185: Chapter 185 Using War to Sustain War

The clamor of the prisoner-offering ceremony gradually faded away.

However, the carnival belonging to the victors within Yanmen Pass was only just beginning.

Inside the office of the Department of Finance.

A "war" that was even more intense, though without smoke, was currently in full swing.

"Quick! Quick! List the batch of 'Armor-Piercing Crossbows' captured from the Wei Army arsenal separately! These are good items! His Highness specifically asked for them!"

"Also! That batch of thirty thousand magnificent 'Dark Cloud Horses' must be well taken care of! This is the Foundation for us to build our heavy cavalry!"

"Heavens! Come and look! This is the gold, silver, and jewelry confiscated from Cao Meng's private treasury! It fills over three hundred chests! We're rich! We're truly rich!"

The entire Department of Finance office was already in chaos, turned into a mess.

All the clerks and accountants had a strange flush on their faces, a mix of extreme fatigue and extreme excitement.

The abacuses in their hands clicked and clacked so loudly they were almost sparking!

As the highest official of the Department of Finance, Li Qingzhao, known as the "God of Wealth of the Northern Border," was so busy she barely had time to touch the ground.

One moment she was counting the mountains of military equipment and grain, and the next she was checking the gold and jewelry that were dazzling enough to blind a person.

Her beautiful, usually calm and elegant face was now full of fatigue, but in those eyes, as bright as autumn water, flickered an unprecedented, brilliant light!

"Your Highness!"

When Gao Feng, accompanied by Liu Chengfeng, walked into the office hall, which was already so piled with spoils of war that there was no place to step, Li Qingzhao hurriedly greeted him, carrying a stack of ledgers taller than herself, her voice filled with unconcealable excitement!

"Your Highness! We have truly won a complete victory this time!"

"According to preliminary statistics, we have captured over three hundred and seventy thousand pieces of various military equipment! Eight hundred thousand shi of grain! Fifty-three thousand warhorses! And countless gold, silver, jewelry, antiques, and paintings!"

"It is no exaggeration to say that the wealth we have captured this time is far more than the total fiscal revenue of our Northern Border over the past three years!"

Listening to Li Qingzhao's excited and proud report, a satisfied smile appeared on Gao Feng's face.

"Supporting war through war."

He slowly spat out the four words, his deep eyes flashing with the light of wisdom.

"Qingzhao, these spoils are not just a pile of cold numbers and dead objects."

"They are the capital for the future development of our Northern Border! They are the Foundation for us to continue to grow stronger!"

"I want you to revitalize all these resources in the shortest possible time! Convert them into sharper weapons and sturdier armor for our Panshi Army! Convert them into wider roads and more productive farmland for our Northern Border!"

"Can you do it?!"

Upon hearing this, flames instantly ignited in Li Qingzhao's bright eyes!

She nodded heavily, her voice decisive and filled with unquestionable confidence!

"Rest assured, Your Highness! Qingzhao will definitely not fail this mission!"

However, at this moment, Liu Chengfeng, who had been silent all this time, suddenly spoke up.

"Your Highness, although the issue of supplies has been solved, there is another even thornier problem before us."

Gao Feng raised an eyebrow upon hearing this.

"Oh? Chengfeng, speak freely."

Liu Chengfeng took a deep breath, his usually calm and breezy face showing a hint of gravity.

"Prisoners of war."

"In this battle, we have accepted the surrender of over eighty-three thousand Wei Army soldiers, and combined with the Eastern Hu Tribes cavalry captured earlier, the total is already close to one hundred thousand."

"How to settle and deal with such a huge number of prisoners of war will be a huge problem."

"If not handled properly, at best it will consume a large amount of our grain and manpower, and at worst, it could even trigger a mutiny and shake the Foundation of our rule!"

Liu Chengfeng's words were like a basin of cold water, instantly extinguishing the joy of victory in everyone's hearts.

