Chapter 747: First Volume, Chapter 747: The Cuckoo in the Magpie

First Volume, Chapter 747: The Cuckoo in the Magpie's Nest

Upon hearing this from Qin Cheng Clan, Jing Qianying's cheeks flushed crimson; she tried several times to explain she wasn't as fragile as her mother claimed, but the words died on her lips, and in the end she merely nodded, blushing, emitting a sound softer than a mosquito's hum: "Mm."

When news spread that Qin Feng had used this tactic to capture Xiongying Ridge, the entire Back Courtyard was drowned in giggles.

Shen Qingci smiled broadly, shaking her head in wonder: "This Feng'er—he's as wildly inventive as ever. Who else could think of such a scheme? I wonder what kind of nonsense he keeps in his head."

Qin Cheng Clan stifled her laughter, grumbling: "That brat—always coming up with ridiculous tricks. Collecting feces… it's not fit for Da Yao Zhi Tang!"

Though Qin Cheng Clan scolded aloud, her heart and eyes brimmed with pride—after all, Qin Feng's capture of Xiongying Ridge was no small feat.

"Qian Ying, according to the original plan, the Pacification Mission should only now be reaching the Border. So after Feng'er takes Xiongying Ridge, he won't return—he'll head straight for the Di Royal Capital."

"Pack your things and go keep him company."

At these words, Jing Qianying's eyes lit up with delight; she nodded firmly, then turned and ran inside to pack, not wanting to waste a single moment.

Seeing this, Shen Qingci beside her felt deep envy—she too missed that brat. But considering the dangers ahead in Bei Di, and knowing Shen Qingci couldn't carry a load or lift a bucket, she'd only become a burden, so she gave up the idea.

The news that Qin Feng had captured Xiongying Ridge spread rapidly across the entire Northern Border.

The Former General, who had been catching up with Prince Ming, froze in shock upon hearing the report from his subordinate.

"What? So fast?!"

"I recall over a decade ago, when Bei Di harassed the Border frequently, our border troops once launched a surprise attack on Xiongying Ridge with FourThousandBorderTroops—yet within half a day, they were crushed like a mountain collapsing, and only a thousand or so escaped back."

"Since then, no commander stationed on the Northern Border has ever entertained the thought of taking Xiongying Ridge."

"For Qin Marquis to capture Xiongying Ridge is already unbelievable—but to do it in under a month?!"

"Your Highness, could it be true what the rumors say—that Qin Marquis is truly the reincarnation of Wuqu Star?"

Prince Ming was also startled; he exchanged glances with the Piaoqi Grand General. To understand what had truly happened, he immediately ordered the messenger to recount the entire sequence of events in full detail.

Upon hearing Qin Feng's tactics, the Piaoqi Grand General shook his head: "Only Qin Marquis could afford such a wasteful Consumption War."

At once, the Former General countered: "This isn't merely a Consumption War!"

"True, Qin Feng initially invested heavily—wood for the Catapults, stones carved by craftsmen, even transporting corpses and Fire Oil cost a fortune."

"But later, what was thrown into the Fortress were almost entirely daily waste from the Military Camp: feces, kitchen scraps, and the like."

"So when you tally it up, this Consumption War wasn't nearly as expensive—the bulk of the expenditure went only to the soldiers' food, clothing, and daily needs."

"In the past, there were cases of hurling corpses into Fortresses—but Qin Marquis elevated this tactic: anything that could torment the defenders' minds, he threw in—turning that Fortress into a latrine…"

At this, the Former General laughed: "Qin Marquis didn't just capture Xiongying Ridge—he pioneered a new method for Siege Warfare. From now on, we can follow this approach, and every Siege will yield twice the results with half the effort!"

After the Former General's analysis, the Piaoqi Grand General nodded repeatedly, realizing Qin Feng's capture of Xiongying Ridge wasn't merely about securing a strategic Stronghold—it was a demonstration for every general in Heaven.

Prince Ming had long regarded Qin Feng as his adopted son, especially after Qin Feng spared no cost to restore Li Lang to the Imperial Ancestral Hall—his relationship with the Qin Family had naturally deepened further.

Prince Ming was naturally proud of Qin Feng's feat, yet he did not praise him outright; instead, he pointed out the flaws in this tactic.

"Qin Marquis's method works only against Military Strongholds. Xiongying Ridge is indeed impregnable—but it's small. The filth thrown inside can't be cleared quickly. If this were a City—even a County City—this tactic would collapse instantly. A County City produces its own filth in quantities too vast to ignore."

"Every City has a sophisticated waste disposal system. Thus, there is no universal tactic—every strategy must be adapted to local conditions."

The Former General and the Piaoqi Grand General nodded repeatedly, agreeing with Prince Ming's words; their admiration for Qin Feng was no longer blind. Both knew clearly: if Prince Ming could speak so freely about Qin Feng's shortcomings, it meant their bond had reached that level.

…

On the City Wall of Xiongying Ridge, Qin Feng and Ning Hu wore thick gauze masks, staring at the unspeakable scene inside the Fortress, unsure whether to rejoice or despair.

Ning Hu felt nauseated, forcing himself to endure the stench: "If I'd known this would happen, I'd have thrown in less. Now the defenders have fled—and we're stuck cleaning up this mess ourselves."

"Still, it's a miracle those defenders held out this long."

Ning Hu kept frowning—he'd rather smash his head against a wall than endure defending such a place.

Qin Feng, though reeling from the stench, couldn't suppress his joy—this ready-made Fortress was essentially "move-in ready." With the Bei Di forces in the South nearly wiped out, seizing this Fortress meant the Cuckoo in the Magpie's Nest—making Bei Di feel like thorns in their side!

As for the filth inside the Fortress, it wasn't a major problem.

We can simply spend some money and hire a batch of laborers from Beixi County—clean it out, do minor repairs, and it's operational.

In truth, even Qin Feng hadn't expected Bei Di to abandon Xiongying Ridge so readily.

Now he realized—it must have been his support for Lü Ci, raising the banner of Imperial Legitimacy, that struck a nerve in the Bei Di King's fragile psyche.

So the Bei Di King, fearing for his own throne, dared not act—and Qin Feng seized the advantage.

This also indirectly proved just how "noble" Jing Qianying's status truly was.

Clearly, this journey to Bei Di holds great promise!