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

After the two left, Zhong Shao called Zhao Tongchuan over and showed him the contents of the letter.

After reading the above content, Zhao Tongchuan was equally shocked.

"Young Master Zhong, this man's accurate knowledge of the troop deployment in Fuxing County must indicate that he holds a high position."

Zhong Shao narrowed his eyes and said calmly:

"I'll find out who it is. Also, has the person I sent for help returned?"

Zhao Tongchuan nodded: "They've already returned this morning. We received news from the Longxi Prefecture Military Affairs Department that they will send 500 reinforcements."

"How many cavalrymen are there?"

Zhao Tongchuan was silent for a moment, then shook his head: "No."

Zhong Shao's voice suddenly rose several decibels: "No cavalry? How are we supposed to fight those four hundred cavalrymen from the Great Rong? Can two legs outrun four?"

Zhao Tongchuan sighed and said:

"There's nothing we can do about it. All the cavalry in Longxi Prefecture are currently in the Zhenxi Pass area, and we simply can't send any more cavalry to provide support."

However, Zhao Tongchuan's words only fueled Zhong Shao's anger.

"I just don't understand. Zhenxi Pass is just a narrow pass, why put so many cavalrymen to guard it? Even if they can repel the Rong's attack and then counterattack, won't the Rong just take it back in the end?"

"They only need to guard the pass with infantry, but they insist on cramming cavalry in as well. How can they utilize the cavalry's advantages that way? It would be better to move those cavalry here; maybe they can break out from Qing Shi Ao and find an opportunity!"

Zhong Shao grew angrier as he spoke, and reached out to rub his temples.

Zhao Tongchuan remained silent to the side. They all understood these principles, and the veteran generals naturally understood them as well.

Zhao Tongchuan neither knew nor wanted to know why they didn't do it.

"Wait a minute." Zhong Shao suddenly stood up, as if he had thought of something. "Did the person Qi Feng sent say that Qi Feng led twenty elite troops to kill more than a dozen Great Rong vanguard soldiers?"

Zhao Tongchuan nodded.

"good."

Upon hearing this, Zhong Shao narrowed his eyes.

"Last time, Qi Feng led his men to kill twelve Rong cavalrymen with arrows, but this time he led his men to kill them in close combat. How did they manage to do that?"

Upon hearing Zhong Shao's words, Zhao Tongchuan also froze on the spot.

Yes, last time Qi Feng led thirty county soldiers to use the defensive fortifications of Qijia Village to shoot and kill twelve cavalrymen with arrows, which was already shocking. This time, they are attacking the cavalry as infantry.

Even if it was a nighttime ambush, it shouldn't have yielded such great results.

It's important to understand that infantry is inherently at a disadvantage when facing cavalry, and it's impossible for everyone to retreat unscathed.

Seeing Zhao Tongchuan's hesitant expression, Zhong Shao rolled his eyes.

"It seems that Qi Feng is hiding a lot of secrets. In that case, I can believe that he can protect Qi Family Village."

Zhong Shao thought for a moment, then picked up his pen and began to write on the paper, asking Zhao Tongchuan questions as he wrote.

"Brother Zhao, what do you think about letting Qi Feng temporarily command the seven hundred garrison soldiers of Qi Family Village? Seven hundred garrison soldiers, plus his fifty elite troops, should be enough to hold off the four hundred cavalrymen of the Great Rong, right?"

Zhao Tongchuan's throat tightened upon hearing this.

"Young Master Zhong, those seven hundred men, were they yours...?"

However, Zhong Shao waved his hand dismissively, not caring at all.

"At this point, there's no need to take these things too seriously. If Qi Feng can really lead 750 men to repel the 400 cavalrymen of the Great Rong, it will be a great achievement afterward. When he gets promoted, he will naturally be able to control more people."

"Faced with such a prodigy, we must make the best use of him and never act like the officials in Longxi Prefecture."

At this point, Zhong Shao couldn't help but shake his head and sigh.