That's right, one hundred thousand prisoners of war!

This is not a small number!

This is almost equivalent to the total strength of the entire Panshi Army!

Killing them is not an option. Indiscriminate killing of surrendered soldiers damages the heavens and will make the world view them as tigers and wolves.

Releasing them is even more out of the question. Releasing these one hundred thousand able-bodied men is equivalent to aiding the enemy.

For a moment, the entire hall fell into a deathly silence.

Everyone's brows were tightly furrowed.

However, Gao Feng's face remained as calm and unruffled as ever.

It seemed he had long anticipated this problem.

He cast his gaze toward Liu Chengfeng, a meaningful curve appearing at the corner of his mouth.

"Chengfeng, surely you already have a strategy in mind?"

Liu Chengfeng smiled slightly upon hearing this, a flash of understanding passing through his eyes, which were as wise as the stars.

"The one who knows me best is Your Highness."

He paused and slowly stated his idea.

"In my opinion, these one hundred thousand prisoners of war are not a burden, but rather a huge asset for our Northern Border!"

"We can screen them."

"Those elite soldiers who are strong, have special skills, and do not have serious criminal records can be broken up and replenished into our various legions to strengthen our military power."

"As for the vast majority of the remaining ordinary soldiers, we can organize them into a special branch—"

"Construction Corps!"

"Let them build roads, mine, reclaim wasteland, and build water conservancy projects! Use their sweat to atone for the crimes they once committed! Use their labor to build a more prosperous and powerful new Northern Border!"

"We can promise them that as long as they complete their service and perform well, they can obtain our Northern Border household registration and be allocated their own land! Let them completely integrate into us and become a part of us!"

Liu Chengfeng's words were like a bolt of lightning cutting through the night sky, instantly illuminating everyone's hearts!

Brilliant!

Truly brilliant!

This plan achieves multiple goals at once!

It not only solves the problem of settling the prisoners of war but also provides a massive amount of free labor for the great development and construction of the Northern Border!

More importantly, it also points out a bright path for those confused prisoners of war! It gives them hope to turn over a new leaf!

"Good! A good Construction Corps indeed!"

Gao Feng slapped his thigh hard, his deep eyes filled with undisguised appreciation and admiration!

"Chengfeng! You truly are my master strategist!"

"I entrust this matter entirely to you! The Department of Finance and the Ministry of War will fully cooperate! I want to see the first 'Yan King Avenue' built by the Construction Corps break ground within a month!"

"I obey!"

...

The post-war integration and expansion were proceeding methodically in a tense yet efficient atmosphere.

A celebration banquet held specifically for the newly promoted generals who had proven themselves in the trials of blood and fire and had won the respect of everyone was grandly held in the General's Mansion of Yanmen Pass.

At the banquet, the lights were bright, and the aroma of wine was overflowing.

Gao Feng sat high in the main seat, and on his left were the veteran generals of the Panshi Army, led by Du Wei.

On his right were the newly promoted fierce generals, led by Zhao Yu, Ma Qianli, and Xiang Hao, who had shone brightly in this great battle and had performed immortal feats.

At first, the atmosphere of the banquet was still a bit subtle.

Although the old generals didn't say it, in their bones, they still held a trace of scrutiny and rejection toward these "outsiders" who were either from humble origins or had just surrendered.

However, after three cups of strong liquor.

All estrangement and grudges dissipated into thin air in the rich aroma of the wine.

"Brother Xiang Hao! Come! Let me, your elder brother, toast you a cup!"

The Grand Governor Du Wei, who was always known for his stability, actually took the initiative to pick up a bowl larger than a human face and walked over to Xiang Hao, who was as burly as a small mountain. His weathered face was full of heartfelt admiration and boldness!

"To tell you the truth, before the war started, I was really a bit unconvinced! Why should the core main attack task of this head-on battle be handed over to you, a newly arrived 'surrendered general'?"

