Northern Frontier!
Eastern Hu Territory!
Somewhere unknown, the grand army had temporarily halted for rest.
The soldiers were eating dry rations and drinking water, while the warhorses grazed on the grass.
"General!"
"It has been five days."
"We have already destroyed three tribal settlements of the enemy."
"Our forces have slain countless foes."
Zhang Han reported to Zhao Feng.
"Five days is enough time for the King of the Eastern Hu to receive the news."
"Next, the Eastern Hu King will surely mobilize his forces to encircle and annihilate us." Zhao Feng said in a deep voice.
"General, what should be our next step?" Zhang Han asked.
"Do you know why I did not bring a larger army?" Zhao Feng smiled.
"With only ten thousand cavalrymen in this vast steppe, we are like grains of sand. Under your command, General, the enemy cannot possibly encircle us."
"By the time they form their encirclement, we will have already broken through and escaped their trap," Zhang Han immediately responded.
In history, Zhang Han was already a brilliant commander.
Now, under Zhao Feng's leadership, he had become even more outstanding.
"Exactly."
"We are waiting for the Eastern Hu to gather their forces for the encirclement."
"The best scenario is for them to mobilize all their troops against us," Zhao Feng said with a faint smile.
"Then, General, what is your true objective?"
"Is it to exhaust the enemy's resources by forcing them to move their armies, weakening their strength so they cannot invade southward?" Zhang Han probed.
"The Eastern Hu royal court should have a significant population, right?" Zhao Feng smirked.
Hearing this, Zhang Han's expression changed, revealing a hint of astonishment.
"General, you intend to attack the Eastern Hu royal court?"
"If we destroy their royal court, this campaign will be a complete success."
"If we can kill the Eastern Hu King, it would be even better," Zhao Feng said coldly.
Zhang Han was utterly stunned.
He had underestimated his lord's ambitions.
He initially thought the campaign was merely to weaken the enemy by raiding a few tribal settlements before withdrawing.
He had never expected that Zhao Feng had set his sights on the Eastern Hu royal court itself.
For these steppe nomads, the royal court was equivalent to a nation's capital.
If it were destroyed, the Eastern Hu would suffer a devastating blow, and their national strength would be crippled.
Although the nomadic tribes could migrate, the royal court rarely moved.
"I will follow the General to the death!"
Zhang Han immediately bowed.
Just then
Zhang Ming rode back with several personal guards.
"General!"
"Five miles ahead, we have spotted an Eastern Hu settlement with a population of about ten to twenty thousand," Zhang Ming reported respectfully.
"Rest time is over."
"Continue the slaughter."
Zhao Feng slowly stood up and mounted his horse.
"We shall follow the General to the death!"
The elite troops swiftly mounted their horses.
"Charge!"
Zhao Feng gripped his Overlord Spear, pointing forward with a cold command.
The ten-thousand-strong Qin cavalry spread out like a tidal wave, surging toward the enemy settlement.
At that moment
The Eastern Hu villagers were gathering supplies.
Carts filled with grain, livestock, and supplies were being loaded.
"Chieftain,"
"We have given up half of our grain supply. How will we survive the winter?"
"Yes! My family's food stores are gone!"
"If we hand over everything, we will starve in the cold!"
The villagers of the settlement were reluctant to part with their provisions.
But the tribal leader spoke sternly.
"Brothers and sisters!"
"This is a time of crisis for our people!"
"Those damned Qin warriors have killed over a hundred thousand of our brave men. The Great King has ordered a full mobilization to attack Qin!"
"Once we breach Qin's lands, food will no longer be a concern!"
"The Great King has promised once we destroy Qin, every one of you will receive ten times the food you donated!"
"Not only that but you will each be given five Qin slaves!"
"Let me tell you!"
"Qin slaves are incredibly useful! Their women are beautiful, and their men are strong and hardworking!"
"If you contribute now, you will receive even greater rewards when the Great King returns victorious!"
The chieftain spoke with absolute confidence.
Upon hearing this
The Eastern Hu people, who had hesitated earlier, became excited.
