"Damn Qin scum!"
"Even in death, I vow to stand with the great state of Chu!"
"My fellow ministers!"
"As officials of Chu, we would rather die than surrender!"
Facing the Qin soldiers who eyed them like prey, a resolute minister of Chu roared.
With that, he drew his sword from his waist and charged at the Qin soldiers ahead.
Seeing this man deliver himself as an offering of merit, the Qin soldier at the front hesitated not a moment, thrusting his long spear forward.
Pfft!
The spear pierced through the Chu minister instantly.
Then, with a swift slash, he severed the minister's head.
The other Qin soldiers looked on with envy.
A great military merit had been earned.
Their orders were clear those who surrendered would be spared, but those who resisted could be killed without hesitation.
"Anyone else seeking death?"
The Qin officer who had led the charge into the grand hall swept his gaze around, his voice cold.
"For the great Chu!"
"Fight the Qin scum to the death!"
Spurred on by one man's sacrifice, several dozen courageous ministers of Chu roared, drawing their swords and charging at the Qin soldiers in the hall.
"They have spirit."
"Kill them."
The Qin officer issued the order coldly.
With a wave of his hand
The Qin soldiers swarmed forward, slaughtering the defiant Chu ministers.
Merit delivered on a silver platter how could they refuse?
To high-ranking generals, these men might have been worthy of respect for their bravery.
But to the rank-and-file soldiers, they were simply throwing their lives away.
In the blink of an eye
The once-crowded royal court was left with only a few dozen survivors.
As for the true power holders of Chu the three great noble families they had pathetically hidden behind the crowd, not daring to show themselves.
And so
The famous saying "Though Chu has but three families, it will surely destroy Qin" was nothing but a joke.
If the Qin dynasty had produced a competent successor, there would never have been such a prophecy.
Everything had collapsed because the First Emperor of Qin had no worthy heir no one who could truly rule the world with an iron grip.
At that moment
Zhao Feng entered the grand hall of the Chu royal palace, flanked by his elite guards.
"All hail the Lord!"
The Qin officer and soldiers who had stormed the hall immediately bowed in respect.
But their eyes remained locked onto the remaining Chu ministers
Should any of them make a wrong move, they would be struck down immediately.
"Zhao Feng…"
With just one glance
Every surviving Chu official in the hall, including the King of Chu, recognized him.
Before them stood Zhao Feng, covered in blood, as if he had emerged from the depths of hell itself.
The sheer aura he exuded sent chills down their spines.
"You were the first to breach the Chu royal palace."
"You will be greatly rewarded."
"What is your name?"
Zhao Feng turned to the officer who had led the charge.
"Reporting to my lord! I am Cao Shuang," the officer responded, his voice filled with excitement.
"Very well, Cao Shuang."
"I will remember your contribution."
"After this battle, you shall be promoted to duwei (commandant) and rise two ranks in nobility," Zhao Feng declared solemnly.
"Thank you, my lord!" Cao Shuang replied excitedly.
As a mere officer from the Wu'an army, to be personally recognized and promoted by Zhao Feng was an immense honor one that would earn him great prestige among his comrades.
"All officers who first breached the Chu royal palace will be promoted one rank as I have promised. As for enemy kills, the jun sima (military registrar) will tally them separately," Zhao Feng announced to the Qin soldiers in the hall.
Upon hearing this
Every elite Qin warrior was filled with overwhelming excitement.
"We swear to follow our lord to the death!" the soldiers roared in unison.
Zhao Feng shifted his gaze
Now, he looked upon the King of Chu seated upon the throne.
This King of Chu had barely held his throne for a year.
He had not even consolidated his royal authority, nor had he truly enjoyed the luxuries of kingship yet now, his kingdom lay in ruins.
It was indeed a pitiful fate.
However
Chu had always been a land of chaos.
It had been plagued by too many power-hungry ministers.
And unlike Qin's Lü Buwei, none of them possessed the vision or boldness to strengthen their country.
Their control over power was not for the sake of national prosperity but for their wealth and influence.
This was precisely why Chu had fallen into a state where its king did not truly wield royal authority.
"King Fuchu of Chu."
"Will you perish with your kingdom, or will you surrender?"
