Chapter 750

First Volume, Chapter 750: War Is the Eternal Theme

A typical imperial house could never challenge the Bei Di Monarch.

Qin Feng's eyes flashed with cold ruthlessness—he had come to Bei Di not to appease it, but to exploit this opportunity, create massive chaos within this military powerhouse, and crush it beyond any chance of recovery.

"What if the Bei Di Monarch seized power illegitimately? Or if the death of the previous Bei Di Monarch was tied to the current one—what then?"

Ning Hu stared blankly at Qin Feng, feeling the information he'd received today was more shocking than everything he'd ever known in his entire life.

Although Bei Di did not emphasize legal legitimacy as much as Shedynasty, and often upheld the principle that strength determines rule.

Throughout Bei Di's history, there were no shortage of monarchs who seized supreme power through military force.

But the problem is, once the Bei Di Monarch's legitimacy begins to waver, whether his subordinates will turn against him, and how many old-party loyalists will rally behind Jing Qianying—these are unknowns.

At that point, an internal war will be unavoidable!

Sensing the ruthlessness in Qin Feng's gaze, Ning Hu immediately realized something and exclaimed: "Brother Qin, are you planning to…?"

Before Ning Hu could finish, Qin Feng gave a firm nod, shedding all the weakness he'd shown before Jing Qianying, becoming utterly cold: "Yes! I intend to set this fire in Bei Di ablaze!"

"Since the National War began until now, you've seen how immense Bei Di's military potential truly is! This nation, if given even a breath of air, can exert unprecedented pressure on surrounding countries—including our own Shedynasty."

"A mere Xiongying Ridge requires only eight thousand defenders to shatter the teeth of generations of Northern Border Generals."

"Though I've gained advantages in my dealings with Bei Di, in the long run, waging war against a vast, sparsely populated, and fiercely warlike nation is always a losing proposition."

"Since we've already fought one battle—and won—we must strike with one-strike victory and utterly destroy this nation! Even if we can't kill it, we must cripple its budding spirit so it can never rise again!"

At this moment, Qin Feng was neither a merchant nor a military strategist—he was a pure, unadulterated politician.

Having navigated the Imperial Court for so long, Qin Feng knew all too well what disasters arise from leaving an enemy with room to breathe.

Though Ning Hu was usually loud and boisterous, when faced with this, he grew uneasy: "Brother Qin, isn't this a bit too ruthless?"

Qin Feng snorted coldly, his gaze sharp as a blade: "Ruthless? I see no such thing in the game between nations."

"Land is limited, productivity is fixed, resources are finite. Peace is but ting hua yi xian—war is the eternal theme between nations. When Bei Di returns with a million iron hooves crushing Shedynasty's mountains and rivers, when countless subjects are displaced, men reduced to laborers, women turned into tools for base lust, and children under weichengnan thrown to their deaths—then they'll curse themselves for not being ruthless enough."

Saying this, Qin Feng turned to Ning Hu, his eyes piercing, voice low and probing: "Setting aside sentiment—someone must die. Do you want Shedynasty's people to die, or Bei Di's?"

Ning Hu clenched his fists tightly: "Let them die—it's better than us dying!"

Qin Feng patted Ning Hu's shoulder, the frost on his face melting, his tone grave: "Those not in position need not meddle in governance. I too wish to be a idle wealthy gentleman, surrounded by concubines, clad in brocade, feasting on delicacies—wouldn't that be beautiful?"

"But since I've become the Tianlu Marquis, I must bear certain curses."

Feeling Qin Feng's calm yet unshakable gaze, Ning Hu finally understood: all previous state peace talks had merely been preparation.

This entire facade was meant to conceal Qin Feng's true goal—to destabilize, dismantle, and ideally annihilate Bei Di!

In the past, Ning Hu might have thought Qin Feng heartless, but after hearing this, and recalling the brutality of the National War, he now admired Qin Feng's decisive ruthlessness.

For Bei Di, Qin Feng is misfortune—but for the countless subjects of Shedynasty, he is a blessing!

Moreover, though Bei Di outwardly submits, it has never ceased plotting against Qin Feng, proving his assertion true: between nations, peace never exists.

When interests align, they yield; when they don't, they slaughter.

Qin Feng turned toward the direction of the Di Wang Du and said solemnly: "In three days, we march on the Di Wang Du!"

"But before that, we must prepare. Lü Ci's two thousand cavalry, plus the four thousand eight hundred defectors, total less than seven thousand."

"These troops aren't enough to even fill the gaps in the Xiongying and Snow Wolf Brigades. I fear that as soon as we leave, the Snow Wolf Brigade will come crashing in and slaughter every last one of these loyalists to Imperial Orthodoxy—leaving no survivors, and with perfect justification. The world will believe the Snow Wolf Brigade is merely executing traitors, never suspecting the hidden power struggle within Bei Di's royal court."

Ning Hu lowered his head, deep in thought: "Then let Xu Mo send some troops…"

Before he could finish, he shook his head and rejected it: "No—we cannot directly involve Shedynasty's forces, or we'd exceed the bounds of internal war."

"Then have Xu Mo send a few officers, disguised, to infiltrate the military camp and assist Lü Ci and Li Chou in training troops—or supply them with weapons."

Qin Feng nodded: "We'll provide material aid, but only enough. Lü Ci's troops must be durable—but not effective."

Ning Hu frowned: "What do you mean 'durable but not effective'? That sounds contradictory."

Qin Feng smiled faintly: "You're brilliant when you're sharp, but when you're dense, I want to kick you. Providing materials and boosting morale will let Lü Ci's Wild Emperor Party troops withstand assaults without dissolving into chaos."

"But we won't enhance their combat effectiveness—lest they turn and bite us later."

Ning Hu suddenly understood, awed by Qin Feng's meticulous strategy: "So in short—you want the Wild Emperor Party to withstand attacks from elite forces like the Xiongying and Snow Wolf Brigades, so they don't collapse at the first strike. But as soon as my Beixi troops move in, they must be instantly annihilated."

Exactly! Qin Feng understood the danger of raising a tiger to become a threat better than anyone—he himself was a tiger.

Besides Lü Ci's Wild Emperor Party, we must also provide financial aid so he can recruit soldiers and expand his power.

"Sangzhou" is officially a buffer land between Liang Kingdom and Bei Di—but in truth, it's the base for the Wild Emperor Party's growth!

…

In the Di Wang Du, Bing Bu DaTang, Chen Si stared at the map before him, then suddenly slapped his thigh: "Damn it! We've fallen for Qin Feng's evil scheme!"

"The entire Sangzhou region is about to fall into chaos!"