Zhao Shi's gaze immediately turned to Wu Lizheng.
"Didn't you ask me to find out about Zhao Feng? By chance, I sent a letter through a contact in the army, and I got some news. However, I'm not sure if it's the same person," Wu Lizheng said hesitantly.
It happened to be Zhao Shi's birthday today.
He wasn't sure whether he should share the news.
"Grandpa Wu, please come in," Zhao Ying quickly stepped forward to open the courtyard gate.
Zhao Shi also noticed the hesitation on Wu Lizheng's face.
"Lizheng, if there's anything, just say it. Don't hold back," Zhao Shi said softly.
"This news… it's good news," Wu Lizheng began with a small smile.
"A man named Zhao Feng in the logistics division earned great merit by killing a Korean general. His name is now known throughout the logistics division."
"And then?" Zhao Shi asked urgently.
"Since killing a Korean general is no small feat, Zhao Feng has been transferred to the main battle camp," Wu Lizheng added, noting the worry on Zhao Shi's face.
Hearing this, Zhao Shi's expression changed instantly.
"The main battle camp! That's the battlefield!"
"Could it be Feng'er?" Zhao Shi felt uneasy, her face growing pale.
"Zhao family, don't overthink it."
"It's very likely a case of the same name. The army is vast, with hundreds of thousands, even millions of soldiers having the same name is common," Wu Lizheng said reassuringly.
"Mother," Zhao Ying chimed in. "Grandpa Wu is right. With my brother's skills, there's no way he could kill a Korean general. It must be someone with the same name."
"Yes, yes," Wu Lizheng agreed. "And with the way things are now, it seems the war might end soon. After all, the Korean general has already been killed."
"When the war ends, communications from the army should resume. Zhao Feng's salary, which has been delayed for so long, might also be sent. Then, we can confirm everything," Wu Lizheng explained with a smile.
"Yes."
"Grandpa Wu is right. Let's wait for news at home," Zhao Ying said, supporting his point.
"I understand," Zhao Shi nodded, though her expression remained filled with worry.
"Let's hope that the one transferred to the main battle camp isn't Feng'er. The battlefield is fraught with danger. I truly hope it's not him," Zhao Shi murmured to herself.
Meanwhile, in Xianyang, Zhangtai Palace
Night had fallen, and the palace was brightly lit.
It was a rare evening when King Ying Zheng wasn't attending to state affairs. Instead, he sat across from another person at a table adorned with wine and a few dishes of meat.
Surprisingly, the king himself poured a cup of wine for his guest, the renowned royal physician Xia Wuqi, the most esteemed doctor in Qin.
"Father-in-law," Ying Zheng addressed him with a gentle smile.
"Today marks Afang's thirty-first birthday. It's also the day she left us. Let's drink to her memory."
Raising his cup, Ying Zheng looked nostalgic.
Xia Wuqi said nothing but raised his cup and drank it all in one go.
He sighed, his tone tinged with sorrow. "In this world, it seems only the two of us remember Afang now."
"Father-in-law, don't worry."
"I will find Afang, no matter what. Even if I have to search every corner of the world, I will bring her back," Ying Zheng vowed firmly.
Unifying the realm was not just a continuation of his ancestors' dreams; it was also a personal promise to the one he loved most.
"If I cannot find her in Qin, then after I unite the world, I will search the entire land and leave no stone unturned until I do," Ying Zheng declared resolutely.
"I'll wait for that day, not just for Afang, but for the unification of the world," Xia Wuqi said, his voice laden with emotion.
"Do you know why I left my position as Zhao's royal physician to flee with Afang to Qin?" Xia Wuqi asked with a smile.
"Because Afang and I were deeply in love," Ying Zheng answered without hesitation.
But Xia Wuqi shook his head.
"Isn't that the reason?" Ying Zheng was taken aback.
Ten Days Later
Time flew by, and today, Xianyang City was particularly solemn.
Crowds of citizens gathered outside the city, eagerly awaiting something. The numbers were vast, but thanks to the patrolling soldiers, order was maintained.
Inside the city, countless citizens also lined the streets, all gazing expectantly toward the official road.