"But today, I am convinced! Completely convinced!"

"The charge of your Divine Power Battalion, wow! That was simply not human! That was a group of ancient demons! In my life, I have never seen such an unreasonable fighting style!"

"Come! I'll drain this bowl of wine! From now on, we are close brothers eating from the same pot!"

After saying this, Du Wei tilted his head back and drank the full bowl of strong liquor in one gulp!

Xiang Hao looked at this bold old general, and a rare trace of shyness appeared on his usually honest face.

He was not good with words.

He just silently picked up his own bowl and drank it all in one gulp too!

Then, he used his terrifying, fan-like hand to pat Du Wei's shoulder heavily.

Everything was understood without words.

On the other side, Zhao Yu and Ma Qianli, who were also famous in their youth and proud, were also surrounded by a group of old generals.

"General Zhao! That 'Breaking the Hu in the Snowy Night' of yours was played so beautifully! It was simply a stroke of genius!"

"And General Ma! Your Wind Cavalry Battalion's flanking maneuver, the timing was captured perfectly! I admire you! I admire you to the point of bowing down!"

Facing the sincere praise of their Seniors, a heartfelt smile appeared on the usually cold and stern faces of Zhao Yu and Ma Qianli.

They toasted each other and called each other brothers, and the invisible barrier between the new and old generals that had originally existed completely collapsed at this moment.

Gao Feng quietly watched this moving scene full of camaraderie and mutual appreciation between heroes, and a smile of relief appeared at the corner of his mouth.

He knew that from this moment on, this invincible army under his command could truly be considered to have twisted into a rope, possessing its own "Military Soul."

"An invincible army must not only have iron-like military discipline but also the camaraderie of being able to entrust one's life to each other. After this battle, my dream team can be considered truly formed," Gao Feng thought silently in his heart.

He picked up his wine glass, slowly stood up, and his voice, full of endless boldness and confidence, resounded throughout the banquet hall.

"Everyone!"

"Today, we will not return until we are drunk!"

"Tomorrow, we will create brilliance again!"

"Cheers————!!!!!"

...

The news of the great victory at Yanmen Pass was like having wings attached to it, sweeping across the entire world at a terrifying speed, almost like a plague!

In an instant, the world was shaken!

Everyone's gaze involuntarily converged upon the North, which in their eyes had previously been nothing more than a land of bitter cold!

They converged upon the king of the northern border — Gao Feng — who had risen as powerfully as a comet!

He had slain the King of Donghu and the King of Wei, Cao Meng, and completely annihilated the five hundred thousand troops of the Southern and Northern Alliance!

These terrifying battle achievements, each one enough to make any feudal lord tremble in fear, were like a series of resounding slaps across the faces of those so-called "Superior Nations" that had once looked down upon or even despised the Northern Border!

They finally realized, albeit belatedly, that the male lion crouching in the North was no longer a cub that could be bullied at will!

It had silently grown sharp fangs capable of tearing apart any enemy!

Consequently, after a brief moment of shock and observation...

Those sharp-nosed Southern feudal lords all made the same choice.

They sent envoys north!

For a time, the official roads leading to the Northern Border were bustling with traffic, with banners fluttering in the wind.

The King of Chu, the King of Han, the King of Zhao, the King of Qi...

The envoys of these powerful feudal lords—who could make an entire region tremble just by stamping their feet on the Central Plains—carried their respective monarchs' personal letters and mountains of rare treasures, streaming endlessly toward Yan King City, which in their eyes had become mysterious and powerful!

Their purpose was surprisingly consistent.

Ostensibly to congratulate the King of Yan on his great victory, in reality, it was to probe the true strength and attitude of this newly risen Northern hegemon.

Yan King City, Honglu Temple.

A diplomatic game, without smoke of gunpowder but far more treacherous and unpredictable than a battlefield, was fiercely unfolding.

