After his excitement subsided slightly, Wang Jian asked, "Grand Commandant, what should be done with the King of Donghu?"
After pondering for a moment, the wicked man laughed loudly and said, "The people of Yan in the city must hate him to the bone. Why not have him slowly sliced to death in the city at noon tomorrow, hang his bones on the city wall, and erect an inscription to deter foreign tribes?"
Erniu grinned maliciously: "Good idea, that's the way to deal with him. He dares to steal meat from us, he's asking for death."
Chun Ning smiled slightly and said, "Grand Commandant, are you once again thinking of winning people's hearts?"
The wicked husband glanced at him and said, "Now that the land of Yan is entirely under the control of Qin, and the people of Yan are also the people of Qin, it is only right that we put in some effort. Consider it as appeasing our disobedient son!"
Upon hearing this, everyone was taken aback at first, then burst into silent laughter. They really couldn't understand the wicked husband; he could be ruthless at the same time, yet also gentle—he was truly unpredictable.
The following morning, Xiangping City was filled with a desolate atmosphere of postwar sorrow.
At this moment, the wicked man sat in the main hall of the government office, wearing black armor and with a cold expression. The atmosphere below was tense. Wang Jian and other generals stood on both sides, their hands on the hilts of their swords, all exuding murderous intent.
"Grand Commandant, the King of Donghu has been brought to the city and can be executed at any time," Erniu reported, his face showing cruel excitement.
The wicked man nodded slightly, stood up, and flicked his sleeve: "Let's go and see. Today's events will not only terrify the Donghu people, but also show the Yan people how I, the Grand Commandant, will pay for their blood debt."
The group marched out of the government office in a grand procession. Along the way, the common people kept their distance, their eyes filled with a mixture of fear and complex emotions.
An old man, trembling, leaned against the wall, watching intently, murmuring softly, "The Donghu rebelled, causing us immense suffering... Now it is indeed the Qin army that intends to sacrifice them in blood, to avenge us..."
In the center of the city, a temporary high platform had been erected, surrounded by angry Yan people, as well as the heavily armed Black Dragon Armored Army.
In the center of the high platform, a disheveled man covered in wounds was tightly bound with ropes; he was none other than the unruly King of Donghu.
"The Grand Commandant has arrived!" A loud shout rang out, and the wicked man and his generals ascended the high platform. The onlookers below immediately fell silent, and the atmosphere instantly became extremely tense.
The wicked man stood by the platform, surveying his surroundings, his gaze sweeping over the clenched teeth of the Yan people. Then, he looked at the dying Donghu king, a cold glint in his lips: "You once boasted of seizing my Chinese land, now... do you have anything to say?"
The Donghu King opened his bloodshot eyes, his lips trembling, but he could only utter broken, hoarse words: "You wicked husband...you...butcher..."
"Butcher?" the wicked man sneered. "I prefer you barbarians to call me that, rather than my fellow Chinese calling me that."
The King of Donghu tried to curse, but coughed up blood and could no longer speak. He had been thoroughly beaten by Erniu last night, and the fact that he was still alive made him feel incredibly strong and resilient.
The wicked man said no more, and slowly turned to the Yan people: "We are all people of China. How dare this barbarian plunder while we are fighting among ourselves! He deserves to die!"
"Today, I, the Grand Commandant, will execute him by slow slicing, and order a monument to be erected with his name inscribed, to forever deter foreign tribes. His bones will also be hung on the city walls, so that all foreign tribes in the world will know that those who dare to invade will meet the same fate!"
At his command, the executioner stepped onto the platform.
The Donghu King let out a final, mournful roar, filled with boundless fear and resentment, but his limbs were held down, leaving him no chance to struggle.
Under the gaze of the Yan people, who were both shocked and terrified yet somewhat relieved, the dagger pierced through the body of the Donghu King. His screams of agony soared to the heavens, and blood and pieces of flesh as thin as cicada wings fell to the ground with the swing of the dagger.