Zhao Feng's gaze locked onto the King of Chu as he asked.
To be honest
Zhao Feng was quite looking forward to his answer.
If this king had any backbone and chose to fight, it would earn Zhao Feng another high-level treasure chest.
He would gladly send him on his way.
After all, if the man was so determined to die
No one could be blamed for granting his wish.
Furthermore
As for whether the king should be executed
Zhao Feng had already made up his mind.
He had achieved a monumental victory, and he had received word from Yan Ting that the Qin King had already issued an imperial decree once the Chu was vanquished, Zhao Feng would be appointed Guowei (National Commandant).
As Guowei, he would hold supreme military authority over Qin.
Though Zhao Feng desired this position, especially for the treasures it could bring
His real goal was to campaign against the Baiyue tribes and secure the southern frontier, patiently awaiting the eventual downfall of Qin.
Executing the King of Chu would serve a strategic purpose
A means to tarnish his reputation so that, when the time came, his request to be stationed in the Baiyue wilderness would seem logical.
Otherwise, if he was suddenly transferred to Baiyue as a Guowei, it would appear far too suspicious.
And the Qin King would never approve of it.
So he had to let the imperial court take responsibility for the decision.
Of course
There was a method to the execution.
If the King of Chu surrendered, Zhao Feng would be unable to kill him.
But if he pleaded for death
Then Zhao Feng would gladly oblige.
Upon hearing Zhao Feng's words
The remaining Chu ministers, desperate to survive, turned to the King of Chu.
"My king."
"There is no hope left. Please surrender," Zhao Wen urged.
As the leader of the three great noble families, he openly advocated for surrender without hesitation.
"Yes, my king."
"Surrender is the only option," the heads of the Jing and Qu families quickly echoed.
"You… You all…"
The King of Chu pointed at the three noble families, his face turning deathly pale with rage.
"My king."
"The state of Chu is beyond salvation."
"The wise recognize when to yield."
"Please reconsider."
The Three Families' Plea
The three men once again tried to persuade him.
Then, they directly bowed before Zhao Feng.
"Lord Wu'an."
"Our three families are willing to surrender."
"We implore Lord Wu'an to grant the scholars of Great Chu a chance."
"As long as our three families submit, the Great Qin will be able to take over the cities of Great Chu without resistance."
"We earnestly beg Lord Wu'an to accept our surrender."
The three men looked at Zhao Feng, their gazes filled with sincerity.
However
Zhao Feng listened to their words, but a trace of mockery flickered in his eyes.
"Even if only three households remain, Qin will surely fall to Chu."
"Ridiculous. Laughable."
"You only use this phrase as a banner to oppose Qin and rally the people of Chu."
"Aren't your so-called three families just the powerful aristocratic clans of the Warring States?"
"Everything you do is for the benefit of your own families, without any regard for the nation."
"If the country perishes, so be it, as long as your families remain intact."
"Such aristocratic clans deserve to be eradicated."
A cold intent surfaced in Zhao Feng's heart.
"Seize them!"
With a wave of his hand, the elite guards immediately stepped forward and apprehended the heads of the three families.
"Lord Wu'an!"
"Our three families control most of Chu's military and government. If we surrender, it will be much easier for Qin to take full control of Chu."
"We sincerely submit!"
"Please reconsider!"
Realizing Zhao Feng was taking action, the three men panicked.
"Great Qin does not need parasites like you."
"If you wanted to surrender, where were you when I first issued my call for submission?"
"Now that I have taken the city by force, what use is your surrender?"
"You three have controlled Chu's military and government for years no doubt amassing great wealth."
"I issue this order to exterminate the Qu, Jing, and Zhao families! Confiscate their assets and transfer them to the state treasury!"
"Any family members who resist execute them. Those who surrender reduce them to slaves!"
Zhao Feng's voice was cold and unwavering.
"As you command!"
The elite guards immediately acknowledged the order.
They moved in without hesitation.
"Zhao Feng!"
"You will regret this!"
"Our three families' surrender would have been accepted by the King of Qin. If he learns what you have done today, he will hold you accountable!"
"You deserve death!"
