We Agreed On Experiencing Life, So Why Did You Immortals Become Real? Chapter 354: If This Prince Were to Proclaim Himself Emperor, What Then?
Previously on We Agreed On Experiencing Life, So Why Did You Immortals Become Real?...
The report of Xiahou Nan surrendering to the Northern Frontier Army, all thanks to Xiao Mo's scheming, quickly swept through every corner of Zhei Kingdom's domain.
Numerous generals had been mulling over surrender yet held back in doubt. Seeing even the mighty General Xiahou bow down, they cast aside all reluctance.
Consequently, surrenders poured in from more generals. The Northern Frontier Army's four fronts smashed through cities, took submissions nonstop, and pushed straight to the Zhei capital!
Within Zhei Kingdom's royal palace, upon hearing Xiahou Nan had marched his forces to yield, the ruler exploded in rage during court. This time, fury truly overwhelmed him into unconsciousness. Yet upon waking, harsh truth awaited—he still had to confront it and devise counters against the Northern Frontier Army.
Yet what cards remained? Only the capital's mighty grand formation, bound to fall eventually, plus two hundred thousand elite guards and the palace's enshrined cultivators.
Once the Northern Frontier Army's four prongs united, the city's fall was inevitable.
Regret gnawed at Zhei Kingdom's ruler. He rued not yielding outright instead of dithering. This disastrous end was far from his desires!
Five days post Xiahou Nan's capitulation, Xiao Mo commanded the assault on the city.
Xiahou Nan himself commanded the freshly surrendered troops against the Zhei capital's south gate, while Xiao Mo struck the east gate.
Under Xiahou Nan's lead, those yielded soldiers harbored no stray notions, obeyed without question, and regained their full fighting prowess.
Furthermore, Xiahou Nan's intimate knowledge of Zhei capital's defenses piled immense strain on the besiegers' foes.
Some defending generals in the capital shared old ties with Xiahou Nan; his calls to surrender stirred their wavering resolves into greater chaos.
Court civil officials cared solely for self-preservation, plotting frantic escapes.
Patriotism? What concern was that of theirs?
Thirty-three days on, Zhei capital's formation crumbled. Xiao Mo and Xiahou Nan stormed into the heart of Zhei Kingdom's seat.
Xiao Mo decreed the army spare civilians from harm, on pain of dire penalty!
Though Xiahou Nan hit the palace gates first, ahead of Xiao Mo, he held back from entering, awaiting Xiao Mo's arrival.
Xiao Mo's arrival saw him and Xiahou Nan jointly carve through to the palace interior.
Zhei Kingdom's ruler, loath to suffer Qin Kingdom's shame, sought suicide by noose yet faltered in cowardice time and again. When Xiao Mo located him, the ruler yet perched atop his stool.
Xiao Mo seized Zhei Kingdom's entire imperial clan.
Xiao Mo encountered too the princess Zhei's ruler once plotted to wed him.
Words failed Xiao Mo pointedly. Beauty lay beyond mortal gauges, after all. Still, he admitted plainly: tank-driving held no appeal for him.
With Zhei Kingdom's royals fully subdued, Xiao Mo's next move ordered a full audit of official rolls, terrain charts, population ledgers, and sundry records.
Zhei officials faced summary execution of many, per Xiahou Nan's counsel.
Xiahou Nan drew up another roster of officials.
Loyal and capable, these men served the realm devotedly. Yet they harbored no regard for Xiao Mo, refusing his service.
Xiao Mo spared them hardship, released them with coin besides. Reentering bureaucracy, though, hinged on His Majesty's will.
Tenth day after Xiao Mo took Zhei capital, Xiao Shi with the other three columns reached the city in turn.
Xiao Shi beheld Zhei capital's calm order intact, confirming his son handled every detail flawlessly.
