Chapter 28: Zhao Feng, the Village Head, Makes a Name for Himself in the Imperial Court!

"Zhao Feng, a logistics battalion commander, showed no fear of death and no fear of the enemy. Leading his troops to engage the Han army, he single-handedly reversed the rout of the logistics forces."

"By his own strength, he slew three hundred enemies and, amidst the chaos of battle, decapitated the Han Generalissimo Bao Yuan. This utterly crushed the morale of the Han army and provided our forces the opportunity to join forces and annihilate them."

"Zhao Feng deserves immense credit for preventing Bao Yuan from severing the Great Qin's grain supply and raiding our logistics."

"Your Majesty, I implore you to reward Zhao Feng according to his military merits and transfer him to the main combat corps to serve Great Qin."

Zhao Gao's voice resonated throughout the hall, clearly audible to every minister present.

When they heard the number of enemies slain and the extent of the victory, a wave of shock and uproar naturally swept through the Qin ministers in the hall.

"Three hundred enemies slain by one man?"

"That's impossible, isn't it?"

"It is rare enough for a logistics soldier to face Han elites without dying, let alone kill three hundred of them? That is beyond human capability!"

"With such strength and ferocity, how could he be a mere logistics soldier?"

"Is there an error in this battle report?"

"And it also claims that Bao Yuan was killed by this logistics soldier named Zhao Feng? That is even more unbelievable!"

"Even if it were a remnant force, Bao Yuan would have elite guards by his side. How could anyone get close to him?"

"Is this report erroneous? Is the count incorrect?"

Many ministers could not help but argue; almost everyone found the casualty figures and the contents of the report difficult to believe.

Even King Zheng of Qin, upon seeing the numbers and the results, was startled, his heart trembling.

From ancient times to the present, even the most ferocious legendary generals had never achieved such results!

It was no wonder the entire court was in such shock.

"Reporting to Your Majesty."

"The head of Bao Yuan is here."

Below, a messenger soldier respectfully presented a box containing Bao Yuan's head.

"This battle report was personally written by the Grand General, and the results were personally verified by him. There is naturally no falsehood in it," Wei Liao stepped forward and spoke loudly.

Upon hearing this, the discussions in the court immediately subsided.

The statistics of military achievements had always been extremely rigorous: first recorded by the elite soldiers, then audited by the logistics forces, and finally submitted to the vice-generals, the commanding generals, and the Grand General.

After all, the Great Qin's system of military merit was famous; merits were earned by elite soldiers risking their lives, so there could be no oversight.

Furthermore, this report had been submitted directly to the court by Wang Jian to face the King of Qin himself, making any error even more unacceptable.

"Your Majesty."

"The name Zhao Feng sounds familiar," Li Si spoke up at that moment.

"Has the Chancellor forgotten the death of Bao Qiu, the son of Bao Yuan, that day?" Wang Wan looked at Li Si with a faint smile.

"That's right."

"Bao Qiu died at the hands of a logistics soldier that day. To think it was this Zhao Feng?"

"The father and son both died at the hands of the same man." Li Si regained his senses, a strange expression crossing his face.

Regarding the death of Bao Qiu, the ministers in court had naturally heard of it that day.

To die at the hands of a logistics soldier was an extremely humiliating matter.

Originally, everyone thought that the logistics soldier had simply had incredible luck to kill Bao Qiu and gain rank, but looking at it now, it seemed it wasn't luck, but rather that this soldier named Zhao Feng possessed extraordinary skill.

"That day, Bao Yuan's son died at the hands of a logistics soldier, and everyone thought it was mere luck. But seeing this now, the father and son simply encountered a ferocious soldier from within the logistics corps," Wei Liao remarked with great emotion.

"Heaven protects Great Qin!"

"To grant Great Qin such a fierce general!"

"This must be because Your Majesty possesses boundless fortune and divine protection!" Li Si immediately raised his court tablet and shouted.

As his flattery fell, the ministers of the court raised their tablets in unison and shouted, "May Your Majesty possess boundless fortune and divine protection!"

Ying Zheng had always disliked flattery, but today, he listened with a smile on his face.

"To have such a fierce general within the logistics corps is indeed a blessing from Heaven for me."

"Such great merit deserves heavy rewards," Ying Zheng said with a loud laugh.

Then, Ying Zheng looked toward Wei Liao: "Minister Wei, how should Zhao Feng be rewarded for his military achievements?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty."

"Those below the rank of Five Hundred Hosts may be promoted based on the merit of killing enemies."

"Those above the rank of Five Hundred Hosts should be promoted based on the merit of slaying a general and breaking the enemy."

"Zhao Feng is a logistics battalion commander. Having slain three hundred enemies, he may be promoted to Five Hundred Hosts and granted two levels of nobility."

"Zhao Feng has achieved the merit of slaying a general and the merit of repelling an enemy raid. He may be promoted two official ranks and two levels of nobility," Wei Liao stepped forward and reported loudly.

"This is being rewarded according to the standards of the elite soldiers, is it not?" Ying Zheng asked.

"Reporting to Your Majesty," Wei Liao replied with a smile, "such a fierce general should be rewarded according to the standards of the elite soldiers. Does Your Majesty intend to keep him in the logistics corps?"

Ying Zheng smiled. "Within my Great Qin, the capable must be used! How could such a fierce general remain in the logistics corps?"

Just then!

"Report!"

"The Great Physician, Xia Wuqie, requests an audience outside the hall."

Outside the hall, the Commander of the Imperial Guard, Ren Xiao, reported loudly.

Hearing this name, a flash of joy crossed Ying Zheng's eyes. He immediately waved his hand: "Announce him!"

In response, an elderly man dressed in the official robes of a Qin physician walked slowly into the hall.

Upon seeing him, the eyes of the assembled officials converged, all casting kind and respectful gazes.

"This old official, Xia Wuqie, pays respects to Your Majesty."

After entering the hall, Xia Wuqie bowed deeply.

Ying Zheng's gaze softened, and his voice became gentle: "Minister Xia, what important matter brings you to see me? If it is truly an emergency, you could have simply entered the palace to tell me."

One could hear the deep affection the King of Qin held for Xia Wuqie from his words.

This was a privilege that none of the other ministers possessed.

"Reporting to Your Majesty."

"A genius has emerged in the Lantian camp."

"A genius of medicine."

A smile appeared on Xia Wuqie's aged face as he spoke with excitement.

Seeing the excited Xia Wuqie, Ying Zheng also felt a sense of curiosity.

Not just him—all the ministers felt the same.

Who in this court did not know the man before them?

The Chief Physician of the Great Qin Empire, the most skilled physician, Xia Wuqie.

Anyone he called a "genius of medicine" was undoubtedly extraordinary.

"Great Physician Xia, have you taken on another gifted disciple?" Wei Liao asked with a laugh.

"He is not my disciple, but a medical genius within the army," Xia Wuqie turned and smiled.

"Minister Xia, tell us specifically. What kind of medical genius is so remarkable that it compelled you to report to the court?" Ying Zheng asked with a smile.

He could clearly see that Xia Wuqie was incredibly agitated.

"Your Majesty."

"Words alone are not proof."

"This is the number of wounded soldiers who survived, compiled by my disciple at the Lantian camp."

Xia Wuqie pulled a bamboo slip from his robes and presented it with a bow.

Zhao Gao, standing beside Ying Zheng, quickly stepped down the stairs, respectfully took the bamboo slip from Xia Wuqie's hands, and handed it to Ying Zheng.

Ying Zheng opened the bamboo slip with curiosity.

Suddenly, a strange expression surfaced on his face...