Inside the Royal Palace!
At this moment, aside from the elite Qin troops, there were also numerous Yan royal guards and frontier soldiers.
Zhao Feng strode up the steps, dragging the Yan King with him.
"This is the King of Yan."
Zhao Feng held up the Yan King and declared coldly.
All eyes focused on Zhao Feng and the Yan King.
"Let me go!"
"No matter what, I am still a king!"
"You dare not treat me with such disrespect!"
"You have no right to decide my fate!"
The Yan King, Ji Xi, continued to struggle frantically.
"He, the Yan King, Ji Xi"
"Colluded with foreign tribes, betraying the Huaxia people."
"He is unfit to be king."
"He is unworthy of being human."
"Today, I, Zhao Feng, will personally behead him to show the world the fate of traitors who betray Huaxia."
Zhao Feng had no interest in debating with this Yan King.
A traitor to his people was utterly despicable.
Today, Zhao Feng would use Ji Xi's life as a warning to the world that whoever betrays the Huaxia people, regardless of their status, will die.
As soon as he finished speaking, Zhao Feng loosened his grip.
The Yan King fell to the ground.
Immediately, two guards rushed forward, pinning him down firmly, rendering him completely immobile.
Shing!
Zhao Feng drew his Longquan sword from his waist.
The blade gleamed with an icy sharpness.
The Yan King looked at it in horror, his voice trembling.
"What are you doing?"
"Do you dare to strike me down?"
"I am a king! You, a mere general of Qin, have no right to judge me!"
"Even as Qin's Grand General, you do not have the authority to execute me!"
The Yan King was truly terrified now. He realized that Zhao Feng was serious about killing him.
He had colluded with foreign tribes only to preserve his power and life.
But now, if Zhao Feng killed him, everything he had done would be for nothing.
"I, Zhao Feng, am not executing you on behalf of Qin."
"I am executing you on behalf of the millions of people in Yan's northern frontier on behalf of the countless Huaxia people across the land."
"Colluding with foreign tribes this crime is unforgivable."
"Die."
With a cold shout,
Zhao Feng swung his Longquan sword.
In an instant
Shing!
The Yan King didn't even have time to scream.
His head rolled to the ground.
Seeing this scene,
The entire square fell into stunned silence.
A king beheaded.
And it happened before the eyes of tens of thousands of people.
This was unprecedented.
[System Prompt: You have killed Yan King Ji Xi. You have gained 500 attribute points and a Tier-3 Treasure Chest.]
But at this moment,
Zhao Feng paid no attention to the reward notification.
After beheading the Yan King,
He felt an overwhelming sense of satisfaction.
"A traitor to his people no matter who they are, they must die!"
Zhao Feng lifted the Yan King's severed head high and shouted.
At this sight,
Everyone was dumbfounded.
Even Zhao Feng's guards and the elite Qin soldiers were shocked.
The Yan soldiers who had surrendered were even more so.
Looking at the Yan King's wide, lifeless eyes filled with regret,
No one could recover from their shock.
The silence lasted for a long moment.
Then
"Well done!"
"A traitor to his people deserves death!" Gong Sun Guang roared.
The moment he spoke, a chorus of voices erupted throughout the palace.
"Well done! Well done!"
"Well done!"
Countless soldiers raised their weapons and shouted.
Especially the former Yan frontier troops
Watching their king, who had colluded with foreign tribes, being executed filled them with immense satisfaction.
The foreign tribes had invaded from the north.
Many of them could already imagine that their families had fallen victim to the invaders.
"General"
"Shall I report that the Yan King died amidst the chaos of battle?"
Kuai Pu stepped forward and whispered a suggestion.
"Report the truth about Ji City and the Yan King's execution."
"Killing a fallen king, killing a traitor who colluded with the enemy I have done nothing wrong."
"I believe His Majesty will understand."
"Besides, I have already reported the situation at the Yan border and made my stance clear," Zhao Feng said firmly, showing not the slightest hint of fear.
Although he was born in this era, Zhao Feng took pride in being a member of the Huaxia people. For traitors who betrayed Huaxia, he would never show mercy.
Furthermore, there was another purpose behind his actions.
By executing the King of Yan, the surrendered Yan soldiers would have no choice but to abandon any lingering disloyalty. With their king dead, there was no turning back for them.
