The atmosphere in the main hall of the Marshal's Mansion was as heavy as iron.

Zhao Dechang sat upright in the main seat. On both sides of the hall, the civil and military officials of the Shuofeng Army stood solemnly, each with a somber expression.

Zhao Dechang's face was ashen as he slowly swept his gaze across the faces of those below him, some shocked, some angry, and some terrified.

After a long silence, he finally spoke, his voice low but carrying a resounding, metallic clang that echoed through the quiet hall: "Li Bing, favored by the Emperor for generations, rose to the rank of garrison commander. He should have been loyal to the Emperor and the country, protecting the land and its people. Who would have thought that he harbored such wolfish ambitions and venomous nature, daring to collude with the Di and Rong tribes, supplying the enemy with weapons and intelligence, and even raising 'Shadow Scouts,' remnants of the previous dynasty and treacherous villains, to wreak havoc on the northern frontier, harming the people, nearly leaving our northern borders wide open and causing a sudden outbreak of border troubles! His crimes are too numerous to mention! His evil is intolerable to Heaven and Earth!"

"Lin Feng!" Zhao Dechang shouted.

"Your subordinate is here!" Lin Feng stepped forward, clasped his hands, and stood respectfully.

"I order you to immediately lead your elite troops, bearing my command, and muster five hundred iron cavalry to proceed to Black Stone Post Station!" Zhao Dechang's eyes flashed with cold light, and his words were as sharp as iron.

"Surround the five hundred soldiers sent by Li Bing who crossed the border! Disarm them! Take all officers of general rank and above and escort them back to the city! Anyone who resists will be treated as a traitor and executed without exception!"

"Your subordinate obeys!" Lin Feng replied loudly, a surge of heroic spirit and killing intent rising from his chest to the top of his head.

"Han Chong!"

"Your subordinate is here!" A general with a full beard and a burly figure like an iron tower stepped forward, his voice booming like a bell.

"I order you to lead two thousand infantrymen out of the city immediately and set up camp ten miles outside Heishi Post Station, forming a pincer movement with Lin Feng's troops. If Li Bing dares to send even a single soldier across the border, or if the enemy at Heishi Post Station makes any unusual moves, attack immediately without seeking permission and crush them!"

"Understood!" Han Chong grinned, his eyes gleaming with a warlike light.

A moment later, the west gate of Shuofeng City burst open with a roar.

Lin Feng led the way, followed by five hundred elite cavalry.

The iron hooves pounded on the bluestone road, making a dull, thunderous sound, rolling westward straight towards Black Stone Post Station.

Black Stone Post Station, located thirty miles from Shuofeng City, was originally just a small post station beside the official road where messengers and officials could rest and change horses.

At this moment, however, it was occupied by five hundred elite cavalry from Jingzhou.

Outside the camp gate, Han Meng, a subordinate general of Jingzhou, stood with his hand on his sword.

He was ordered by Li Bing to lead his troops across the border to garrison here, ostensibly to "apprehend thieves," but in reality to demonstrate and exert pressure.

Suddenly, a faint tremor came from the ground.

At first it was very slight, but soon the vibration became clear, like muffled thunder rolling in from afar, getting closer and louder.

Han Meng's expression changed slightly, and he stared intently at the scene.

At the end of the official road, dust suddenly rose, and a black torrent was rushing in at an astonishing speed! Iron hooves flew, armor clanged, and a huge banner with the character "Zhao" and a banner with the character "Lin" fluttered in the dust and waved in the wind!

It's the Shuofeng Iron Cavalry! Judging by their numbers, there are at least several hundred riders! What are they planning to do? Han Meng's heart tightened, and his hand instinctively gripped the hilt of his sword.

Lin Feng pulled on the reins, and the warhorse reared up, letting out a long neigh before coming to a steady stop.

"Who goes there? This is the garrison of my Jingzhou army. You have trespassed into our ranks without prior notice. What is your intention?" Han Meng forced himself to remain calm, stepped forward, and shouted loudly, trying to overwhelm the other party with his imposing manner.

