With a single slash!
Xiang Yan's head fell to the ground.
"Killed Chu's Supreme General Xiang Yan. Gained 100 points in all attributes." The system notification appeared.
Looking at the headless corpse before him, Zhao Feng lifted his gaze toward the remaining Chu soldiers.
"Those who do not surrender kill without mercy!"
Zhao Feng raised his sword and swung it forcefully.
"Swear loyalty to our lord!"
"Kill!"
Countless elite Qin soldiers roared as they charged at the Chu troops ahead.
Like a raging tide, an unstoppable slaughter began.
In an instant, the Chu soldiers were engulfed.
Soon after, the Grand Hall of the Prefectural Governor's Residence was surrounded by Qin forces.
Zhao Feng took the lead and rushed inside.
Upon entering, he saw Mi Qi seated on the throne.
Seeing the Qin army storming in, Mi Qi's eyes filled with utter despair.
However, even now, wearing his royal robe, he showed no sign of fear in the face of death.
He slowly stood up and drew the sword from his waist.
"Zhao Feng."
"I am the maternal grandfather of the Crown Prince of Qin. Do you dare kill me?"
Zhao Feng stepped steadily into the hall.
As he passed through, cries for mercy echoed throughout.
"Spare us!"
"Lord Wu'an, spare us!"
"We surrender!"
The so-called officials of Chu had already fallen to their knees in surrender.
Step by step, Zhao Feng walked toward Mi Qi.
"Do you dare kill me?" Mi Qi shouted angrily as he swung his sword at Zhao Feng.
Zhao Feng dodged in a flash.
Splurt!
The blade instantly pierced through Mi Qi's chest.
"You… actually… dare…"
Mi Qi's eyes widened in disbelief.
He never imagined that Zhao Feng would truly dare to kill him.
He was the maternal grandfather of the Crown Prince of Qin!
Even if he had betrayed the state, that fact remained.
Fu Su was widely regarded as the most promising successor to the Qin throne.
"Others may fear Fu Su, but I do not." Zhao Feng said coldly.
Anyone else even Wang Jian would have only captured Mi Qi and handed him over to Ying Zheng for judgment.
After all, despite Mi Qi's betrayal, he was still royal kin.
Killing him might provoke Fu Su's resentment, and many believed Fu Su was the inevitable future King of Qin.
But Zhao Feng was different.
In all of Qin, the only person Zhao Feng obeyed was King Zheng.
As for his sons, he had no regard for any of them they were all useless.
Zhao Feng had already planned it out: once Qin unified the land, he would request to campaign against Baiyue and take charge there, waiting for the inevitable chaos of Qin's downfall.
Then, with overwhelming force, he would sweep through the land and establish his dynasty.
With a swift motion, he pulled out the Longquan Sword.
Mi Qi's life ended instantly as his lifeless body collapsed to the ground.
"Killed King Mi Qi of Chu. Gained 300 points in all attributes. Rewarded with a Tier 3 Treasure Chest." The system notification sounded.
"I didn't expect this Mi Qi to have some royal destiny. Not a bad kill at all."
Zhao Feng smirked in satisfaction.
Killing Mi Qi was an unexpected bonus.
With Mi Qi slain, Zhao Feng turned around and shouted:
"Pass down my orders! Cleanse the city of all remaining enemy forces. Any who resist kill without mercy!"
"Understood, my lord!"
The elite soldiers responded in unison.
Then, they exited the hall to continue their hunt for enemy remnants.
"Chu is finished."
"Xiang Yan…"
"Looks like his family has already escaped."
"I wonder what the future Western Chu Overlord will be like. But in my presence, he will be nothing."
Thinking about Xiang Yan, Zhao Feng was reminded of the legendary Xiang Yu, the Hegemon-King of Western Chu.
However
Without his existence in this world, there would be no Xiang Yu.
Even if Qin fell into chaos in the future, Zhao Feng was confident he could quickly pacify the world.
With his strength and the power he controlled, he was destined to dominate an era.
Ghost Valley
"The destiny of Chu has vanished. Its fortune flows to Qin."
"Chu is no more."
"Now, only Qi remains."
"Soon, all of China will be unified."
"When that happens, the destiny of the Chinese people will reach its peak. As long as Qin stands, those beings will find it even harder to descend upon this land."
"But they will not simply watch Qin endure forever."
Ghost Valley Master gazed at the void, deep in thought.
As an immortal, he could perceive what mortals could not the unseen flow of fate.
"Zhao Feng…"
"I hope he can bring something different to this land. Otherwise, even the fortune of the Chinese people will eventually fade."
"And when that happens, humanity will be reduced to mere prey it will only be a matter of time."
Guiguzi muttered to himself.
For him, having enjoyed years of peace in Shenzhou essentially taking refuge there this tranquility, free from the bloodshed and struggles for survival, without the fear of becoming food for those demonic immortals, had brought him great solace.
