperor knew well: any use of force was a last resort.

The best strategy was naturally to gain advantages on the negotiation table, without shedding a drop of blood.

Unfortunately, that opportunity was now gone.

Just as the Liang Emperor prepared to fully back Qin Feng's military campaign, the Black Captain ran up again, gasping for breath.

"Your Majesty, another twist has occurred!"

The Liang Emperor frowned.

"What now? Did Qin Feng kill the peace envoy too?"

"If we could have kept these North Di barbarian ministers as hostages, it would have been ideal."

"But if they're dead, they're dead!"

"The North Di Barbarians were the first to be disrespectful. Our Shedynasty is the Victorious Nation, holding the high ground—punishing them harshly is entirely justified."

The Black Captain shook his head like a rattle drum.

"Your Majesty, quite the opposite."

"The North Di Vice Envoy, Han Yu, has knelt down to apologize."

"He begs Qin Feng to allow the peace talks to continue."

The Liang Emperor was caught off guard; he gripped the military map for a long moment before regaining his composure.

In an instant, the Liang Emperor's loud laughter echoed throughout the Imperial Study.

The last time he had laughed so freely was when he first met Qin Feng.

This boy truly never ceased to surprise him.

The Liang Emperor waved his hand, signaling Zhang Xiuye to put away the map.

He sat back in his chair, face beaming.

"I was too hasty."

"Though the North Di lack sincerity, would they really gamble their nation's fate?"

"Now that they realize this Downward Warning struck an Iron Plate, it's best to stop while ahead."

"This first round of maneuvering—Qin Feng has won outright!"

As he spoke, the Liang Emperor suddenly remembered something.

He immediately issued an order.

"Qin Feng is currently a commoner. Even though the Qin Family is overseeing these peace talks,"

"Qin Feng must remain on the Second Line and cannot sit directly at the Negotiation Table."

"Qin Tianhu has ample strategy, but lacks Qin Feng's boldness and daring."

"If Qin Feng does not take a seat at the table, I still feel uneasy."

"Zhang Xiuye, convey my imperial decree: appoint Qin Feng as Lord of Changle, and grant him permission to observe the peace talks."

……

Jingdu, the Imperial Hostel.

At this moment, the Street was packed with people.

Lü Li and Han Yu led the delegation into the Hostel, and since entering, they had not shown themselves again.

The gathered civilians, extremely pleased, chatted loudly.

"Hahaha, the North Di are truly crude barbarians, knowing not a single bit of propriety."

"Since they don't know, someone must teach them!"

"You didn't see how Young Master Qin, leading the Tianji Camp Guards, slaughtered every North Di military attendant right on the Street—easier than slaughtering chickens."

"True? Is that real? Isn't Qin Feng afraid the peace talks will collapse?"

"Afraid? Afraid of what?"

"Don't you remember who he is? Is there anything in this world he fears?"

The crowd cheered and clapped, ecstatic.

Far more delighted than when they first heard Shedynasty had won the Military Victory.

Meanwhile, in the Back Courtyard of Mingyue Zhai, Qin Feng was receiving a distinguished guest…