Chapter 381 My husband, you must live well and not leave me alone, okay? (4000 words)
After the Second Prince passed away, the news spread throughout the Qin Kingdom, and even reached the camps of generals like Xiao Mo who were fighting on the front lines.
Upon seeing the news of the Second Prince's passing, Xiao Mo remained silent for a long time.
Although on the battlefield, everyone's life and death are preordained.
Even so, Xiao Mo didn't believe that someone as arrogant as the Second Prince would plot a rebellion.
However, when Xiao Mo learned that the Second Prince had sacrificed his life for the cause of Qin's hegemony, he was also very disappointed.
Xiao Mo could even imagine how heartbroken Si Yao would be when she saw this news.
"Xiao Yang, inform the entire army of the Second Prince's passing, and make sure the soldiers know how the Second Prince died."
also.
From this day forward, the entire army shall wear white headbands in mourning for the Second Prince.
Xiao Mo gave the order to his deputy.
"Yes, General!"
Xiao Yang quickly withdrew.
Within a day, all the soldiers in Xiao Mo's army learned of the Second Prince's death and that he had died for the sake of Qin's hegemony!
Xiao Mo's army was originally an invincible force, with high morale.
The news of the Second Prince's death further fueled the anger of the soldiers!
The next day, Qin soldiers, wearing white cloth on their heads, led the army in attacking the city.
The Chu generals defending the city already felt that Xiao Mo's army was extremely fierce.
That day, he realized what true madness was.
It felt as if they had become the target of the other party's revenge.
At the same time, after learning of the Second Prince's death, Zhenxi Wang and Bai Qi also informed the entire army of the news.
Originally, the King of Zhenxi and Baiqi had long been preparing to launch a counterattack against the Yan Kingdom.
However, because they were uncertain about the situation at Huaishan Pass, they continued to engage in a protracted struggle with the Yan state, so that if they lost Huaishan Pass, they could immediately abandon all the cities they had occupied and head to the Qin capital to defend the king.
Now that they know the crisis at Huaishan Pass has been resolved and they have no more worries, they immediately launched a counterattack. Moreover, like Xiao Mo's army, they wore white cloths on their heads to commemorate the Second Prince.
In addition, both Xiao Mo and Bai Qi publicized the news of the Jin army's great defeat at Huaishan Pass.
After the states of Chu and Yan learned of Jin's crushing defeat, they had no way to conceal it, even if they wanted to.
After all, the death of the second prince and the fact that the Qin army wore white headbands were the best proof of it.
Moreover, if the siege of Huaishan Pass had not been lifted, how could they dare to attack without any scruples?
The morale of the Chu and Yan armies plummeted, while the Qin army, because of the death of the second prince, was determined to make these three kingdoms pay for their blood debts.
Huaishan Pass.
After the eldest prince decisively defeated the Jin army, he recovered the two major prefectures of Jinzhou and Luzhou within a month.
The Prince of Zhenbei also completely suppressed the remnants of the Wei Kingdom, successfully joined forces with the Crown Prince, and then invaded the territory of the Jin Kingdom.
Chaos erupted in the Jin court.
After careful consideration, the King of Jin decided to request aid from the states of Qi and Zhao.
Seven months after the death of the second prince.
Xiao Mo led his army with unstoppable momentum, crossed the Chu River, and captured Jingzhou.
At the same time, the King of Zhenxi completely trusted the youngest general beside him and entrusted the entire army to Bai Qi's command.
Baiqi killed 200,000 enemies and invaded the heartland of the Yan state.
Because Bai Qi had previously massacred 400,000 Chu soldiers and refused to accept the surrender of the Yan army, killing 200,000 of them.
Some call him the "God of Slaughter".
On the other side, the Prince of Zhenbei and the eldest prince joined forces to advance and directly attack Taiyuan of the Jin Kingdom.
January of the year following the death of the second prince.
Xiao Mo and Xiahou Nan successfully joined forces and surrounded the capital of Chu.
Xiao Mo sent a letter to the King of Chu, urging him to surrender.
The King of Chu refused and fought desperately.
Xiao Mo ordered an attack on the city.
The Chu army's stubborn resistance truly exceeded Xiao Mo's expectations.
However, with Xiahou Nan and Xiao Mo launching a simultaneous attack from both the east and west city gates, the Chu Kingdom finally met its end.
In May, the defensive formation protecting the capital of Chu was breached.
Three days later, Xiao Mo led his army into Yingdu.
The ministers of Chu advised the King of Chu to flee the palace, intending to escort him to the State of Qi so that he could make a comeback in the future.
The King of Chu shook his head directly, refusing on the grounds that "since I am already a king of a fallen kingdom, why should I continue to be a homeless dog?"
On that day, the King of Chu ordered the killing of all his concubines, wives, and daughters in the harem.
Just before the Qin army stormed the palace.
The King of Chu personally hung up a white satin in the main hall.
He straightened his clothes, combed his hair, and finally stepped onto the stool to die a heroic death.