"Lord Liu, Lord Xu, this is a mere trifle, not worth mentioning, but I hope you two lords will graciously accept it!"

A middle-aged man dressed in luxurious brocade robes, with a shrewd and capable face, smiled broadly as he pushed two heavy sandalwood boxes in front of Liu Chengfeng and Xu Changqing.

He was the chief envoy sent by the King of Chu this time, and also the most renowned strategist under the King of Chu, Su Qin.

Liu Chengfeng merely glanced indifferently at the generous gift that would drive any official crazy, a hint of an enigmatic smile playing on the corner of his mouth.

"Lord Su is too polite."

"As the saying goes, 'A goose feather sent from a thousand miles away carries deep affection.' Since Your Highness the King of Chu has such intentions, our Prince is already deeply grateful."

He neither accepted nor refused.

He simply used an ambiguous attitude to kick the ball back.

Beside him, Xu Changqing, known for his endless ingenuity, picked up his teacup, gently blew on the tea leaves floating on the surface, and spoke in a measured tone.

"Lord Su has traveled from afar; surely you have seen the local customs of our Northern Border along the way?"

"I wonder what your impression of our Northern Border is, Lord Su?"

Hearing this, Su Qin's heart gave a sudden jolt!

He knew the real confrontation had begun!

He quickly put down the teacup in his hand, his shrewd face revealing genuine shock and emotion!

"To be honest with you two lords, this trip north has truly opened my eyes; it is breathtaking!"

"I originally thought the Northern Border was a land of bitter cold, where the people must be in rags and starving. But who would have thought that what I have seen and heard along the way would be completely different from the rumors!"

"Those wide, flat cement roads, the crisscrossing irrigation canals, the new-style farm tools visible everywhere in the fields, and the sound of children reading aloud from the village schools..."

"Especially the military appearance and might of your army! I was fortunate enough to observe your army's drill from afar outside the city. The uniform steps, the Killing Intent that soared to the clouds, and the iron-blooded military discipline that demanded absolute obedience! It truly left me breathless and feeling inferior!"

"I can say without exaggeration that, given the elite nature of the Panshi Army, it is unlikely to have any match in the entire world!"

Su Qin's words were half sincere and half flattery.

However, what he said was indeed the truth.

This trip north had truly shocked him too much!

This Northern Border, which in his impression had remained in the era of savagery and barbarism, had unexpectedly developed to such a prosperous and strong level without anyone noticing!

This had far exceeded the expectations of him and his monarch, the King of Chu!

Liu Chengfeng and Xu Changqing exchanged a glance, both seeing a hint of knowing amusement in each other's eyes.

They knew their goal had been achieved.

To beat the grass to scare the snake.

This was the overall tone Gao Feng had set for them before meeting these envoys.

And Gao Feng himself had remained hidden behind the scenes, refusing to show himself for a long time.

He wanted to keep these scheming feudal lord envoys on tenterhooks.

He wanted them, in this long wait and torment, to feel and realize for themselves the strength and prosperity of the Northern Border.

Let them imagine for themselves just how brilliant and unfathomable the king of the northern border, who had single-handedly created all of this, truly was!

And he used this time to discuss the grand strategy for dealing with the Southern kings day and night with his core advisors, including Liu Chengfeng and Xu Changqing.

"Ally with the distant, attack the near; divide and win over."

This was the eight-character guideline that Gao Feng finally decided upon.

And the primary object they focused on winning over was the King of Chu, who had a blood feud with the former King of Wei, Cao Meng!

The enemy of an enemy is a friend.

This principle is eternal.

Finally, after leaving those envoys hanging for a full seven days...

Gao Feng finally summoned them in the main hall of the Yan King Palace.

When those pampered envoys tremblingly walked into the hall, which was filled with endless majesty and Killing Intent, and saw the young monarch sitting high on the dragon-patterned throne—looking dignified without anger, as steady as an abyss and as imposing as a mountain—their already anxious hearts instantly jumped to their throats!