"Zhao Feng"
Realizing their surrender had failed, the heads of the three families erupted in rage, cursing loudly.
Zhao Feng stepped forward.
Without a word, he drew his sword.
One slash for each man.
In the blink of an eye
The three most powerful figures in Chu were slain at Zhao Feng's hands.
"Killed Chu's Chancellor Zhao Wen. Gained +100 to all attributes."
"Killed Chu's Senior Minister Qu Lin. Gained +100 to all attributes."
"Killed Chu's Senior Minister Jing Wu. Gained +100 to all attributes."
The system messages appeared on his interface.
Seeing Zhao Feng execute the most powerful officials of Chu without hesitation, the remaining ministers were completely shaken.
"Good… good!"
"Well killed!"
"Chu has suffered under these three families for too long!"
Upon witnessing this, the King of Chu suddenly burst into laughter.
Blood dripped continuously from the Dragon Spring Sword. Zhao Feng lifted his gaze and looked at the King of Chu with calm indifference.
As a sovereign ruler
If he had chosen to stand and fall with his nation, Zhao Feng could at least afford him some respect.
Under Zhao Feng's watchful eyes
King Fuchu of Chu slowly stood up and drew the sword at his waist.
"I have reigned for but a single year."
"I once had great ambitions to purge the court and strengthen the king's authority."
"But the heavens gave me no chance."
"The heavens are blind! The great Chu has suffered under treacherous ministers for too long!"
"First Huang Xie, then Li Yuan the three families are deeply entrenched, devouring Chu like parasites."
"The heavens have forsaken me."
"But I will not surrender."
"I will die before I surrender!"
King Fuchu's gaze locked onto Zhao Feng. Gripping his sword tightly, he stepped down from his throne, one step at a time.
A firm resolve surged from within him an unwavering determination to face death.
Seeing this
Many ministers in the court were visibly moved.
"Your Majesty!"
Their voices trembled as they looked upon their king.
But King Fuchu ignored their sorrowful gazes.
Step by step, he walked forward.
"King of Chu Xiong Fuchu."
The king gripped his sword and pointed it at Zhao Feng.
"Great Qin Zhao Feng."
Zhao Feng lifted his sword and responded solemnly.
A king willing to perish with his nation such a man deserved respect.
Zhao Feng was willing to personally send him on his way.
"Kill!"
With a fierce cry, King Fuchu gripped his sword and lunged at Zhao Feng.
However, his movements were sluggish and lacked any technique.
To Zhao Feng, his attack was filled with flaws.
Without hesitation, Zhao Feng took a step forward.
With a single thrust, the Dragon Spring Sword pierced through King Fuchu's heart.
The king's body stiffened.
He lowered his gaze to the blade that impaled him.
Then
He let out a bitter laugh.
"I… truly was useless."
"Fuchu."
"I have conquered the Three Jins and the state of Yan before you. Among all the kings I have faced, you are the most like a true sovereign."
"You… are worthy of my respect."
"At the very least, you chose to die with your nation." Zhao Feng spoke slowly.
"Cough… cough…"
"To be praised by the Lord Wu'an of Great Qin…"
"I… am satisfied."
"If only Lord Wu'an had been born in Great Chu…"
"If only I had your help… perhaps… perhaps those treacherous ministers would have been eradicated long ago."
"Thank you… for killing them… let me see them… die…"
King Fuchu's voice trembled.
But as he faced the man who slew him, there was no hatred in his eyes.
Instead, there was relief.
Perhaps
He had long harbored deep resentment toward the three ruling families of Chu.
Perhaps
His hatred toward them was beyond words.
"The unification of Great Qin is inevitable."
"And the three ruling families of Chu have wielded military power for too long, accumulating resentment over the years."
"You could never have resolved this issue." Zhao Feng said softly.
Then, he withdrew his sword.
The King of Chu's body fell powerlessly to the ground.
"Killed King Fuchu of Chu. Gained +500 to all attributes. Reward: One Tier-3 Treasure Chest." The system notification appeared once again.
"Men."
"Give the King of Chu a proper burial. Seek out the royal mausoleum of Chu and inter him with the rites of a prince." Zhao Feng commanded calmly.
"As you command!"
Zhang Ming immediately obeyed.
