Chapter 678 - 275: Imperial Envoy! The Fall of the Capital of Chu! (Part 2)

"Since things have reached this point, we are in no hurry."

"The one who’s anxious is Xiang Yan." Huan Yi sneered.

"General, do you mean..."

"With the Chu Army at Qu City destroyed, Lord Wu’an’s next move will be to attack the Capital of Chu. Will the King of Chu recall Xiang Yan to his capital?" Li Xin said.

"Eight or nine times out of ten, that’s what he’ll do."

Huan Yi smiled.

"In that case, our army just has to wait for Xiang Yan to withdraw his troops."

"For the moment, we must never let Xiang Yan out of our grasp."

"We will surely defeat Xiang Yan." Li Xin laughed.

"The news should be reaching Xianyang soon as well."

"After this conquest of Chu, Lord Wu’an will certainly be promoted once again."

"He will become the Grand Commandant of Qin—the youngest Grand Commandant since ancient times."

"It’s hard to imagine."

Huan Yi spoke with deep reverence on his face.

Once, he had compared himself to Zhao Feng, believing that if granted the chance, he could surpass Zhao Feng. But on the battlefield, Zhao Feng’s brilliant performance left him far behind.

Qin, Morning Discussion Hall!

"Reporting to the Great King."

"We have just received the battle report from Wu’an Military Camp."

"Lord Wu’an led the Daqin Elite Soldiers of his camp to defeat three hundred thousand Chu troops at Qu City."

"Over a hundred thousand enemy slain, more than one hundred fifty thousand taken captive."

"A resounding victory."

"Now, Lord Wu’an heads straight for the Capital of Chu. Before long, Your Majesty may receive the triumphant news of Lord Wu’an breaching the Capital of Chu and destroying the Chu State." Yu Liao reported, his face brimming with excitement.

Even as the one delivering the report, he was visibly excited, his voice extraordinarily fervent.

With the destruction of the Chu State,

The unification of the realm will no longer be mere wishful thinking. Soon, Shenzhou will be unified.

He will have fulfilled the ambitions he sought on descending the mountain.

This accomplishes the great undertaking which no Disciple of Guiguzi had ever completed through the ages.

On high,

Ying Zheng wore a gratified smile.

Then he opened his arms, laughing loudly: "Excellent!"

"Ministers congratulate the Great King!"

"Chu State is on the verge of destruction."

"Qin is now very close to unifying the world."

"Congratulations, Great King..."

The court’s civil and military officials chanted their congratulations.

"Is there any movement from the Qi State?"

Ying Zheng turned to Yu Liao and asked.

"Replying to Your Majesty."

"Chu State sent envoys to Qi to ask for aid, but General Wang Jian leads the Daqin Elite Soldiers of the Lantian Camp to guard the border. If Qi dares use troops, Qin will move to attack Qi."

"The King of Qi is not a wise ruler. He fears Qin’s might, so he will not dare send troops to assist Chu."

"So right now, Chu’s envoys are constantly pleading for help, but the King of Qi does not dare act." Yu Liao said smiling.

"The King of Qi.

Once Chu is destroyed, Qi will be next." Ying Zheng sneered.

At this stage,

Qin’s strategic layout is complete.

The former doctrine of ’allying afar while attacking nearby’ has achieved its effect.

Now, even if Qi did move to aid Chu, Qin would not fear it.

"Your Majesty is wise."

The officials raised their voices in unison.

"The fall of Chu is now inevitable."

"Ministers, how should Lord Wu’an be rewarded?" Ying Zheng smiled, looking toward the officials in court.

This question,

Was not really for inquiry, as the decision had already been made.

Now,

With Wang Wan gone, no one would step forward to object.

So Han Fei took the initiative and stood forth.

"Reporting to Your Majesty."

"When Lord Wu’an was granted his title, Your Majesty said that if he achieved another conquest, he should be promoted to Grand Commandant."

"Now that Chu is about to fall, such military merit is sufficient to earn this rank for Lord Wu’an."

"I request Your Majesty to promote Lord Wu’an to Grand Commandant." Han Fei raised his court tablet and loudly petitioned.

As soon as he finished,

Li Si, Yu Liao, Han Fei, and their officials stepped forward and shouted: "Lord Wu’an to Grand Commandant, we support this motion."

To this,

This outcome was, naturally, without suspense.

"The ministers’ petition is reasonable and just."

Ying Zheng smiled and easily followed the current.

"Issue my royal decree."

