With the court discussions finalizing the decision to attack Chu, Huan Yi immediately set off for the Hangu military camp to prepare for the campaign.
The various divisions of Great Qin also mobilized accordingly allocating provisions, transporting supplies, and moving large quantities of arrows. Everything was being readied for war.
Since he was not leading the troops in this campaign, Zhao Feng did not delay his affairs and instead set out for Shachiu, returning home to accompany his mother.
As time passed, in the blink of an eye, half a month had gone by.
At the Hangu military camp, twenty thousand elite soldiers marched in an orderly manner toward the border city of Chenying. Huan Yi, however, had arrived at Chenying ahead of them.
"Greetings, Lord Changping."
Huan Yi cupped his hands and saluted Mi Qi.
"Greetings, Grand General Huan Yi," Mi Qi returned the salute immediately.
"Lord Changping has been stationed in Chenying for two years now, rendering meritorious service. This time, I came under the king's command to attack Chu. Once this campaign is over, Lord Changping will surely return to Xianyang and take another step forward in rank." Huan Yi said with a smile.
"I must serve the state." Mi Qi also smiled.
Then, with a hint of probing, he asked, "May I ask how many troops the Grand General is leading for this campaign? Are there reinforcements from other camps?"
"I petitioned for this campaign; only my Hangu camp is involved," Huan Yi said confidently.
"Only the Hangu camp?"
Mi Qi looked surprised. "Surely the Grand General jests?"
"The State of Chu is not as weak as Han. Would a single camp be enough to conquer it? Or is there some military secret you cannot disclose to me?" Mi Qi asked with a skeptical expression.
"Lord Changping, you must be joking."
"You are the maternal grandfather of the Crown Prince of Qin, a relative of the royal family. His Majesty places great trust in you, entrusting you with the critical duty of guarding Chenying. Why would I deceive you?"
"Chu is already in chaos. Li Yuan is dead, and the country is like a heap of loose sand."
"My Hangu forces alone will be enough to claim victory," Huan Yi stated with absolute confidence.
Hearing this, Mi Qi nodded but still appeared somewhat doubtful. "Is the Grand General truly so certain that one camp can conquer Chu?"
"How will we know unless we try?"
"My Hangu forces will achieve a great victory." Huan Yi said with conviction.
"If the Grand General is so confident, I shall do my utmost to assist you."
"I will ensure that my men in the city properly allocate and transport the necessary provisions so that there are no delays." Mi Qi promptly offered.
"I appreciate Lord Changping's generosity."
"This time, Left Chancellor Han Fei himself will be overseeing the logistics. In addition to the elite troops under my command, there are also ten thousand logistical support troops handling supplies. You need not worry about provisions," Huan Yi explained with a smile.
Having taken Zhao Feng's advice to heart, Huan Yi made sure to personally request Han Fei's oversight and even appointed an experienced logistics officer to assist.
Upon hearing this, Mi Qi felt a moment of hesitation but then quickly smiled. "The Grand General's forces are indeed few. However, I have five thousand regional troops stationed in Chenying. Though they may not be as skilled as elite soldiers, they are still competent fighters."
"In military campaigns, logistics are of utmost importance."
"This city of Chenying can serve as a crucial supply depot for Qin."
"As provisions arrive, I can help the Grand General sort and distribute them in batches for transportation." Mi Qi spoke with a sincere tone.
After a brief moment of thought, Huan Yi eventually nodded. "Since Lord Changping is so gracious, it would be ungrateful of me to refuse."
"I shall entrust the supply logistics to you."
Upon hearing this, Mi Qi immediately smiled. "Rest assured, Grand General, I will handle everything efficiently, ensuring you have no worries and can focus entirely on the attack."
"Excellent," Huan Yi laughed heartily.
"Since the Grand General has arrived, I have already arranged a banquet. Tonight, we should discuss the strategy for the campaign against Chu." Mi Qi suggested with a smile.
"That sounds like a fine plan." Huan Yi agreed.
...
"Lord Changping."
"Have you still not made up your mind?"
"You are a legitimate member of the Chu royal family, born of noble blood. Chu is in turmoil because the king is weak, and the court is controlled by power-hungry ministers."
"General Xiang Yan has already promised that if you return to Chu, he will fully support you in ascending to the throne and restoring our great state."
A refined scholar stood before Mi Qi, speaking earnestly.
Mi Qi's face showed deep internal conflict.
"What you say is tempting."
"But the King of Qin has already promised me the position of Right Chancellor upon my return."
"Moreover, my daughter is the mother of the Crown Prince of Qin. The future King of Qin could very well be my grandson."
"The King of Qin has treated me with great kindness. If I betray him, what will happen to my daughter? What will happen to the Mi clan members in Qin?"
"I would become a traitor condemned by all." Mi Qi spoke with anguish.
He was struggling between loyalty and ambition.
"Lord Changping."