With the death of this Chu king, Zhao Feng had now slain two kings.
The King of Yan had been killed for colluding with foreign tribes, bringing chaos to China, and slaughtering its people. Zhao Feng could never tolerate traitors to his race.
But today, for the first time, he truly regarded a fallen king with respect.
After dealing with the King of Chu, Zhao Feng slowly ascended the steps, sweeping his gaze across the throne before looking down at the Chu officials in the great hall.
"Will you submit, or what?"
The moment his voice fell, the remaining dozens of court officials all knelt.
"We are willing to submit."
Their voices trembled as they spoke.
Seeing this, Zhao Feng's eyes filled with disappointment.
In the end, he looked down on those who betrayed their country to surrender.
However, the Qin Empire needed officials, and having just conquered the Chu capital, it required these turncoats to manage the transition. He had no choice but to spare their lives.
As for the future, once the Qin government dispatched its administrators, these officials would be reassigned elsewhere. After all, no matter how loyal they claimed to be after surrendering, as native Chu people, they could never be trusted to govern their homeland.
"Since that is the case," Zhao Feng declared coldly, "then devote yourselves to assisting my army in securing the capital."
"If I detect any treachery death."
"Understood!"
"Thank you for your mercy, Lord Wuan!" The Chu officials responded anxiously.
"Tuo Sui."
Zhao Feng called out.
"At your command!"
Tuo Sui quickly stepped forward.
"Take them away," Zhao Feng ordered.
"As you command!"
Tuo Sui immediately carried out the order.
A group of elite soldiers entered the hall and led the Chu officials away.
"Pass my order."
"Secure the entire capital. Any Chu soldiers willing to surrender shall be spared. Any who attempt to flee or resist kill them!"
"By my command, the entire army is forbidden from harming the common people or looting their property! Any violators will be executed according to military law!"
"Furthermore"
"Hang the heads of the three noble house leaders outside the palace gates for all to see."
"Dispatch soldiers to the noble estates and confiscate all their wealth. Display their riches to the entire city of Chu, so the people can see just how wealthy these so-called 'loyal and righteous' houses truly were."
Zhao Feng issued orders one after another.
"We understand!"
"We shall carry out your orders at once!" Tuo Sui answered firmly, then quickly left the great hall.
Zhao Feng turned his head and gazed at the throne behind him.
"Royal power…"
"It truly is rare and precious."
"One day"
"I, Zhao Feng, shall possess it as well. And not merely rule a kingdom, but unify the entire world."
Looking at the throne before him, a deep ambition surged in his eyes.
Now that he understood the true nature of this world knew of so-called spiritual roots and elixirs, of those who consumed human flesh and blood, and of the so-called Immortals who raised humans like livestock he was not afraid. Instead, he was more determined than ever.
The future!
Zhao Feng's ambitions were not limited to the land of China alone. He would march beyond China, into the true human world, and even into the Immortal Realm itself.
These were his goals.
Since he had been reborn in this world, and since he possessed the unique ability to absorb attributes, then he would become the strongest.
To become an Immortal, to become a god!
In this world, such things were not mere fantasies!
If he did not rise to power, what then? Should he allow those so-called Immortals to raise humans as livestock, to turn them into mere prey?
Zhao Feng would never allow it!
Since that was the case
Then he would unite the people of China, spread martial arts, and forge an era of human supremacy!
"Master!"
"We have located the treasury of Chu!"
"A thousand of our elite guards are securing the site. Would you like to inspect it yourself?"
At that moment
Zhang Ming hurried over and spoke in a low voice.
Whenever Zhao Feng conquered a kingdom, he would seize its royal treasury.
This had become an unspoken rule among his closest officers.
Every time an enemy palace was taken, Zhao Feng's elite guards would immediately move to secure its treasury, waiting for their lord's arrival.
"Let's go."
Zhao Feng immediately composed himself and strode forward.
Following Zhang Ming, he made his way toward the treasury.
The royal treasury of Chu.
There likely wouldn't be much gold or silver left.
The three noble houses had surely drained most of the wealth, but rare treasures and medicinal herbs should still be abundant.
And those
That was exactly what Zhao Feng sought.
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