Hearing the words "great victory," the two men who had been reveling in Zhao Feng's misfortune began to feel uneasy.

Zhao Feng was defending Wei City. To any discerning observer, it seemed an impossible war to win, a battle they could never win against Wei Wuji. But now, it seemed something had changed.

"A great victory?" Ying Zheng was also astonished. He fixed his gaze on the messenger and demanded loudly, "Are you certain it is a great victory?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty," the messenger announced loudly. "The report of the great victory at Wei City was personally submitted by Wei City's Military Judge. It was first vetted by the Senior General, who then presented it to Your Majesty."

Is it truly a victory report? Could some mishap in Wei have caused Wei Wuji to withdraw his troops? Ying Zheng speculated. Even as a king of great ambition and strategy, he could not fathom what the outcome of the battle for Wei City could be.

"Present it," Ying Zheng commanded with a wave of his hand.

Zhao Gao immediately walked briskly toward the throne, lifted the battle report with both hands, and knelt beside Ying Zheng to present it.

Ying Zheng took the report and opened it. His expression suddenly turned to one of utter astonishment, and a look of shock and joy washed over his previously bewildered face. After a moment, he finished reading the victory report.

"Hahaha!" Ying Zheng suddenly burst into hearty, excited laughter that resonated throughout the entire court.

The ministers all turned their attention to Ying Zheng, realizing this was indeed a true report of victory.

Did something unexpected really happen at Wei City? A great victory? Could Wei Wuji have withdrawn his troops? Wang Wan thought to himself.

If the Wei army has withdrawn, doesn't that benefit Zhao Feng? After all, the King issued a decree stating that if Zhao Feng could hold the city, he would be promoted to Main General. Chunyu Yue felt increasingly uneasy. Zhao Feng was already overbearing; if he were promoted to Main General, his arrogance would only grow. Furthermore, Zhao Feng was Wang Jian's future son-in-law. The thought filled Chunyu Yue with even more dissatisfaction.

"Your Majesty," Yu Liao stepped forward and asked curiously, "has Wei City achieved a great result on the battlefield?"

"Wei City has won a great victory," Ying Zheng said with a booming laugh. He waved his hand and handed the report to Zhao Gao. "Read it aloud to the ministers."

"Yes, Your Majesty," Zhao Gao replied respectfully.

He slowly stood and faced the Hundred Officials in the great hall. He opened the military report, and upon seeing the results of the battle, even as an Inner Eunuch, he could not help but be shocked for a moment. But he quickly recovered his composure.

"Central Army Sima Kuai Pu of Wei City reports:"

"Wei Wuji led an army of two hundred thousand to attack our Wei City, launching fierce assaults for twenty consecutive days. Under the command of General Zhao Feng, the soldiers of Wei City swore to defend the territory of Great Qin to the death."

"The Wei invaders aimed to slaughter their way across Qin's territory. General Zhao Feng believed that unless the Wei army was crushed, Wei Wuji would never retreat."

"Therefore, he took a daring gamble. He personally led ten thousand troops across Hongze Crossing, the most treacherous part of the Wei River, and entered Wei Territory. He launched a surprise attack, routing the tens of thousands of Wei troops garrisoned along the river. He then captured Shangwei City in Wei, cutting off the enemy's supply lines and their path of retreat."

"Before Wei Wuji received the news, General Zhao Feng led five thousand men south in a surprise attack on Wei Wuji's rear. Wei Wuji beat a hasty retreat and was ultimately caught in a pincer attack by the defending soldiers of Wei City. The Wei army was completely defeated."

"General Zhao personally beheaded Wei Wuji's Deputy General, Wei Bo. This man was not only a Deputy General of the Wei army but also a member of the Wei Royal Family, the blood brother of the King of Wei, and the designated heir of Wei Wuji."

"In this single battle,"

"General Zhao led his forces to a major victory over the Wei army, slaying nearly one hundred thousand enemy soldiers, while our own losses at Wei City did not exceed forty thousand."

"A great victory!" Zhao Gao read aloud.

Upon hearing this report, the entire court was visibly astounded.

"Wei Wuji... he was defeated? Just like that?"

"And at the hands of a mere Deputy General of Qin?"

"Zhao Feng is only eighteen, yet he defeated a veteran war general like Wei Wuji?"

"Wei City's forces were inferior to the Wei army, possessing only half their numbers and less combat strength. Of its one hundred thousand soldiers, only a little over thirty thousand were battle-hardened Sharp Warriors. Nearly twenty thousand were new recruits, and the remaining fifty thousand were surrendered soldiers."

"With such a force, he managed to utterly defeat Wei Wuji?"

"What kind of military strategies did Zhao Feng employ? He was previously known as a fierce warrior, but this shows he is a capable general skilled in leading armies."

The court ministers erupted into discussion, all of them deeply shocked by the report. From the King of Qin down to the hundreds of ministers in the court, none had expected such an outcome.

Wang Wan and Chunyu Yue, who had been ready to kick Zhao Feng while he was down, now wore grim expressions. They had no idea Zhao Feng could be so formidable.

Zhao Feng is truly remarkable. To defeat Wei Wuji, especially from a position of weakness... With Zhao Feng, Qin has a man whose potential is comparable to that of the Bai Qi of old. Han Fei thought to himself.

At that, Han Fei was the first to react. He promptly raised his court tablet and proclaimed, "Congratulations, Your Majesty! Wei City is secure, and Yingchuan is safe. After this defeat, Wei surely lacks the strength to invade again. Qin can now intensify its assault on the Zhao state!"

Following Han Fei's lead, the entire assembly of ministers began to voice their congratulations: "We, your subjects, congratulate Your Majesty!"

Ying Zheng, his face wreathed in a smile, said loudly, "My ministers, do you still have doubts about Zhao Feng? Do you still have doubts about the Penal Battalion?"

Hearing this, Wang Wan, who had just suggested sending someone to supervise the battle, immediately lowered his head, not daring to speak.

Besides him, the other ministers who had previously questioned in court whether Zhao Feng could hold off the Wei army all fell silent.

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