"When Lord Wu’an returns after the conquest of Chu, he shall be promoted to Grand Commandant and will command all the military power of Qin!" Ying Zheng announced in a powerful voice.

"Your Majesty is wise." Though there were some reluctant civil and military officials,

"For now, it’s only Grand Commandant."

"When the world is unified,"

"I will acknowledge Feng’er as my own. You will be far more astonished then."

Seeing the chorus of agreement in court, Ying Zheng smiled inwardly.

He watched as Zhao Feng was step by step elevated to the true summit of military glory, and he was very pleased.

Now, Zhao Feng’s prestige in the army is unmatched.

Someday, he will have similar prestige among the civil officials.

Ying Zheng is determined to mold Zhao Feng into a truly qualified Crown Prince; none but Zhao Feng will have such an opportunity.

-----------------

Capital City of Chu!

"Great King."

"The Qin Army has arrived."

"The capital has already been surrounded by the Qin Army."

"Xiang Yan... he has not returned to aid us."

On the court, Zhao Wen’s face was ashen as he spoke.

"Could Xiang Yan be betraying the nation?"

"Why has he not returned to help?" The King of Chu’s expression was grim.

So much time had passed.

But Xiang Yan had not returned, nor was there any news of reinforcement.

"Perhaps he has already betrayed us."

Zhao Wen sighed.

"What are we to do?"

"The Qin Army is at the gates."

"Great Chu is in peril!" The King of Chu’s complexion grew worse.

Just then!

"Wind, wind, wind."

"A great wind."

The shout of the wind swept through the Capital of Chu.

Even within the Chu King’s Palace, one could clearly hear the deafening roar of the wind.

Sweeping across the Capital City of Chu.

The Chu Army in the city was terrified; the civilians were no less so.

The Qin Army’s ferocity is known throughout the world.

How could they not fear?

"The Qin Army... has begun the assault."

The King of Chu’s voice trembled.

Though he yearned to revive Chu, he lacked the ability.

Confronted with this calamity, he was truly afraid.

Outside the Capital of Chu,

"Chu falls today."

"All troops, heed my command!"

"Attack!"

Zhao Feng raised the Tyrant Spear and shouted furiously.

With the order delivered,

Countless arrows and boulders were hurled at the Capital of Chu, bringing endless death.

This relentless suppression lasted for an hour.

Under cover of arrow rain and falling stones,

"Follow me and slay!"

Zhao Feng shouted loudly.

He spurred his horse and charged forth.

"Follow Your Majesty!"

"Kill!"

Zhang Ming and his two thousand trusted aides roared in unison.

As Lord Wu’an’s trusted aides, they spearheaded the charge on the battlefield.

"Kill!"

A cacophony of Daqin Elite Soldiers roared from the rear.

The infantry led the assault.

Zhao Feng swiftly approached the Capital of Chu.

Facing the relentless arrow rain from the Capital City of Chu,

Zhao Feng lifted his bow.

Infused it with True Yuan.

Swish—

The sharp arrow tore through the air.

In an instant,

Boom!

The city gate was shattered by the arrow, killing and wounding over a hundred Chu soldiers inside.

To withstand Zhao Feng’s arrow,

Was no ordinary feat.

With the gate breached,

The outcome of this battle was decided!

Facing the fierce Qin Army,

Though the Chu Army fought to the death atop the walls, they could not resist.

The black-armored Qin Army surged into the Capital City of Chu like a raging flood, flooding the city which had known no war for centuries.

The battle raged on within the city.

The Chu Army was slaughtered into rout after rout.

It lasted barely two hours.

The sky was still bright.

The Daqin Elite Soldiers had already fought their way to the Chu King’s Palace.

Throughout the city, Chu soldiers fled or surrendered.

Chu Royal Palace’s Grand Hall of Court Deliberations!

"Ah... ah..."

"Don’t kill me!"

"I surrender!"

"Spare me..."

All around the palace were the sounds of fierce fighting, echoing in chaos.

All of Chu’s civil and military officials went pale with fear.

Though they bore weapons as they attended court, they could not overcome the terror in their hearts.

At last!

Bang!

The palace doors were smashed open.

Black-armored Qin Soldiers burst into the hall.

Gazing at the plethora of Chu ministers inside, every Qin Elite Soldier who rushed in had eyes blazing with excitement and killing intent.

To kill a high-ranking Chu official meant great merit.

However,

They did not attack directly. Instead, they watched these Chu civil and military officials with caution.

Capturing these court dignitaries alive brought even greater reward.

...