Chapter 857: First Volume, Chapter 857: Grand Commandant Commands the Central Plains

First Volume, Chapter 857: Grand Commandant Commands the Central Plains

The black cavalry blocked the garrison door; any deserters had to climb over the walls to escape, and those who couldn't flee could only discard their weapons, strip off their helmets, and kneel on the ground. Meanwhile, infantry reinforcements from within the garrison had already donned their gear, organized and under command.

Though the soldiers were the same, readiness and unpreparedness made all the difference.

Once battle erupted, even Zhao Yuxiong would inevitably face a brutal fight.

But when the enemy saw that the guards at the garrison gate had all surrendered, and saw Zhou Yunhai's severed head thrown at them, this fully prepared regular army instantly lost its will to fight.

Without a leader, they had no idea how to fight, or how many enemies still lurked outside the camp.

A deputy general, unaware of the situation, was captured by the black cavalry and dragged before Zhao Yuxiong.

Zhao Yuxiong handed him Zhou Yunhai's head and said coldly: "Take this to the Left Route Army and Li Zheng—this is the fate of those who resist to the end!"

The deputy general seized the head and sprinted off.

The rest was simple: two tasks—reorganize the surrendered troops, and execute the diehard loyalists.

Whenever weapons are drawn, it is always this brutal: anyone who refuses to surrender is slaughtered outright; keeping them alive only invites organized resistance and needless trouble.

Throughout it all, Qin Tianhu never showed his face.

News of the surprise attack on the Right Route Army spread instantly across the Central Plains.

Xu Ming, one of Xu Mo's own brothers, received the news and immediately shouted: "General Zhao has moved! Though he has seized the Right Route Army, we still cannot determine the stance of the Left Route Army or Li Zheng."

"For safety's sake, we must rush reinforcements!"

"Beidi War Command: march at full speed to the Right Route Army garrison and join forces with General Zhao!"

At Xu Ming's order, three thousand Northern Border Generals raced toward the Right Route Army garrison.

Simultaneously, two generals from Beixi County each led two thousand troops, advancing in waves to reinforce.

This internal war to suppress the Rebel Party had begun—but not fully.

Whether it would be pure military conquest or pressure and negotiation depended entirely on Qin Tianhu's strategy; after entering the Right Route Army garrison, he went even further than Zhao Yuxiong: anyone who had supported Li Yong's rebellion, anyone who had been Zhou Yunhai's close confidants, were all cut down and eliminated—no survivors left.

This bloody purge lasted a full day and night, killing nearly a thousand!

Meanwhile, Qin Tianhu treated all who surrendered voluntarily and had not joined the rebellion with leniency—he wanted them to draw a clear line from the traitors, to believe they were still Loyal Imperial Party, and to throw themselves wholeheartedly into redeeming themselves by aiding Qin Tianhu in quelling Li Zheng's rebellion.

As Qin Tianhu had predicted, just three days later, he received a letter from Li Zheng.

Taking the letter, Qin Tianhu didn't even read it—he tossed it straight onto the candlestand and burned it.

Zhao Yuxiong, who had been guarding him closely, asked in confusion: "Grand Commandant, you don't care what's in this letter?"

Qin Tianhu smiled: "It's just a temporary ploy—no need to read it."

"Li Zheng has only two paths: submit and surrender, or die. Since the founding of Shedynasty, no Imperial Cousin has ever been executed for rebellion. I hope he won't be the first."

…

On Taishan, the Liang Emperor gazed toward Jingdu, eagerly awaiting his return—he longed to go back to Jingdu, but now was not the time…

As his mood grew heavy, Liu Yao appeared before him once more.

"His Majesty, latest military intelligence: the Grand Commandant, accompanied by Zhao Yuxiong, has personally gone to the Central Plains to persuade Li Zheng to surrender."

At these words, the Liang Emperor frowned slightly: "Has fighting broken out?"

Knowing Qin Tianhu and Li Zheng as he did, the Liang Emperor knew that if they met, there would be no polite talk—blood was certain.

As the Liang Emperor predicted, Liu Yao nodded.

"The Grand Commandant has seized the Right Route Army and is now standing off against Li Zheng. Additionally, seven thousand Northern Border Troops have rushed to reinforce."

He has seized the Right Route Army?!

The Liang Emperor was startled—he knew the Imperial Party couldn't match the Northern Border Troops in strength, yet Qin Tianhu had few usable men; the Longhu Army was powerful, but needed to guard Jingdu against the Jingji ZhuZhen.

That Qin Tianhu had captured the Right Route Army so quickly surprised the Liang Emperor.

As for the seven thousand Northern Border Troops rushing to reinforce, it was both reasonable and unexpected.

The Liang Emperor let out a bitter laugh: "That brat Qin Feng—he's been timid as hell when ordered to crush the Lin Family and the Southern Border Powerful Clans, refusing to lift a finger. But now that he's striking the Central Plains Imperial Party, he's decisive as hell."

"Once he fully secures the Central Plains Imperial Party, he'll rally the Imperial Party and Jingji ZhuZhen to attack the Lin Family?"

"This brat—never wastes his own strength!"

The Liang Emperor took a deep breath, his shrewd eyes gleaming with wisdom. He said firmly: "Go tell Qin Feng—I'm giving him two more months. Whether he's finished his plans or not, I won't wait any longer—I'm returning to Jingdu in person."

Hearing this, Liu Yao looked deeply troubled: "Your Majesty, even on horseback, it takes over twenty days to reach Bei Di Wang Du—just the round trip alone would…"

Before Liu Yao could finish, the Liang Emperor waved him off: "No matter. Just send a messenger to inform Qin Feng. With his strategic vision, he'll have his own plans."

With the matter settled, Liu Yao said no more and turned away.

The Liang Emperor stood with his hands behind his back, inhaling deeply: "Qin Feng, if you help me stabilize the realm, uproot the Lin Family and the Southern Border Powerful Clans—these poisons that have festered for generations—I'll give you the Northern Border, even if it means giving you everything."

"Don't think I don't know what you're scheming—you want to carve out your own territory, one in Shedynasty, one in Bei Di, so that the Northern Border and Sangzhou fall entirely under your control, making you a true regional king!"

"If it's you, I trust you."

"But your descendants… ah, let the future deal with the future…"

…

Achoo…

Qin Feng, curled up under his quilt warming by the fire, suddenly sneezed. He rubbed his nose hard and chuckled: "Could it be the Emperor's cursing me again behind my back?"

Ning Hu, squatting nearby roasting meat, burst into loud laughter.

"Hahaha, Brother Qin, you're the Emperor's thorn in the eye—he thinks of you, he can't even sleep!"

Qin Feng shrugged: "True enough. No matter how good my relationship with the Emperor, that fact won't change. But even thorns differ."

"Some thorns must be pulled out."

"Some thorns are prickly, but not life-threatening."