CHAPTER 61: CHAPTER 61: LI TENG’S SHOCK!

"Generals."

"Zhao Feng deserves the greatest credit for this battle, yet the one who completely captured the outer city and slew Han’s newly appointed Senior General, Cao Yi, has not been found. Who exactly did it? Moreover, I’ve heard that Chancellor Zhang Ping of Han was also slain by our Sharp Warriors. These matters must be investigated, as they are all war merits. The King will never treat anyone of merit unfairly," Li Teng said, addressing the assembled generals.

At that very moment, a voice announced from outside the hall, "Military Judge Kuai Pu has arrived!"

"Haha, congratulations, General Li, on the extraordinary achievement of breaking through the Han Capital and annihilating the State of Han." A general clad in battle armor strode briskly into the hall.

He was the Military Judge, in charge of military surveillance and responsible for rewards and punishments within the army. He reported directly to one of the Nine Ministers, Yu Liao, as well as to the Senior General of Lantian Camp, Wang Jian. Although his rank was below Li Teng’s, he was not subject to Li Teng’s authority.

"General Kuai," Li Teng replied, quickly cupping his fist with a smile.

"General Li has a truly formidable general under his command," Kuai Pu said with a smile. "To breach the gates of the Han Capital with his strength alone, then lead his troops to bravely slay the enemy, killing Han’s newly appointed Senior General Cao Yi and Chancellor Zhang Ping. It is truly astonishing. I, too, would like to meet such a man."

Li Teng had been listening with a smile, but as Kuai Pu spoke, his expression grew strange. "What did you say? Cao Yi and Zhang Ping were both killed by Zhao Feng?" he asked, astonished.

He had been searching for the Sharp Warrior who had killed these two significant figures of the Han court to reward them for their contributions. In this campaign, with the city gates breached, the lives of Cao Yi and Zhang Ping were not as important as the achievement of breaching the city itself. Their deaths were a far lesser accomplishment, but a merit was still a merit and had to be rewarded.

"Does General Li not know?" Kuai Pu said with a smile. "The heads of Cao Yi and Zhang Ping have already been delivered to our army’s Merit Points Department. The one who beheaded them was none other than Commander Zhao Feng."

"I have been searching for the one responsible and had no idea it was Zhao Feng’s doing," Li Teng said, his face a mask of surprise.

"No wonder General Wang Ben was arguing before the Senior General to have Zhao Feng transferred to his main encampment. With such ability, how could General Wang not be tempted?" Kuai Pu remarked with an appreciative laugh.

Hearing this, the generals in the great hall exchanged glances, all of them clearly stunned by the extent of Zhao Feng’s achievements.

"I have already reported these three merits, and I trust the Senior General will make his decision," Kuai Pu added, looking at Li Teng. "The merits of the other officers have also been reported to the Senior General."

Li Teng immediately replied, "Thank you for your trouble."

In the army, war merits are first tallied by the Merit Points soldiers. Their records are then reported to the Military Judge, who in turn reports to the Senior General and, finally, to Yu Liao, one of the Nine Ministers.

"As for the war merits of the other Sharp Warriors, General Li still needs to dispatch troops to clear the bodies in the city and complete the count," Kuai Pu said.

"Rest assured, General Kuai, I have already ordered the Logistics Army to advance. They will arrive at the Han Capital within two days. For now, the Sharp Warriors will rest for the night. They can assist with the cleanup tomorrow," Li Teng replied at once.

Traditionally, battlefield cleanup is first handled by the Sharp Warriors, who tally their merits and finish off any enemies feigning death. Afterward, the Logistics Army arrives to conduct a thorough cleansing of the area.

Kuai Pu nodded, his gaze sweeping over the generals. With a smile, he asked, "And which of you is Commander Zhao Feng?"

"Reporting to the Military Judge, Commander Zhao is not here. He is guarding a position within the royal palace," Chen Tao immediately answered.

Just then, a voice called from outside the hall.

"Report!"

"Military Marquis Zhang Han of the Commandant Camp requests an audience."

"Enter," Li Teng commanded.

Zhang Han strode into the hall and bowed to Li Teng. "This subordinate has come to see General Li."

"At ease," Li Teng said with a wave of his hand. "What matter brings you here?"

"Reporting to General Li," Zhang Han said respectfully, "Commander Zhao discovered a secret passage inside the Han treasury. It seems to be very long, and the Commander speculates that the King of Han may have escaped through it. He sent me to report this matter."

"A secret passage?"

Li Teng and Kuai Pu exchanged a look, and the former’s face lit up with excitement.

"I heard from the surrendered Han officials that the King of Han vanished after our Qin army arrived at the city walls. He didn’t inform any of his officials or alarm anyone, which proves he couldn’t have left through the city gates. Now that Zhao Feng has found this passage, it’s highly likely the King of Han really did escape through it," Li Teng declared with certainty.

"It’s possible," Kuai Pu nodded.

"Where is Zhao Feng?" Li Teng asked Zhang Han.

"The Commander has already entered the passage to investigate," Zhang Han replied.

"There’s no time to delay. Lead me there at once," Li Teng ordered Zhang Han.

With the Han Capital fallen and its officials surrendered, the state of Han was finished. Capturing the King of Han was the final, crucial step to its complete destruction. As long as he was caught, Qin would eliminate the great threat of Han once and for all. If the King of Han was prevented from fleeing to another state, no one could use his name to rally forces against Qin in the future.

"Please follow me, General," Zhang Han said, leading the way.

When they arrived before the Han treasury, it was surrounded by vigilant Sharp Warriors. Upon entering, they found the place in disarray and completely empty.

"Damn that King of Han! Everything in this treasury has been moved," Li Teng cursed under his breath.

"General," Zhang Han quickly said, "it’s true that everything has been moved. The treasury is completely empty. However, some things were left behind in the secret passage."

"What was left?" Li Teng asked immediately.

"Some weapons and a hall full of elixirs. The entrance to the secret passage is right here," Zhang Han replied honestly, pointing toward the opening.

Li Teng slowly walked over. In the center of a space where shelves had been parted, an entrance the size of a doorway came into view.

"How many men did Zhao Feng take with him?" Li Teng asked.

"Reporting to the General, the Commander went ahead to scout. Commandant Wei Quan of the Garrison followed him with five hundred of our men," Zhang Han replied promptly.

Li Teng nodded. "Assemble my entire personal guard! Enter the secret passage and catch up with Zhao Feng at once. The King of Han has a three-day head start and must have an elite escort. Five hundred Sharp Warriors are not enough," he ordered sharply.

"Yes, General!" the Personal Guard Commander responded. He immediately commanded the guard to rush into the secret passage in pursuit.

After the one thousand men of the personal guard had all gone in, Li Teng led the other generals into the secret passage as well. Before long, they arrived at three stone chambers.

The Hall of Medicinal Materials was empty.

The Weaponry Hall still contained several thousand long weapons, but many of its racks were bare.

The Hall of Elixirs was untouched, its air thick with the fragrance of pills.

"He left so many weapons behind. It seems the King of Han ran out of time to move everything," Li Teng observed. "And these elixirs... this is all good stuff. Men! Guard this place strictly. Without my command, no one is to approach," he ordered.