"That's amazing!"
"The Great King must destroy Qin quickly!"
"Yes! We must avenge our fallen warriors!"
"And bring back Qin slaves! These Qin people deserve nothing but servitude for daring to oppose us!"
"Damn right!"
"Brothers, we must support the Great King! Once Qin is destroyed, we will be richer than ever and own many slaves!"
The Eastern Hu people were ecstatic.
They had already envisioned their glorious conquest seizing Qin's wealth, enslaving its people, and enjoying endless prosperity.
But at that very moment
Thud.
Thud. Thud.
A distant rumbling of hooves echoed through the plains.
"What's that sound?"
An Eastern Hu tribesman looked toward the outskirts of the settlement in confusion.
"Calm down!"
"We are in the heart of our lands, surrounded by our warriors. Do you think the Qin army could reach us?"
"This must be our cavalry moving through," the chieftain chuckled.
Zhao Feng led his army in a ruthless slaughter across this foreign land.
There was no set pattern to their movements; the army traveled without a fixed base. Not only were the Donghu people unable to track them, but even Zhao Feng himself led the troops wherever he pleased, killing as they went.
In just five short days, the Donghu could not have fully spread the news.
After all, the Donghu territory was vast, with sparse populations scattered across the land.
This was not the technological era of the future.
As the sound of hoofbeats grew louder, many Donghu people turned their gazes toward the source.
Suddenly
Some sharp-eyed Donghu noticed something amiss.
"Something's wrong!"
"Those aren't our warriors!"
"It's the Qin army!"
"Look! That's the Qin banner!"
"Black war flags!"
"Black armor!"
"Oh no!"
"Close the gates!"
"Defend the camp!"
"The Qin army is attacking!"
One by one, the Donghu cried out in panic.
The once-gathered crowd quickly scattered.
The camp gates were swiftly shut.
Many Donghu warriors grabbed their bows and rushed to the watchtowers.
Women retreated deeper into the camp, preparing to deliver arrows to the archers.
Troops assembled rapidly.
This scene alone was enough to prove
The Donghu people were all born warriors.
Killing any one of them carried no guilt.
For they were all enemies.
"How could Qin troops be in our territory?"
"Did the border tribes fall to them?"
"How dare they?!"
"Quick, send word to the royal court for reinforcements!"
"Hurry!"
Inside the small tribe, the Donghu people were in utter panic.
Qin cavalry surged forward, sweeping across the land.
The entire steppe seemed to tremble beneath them.
"When the Qin army enters range, fire immediately!"
The chieftain roared his command.
On the watchtowers, Donghu archers gripped their bows, their hearts pounding with anxiety.
Inside the camp, some warriors held bows, others wielded spears and sabers, all awaiting the impending battle with unease.
The Qin cavalry stormed forward.
Their formation spread out.
Each rider held a drawn bow, ready to fire.
The moment they entered the range
"Kill!"
Zhao Feng gave a low but decisive order.
He had long since drawn his bow to its limit, and now, he loosed the string.
Ten arrows imbued with his inner energy shot forth.
In an instant
The arrows struck the camp gate and the enemies stationed on the watchtowers.
Boom!
Boom!
A series of explosions erupted.
In a single moment
The camp gate was blasted apart by the sheer force of the arrows.
Those within several meters of impact were instantly crushed to death.
Following Zhao Feng's lead
The entire Qin cavalry loosed their arrows.
A storm of projectiles rained down upon the enemy.
Arrows poured down like a relentless storm.
Countless Donghu warriors fell, pierced through by arrows as they tried to flee.
Blood stained the entire camp.
It did not take long to overrun this small settlement.
Soon enough
The Qin cavalry had surrounded the remaining Donghu.
Over ten thousand members of the tribe stood trapped within the encirclement, unable to advance or retreat.
They looked at the Qin soldiers with a mix of terror and hatred.
"General, these foreigners wish to surrender."
"How shall we deal with them?"
Zhang Han gestured toward the trapped Donghu and asked respectfully.
Zhao Feng rode forward.
