Longevity by Picking up Attributes in the Battlefield-Chapter 710 - 290: Xiang Yu! Zhang Liang! Unification of the World! (Part 2)
"Is there anything else?"
All eyes fell upon the young man.
"The successor to the throne of Qin!"
The young man spoke each word with weight and deliberation.
"That, I know."
"Though the King of Qin is now in his prime, blessed with many sons, he has never appointed a crown prince."
"His eldest son Fusu is said to be benevolent and kind, yet if he ascends the throne, perhaps he will not be able to command the army, nor rule the world."
"Could it be this is our opportunity?" Xiang Liang's eyes shone bright.
"Indeed."
The young man nodded.
"All men must die, in the end."
"Though the King of Qin is a man of boundless talent, unifying the world, a king the likes of whom has never been seen before nor will ever be again,"
"—yet he too will meet his end."
"Without a suitable heir, Qin is doomed." The young man smiled coldly.
It seemed, in his words, he had already seen, already painted, the fate awaiting Qin.
"Well said."
"Zifang, with your strategy, one day we shall surely destroy Qin and restore our kingdoms."
"Furthermore, it is said Zhao Feng and the Eldest Imperial Son Fusu do not get along—in fact, they are directly at odds."
"Today, Zhao Feng indeed basks in endless prestige, much favored by the King of Qin, but who can say what the future holds?"
"A new king, a new court."
"Perhaps Zhao Feng will not die by our hands, but by the hands of his fellow Qin." Xiang Liang too joined in with a cold laugh.
In their vision, Qin was doomed—and so too, Zhao Feng was destined to die.
"The hatred for the murder of one's father—cannot coexist beneath this heaven."
"Zhao Feng."
"One day, I will surely grind your bones to dust and scatter them to the wind."
Through the window,
The young man watched Zhao Feng's back, his heart seething with hatred.
In days past, when Zhao Feng had first joined the army, he struck at Han.
Qin opened the war of annihilation against Han.
In the course of those campaigns, Zhao Feng distinguished himself; it might be said, the conquest of Han was the war that truly established Zhao Feng as Qin's great commander.
From namelessness, Zhao Feng rose to become a general feared throughout the realm.
During the war to destroy Han,
Zhao Feng stormed into the Han Royal Palace and personally slew Prime Minister Zhang Ping of Han.
And this young man was, of course, Zhang Liang—Zhang Ping's son,
He was the one revered by history as the Saint of Strategy.
Zhang Liang, Zi Fang.
...
Zhao Feng's slightly mocking voice rang out on all sides.
Not everyone possessed the shrewdness of Zhang Liang and Xiang Liang.
"Qin Bandit."
"I swear to kill you."
"Kill the Qin Bandit, execute Zhao Feng."
"Vengeance!"
Again came wave upon wave of hate-filled shouts.
And once again, dozens of assassins brandishing weapons burst from among the crowd, the flames of vengeance in their eyes as they hurled themselves at Zhao Feng.
"Kill!"
Zhao Feng gave a wave of his hand. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺
At once, the trusted aides drew their blades and charged out to kill.
Those dozens who surged forth were instantly transformed into cold corpses strewn across the ground.
"Remnants of vanquished kingdoms—fools who know nothing of propriety."
Zhao Feng gave a faint laugh.
He paid them no further mind, and continued riding towards the Royal Palace of Qi.
As for the bodies scattered across the earth, surely the people of Qi would tend to them.
And this very scene brought immense shock to the people of Qi present.
To them, Zhao Feng's first arrival at their capital was, in this night, already the greatest terror he could have brought down upon them.
Qi Royal Palace!
Morning Discussion Hall.
King Tian Jian of Qi already waited outside the hall.
Beside him stood two young women of legendary beauty.
As Zhao Feng approached at a measured pace,
"We humbly welcome Lord Wu'an's arrival."
The King of Qi bowed deeply before Zhao Feng, displaying utter humility.
"Your Majesty of Qi, no need for such ceremony."
Zhao Feng stepped forward with a slight smile.
Though, in his heart, he looked down on those who surrendered so easily, the proprieties had to be maintained.
At the very least, Tian Jian's surrender spared much bloodshed—a multitude of soldiers and countless innocents were saved from slaughter and calamity.
True, he surrendered out of fear, but in so doing, nevertheless saved countless lives. Such merit cannot be denied.
"Long have I heard of Lord Wu'an's valor and youth—at not yet twenty-seven, you are already Grand Commandant of Qin, second only to the King himself."
"Meeting you today, your reputation is indeed well deserved." King Tian Jian spoke with a smile.
"Your majesty flatters me." Zhao Feng returned a faint smile.