Lin Feng, too lazy to waste words with him, pulled out Zhao Dechang's command order from his robes, waved it in the air, and loudly proclaimed: "The command order of Commander-in-Chief Zhao, Military Governor of Shuofeng and Commander-in-Chief of the Northern Frontier, is here! Li Bing, the Garrison Commander of Jingzhou, has colluded with the enemy and betrayed the country, conspiring with the Di Rong spy 'Yinghu' to smuggle weapons and leak military intelligence. The evidence is irrefutable! You have been deceived by him and have crossed the border to station troops, violating the law of the land! Now, by order of Commander-in-Chief Zhao, you are hereby disarmed. All officers of general rank and above, return to Shuofeng City with me to await further orders! Anyone who dares to disobey will be treated as a traitor and executed without exception!"

The sound, like an icicle, carried a chilling killing intent and clearly reached the ears of every Jingzhou soldier.

Treason and collusion with the enemy? Garrison Commander Li?

This sudden accusation was like a bolt from the blue, causing a stir among the Jingzhou soldiers in front of the gate, their faces filled with disbelief and shock.

Han Meng's expression changed drastically, and he shouted sternly, "Nonsense! Garrison Commander Li is loyal to the country, how can you slander him! I am stationed at Black Stone Post Station by order of…"

"I'm acting on Li Bing's reckless orders!" Lin Feng interrupted him without any politeness, his voice suddenly rising like a thunderclap.

"The irrefutable evidence of Li Bing's treason has been presented to the Emperor by Commander Zhao! If you still consider yourselves soldiers of the Great Yan, lay down your weapons and dismount to surrender! Otherwise, don't blame my iron cavalry for crushing your camp!"

Before he finished speaking, the five hundred iron cavalry behind Lin Feng roared in unison: "Kill! Kill! Kill!" The sound was like a tidal wave, and the killing intent soared to the sky, startling the Jingzhou warhorses in front of the gate into neighing in unease.

At the same time, dust rose again in the distance, and more dark figures appeared on the horizon. It was Han Chong leading two thousand Shuofeng Infantry, who were encircling Black Stone Post Station in battle formation! Judging from their disciplined formation and soaring killing intent, they were clearly not there as guests.

Han Meng's forehead instantly broke out in a cold sweat.

His five hundred cavalrymen, though elite, were isolated and without support within the territory of Shuofeng. Facing the Shuofeng border army, which outnumbered them several times over and whose morale was unstoppable, they had no chance of winning in a real fight. Moreover, the other side claimed to have irrefutable evidence of Li Bing's "treason"... Could it be that something had really happened to Li Bing?

Just as he was in shock and caught in a dilemma, Lin Feng, growing impatient, drew his sword from his waist, its gleaming blade pointing directly at Han Meng, and shouted, "Within three breaths, those who do not dismount and surrender will be punished for treason! All troops—charge!"

"one!"

Five hundred Shuofeng Iron Cavalry simultaneously raised their long spears, their cold blades reflecting a blinding glint in the sunlight. Their hooves pawed the ground restlessly, awaiting their commander's order to launch a thunderous charge.

"two!"

The Jingzhou cavalry behind Han Meng panicked, and some of them subconsciously loosened their grip on their swords, their faces turning pale.

They were sent by Li Bing to exert pressure, not to die, much less to fight a battle they were destined to lose, and one that would "aid the rebels"!

"We are willing to surrender!" Han Meng finally broke down. Just as the word "three" was about to leave his lips, he shouted hoarsely, threw his waist knife on the ground with a clang, dismounted, and knelt on one knee.

The commander-in-chief has already shown signs of betrayal, the enemy army is at the city gates, the situation is hopeless, and resistance will only lead to death.

"Clang!" "Clang!"...

Seeing their commander surrender, the other Jingzhou cavalrymen lost all will to fight, discarded their weapons, dismounted, and knelt down.

Lin Feng coldly looked at the Jingzhou cavalrymen kneeling on the ground before him, his eyes showing no smugness, only a chilling murderous intent.

He sheathed his sword and said in a deep voice, "Disarm, surrender, and put them under centralized guard! Bind up Han Meng and all officers of the rank of captain and above, and take them back to Shuofeng! General Han Chong!"

"Your subordinate is here!" Han Chong had already led his troops to arrive, his voice booming like a bell.

"This area is now under your command. Keep a close watch on it. Without the Commander-in-Chief's order, do not let a single person or horse escape!"

"Yes, sir!"

In less than half an hour, the five hundred elite cavalrymen from Jingzhou sent by Li Bing to demonstrate and exert pressure were disarmed without bloodshed, and their commander and officers were all taken prisoner.

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