He overlooked the defeated foreigners from atop his horse.
Among them
Nearly all the young men had perished in the earlier assault.
Those who remained were the elderly, women, and children.
"You invaded my divine land of China, slaughtered my people, and pillaged our lands."
"Do you think I would let you go?"
Zhao Feng gripped his bloodstained spear tightly and spoke coldly.
Hearing this
The surviving foreigners' eyes filled with fear.
But with the Qin cavalry surrounding them like wolves, they dared not move.
"After you die, blame no one but yourselves for your actions."
"You showed no humanity."
"I shall return the favor in kind."
Zhao Feng swept his gaze over them with a chilling indifference.
Then, with a wave of his hand
"Kill them all!"
The Qin warriors shouted in unison.
They loosed another deadly volley of arrows.
Whoosh!
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Arrows rained down.
One after another, the foreigners fell, pierced by countless shafts.
"Aaaah…!"
"Qin scum, I will haunt you even in death!"
"You will die miserable deaths!"
"Our king will avenge us!"
"You will face retribution!"
"I curse you even in death…!"
As they were slaughtered, the Donghu people screamed and cursed, their eyes filled with hatred.
But to Zhao Feng
If he had not witnessed the horrors inflicted upon Yan's cities by these barbarians…
If he had not seen the devastated landscapes and the people massacred without mercy…
Perhaps he would have hesitated.
Perhaps he would have spared them.
But now
Having endured all that, his heart had long since hardened.
All he had left was the resolve to kill.
An eye for an eye. A tooth for a tooth.
They showed no mercy to the people of China
So he would show none in return.
Before long
The screams faded.
The entire Donghu settlement was now nothing but a blood-soaked ruin.
The air was thick with the stench of blood.
Rivers of crimson ran through the camp.
"Search the camp for supplies. Take what we need, but don't overburden the troops."
"After that, burn it to the ground."
Zhao Feng ordered.
"As you command!"
The soldiers responded in unison.
Zhao Feng then turned his gaze toward the sky.
Spirits of the fallen Donghu warriors drifted in the air
Each one stared at him and his soldiers with pure hatred.
"Hate me, do you?"
"The innocent souls you slaughtered in China hated you just the same."
"Now, I am merely repaying the blood debt in kind."
"But since you despise me so much"
"I shall make you hate me even more."
Zhao Feng sneered and lifted his palm.
A black flame materialized in his grasp.
Infused with his inner energy
He hurled the flame toward the lingering spirits above.
As it soared through the air
The powerful force split into hundreds of smaller flames, each targeting a different soul.
The moment they touched
The flames ignited the spirits, setting them ablaze.
The souls of the Donghu warriors howled in agony.
Yet Zhao Feng did not stop.
Again and again, he summoned and hurled the ghostly fire
Until every last lingering spirit was utterly consumed.
"Destroyed one soul gained 1 soul energy."
"Destroyed one soul gained 1 soul energy."
As the Soul Power attribute was activated, notifications of the attribute increased synchronized with Zhao Feng's act of burning the soul bodies.
For Zhao Feng, it was as if he were competing with an invisible rule for the souls.
The power of the rules was frantically absorbing the souls into the void, presumably into the Nine Netherworlds.
But Zhao Feng used the Nether Flame to burn them relentlessly.
Unlike killing enemies, these souls had no chance to move they were all bound in place.
However, the power of the rules was too strong.
In the end
When all the souls in the void had disappeared
Zhao Feng successfully collected 879 points of Soul Power.
After half an hour
"This place is not safe to linger in."
"Continue advancing into Donghu territory."
Zhao Feng issued his command.
Ten thousand cavalry quickly withdrew from the area and continued their advance deeper into the Donghu heartlands.
Meanwhile, the settlement had turned into a sea of fire.
Aside from the corpses, perhaps some lucky survivors remained among the Donghu people.
But for them, today was nothing short of a nightmare.
Great Qin!
Zhangtai Palace!
The Nine Ministers of the court, the two Prime Ministers, and several Generals had already gathered.
