Chapter 746: First Volume_Chapter 746: Breaking New Ground

First Volume_Chapter 746: Breaking New Ground

In the short span of a single month, a heavily garrisoned and impregnable fortress had been taken without shedding a drop of blood. Had Li Zhang not experienced it firsthand, he would never have believed such an inconceivable thing could happen under Heaven.

A wave of despair even rose in Li Zhang's heart. The longer he was in contact with Qin Feng, the more Li Zhang felt he could never measure up to Qin Feng's back.

Ever since Qin Feng decided to attack Xiongying Ridge, Li Zhang had been restless and uneasy, unable to sit still. Now, he had silently sat back down in his chair.

His expression was complex—he could not tell whether it was admiration or bewilderment.

Lin Quqi understood Li Zhang's feelings best. He rose, walked to Li Zhang's side, gently patted Li Zhang's shoulder, and said earnestly: "The Heir need not be too harsh on himself."

"Brother Qin is a man of great talent—not only in military affairs, but also in politics, people's livelihood, commerce, and even ingenious contrivances. In every field, he stands among the very best."

"Since Brother Qin first set foot in commerce, how much time has passed until now? Yet Brother Qin has already become a foremost Aristocratic Clan of Shedynasty, ennobled as Tianlu Marquis. Though the title is nominal, he is in truth the North Region King. At the same time, he single-handedly developed Tianji Camp, and all those ingenious tools and contrivances were pioneered by Brother Qin."

"Today, although Brother Qin is not the richest man under Heaven, he is certainly counted among the top ten or so."

"These many achievements are more than enough to show Brother Qin's talent—unparalleled by any in the past. As for whether any in the future can match him, I fear none will appear within a hundred years! With such great talent, not just the Heir, but who under Heaven could hope to measure up to him?"

Lin Quqi's words were not only meant to comfort Li Zhang, but also to comfort himself.

After all, Qin Feng's literary talent was plain for all to see. A single poem, "Beyond the Frontier," had spread its fame across the four seas and been recited to this day. The achievement of that one poem alone was enough for Lin Quqi to devote his entire life to it.

Xu Mo, standing to one side, had never paid much heed to Qin Feng's achievements. He had never even taken Qin Feng as a target to chase.

Xu Mo said with great boldness: "Some people are born to be men of generals' caliber. Being able to follow by Brother Qin's side is already more than enough for me."

"So long as I faithfully fulfill my duties, I can follow Brother Qin and leave my name in the History Books!"

Li Zhang sighed inwardly, his heart full of feeling: "Yes, so long as I stay by Qin Feng's side, even if I do nothing, it is enough to be remembered for a hundred generations. Since I cannot be first, then I shall strive to be second!"

The lost and wandering look in Li Zhang's eyes suddenly turned firm. He had made up his mind, vowing that at any cost he would become the foremost strategist under Qin Feng's army!

The three of them did not notice that the conversation just now in the County Yamen had been heard in its entirety by Shen Qingci, who was hiding behind the door curtain.

Learning that Qin Feng had already taken Xiongying Ridge, the suspense that had weighed on Shen Qingci's heart for many days finally settled. Out of pride, a flush of color actually crept across her little face.

Shen Qingci gently bit her thin lips and muttered softly: "Feng'er, I never expected you would actually take Xiongying Ridge. I thought that…"

"It doesn't matter anymore! I must hurry and share this good news with Mother and Qian Ying."

Shen Qingci hurriedly turned and went to the Back Courtyard. At this time only Qin Cheng Clan was there, sitting beside the StoneTable, busy as she was day after day. The work of maidservants—picking through millet husks, cleaning the debris from beans, and mending clothes—had all been taken over entirely by Qin Cheng Clan.

Seeing that Qin Cheng Clan was sewing a fur cap to ward off the cold, Shen Qingci could not help but reproach her.

"Mother, these rough and tiring chores naturally have people to do them. If you have nothing to do, you should sit in the sun, or let the maidservants take you out for a stroll. The County City is getting livelier and livelier now. Apart from Tianji Camp's own businesses, merchants from all over have come into the city to open shops."

"Besides, a fur cap like this costs very little to buy—why go to the trouble of sewing it yourself?"

"The weather is so chilly now—you mustn't catch cold."

This was not the first time Shen Qingci had tried to dissuade Qin Cheng Clan, but as always, Qin Cheng Clan merely smiled, her hands never pausing.

"Whatever little I can help with, I should. I can't just eat for free, can I?"

Hearing these words, Shen Qingci was so exasperated she laughed: "You are Feng'er's mother. Even Feng'er himself, upon seeing you, must kneel and bow. Let alone eating for free—even if the whole city were to provide for you, that would only be right and proper."

"Not just in Beixi County, but across the entire Northern Border, who would dare say a word against it?"

Qin Cheng Clan still shook her head with a light smile. She had lived in Beixi County for so many years that all her sharpness had been worn away. She was no longer the first-rank titled lady who had once dominated Jingdu and dared to impeach even the Crown Prince.

Once the habit of diligence and thrift had taken root, it was hard to change. Moreover, as Qin Feng's mother, wherever she went she would cause an unnecessary stir, so unless compelled, she rarely went out. Living day after day in the County Yamen's Back Courtyard, if she did not find herself something to do, it would not be long before she was driven half-mad with restlessness.

"Qingci, as Feng'er's Jia Guan, we must be even more self-reflective."

"The greater Feng'er's fame and the higher his standing, the more cautious we must be, and we must never be ostentatious. Otherwise, the slightest misstep could ruin his reputation. Looking back through the ages, are there not plenty of examples of men brought to ruin by their own families?"

Hearing these words, Shen Qingci could not help but heave a long sigh within her heart.

In terms of Heart Realm and character, she was not one ten-thousandth of her mother.

Shen Qingci had no choice but to stop trying to stop her. Letting Qin Cheng Clan go on with her work as she pleased, she sat down opposite her and said excitedly: "Mother, good news from the Front Line—Feng'er has taken Xiongying Ridge!"

Qin Cheng Clan's hands paused for a moment, then immediately resumed as before, a faint smile playing at the corners of her mouth.

"This time Feng'er passed through Beixi County, yet would not even enter the city to see his family. As his mother, I still resented him for it. But looking at it now, it was I who was petty. The situation on the Battlefield changes in the Rapid Changes of an instant—Feng'er's not entering the city was the right call."

Shen Qingci, as clever as she was, could not fail to see that Qin Cheng Clan's words were meant to make excuses for Jing Qianying.

After all, ever since Qin Feng had rushed to the Front Line, Jing Qianying had shut herself in and refused to come out. Anyone could sense the grievance Jing Qianying carried.

Jing Qianying, usually so cool and indifferent by nature, was in fact the most sensitive of them all.

Just then, the room door pushed open and Jing Qianying walked out with her head lowered. She bowed to Qin Cheng Clan and said self-reproachfully: "Mother, it was I who was too petty. I only blamed Feng'er for passing by his own home without entering, forgetting that speed is of the essence in war."

"If Feng'er had delayed his military opportunity just to enter the city and reunite with his family, we would all be guilty."

Qin Cheng Clan smiled and beckoned, motioning Jing Qianying to come over. She gently stroked the back of Jing Qianying's hand and said softly: "Qian Ying, I know that your usual coldness is all to protect yourself. In truth, deep down you are the most sensitive and fragile of all."

"You keep every promise Feng'er has made to you in your heart, so the slightest deviation leaves you at a loss."

"Set your mind at ease—everything Feng'er has promised you will become reality."