After Transmigration, I Traded a Coin for a Peerless Wife and Conquered the Chaotic World - Chapter 31:

Chapter 31: A Narrow Escape Between Old Foes

Pan Feng let out a bitter laugh and sighed toward the sky, “Could it be that Heaven truly wants to destroy Yan Pass? I am truly incompetent!” He murmured, “Only death on the battlefield for the nation—there’s no need to return wrapped in horsehide.”

After twenty years of battle, rising from a mere Grade C soldier, Pan Feng had grown numb to life and death. He didn’t fear dying. But if the city was lost, not only would he have failed to fulfill General of the North Yan Nantian’s trust, but the furious Northern Barbarians would surely massacre the city in revenge. If that happened, the fall of the city and the slaughter of its people would leave Pan Feng unable to rest even in death.

He gently patted Lin Feng’s shoulder and said, “Kid, we’ve only got about 200 men left. If the barbarians attack again, we won’t be able to hold out.”

“You’re still young, haven’t been a soldier long, and your skills are excellent. Dying here would be a waste,” Pan Feng added, his expression kind but firm. “Get out of here! Think of it as leaving a seed for our Yan Pass army. In the future, kill the Northern Barbarians for me. If you ever show a trace of cowardice, I’ll haunt you from the grave!”

But Lin Feng wasn’t someone who feared death. No matter how Pan Feng tried to persuade him, he had no intention of leaving.

Seeing this, Pan Feng grew anxious. Propping himself up with his battle axe, he bellowed, “Brat! You won’t even listen to this general now? That’s an order!”

Lin Feng thought briefly and then cupped his fists. “General, it’s not so hopeless. We still have a reserve force we haven’t used. If we mobilize them, I believe we can hold out another three days.”

Pan Feng’s eyes lit up. “Reserve force? Where?”

“In the county prison.”

“You mean the death row inmates?” Pan Feng’s brows furrowed. Releasing prisoners was a major offense.

Lin Feng nodded. “Yes. They’re already condemned to death. If we let them fight and earn merit to redeem their crimes, they’ll definitely fight to the death.”

“Besides, many among them are notorious bandits and martial maniacs. Their strength isn’t ordinary. If we put them on the battlefield, they’ll surely have an effect.”

At that moment, Deputy General Xu Chong also stepped forward and cupped his hands. “General, I’ve always been the one coordinating with the county office. As far as I know, there are 800 death row inmates in the county prison. If we can bring them into the army, even as cannon fodder, they’ll be a force to reckon with.”

“Eight hundred?!” Even Pan Feng was moved.

Usually during peacetime, he had led troops out of the city to suppress bandits. Now, it seemed those efforts might finally pay off.

“Good! With these 800 men, I’ll fight the Northern Barbarians head-on!”

Then, Pan Feng pulled out the Yan Pass border command seal from his robe and handed it to Lin Feng. “Lin Feng, take my command seal to the county prison and bring those men here. If Liu Hong dares stop you, smash his head in with this seal!”

Lin Feng laughed heartily. “General, I was just waiting for your words!”

Grabbing the command seal, Lin Feng called out to Jiang Yi and prepared to leave for the prison.

Pan Feng tried to rise, but his injuries made him wince in pain.

Just as Lin Feng was about to leave, Deputy General Xu Chong grabbed his arm. “Lin Feng, after all, County Magistrate Liu is a regional official. You’re acting on General Pan’s behalf with that seal. Be diplomatic—don’t create unnecessary conflict.”

Xu Chong, who handled military provisions and coordination with the county office, knew better than to escalate matters with Liu Hong.

Lin Feng grinned. “Don’t worry, Deputy General Xu, I know what I’m doing.”

By then, Jiang Yi had brought over two red horses. The two of them mounted up and galloped toward the county office.

By the time they reached the entrance of the county prison, it was already evening. Lin Feng dismounted and rushed straight inside.

Several yamen officers stepped out, holding punishment rods in their hands. “Stop! Who are you to barge into the prison grounds!”

Before Lin Feng could take out the command seal, a familiar voice rang out nearby.

“Well, well, if it isn’t my old enemy. What a small world!”

Lin Feng looked up and saw none other than Liu Long, the son of County Magistrate Liu Hong. Behind him stood several burly yamen officers, all glaring at Lin Feng and Jiang Yi.

Liu Long sneered, “The battle is raging outside, yet you’re here in the city? Don’t tell me you deserted your post?”

If Lin Feng really had deserted, that would be perfect. Liu Long wouldn’t even need General Pan’s permission—he could have Lin Feng executed on the spot to settle old scores.

“Take them! Once the battle ends, execute them along with the death row prisoners!”

At his command, the officers moved forward, swinging their punishment rods.

“How dare you!” Jiang Yi shouted before Lin Feng could speak. “Do you even know who this is? He’s General Pan Feng’s personal envoy, here to—”

Before he could finish, Liu Long burst into laughter. “Envoy? Him? Just a lowly soldier!”

He mocked, “Don’t make me laugh. Even if the garrison ran out of men, they wouldn’t send you two losers as envoys!”

He had already investigated Lin Feng’s background thoroughly. Just a Grade C soldier—Yan Nantian must have stepped in by sheer coincidence.

He never got the chance to settle scores with Lin Feng before, but now the fool had walked straight into his hands. Whether or not he deserted, insulting Liu Long meant death.

“Don’t try to pull rank with me. You think I don’t know who you are? While the gates are drenched in blood, you two are here loafing around. If that’s not desertion, what is?”

“You want me to beat you up first and throw you into prison, or will you crawl in yourselves?”

In Liu Long’s eyes, Lin Feng was skilled, sure, but nothing special. The county office and prison had over 200 guards—more than enough to take down two soldiers.

At that tense moment, Lin Feng calmly pulled out the tiger tally.

“This is the Yan Pass Tiger Tally!”

The seal was engraved with ancient script and unmistakable in design. Even Liu Long froze—there was no way it could be fake.

No way…

General Pan Feng actually gave him the tiger tally?

Could this kid really have some hidden backing?

After thinking it over, Liu Long looked up and asked, “What are you doing here at the prison? Don’t tell me you plan to use that seal to drag all the prison soldiers to the battlefield as cannon fodder?”

“Even if General Pan commands the garrison, he has no authority over our county office.”

“The soldiers here are responsible for protecting the magistrate and the people—not defending the walls!”