When Xiao Mo entered the palace, it was filled with corpses and remains.
This King of Chu, whom the people of Chu called a tyrant, maintained the last vestiges of dignity for the Chu royal family at the very end.
None of the royal family of Chu survived.
Xiao Mo ordered that everyone be buried.
From then on, the State of Chu was destroyed.
In the same month that Chu was destroyed, Xiao Mo organized and sent all the books, household registers, and land records of Chu's capital to Qin's capital. Then he opened the imperial treasury to reward the three armies.
Because of Xiao Mo's reputation, most people know that the army under Xiao Mo's command will not harass the people and has strict military discipline. Therefore, the people of Yingdu are all law-abiding and there is no chaos in the city.
The following month, Xiao Mo led his army to wipe out the remaining forces of the Chu Kingdom.
Meanwhile, Baiqi and the King of Zhenxi were engaged in a final battle with the Yan army.
This battle determined the fate of the Yan state.
Just as Baiqi and Zhenxi Wang were gaining the upper hand, the states of Qi and Zhao sent troops to support the states of Yan and Jin.
The tide of battle turned.
The State of Yan successfully defended its last seven cities.
The army of the Prince of Zhenxi was locked in a stalemate with them, unable to break through after a long siege.
From the perspective of the State of Jin.
After the Prince of Zhenbei and the eldest prince conquered three major states of Jin, the Qin army was unable to advance due to the combined forces of Qi and Zhao.
In November, Xiao Mo completely eliminated the remaining rebellious vassal states of Chu, and the King of Qin also dispatched several officials to Chu to oversee the overall situation.
After leaving 200,000 troops to garrison various fortresses in the Chu Kingdom, Xiao Mo led the remaining elite troops deep into the territory of the Yan Kingdom.
Xiao Mo coordinated with the army of the Prince of Zhenxi and decisively defeated the combined forces of Yan and Qi.
Within half a year, Xiao Mo, together with the Prince of Zhenxi and Bai Qi, captured six cities and besieged the capital of Yan.
It's mid-February again.
Knowing that his cause was lost, the ruler of Yan sent an envoy to the Qin army camp to surrender.
Xiao Mo accepted the surrender.
The following day, the King of Yan led his officials, holding the Yan state seal, out of the city to surrender.
Frost King Xiao Mo surrendered on behalf of the army.
The state of Yan was destroyed.
After the destruction of the states of Chu and Yan, the Kings of Qi and Zhao, seeing that the situation was hopeless, knew that they had to at least preserve the state of Jin, otherwise it would only be a matter of time before their states were annexed by Qin.
With the strong support of the states of Qi and Zhao, the state of Jin gradually turned from being at a disadvantage to being at an advantage.
Even though Xiao Shi and his generals of the Northern Wilderness used every trick in the book, it was all in vain in the face of overwhelming military force.
Xiao Mo and the Prince of Zhenxi were unable to immediately provide support to the Jin Kingdom.
The Qin state had just annexed the Chu and Yan states and needed to assimilate them, appease the people of both states, and prevent repeated mutinies.
In addition, after about three years of war, the Qin army was exhausted and the people were under too much burden, so they needed to rest and recuperate.
If Qin were to forcefully resist the combined forces of Qi, Zhao, and Jin at this time, and the situation were to turn unfavorable, it was inevitable that some people in Chu and Yan would harbor ulterior motives.
You'll most likely have to vomit everything you eat.
After careful consideration.
In mid-May, the ruler of Qin ordered the withdrawal of his troops.
Apart from the soldiers who remained to guard the three major states bordering Chu, Yan, and Jin, the rest of the army withdrew.
In addition, in order to appease the people of Chu and Yan, the ruler of Qin rewarded some noble families who were willing to surrender and reduced taxes by 50% for a total of twenty years.
After Xiao Mo and the others returned to the capital, everyone was rewarded.
Xiao Mo's reputation in the court and even throughout the world has surpassed that of his father after he destroyed Chu and helped the Prince of Zhenxi destroy Yan.
Xiao Mo didn't care about the reward from the King of Qin.
However, looking at the expression on the King of Qin's face, Xiao Mo felt that this ambitious and talented monarch seemed to have aged considerably in the past three years.
After receiving the reward, Xiao Mo immediately returned to the Frost King's Mansion and went to see Qin Siyao as soon as possible.
Xiao Mo and Qin Siyao had not seen each other for three years, and Siyao had also lost her beloved second brother, so Xiao Mo was always worried about her.
"My husband, you're back."
In the Frost King's mansion, when Xiao Mo saw Qin Siyao, Qin Siyao smiled and bowed to Xiao Mo as usual.
"Yes, I'm back." Xiao Mo nodded.
"I've prepared hot water for you, my husband. Please take a bath first. We'll go to Mother's place together later. You haven't been home for three years, and Mother misses you very much," Qin Siyao said softly.
"good."
Seeing that Siyao hadn't mentioned anything, Xiao Mo didn't know what to say either.
