"Logistics Army Section Leader Zhao Feng, fearless of death and his enemies, led his troops to confront the Han army, reversing the tide of the Logistics Army's rout. He single-handedly slew three hundred enemies and, amidst the chaos of battle, fought his way through the ranks to slay the Han Senior General Bao Yuan, utterly crushing the morale of the Han army. This created the opportunity for our forces to unite and annihilate them.
"This time, by preventing Bao Yuan from cutting off our Qin's supply lines and attacking our logistics, Zhao Feng's contribution is indispensable.
"Your servant humbly requests that the Great King reward Zhao Feng according to his military merits and transfer him to a main battle regiment to serve Qin."
Zhao Gao's voice resounded throughout the hall, and every minister could hear it clearly. When they heard the number of enemies Zhao Feng had slain and the outcome of the battle, a stunned commotion swept through the hall.
"A single man slew three hundred enemies?"
"That's impossible, right?"
"It's extraordinary enough for a Logistics Army soldier to survive an encounter with Han's elites, but to have actually killed three hundred of them in return? That's simply not humanly possible, is it?"
"With such courage and valor, how could he be in the Logistics Army?"
"Could there be a mistake in this battle report?"
"And it says Bao Yuan was also killed by this Logistics Army soldier named Zhao Feng. That's even more unbelievable, isn't it?"
"Even in a defeated army, Bao Yuan would have had elite guards by his side. How could anyone get close?"
"Is there an error in this war report? A mistake in the tally?"
Many ministers couldn't help but discuss among themselves, finding the enemy death toll and the contents of the report almost impossible to believe.
Even King Zheng of Qin had been shocked when he first saw the numbers and the battle outcomes, his heart trembling. Throughout history, even the bravest of warriors had never achieved such a feat! It was no wonder the entire court of ministers was so astonished.
"Reporting to the Great King," the messenger below announced as he respectfully presented the box containing Bao Yuan's head. "The head of Bao Yuan is here."
"This battle report was personally written by the Senior General, and he personally verified the results. There can be no mistake," Yu Liao stood and declared loudly.
Hearing this, the discussions in the court immediately quieted down.
The tallying of military achievements in the army has always been a rigorous process. It is first recorded by the Sharp Warriors' own merit soldiers, cross-checked by the Logistics Army, and finally submitted up the chain of command through the Deputy General, Main General, and Senior General. After all, Qin's military merit system was famous; merits were earned by soldiers at the risk of their lives, so there could be no oversights. Moreover, this report was submitted directly to the court by Wang Jian himself, presented before the King of Qin, leaving absolutely no room for error.
"Great King," Li Si spoke up at this moment, "the name Zhao Feng seems familiar."
"Tingwei, have you forgotten the death of Bao Yuan's son, Bao Qiu?" Wang Wan asked, looking at Li Si with a faint smile.
"That's right," Li Si's eyes widened in realization, a strange look on his face. "Back then, Bao Qiu died at the hands of a Logistics Army soldier. To think it was this Zhao Feng! Father and son both fell to the same man."
The ministers had all heard about Bao Qiu's death. Dying at the hands of a Logistics Army soldier was considered an extremely humiliating fate. Originally, everyone assumed the soldier had just gotten lucky, killing Bao Qiu and thereby earning a promotion. But now, it seemed it wasn't a matter of luck. Instead, this Logistics Army soldier named Zhao Feng was exceptionally skilled.
"When Bao Yuan's son died at the hands of a Logistics Army soldier, everyone thought it was sheer luck. But looking at it now, it seems Bao Yuan and his son met a true warrior from the Logistics Army," Yu Liao remarked with a hint of emotion.
"Heaven blesses Qin," Li Si immediately raised his court tablet and proclaimed, "to grant our Great Qin such a fierce warrior! This must be the Great King's immense fortune, a blessing from Heaven!"
As his flattery settled, the entire court of ministers raised their tablets and shouted in unison, "The Great King is blessed by Heaven with immense fortune!"
Ying Zheng, who usually disliked flattery, smiled upon hearing this today. "To have such a valiant warrior within the Logistics Army is indeed Heaven's blessing to me. With such great merits, he deserves a grand reward," he declared with a laugh.
Afterward, Ying Zheng turned to Yu Liao. "Minister Yu, how should Zhao Feng be rewarded for his achievements in this battle?"
"Replying to the Great King," Yu Liao immediately stood and reported loudly. "For ranks below Commander of Five Hundred, promotions can be earned by slaying enemies. For ranks of Commander of Five Hundred and above, one must slay a general and defeat an enemy force to be promoted. As a Section Leader in the Logistics Army, Zhao Feng slew three hundred enemies, which qualifies him for promotion to Commander of Five Hundred and an increase of two ranks to his noble title. Furthermore, for the merit of slaying a general and foiling the enemy's ambush, he can be promoted two official ranks and have his noble title increased by another two ranks."
"Is this reward based on the merit system for Sharp Warriors?" asked Ying Zheng.
"Replying to the Great King, such a valiant warrior should naturally be rewarded according to the merits of a Sharp Warrior. Surely the Great King does not intend to keep him in the Logistics Army?" Yu Liao replied with a smile.
Ying Zheng laughed. "Within our Great Qin, the capable must be put to use! How could such a valiant warrior remain in the Logistics Army?"
Just at that moment!
"Report!" Imperial Guard Commander Ren Xiao's voice boomed from outside the hall. "Great Physician Xia Wuqie seeks an audience!"
Hearing the name, Ying Zheng's eyes flashed with joy. He immediately waved his hand. "Summon him!"
In response, an elder dressed in the official robe of a Qin physician walked slowly into the great hall. Seeing him, the gazes of all the ministers gathered, their expressions friendly.
"Your humble servant, Xia Wuqie, greets the Great King," the great physician said with a deep bow upon entering.
Ying Zheng's gaze softened, and his voice grew gentler. "Minister Xia, what urgent matter brings you for an audience? If it were truly urgent, you could have come directly to the palace to inform me."
From his words alone, one could hear the deep favor King Zheng bestowed upon Xia Wuqie—an honor no other minister in the entire court possessed.
"Reporting to the Great King," Xia Wuqie said, his old face beaming with a smile as he spoke with excitement, "an exceptional talent has emerged from the Lantian Camp. A medical prodigy!"
Watching the excited Xia Wuqie, Ying Zheng grew curious, as did the rest of the ministers. Who among them did not know this elder? He was the chief physician of the Great Qin Empire, the most skilled Great Physician, Xia Wuqie. For him to call someone a medical prodigy, the person had to be extraordinary.
"Great Physician Xia, have you perhaps taken on another gifted disciple?" Yu Liao asked with a smile.
"He is not my disciple, but a medical genius from within the army," Xia Wuqie replied, turning his head with a smile.
"Minister Xia, please tell us more. What sort of medical genius would prompt you to report to the court in person?" Ying Zheng said with a smile, naturally seeing how excited the old physician was.
"Great King, words alone are not enough proof," Xia Wuqie announced, promptly taking a set of bamboo slips from his robes and presenting them with a bow. "This is a tally of the survival rate among the wounded soldiers, compiled by my disciples in the Lantian Camp."
Zhao Gao, standing beside Ying Zheng, immediately strode down the steps, respectfully took the bamboo slips from Xia Wuqie's hands, and passed them to the king.
Ying Zheng, filled with curiosity, unrolled the bamboo slips to look.
Instantly, a peculiar expression appeared on his face...