Like Wei Wuji, Gongsun Xi harbored a sense of unwillingness, having failed to capture Wei City and instead being routed by the Qin Army. But in the end, this was war. The battlefield was ever-changing. Perhaps it was simply a matter of being outclassed. This update ıs available on noⅴelfire.net
"You actually don’t hate me?" Zhao Feng looked at Gongsun Xi with surprise. Although the Wei general’s face was full of resentment, there was no hatred in his eyes.
"Why should I hate?" Gongsun Xi said, his voice devoid of joy or sorrow. "Ultimately, we lost this battle. We were outmaneuvered. If you had lost this battle, would you feel hatred?"
Hearing this, Zhao Feng’s estimation of Gongsun Xi grew.
"Although I know what you’re thinking, I still want to say one thing," Zhao Feng began slowly. "If you surrender, I can spare your life."
Gongsun Xi just chuckled and shook his head. "Thank you for your kindness, General Zhao, but the Wei Wu Troops face death without surrender. As a War General of the Wei Wu Troops, surrender is not an option for me."
Zhao Feng nodded. "What is your name?"
"Gongsun Xi," he replied loudly.
"You are worthy of me remembering your name," Zhao Feng declared, "and worthy of being struck down by my own hand. Come."
Spurring his horse, Zhao Feng moved to the front of the formation.
"Thank you, General Zhao!" Gongsun Xi laughed heartily. He raised his spear, slapped his horse’s flank, and charged toward Zhao Feng.
Zhao Feng urged his own horse forward to meet him.
The Tyrant Spear thrust out. At the exact moment Gongsun Xi’s spear lunged, Zhao Feng shifted sideways, easily dodging the blow. His own spear, however, pierced straight through Gongsun Xi’s body.
"COUGH... I... I have lost." Gongsun Xi managed a pained smile as blood poured from the wound in his chest.
"Farewell," Zhao Feng said in a deep voice.
With a swift pull, he retrieved his spear, and Gongsun Xi’s life was extinguished.
"Killed the Wei Main General, Gongsun Xi. Acquired 30 All-Attribute points," the panel prompted.
Looking at the few hundred Wei Wu Troops remaining before him, Zhao Feng didn’t hesitate. With a wave of his hand, he commanded, "Kill!"
The Qin soldiers swarmed forward. In an instant, the last of the Wei Wu Troops were slain.
"Our target is Shangwei City! Continue the pursuit!" Zhao Feng shouted, raising his spear high. "In this battle, leave no enemy alive! Pursue!"
The army immediately chased northward again, crossing into Wei Territory.
「Meanwhile, in Xinzheng.」
"An urgent dispatch from Wei City!"
The urgent report was delivered to the Prefecture Governor’s office in Xinzheng City. Meng Yi was seated in the main chair, with Li Teng at his side. Chaos currently reigned throughout Yingchuan County as Han nobility gathered forces to rebel against Qin, so both men considered this their top priority.
"Has Wei City fallen?" Meng Yi immediately asked with concern upon hearing of the dispatch. Wei City was the gateway to Yingchuan; if it fell, the entire county would be in jeopardy.
"It couldn’t be held in the end," Li Teng sighed. "Facing Wei Wuji’s attack with an army of hundreds of thousands, Zhao Feng couldn’t possibly have held on with only fifty thousand Sharp Warriors and fifty thousand surrendered soldiers."
"General Li," Meng Yi said gravely, "with Wei City breached, the gateway to Yingchuan is lost. We must arrange our troops to defend against the Wei Army’s advance and send a request to the Great King for reinforcements."
"Understood," Li Teng nodded.
Although they hadn’t seen the report, both men instinctively assumed Wei City had fallen. They simply couldn’t imagine any other outcome.
"Generals," the messenger said with a hint of awkwardness, "this report is not about the city’s fall." He had ridden all the way from Wei City and was directly under Zhao Feng’s command. The battle for Wei City was over, and the remaining soldiers were either clearing corpses or resting.
"Not about the city’s fall?"
Meng Yi and Li Teng exchanged looks of surprise. Meng Yi quickly composed himself as Li Teng strode forward, took the dispatch, and tore it open. As he read it, his expression changed instantly. "How is this possible?"
"What is it?" Meng Yi asked immediately.
"Prefectural Governor, see for yourself." Li Teng, his eyes wide with undiminished shock, handed the report to Meng Yi.
After taking it and reading it carefully, his expression mirrored Li Teng’s.
"Wei Wuji! He was actually defeated by Zhao Feng! The Wei Army was routed by Zhao Feng... How did he accomplish this?" Meng Yi exclaimed in shock. "Who is Wei Wuji, to be defeated by Zhao Feng? Especially when he held an absolute advantage in both numbers and combat strength! And yet, he lost?"
"Zhao Feng..." Li Teng said, filled with emotion. "I’m convinced. Truly convinced."
Based on this battle alone, Li Teng was utterly won over by Zhao Feng’s ability. As a War General himself, Li Teng knew that if he were in Zhao Feng’s position, he could never have achieved such a victory. Holding Wei City for a month would have been his absolute limit. Yet Zhao Feng had not only defended the city but had also crushed a powerful enemy.
"’A new generation of talent always emerges.’" Meng Yi said. "Now I truly understand what my father meant by that." He then added with a smile, "I imagine even the Great King will be greatly surprised when he hears this news."
"Yingchuan is safe now," Li Teng said with admiration. "After this battle, Zhao Feng is destined for another promotion." Compared to Zhao Feng, he truly felt inadequate.
"Indeed," Meng Yi replied, also smiling in admiration. "After this battle, Qin’s youngest Deputy General will become its youngest Main General."
"Prefectural Governor," Li Teng asked with some trepidation, "regarding that matter I mentioned the other day, have you reported it yet?"
"I have already reported it to the Great King on your behalf," Meng Yi replied. "As for your future deployment, that will be up to the Great King’s decision."
"My thanks, Prefectural Governor," Li Teng said immediately.