Longevity by Picking up Attributes in the Battlefield Chapter 708 Chapter 289: Zhao Feng's Intimidation! Shaking the World! (Part 2)
Previously on Longevity by Picking up Attributes in the Battlefield...
"Hou Sheng's clan, the Prime Minister of Qi?" Zhao Feng eyed the arriving man.
"I never imagined Lord Wu'an would know my family's Prime Minister by name. He'll be profoundly touched upon hearing this." The man answered with deep respect.
"No more words required."
"Will Qi's King choose battle or submission?"
"That's the only thing I care to know." Zhao Feng refused to linger on chit-chat.
He questioned straight away.
"Thanks to the Prime Minister's counsel,"
"my king agrees to surrender."
Hou Lin bowed deeply before Zhao Feng in salute.
Hearing those words,
Zhao Feng nodded, "When does the formal surrender occur?"
"With the Qin Army arrived, they might already be crossing into Qi territory." Hou Lin responded deferentially.
"Excellent."
"Avoiding carnage between brother states is ideal." Zhao Feng gave another nod.
Though regretful over the skipped clash, Zhao Feng had anticipated this outcome.
Qi's King lacked the guts to court doom, especially after Qin's King issued his decree: refusal to yield meant annihilation of his lineage and ancestral shrines.
Shenzhou's expansive realms now belonged to Qin.
Qi stood encircled, with zero escape routes.
Save for seafaring flight.
"General Tian Lin, receive the royal decree."
Hou Lin turned his gaze to Tian Lin.
The general dismounted without delay.
"This servant awaits the sovereign's order." Tian Lin prostrated himself.
"By royal edict,"
"the Qin forces shall advance into Qi without barrier or resistance. I have decided to yield to mighty Great Qin, safeguarding Great Qi's tranquility to spare the realm war's horrors and the populace's devastation."
"I summon Qin's Marquis Wu'an to Linzi personally for surrender deliberations."
Hou Lin presented the edict and proclaimed it.
Upon this announcement,
Tian Lin exhaled in relief, mirrored by the myriad Qi troops trailing him.
"We obey the royal will!"
The tens of thousands of Qi soldiers roared together.
Only now,
sensing the murderous aura radiating from Great Qin's elite warriors, did they grasp the essence of massacre and domination.
Right then,
tension finally ebbed from them all.
No clash with such a force awaited.
"Inviting me to Linzi?" Zhao Feng regarded Hou Lin.
"The Great King hopes Lord Wu'an visits the capital to settle surrender rites." Hou Lin replied courteously.
"In that case,"
"I'll comply with Qi's King's request."
Zhao Feng nodded in agreement.
"Your Majesty,"
"shouldn't we proceed with greater vigilance?" Zhang Han cautioned.
"No need."
"Qi's King sincerely yields. If he dares attack, a million Great Qin elites won't spare him."
"Moreover, with my prowess, who under heaven can touch me?"
"Just the Personal Guard Army comes with me this time." Zhao Feng smiled faintly, unconcerned.
"As you command."
Recalling his lord's awe-inspiring power, Zhang Han finally assented.
"Oversee the Qi army's capitulation now. Also, notify Cai Ci and the officers in Yan and Zhao lands to advance into Qi and assume city control."
"Furthermore, inform the Great King to dispatch officials to Qi domains." Zhao Feng instructed further.
"This general complies." Zhang Han acknowledged promptly.
"Lord Wu'an, kindly follow me to Linzi."
"The journey from here takes three days." Hou Lin informed respectfully.
"Good." Zhao Feng nodded, then hurled his Tyrant Spear to Zhang Ming before urging his mount onward.
Trailing him,
five thousand Personal Guard Army soldiers marched alongside.
Though merely five thousand strong,
their combat prowess rivaled fifty thousand foes.
Such was the terrifying might of Zhao Feng's martial cultivator guards.
Observing Zhao Feng, shielded by five thousand elites, plunge into Qi territory,
Tian Lin could only marvel silently: "This must be Marquis Wu'an of Qin's prestige. Daring to penetrate deep into Qi with just five thousand—if the king reneges, peril looms indeed."
Three days flew by swiftly.
Qin Cavalry crossed the frontier.
Met with zero opposition.
Before Linzi City,
this venerable capital predating even Great Qin's Xianyang, beheld Qin forces at its walls for the first time ever.