Father's arrival prompted Xiao Mo's urge to rush against Chu Kingdom. But Xiao Shi revealed Qin Kingdom's ruler dispatching eldest prince Qin Jingsu to command troops.
Qin Jingsu proved true to expectations, halting Chu forces' advance and granting Qin vital mobilization time.
Merely five days prior, Qin's remaining armies gathered. Now battle favored them utterly, steadily expelling Chu invaders from Qin soil.
In these rest-and-refit days for Northern Frontier Army, Xiao Mo met his elder brother.
About elder brother Xiao Yichuan, Xiao Mo knew only his fame as cultivation prodigy, favored deeply by Tao Mountain Sect's sect master, mountain-bound for training since youth.
Yet Xiao Yishe's sway made Xiao Mo suspect Xiao Yichuan akin to him—likely no saint—but reality proved that judgment off.
Visually, eldest brother evoked a forthright, robust fellow, body packed with firm muscle, arms rivaling ordinary thighs in girth.
Post-meeting, Xiao Yichuan gifted Xiao Mo rare Tao Mountain Sect pills prime for restoring qi and blood.
Xiao Yichuan often dragged Xiao Mo for wine or martial spars.
Xiao Mo sensed, absent deception, eldest brother regarded him as true kin, utterly unguarded.
That day, Xiao Mo cultivated eyes shut in the yard when Xiao Yichuan appeared anew, twin wine jars in hand, for shared imbibing.
Courtyard-seated, they quaffed and bantered on cultivation, warfare, trifles. Xiao Mo, as ever, sidestepped Xiao Yishe's name.
Mid-talk, Xiao Yichuan sighed deeply. "If only Yishe were still here, and we three brothers could drink wine together and campaign on the battlefield, how wonderful that would be."
Eldest brother's remark drew Xiao Mo's quiet wine sip.
Xiao Yichuan rose, faced Xiao Mo, fisted hands in salute, and bowed. "Third Brother, though your second brother is gone, I apologize to you in his stead."
"Why does Eldest Brother say such things?" Xiao Mo rose, bowing back. "That Eldest Brother doesn't fault me for binding Second Brother and hauling him to main camp already gratifies Third Brother immensely."
Slightly tipsy, Xiao Yichuan shook his head. "When I first joined the ranks and heard Yishe badmouth you, I pegged you as a cunning plotter chasing clout. But your exploits and our talks showed otherwise from Second Brother's tales. Rather, Second Brother fixated on inheriting the Northern Pacification Prince mantle, craving Father's nod for it."
"Thus he slighted Huating's defenses for empty glory, risking the front's ruin. All his doing, unrelated to Third Brother. Truth is, with your gifts, Third Brother could forge glory alone—no need for 'Northern Pacification Prince'. Is that title worth it? No use dwelling on might-have-beens."
"..." Xiao Mo bowed head, mute.
"Enough, enough. Drop it. Drink up!"
Xiao Yichuan snatched the jug, resuming drinks; Xiao Mo matched him.
Deep night brought a soldier to Xiao Mo's yard: Northern Pacification Prince called the two generals to palace main hall.
Xiao Mo and Xiao Yichuan traded looks, cleared their wine aura, and quit the yard.
Entering Zhei palace's grand hall, Xiao Shi loomed first sight, enthroned on dragon seat, fingers caressing armrest dragon heads.
Xiao Mo and companion creased brows alike, yet advanced, saluted with fists. "This general pays respects to the Northern Pacification Prince."
"Mm."
Xiao Shi nodded, eyeing his two prized sons.
"No outsiders here—just father and sons three. Skip the stiff rites."
"Yes." They stood tall.
"I wonder why Father summoned Third Brother and me. What's the issue?" Xiao Yichuan queried.
"One affair. Your views, I seek."
Xiao Shi's lips hooked up. Lion eyes fixed on his sons.
"Northern Frontier Army holds Zhei capital now, plus Northern Frontier's three provinces. Should this prince claim emperorship—what say you?"