Killing the king served two purposes:
First, it demonstrated to the world the dire consequences of betraying Huaxia.
Second, it deterred the 200,000 surrendered Yan soldiers from harboring any rebellious thoughts.
And if there was a third benefit, it was the reward from the system of killing the King of Yan who had granted Zhao Feng a Tier 3 Treasure Chest.
This was the first time Zhao Feng had ever received a Tier 3 Treasure Chest, a testament to the immense fortune possessed by a ruling monarch.
Seeing Zhao Feng's decisiveness, Kuai Pu could only bow respectfully. "Understood, General."
"Tu Sui!" Zhao Feng shouted.
"Present!"
Tu Sui stepped forward swiftly.
"I am leaving Ji City in your hands," Zhao Feng commanded.
"Seize all the court officials within Yan's palace and reduce their families to slavery. As for those who opposed the King of Yan and were imprisoned for it, treat them with respect and allow them to assist in governing Ji City. Once Yan is fully pacified, I will request merits for them."
"I obey!" Tu Sui immediately responded.
"General Wei Zheng."
Zhao Feng turned to Wei Zheng.
"Present!"
Wei Zheng, feeling uneasy, quickly answered.
"Ji City has just been secured. I need you to lead your imperial guards in assisting General Tu Sui to stabilize the city. If you dedicate yourself to serving Great Qin, neither I nor His Majesty will treat you unfairly," Zhao Feng assured.
"I understand."
Wei Zheng nodded. He knew that swearing loyalty now would be meaningless. The only way to fully integrate into Great Qin and earn its trust was through his actions.
"Gongsun Guang!"
"The border army mainly consists of cavalry."
"You command 70,000 border troops, correct? Where are your warhorses?" Zhao Feng asked.
"Reporting to the general!"
"Our warhorses are stationed at the city's stables. We marched quickly under orders, but all 70,000 border troops have their mounts," Gongsun Guang replied.
"Are you willing to follow me into the northern frontier of Yan and battle the invaders?" Zhao Feng asked in a deep voice.
Gongsun Guang didn't hesitate. He knelt on one knee. "I am willing!"
Zhao Feng personally helped him up. "Good."
"Today!"
"I will lead 100,000 Qin cavalry along with your 70,000 border troops to charge into Yan's northern frontier."
"We will annihilate every invading force!"
A sharp determination flashed across Zhao Feng's face.
Upon hearing his decision to move out immediately, Gongsun Guang and the other border soldiers were overjoyed.
The invaders had already crossed into the south, and though they didn't yet know the full situation in the north, they knew the enemy was ruthless. Wherever they went, they left destruction in their wake.
Every moment counted if they acted swiftly, they could still save more civilians.
For the surrendered Yan border soldiers, acting quickly meant they might still have a chance to rescue their families.
Before long, north of Ji City, over a hundred thousand cavalry galloped toward the northern frontier.
On the city walls, watching the departing army, Kuai Pu let out a helpless sigh.
"General Tu Sui," he said.
"Do we have to report this battle exactly as the general instructed?"
"General Zhao Feng killed the King of Yan this is no small matter."
Tu Sui remained expressionless. "Naturally, we will follow the general's orders."
"Moreover,"
"His Majesty is a wise and ambitious ruler. He understands the dangers of foreign invaders better than anyone. General Zhao Feng's actions were for the sake of Huaxia, to send a message to the world and to stabilize the surrendered Yan army."
"This is strategic foresight."
Kuai Pu's expression remained conflicted. "But I still feel that the general was too impulsive. That was a king, after all."
"Even if his nation had fallen, he was still a king. Only His Majesty had the authority to decide his fate."
"This time, the court officials opposing the general will surely seize this opportunity to impeach him."
It was clear this was what Kuai Pu was most worried about.
"So what if they impeach him?"
"The Wu'an Army shed blood on the battlefield in Yan."
"How dare those bureaucrats criticize us from behind their desks?"
"His Majesty will judge fairly," Tu Sui said firmly.
He had complete confidence in his commander.
The execution of the King of Yan was a great morale boost for the army.
To him, it was the right call.
"Reporting to General Tu!"
"Soldiers have just captured Prince Ji Dan at the Yan Crown Prince's residence!"
