Border Soldiers: My granaries are full of grain and meat, and I guard this region.

"So, Ma Shuo might not necessarily be dead?"

Qi Feng frowned, his expression somewhat unpleasant.

"Young Master Zhong, Magistrate Zhao, since Ma Shuo dared to slaughter a hundred-strong stronghold for his own selfish reasons, he must be a ruthless person. We have offended him today, and if we do not completely eliminate him, we will surely suffer revenge in the future!"

Upon hearing this, Zhong Shao and Zhao Tongchuan both frowned.

Zhong Shao sighed.

"Brother Qi, of course I know about this matter. If nothing unexpected happens, Ma Shuo has committed such a heinous crime and is naturally doomed to die!"

"But I'm afraid that when the spring comes next year, the war between the Rong and the Sui will break out again. At that time, Ma Shuo's case may be delayed again and again. I'm afraid that Huang Dingyuan will petition to let Ma Shuo redeem himself through meritorious service. If he really makes meritorious service on the battlefield, his death sentence may be waived."

"If the Sui Dynasty gains the upper hand on the battlefield, Ma Shuo will not only be spared the death penalty, but the emperor will also grant a general amnesty. At that time, Ma Shuo can even be promoted several ranks based on his merits!"

Upon hearing this, Qi Feng immediately clenched his fist.

"Could it be that those hundred-odd people died in vain?"

Qi Feng was not seeking justice for the more than one hundred people in Ye Family Village, but rather using these lives to force Ma Shuo to be executed quickly. Otherwise, once Ma Shuo recovered, Qi Feng himself would become the first target of revenge.

If you don't cut the weeds at the root, they'll grow back in the spring. Now Ma Shuo is stuck here, unable to live or die, which makes Qi Feng very unhappy.

"Brother Qi, I know you're worried about this too, but don't worry, I will explain the seriousness of the matter to my father in detail, and I will make sure Ma Shuo gives those hundred-odd people an explanation!"

Zhong Shao spoke sincerely, holding Qi Feng's hand.

He and Zhao Tongchuan both deserve credit for this, so even if Ma Shuo really wanted to retaliate, he wouldn't be able to target them. In that case, only Qi Feng, a commoner, would be the one to be retaliated against.

But Zhong Shao wasn't that kind of person. He knew how much Qi Feng had contributed to this matter, and he genuinely respected Qi Feng, so he wouldn't completely ignore Qi Feng.

"Brother Qi, if there's any news from my father, I'll definitely tell you immediately, okay?"

Seeing this, Qi Feng nodded helplessly. Since Zhong Shao had already put it this way, what other options did he have?

However, this incident also made Qi Feng realize a truth: in this world, you can't rely on anyone else; in the end, you still have to rely on yourself.

"In that case, Qi Feng will await Young Master Zhong's good news. This is my newly brewed wine. If Young Master Zhong and Magistrate Zhao do not mind, they are welcome to try it."

Zhong Shao and Zhao Tongchuan knew they had let Qi Feng down, so they naturally smiled at Qi Feng's recommendation.

"Then I'll have to try this wine! I never imagined that Brother Qi is not only highly skilled in strategy and martial arts, but also knows how to brew wine. It's truly astonishing!"

Zhao Tongchuan gently stroked his beard and smiled slightly.

"Back when I was studying in the capital, I only heard that some children from prominent families were both literate and skilled in martial arts. It's truly rare to meet someone like that in this remote Fuxing County. I wonder if Brother Qi has any plans to take the imperial examinations? If so, you can participate in next year's autumn examinations."

Qi Feng was taken aback upon hearing this. Having been in this world for so long, he had never imagined that the Sui Dynasty already had the imperial examination system.

However, he also knew his own abilities; he was simply not cut out for studying, and he didn't want to go through the imperial examinations step by step to serve the Sui Dynasty.

In this feudal era where human life was worthless, Qi Feng could fall into utter ruin if he took one wrong step.