"Your Majesty."
"The governor of Yan has already been dispatched."
"Soon, the Yan territory will be secured."
"In addition"
"The exact number of civilians slaughtered by the invading barbarians in Yan's northern frontier has been compiled."
"Please review it, Your Majesty."
Wei Liao respectfully presented a memorial report from Yan.
"Read it aloud," Ying Zheng ordered as he looked at Wei Liao.
Ying Zheng was well aware of Wei Liao's character.
Judging from his grave expression, the casualties in Yan's northern frontier were undoubtedly worse than the previous estimates.
"According to the officials dispatched to inspect Xiangping and other cities in Yan territory"
"The barbarian invaders"
"Carried out city-wide massacres."
"In Xiangping City alone, nearly a hundred thousand people were slaughtered, with fewer than a few thousand survivors."
"In Lin City, Wu City, and Yan City, eighteen thousand people were massacred."
…
"The northern frontier of Yan originally had a population of 1.5 million, but due to the barbarian atrocities, nearly 500,000 were slaughtered."
"Most of them were elderly, weak, and children."
"Even infants in swaddling clothes were not spared."
Wei Liao's tone was solemn, barely suppressing his fury.
Upon hearing this report
The expressions of all the court ministers darkened.
"Beasts!"
"These barbarians are worse than animals!"
"To mercilessly massacre defenseless civilians in such numbers"
"This is truly unforgivable!"
"Despicable!"
One by one, the senior ministers of Great Qin erupted in anger.
At this moment, both civil and military officials shared the same fury.
"Five hundred thousand lives"
"All of them our Huaxia brethren, and now, citizens of Great Qin."
"This blood debt"
"Cannot be easily forgiven."
"The Great Qin shall remember this for eternity."
Ying Zheng's expression was grim, his voice filled with wrath.
"Perhaps General Zhao Feng's actions in slaughtering the Donghu people"
"Were driven by his firsthand witness of the massacre in Yan's northern frontier."
"General Zhao Feng is still young, and a man of deep emotions."
"Faced with such a tragedy, as a supreme general of Great Qin, how could he possibly remain indifferent?"
Han Fei spoke slowly.
By now, his mindset had fully transformed.
Once a minister of Han, he was now a minister of Qin, and more importantly, a minister of Huaxia.
Such a massacre such a tragedy
Was truly unprecedented.
At the mention of Zhao Feng
A trace of concern flickered in Ying Zheng's eyes.
He immediately turned to Wei Liao and asked, "Has there been any news from Donghu yet?"
"Your Majesty"
"No reports have come back yet."
"After all, Donghu is not within our divine land of Shenzhou. Our intelligence network in those territories is not as fast as within our borders."
"However"
"Once there is news, it will eventually reach us."
"It will just take longer than it would within Shenzhou."
Wei Liao promptly bowed and responded.
"Let us hope he returns safely."
It had been over half a month, and even Ying Zheng's face bore a trace of worry.
"General Zhao Feng will surely return safely."
"I firmly believe it."
Wang Jian spoke again, his words filled with absolute confidence in Zhao Feng.
"The General is right."
"General Zhao Feng will surely return."
Wang Wan also chimed in.
However, from his expression and tone, there was a hint of schadenfreude in his words.
Marching into the northern frontier with just over ten thousand troops was nothing short of suicidal.
At this moment, Wang Wan was eagerly awaiting news of Zhao Feng's demise.
That way
Their greatest threat would be eliminated.
"Prime Minister Wang, you should focus on the governance of Yan territory instead."
Wang Jian retorted without hesitation.
Ying Zheng also cast a cold glance at Wang Wan, suppressing the anger in his heart.
Just then!
"Your Majesty!"
"An urgent report from Yan has just arrived."
"News regarding Donghu and General Zhao Feng!"
Ren Xiao rushed into the grand hall, holding a memorial report in his hands.
"Quick! Bring it here!"
Ying Zheng's expression changed, and he immediately extended his hand.
-support me on Patreon for more chapters, 375+ chapters in there
patreon.com/LordoftheReader