At the city gate stood a middle-aged man in the uniform of a Qin military officer, exuding the imposing aura of a seasoned warrior.
Suddenly, someone shouted excitedly, "They're here!"
All eyes turned toward the horizon.
In the distance, black banners of the Qin army fluttered in the wind. A column of black-armored Qin soldiers advanced steadily toward Xianyang.
The procession included infantry and cavalry, with dozens of prison carts in the center. Each cart carried two or three captives, their once opulent clothing now tattered, their appearances disheveled.
At the head of the escort, a general emanating an aura of authority and ruthlessness led the way.
It was none other than the commander of the Lantian camp, General Wang Jian.
"General Wang Jian has returned victorious!"
"Welcome back, General Wang Jian!"
The cries of welcome erupted at the city gate, spreading through Xianyang.
"Welcome back, General Wang Jian!"
For the people of Qin, this was a moment of unparalleled pride. Wang Jian had led the army to a decisive victory, securing the conquest of Han.
He was a hero of Qin, and for the passionate old Qin people, the dream of uniting the world was now closer than ever.
"Valiant Qin united in adversity!"
The citizens' fervent cheers spoke of their unwavering devotion to the Qin state and its unyielding pursuit of a unified realm.
"I am an old Qin man; united as one, what fear do we have of not unifying the world?"
Feeling the fervent atmosphere, Wang Jian, at the forefront, also experienced a sense of honor. For him, being so warmly welcomed by the people of Qin was itself a great privilege.
Soon.
Wang Jian rode his horse to the front of the city gate.
When he saw the figure at the city entrance, a smile curved at the corners of his mouth.
He then dismounted from his horse.
"General Meng Wu, I didn't expect His Majesty to send you to welcome me!" Wang Jian approached with a very pleased expression and addressed Meng Wu.
Meng Wu.
Second to none in the Qin army.
He was one of Qin's three supreme generals and the current head of the Meng family, as well as the North Border Supreme General.
Facing Wang Jian's smug demeanor under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Meng Wu suppressed his irritation and responded in an official tone, "By the king's command, I am here to welcome you."
"Hahaha."
"I deeply thank His Majesty for his great favor," Wang Jian laughed heartily and cupped his hands in salute toward the city of Xianyang.
"Where is the King of Han?" Meng Wu asked loudly.
"Right behind," Wang Jian replied with a smile, gesturing.
At that moment.
A group of Wang Jian's guards pushed forward a prisoner cart.
Inside the cart sat the King of Han, dressed in royal robes but utterly despondent, his face filled with terror.
Before leaving his homeland, the King of Han might have harbored some hope that loyal officials would rescue him. But as they departed Han's territory and entered the heart of Qin's domain, despair consumed him.
What little hope he clung to was nothing but a fantasy. Yet, he still held on to a shred of delusion.
Now, as he was escorted to Qin's capital of Xianyang, that final glimmer of hope was extinguished. He was finished.
"The King of Han."
"Once a sovereign ruler."
"And now a prisoner of the Great Qin," Meng Wu declared with a tone of mockery.
"Indeed, heavens bless the Great Qin," the citizens shouted.
"Han has fallen, our Qin territory expands," another added.
"The sovereign reduced to a prisoner, a testament to Qin's power."
"The dream of unifying the world, cherished by our ancestors, will come true under His Majesty's reign."
"To see a fallen king"
...
The sight of the dejected King of Han, sitting slumped in the prison cart, filled the onlooking citizens with an immense sense of pride, a feeling akin to the national pride of future generations.
Looking across the land.
For so long, the warring states had coexisted. Which state had succeeded in conquering another?
Only Qin.
This was the pride of a powerful nation.
"King of Han," Meng Wu said with a touch of scorn. "Welcome to the Great Qin. Though this is hardly your wish, otherwise, you wouldn't have abandoned your capital and fled."
Seeing the King of Han in the prison cart, Meng Wu couldn't help but sneer.
A ruler who abandoned his capital and fled wasn't worthy of his respect.
