Chapter 991: First Volume, Chapter 991: Public Sentiment in Turmoil

First Volume, Chapter 991: Public Sentiment in Turmoil

Both sides ignored the wounded still lying on the ground, swinging their weapons and advancing toward each other again.

But since there were few able-bodied men present, most were elderly or women and children, even if a fight broke out, the intensity would not be high.

Yet faced with the impending conflict, Qin Feng immediately ordered a halt.

Two soldiers rushed to the center of the crowd, each facing one side, raising their long spears and bellowing fiercely.

"All of you, fall back!"

"Are you all rebelling?!"

"Who dares charge forward again, will be executed on the spot!"

Though both sides were numerous, while the soldiers numbered only two, soldiers were soldiers and civilians were civilians—their aura alone was not on the same level.

Moreover, seeing the finely crafted long spears in the soldiers' hands, the civilians immediately realized these two were Regular Army, not Changshui County's yamen troops.

The two major clans, who had been emotionally charged moments before, instantly lost their fire and began retreating.

Qin Feng ordered Ning Hu and Liu Ming to wait where they were, then walked forward with his hands behind his back.

He first glanced at the Wang family side, then at the Zhou family side, and asked solemnly: "What can't be settled with words? Why must you resort to violence?"

"We are still at war; curfew orders have long been issued in the city. How dare you gather and brawl like this? Do you have any respect for rules?"

As he spoke, Qin Feng glanced at the women and children present, and snapped: "Go home! Don't come out to cause trouble again!"

The previously noisy scene had fallen completely silent.

Just as Qin Feng thought the farce was over, the Wang-surnamed middle-aged man suddenly spoke up: "Who are you?!"

"Are you perhaps the County Yamen Manager? Then let me ask you—Prince Qin has ordered that all city civilians be treated equally. Why, when distributing materials and supplies, do you start showing favoritism?"

"We Wangs are no fewer in number—why do we receive less? Are the Zhous the children of the biological mother, and we the children of the stepmother?"

Facing the Wang-surnamed man's accusation, Qin Feng did not grow angry; he was about to explain that he would thoroughly investigate the Logistics department upon returning.

But before he could speak, the Old Man Zhou burst into sarcastic mockery.

"Who let you out without pulling up your pants? What are you playing at pretending to be someone important?"

"Changshui County is now under Qin Feng's control, under military rule. Judging by your frail, bookish appearance, you're probably a County yamen clerk, aren't you?"

"Let me tell you plainly—we Zhous are the designated Housheng responsible for distributing materials, personally appointed by Qin Feng. Show some sense and stand aside."

At these words, Ning Hu's temper flared instantly—he started forward, but Qin Feng silenced him with a glare.

Qin Feng frowned slightly, studying the sharp-tongued Old Man Zhou, and asked patiently: "Can't you speak kindly?"

"Old man, you're clearly advanced in years, and your attire is proper—why then do you speak so vulgarly?"

"And… cough, cough—Qin Feng appointed locals to distribute materials because he trusts them. Yet you turn favoritism and corruption into something natural?"

At first, the Old Man Zhou felt a twinge of unease—after all, the young man was flanked by two soldiers.

But seeing the young man speak so politely and gently, the Old Man Zhou grew even more brazen.

He lifted his head proudly: "Who can say what Changshui County will become? Everyone must find a way to secure their own future."

"When the war ends, whether we win or lose, Qin Feng will simply walk away. But we commoners? We'll all be branded traitors and exterminated along with our Nine Clans."

"So when the City Gate opens, that's when we flee."

"If we don't grab as much material as we can now, who will be responsible when we starve to death on the road later?"

Qin Feng had originally wanted to calm things down and seek harmony, but hearing the Old Man Zhou's words, his face darkened instantly.

These words, if taken lightly, were inciting unrest; if taken seriously, they were undermining Military Morale!

This Old Man Zhou must die.

But since he dared speak such words openly, it was clear that others shared his views—not just him.

Though Changshui County's City Defense was now impregnable, Logistics remained the paramount concern; whether Logistics could be maintained smoothly depended entirely on the local civilians. If the civilians turned chaotic, it would trigger a chain reaction, directly affecting the soldiers at the Front Line.

Qin Feng would not allow the Back Courtyard to catch fire.

He stared coldly at the Old Man Zhou and asked calmly: "Didn't Qin Feng say that after the war, anyone willing to follow him back to Shedynasty may settle in Beixi County?"

The moment he spoke, the Old Man Zhou burst into loud laughter.

"Hahaha! What a ridiculous joke!"

"You're still too young—you actually believe such deceitful lies."

"If Beixi County were truly so good, why would Qin Feng abandon his comfortable life to come here? What is Beixi County really like? Who knows?"

"Even if Beixi County were as wonderful as rumored, do you truly believe Qin Feng would take us all there? Who would pay for the journey's expenses? I don't believe anyone in this world is that kind."

"Once our usefulness is gone, Qin Feng will kick us commoners aside like trash."

"Right now, we're helping Qin Feng move weapons and gear only to survive—forced by desperation. If we had a choice, who would help an outsider attack their own country?"

The Old Man Zhou's thoughts were understandable—it was human nature.

But he could not voice them publicly; otherwise, he would shake public sentiment and cause unrest, for which he would bear infinite blame.

The Old Man Zhou clearly saw Qin Feng's hostile gaze, but he didn't care—after all, that so-called Prince Qin was always stationed at the Front Line; who had time to wander the city?

Moreover, Qin Feng had been in Changshui County for some time now, always surrounded by Elite Troops; over eighty percent of the city's civilians didn't even know what Qin Feng looked like.

They only knew a man named Qin Feng had come, seized Changshui County, and was now fighting the entire Di.

When orders were given, soldiers came to enforce and drive them—everything they knew about Qin Feng came from hearsay.

The Old Man Zhou sneered: "You clerks like you might be taken away by Qin Feng, but we commoners must fend for ourselves!"

"Even if you go back and report me to Qin Feng, I'm not afraid—I'm already among the better ones. Others distributing materials would be even harsher than my Zhou Family!"

Logically, since the Wangs and Zhous were enemies, and an enemy's enemy is a friend, the Wangs should have supported Qin Feng—but the opposite happened.