Chapter 657: First Volume, Chapter 657: The Hospitality of the Host

First Volume, Chapter 657: The Hospitality of the Host

"Big Brother Chen, aren't you the Northern Di's chief envoy? How come, now that real negotiations have started, you haven't even landed the vice envoy position?"

Qin Feng picked up the teapot and poured tea for Chen Si himself, his former fury long gone.

Though Chen Si was a military general, his manners were impeccable.

Even with only one arm left, he still gently covered one side of his tea cup with his hand, observing proper etiquette.

Chen Si had been present during the earlier conflict.

He stood shoulder to shoulder with the civil officials.

When launching the suicide charge against the Tianji Camp Guards, Chen Si showed no hesitation, even prepared to die for his cause.

Now that the crisis had temporarily passed, his resolve to die rather than yield was set aside—for now.

Though he and Qin Feng had already forged a blood feud, he now smiled warmly, as if reuniting with an old friend.

"Chief envoy?"

"This negotiation concerns the future of both nations—how could such an important matter possibly rest on my shoulders?"

"Whether it's Lü Zhu Guo or Han Yu, both have greater ability, status, and prestige than I do."

"The position of chief or vice envoy could never fall to me."

"In that case, it's all the better—after all, the less authority, the less responsibility."

"Even if the sky falls, it won't crush me—don't you agree?"

Facing Chen Si's cheerful, casual chatter, as if discussing family matters.

Qin Feng returned a smile, but kept his mind sharply alert.

No matter how close Qin Feng and Chen Si might seem, nothing could change one fact: they served different masters, each fulfilling their own duty!

Qin Feng and Chen Si each represented their own nation.

Between nations, personal friendship simply does not exist.

As for today's bloody clash, it hardly matters.

Qin Feng bore no grudge against the Northern Di Envoy Group for their arrogance.

Chen Si bore no grudge against Qin Feng for slaughtering his entire military escort.

The reason was simple: between nations, there is no moral bottom line.

Any scheme, no matter how vicious or treacherous, if it benefits the state, is a Secret Strategy.

Qin Feng set down the teapot.

He placed his hands on his knees and smiled warmly at Chen Si.

"Big Brother Chen, though your official rank isn't high, your character and vision—throughout the Northern Di and even all of Heaven—few can match you."

"If you had been chief envoy of this negotiation team, events like today's would surely have been avoided."

At these words, Chen Si revealed a smile full of hidden meaning.

He immediately countered: "Really?"

"Lü Zhu Guo's hardline, aggressive approach may not be a bad Secret Strategy in this negotiation."

"If I were chief envoy, I'd likely use the same method."

"How can you know it won't work unless you try?"

"A single shouting match and clash can win the upper hand at the Negotiation Table—and save our Shedynasty massive reparations."

"Hehe, that's a return of a thousandfold for a single investment."

Qin Feng nodded.

He gave Lü Li's strategy at least minimal acknowledgment.

But unfortunately, he had met him…

"This method might work against weak, minor states."

"Against my great Liang Kingdom, it's just asking for humiliation."

"My Liang Army may not be as fierce and mighty as yours, but our combined National Strength is at least double yours."

"In a Consumption War, how could my Liang Kingdom ever lose?"

Chen Si shrugged: "In swift, decisive warfare, the Northern Di have yet to meet a rival."

Their eyes met; though both wore faint smiles, their gazes clashed and sparked with chilling intensity.

Qin Xiaofu, standing by to serve, wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.

He silently marveled.

These two men were both monsters!

On the surface, they chatted amiably, mutually admiring.

Yet beneath, their covert struggle had already reached the point of mutual annihilation.

Personal ties and national interests were kept utterly separate.

Unbeknownst to Qin Feng, Chen Si was also silently marveling.

How long had it been since they last met?

Qin Feng had already grown into this version of himself—far more mature than when they first met.

Chen Si even felt a faint unease: even he himself might struggle against Qin Feng now.

One thought had always been firmly rooted in Chen Si's heart.

Qin Feng is the Northern Di's greatest threat!

As long as Qin Feng lives, the Northern Di will never defeat Liang Kingdom.

Their gaze duel ended in a stalemate.

The two burst out laughing together.

"Hahaha, Qin Feng, I didn't come today to discuss such serious matters with you."

"Let's talk about something lighter, how about that?"

Qin Feng immediately nodded: "I was just thinking the same."

"Brother Chen, this state peace talk will likely take at least ten days to conclude."

"We've got plenty of time—I naturally intend to fulfill my duty as host and take you around to truly appreciate our magnificent river and mountains."

Chen Si's eyes lit up: "That sounds wonderful."

"Why wait for another day? Let's go today, how about it?"

"After all, we'll soon be busy preparing for the peace talks—duties will pile up, and I won't have time to spare."

Qin Feng readily agreed.

After all, Lü Li and Han Yu, having been humiliated, were surely already in the Yi Guan plotting their next move.

They wouldn't show their faces anytime soon.

Qin Feng immediately had Qin Xiaofu fetch some clothing, made a light disguise, and left Mingyue Zhai with Chen Si, heading toward the city's outskirts.

Qin Feng claimed he was taking Chen Si out for leisure and enjoyment.

In truth, as soon as they left the city, he headed straight for the Tianji Camp.

Boom—boom—boom…

The stomping of heavily armored Northern Border Black Cavalry shook the earth.

Armed to the Teeth, the Northern Border Black Cavalry, under Zhao Yulong's training, radiated a force capable of shaking heaven and earth.

Meanwhile, after repeated recruitment drives,

the Tianji Camp Guards, once nearly extinct, had finally regained their strength to two hundred.

Though there was still a long way to go before reaching full complement,

since all new recruits were elite masters gathered from across the land,

after brief training, they had already begun to display the formidable spirit of the Tianji Camp Guards.

Watching the Tianji Camp Guards train their ranged attack on targets two hundred steps away, though their hit rate was abysmal,

Chen Si still couldn't help but sigh.

"Since ancient times, any who can draw a bow are elite troops."

"Those who can strike enemies at a hundred steps are elite among the elite."

"With the strength required to wield a bow, even if they discarded it and switched to close combat, they could crush most infantry."

"These Tianji Camp Guards are all master archers—it's enough to make one envious."

As he spoke, Chen Si turned his gaze to the distant Black Cavalry.

His eyes gleamed with admiration.

The Di were renowned for their cavalry, and Chen Si well understood how formidable the Black Cavalry's combat effectiveness was.

Across the entire Liang Kingdom, only the Black Cavalry could single-handedly slaughter the Tianji Camp Guards on open ground.

Even against the Di's most elite Xiongying Brigade, the Black Cavalry could still hold their own.

Chen Si didn't know whether to marvel at Qin Feng's skill in training troops, or at how obscenely wealthy this man was.

These Black Cavalry? Every last one was forged by sheer wealth—how could their combat effectiveness not be fierce?