If that day truly came, he dared not imagine the consequences.
Time Passed Gradually
With Xiang Yan's death, the last resistance of Chu also crumbled.
Chu had fallen!
Over the next two months, the Qin army swiftly conquered the cities and towns of Chu.
Some surrendered and offered their cities upon seeing the Qin army arrive, while others, determined to preserve their Chu heritage, fought to the death only to be utterly annihilated in the end.
It could be said that this war of annihilation saw both tragic sacrifices and cowardly surrenders.
The full spectrum of human nature was on display.
Huainan City
"The decree of the King of Qin!"
"Lord Wu'an and Grand General Huan Yi, heed the decree!"
Ren Xiao personally delivered the royal edict, his voice echoing throughout the city.
"We humbly receive the decree," Zhao Feng and Huan Yi responded in unison.
"The King of Qin decrees:
With Chu pacified, the Hangu Pass military camp shall remain stationed in Chu territory to clear out the remnants of enemy forces and eliminate potential threats.
The Wu'an military camp shall return to Yunzhong City.
Lord Wu'an and Grand General Huan Yi are to return to the capital to receive their rewards."
Ren Xiao read the decree aloud.
"We accept the decree," Zhao Feng and Huan Yi bowed deeply.
"Lord Wu'an," Ren Xiao said with a smile. "The King specifically mentioned you. You must not linger in Chu any longer."
"Everything in Chu has been settled. I have no reason to delay my return," Zhao Feng replied with a smile.
"The King fears that, just like after the conquest of Yan, you might take it upon yourself to march straight into the northern frontier," Ren Xiao said helplessly.
Hearing this, Zhao Feng's expression showed a hint of resignation.
"Lord Wu'an, it seems His Majesty worries about you too much," Huan Yi added with a chuckle. "That's why he sent Ren Xiao himself to persuade you to return to the capital."
"In the past, the foreign tribes slaughtered my people of Huaxia. As a member of Huaxia, I, Zhao Feng, had the duty to lead an army in retaliation," Zhao Feng said. "But Chu was not invaded by foreign tribes."
"Lord Wu'an speaks wisely," Ren Xiao said with a smile. "Then I shall not need to return ahead of schedule to report back."
"Actually," Zhao Feng mused, "I did have an idea in mind. Now that Chu has fallen and only Qi remains in Shenzhou, I thought of striking while the iron is hot and destroying Qi in one fell swoop thus achieving unification."
"Your Excellency," Huan Yi responded, "if you have thought of this, then the King must have as well. However, having just conquered Chu, and given its vast territory, this war has lasted a full year. Our supplies and finances have been heavily consumed, and winter is approaching. The northern terrain of Qi is not easy to campaign in during this season."
"We must at least wait until after winter."
"I understand," Zhao Feng said with a slight smile. "That's why I have set the thought aside."
Of course, if it were up to Zhao Feng, he would not wait.
He would personally lead his cavalry straight to Qi's borders, striking fear into the Qi kingdom.
In history, Qi surrendered without a fight.
With the current dominance of Qin, it would be enough to instill terror, forcing them to submit without resistance.
But since the King of Qin was in no hurry, and given that the conquest of Chu had consumed significant manpower and resources, there was little choice but to bide his time.
Time Flashed By
In the blink of an eye, more than twenty days had passed.
Outside Xianyang City.
The Left Chancellor of Qin, Han Fei, personally waited at the city gates.
Not only Han Fei
Countless citizens of Xianyang had gathered outside the city. Along the main roads within and outside the city, people crowded in anticipation of the event.
"Old Wang, you're here too?"
"It's nearly winter, and it's so cold. You've always been frail why would you come?"
"Nonsense!
Even though I'm weak, today marks the triumphant return of Lord Wu'an. How could I not come to see him?"
"That's right! Lord Wu'an is the true hero of Qin!"
"I heard that this war against Chu was extremely difficult. But after Lord Wu'an took command, an entire kingdom as vast as Chu was annihilated within a single year. This was all due to his leadership!"
"Lord Wu'an; Qin's undisputed God of War!"
"Lord Wu'an is a once-in-a-generation genius! He was only twenty-four when he was granted the title of Lord Wu'an. Now, after conquering Chu, he is only twenty-six!"
"Every time Lord Wu'an returns victorious, I make sure to be here to welcome him. Back when he was just a general, I saw him in person! They say that this time, upon his return, the King will appoint him as Guowei (National Commander), granting him control over Qin's military forces!"
"Any reward given to Lord Wu'an is well-deserved! With his battle achievements and the contributions he has made to the nation, he deserves everything. Throughout all of Qin, only he is qualified!"
"That's right!"
"When Qin finally unites the land, if the King grants titles to noble families, Lord Wu'an will undoubtedly be made a prince!"