He knew all too well how corrupt the officialdom in Longxi Prefecture was. Whenever a talented young person emerged, they would be suppressed by their superiors or others, and would never be able to realize their potential.

Those who sit in high positions are mostly a bunch of good-for-nothings who can't play any role at all on the battlefield.

Zhao Tongchuan stood to the side, pursed his lips, and said nothing.

Qi Xiaoliu returned around noon, bringing with him Zhong Shao's reply and a military tally.

Qi Feng accepted the letter. In it, Zhong Shao said that he and Zhao Tongchuan would investigate the mole in Fuxing County. In addition, he asked Qi Feng to temporarily lead the 700 garrison soldiers of Qijia Village to defend against the attack of Da Rong.

He also said that reinforcements would arrive tomorrow, consisting of 500 infantrymen dispatched by the Longxi Prefecture Military Affairs Office.

Qi Feng put the letter away, feeling a little relieved.

He had previously worried that he might not get along well with the garrison soldiers after arriving in Qijia Village. Although he was an official, these seven hundred garrison soldiers were nominally under the command of Zhong Shao, so Qi Feng dared not make any rash decisions.

Now that Qi Feng has Zhong Shao's support and the military tally Zhong Shao sent him, he can finally unleash his full potential.

He doesn't need to worry about the traitor right now. His only task is to defend Qijia Village and block the next wave of Da Rong's attack until the five hundred reinforcements arrive in Fuxing County.

However, there was no movement in the west for the next period of time until dawn the next day, when dust rose again on the official road in the west.

Qi Feng stood behind the barricades at the village entrance and squinted as he looked out. This time, the dust storm was much larger than ever before.

Smoke and dust filled the sky, and the sound of horses' hooves was like a muffled rumble of thunder; the ground could be felt trembling even three or four miles away.

Qi Xiaoliu climbed the tallest tree in the village and looked west. When he jumped down, his face was pale, his lips were trembling, and his voice was trembling.

"Brother Feng... they have at least five hundred cavalry!"

Upon hearing this news, everyone present was stunned, and then their faces turned pale.

Five hundred cavalrymen—that's no small number!

Moreover, they were scouts from the Great Rong!

On the main battlefield, these five hundred cavalrymen would be enough to break through a thousand-man army formation of the Sui Dynasty.

Even though they now have Qijia Village as a shield, can they really withstand this attack?

Especially the seven hundred garrison soldiers of Qijia Village. Although Qi Feng received official orders yesterday to command these seven hundred men.

But he had too little time, and he only managed to organize the seven hundred men into a few teams and give them some training in the afternoon, without forming an effective fighting force.

Qi Feng gripped the hilt of the horse-slaying saber tightly.

"Five hundred... It seems that after their defeat last night, the Rong cavalry chose to remain in place and prepared for battle, while also sending in some additional troops. The chevaux-de-frise and walls of Qijia Village can at most withstand the first wave of attack from these five hundred cavalry, but there will be a second and a third wave..."

Once the barricades and walls are breached, the only path awaiting these infantrymen is death, even if his fifty county soldiers are well-trained and he has twenty horse-slaying swords.

But facing five hundred cavalrymen, the sheer number of men was something that couldn't be compensated for.

Moreover, it's uncertain whether these 700 garrison soldiers are even capable of fighting. Perhaps he and 50 others are holding their ground, and the 700 might simply flee once the wall is breached.

Qi Feng took a deep breath, turned to Liu Si, and said:

"Light the beacon towers!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Si turned and ran towards the back of the village. Soon after, thick smoke billowed into the sky.

Qi Feng looked back and saw that everyone in the village who could carry a weapon had taken their positions. Qi Daniu stood behind him, holding a horse-slaying saber, his face showing no fear, but rather excitement.

Qi Feng withdrew his gaze and looked towards the approaching dust and smoke in the west, muttering in a voice only he could hear:

"Zhong Shao, I wonder if you'll send reinforcements this time?"