Chapter 806

First Volume, Chapter 806: Country First, Individual After

The reason is simple: at least the Hawk Faction weighs costs and benefits—if losses are too great, they won't act.

But madmen care nothing for consequences; their only goal is to kill Qin Feng, and they don't care what price they pay.

Such madmen are far from rare in Da Di; you can glimpse their numbers in the angry Heavenly Son's Subjects who rose up at the City Gate today.

Yet from the very beginning, Qin Feng had already prepared for the worst.

After one incense stick time of frantic preparation, the Yi Guan was finally ready to admit people.

Qin Feng wasted no time—he ordered Liu Ming to clear out everyone inside and outside the Yi Guan, then search every corner to confirm no secret passage existed, only then did he feel safe to move in.

"Ning Hu, leave the city now and arrange your comrades—remember, avoid any form of conflict with the Bei Di Wang Du guards."

"The more conflicts, the more tightly they'll watch us."

"As for letting your comrades enter the city—that's out of the question. This is still the Bei Di Wang Du, Tianzi Jiaoxia—even if you put a knife to their throats, they'd never allow foreign troops inside."

"Try to make contact with the Ministry of War—try to get more men admitted, just in case."

Ning Hu nodded firmly and turned to leave.

Qin Feng called Liu Ming forward and continued giving orders.

"This is still Di territory—carelessness here will leave us dead without a whole corpse."

"Watch every inch of this Yi Guan—let no imperial spy in. As for the surrounding shops, no need to surveil them."

"I'd guess there are countless night owls and spies lurking around the Yi Guan now—our small group would be meaningless if we scattered out."

"Just guard the Yi Guan well, and all will be fine."

"One more thing: we won't be leaving Bei Di anytime soon—take men and find a good spot inside the Yi Guan. Have the comrades start digging a tunnel immediately."

Liu Ming knew Qin Feng always acted with meticulous care—wherever he went, he always left himself an escape route.

But to start digging a tunnel right after arriving in Bei Di? That was going too far.

Liu Ming couldn't help but chuckle: "Marquis, aren't you rushing things a bit?"

Qin Feng shook his head, eyes resolute: "Not rushed at all—digging from here to outside the city is a massive project."

"And to avoid suspicion, the digging speed won't be fast—we must start immediately."

"Being in the Bei Di Wang Du means our lives are in others' hands—I hate feeling powerless. Even if this tunnel never gets used, it's better than needing it and having none."

"Pile the excavated soil in the Back Courtyard for now. After I talk with Jing Ci and secure the shopfront, I'll invent a pretext to get the waste soil removed."

Seeing Qin Feng so serious, Liu Ming stopped hesitating.

Yet he still marveled inwardly: as a foreign envoy, to start digging a tunnel the moment you arrive, preparing for the worst—throughout Heaven and Earth, only Qin Feng could do such a thing.

The entire Yi Guan immediately became busy.

Qin Feng was just about to rest when a familiar voice came.

"Qin Feng, why did you help me just now?"

Turning to the voice, he saw Jing Ci step in.

Qin Feng didn't care—he plopped onto the bed and stretched out comfortably.

"Helping His Highness is helping myself. After all, along this journey, I've built plenty of trust and rapport with His Highness—everything we do next will go smoother, won't it?"

Hearing this, Jing Ci's face flushed red, then her almond eyes narrowed: "You're shameless—who has feelings for you?"

"I am Princess of Da Di, you are Tianlu Marquis of Liang—we're destined to be mortal enemies."

Qin Feng grinned: "You're learning fast."

"But now there are no outsiders—you don't need to act."

Jing Ci sniffed: "Who's acting? You're my enemy—this will never change!"

Feeling Jing Ci's fierce glare, Qin Feng lazily sat up, smirking.

"His Highness, you're still too young. I speak bluntly—don't take offense. In terms of cunning, strategy, and value to this nation, you can't match Chen Si's little finger."

Facing Qin Feng's ruthless dismissal, Jing Ci felt her pride crushed—but she clenched her teeth and held her tongue.

After several deep breaths, she calmed and asked coldly: "I certainly can't match Grand General Chen, but I'm not as worthless as you claim!"

"Do you think deceiving the people through deceit and collusion truly benefits the nation? That's just hypocrisy."

Qin Feng slapped his thigh: "You've hit the nail on the head. Whether it's hypocrisy depends on whether it benefits the nation."

"Integrity, incorruptibility—even killing without blinking—these personal virtues mean nothing to the country."

"Let me ask you this in return."

"If you remain upright and offend me, and I retaliate by raising the Beidi War Financial Support by one hundred million taels—do you serve the nation, or harm it?"

Faced with Qin Feng's question, Jing Ci fell silent.

She knew well: in matters of state, she could never compare to Qin Feng or Chen Si.

Yet Qin Feng had shattered her hard-won confidence with just one question.

As Qin Feng said: should loyalty be judged by personal integrity—or by contribution to the nation?

Take Qin Feng himself: he's certainly no good official, not even a corrupt one—he's a thorn in the Liang royal family's flesh, something they want to remove at all costs.

Yet…

This very man, who controls the Liang Kingdom Northern Border, has turned a once desolate, shattered region into a thriving land where the people live well.

Even the entire Liang Kingdom has benefited greatly from Qin Feng's shameless, cold-blooded methods.

Good and evil simply couldn't capture Qin Feng's nature.

Seeing Jing Ci silent, Qin Feng spoke solemnly: "My Tianji Camp Guards severed Chen Si's arm. In Sangzhou, I killed Chen Mou, then Chen Li, then wiped out the Snow Wolf Brigade. What deep blood feuds! Even if Chen Si stormed in now with a knife and chopped me into eight pieces, it'd be perfectly justified."

"But watch closely: tonight, I host a banquet for Chen Si—he'll smile warmly, as if we've known each other forever."

"Why? Because he places personal honor after national interest—he buries his hatred deep, and puts the welfare of countless lives first!"

"Princess, do you understand?!"