Chapter Five

The days that followed were utterly bleak and hopeless. Under Lin Feng’s command, the army that had just celebrated victory now crawled into the depths of the mountains and forests. Fearing discovery by Qing troops, the column chose only the most secluded trails, their nerves frayed and spirits on edge at every rustle in the wind, yet, driven by the immense pressure to survive, their morale did not completely collapse. Thus, they journeyed over mountains and across ridges, traveling by dawn and camping by night, stumbling along paths that mountain folk had worn into the earth over centuries. Here, the extraordinary physical resilience of the people of old left Lin Feng astounded; it was almost beyond belief that human strength could rival that of any beast of burden. In particularly treacherous stretches, he watched, dumbfounded, as these sturdy porters hoisted heavy wagons onto their shoulders and pressed forward, all the while carrying large quantities of provisions. Zhao Guangyuan’s vanguard, too, demonstrated the prowess of a true field force, cutting roads through the hills and building bridges over streams, requiring little intervention from Lin Feng himself.

If he could return to his previous life, Lin Feng would surely have opposed environmental conservation with a clear conscience, for this time he had truly suffered at the hands of nature. Although their present “outing” was set in what had once been a famous scenic area, with forests, meadows, and a wealth of wildlife surpassing anything in his former world, there was not a soul with the leisure to enjoy the landscape. In this moment, Lin Feng deeply understood why people in ancient times were not fond of traveling for pleasure—imagine, while camping outdoors, the sudden roar of a tiger or howl of a wolf nearby, or reaching out in the dark only to grasp a venomous snake—such nightly jolts of terror were not for the faint of heart.

Yet for Lin Feng, fleeing for his life, these hardships were not the worst. After several days wandering in the Yan Dang Mountains, the thousands under his command suddenly realized they were lost. This predicament genuinely surprised Lin Feng, for if the tales of his previous world’s martial novels were to be believed, such remote mountains would surely hide mysterious old temples or abandoned villages, and some reclusive master would likely be found reading or practicing his skills in such places. Alas, luck was not with Lin Feng this time; after seven or eight days, they had yet to encounter any sign of human habitation, leaving the entire force bewildered and at a loss.

It was only after questioning some innocent hunters, mistaken for Qing scouts, that Lin Feng learned they were not off course after all. The army was now almost out of the Yan Dang Mountains, standing in the northern foothills under the jurisdiction of Wenzhou Prefecture. The nearest county seat was Linji County, just over two hundred li away.

Though his men were all sturdy fellows, after so many days of forced marching, exhaustion weighed heavily on them. If they did not find a place to rest soon, the army would surely collapse within days. Seeing the faces of his men, drained and weary, Lin Feng made a decisive choice: they would attack the county town.

The county magistrate was a young man, barely in his twenties, dressed in a pale robe, his braid disheveled and gathered at the nape of his neck, standing stubbornly upright and refusing to kneel. To Lin Feng’s surprise, he did not seem especially nervous, nor did he curse and rail at the “rebels and traitors.” He simply stood quietly, a hint of astonishment in his eyes as he met Lin Feng’s gaze, though he quickly looked away, affecting an air of indifference.

Interesting.

Lin Feng seated himself in the magistrate’s chair and, striking the gavel with a grin, asked, “Why retire so early? No entertainment scheduled for the evening?”

His guards exchanged bewildered glances, none expecting such an outlandish question.

Even Zhou Peigong was caught off guard by Lin Feng’s unorthodox manner. “General, do we know each other?” he inquired.

“No, no! My mistake!” Lin Feng snapped out of his shock, sat back down, and waved his hand. “You remind me of a friend, Magistrate Zhou.”

So that’s it. Though Zhou Peigong found this odd, he didn’t press further. He smiled faintly, “You treat me with such courtesy, General—are you trying to persuade me to surrender?”

Persuade him to surrender? Lin Feng laughed and waved away the suggestion. “To be honest, our force is fleeing for its life, not here to seize or pillage. The Qing are ascendant; we’re simply seeking refuge in your county and wouldn’t dare jeopardize your career in the imperial court.”

Zhou Peigong was taken aback. “Then why not surrender to us?”

Lin Feng exchanged helpless glances with his officers and offered a wry smile. “Surrender is a complicated matter—it depends on the circumstances. We must wait and see.”

Zhou Peigong frowned. “You have penetrated the heart of the Great Qing, yet refuse to surrender or to fight. What, then, is your intent?”

Old Liu could not restrain himself and burst out, “Damn it! What we do is none of your business. If you keep nagging, I’ll—” Lin Feng waved him silent. “We’re not saying we won’t surrender or fight—just that we need time before making any decisions.”

Seeing Zhou Peigong’s confusion, Lin Feng explained, “To be frank, all my brothers here are old subordinates of the Prince of Jingnan, veterans brought from Liaodong. True, he never did much for us, but were we to surrender outright, others would say we lacked loyalty.” He glanced at Zhao Guangyuan, Old Liu, and the others, who nodded in agreement.

“But now we’re isolated and unsupported. To fight the Qing to the last man would be a senseless sacrifice, and we are not fools,” Lin Feng added with a smile, his officers all nodding in assent.

Zhou Peigong pressed, “Then what do you propose, General?”

“Let’s put it this way,” Lin Feng replied. “We’ll stay here for now. If the Prince of Jingnan’s forces break through, we’ll join him, staying true to our loyalties.” He rose, his expression intense, until the officers grew grave with expectation—then he smiled slightly. “However, if the Prince cannot even save himself, we’ll need to carve out a path for our own survival. If it comes to surrendering to the Qing, so be it—no one can fault us for that!”

At this declaration, the officers brightened, reassured they had chosen the right leader. Their commander was not only shrewd but also loyal and sensible. Surely a bright future awaited them.

Zhou Peigong burst out laughing, shaking his head at Lin Feng. “General, you are indeed a master strategist!”

“So be it,” Lin Feng said cheerfully. “We’ll wait here. If the Prince of Jingnan comes, we remain his men; if the imperial army arrives, we switch allegiance. In this desolate little county, no one is likely to care for now.” Grinning, he continued, “Everything in Linji County remains as it was. Magistrate Zhou, you keep your post, I’ll keep my troops. We can talk, become friends—public matters are handled as before. What do you say?”

Zhou Peigong considered this. Skilled in strategy and not a pedant, he knew that resistance would likely cost him his head. Given his understanding of the situation, it was certain that Geng Jingzhong would eventually be defeated, and Lin Feng’s army would probably surrender sooner or later. If he played his cards right, not only would he avoid blame, he might even earn merit as the man who persuaded the enemy to capitulate. After all, he had not surrendered—witnessed by so many, who could accuse him later?

With this in mind, he rose and cupped his hands to Lin Feng. “General, with such a thorough arrangement, how could I refuse?”