Chapter 187: Chapter 187

After giving one last profound look at the moon-white figure before him, Emperor Zhou Xuan, who had earned formidable prestige on the battlefield, ultimately chose to end his own life with his own hand. Even though his sword-wielding arm was already drenched in blood, the speed of his blade never slowed for even an instant. In a flash, blood splattered across the city walls. Perhaps in his eyes, no one else could—or had the right—to take his life except himself...

With the sudden clatter of falling armor, crimson blood began streaming down the city walls.

Fearing his superior might feel discomfort, the attendant following closely behind hastily offered a handkerchief that had been prepared earlier and scented with medicinal herbs. An Ning shook her head—this level of stimulation was nothing she couldn't handle.

Truth be told, having spent years stationed in the rear, she had never witnessed this man's heroic bearing on the battlefield. Even the original host's final memories were of the Great Zhou's iron cavalry wreaking endless havoc in the city and the blazing flames that filled the sky in his last moments. But judging by the circumstances at that time, An Ning could basically confirm that, barring any accidents, this man before her would undoubtedly have been the final victor in the original host's lifetime.

It must be said that the tyranny of monarchy was indeed an effective strategy for victory in chaotic times. It's just a pity that this path was paved with too much blood—countless lives like the original host's.

Gazing at the disorderly streets in the distance, An Ning knew that although this was just the beginning, the era of chaos was already nearing its end...

"The same rules as always—once the army enters the city, there will be no harassment of civilians. Looting is strictly forbidden. Violators will face military punishment."

"Those who rape women or children will be executed on the spot!"

In the ninth year of Jianyuan, the Great Zhou fell and was completely annexed by the Great Qi. The following March, Emperor Jing of Liang—the third son of the former Emperor Zhao of Liang and elder brother of Xiao Qi—personally sent envoys to submit a letter of surrender. Out of consideration for familial bonds, Emperor Jianyuan Xiao Qi gladly accepted and immediately granted him the title "Prince of Lin'an," with double the stipend of a regular prince.

Thus, three of the five kingdoms were gone from the world, leaving only the southern states of Wei and Wu huddling together for warmth, trembling in fear every day, constantly worrying when the executioner's blade of their neighboring Great Qi would fall upon them.

Especially for neighboring Great Wei—despite their desperate efforts to suppress rumors among the people about "worshipping another country"—they couldn't stop the populace from losing faith. By the twelfth year of Jianyuan, after a massive flood, displaced refugees poured into Great Qi like madmen.

"Why? Why did the dams in the neighboring country barely hold while ours failed? Why did we lose our families and homes?"

"Did you know? Within half a month after the flood, our neighbors already had white rice and fragrant dried meat delivered to them! And what about us?"

"Brothers, just one wall apart—why are our lives so worthless?"

Indeed, they were all human beings. Why the difference?

Hearing about the good life next door, these ragged, emaciated refugees on their escape route couldn't help but feel genuine envy. If only... if only Great Qi had come to their land earlier. Wasn't Great Liang also once an outsider? And yet they weren't treated differently.

They heard that Chancellor Chu of Great Qi was extremely benevolent—wherever the Great Qi army went, there was no burning, killing, or looting, nor were common folk harassed. So what was there to fear?

In the crowd, several equally pale and gaunt individuals exchanged glances before quickly disappearing into the masses. Damn, life in Great Wei was too damn hard. Better finish Chancellor's mission quickly and return.

No one expected that while the entire upper echelon of Great Wei was trembling in fear of the Qi army next door, spending fortunes to upgrade their equipment, their own people would revolt first—some even seizing city gates to pledge allegiance to the Qi forces.

The King of Great Wei: "Damn those Qi people, always pulling the same trick."

An Ning and Xie Heng: Thanks for the compliment. Old tricks are the best tricks when they work.

After having another batch of assassins' corpses removed, An Ning finally lay back down on her own bed. Honestly, between the assassins and honey traps, even if they weren't tired of it, she certainly was.

Autumn was coming, and the weather would soon turn cold. With golden September and sweet osmanthus in the air, wasn't this the perfect time to bring warmth to neighboring countries?

The next day in court, the moment An Ning submitted her memorial, everyone's eyes lit up.

"The Chancellor is right—the time is ripe!"

"If the Chancellor says so, then Great Wei is already in our pocket!"

"Damn, finally time for another campaign! After resting for two years, my hands are itching for action!"

If not for the Chancellor's insistence on recuperation and the Emperor's agreement, he would have charged in long ago.

General Ye nodded emphatically. Beside him, Xie Heng—already informed the previous night—smiled and said:

"All nations were one family a century ago. The people of Great Wei share our blood. How can we not rescue our brethren suffering in such dire straits?"

Well played, as expected (of the Chancellor).

Thus, after the court session, the decision to send troops to Great Wei was happily settled.

In autumn of the twelfth year of Jianyuan, Great Qi officially marched on Great Wei. Though Great Wei was weak, it was still one of the five great powers, and with support from neighboring Wu, everyone expected a fierce battle. Yet against all expectations, just as the Qi army swiftly conquered two cities, news came from the Wei capital that Emperor Xiang of Wei was willing to submit.

Wu, which had been preparing to make a last stand: "..."

Regardless of their reluctance, by spring of the thirteenth year of Jianyuan—the sixteenth year since An Ning arrived in this world—this century-long era of chaos finally came to a complete end.