*

As the sun rose, the gates of Rongguo's capital city opened wide.

Without fighting or resistance, Emperor Rong, dressed in plain clothes and a white crown, led the royal family, civil and military officials, out of the city to surrender to the guards.

Nan Qing rode a white tiger and led the Xuanjia Army into the city. The people huddled on both sides of the street, silently bowing their heads, as if they had long expected this day to come.

The iron cavalry of the Wei Kingdom marched across the main road of the Rong Kingdom's capital, their armor gleaming coldly, yet not a single soldier drew his sword against the common people.

Before Nanqing's northern expedition, he had already established ironclad rules: those who plunder the people would be beheaded, those who deceive women would be executed, and those who destroy fields would be flogged.

In the first few cities, there were still those who violated the law, but she beheaded them all and hung their heads on the city gates. The army was in awe, and no one dared to violate the law again after that.

Nanqing attacked the city too quickly, and the civil officials arranged by Wu Jing followed the rear of the attacking army to repair the damaged houses and rebuild the burned granaries.

Now, the civil officials also entered the city with Nan Qing to hand over household registrations, land deeds, national treasury silver, and so on with the former Rongguo ministries.

Before the expedition, the old Minister of Revenue beat his chest and stamped his feet in frustration, but that was just a habitual complaint of poverty. In fact, the national treasury of Wei was astonishingly full. Since Nanqing captured the first city, silver had been flowing out like water.

The refugees received food, the wounded soldiers received medical treatment, and even the soldiers who had fought for the country were carried away for medical treatment. Those who wished to return home were registered, and those who wished to join the army received new armor.

Standing atop the imperial city, Nan Qing gazed at the orderly scene within, a slight smile playing on his lips.

The states of the world, after a long period of unity, will inevitably divide, and after a long period of division, will inevitably unite again. The rise and fall of dynasties is simply the natural order of things.

However, the Rongguo Kingdom perished because of its ruler, not because of its people.

For the next three years, Nanqing's iron cavalry traversed almost every mountain and river. After Rongguo was incorporated into Weiguo's territory, Mingguo, Jiguo, Fanguo, and Huguo all came under Weiguo's control.

Nan Qing stood before the newly drawn map of the territory. Apart from the Liang Kingdom, which was controlled by Pei Linmo, the Chosen One, and the few small countries behind the Liang Kingdom, the rest of the continent was almost entirely under the control of the Wei Kingdom.

[Host, host, now we only need Liang Kingdom. Should we attack directly?]

"They are chosen ones by fate, so at least leave them some, otherwise the old man of Heaven will be crying to you again."

[Tch~~ Xiao Ba isn't afraid of that old man, it's just that he's so long-winded]

Last year, when Nanqing attacked Fan, Pei Linmo had already taken full control of Liang and become the regent. Now, the one sitting on the dragon throne is just a five-year-old child.

According to the original plot, Pei Linmo should have already taken action against the surrounding countries and expanded the territory of Liang.

But now, apart from the few small countries behind him, all the surrounding countries have fallen to Wei. The old man Tiandao doesn't dare to bother Nanqing anymore, so he keeps nagging Xiao Ba every day, saying that this year's chosen one has nothing to do.

The territory and strength of Wei now far surpass those of Liang. I wonder if that chosen one still harbors the ambition to unify the world.

Meanwhile, in the Liang Kingdom...

Pei Linmo, dressed in a dark brocade robe, stood tall before the map, holding a stack of secret reports in his hand, which were densely filled with records about everything concerning the Crown Princess of Shaoyang of the Wei Kingdom.

Fifth Nanqing.

That name, which was legendary from birth.

The guard Su Jing stood to one side: "Your Highness, I heard that on the day Princess Zhaoyang was born, there were extraordinary celestial phenomena, with dragons and phoenixes appearing and all birds paying homage to the phoenix. She was known as a child prodigy from the age of three, was made crown princess at the age of eight, and began leading troops to conquer Rong Kingdom at the age of thirteen, and has never been defeated."