A personal guard quickly reported.
"Good!"
"Ji Dan was the mastermind behind the assassination attempt on His Majesty!"
"Immediately send him to Xianyang and hand him over to His Majesty for judgment!" Tu Sui ordered without hesitation.
"Yes, General!"
The personal guard immediately acknowledged.
"Aside from that,"
"The cities surrounding Yan still need to be conquered."
"Kuai Pu, you will handle the war report."
"Once Ji City is fully stabilized, I will lead the army to continue the campaign."
"I aim to secure all of Yan's cities as soon as possible."
"I understand." Kuai Pu nodded.
Great Qin
The Imperial Court
As expected, the moment the news reached Xianyang that Ji City had fallen and the King of Yan had been executed by Zhao Feng the court was thrown into turmoil.
"Your Majesty!"
"The surrender of Ji City and the capture of the King of Yan were great victories."
"But Zhao Feng was outrageously audacious he dared to kill a king!"
"This is an unforgivable crime!"
"Please, Your Majesty, punish him severely!"
Wang Wan, full of self-righteousness, stepped forward and loudly impeached Zhao Feng.
Following him, Kui Zhuang added, "Though the King of Yan was captured, he was still a sovereign. Only Your Majesty had the authority to determine his fate. Zhao Feng acted with arrogance and defied royal authority."
"This is a grave offense."
"We implore Your Majesty to punish him severely."
"I second this motion!"
"Executing a king without authorization cannot be tolerated!"
"Please, Your Majesty, impose strict punishment!"
…
One by one, officials from Wang Wan's faction stood up to impeach Zhao Feng.
At this moment, Wang Wan himself was inwardly delighted.
"Zhao Feng, oh Zhao Feng."
"You're still too young, too reckless."
"Killing a king!"
"Did you think you could get away with that?"
"Throughout history, kings are not so easily executed even defeated ones."
"Now, we finally have a chance to make you stumble."
Wang Wan smirked internally.
But what he didn't notice was that seated high above them, Ying Zheng's expression was cold and unreadable. His gaze scanned the officials below, silently memorizing every single person who was speaking out against Zhao Feng.
At that moment
Han Fei stepped forward and loudly declared,
"Your Majesty!"
"I believe that General Zhao Feng's decision to execute the King of Yan was not just justified it was brilliant!"
As soon as these words fell, Wang Wan's expression changed, and he immediately said, "Minister Han, why do you say this?"
"Killing a king!"
"This is not something that can be dismissed with a simple 'well done.' Even if the Yan King was a prisoner, he still had to be handed over to His Majesty for judgment."
"Zhao Feng has overstepped his authority." Wang Wan coldly stared at Han Fei.
Li Si then stepped forward and said, "Minister Han is right General Zhao Feng did indeed do well."
"The Yan King colluded with foreign tribes, making him a traitor to the Hua Xia people. He is a national traitor, and every Hua Xia citizen has the right to execute him."
"Killing the Yan King first boosts military morale, second deters the surrendered Yan troops, and third sends a clear message to the world that treason and colluding with foreign invaders is an unforgivable crime that warrants death."
Kuai Zhuang immediately stepped forward to refute, "No matter how eloquently you speak, Zhao Feng has overstepped his authority. He executed the Yan King, which means he disregarded the supreme authority of His Majesty."
"Indeed."
"The fundamental issue here is overstepping his bounds."
"A king's fate must be decided by His Majesty alone. A mere subject has no right to act on his own."
"We plead with His Majesty to impose heavy punishment on Zhao Feng."
"Such an act of overstepping authority cannot be tolerated."
At that moment, someone completely unexpected stepped forward.
Wei Liao slowly walked out.
Upon seeing him, Wang Wan, Kuai Zhuang, and the other ministers who had been calling for punishment immediately fell silent.
"Honorable ministers," Wei Liao said, looking at the officials clamoring for Zhao Feng's punishment, smiling faintly. "General Zhao Feng executed the Yan King with His Majesty's approval."
As soon as these words fell, it was like a thunderclap in the court.
"Lord Wei," Wang Wan was stunned. "Is this true?"
"When the Yan border troops began their movements, General Zhao Feng had already reported that the Yan King might have colluded with foreign tribes. He requested permission to deal with him directly if the suspicion was confirmed."