By the gates,
Prime Minister Hou Sheng and Qi's full assembly of officials stood ready to greet them.
As Zhao Feng neared astride his horse,
Hou Sheng hastened forward.
"Qi's Prime Minister Hou Sheng, with all officials, humbly greets Great Qin's Marquis Wu'an."
With those words,
Hou Sheng dropped to his knees in homage.
His trailing officials knelt successively behind.
Seeing this display,
Zhao Feng dismounted steadily,
advancing calmly.
"Rise, everyone." Zhao Feng offered a light smile.
Qi's demeanor screamed utter submission; their capitulation rang true.
"Gratitude, Lord Wu'an." Hou Sheng thanked him at once.
"Where's Qi's King?" Zhao Feng asked.
"To answer Lord Wu'an,"
"the Great King awaits in the Royal Palace, banquet laid out." Hou Sheng answered deferentially.
Before Zhao Feng, as Prime Minister, he avoided any hint of presumption.
Whispers across the realm called Zhao Feng Qin's War God; another rumor painted him a merciless slayer, butchering men without pause.
Though those kills targeted alien tribes, the dread lingered in souls.
Zhao Feng's exploits—slaughtering countless Donghu—drenched his hands in blood numbering far past tens of thousands.
A man evoking pure terror.
"Han Chenyan."
Zhao Feng called.
"Your subordinate stands ready." Han Chenyan replied instantly.
"Lead two thousand Personal Guard to lock down the gates."
"The others accompany me to the palace." Zhao Feng ordered softly.
"Yes, sir!" Han Chenyan bellowed.
Immediately, two thousand Personal Guard broke formation, dashing to seize the gates and scale the walls.
Witnessing this,
Hou Sheng and officials held their tongues.
Qi's surrender stood firm as reality.
Arrangements complete,
"Lord Wu'an, this way please."
Hou Sheng stepped up to guide.
Zhao Feng remounted; escorted by guards, he rode toward Qi's Royal Palace.
Within the Qi capital,
along the broad avenue's flanks, throngs of Qi civilians watched curiously.
Surrender news had spread wide—some resisted, some embraced; hatred burned in some eyes, relief in others.
Commoners craved war's absence naturally; the principled saw only disgrace.
Amid the masses,
numerous glared at Zhao Feng and his guards with fiery rage.
Yet Zhao Feng noted none, indifferent.
In time, Great Qin's hold would crush such defiance.
Deeper into the city they went,
where the avenue brimmed with folk and supply wagons,
"Killing intent surges."
Zhao Feng sensed it sharply.
Whoosh.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh.
Crossbow bolts flew from roadside ambushes, targeting Zhao Feng.
"Assassins!"
Zhang Ming yelled fiercely.
Instantly, Personal Guard charged ahead, unsheathing blades to swat arrows from the air.
Zhao Feng stayed utterly passive.
"Assassins here?"
Hou Sheng paled drastically.
Harm befalling Zhao Feng in Linzi spelled doom for him and Qi alike.
"Slay Zhao Feng!"
"Kill Zhao Feng, the Qin dog!"
"End the butcher!"
"Kill him..."
Shouts exploded along the avenue.
Hundreds of armed assassins erupted from the crowd, loosing bolts and lunging at Zhao Feng.
"Remnants of fallen states, eh?"
Zhao Feng merely smirked.
He pierced the plot in a flash.
Qi wouldn't risk this in their heartland; soldiers would handle it. These killers were surely survivors from realms Zhao Feng had crushed.
Qi had been their final haven. Now falling, they struck desperately.
Action came swift.
"Kill!" Zhang Ming commanded icily.
Personal Guard spurred mounts, crashing into the fray.
Upon impact,
assassins found themselves encircled in seconds,
swarmed like insects to fire, butchered by guards as blood flooded the street.
Bolts scattered harmlessly, failing to dent armor.
Moments later,
hundreds lay as road corpses.
"Lord Wu'an."
"These killers bear no tie to Qi."
"Our state knew nothing!"
Hou Sheng stared at Zhao Feng in horror, frantic to clarify.
"Qi wouldn't be dumb enough to strike me in its own city."
"Just scraps from my conquered domains." Zhao Feng dismissed calmly, unmoved.
Hearing this, Hou Sheng sighed in relief.
...