This scene was playing out in every city and village of the Yan Kingdom.
The people, who were originally filled with anxiety, were envious after learning that the Zhou family treated their soldiers with deep affection and cared for their relatives back home. Half of the fear that had been weighing on their hearts subsided.
It didn't matter to the common people who was emperor of the Yan Kingdom, whether they were surnamed Yan or Zhou.
What they care about is their own interests.
The Zhou family hasn't even taken a high position yet, but that young master Zhou is already treating his subordinates so well, giving them money and supplies. If he takes a high position in the future, won't the benefits also fall on their heads?
"Bang!!"
"What did you say? Zhou Cheng refused to negotiate, executed Grand Commandant Wang on the spot, and captured Hongxin City within two hours?"
"Bang!!"
"He dares! He dares! Isn't he afraid of bringing shame upon the Zhou family's ancestors? What? After conquering Hongxin City, the Zhou family took two more cities in just three days?"
"In various towns and cities of Yan, Zhou family couriers have appeared, and they are delivering winter supplies to the relatives of Zhou family soldiers?!"
"Are those county magistrates all useless? Why don't you arrest those post station clerks for me! Skin them alive! So what if they're weapons? I don't believe those weapons are truly invincible!"
"And the relatives of those soldiers, arrest them all and kill them too! I want to kill all the families of these traitors!"
"........"
Emperor Yan, seated on his high throne, flew into a rage.
This was the first time he had ever been so angry in his years in office, and the first time he had ever lost his composure so completely that he couldn't even maintain his outward calm.
Those eyes, which had been filled with oppression and condescension, finally revealed fear and apprehension.
It was only at this moment that Emperor Yan realized that things were out of control. The Zhou family, Zhou Zhenguang, and Zhou Cheng, whom he once thought he could crush with one hand, were now riding on his head.
The most terrifying thing is——
He had no power to resist!
"Your Majesty, please calm your anger."
The prime minister was afraid that Emperor Yan would act impulsively again and do something irreversible.
He quickly stepped forward, knelt down, and pleaded, "In a war between two sides, how can you target the families of soldiers? These are all citizens of Yan, born on Yan's land. How can you kill the families of soldiers just because the Zhou family rebelled?"
"If that's the case, I'm afraid the Zhou family won't even need to attack the capital; public anger alone would be enough to overthrow a dynasty."
"Zhou Cheng did this to build a good reputation among the people!"
"The Zhou family's rebellion is an act of treason and disloyalty. To change the public's perception of the Zhou family, he will definitely devise some countermeasures. These are all Zhou Cheng's schemes!"
"The most pressing matter for the court now is how to deal with the Zhou family's army! Once the Zhou family's army is at the city gates, who in the capital can withstand this world-destroying weapon?"
The prime minister's words made Emperor Yan realize the seriousness of the situation once again.
No matter how angry or upset he was, he could only suppress it.
The current power is not in the hands of the imperial court, but in the hands of Zhou Cheng and his weapons. In just a few days, they were able to capture three cities. What does that mean?
This is enough to prove how powerless the imperial court is in the face of weapons of mass destruction!
"yes.........."
Emperor Yan slumped onto his dragon throne, muttering, "Who else can withstand this world-destroying weapon...?"
"Where did these things come from? Why can't we find their source after investigating for so long? Even... even the academy hasn't given us a single clue. Is Heaven going to destroy me?"
"Prime Minister, tell me, what other methods does the court have to stop Zhou Cheng's attack?"
The prime minister sighed, as if all his energy had been drained: "There is no other way but to seek peace."
"But Zhou Cheng simply refuses to accept any offer of peace!"
"I have swallowed my pride, granting Jiangling City as my fiefdom, bestowing upon the Zhou family the title of kings of different surnames, and even bestowing the eldest princess upon Zhou Cheng. Despite all this, they still want to rebel!"
"Do you expect me to personally hand over the throne to him? The Zhou family is not worthy!"
The more Emperor Yan thought about it, the angrier he became. He gripped the armrest of the dragon throne with his right hand, wishing he had cut Zhou Cheng into a thousand pieces as soon as possible.
If only I had known.
They shouldn't have cared about public opinion in the first place; they should have eliminated the Zhou family at all costs!
But it's too late to say anything now.
The imperial court was already at its last gasp and could not possibly resist the Zhou family. Even if it mobilized 500,000 troops from the south to the capital, it could not stop the invasion of 90,000 troops from the Zhou family!
"Father."
A sudden female voice came from the direction of the back hall door.
Turning his head, he saw the elegantly dressed princess approaching, her fingers clenched tightly, her face filled with suppressed resentment. She lifted her robes, knelt in the center of the hall, and addressed Emperor Yan:
"Rong'er is willing to go to the border in person to seek peace with the Zhou family."
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