The King of Qi, naturally, understood Zhao Feng's purpose in coming.
Wasting no time,
He gave a wave of his hand.
One of his retainers stepped forward, bearing a box.
King Tian Jian took it, opened the lid.
Inside was the Royal Seal, and a Carriage Map.
Gazing at these emblems of sovereign power—the Royal Seal and the nation's map—Tian Jian's eyes flickered with reluctance, with bitterness; at last, all turned to resignation.
"Here lie the Royal Seal and Carriage Map of my Qi."
"I, Tian Jian, King of Qi, am willing to lead ten million of my people, five hundred thousand strong troops, in surrender to Qin."
Bearing deep reluctance, Tian Jian raised the box high above his head and bowed before Zhao Feng.
At this,
Zhao Feng received the box with both hands, gravely and with due ceremony.
"I, Zhao Feng, accept the surrender of the King of Qi on behalf of the King of Qin," declared Zhao Feng.
"This is the King's Sword."
"It, too, I offer up."
Tian Jian unfastened the sword at his waist and handed it over with utmost respect.
Zhao Feng accepted each item in turn.
Then handed them to Zhang Ming standing behind him.
"In surrendering to Qin, Your Majesty of Qi has saved your country's people from slaughter and devastation—a great deed."
"My Lord, the King, will not treat Your Majesty with ingratitude."
"Henceforth,"
"the ancestral temples of Qi shall ever be preserved, the royal house shall prosper in riches and honor." Zhao Feng made his vow to Tian Jian.
Historically,
In fact, Tian Jian did not meet a happy end after surrendering.
For after his submission, his sons still dared shout for rebellion, even taking up arms once more.
In the end, of course, Emperor Qin Shi Huang ordered him to be starved to death.
"With Lord Wu'an's assurance and the grace of the King of Qin, of course I believe you." Tian Jian smiled faintly.
He then gestured towards the hall: "Lord Wu'an, come, a banquet has already been laid."
"You are too kind."
Zhao Feng inclined his head and moved towards the hall.
As Zhao Feng entered the hall,
Tian Jian immediately glanced at the two lovely maidens beside him, giving them a meaningful look.
The two women, anxious and uncertain, understood at once and hurried after him.
Only then did Tian Jian feel satisfied.
At the hall's center,
The feast was already set.
"Lord Wu'an, please be seated."
Tian Jian pointed to the mat without delay.
Zhao Feng accepted and sat down unceremoniously.
Tian Jian slowly took his own seat as well.
"Now that I have surrendered to Qin,"
"yet there remain some uncertainties in my heart. I beg Lord Wu'an to set my mind at ease." Tian Jian's face was anxious.
"Speak freely, Your Majesty of Qi."
"You have spared Qi from war and saved my Qin much ruin of national power. This is a great merit. Should you have any further requests, of minor matters I may grant them, and of great matters, I will faithfully convey them to the King." Zhao Feng declared.
"May I ask, will I be allowed to remain in Linzi?" Tian Jian inquired.
"Your Majesty must be jesting,"
"The King has already chosen a most excellent city for you. Should you remain in Qi, it would not profit my Qin's rule." Zhao Feng replied with a gentle smile.
At this,
Tian Jian's eyes dimmed with disappointment: "I dwelled too much on it."
"Your Majesty can rest easy."
"My lord the King is not one so base as to discard the donkey after the millstone is turned."
"So long as you are sincere in your submission and sever all ties to Qi, if ever there be others who stir up rebellion, and you are no longer involved, both you and your descendants will enjoy wealth and honor. That, my Qin can guarantee."
"As for the ancestral temples of Qi, they shall be moved to the very city granted to your house by Qin."
"There, you will be permitted to offer sacrifice with the rites of a prince." Zhao Feng stated plain.
Hearing Zhao Feng's solemn promises, Tian Jian nodded and then said: "These two are my daughters, of the age of sixteen. The elder is Tian Ling, the younger Tian Xun. I wonder Lord Wu'an, what do you think of them?"
Zhao Feng gave them a glance, his expression unruffled and voice calm: "Their beauty is beyond compare."
"I wish to bestow both my daughters upon Lord Wu'an, if he is willing to accept them?" Tian Jian asked eagerly.
"Such a matter requires the King's approval."
"Though my station is high in Qin, I am, in the end, still a servant of the throne." Zhao Feng replied politely.
But at these words,
Tian Jian lit up with excitement: "Fear not, Lord Wu'an, I have already obtained the King of Qin's permission. When the Qin envoy entered Qi, I set these terms to His Majesty of Qin—apart from gold and assurances of safety, the most important was the betrothal of my two daughters to you, Lord Wu'an."
Zhao Feng was stunned at hearing this.
...
