CHAPTER 230: CHAPTER 123: VICTORY REPORT REACHES XIANYANG, YING ZHENG REJOICES! (PART 5)

"I’ve heard that General Zhao Feng is quite extraordinary. He was appointed as a Wanjiang at sixteen, a Deputy General at seventeen, and then, shortly before turning eighteen, he was promoted to Main General."

"He is the youngest Main General in our Qin Army, a true legend."

"You’ve only heard about General Zhao Feng defeating Wei Wuji, but I know a bit more than that. Do you know how Qin conquered Han? It was General Zhao Feng who captured the King of Han!"

"Really? Is that true? How could General Zhao Feng be so formidable?"

As Zhao Feng’s name spread throughout Xianyang City, the entire city was abuzz with constant discussion about him. With this, Zhao Feng’s past victories and reputation were all brought to light. Today’s triumph had made the name Zhao Feng renowned among all the citizens of Xianyang. After all, Lian Po was no obscure war general. His fame was even greater than Wei Wuji’s. With Zhao Feng having slain Lian Po, his name would be remembered throughout the world. He was now known by all!

「Qin Royal Palace.」

Within the Morning Discussion Hall, a messenger, a Wuzhang, rushed into the great hall.

"A victory report from Zhao Jing!" he announced. "General Zhao Feng has breached Lincheng, marched north into Zhao, and succeeded in killing Lian Po! The detailed battle report is here for the Great King’s review."

The messenger bowed deeply, presenting the military report from Wang Jian with both hands.

Upon hearing this, Ying Zheng urgently cried out, "Bring it here immediately!"

Zhao Gao immediately strode forward to retrieve it.

At this moment, all the ministers in the court were utterly dumbfounded. Although the battle report had not yet been read, the messenger’s loud proclamation of victory and the news of Zhao Feng slaying Lian Po echoed through the hall.

"Zhao Feng actually killed Lian Po?"

"How is that possible?"

"Wasn’t Zhao Feng stationed at Yingchuan? How did he end up in the state of Zhao? And Lincheng is a city connecting Zhao and Wei—how could Zhao Feng suddenly attack it?"

"Yingchuan is a thousand li away from the state of Zhao. How did he even get there?"

"After repelling the Wei Army, did Zhao Feng actually lead his great army in pursuit to attack Wei?"

The ministers in the court began to speculate wildly, but none of them knew what had truly transpired. Apart from Yu Liao, who had reported it to Ying Zheng, no other minister was aware of Zhao Feng’s campaign against Wei. This news had not been spread.

Ying Zheng and Yu Liao had merely made a wager on whether Zhao Feng could breach Lincheng and enter Zhao Jing. Unexpectedly, in less than a month, Zhao Feng had actually done it.

"Zhao Feng can no longer be contained," Wang Wan said, his mood deeply troubled. "Defeating Wei Wuji and slaying Lian Po—such military exploits are unmatched among the Main Generals. As long as Zhao Feng continues to accumulate merits, all of these will serve as his qualifications for promotion to Protector-General. And now, we have offended him."

Seeing Zhao Feng achieve another great feat, one that was in no way inferior to defeating Wei Wuji, his heart naturally sank.

Chunyu Yue, oh Chunyu Yue... You’ve really doomed us, needlessly making an enemy for the Eldest Imperial Son. Huai Zhuang cursed inwardly.

Yu Liao smiled, his gaze turning toward Ying Zheng. "None of us underestimated him, yet Zhao Feng still managed to breach Lincheng and enter Zhao. A seat as a Senior General of Qin is surely his in the future."

Holding the military report from Lantian Camp, Zhao Gao respectfully presented the document to Ying Zheng.

Ying Zheng took it, his eyes fixed on the report, his expression solemn and full of anticipation.

As he finished reading, his brow smoothed completely, and a smile gradually spread across his face. Every minister in the hall could clearly feel the Great King’s joy at that moment. The oppressive royal aura in the great hall lessened, and the atmosphere grew more relaxed.

"Good," Ying Zheng said, his voice rising. "Very good! Our Qin has produced such a capable general!"

"My lords," he proclaimed, "General Zhao Feng led an army of sixty thousand north to attack Wei! He captured thirty-five of Wei’s cities, seized a thousand li of their territory, and forged a path from Yingchuan into the state of Zhao!"

"After entering the state of Zhao, he attacked Lian Po. In a single battle, he annihilated Lian Po’s army of twenty thousand, and Zhao Feng personally slew Lian Po."

"My lords," Ying Zheng continued, holding the battle report high with excitement, "with such results and such great contributions, Zhao Feng is truly the most valiant and peerless war general in all of Qin!"

From his demeanor, one could see just how thrilled he was.

"With Lian Po slain by a general of Qin, one of the state of Zhao’s arms has been broken," Li Si immediately stepped forward and declared loudly. "Your servant offers congratulations to the Great King!"

"We offer our congratulations to the Great King!" the other ministers shouted in unison.