Chapter 932: First Volume, Chapter 932: Southern Campaign Against the North, Rare Since Ancient Times

First Volume, Chapter 932: Southern Campaign Against the North, Rare Since Ancient Times

Winter warfare is a tremendous trial for any force, even a nation; beyond combat will, logistics is the most critical factor, and most winter wars end abruptly due to logistical failure.

Even northern troops fear the word "winter," let alone powerful clans long accustomed to southern living?

Military pressure is inevitable, but a true northward expedition? The southern clans lack both the audacity and the capability.

Southern armies clearly feel the temperature drop with every hundred li they advance northward.

By the time they reach the region controlled by the Central Plains Imperial Party, temperatures have already fallen to three or four degrees—this even on clear days; if snow arrives, these southerners will understand what "snow disaster" truly means. Not even fighting, just non-combat losses from heavy snow could shatter army morale.

So Qin Feng was certain: even if the southern clans and the Lin Family truly intended to mobilize, they wouldn't move until next spring.

Thus, as they marched forward, temperatures would gradually rise, making adaptation easier.

Even if the Liang Emperor had his own political calculations, as long as his father Qin Tianhu held the Central Plains, the rear would remain stable; Qin Feng only needed to focus on the final winter battle against the Northern Di to decide victory outright.

On the road to Changshui County, though Qin Feng knew no pursuers would arrive soon, considering the speed of light cavalry, for safety's sake he ordered the column to move without pause, returning to Changshui County at maximum speed.

Simultaneously, he dispatched messengers ahead to notify the garrison troops stationed in Changshui County to seize Command Authority immediately.

Since Changshui County still housed nearly three hundred "officials," this force, insignificant in peacetime, must be strictly controlled during wartime—any slip could trigger catastrophe.

When only two hours' march remained to Changshui County, the rear scouts suddenly reported a small group of light cavalry rapidly approaching.

At first, Qin Feng grew tense; though his troops were valiant, they had endured prolonged travel and were exhausted, and sudden combat now would inevitably bring heavy losses.

But when he learned the enemy numbered only five, his anxiety eased.

After cautious contact by the scouts, the five light cavalrymen were brought before Qin Feng; at first glance, they appeared ordinary soldiers, yet their fierce, battle-hardened gazes and calloused hands proved they were seasoned veterans—minimum, veterans of a hundred battles.

The leader dismounted, bowed to Qin Feng with clasped fists.

"My lord Qin, the Wang Du ZhuZhen has begun assembling troops; all garrisons have been ordered to dispatch one thousand light cavalry each, and infantry and supply trains are also being mobilized."

Qin Feng nodded; troop deployment is a complex process, so even if mobilization began now, it would take days before forces reached Changshui County. Light cavalry, however, were exempt: with spare rations, they could arrive as early as tomorrow, tasked solely with surrounding Changshui County to sever external contact—not participating in siege operations.

If it were Qin Feng issuing the order, light cavalry from all garrisons would converge and encircle Changshui County in an iron barrel within five hours.

The Wang Du side's sluggish response isn't due to bureaucratic bloat—it proves the Northern Di King distrusts the Wang Du ZhuZhen entirely.

After all, the collusion between Lü Li and the Night Owl had dealt a massive blow to the Northern Di King's authority.

And the facts proved the Northern Di King's suspicions were entirely justified: these five sudden light cavalrymen were Night Owls themselves.

Infiltrating the Night Owl and planting spies within the Northern Di's highest intelligence agency was one of the Brocade Uniform Guard's most vital missions; even before the National War began, the Brocade Uniform Guard had initiated secret infiltration, and after so long, results were significant.

Of course, Qin Feng didn't doubt that the Brocade Uniform Guard itself had been penetrated by Night Owl and Black Guard agents—but since all Brocade Uniform Guard secrets and decisions were tightly held by Qin Feng and Li Xiaolan and only a few other core figures, enemy spies could access only limited information.

Or rather, the information enemy spies obtained were deliberately fed to them by Qin Feng.

Meanwhile, the Brocade Uniform Guard's spies embedded within the Night Owl faced the same problem: unable to reach core secrets, they could only linger on the periphery as low-level informants.

Yet even so, these informants were invaluable—they allowed Qin Feng to learn of Wang Du's military movements the moment they occurred.

Qin Feng pondered briefly, then asked softly: "Besides Wang Du ZhuZhen movements, have there been any other actions?"

The Night Owl spy immediately replied: "My lord, aside from military deployments, Wang Du has made no other moves."

Silence itself was a significant signal.

Given the scale of this incident in Wang Du, the Northern Di King should have united his confidants to purge all core systems thoroughly and restore his authority.

Yet now, the Northern Di King has done the opposite—responding to change with stillness…

It's safe to conclude that both the Northern Di King and Li Yu are extremely cautious in handling the Night Owl, fearing excessive pressure might trigger rebellion.

This also suggests two other possibilities: first, the Night Owl organization has reached a perilous state, secretly entangled with multiple Wang Du factions, its power deeply rooted; the Northern Di King fears one move might unravel everything.

Second, the Wang Du ZhuZhen is deeply entwined with the Night Owl; the Northern Di King is waiting—for his most reliable force to return to Beijing—before striking the Night Owl.

That force must be rapid, exceptionally combat-capable, and utterly loyal to the Northern Di King.

After careful thought, only one force fits this description: the Xiongying Brigade.

The Xiongying Brigade is about to return to Beijing…

This is bad news—for the Night Owl, and for Qin Feng.

"What is the current status of the Xiongying Brigade?"

The Night Owl spy replied quickly: "My lord, the Xiongying Brigade are the Northern Di King's confidants; classified information is beyond my access."

"But it is widely believed the Northern Di King values the Xiongying Brigade more than any other troop."

"Even as national strength weakens and military expenditure is drastically cut, only the Xiongying Brigade's Item: Military Expenditure has increased."

"According to intelligence from insiders in the Ministry of War and Ministry of Revenue, the Xiongying Brigade has grown larger than before: five thousand veterans plus three thousand new recruits now exceed eight thousand strong."

Qin Feng had known the Xiongying Brigade had grown stronger—but never imagined its size had swelled so massively.