Chapter 977: First Volume, Chapter 977: No Poison, No Man

First Volume, Chapter 977: No Poison, No Man

Zhang Chao furrowed his brows, suddenly stood up, swept his long sleeve aside, and growled: "Such treacherous acts are utterly unacceptable to us loyal ministers."

"Our families have long been blessed by the Jing imperial grace; we are willing to die for our country—how could we ever betray our lord for personal gain?"

Facing the emotionally charged Zhang Chao, Qin Feng shot back sharply: "If your loyalty is to the Jing clan, why is Princess Yushu any different?"

Zhang Chao couldn't help but sneer: "How can a woman possibly assume the throne?"

This remark made Qin Feng laugh too: "So in your eyes, women are truly incapable of great deeds?"

Zhang Chao shed his earlier humility and argued fiercely: "The truth is exactly that!"

Qin Feng pressed again: "Then is your own mother equally incapable?"

Zhang Chao never expected Qin Feng's tongue to be so cruel—to drag his own mother into this. He glared at Qin Feng in fury, several times opening his mouth to retort, but each time the words died on his lips.

Qin Feng pressed further: "So, mentioning your mother leaves you speechless?"

"Heheh, in my view, all this talk of seniority, hierarchy, heaven, earth, sovereign, parent, teacher—it's all hypocritical nonsense!"

"You've long regarded women as mere objects in your hearts: you revere your mothers but despise all other women, then pretend to be loyal and filial—what a greatest joke in the world."

"Let me ask you: is the Princess more noble than you? Do you kneel before her?"

Zhang Chao clenched his fists and growled: "Naturally."

Qin Feng asked again: "Are your household maids inferior to you? Can you decide their life or death with a single word?"

Zhang Chao answered without hesitation: "Naturally."

Qin Feng sneered: "So you're nothing but bullies who cower before those above you and swagger over those below—you bow to noble women but oppress humble ones."

"In my view, women hold up half the sky; whatever men can do, women can do too—there is no difference."

"You say Princess Yushu is unworthy to inherit the Imperial Throne, unworthy to rule Da Di? I will place her on the throne myself—and make your self-righteous, hypocritical ministers kneel before her feet, shouting 'Ten Thousand Years!'"

Faced with Qin Feng's sharp words, Zhang Chao flushed crimson. In Heaven and Earth, examples of women ruling were not rare—even Da Di had female officials—but no woman had ever ascended the throne as Monarch. Only minor frontier states had ever had female rulers; neither Liang Kingdom nor Da Di had ever seen a female sovereign in all history.

Realizing Qin Feng's goal was to make Jing Qianying the Monarch of Da Di, Zhang Chao knew clearly: this negotiation could not continue.

But at the same time, continuing this Winter War would mean certain defeat for Da Di—it was a consensus among court and people alike.

In overall strength, Qin Feng could not possibly match the entire Da Di Kingdom. If battle resumed in spring, Da Di could crush Qin Feng and drive him back across Liang's borders.

The reason was simple: even just the rapid mobilization of large cavalry forces could create absolute numerical superiority; with home-field advantage, Da Di would make Qin Feng understand what "national strength" truly meant.

But this harsh winter snow had rendered Da Di's national strength impossible to concentrate.

Not even the entire nation could be coordinated—let alone its various strongholds and towns in Zhuozhou. Despite the home-field advantage, Da Di's armies had been fighting outnumbered all along.

Moreover, troop quality differed drastically: if Da Di had ten thousand liang of silver, it had to spread it among tens of thousands of soldiers; Qin Feng had only one hundred taels of silver, but needed only to feed one hundred men. Thus, Qin Feng's army was far more elite than Da Di's.

Add to that the terrifying "Lightning War" tactics—Da Di's local garrisons were already overrun or slaughtered before reinforcements from afar even began to assemble; by the time those reinforcements finally reached the battlefield, Qin Feng's forces had already marched hundreds of li away, leaving them always chasing shadows.

Qin Feng's army was like a blade, repeatedly stabbing at the massive body of Da Di. One stab might not kill—but what of ten stabs? A hundred?

How long had it been? Qin Feng's Southern Front Army had already advanced to Ezhou. If this continued, it would soon enter the Jingji Region.

Most terrifying was that Qin Feng's army focused solely on relentless assault, casting deep psychological shadows over Da Di's garrison troops, while the Wild Emperor Party following behind could more easily absorb scattered forces and strengthen their ranks.

Even if Da Di could repel Qin Feng's Expeditionary Brigade, what good would it do? Behind the Expeditionary Brigade stood an even larger Wild Emperor Party!

No matter what, Da Di could not hold out until spring. Defeat was already sealed. What awaited Da Di now was only the horrific spectacle of shattered mountains and rivers, broken homes, and dead families.

Zhang Chao bit his lip, clinging to a final hope, and asked grimly: "Marquis Qin, your relationship with Princess Yushu is no secret. If one day she inherits the Imperial Throne, and you become Regent—will not Da Di then fall into your hands?"

Zhang Chao's suspicion was exactly what Qin Feng had anticipated—or rather, all the diehards of the Northern Border thought this way.

It was not Jing Qianying they feared—it was Qin Feng.

Qin Feng did not hide his intent: "I will marry Jing Qianying eventually. When that day comes, I will firmly hold Sangzhou."

"As a war buffer, only then can Liang and the Northern Border truly enter peace."

"Unless one day I die."

Hearing this, Zhang Chao sighed inwardly. If Qin Feng truly held the Liang Kingdom North Border and Sangzhou as a buffer between the two nations, it might be a good thing—both sides would fear Qin Feng and dare not easily wage war. But such an outcome was too idealistic; the Monarch would never surrender power—he would fight to the last breath.

National collapse and family ruin were inevitable. Zhang Chao's eyes dimmed. Just as he prepared to take his leave, Ning Hu burst in and blocked his path.

Zhang Chao frowned: "Marquis Qin, what is your meaning? Do you lack even the courage to let me return and deliver a message?"

Qin Feng shrugged, calm and detached: "Of course you may return—but first, you must deliver Lü Li's gift of apology for attempting to assassinate me."

"Hehe, Master Zhang, don't blame me for being ruthless—when national war is at hand, no poison, no man!"

"If the King of Da Di pays to ransom you, I'll call him a wise ruler. If he abandons you, I'll see how many still truly remain loyal to him."

"Changshui County is easy to enter, hard to leave. For now, Master Zhang, make yourself at home here—you won't be mistreated."