"Indeed! If Lord Wu'an is granted a royal title in the future, it would be entirely justified!"
.....
Zhao Feng had yet to arrive, but the people inside and outside Xianyang City were already engaged in heated discussions.
In summary, their discussions revolved around Zhao Feng's military achievements and his future status.
It could be said that Zhao Feng held immense prestige among the old Qin people.
The people of Qin revered martial strength.
And Zhao Feng had become the very embodiment of martial prowess.
At this moment
"Look!"
"The chariot of the Lord of Wu'an is here!"
"A six-horse chariot!" A voice rang out outside the city.
All the onlooking citizens turned their gazes toward the direction indicated, some standing on tiptoe, others craning their necks in anticipation.
Under the watchful eyes of countless onlookers, Zhao Feng's chariot gradually approached Xianyang.
Behind Zhao Feng's chariot was another six-horse chariot, naturally belonging to Huan Yi.
Thousands of personal guards escorted the two great generals back to the capital.
Before long
The chariots arrived.
Han Fei, who had been waiting at the city gates, was visibly moved, offering a slight smile. "Welcome back, Lord of Wu'an and General Huan Yi. By the decree of His Majesty, I am here to receive you."
Hearing this
Zhao Feng lifted the carriage curtain and stepped out.
Huan Yi followed closely behind.
"I never expected the Left Chancellor himself to personally welcome us. His Majesty truly bestows great favor upon me," Zhao Feng teased upon seeing Han Fei.
"There was no other choice," Han Fei chuckled in reply. "You are a great meritorious official of Qin. His Majesty had originally intended to welcome you himself."
"Come on now," Zhao Feng grinned. "Let's not waste time. Let's enter the palace for an audience. I'm eager to return home and reunite with my family."
"Before that, you should first greet the citizens who have been waiting to welcome you home," Han Fei suggested with a smile.
Hearing this
Zhao Feng glanced at the countless citizens of Xianyang, their eyes filled with admiration and anticipation as they gazed upon him. A deep sense of gratitude welled up in his heart.
Without hesitation
He leaped onto the carriage.
"Fathers and elders of Xianyang, the winter season is upon us, yet you have waited here for my return. I, Zhao Feng, am deeply honored and ashamed to have caused you such trouble."
Zhao Feng's voice rang loud and clear as he clasped his hands together and bowed deeply to the gathered citizens.
Seeing this
The crowd was overcome with emotion.
"The Lord of Wu'an truly has a noble heart!"
"We, mere commoners, have received such a bow from him!"
"The Lord of Wu'an is truly a man of great character, free of arrogance or conceit."
"He fully deserves his esteemed position. I am utterly convinced of his worth!"
"Lord of Wu'an, you are too humble! We do not dare accept such a gesture!"
"You are the great hero of Qin! Being here to welcome you is our honor!"
"Indeed!"
Countless citizens, touched by Zhao Feng's sincerity, voiced their admiration and respect.
Zhao Feng had been enfeoffed as the Lord of Wu'an and held the rank of supreme general. Soon, he was to be appointed as the State Marshal, a position of immense power. He was undoubtedly one of the most esteemed officials in the nation.
Yet, despite such lofty status, he had bowed to the common folk what a grand and generous heart he possessed!
"Dear elders and fellow citizens," Zhao Feng continued with a gentle smile, "His Majesty awaits me in the court for an audience, so I cannot linger here. I beg your pardon."
He cupped his hands once more in respect.
The surrounding crowd responded with resounding cheers.
Under the watchful gaze of the people
The chariot set off once more.
This time, Zhao Feng did not retreat inside but remained standing, waving to the citizens along the way.
"The Lord of Wu'an's prestige in Qin is truly unmatched," Huan Yi remarked, a look of admiration crossing his face as he witnessed the overwhelming reception.
As for Zhao Feng's guards, they were filled with immense pride.
After all, this grand welcome of tens of thousands of people gathered in honor was a glory bestowed upon their commander alone.
The Grand Hall of Court Affairs
Zhao Feng and Huan Yi entered the grand hall in succession.
"Your servant pays respects to Your Majesty."
Both knelt in deference before the throne where Ying Zheng, the King of Qin, sat.
From his lofty position
Ying Zheng's face lit up with a smile upon seeing Zhao Feng return unharmed.
"Good!"
"Lord of Wu'an!"
"I have heard of your military exploits in the conquest of Chu, even from faraway Xianyang."
"You are truly worthy of the title 'War God of Qin'!"
"Having you in my service is a blessing to me!" Ying Zheng declared with laughter.
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your praise," Zhao Feng replied humbly.
"This victory was made possible by the brave warriors of the Wu'an and Hangu armies. It was not my effort alone."
Naturally, he was not so tactless as to claim all the credit for himself.
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