"His Majesty, naturally, approved." Wei Liao continued to smile.
Hearing his serious tone, all eyes in the court turned toward the high throne where Emperor Ying Zheng sat.
If anyone else had said this, they might not have believed it. But coming from Wei Liao, who always remained neutral in court matters and never sided with any faction, his words carried undeniable weight.
Under everyone's scrutiny, Ying Zheng finally spoke, but only with two simple words: "That's right."
"Your Majesty," Wang Wan stepped forward, clearly unwilling to give up. "Why were we not informed of this matter?"
Ying Zheng's brows furrowed, and he said coldly, "Must my secret military decrees be reported to you first?"
Wang Wan's face changed dramatically, and he hurriedly bowed. "Forgive me, Your Majesty. I was overstepping my place."
"When Zhao Feng first reported the suspicious movements of the Yan border troops, I already suspected the Yan King's possible collusion with foreign tribes. Therefore, I granted Zhao Feng full authority to act. If the Yan King's treachery was confirmed, he was to be executed without hesitation."
"And now, it turns out I was right." Ying Zheng's voice remained cold and firm.
Of course, this statement was only half true.
While Zhao Feng had indeed reported on the movement of the Yan border troops, he had merely stated that traitors to the nation should not be allowed to live.
At the time, Ying Zheng did not fully grasp Zhao Feng's intentions. It was only after receiving the battle report that he finally understood.
"This boy is indeed bold he dared to kill a king."
"And those old schemers like Wang Wan…"
"Well, when Feng'er's identity is restored, I'll deal with them first."
A mix of emotions stirred in Ying Zheng's heart, but as he looked at Wang Wan and his faction, his expression turned icy once more.
However, from Ying Zheng's perspective, Zhao Feng's execution of the Yan King was justified.
A traitor to his people what use was there in keeping him alive?
A king? So what?
"In that case, we ministers have overstepped," Wang Wan and the others admitted defeat and withdrew.
"With Yan settled and its king dead," Ying Zheng continued, "what else does the battle report say?"
Earlier, when Zhao Feng's execution of the Yan King was announced, Wang Wan and his faction immediately objected, interrupting the rest of the report.
Zhao Gao, holding the scroll, resumed reading:
"Your Majesty, I, your servant, have executed the Yan King to subdue the surrendered Yan troops."
"I have ordered General Tu Sui to secure Ji City and take control of the surrounding towns."
"I am leading my cavalry, along with the seventy thousand surrendered Yan border troops, north to engage the foreign tribes."
"These invaders are the greatest threat to the Hua Xia people."
"The Yan lands are now part of Great Qin, and its people are now Qin citizens."
"As a general of Great Qin, I must protect them."
"Therefore, I march to battle with the sole objective of annihilating these invaders."
"All who violate the sovereignty of Great Qin and threaten the Hua Xia people shall be executed without mercy."
"Additionally, the Yan Crown Prince, Ji Dan, has been captured and is being escorted to Xianyang to await Your Majesty's judgment."
After Zhao Gao finished reading, Ying Zheng nodded. "The foreign tribes are the mortal enemies of the Hua Xia people."
"With Zhao Feng personally leading the charge, I need not worry about the northern frontier of Yan."
Just then
"Report!"
"Urgent news from Yan's northern frontier!"
"The Donghu Kingdom has mobilized an army of 200,000 and invaded Yan territory."
"In less than a month, more than ten cities have fallen to them."
"The foreign invaders are massacring and plundering everywhere. The city of Xiangping has been nearly wiped out, and many other cities have been bathed in blood."
The messenger, holding the military order flag, delivered the grave report with a solemn expression.
Upon hearing this
Ying Zheng's brows furrowed.
The entire court was shocked.
"The foreign tribes are committing genocide!"
Ying Zheng's voice carried a chilling edge.
Such a massacre
It had been a long time since the people of Great Qin had heard of one.
Even during the Warring States period, no state had allowed foreign tribes to get this far, as the states maintained strong defenses against them.
But today
The foreign tribes had dared to commit such slaughter again.
They were butchering the Hua Xia people.
"Send my decree to Zhao Feng."
"For every invading barbarian leave no survivors."
Ying Zheng's eyes burned with killing intent as he issued the order coldly.
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