"Thank you, Magistrate Zhao, but I, Qi Feng, am just a hunter in the mountains. I have little knowledge and am not cut out for studying."

Zhao Tongchuan smiled slightly and didn't say anything more.

Soon, the servants brought up the food. Zhong Shao couldn't wait to open the wine bottle that Qi Feng had sent. As soon as he opened it, he smelled a very mellow aroma of wine!

"This wine..."

Zhong Shao was stunned by the smell of the wine. It wasn't that he hadn't tasted good wine before. As a member of the Zhong family, he had tasted all the good wines in Shuofeng County, but none of them could compare to the wine in his hand.

Just by smelling it, this wine is miles ahead of all the wines in Shuofeng County!

Zhao Tongchuan also smelled the mellow aroma. Although he didn't drink often, he knew that this wine must be of excellent quality. He immediately opened the bottle and poured out the wine.

"Wow! This drink isn't like the ones I usually drink; the color is so clear and bright!"

Upon hearing this, Zhong Shao quickly poured out the wine, only to find that the wine was completely free of impurities, unlike the cloudy wines available on the market!

Zhong Shao was a connoisseur of wine, and upon seeing this wine, he immediately drank it all in one gulp.

After drinking the beverage, Zhong Shao narrowed his eyes and felt a burning sensation in his throat. This burning sensation traveled from his throat all the way to his stomach, but it did not make him feel uncomfortable. Instead, he felt a sense of pleasure!

"Fine wine! Truly fine wine! Even the wine offered as tribute to the emperor couldn't be better!"

Zhong Shao was delighted to see the hunt and poured himself another cup of wine, which he drank in one gulp.

Seeing this, Qi Feng smiled faintly and spoke up to remind him:

"Young Master Zhong, this wine is not to be drunk in excess; you must be careful."

Zhong Shao waved her hand dismissively, though a blush was gradually rising on her face, and still said:

"No problem, let Brother Qi see my drinking capacity today. Good wine goes with good food, come on, eat!"

Soon, even Zhao Tongchuan, who rarely drinks alcohol, felt a little dizzy. He usually doesn't drink alcohol, and even ordinary liquor wouldn't make him dizzy.

However, the drinks Qi Feng brought today were far beyond what was available in this era, and Zhao Tongchuan felt dizzy after only two drinks.

As for Zhong Shao, who was sitting in the main seat, his face was flushed, and he exuded an air of concern for the country and its people.

Qi Feng was like an old monk in deep meditation; this little bit of alcohol couldn't do anything to him, and he was also consciously controlling the amount he drank, so he didn't drink too much.

"Alas! I received news from my father a couple of days ago that the situation on the Great Rong side will likely change around next spring. We don't know yet whether the Great Rong will retreat or fight again."

"It's a pity that I'm only a lowly eighth-rank official, and my father has deliberately kept me in the rear. I have no way to use my full strength to kill the enemy!"

Qi Feng narrowed his eyes upon hearing this and tentatively asked:

"Young Master Zhong, may I ask which direction the Great Rong is planning to relocate to?"

Zhong Shao shook his head. "I don't know, but my father told me in his letter to go back after I complete the mission. I'm afraid the whole of Longxi Prefecture will become unstable."

Speaking of Zhong Shao, as an eighth-rank military advisor, his purpose in coming to Fuxing County was to investigate Ma Shuo. Although he initially only intended to investigate the military equipment of Duma Village, now that even Ma Shuo has been arrested, Zhong Shao has indirectly completed his mission and it's time for him to go back.

Once Zhong Shao leaves, Longxi Prefecture will send someone to take over Duma Village again, but whether it will be a real person or a ghost is anyone's guess.

Seeing that Zhong Shao and Zhao Tongchuan had drunk themselves into a deep sleep and were slumped over the table, Qi Feng summoned servants to settle the two down before leaving the county office.