"Give the order to the entire army!" The wicked man wiped the blood from his sword. "Continue the slaughter! This Grand Commandant will ensure that all these Buyeo people are wiped out!"
The fall of the capital was just the beginning. The Qin army quickly divided its forces into several routes and advanced towards other cities in Fuyu.
"Grand Commandant," Meng Tian reported, "we have captured three cities, killing over 200,000 Fuyu people. The remaining cities are under siege and will fall soon!"
The wicked man nodded in satisfaction: "Continue the siege! Don't let a single city escape!"
Just then, Wang Li rushed over: "Grand Commandant, a large number of Buyeo people have been discovered fleeing eastward, seemingly trying to escape into the deep mountains..."
"Chase them!" the wicked man roared. "Don't let a single one escape! This Grand Commandant will make sure the name of Fuyu is wiped off this land forever!"
Wang Li accepted the order and led his iron cavalry to pursue and kill the fleeing Fuyu people.
One month later, the entire territory of Fuyu.
"Reporting to the Grand Commandant," Zhang Erhe reported, "the last city of Fuyu has been captured, with over 80,000 people killed. The entire territory is now cleared; there is no trace of a single Fuyu person left!"
The wicked man nodded in satisfaction: "Very good! Take a count, how many Fuyu people were killed this time?"
"Reporting to the Grand Commandant," Zhang Erhe said, flipping through the records. "According to statistics, over 1.2 million Fuyu soldiers and civilians have been executed in the past month. Of these, over 800,000 were killed in the city, and over 400,000 were pursued and killed in the countryside."
"Very well!" the wicked man sneered. "Send the order to build mounds of corpses in all important cities."
Jingguan (a mound of skulls) quickly rose up throughout Fuyu. Countless heads of Fuyu people were piled up, their whiteness glaringly obvious in the sunlight.
Three months later, the wicked man stood on the ruins of the capital of Buyeo, looking around at the land that had been baptized in blood.
The once-prosperous city has been reduced to ruins. All the Buyeo people have been slaughtered, and no Buyeo language can be heard on this land anymore.
"Pass down the order," he said in a deep voice, "Rebuild the city according to the Qin system and establish prefectures and counties. From now on, this land will be called 'Beidi Prefecture'!"
The order was swiftly relayed. The Qin army began demolishing the old city and rebuilding it according to Qin standards. New city walls rose from the ground, and brand-new government offices were erected. This land had completely become part of the Qin Empire!
"Grand Commandant," Meng Tian came to inquire, "the northern frontier has been pacified; when shall we return with our troops?"
The wicked man gazed into the distance: "Order the entire army to prepare for battle. Seven days later, I, the Grand Commandant, will lead the army back to Xianyang to report to His Majesty!"
"Your humble servant obeys!"
Seven days later, at the Qin army camp.
Three hundred thousand troops, fully equipped, were ready to embark on their return journey. They had conquered Goguryeo, Sushen, and Buyeo. Now, the entire north was under the control of the Qin Dynasty, and no foreign tribes remained.
"Order the entire army to march!"
With a command, the Qin army marched south in a mighty force. They passed by mounds of skulls and scorched earth. This victory, won with blood and lives, was etched in everyone's memory.
On the way back, the wicked man kept receiving reports from various places.
"Grand Commandant, the entire territory of Goryeo has been rebuilt according to the Qin system, and immigrants have begun to move in."
"Grand Commandant, the Sushen mountain area has been cleared, and the last remaining fugitives have been executed."
"Grand Commandant, twelve counties have been established throughout the entire territory of Fuyu, and officials have been dispatched to take over each one."
Every piece of news made the wicked man nod in satisfaction. The northern campaign was now completely over; the next step was to report this great victory to His Majesty!
One month later, outside Xianyang City.
Civil and military officials lined up to welcome the triumphant Northern Expeditionary Army.
The wicked man rode ahead, his expression calm. After months of fighting, he had completed the task assigned by His Majesty—to completely pacify the north and forever bring this land under the control of the Great Qin!
"Your Majesty, I, the wicked man, pay my respects!" He dismounted and bowed respectfully.
Ying Zheng nodded with satisfaction: "My dear minister, you have worked hard. This northern expedition has been a great success! I have already ordered that the soldiers of the three armies be richly rewarded!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" The wicked man rose. "Your Majesty's command led me on a northern expedition against the three kingdoms. Now, Goguryeo, Sushen, and Buyeo have all been pacified, never to rise again! That land has forever belonged to Great Qin, and no foreign tribes remain!"
"Excellent!" Ying Zheng laughed heartily. "My dear minister, you have lived up to my expectations, rendering outstanding service to the Qin Dynasty. Guards, prepare a banquet! I will personally host a feast to welcome this valiant army!"
That evening, the Epang Palace was brightly lit, and a grand victory celebration banquet was held.
Civil and military officials alike clinked glasses in celebration of this great victory. The fall of the three northern kingdoms meant that the Qin Dynasty's territory had expanded once more, and the empire's prestige had risen once more!
After several rounds of drinks, Ying Zheng personally toasted his wicked husband: "My dear minister, your recent northern expedition, which pacified the three kingdoms of Goguryeo, Sushen, and Buyeo, is truly a remarkable achievement."
"Your Majesty flatters me!" The wicked man respectfully accepted the wine cup and drank it all in one gulp.
After the banquet, the wicked man stood alone outside the palace, gazing northwards.
That land, which once belonged to a foreign tribe, has now been forever incorporated into the Qin Dynasty, completely eradicating the Jurchens who would later wreak havoc on China.
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