Faced with Meng Wu's mockery, the King of Han didn't even dare to raise his head or glare back. He kept his head bowed, remaining silent.
"General Wang," Meng Wu called out. "His Majesty has decreed that you escort the King of Han to the palace."
"His Majesty will personally receive him outside the main hall," he announced loudly.
"Your humble servant obeys," Wang Jian replied with delight.
This grand spectacle, with the entire city watching, immensely satisfied Wang Jian's vanity.
Furthermore.
This battle had cemented his place in history.
For this!
Who in the world wouldn't want it?
Throughout history.
How many had strived for immortality in the annals of history, only to fail?
Under the gaze of the entire city.
Wang Jian climbed onto the prison cart and personally took the reins of the horse.
Meng Wu also mounted his horse.
Two of Qin's supreme generals personally escorted the King of Han to the palace.
As Wang Jian entered the city.
Behind him, his guards and soldiers escorted the carts carrying captured Han officials.
The sight of these once-powerful Han elites now reduced to prisoners filled the citizens with overwhelming excitement and pride.
"Long live Qin!"
"Long live the king!"
"Long live Qin…" countless citizens cheered, their voices echoing with a sense of national pride.
"The people of Qin have such spirit; no other nation can compare."
"It's no wonder Qin's soldiers are so valiant," someone remarked.
"In our Korea, the people shun the military, but here in Qin, the people stand fearless beside their army," another commented.
Inside the prison cart, Han Fei looked at the jubilant Qin citizens on either side of the street, his heart sinking.
From the perspective of the people alone, the difference was already glaring.
"Perhaps this is the result of Qin's reforms," Han Fei thought to himself.
"The strict Qin laws, at least on the surface, grant every citizen dignity."
Under the escort of Qin soldiers.
Han Fei and the other Han officials were taken to the Xianyang prison.
At the Qin royal palace.
Outside the council hall.
Ying Zheng stood at the top of the grand staircase, with the civil and military officials of Qin assembled below, all waiting solemnly.
At this moment.
Hooooot!
Hoooot!
The resounding sound of horns echoed across the skies.
With the sound of the horns.
Meng Wu appeared first.
"Your Majesty," Meng Wu announced loudly, "General Wang Jian has brought the King of Han."
"Awaiting Your Majesty's command."
Ying Zheng's gaze sharpened as he looked out toward the square.
Wang Jian strode forward, holding a box in his hands, followed by two soldiers escorting the King of Han.
"Your servant Wang Jian."
"Having returned victorious from the Korean campaign, awaits Your Majesty's decree," Wang Jian declared, bowing deeply before Ying Zheng.
Ying Zheng smiled faintly and raised his hand. "General, you may rise."
"Thank you, Your Majesty," Wang Jian replied loudly.
Wang Jian then raised the box high and opened it, revealing a jade seal and a map.
"Your Majesty," he said.
"This is the royal seal of Han and the map of its territory. I now present them to you."
"The lands of Han are no more. They are now part of Qin, under Your Majesty's rule," Wang Jian proclaimed.
Ying Zheng gestured.
Zhao Gao, who was standing nearby, quickly stepped down the stairs, took the box, and knelt before Ying Zheng, holding it up.
Ying Zheng took the royal seal of Han in his hand.
Shifting his gaze, Ying Zheng's eyes landed on Han An, whose face was filled with frustration and fear.
"Han An," Ying Zheng addressed him in a thunderous voice. "Do you feel discontent?"
At those words, the eyes of every minister in the court fell upon Han An. Under such immense pressure, Han An could no longer hold himself together. He collapsed to his knees and stammered, "I… I dare not."
"I've heard," Ying Zheng continued, his voice icy, "that you've transferred the entire Han royal treasury out of Korea and secretly relocated many officials' families. It seems you are still harboring resentment and even intend to oppose Great Qin."
Han An's scalp went numb, cold sweat streaming down his face. "I… I…" He stuttered, unable to form a coherent sentence.
Seeing his pathetic state, many Qin officials sneered, their eyes filled with scorn.
"This is the king of Korea?"
"Compared to our king, it's like comparing a dragon to an ant."
"No, he's not even qualified to be compared to our king."