They didn't even have the courage to look up and stare directly at that magnificent figure!

The entire meeting process was brief and full of oppression.

Gao Feng did not say much nonsense.

He simply expressed, in an unquestionable tone, his desire to coexist peacefully and develop together with all peace-loving feudal lords in the world.

However, the powerful self-confidence and supreme majesty revealed in his words made every envoy present feel a jolt of fear!

From this young monarch, they all felt an aura of kingship that was even more terrifying and domineering than that of their own monarchs!

It was an iron-blooded dominance truly forged from the baptism of mountains of corpses and seas of blood, and from countless life-and-death battles!

After the meeting ended.

All the envoys were politely "invited" back to the Honglu Temple.

Only the Chu envoy, Su Qin, was kept behind alone.

A secret meeting that would determine the future pattern of the world was quietly conducted in a secret room in the Yan King Palace.

No one knew exactly what Gao Feng and Su Qin had discussed.

People only knew that three days later, when Su Qin left Yan King City, his face carried a complex expression of relief and boundless excitement.

And accompanying him south was a high-level diplomatic mission personally dispatched by the King of Yan.

Their destination was only one—Chu, Shouchun!

...

Having sent away those scheming feudal lord envoys.

The Northern Border returned to its former tranquility.

However, everyone knew that this was just the brief calm before the storm.

A larger storm was quietly brewing.

On this day, in the study.

Gao Feng was playing chess with Xu Changqing.

"Your Highness, although the Southern feudal lords have been temporarily suppressed by us, their wolfish ambitions are obvious, and we must be on guard."

Xu Changqing said in a deep voice, holding a black piece.

Gao Feng smiled slightly upon hearing this, placed a piece, and the originally precarious white dragon instantly came back to life.

"Defense is necessary, but blindly defending is not a long-term solution."

"We need to take the initiative!"

Xu Changqing's eyes flashed at these words.

"Your Highness, what do you mean?"

Gao Feng slowly raised his head, his deep eyes flashing with a heart-stopping light.

"We need a legitimate justification!"

"A justification that will allow us to unite all the forces in the North that can be united, to jointly resist the Divine Capital imperial court and the Southern feudal lords!"

Xu Changqing was shocked to the core upon hearing this!

He instantly understood Gao Feng's intention!

He took a deep breath, and a flush of unprecedented excitement appeared on his usually calm face!

"Your Highness is wise!"

"I believe we can take our Panshi Army as the core and unite with the surrounding small and medium-sized forces that are also suffering from the oppression of the imperial court and the bullying of the feudal lords to sign a covenant!"

"A 'Northern Border Mutual Assistance Covenant' with the purpose of jointly resisting foreign enemies and maintaining peace in the North!"

"We can establish a 'Northern Alliance'! And Your Highness, you are undoubtedly the first leader of this Alliance!"

"In this way, we will have a legitimate justification! We can legitimately integrate the resources and power of the entire North! And form a strategic encirclement against the corrupt Divine Capital imperial court!"

"By then, the trend of the world will be in our control!"

After listening to Xu Changqing's passionate and visionary grand blueprint, Gao Feng slowly stood up, walked to the huge military sand table, and his deep eyes, like stars, quietly gazed at the vast Northern land.

After a long time, he slowly uttered two words.

"Granted."

...

In the next six months.

The entire Northern Border entered a period of near-crazy high-speed development.

Stockpiling grain, training troops!

These two seemingly simple terms became the main theme for the entire Northern Border for the next half year!

The newly formed 100,000-strong "Construction Corps," under the unified coordination of Liu Chengfeng, erupted with unimaginable and terrifying energy!

Wide and flat "Yan King Roads" extended crazily in all directions across the Northern Border like a spider web!

Barren mountains containing rich mineral deposits were developed one after another!

Fertile wilderness areas that had been sleeping for thousands of years were reawakened!