After taking a bath and changing their clothes, Xiao Mo and Qin Siyao went to the Xiao residence.
Having not seen her for three years, Xiao Mo felt a pang of sadness seeing his mother's increasingly gray hair and wrinkles.
He felt even more guilty, especially since he had been away fighting for many years and hadn't spent enough time with his mother.
Qin Siyao remained as cheerful and lively as ever, playing with Xiao Mo's mother. Their relationship grew increasingly close, and her smile remained as radiant as ever.
Looking at his wife's beautiful smile, Xiao Mo felt a pang of heartache.
Xiao Mo knew that Si Yao was only putting on a brave face.
Because of the ongoing war, the Qin state had no time to hold a funeral for the second prince.
Therefore, the funeral for the Second Prince Qin Jingyuan was not held until the month after Xiao Mo returned to the capital.
Although Qin Jingyuan's body was not brought back to the capital, the King of Qin did not insist on it, respecting his son's final wishes.
Inside the coffin were the clothes and hat that Qin Jingyuan had worn before.
On the day of the funeral, Qin Siyao, dressed in mourning clothes, did not shed a single tear.
She stood beside Xiao Mo, quietly watching the entire process of her second brother's burial, and silently watching him be laid to rest in the imperial mausoleum.
She didn't say a word all day.
The night the funeral ended.
Qin Siyao kept vigil for her brother for two days and two nights.
However, when Xiao Mo and the First Prince saw Qin Siyao's haggard appearance, they persuaded her to go back to her residence to rest.
Back at the Frost King's Mansion, he sat blankly in the courtyard, quietly gazing at the stars in the sky.
Xiao Mo sat quietly beside Qin Siyao, keeping her company.
"My husband."
After an unknown amount of time, the woman finally spoke slowly, her voice slightly hoarse.
"Mmm," Xiao Mo replied softly. This was the first time he had heard her voice today.
"My husband, do you know that when I was little, the people who loved me the most were my two older brothers?"
Qin Siyao's lips curled slightly, her eyes were misty with tears, and her tone was calm, as if she were telling the most ordinary story.
"Neither my eldest brother nor my second brother ever scolded me or could bear to yell at me."
No matter what I do wrong, they never blame me.
When we were kids, my two older brothers often had martial arts competitions, and the loser had to be my horse.
My second brother lost many times, so I often rode around on his back.
Although my second brother always complained, he still made me ride on his shoulders every time.
Whenever there's something delicious or fun, my older brothers always think of me first.
As a princess of the Great Qin Dynasty, I was mischievous and naughty, running around all day, not acting like a girl at all.
Because I know that in this world, I have older brothers who will protect me.
Later, I was very lucky to meet my husband and someone I loved.
In this world, there is now one more person who truly loves me and truly protects me.
As she spoke, Qin Siyao straightened her legs under her skirt, her slender hands clasped between her thighs.
"No matter what it is, I don't need to face it, because very soon, my elder brother, second brother, and husband will help me solve it."
All I need to do is be a good princess of Qin.
I often think that I might be the happiest woman in the world.
After my husband and I got married, we had several children, and my eldest and second eldest brothers also had several children.
The children can play together and go on a spring outing together then.
As she spoke, Qin Siyao's lips trembled slightly.
"But.
But second brother
Second brother is gone.
Finally, Qin Siyao could no longer hold back her tears, which flowed like a spring, her voice choked with sobs.
Why?
Why is my second brother so stupid?
Seeing the woman beside him crying, Xiao Mo gently pulled her into his arms.
Qin Siyao's tears soaked Xiao Mo's clothes. Her emotions, which had been suppressed for so long, could no longer be contained and burst forth like a dam breaking.
"My husband, I will never see my second brother again."
I'll never see my second brother again.
We'll never see each other again.
I can't see it anymore.
"I only have my husband and elder brother left."
Qin Siyao sobbed, her chest heaving.
Xiao Mo didn't say a word, just quietly looked at her and held her.
I don't know how much time passed.
Qin Siyao's sobs grew softer and softer.
Later, all that remained were sobs.
In the end, all that was left was sobbing.
Qin Siyao nestled close to Xiao Mo's chest, as if only in this way could she feel warmth.
"My husband."
After a long while, Qin Siyao, who had finally regained her composure, raised her head and stared blankly at her husband.
"My husband, can you grant me one request?"
"What is it?" Xiao Mo gently stroked her cheek.
"My husband, you must live well and not leave me alone, okay?" Qin Siyao looked directly into Xiao Mo's eyes, her slender hands tightly gripping the collar of Xiao Mo's shirt.
Looking at the woman's pleading eyes.
Xiao Mo was slightly taken aback, unsure how to respond.
"Can you promise me, my husband?" A hint of panic flashed in Qin Siyao's eyes.
"Okay, I promise Siyao."
Xiao Mo smiled slightly and gently stroked her hair.
"I will always."
"I will never abandon you."
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com