The ministers' words were laced with mockery.
Only one man couldn't bear to look Zheng Guo. As a former Korean, witnessing his former ruler's humiliation stirred complex emotions within him.
"Rest assured," Ying Zheng said, his tone firm but disdainful. "I won't kill you. Taking the life of someone as cowardly and selfish as you brings me no satisfaction."
Hearing this, Han An let out a sigh of relief and hurriedly said, "Thank you, Great King, for sparing my life! Thank you, Great King!"
"But…" Ying Zheng's voice rang out again.
Han An's expression instantly changed, fear gripping his heart as he looked up, unsure of what to expect.
"If any of your former officials dare to rise against Great Qin, know that the price will fall on you," Ying Zheng declared coldly.
Han An's face went pale, his body trembling. He opened his mouth to respond but couldn't find the words. Though he had been a king, he knew full well that his former officials and nobles prioritized their interests above all else. Now that he was a prisoner, they had no reason to care for his fate.
"Guards!" Ying Zheng commanded sharply.
At his call, several palace guards stepped forward.
"Detain Han An in the imperial prison. Ensure he is fed three meals a day, and without my decree, he is not to die," Ying Zheng ordered with a wave of his hand.
At his command, the guards seized Han An and dragged him away. Han An didn't dare utter a word, fearful that Ying Zheng might change his mind and sentence him to death.
Once Han An was taken away, Ying Zheng turned to Wang Jian and began to descend the grand steps.
Seeing this, the court was stunned, their expressions shifting to ones of awe and respect.
"Your Majesty mustn't!" Wang Jian exclaimed immediately.
For a king to descend the steps and greet someone personally was the highest form of honor, leaving Wang Jian both overwhelmed and uneasy.
But Ying Zheng ignored him. Under the gaze of all the ministers, he stepped down and approached Wang Jian. Then, to everyone's shock, he took Wang Jian's hand and raised it high.
"Back when Lao Ai rebelled and stormed Xianyang, the palace was breached, and I was left stranded in Yongcheng with no reinforcements," Ying Zheng began, his voice resonating with emotion. "At that time, Wang Jian, as the commanding general, led an army of 100,000 on a relentless march day and night, crushing the rebels in Yongcheng and stabilizing Great Qin."
"And now," he continued, "the general has led the campaign against Korea, carefully planning and tirelessly executing his duties. Your achievements are unparalleled."
"With General Wang Jian, Great Qin has no fears," Ying Zheng proclaimed loudly.
The ministers looked on, many with expressions of envy, as Wang Jian received such unprecedented recognition.
"A servant of Qin must serve the king. It is my duty," Wang Jian replied with a resounding voice, his demeanor humble and respectful.
"General Wang Jian is a model for all my officials," Ying Zheng declared, laughing heartily as he led Wang Jian back up the steps.
Once atop the grand staircase, Ying Zheng turned to address the assembled ministers.
"General Wang Jian has rendered extraordinary service in conquering Korea," he announced. "I hereby bestow upon him a promotion in rank, 1,000 acres of fertile land, 100 beautiful maidens, 1,000 servants, 1,000 pieces of gold, 100,000 coins, 100 fine jade weapons, bows, and spears, and long halberds."
With this, Ying Zheng granted Wang Jian not only unparalleled honor but also every possible reward befitting his status.
"Your Majesty's boundless generosity," Wang Jian said humbly, bowing low. "I am unworthy."
Though he outwardly maintained humility, Wang Jian felt a deep unease growing within him.
In the art of survival at court, Wang Jian was well-versed. He knew that excessive glory could be dangerous.
Historically, Wang Jian had always employed a strategy of requesting rewards and favors to deliberately tarnish his image, creating the perception of being self-serving and thus diminishing potential threats to his king's trust.
"General," Ying Zheng said, his tone warm yet commanding. "All of this, you have earned."
Despite the king's magnanimity, Wang Jian felt an even greater sense of unease brewing within him. Memories of Zhao Feng's ordeal weighed heavily on his mind.
Should the king insist on arranging a forced marriage, it could lead to trouble!
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