Determined to Protect Our Homeland

 "Enough!"

A thunderous clap resounded, Qin Yi's palm slamming heavily on the table. The solid wood table trembled, and the buzzing discussions in the hall abruptly ceased. All eyes, as if drawn by a magnet, converged on the tall figure at the head of the table."The information from Miss Duanmu has been secretly verified by this general." Qin Yi's voice was deep and powerful, as if containing immense strength. He surveyed the surroundings, his gaze as sharp as a hawk's, sweeping across every face. "Seven parts certainty is enough for us to take precautions and strike first!" Beneath the calm tone of his words, a burning fighting spirit was hidden, like a volcano about to erupt, making people palpitate."General!" A burly general cupped his fist in salute and stood up, his face etched with obvious worry. "This matter is no small matter, concerning the safety of the border. It's best to report to Xianyang immediately!""Yes, yes!" "We should wait for the imperial court to dispatch troops!"The echoing voices surged like a tide, one after another, and the atmosphere in the hall suddenly became restless, like a flock of startled birds, panicking and uneasy. Just then, a clear and slightly childish young voice, like a sharp sword, cut through the clamorous atmosphere, standing out remarkably:"Inappropriate."Hearing this, the generals turned their heads in unison. They saw that the speaker was very young, with a youthful face, and could not help but reveal expressions of contempt and disdain."Heh, a mere child, still wet behind the ears!" Someone even let out an undisguised sneer, as if they had heard a ridiculous joke.A sharp glint flashed in Qin Yi's eyes. He ignored the contemptuous gazes and looked at the young man with interest, his tone carrying a hint of appreciation: "Young General Meng Tian, I would like to hear your explanation."Upon hearing this, Meng Tian cupped his fist in a respectful but not subservient salute. His clear gaze, like burning flames, swept across every general present, and he said in a steady tone: "Do you all know what the situation is like in Xianyang today? To the east, remnants of the six states are secretly restraining us, waiting for an opportunity to move; to the south, the Baiyue tribes are eyeing us covetously, ready to make trouble; within the imperial court, there are even open and covert struggles, unpredictable and treacherous… Even if this information is sent there by fast horse, I'm afraid it will only sink without a trace, a futile effort!"As soon as these words came out, the generals, who had previously been full of disdain, changed their expressions one after another. Their expressions became serious, and some even gasped, fine beads of sweat appearing on their foreheads. The air in the hall seemed to freeze instantly, the oppressive atmosphere making it difficult to breathe.Seeing this, Qin Yi spoke at the right moment, his tone carrying a hint of subtle praise: "This is Wang Jian's son, Wang Ben; that is Meng Wu's son, Meng Tian. In terms of understanding the situation in Xianyang, I'm afraid none of you here can surpass them."A deathly silence fell in the hall. It was so quiet that even the sound of breathing could be clearly heard."What's wrong?" Qin Yi suddenly stood up. His tall figure was as upright as a mountain. His gaze was like lightning, sharply sweeping across everyone's faces. His tone carried a hint of undisguised disappointment and anger. "Could it be that my dignified Qin soldiers have only this much courage? Faced with mere Xiongnu, you are so fearful and hesitant?""But General…" Someone still hesitated, wanting to speak but stopping, obviously still having concerns in their hearts."Remember!" Qin Yi's voice was like a resounding bell, echoing in the hall, deafening. "My great Qin iron army dared to use a hundred riders to chase and kill more than ten thousand Xiongnu cavalry! Now we still have time to prepare. As long as we are ready for battle and on high alert, when the time comes, with ten thousand, twenty thousand troops in hand, what fear is there of the Xiongnu invasion?"His gaze was burning, like two balls of burning flames, sweeping across everyone's faces. His tone was full of encouragement and inspiration: "Achieving meritorious service, being enfeoffed as a marquis, and glorifying your ancestors—it's all today! It's all in this battle!"The hall was silent for a moment, the atmosphere extremely oppressive. Suddenly, a thunderous shout broke the suffocating silence:"Kill the Xiongnu! Defend our homeland!""Kill the Xiongnu! Defend our homeland!""Kill the Xiongnu! Defend our homeland!"The shouts, like a prairie fire, instantly spread throughout the hall, rising and falling, converging into an earth-shattering wave of sound, like thunder, echoing in every corner of the hall.In the corner, a one-armed old man, his brows tightly furrowed, his deep gaze thoughtfully fixed on the spirited Qin Yi, complex lights flickering in his cloudy eyes. He always felt that this young general exuded an indescribable aura, both calm and restrained, yet sharp and exposed, as if from a completely different world, making him unable to figure it out.At this moment, Qin Yi suddenly heard the cold and mechanical prompt of the system in his ears:"Ding! New mission: Defend the territory and secure the borders, not an inch of land shall be lost. Reward: ten God-level gift packs!"Hearing this voice, Qin Yi was first stunned, and then a faint smile appeared on the corner of his mouth. He quickly understood the system's intention.Looking at the enthusiastic generals below, he knew that his goal had been achieved, and now it was time to deploy specific battle plans.Subsequently, the people simply discussed countermeasures in the hall, and then slowly dispersed.Just as the one-armed old man Gongshu Chou was about to leave, he was stopped by two soldiers.Looking at the two soldiers blocking his way, Gongshu Chou showed a look of doubt on his face, cupped his fist and asked, "May I ask what business the two gentlemen have?"At this time, one of the two soldiers said with a serious expression: "Old Mr. Gongshu, the General invites you to meet him in the study.""The General? The study?" Gongshu Chou was puzzled, and although he wanted to leave earlier, he could not openly reject Qin Yi's kindness, so he had no choice but to agree.Muttering to himself, he quickly followed the two soldiers towards the backyard of the city lord's mansion.After following the two soldiers, turning several corners, Gongshu Chou finally arrived at a door.The door was open. At the soldier's signal, Gongshu Chou stepped inside.As soon as he entered the room, Gongshu Chou saw a man sitting upright at a low table.The man was Qin Yi.At this time, Qin Yi was lowering his head, intently reviewing the reports piled on the table, which were reports on various matters concerning Fancheng and the surrounding areas under its jurisdiction.And at a distance of one step behind Qin Yi stood a man wearing black armor and a black mask.The man stood motionless like a statue, standing respectfully behind Qin Yi, like a silent guardian.But what really surprised Gongshu Chou was the unfathomable aura emanating from the black-armored masked man. It was a powerful aura that could only be precipitated after experiencing countless bloody battles, making it almost suffocating.Such a person was actually willing to be subordinate to a small Fancheng general, which made Gongshu Chou puzzled.Gongshu Chou felt even more awe in his heart for the young man who was still reviewing the reports.At this time, Gongshu Chou stood respectfully to the side, not daring to make a sound, for fear of disturbing Qin Yi.