Chapter 744: First Volume, Chapter 744: Internal Rebellion of the Garrison

First Volume, Chapter 744: Internal Rebellion of the Garrison

This damned fortress can no longer house men—unless the garrison goes mad, mutiny is inevitable.

Li Chou grabbed Ma Tingyun's sleeve, opened his mouth to speak, then hesitated; after a long while, he finally summoned the courage: "My lord, perhaps… we should surrender."

Ma Tingyun stared at Li Chou in disbelief: "Surrender? Among all the soldiers of Great Di, not one has ever surrendered willingly! Even in death, we earn honor—surrender invites the world's scorn."

Li Chou pushed past his fear and said grimly: "We've held out this long, yet no reinforcements came—we've been abandoned by the court! If the court won't save us, why is seeking another path wrong? Besides… Qin Feng doesn't kill prisoners. If we open the gates, we'll be treated well!"

"My lord, if this were a county city and Qin Feng were brutal, we'd fight to the death to protect the people. But… this is merely a military stronghold."

"If you fear punishment from the court after surrendering, then go all the way—defect to Qin Feng outright!"

At these words, Ma Tingyun flew into a rage, seized Li Chou by the collar, and raised his hand as if to hurl this unsteady traitor off the City Wall.

"Insolent! Defecting to a Liang general? This is outright treason!"

"Even if I am chopped into meat mud, even if I choke on this filth, I will never betray Great Di!"

Li Chou gritted his teeth: "Shi Shi Zhe Wei Junjie—if my lord refuses to see reason…"

With a wave of his hand, Li Chou's impatient personal guards immediately pinned Ma Tingyun to the ground and bound him into a tight bundle in seconds.

Ma Tingyun's eyes filled with shock—he never dreamed that the Military Advisor he himself had promoted, and his own trusted guards, would betray him without hesitation.

Ma Tingyun was about to roar in fury when the Captain of the guards spoke first.

"My lord, we are driven to this by desperation. Staying here means death; losing the City means death too. Dying in glorious battle would be acceptable—but this kind of death? It's unbearable shame."

The bow is drawn—no turning back. Li Chou no longer hesitated; he ordered Ma Tingyun bound and taken to the City Gate, and dispatched messengers to surrender to Qin Feng.

The moment Qin Feng saw the messenger burst out of Xiongying Ridge Fortress, he exhaled in profound relief.

"This long Consumption War is finally over."

Beside him, Ning Hu, watching the messenger sprint toward the Vanguard Camp, instantly realized what had happened—his expression stunned beyond measure.

"Could it be… the garrison surrendered?!"

As he spoke, Ning Hu startled himself.

Since joining Qin Feng, Ning Hu couldn't even recall how many brutal battles he'd fought—but all those battles combined didn't shake him like this one!

In less than a month, Qin Feng had actually seized the strongest frontier fortress of Northern Di!

And… aside from the initial clash when Lü Ci led the Cavalry out, causing minor casualties, the rest of the Consumption War was virtually bloodless.

Even Ning Hu, a veteran of countless campaigns, felt his entire worldview shattered.

"Brother Qin, you're too miraculous!"

"You actually took Xiongying Ridge—if Li Zhang knew our casualty rate, he wouldn't believe it!"

Ning Hu looked at Qin Feng with pure admiration.

Unbeknownst to him, Qin Feng's own emotions felt like escaping a tiger's jaws—the tension of a month's strain finally eased.

Had the garrison held out, Qin Feng's psychological warfare would have been a total failure.

Because Qin Feng could think of nothing more tormenting than excrement and rot.

Moreover, stationing the army here drained grain and forage—and manpower—enormously.

Even though Xiongying Ridge was doomed to fall, a year-long siege would have drained its value beyond worth.

Fortunately, Qin Feng's relentless pressure had finally driven the garrison mad.

The messenger dismounted, knelt before Qin Feng, and said solemnly: "Military Advisor Li Chou sends me to report to Tianlu Marquis Qin Feng: the garrison of Xiongying Ridge Fortress wishes to open the gates and surrender, humbly welcoming Lord Qin into the city. We beg Lord Qin to honor your promise and spare the garrison."

The messenger's heart was lodged in his throat—he feared Qin Feng's patience had worn thin after the prolonged battle and would order a massacre.

Qin Feng stared at the messenger and asked casually: "Why is it Li Chou? Where is Ma Tingyun, the Garrison Commander?"

The messenger didn't dare hesitate: "Your Honor, Garrison Commander Ma Tingyun resisted stubbornly and refused to surrender. The Military Advisor has already ordered him detained, to be dealt with as Lord Qin sees fit."

At this, Qin Feng couldn't help smiling inwardly—he hadn't expected an internal rebellion inside the fortress.

Beside him, Ning Hu, upon hearing Li Chou had betrayed Ma Tingyun, sneered in utter contempt.

After all, traitors were despised everywhere.

Yet Qin Feng adored Li Chou—if not for him, how could Ma Tingyun ever have been forced to yield?

Qin Feng immediately smiled and signaled the messenger to relax: "Return to the city at once. Tell Li Chou to bring his men out. I, Qin Feng, keep my word—any who sincerely surrender shall be treated with honor."

The messenger's heart finally settled; he turned and sprinted back into the city.

Within the span of a single incense stick, Li Chou led the remaining four thousand eight hundred garrison soldiers out through the City Gate.

It wasn't walking—it was running. More accurately, it was fleeing!

The entire fortress had become uninhabitable; its stench was beyond imagination.

These garrison soldiers, having been trapped inside for so long, were saturated with the odor—from head to toe. Even from afar, Qin Feng smelled rotten eggs and winced.

Ning Hu, blunt by nature, waved his hand immediately: "Don't come closer—just stand there."

Li Chou was embarrassed, but dignity meant nothing now—life mattered more. He bowed deeply: "I am Li Chou, Deputy to Garrison Commander Ma Tingyun. I lead the entire garrison in surrender to Tianlu Marquis Qin of Liang."

As he spoke, Li Chou knelt and bowed his head to show sincerity, then gestured for his guards to bring forward Ma Tingyun, bound tightly.

Seeing the furious Ma Tingyun, Qin Feng sighed deeply: "There's still a true man in this Xiongying Ridge."

"Garrison Commander Ma, Shi Shi Zhe Wei Junjie—if you surrender to Great Liang, I, Qin Feng, swear by my honor to grant you the highest honors."

Ma Tingyun spat without hesitation: "Dream on! I'd rather die!"