"You are the rightful heir of Chu's royal lineage. You are meant to be king."
"The favors bestowed upon you by Qin were given in exchange for your royal status."
"Chu is not weaker than Qin."
"Would you truly trade a throne for a mere chancellorship? You must think carefully."
"Furthermore, does the King of Qin truly intend to make Fusu his heir?"
"If he did, he would have declared it long ago."
"The State of Chu is waiting for you, waiting for Lord Changping to lead its revival." The envoy from Chu continued to persuade him.
Mi Qi's expression grew increasingly conflicted.
After a long moment, determination finally emerged on his face as he looked at the Chu envoy.
"Are your words true?" Mi Qi asked in a deep voice.
"This is a personal letter from the Grand General himself," the envoy replied.
"It bears his command seal as proof."
As he spoke, the envoy respectfully took out a silk letter from his robes and handed it to Mi Qi.
Mi Qi immediately took it and read the contents.
There was only one sentence:
"Lord Changping is a noble member of the Chu royal bloodline. His lineage is pure. I, Xiang Yan, swear upon the lives of my entire clan that if Lord Changping returns to Chu, I will devote myself entirely to helping him ascend as king, to rule over Chu, and one day, to rule over all under heaven."
Below this sentence was Xiang Yan's command seal.
Clearly
Xiang Yan had gone to great lengths for Mi Qi.
Without demonstrating sincerity, Mi Qi would never believe him. But with this seal as proof, even if the truth were to be exposed in the future, Xiang Yan would already be bound to Mi Qi.
After all, the current King of Chu still held the throne, backed by many powerful nobles.
"King."
"King of Chu."
"To rule over Chu, to rule over the world."
As Mi Qi read the letter, his eyes burned with fervor.
At this moment
Mi Qi was completely moved.
Power was paramount.
Under the heavens, who could resist the temptation of kingship?
The thought of betraying Qin had fully taken root in Mi Qi's mind.
As for the consequences, he no longer cared.
"I, Mi Qi, agree to return to Chu," Mi Qi declared solemnly, his tone firm.
"Minister pays respects to Your Majesty!"
"From this day forward, I swear my undying loyalty to Your Majesty!"
"With Your Majesty's wisdom, you will surely revive Chu and purge it of traitors!"
The Chu envoy immediately knelt on the ground, his expression filled with reverence.
Mi Qi slowly stepped forward and helped him up.
"With Grand General Xiang Yan's unwavering support, I will not disappoint him nor will I let the people of Chu down!" Mi Qi said resolutely.
"Your Majesty will surely succeed!"
"With Your Majesty's return, Chu will undoubtedly rise again!" The envoy's voice carried deep sincerity.
Mi Qi suddenly asked, "Huan Yi has already reached Chen Ying City. You should be aware of this, correct?"
"The Grand General has already received secret reports. Qin is preparing to launch an attack on Chu."
"However, the specific number of troops and deployment details remain Qin's military secrets. We have not been able to uncover them," the envoy replied at once.
In his heart, he was full of anticipation.
Now that Mi Qi had defected, the secrets of the Qin army would become clear to them.
"Relay my exact words to Grand General Xiang Yan," Mi Qi said with a serious expression.
"I am listening carefully," the envoy responded.
"This time, the King of Qin has sent Huan Yi to lead the invasion of Chu."
"The army consists only of the troops from Huan Yi's Hangu garrison. As far as I know, the Hangu garrison is the weakest among Qin's four major military camps, with only two hundred thousand soldiers."
"Even including the logistics and supply troops under his command, the total force does not exceed three hundred thousand."
"Moreover"
"Huan Yi has already entrusted me with the control of his army's grain and supplies."
"All provisions and equipment transported from Qin will be temporarily stored in Chen Ying City," Mi Qi said gravely.
"Your Majesty!"
"This is excellent news!"
"Controlling Huan Yi's grain and supplies is equivalent to controlling the lifeline of the Qin army! With this, we are certain to defeat them!" The envoy was visibly excited.
"Indeed," Mi Qi nodded.
"Your Majesty," the envoy continued, "I will report this to the Grand General immediately. He will devise a strategy and inform Your Majesty without delay."
"Good," Mi Qi nodded again and said no more.
With the army's grain and supplies in his grasp, he only needed to wait for Huan Yi's troops to march into Chu. Once they did, their defeat would be inevitable.
However
This had nothing to do with Zhao Feng.
He had already returned to Shacheng.
"Grandson pays respects to Grandmother!"
Zhao Qi, Zhao Ling, and two young toddlers knelt respectfully before Xia Dong'er.
"Good, good!"
"It is good that you have returned," Xia Dong'er said, her breathtakingly elegant face showing a rare trace of warmth.
"Come, let Grandmother hold you."
She spread her arms.
Zhao Qi and Zhao Ling immediately ran into her embrace.
The two toddlers, still unsteady on their feet, took slow and careful steps toward her.
