A single cry rang out: "Charge! Annihilate Zhao!"
Before Dai City, two hundred thousand Daqin Elite Soldiers stirred, awakening like a monstrous beast of slaughter. Countless volleys of arrows and stones formed a wave of pure destruction that rained down upon Dai City.
As this deadly barrage fell, the Zhao Jun in Dai City suffered innumerable casualties. Zhao soldiers were everywhere, clutching their heads as they fled, their pained wails echoing through the streets.
The Qin Army advanced under a baptism of arrows. This final, crucial battle to annihilate Zhao began just like all the others. Wang Jian, in his command, would never sacrifice his men to impatience.
After the Qin Army had relentlessly bombarded Dai City with arrows and catapults for nearly an hour, Wang Jian bellowed, "Attack!"
Messengers scattered from around his war chariot.
"First Main Battle Camp, kill!" Yang Duanhe gave the order.
For this battle, the main camp under Yang Duanhe's command acted as the vanguard. The army advanced on Dai City in an orderly fashion, employing various siege engines. Zhao Feng had previously taken all the glory for breaching cities. Therefore, in this final battle to annihilate Zhao, the honor was naturally ceded to another. This was why Yang Duanhe was leading the charge.
This battle was, naturally, without suspense.
Even without Zhao Feng as the vanguard, the city walls gradually fell under the violent onslaught of the Qin Army, directed by Yang Duanhe. However, compared to when Zhao Feng had led the charge, Yang Duanhe's troops naturally suffered far greater casualties.
A single general's success is built on the bones of ten thousand soldiers. Of course, Yang Duanhe didn't care, and neither did Wang Jian. What war is fought without death?
Following Yang Duanhe's breach of the city, Zhao Feng gave his own order. "Attack!"
His vast army surged into the city, close on the heels of Yang Duanhe's troops.
Time wore on.
A day passed. The Qin Army swept through all of Dai City, pushing straight toward the Royal Palace.
"Soldiers of Zhao," Zhao Yi cried out from within the palace complex. "I have been inept. I was unable to defend our land alongside you, and the fault is mine. Today, I shall go to my death with you all. Kill!"
Seeing the approaching Qin Army, he let out a hoarse scream and charged forward, sword in hand.
"Protect Zhao!"
"Zhao will not perish!"
The last few thousand Zhao soldiers remaining in the Royal Palace followed Zhao Yi, charging into the fray.
I wonder what the reward for killing a king is? A king is bound to the destiny of his nation, so the loot drop should be massive, right?
Inside the Royal Palace, Zhao Feng watched Zhao Yi charge down to meet his fate. Although he had set out after Yang Duanhe, Zhao Feng's forces had advanced unstoppably, being the first to reach the palace. When he saw Zhao Yi, clad in his king's robe and resolute in his suicidal charge, his interest was naturally piqued.
"All troops, hear my command!" Zhao Feng's voice was low but carried. "Show no mercy to those who refuse to surrender!"
His target clear, he moved to intercept Zhao Yi.
"Zhao Feng," Zhao Yi spat, his eyes flashing with murderous intent upon seeing him.
Although they had never met face to face, Zhao Feng's portrait had already been painted and circulated not just throughout the Zhao state, but among all the states under heaven. With every victory in the campaign against Zhao—breaking Wu'an, securing Handan—his fame had thundered across the lands. All the states regarded him as the next Bai Qi, a truly formidable enemy. As the new king of Zhao, how could Zhao Yi not recognize this Qin general who had breached countless cities and killed untold numbers of his people?
Zhao Feng said nothing. He simply flicked his sword, beckoning Zhao Yi to come forward.
"For my people of Zhao," Zhao Yi roared, pouncing toward Zhao Feng. "Today, I will die with you!"
He thrust his blade forward. It was a desperate, all-or-nothing attack from a man with no will to live, a strike that could endanger even a skilled war general. To Zhao Feng, however, his speed was as slow as a turtle's crawl.
A king, Zhao Feng sneered. I have yet to kill one. Today, you'll be the first.
His sword, Dragon Spring, shot forward.
SCHLICK.
The blade pierced directly through Zhao Yi's chest, and his body instantly went rigid. If Zhao Yi had been an orthodox king, Zhao Feng would not have killed him. But this king could hardly be considered legitimate; he had been enthroned by the Zhao generals in the Dai Territory and did not even possess the Imperial Seal of Zhao. From the beginning of the siege, Wang Jian had given no orders to spare Zhao Yi's life.
Consequently, Zhao Feng acted without scruples.
"Zhao... will not... fall!" Zhao Yi let out one last, indignant roar in his final moments.
"Killed King of Dai, Zhao Yi. Gained 50 points to All Attributes, 100 days of Lifespan, and one Second Order Treasure Chest."
"Congratulations, Host, for exceeding 8,000 points in All Attributes. Reward: one First Order Treasure Chest."
The system panel displayed the notification.
He may have been a false king, but he still bore the destiny of a nation, Zhao Feng thought, elated. It was the right call to kill him. If only I could kill the King of Han and King Zhao Yan as well. The rewards would probably be even more bountiful.
However, that was just a fleeting thought. Both Han An and Zhao Yan were currently imprisoned in Xianyang. Killing them would not be so easy.
"Your king is dead!" Zhao Feng boomed, lifting Zhao Yi's corpse with one hand for all to see. "Lay down your weapons and surrender, and your lives will be spared!"
At the sight of Zhao Yi's body, the soldiers most loyal to Zhao continued to fight bloody battles to the death, while those who feared death immediately threw down their weapons and surrendered.
The outcome was decided.
「Outside the city.」
"Reporting to the Senior General," the Personal Guard Commander said, rushing forward. "A battle report has arrived from the city. General Zhao Feng has breached the Royal Palace of Dai City and has personally slain the King of Dai, Zhao Yi. Dai City has been secured!"
"Good." Wang Jian's brows rose, his face betraying intense joy. "The state of Zhao is well and truly finished."
"I congratulate the Senior General on another great achievement in conquering a nation," the Personal Guard Commander said excitedly. "Among the great commanders of Qin, the Senior General has the highest military honors, having now destroyed two nations in succession. In the future annals of history, the Senior General will surely have a place of honor!"
"Our Lantian Camp is unlikely to be the main force in the next military campaign," Wang Jian said with a faint smile.