As Song Yunyang shouted, the cheers of the 300,000 troops outside the city erupted like a torrent, shaking the heavens and the earth, and could even be faintly heard inside the palace.
This sound is a declaration of victory, a bell tolling for peace, and a clarion call for a new era.
Standing in the center of ten thousand people, Song Yunyang took a deep breath and listened to the deafening cheers, feeling an indescribable excitement welling up inside her.
Tears welled in her eyes, and there was no smile on her face. She understood that this victory had not come easily; it was bought with the blood and sacrifice of countless soldiers.
Besides excitement, she felt deep emotion and sorrow for the lives lost.
After a long while, Song Yunyang finally came to her senses from her excitement. She loudly ordered, "Wang Lei! Lead 30,000 troops into the city. Soldiers who surrender within the city must not be killed."
Wang Lei responded loudly, "Yes!"
Then, 30,000 soldiers were quickly mobilized, and they entered the capital city gates in a grand procession.
The soldiers' faces bore the joy of victory, but even more so, a sense of solemnity and reverence.
Song Yunyang looked around and then ordered, "Quartermaster! Allocate grain and rice into the city and set up soup kitchens to provide relief to the disaster victims! Also, gather provisions for Zhou Xiang's soldiers and tell them that this is all thanks to Chen Zhennan!"
Song Yunyang's voice carried a sense of compassion and tolerance. Although Chen Zhennan did not ask her to do so, she understood even more clearly that the protagonist could only be Chen Zhennan.
Following Song Yunyang's orders, countless grains and supplies were transported into the capital. These supplies were like timely rain, nourishing the parched land after the war.
The people of the city came out one after another, their eyes filled with expectation and gratitude. They knew that a new era had arrived and a new life was about to begin.
As for Zhou Xiang's guards, Song Yunyang ordered them to lay down their weapons and sent someone to take them to see Chen Zhennan.
Although Zhou Xiang has passed away, his followers, who all fought their way up from Lingnan under Chen Zhennan's tutelage, still deserve respect and kindness.
The news of Zhou Xiang's death swept through the entire capital like a whirlwind, bringing unprecedented shock.
The news spread rapidly among civilians and soldiers, like wildfire, unstoppable.
When Wang Lei led his army into the city, tens of thousands of Zhou Xiang's soldiers chose to surrender, for them it was a relief.
After entering the city, Wang Lei quickly and systematically began to receive prisoners, and it wasn't until midnight that he led his army to surround the palace.
The palace was exceptionally quiet in the night. The lights in the main hall flickered. Wu Yunyin, dressed in a dragon robe, sat on the dragon throne. Her face appeared exceptionally calm under the lamplight, awaiting the judgment of fate.
The main hall doors slowly opened, but instead of Chen Zhennan, whom she had been waiting for, entered, it was Song Yunyang.
Wu Yunyin's heart tightened, her face showed astonishment, and her eyes instantly turned sharp, as if she wanted to devour Song Yunyang alive.
She jumped up and asked through gritted teeth, "Where's Chen Zhennan? Why didn't he come?"
Song Yunyang left the guards behind her outside the hall and walked slowly to the center of the hall alone, her expression calm and her gaze firm.
Looking up at Wu Yunyin, Song Yunyang said calmly, "Chen Zhennan doesn't want to see you, and I've killed Zhou Xiang. Now all the eunuchs and maids in the palace have fled, leaving only you. What do you say?"
Wu Yunyin's expression changed drastically, her fingers clenched involuntarily, her nails digging deep into her palms, and blood seeped out faintly.
A wave of panic washed over her, her voice trembling with anger and resentment: "Why? Why won't Chen Zhennan come to see me?"
Song Yunyang smiled contemptuously, a hint of mockery flashing in her eyes: "Don't you know why yourself? It's utterly ridiculous. However, I still have to thank you. If it weren't for your autocratic and arrogant nature, Chen Zhennan wouldn't have had the determination to dominate the world."
Wu Yunyin was stunned. A flash of lightning struck her mind, and she instantly understood what she had done in the past.
A wave of regret washed over her, and she murmured to herself, "Yes, if I hadn't been so wary of his immense power and forced him into a corner, he might have helped me unify the world."
Her voice grew softer and softer, as if she were talking to herself, or perhaps speaking to Song Yunyang.
Song Yunyang sneered and shook her head: "Isn't it too late to figure this out now?"
Her voice carried a hint of disdain, but also a hint of sympathy.
Song Yunyang knew that Wu Yunyin's failure was not only due to Chen Zhennan's strength, but more so because she brought it upon herself.
The atmosphere inside the hall became unusually tense and oppressive, with a sense of impending explosion permeating the air.
A flash of anger crossed Wu Yunyin's face, her eyes filled with complex emotions. She knew she had reached a dead end and had no way out.
"Wu Yunyin, the era of the Great Wu has ended. Chen Zhennan will lead this country into a new era, an era of peace and prosperity."
Upon hearing this, Wu Yunyin gave a bitter smile: "Song Yunyang, you win. But let me tell you, Chen Zhennan's ambition will not stop here. He will become a new tyrant, and you will regret your choice today."
Upon hearing Wu Yunyin's words, Song Yunyang found it laughable; even now, she was still being stubborn.
“I will not regret it, and you should know what kind of person he is. I believe he will become a great emperor and lead the country to prosperity. It’s just a pity that so many opportunities have slipped through your fingers.”
Wu Yunyin did not refute again, and slowly walked out from behind the dragon desk, holding the Emperor's Sword, a symbol of power, in her hand.
Seeing this, Song Yunyang hurriedly said, "Although Chen Zhennan didn't tell me how to deal with you, I don't want to kill you. But if you're looking for death, then I'll have no choice but to grant your wish."
Upon hearing this, Wu Yunyin laughed almost maniacally and slowly walked down the imperial steps.
"You don't want to kill me? But I want to kill you! If it weren't for you, Chen Zhennan would have been killed by me, and how could things be like this today? As the Marshal of the Great Yan, you rescued the enemy marshal and caused the death of Jiang Wenyu. What right do you have to stand before me!"
Wu Yunyin's words struck a nerve with Song Yunyang. If it weren't for her, Jiang Wenyu wouldn't have died, and the Great Yan wouldn't have lost its emperor.
But she knew in her heart that everything she had done was right. Whether it was the Great Wu or the Great Yan, it was time for a change of dynasty.
Reaching out, Song Yunyang drew her plain silver sword, her eyes suddenly turning fierce, and she dashed forward.
The next second, the silver sword pierced through Wu Yunyin's body, the tip of the sword protruding along her back, stained with hot blood.
"Times will judge right and wrong. Do you still think you're the empress that Chen Zhennan cherishes? Even if I don't kill you, you don't even deserve to be my rival in love, because you're simply not worthy!"
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