Seeing this
Zhao Feng, Wang Yan, and Wu Yang all smiled warmly.
"Mother," Zhao Feng said with a chuckle.
"Before long, you will have even more grandchildren."
"Oh?" Xia Dong'er smiled and instinctively turned to look at Wang Yan.
"Come, pay respects to Mother," Zhao Feng called toward the hall entrance.
At his words
Three stunning women gracefully stepped forward.
They knelt respectfully before Xia Dong'er.
"Daughter-in-law Zhao Qing."
"Daughter-in-law Han Qiu."
"Daughter-in-law Wei Zhi."
"We pay our respects to Mother," the two women greeted reverently.
At this moment, the women were extremely apprehensive.
After all, this was their first time meeting Zhao Feng's mother.
Although the Zhao family did not have strict rules, meeting the matriarch required either giving birth to an heir or being pregnant.
Now that Zhao Feng had returned and shared his affections, these three concubines naturally seized the opportunity and accompanied him to Shacheng for this formal introduction.
"Good."
"Our family is truly growing and flourishing now." Xia Dong'er's face lit up with a smile.
For her, as long as her son was alive and their family was safe and well, that was all that mattered.
Wealth and glory were of no concern to her.
"When Great Qin destroyed the Four Kingdoms, I married their princesses. Now, they all carry my bloodline."
"My children now bear the so-called royal blood of these kingdoms."
Looking at the four princesses from the defeated states, Zhao Feng couldn't help but smile.
Marrying the princesses of the Four Kingdoms and having children with each of them was an opportunity unmatched in Qin, and perhaps even in the entire world.
Even looking back hundreds of years, no one had achieved such a feat.
"For now, stay home and accompany my mother."
"Now that you all carry my bloodline, we are one family."
"As long as you remain loyal and never betray me, I will always treat you as my family and never mistreat you." Zhao Feng spoke warmly to them.
"We will serve our lord with utmost devotion," the concubines immediately responded.
Hearing this, Zhao Feng smiled in satisfaction.
"Feng'er."
"How long will you stay this time?" Xia Dong'er asked with concern.
"The King has granted me a two-month leave."
"But I can only stay for about a month. After that, I need to make a trip." Zhao Feng replied with a smile.
"Where are you going this time?"
"You're not heading back to the battlefield, are you?" Xia Dong'er asked worriedly.
"Mother, rest assured."
"This time, I'm not going to war. I have received an invitation from the legendary Guiguzi to visit Ghost Valley." Zhao Feng said with a grin.
"Guiguzi?"
"That's truly a legendary figure."
"My son has made a name for himself he has even been invited by Guiguzi."
Xia Dong'er's face was full of astonishment.
Although she had always lived a quiet life in Shacun, she was well aware of Guiguzi's reputation.
He was a true recluse, a sage whom even kings found difficult to meet.
For her son to receive such an invitation was truly extraordinary.
Wang Yan and the concubines all looked at Zhao Feng with admiration.
For a woman, marrying a man like Zhao Feng a young and brilliant warrior, renowned throughout the land was nothing short of a great fortune.
"All thanks to Mother's good upbringing," Zhao Feng chuckled.
"You rascal," Xia Dong'er playfully rolled her eyes.
"Oh, right."
"This time, when I returned, the King specially prepared some gifts for you, Mother. They are all inside the estate." Zhao Feng suddenly remembered.
"He prepared gifts for me?" Xia Dong'er felt a little uneasy.
"Of course."
"After all, you gave birth to a general who is both brave and skilled in battle. Naturally, the King wanted to show his appreciation." Zhao Feng said with a smile.
"Alright, then I will go and take a look at these gifts later." Xia Dong'er nodded with a smile.
…
Inside the main hall of the estate.
"Master."
"We just received an urgent report."
"General Huan Yi has already led his forces to conquer several cities in Chu."
Zhang Ming walked up to Zhao Feng and reported.
"With Huan Yi's command skills, breaking through Chu's border defenses is no difficult task," Zhao Feng said calmly.
Then, he continued,
"Has there been any movement from Mi Qi in Chen Ying City?"
"So far, there's no sign of anything unusual. He is still in charge of handling the logistics and supplies for the elite troops of Hangu Camp."
"Everything seems to be in order." Zhang Ming replied.
"Keep a close watch."
"If Mi Qi makes any suspicious moves, or if the garrison troops in Chen Ying City show any signs of rebellion, inform Huan Yi immediately." Zhao Feng said in a serious tone.
"Master."
"Are you overthinking this?"
"Mi Qi is the maternal grandfather of Fusu, a close relative of the royal family. Surely, he wouldn't betray Great Qin, would he?" Zhang Ming asked in surprise.
"People change."
"Mi Qi was originally of the Chu royal family. If not for the fall of Chu, he would have been its king."
"If the people of Chu offer him the throne, do you think he would refuse?" Zhao Feng sneered.
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