Looking at the current territory of the State of Wei on the map, Pei Linmo's expression grew even more profound. Upon hearing the words "never defeated," he suddenly chuckled softly, his voice low and deep:

"interesting."

That's really interesting.

He had been guarding the border with his father since childhood. He took up a sword at the age of eight and drew blood at the age of ten. The surrounding countries were his targets, but unexpectedly, a woman took the lead.

"Your Highness, we..." Su Jing hesitated, unable to finish his sentence.

Pei Linmo raised his hand, stopping him from speaking.

"She also wants to seize the world."

"I will then play a game with her."

In the three months that followed, the situation changed drastically.

From the border to the heartland, the post roads within the Liang Kingdom operated day and night, continuously transporting grain, fodder, and supplies to the frontier.

The seven border cities bordering the State of Wei had their gates open day and night, allowing them to mobilize troops and garrison a million soldiers.

Crescent Moon Pass, the foremost and most formidable pass on the border of the nation.

Nan Qing, dressed in plain clothes, stood on the city tower. The strong wind outside the pass swirled sand and gravel, stinging her face, but she simply gazed quietly at the distant mountain range stretching towards the direction of Liang Kingdom.

"Your Highness," Lin Rui handed over the latest secret report, "Two hundred thousand Liang soldiers have been assembled in Yong'an City."

Nan Qing took the secret report and chuckled, "Tell me, is that regent in Yong'an City?"

Lin Rui paused for a moment, pondered, and replied, "It is said that Pei Linmo is a man of deep thoughts. Crescent Moon Pass is easy to defend but difficult to attack. I think he will focus his attack on other cities."

Nan Qing didn't think so. She raised her eyes and looked into the distance, gazing at the dark clouds on the horizon, and said:

"No, he must be in Yong'an City."

"Moreover, Yong'an City has far more than 200,000 troops."

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhou Cheng, his face covered by black armor, strode over, knelt down and reported: "Your Highness, as you predicted, there are traces of tens of thousands of Liang soldiers thirty miles to the northwest and southeast of the pass."

Lin Rui gasped: "This is... he's trying to encircle us from three sides?"

Nan Qing remained calm and composed, having already made his plans. Although Crescent Moon Pass was easy to defend but difficult to attack, if it were breached, they could advance straight into Jiangdu, a vital granary for the Wei Kingdom.

Who commanded the Northwest Army?

"Yan Song, a veteran general of the Liang Kingdom."

What about the Southeast?

"Pei Linmo's newly promoted young general, Pei Qi."

"Zhou Cheng, tell me, how should we return this generous gift to Pei Linmo?"

A muffled reply came from beneath the stern face: "This humble general has assembled three hundred Flying Eagle Guards, awaiting only Your Highness's command!"

Nan Qing nodded: "Go ahead, the northwest is your responsibility, as for the southeast... I'll go there myself."

"How many Flying Eagle Guards does Your Highness require to accompany you?"

"No need, I am enough on my own."

Lin Rui was taken aback and advised, "Your Highness, you must not take such a risk. The southeast can be handed over to me, and Your Highness can stay in the army."

Upon hearing this, Nan Qing immediately took out a white jade token from his sleeve.

The Crown Princess of Wei issued an edict.

She tossed the token to Lin Rui:

"Lin Rui, from now on, you will take charge of the army in my place."

Without waiting for a reply, Nan Qing leaped down from the city wall, followed closely by the white tiger with a low roar.

Lin Rui clutched the white jade token in his hand, his head throbbing.

When will the Crown Princess start playing by the rules?!

"Zhou Cheng, you said..."

He turned his head to seek approval, only to see that Zhou Cheng had already turned and strode away.

Yes.

Lin Rui suddenly chuckled softly.

Both of them were personally selected by His Highness, and they knew His Highness's abilities better than anyone else.

He was the kind of man who could single-handedly charge into the midst of a massive army and take the enemy general's head as easily as taking something out of a bag.

What is there to worry about?

The one who should be worried is Pei Qi, who is on His Highness's mind.