"On a future battlefield, I will certainly compete with you, General Zhao. I will not be a re spectator as I was this ti," Li Xin declared, staring at Zhao Feng with fighting spirit and an unconquerable will. It was as if he were issuing a formal challenge.
Hearing this, Zhao Feng remained impassive, but the trusted aides behind him all turned to look at Li Xin, their eyes filled with dissatisfaction.
"Good," Zhao Feng said with a faint smile, cupping his fist toward Li Xin. "Then I shall await that day. However, my ti here is limited, so we must part ways. If fate allows, we will et again."
"Take care, General Zhao." Li Xin did not try to make him stay.
For him, this visit was a chance to see what the legendary Zhao Feng was really like. After all, among the generals of Qin, he, Li Xin, was second to none. He had asured himself against ng Tian and Wang Ben, even feeling he had a slight edge. But now, with Zhao Feng suddenly bursting onto the scene, it presented a new challenge. He refused to be outdone. In his view, he could have accomplished the sa things Zhao Feng did in the Zhao state; he just lacked the opportunity.
「After leaving Hangu Pass.」
"My lord," Zhang Ming couldn’t help but say as soon as they were clear of the pass, "that Li Xin is so arrogant, daring to challenge you like that!"
"He is arrogant, but he harbors no ill will," Zhao Feng said with a smile. "At least he doesn’t resent others for their accomplishnts. He simply wants to prove himself."
Li Xin was a fierce general of Qin, and his ability to command troops was undoubtedly strong. However, he was also notoriously arrogant in his early career. Historically, when Qin sought to annihilate Chu, Wang Jian requested an army of 600,000 n to ensure victory through overwhelming numbers. Li Xin, however, confidently claid he could do it with just 200,000, only to suffer a crushing defeat. Perhaps Li Xin now had so of the sa traits as Zhao Kuo and still needed to be tempered by experience. Of course, that had nothing to do with him.
"Mr. Wei," Zhao Feng said, turning to Wei Quan with a smile, "now that we have left Hangu Pass, it’s ti for you to lead the way."
"Yes," Wei Quan nodded imdiately, a look of anticipation on his face.
Since enlisting, Wei Quan could count the number of tis he had been ho on one hand. He had half a month of leave in his third year, and another half a month later when there were no campaigns. But once the war to conquer Han began, he, like Zhao Feng, had no opportunity to go back. Nearly four years had passed since he had last seen ho.
「Hangu County.」
「Linguan County.」
It was a county with a population of over one hundred thousand people. As a Qin county adjacent to Hangu Pass, it was the first stop for many rchants and visitors from other states. Thus, the county was populous and bustling. In this era, there was no policy of suppressing comrce in favor of agriculture. On the contrary, while many elites looked down on rchants, calling them re traders, their wealth gave them real power and a significant social status. Furthermore, the forr Chancellor of Qin, Lv Buwei, had risen from the rchant class to invest in a future king, an act that had greatly elevated the standing of all rchants.
「At the gates of Linguan County.」
A few Prefecture Soldiers stood lazily at their posts, lacking the crisp military bearing of the Sharp Warriors. Their duty was to collect the entry fee at the city gate. This was not unique to this county; it was standard practice in Qin and every other city under Heaven. Outsiders had to pay an entry fee to enter the city, with the amount based on the number of people and the quantity of goods they brought with them. This was a crucial source of tax revenue for the Governnt Office’s operations. However, unlike the other Various Countries, Qin’s great National Power allowed it to charge a much lower entry fee. The weaker a state’s National Power, the higher its fees, creating sothing of a vicious cycle.
"Wake up! Stand to attention!" one of the Prefecture Soldiers hissed. "A procession like this ans soone important is arriving!"
As he spoke, the observing soldiers caught sight of a cavalry formation of trusted aides slowly approaching the city. "They’re all wearing Sharp Warrior Battle Armor, the attire of trusted aides! And... and each of them holds a nobility rank of at least the fifth level! This is serious!"
At the sound of his voice, the other Prefecture Soldiers, so of whom had been dozing, snapped to attention, standing ramrod straight. As garrison troops on duty, they had seen countless people and were adept at reading situations.
To be escorted by trusted aides ant one of two things: either you were a Main General, or you held a noble title of the tenth rank or higher. Seeing so many trusted aides, it was obvious what this ant. This had to be a Main General.
"Could it be General Li Xin from Hangu Pass?" one Prefecture Soldier wondered aloud. "He’s known for his strict discipline, but why would he co to Linguan? For a drink?"
"Unlikely," another replied. "Even if General Li wanted a drink, he’d send soone to buy it for him. He wouldn’t co personally. This has to be so other great figure."
"All of you, stand straight!" the Wuzhang warned them. "Don’t cause any offense, or no one will be able to save you."
The Prefecture Soldiers stood stiffly, their eyes fixed anxiously on the approaching cavalry of trusted aides. As Zhang Ming drew near, the Wuzhang imdiately stepped forward and bowed respectfully. "May I ask which general this is?"
"Our general is General Zhao Feng," Zhang Ming announced, his tone authoritative.
"Zhao... General Zhao Feng?" The Wuzhang and his n looked on nervously, their gazes quickly finding Zhao Feng riding a warhorse among his trusted aides, his presence magnificent. Instantly, they all bowed deeply. "We salute you, General Zhao!"
The common folk entering the city also turned to look.
"General Zhao?"
"Could that be General Zhao Feng, whose fa now shakes the world?"
"Across all of Qin, the only one young enough to command such a large retinue of trusted aides is General Zhao Feng!"
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