Yuan Chen was momentarily at a loss for words. Moments later, he fiercely drew his sword, "Nangong Zheng, you treacherous..."
Before he could finish, someone behind him thrust a sword through him, piercing him completely. Yuan Chen stiffened, the sword in his hand fell to the ground with a clang a few inches from Nangong Zheng. He slowly turned his head and saw the expressionless face of the person who killed him, his pupils dilated and he spat out a mouthful of blood, "You... you..."
The person who killed him was none other than his Queen. She was Yuwen Yan from the noble Yuwen Family of Dawei, which controlled a third of Dawei’s military power.
Yuwen Yan had a childhood sweetheart she was fond of, but they were separated by a marriage decree from Yuan Zhao. Her family, although doting, could only swallow their grievances under Yuan Zhao’s dominance. Nangong Zheng secretly approached the Yuwen Family, declaring that Dawei’s days were numbered, soon to become a feast at the mercy of Daliang and Nanchu. Thus, the Yuwen family was convinced and secretly pledged their allegiance to Nangong Zheng.
Noble families knew best how to assess the situation. Their biggest fear was not the fall of the country, but the extinction of their clan.
And Yuwen Yan, had long been disguised and hiding in the military camp, waiting for this day to kill Yuan Chen. She harbored no affection for Yuan Chen, but instead a profound hatred, wishing she could kill him with her own hands.
The reason Nangong Zheng allowed the war to drag on was to systematically eliminate those who supported Yuan Chen and Yuan Zhao’s loyalists in the military, ultimately seizing complete control of the military power and the situation.
Falling back to Fisher Barrier City, killing Yuan Chen, was his final move.
Today, Nangong Zheng gave Yuwen Yan the opportunity to kill Yuan Chen.
Yuwen Yan’s stab from behind was decisively forceful, Yuan Chen only managed to utter the word "you" twice, he couldn’t finish his sentence, and soon fell to the ground vomiting blood profusely.
Yuwen Yan dropped the sword in her hand onto Yuan Chen’s body, her eyes filled with the thrill of avenging a personal vendetta, "Yuan Chen, don’t blame me. When you had someone sabotage the horse during the hunt, causing Chuyu’s leg to break, and then had the Imperial Doctor covertly ensure his leg would never function properly, you should have anticipated this day—I was destined to kill you."
Yuan Chen’s eyes grayed over as he closed them.
With Yuan Chen’s death, his Hidden Guards were strangled, and his few remaining confidants were either killed or turned to support Nangong Zheng.
Thus, when Nanchu’s army approached Fisher Barrier City, Nangong Zheng ordered the raising of a surrender flag, opened the city gates, and welcomed Su Rong and Zhou Gu into the city.
As Yuan Zhao was being gradually defeated by Daliang, struggling desperately, news of Nangong Zheng’s betrayal and his assassination of Yuan Chen stun him. the raising of Nanchu’s flag over Fisher Barrier City made him stagger, and he spat out a mouthful of blood.
All the soldiers loyal to Yuan Zhao were visibly shaken, feeling that it truly might be the end for Dawei.
The Emperor’s most trusted, Nangong Zheng—who could have anticipated that despite his deep-seated vendetta against Nanchu, he had been secretly bought back by them? Now, with half of Dawei’s military power in his hands, he had sided with Nanchu. What chance did Dawei have now?
After vomiting blood, Yuan Zhao finally collapsed, unconscious.
When he awoke, he received another piece of devastating news: Qin Luan, whom he had secretly placed in Nanchu, had killed himself. The half of the Imperial Court Hidden Guards that were sent with her were all executed by Su Rong, leaving no survivors.
In that moment, Yuan Zhao too realized that his time was likely up, but he was not ready to accept defeat. Thinking how Dawei, once a mighty nation that had pressured both Daliang and Nanchu into submission, was now under his rule being devoured by them. Underworld, how could he face his ancestors?
He gritted his teeth and told his generals, "Fight, fight to the death even."
An old general sighed, "Your Majesty, why not surrender?"
As soon as he spoke, the other generals chimed in, "Your Majesty, why not surrender?"
Yuan Zhao pointed at the crowd, "You, all of you, are you not all fearing death? Even if I were to be a ruler of a fallen nation, do I wish to be judged in the history books as a man who clung cowardly to life? Do you all wish to live on your knees?"
He drew his sword, intent on killing the old general.
A young general suddenly stepped forward, drawing his sword and aiming at Yuan Zhao, his voice sharp as he said, "Since Your Majesty refuses to surrender, then your servant can only present Your Majesty’s head as a persuasion for you to surrender."
Yuan Zhao, unable to dodge in time, was stabbed in the chest. He looked dazedly at this general, a man he had promoted himself, from the first noble family of Dawei, the Deng Family, named Deng Pingxu.
His killing represented the Deng Family’s betrayal of Dawei, using his head as a token of surrender to Daliang.
Yuan Zhao opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but spat out a mouthful of blood. After a moment, he struggled twice and fell to the ground.
Not all emperors are fortunate to die on the battlefield, nor do all soldiers embrace the resolve to die when the fall of their nation is imminent.
Especially in Dawei, where noble families abound, they do not see a future for the nation; surviving and continuing their lineage is all they desire—this is the way these families have persisted through generations.
All under heaven act for profit, all turmoil under heaven is rooted in greed.
Glorious Dawei, thus divided and conquered by Nanchu and Daliang, fell as a nation.
The Empress of Dawei, Luo Yan, was initially captured. Upon hearing of the death of the Dawei Emperor, she also swallowed gold in resentment and died.
Su Rong gained control of half of Dawei’s military power through Nangong Zheng and acquired two-thirds of Dawei’s territory. His country, originally a small state of Nanchu, expanded its territory by twice the size, becoming the second major state next to Daliang.
The two countries governed their respective annexed territories and met at Xunyang Ancient Road of Longpan Mountain. They signed a century-long treaty, promising friendship and co-governing peace and unity.
On the day the treaty was signed, King’s husband Zhou Gu, Empress Duanhua, and the prime ministers of both countries, along with numerous civil and military officials, jointly witnessed the event.
From then on, the constant conflicts among the three nations became history, ushering in an unprecedented, peaceful golden age that lasted a hundred years.
After the treaty signing and return to the court, Su Rong appointed Nangong Zheng as Prince of Shanan and Zhang Yun as Marquis of Yongan, and rewarded the other generals and officials according to their contributions.
Of course, where there were rewards, there were also penalties. Qin Ruo, feeling ashamed, asked to be relieved of his duties; the descendants of the Qin Family would not enter court for three generations. He ultimately paid for his younger sister’s actions, entangled by their consequences.
The historical records state that the King and King’s husband established the nation and co-created a prosperous era, benefiting the people and granting them peace and prosperity, which purified the seas and cleansed the rivers. Their achievements resonated through Nanchu and were remembered for eons. They loved each other all their lives, had three children together – one daughter and two sons: the eldest daughter governed the realm while the younger sons supported the nation. Although the treaty was for a hundred years, in reality, the golden age continued for two hundred years.
Nanchu’s Prime Minister Ye Guixue also found a lifelong companion, lived a life of integrity, and became immortalized in history along with the Prime Minister of Daliang, Su Xingze, both remembered as legendary prime ministers.
[End of the text]
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