Many timid people in the audience avoided looking, while others looked on with glee, staring intently at the Donghu King as if they wanted to devour him alive.
After a long while, everything fell silent, except for the dying body on the platform—the last breath of the Donghu King, which ended with the executioner's final blow.
"Go, secure it properly to the city wall, let it be exposed to the sun and rain, to appease the wronged souls within the city!" The wicked man coldly waved his hand, and the soldiers quickly cleared the area. The skeleton was bound up and dragged to the city wall for public display.
The people of Yan remained silent for a long time until the skeleton was dragged away, then someone shouted, "Our great revenge has been achieved! Thank you, Grand Commandant!"
As this shout rang out, more and more Yan people joined in, and the shouts gradually merged into a wave of sound that lasted for a long time.
The wicked man raised his hand to signal the crowd to quiet down, then turned to face the surrounding Yan people, his voice resounding through the air: "No matter how the seven kingdoms fight, it's a matter between our own people. It's fine if our own people fight to the death, but we will never allow outsiders to bully us!"
"Regardless of how the King of Yan treats you, my Qin state will never allow outsiders to humiliate our own people!"
"As the Confucian saying goes, 'It is impolite not to reciprocate.' Since the Donghu have sent gifts, we should reciprocate with courtesy." After catching his breath slightly, the wicked man roared, "Wang Tian, where is he?"
"Your subordinate is here!" Wang Tian immediately stepped forward, stood in the center of the high platform, his face flashing with an iron-blooded look.
“You were born and raised in the land of Yan, and these people can be considered your fellow villagers. How can you tolerate their humiliation?!” The wicked man turned his gaze to Wang Tian.
"I can't stand it!!" Wang Tian took a deep breath and shook his head firmly.
The wicked man nodded slightly and said solemnly, "Wang Tian, immediately lead 20,000 elite troops northward, sweeping away the Donghu tribes along the way, slaughtering them all, regardless of age or gender."
His voice was like a cold horn, leaving no room for negotiation: "Remember, ten lives for one life, one injury for three lives. Return when the time is up. This Grand Commandant will be waiting for your return in Liaodong."
Wang Tian's eyes flashed with a fierce light as he knelt on one knee: "Your subordinate obeys!"
Erniu was even more excited about this decision, and winked at Wang Tian, saying, "Hey, Lao Wang, let's slaughter all the Donghu dogs, avenge our blood feud, and drink until we drop!"
Wang Tian grinned and declared firmly, "Wang Tian will do his utmost. I will not return until the blood feud is over!!" With that, he bowed to the wicked husband, then cupped his hands to the Yan people present, and strode away.
The people of Yan, stirred by these bold words, roared, "We thank the Grand Commandant, we thank General Wang Tian..."
Among the people of Yan, many showed excitement and admiration. The heartfelt gratitude they felt at this moment made them think that it would be good to be named after the Qin state.
The wicked man gave them a satisfied look, then strode away from the training ground.
The sun was high in the sky, and the midday heat was intense.
The mangled remains of the Donghu king hung atop the city wall, blood trickling down his remains, staining the wall a dark red. The inscription on the stele read, "Foreign invaders shall be executed," a chilling statement more menacing than a blade.
Wang Tian then led 20,000 elite troops out of the city and northward, rushing towards the vast grasslands and deep mountains of Liaobei like hungry eagles hunting their prey. A massacre targeting the remnants of the Donghu tribe swept across the land like a raging fire, already sealing the tragic fate of the Donghu.
"Who dares to offend again?" The wicked man climbed the city wall, gazed into the distance, and watched Wang Tian's army leave. He spoke softly in the breeze, "Once the world is unified, it will be time to deal with these arrogant barbarians."
Under the blinding sunlight, the withered bones on the city wall swayed in the wind, as if wailing mournfully, but no one could hear them.
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