Chapter 976: First Volume, Chapter 976: The Whole City Rejoices

First Volume, Chapter 976: The Whole City Rejoices

The news of the Qin Family's joy spread through Changshui County in mere moments. Shen Qingci rushed in at once, holding Niu Er in her arms, and upon seeing Li Xiaolan lying in bed, she was overwhelmingly excited. She hurried to the bedside, gently placed the already asleep Niu Er aside, and tightly grasped Li Xiaolan's hand, exclaiming: "Xiaolan, you are a great contributor to the Qin Family."

As the eldest daughter of the Qin Family, Shen Qingci knew better than anyone else the Qin Family's weakness: its thin population.

Although all four women genuinely regarded themselves as Qin Family members, the fact remained that the Qin Family had no heir; without descendants, no matter how powerful the Qin Family became, it would ultimately be like fishing with a basket—futile.

Now, with Li Xiaolan's help, the Qin Family's greatest weakness had been successfully remedied, and Shen Qingci was genuinely delighted.

Xiao Xiangxiang and Shu Feng stood at the doorway, watching the two young mistresses embrace and weep, their hearts filled with boundless joy.

Ning Hu, Zhang Zhenhai, and Liu Ming, still recovering from serious injuries, also came together to offer their congratulations.

Ning Hu clapped Qin Feng on the shoulder and exclaimed excitedly: "Brother Qin, no wonder you're always ahead of us comrades!"

Qin Feng rubbed his nose; in this matter, his experience was nearly zero. Though thrilled, he didn't know what to say.

Zhang Zhenhai and Liu Ming simply bowed to Qin Feng in congratulations; the few rough men just kept grinning foolishly.

Because of this, Qin Feng was in high spirits. Learning that Zhang Chao was still waiting in the DaTang, he no longer delayed him, and immediately stepped out.

When Qin Feng pulled back the curtain and appeared in the DaTang, Zhang Chao was dozing off, clutching his rumbling stomach.

Qin Feng cleared his throat softly. Zhang Chao instantly woke up. Seeing Qin Feng standing before him, he first felt a surge of delight, then immediately grew nervous, quickly bowing in salute.

"Minister of Rites Zhang Chao, pays homage to Marquis Qin."

Originally, Zhang Chao had thought he might have to wait several days to meet Qin Feng, unsure if his old bones could endure the wait. He never expected to see Qin Feng so soon after arriving—this was fortune amid misfortune.

Qin Feng raised his hand, signaling Zhang Chao to sit freely, then chose a chair for himself without regard for age or hierarchy; in good spirits, he simply chose comfort.

"Minister Zhang, I hear you brought gifts of apology this time? What exactly are these gifts?" Qin Feng asked bluntly.

Asked this way, Zhang Chao was caught off guard. He had never met anyone who opened by demanding gifts—it was grossly impolite.

But considering his interlocutor was Qin Feng, normal rules didn't apply. Zhang Chao didn't hesitate and quickly replied.

"The old villain Lü Li's assassination attempt on Marquis Qin enraged the Monarch deeply. To make amends, he has drafted an Imperial Edict, offering one hundred thousand taels of White Silver, three thousand taels of gold, two chests of pearls, jade, and agate, five hundred high-quality Warhorses, and thirty maids aged thirteen to eighteen."

Hearing the offer, Qin Feng couldn't help but smile inwardly.

Clearly, the Di Monarch had gone all-in for State Peace Talks; after all, this was a national-level negotiation, so lavish gifts were expected.

Yet compared to the funds Qin Feng had poured into the Winter War, these offerings seemed trivial.

Qin Feng smiled and nodded: "I thought your nation was utterly bankrupt. I didn't expect you could still produce so much gold and silver. It seems the Grain and Forage for your military campaigns and the purses of your nobles don't share the same ledger."

Hearing this, Zhang Chao flushed crimson.

How could he not understand Qin Feng's implication? It was a direct jab at Di: poor for war, rich for gifts.

But as the saying goes, even a dead camel is bigger than a horse; even if Di was impoverished, it could still muster this much treasure.

Zhang Chao pretended not to hear Qin Feng's sarcasm and recited the details pre-agreed with the Di Monarch, rigidly and precisely—he feared delaying too long and losing even this chance to speak.

"The old villain Lü Li deserved death. On behalf of Di's hundreds of millions of people, I humbly beg Marquis Qin to show mercy and order the South Line Army to retreat."

"Sangzhou has already fallen into your hands. My nation is willing to sign a hundred-year treaty: for the next century, Sangzhou will be temporarily administered by you, but please return Zhuozhou intact."

"It is bitterly cold, snow blocks the mountains, the people suffer. Facing your South Line Army's advance, our troops can only keep gathering Grain, forcing Heaven's people to endure hardship. Rumors say you have the heart of a Bodhisattva. Even if you ignore our pleas, please consider the people of Heaven—sound the retreat."

As he spoke, Zhang Chao suddenly knelt down with a thud. For the people, for the nation, this bow was understandable.

Unfortunately, Qin Feng didn't even blink.

"Minister Zhang, I feel your sincerity. But not everything rests on my shoulders alone."

"If your nation truly seeks State Peace Talks, I can offer you three clear conditions."

"First: your Monarch must perform Shan Rang. The Imperial Throne shall be inherited by Princess Yushu."

"Second: your nation must cover all expenses of this Winter War—totaling one hundred million taels of White Silver—repaid within six months."

"Third: disband the Xiongying Brigade's Garrison Troops immediately. Zhuozhou must be left undefended. Annually, you must pay tribute to Shedynasty three million taels of White Silver."

Hearing Qin Feng's demands, Zhang Chao froze in place, staring blankly at Qin Feng, unable to recover his wits.

Each of these three demands was utterly impossible.

In other words, Qin Feng had no intention of withdrawing.

Zhang Chao had anticipated this negotiation wouldn't go smoothly—but he hadn't expected Qin Feng's resolve to be so unyielding.

Zhang Chao, unwilling to give up, nearly begged: "Marquis Qin, must you truly shatter Di's mountains and rivers? Must hundreds of millions perish, their bones left unburied?"

Was this moral blackmail?

Qin Feng laughed: "Minister Zhang, you overstate it. I target only your Monarch. I harbor no ill will toward Heaven's people. Let me ask you: is Di the Monarch's Di—or the people's Di?"

At this, Zhang Chao fell silent.

If he admitted Di belonged to the Monarch, then Qin Feng's attack targeted only the throne.

If he admitted it belonged to the people, then Shan Rang would resolve the issue; clinging to the throne would only drag Heaven's people to ruin—and make the throne unjust.

After a long pause, Zhang Chao took a deep breath: "A family cannot go a day without a master; a nation cannot go a day without a Monarch."

Qin Feng nodded, calmly: "Princess Yushu inheriting the Imperial Throne will surely strive to govern and restore order. The Monarch's seat will never remain vacant."