In Ze Tian Palace, Feng Jixing freshened up and put on the White Robe Imperial Forest armor again. This was the new armor Qin Yin had prepared for him. The Qin Empire originally had six experts who enjoyed the title of "White Robe Imperial Forest": Du Hai, Feng Jixing, Qu Chu, Qin Lei, Lei Hong, and Yao Yuan. Now, Du Hai was missing, Qu Chu, Qin Lei, and Lei Hong had died in battle, and Yao Yuan's whereabouts were unknown. In the vast Qin Empire, Feng Jixing was the only remaining White Robe Imperial Forest.
On his collar, behind the purple flower, there were three gold stars. This was the rank of a commander.
Feng Jixing's heart skipped a beat. He felt as if thousands of arrows were piercing through his heart.
Zhang Wei was promoted to the Deputy Commander of the Imperial Army. In addition, Feng Jixing had taken Xiahou Sang away from the Longdan Army Camp. Therefore, both Zhang Wei and Xiahou Sang followed behind Feng Jixing. It looked quite imposing.
…
"Congratulations, General Feng!" Tang Lan cupped her fists and smiled.
Feng Jixing nodded. "Thank you, Duke Lan!"
However, behind Tang Lan, Tang Tian, Tang Lu, Tang Wei, and the other Tang Clan generals all had looks of jealousy on their faces. They seemed to understand that Feng Jixing's return was a great provocation to the Seven Seas City's Tang Sect's strength. After all, Feng Jixing was Qin Jin's old general and also one of the Empire's Seven Divine Generals, a famous general of the present age. Feng Jixing submitting to Qin Yin and Su Muyun was definitely not a good thing.
Qin Yin sat on the throne and said, "Feng Jixing is loyal, brave, and unyielding. I am specially promoted to Zhenguo General and Commander of the Imperial Army. I order you to rebuild the Imperial Army of Lanyan City. In addition, your first mission is to lead 50,000 troops around the Dragon-Seeking Forest and go straight to Tianshu Province. Bring Yuchi Tian's head to me. General Feng, can you do that?"
Feng Jixing cupped his fists and said, "Rest assured, Your Highness!"
Xiang Yu had once been a sinful general under Qin Jin's edict, so there were people who stopped him from being promoted. However, Feng Jixing was originally one of the Imperial Commanders, so there was nothing wrong with him being promoted to Second-rank State General.
At the side, Su Muyun smiled and said, "General Feng, the fifty thousand elite troops have been prepared for you. You can take a rest tonight. Tomorrow, we will set off for Dubhe Province."
"Yes, Duke Yun!"
Feng Jixing was very respectful. He also knew that the military power of the empire was not in the hands of Qin Yin, but in the hands of Su Muyun and Tang Lan, the two Guardian Grand Dukes. He had to be polite to these two people.
…
That night, in the Forbidden Army's main camp, Zhang Wei and Xiahou Sang were preparing their warhorses, weapons, and armor. They were all beaming with joy, but Feng Jixing was carrying a wine jar. He mounted his horse and said, "I'm going out for a walk. You guys stay here and wait for my orders."
Zhang Wei hurriedly said, "Commander, let me bring a team of guards with me. The empire is in turmoil, and it's not safe anywhere now."
Feng Jixing's laughter came in the wind. "Don't worry. Who in Lanyan City has the ability to kill me now?"
Zhang Wei was speechless. Just as Feng Jixing said, Xiang Yu had set off for the war. There was no one in Lanyan City who could be a match for Feng Jixing.
The starlight scattered on the ground. Feng Jixing rode his horse straight into the Imperial Mausoleum. In the distance, the Nation Guarding Monument glowed brightly under the starlight.
Feng Jixing sat beside the Nation Guarding Monument and looked up at the names of Lin Muyu, Chu Huaiyin, and Qin Lei. He drank a mouthful of strong liquor and felt that the liquor burned his throat. He couldn't help but laugh out loud. As he laughed, tears flowed down his cheeks. He quietly leaned against the Nation Guarding Monument. As the moonlight fell on his face, Feng Jixing choked with sobs and said, "Yu, you once asked me if I was afraid. I said I wasn't … Now I'm afraid. Brother Feng knows how you feel. The Four Heroes of Lanyan disappeared in the blink of an eye. I'm the only one left. I'm so scared. How can I continue on my path in the future? Yu … Old Chu, Ah Lei, how are you guys doing in that world?"
The Nation Guarding Monument was cold. Feng Jixing raised his head and took another sip of strong liquor. He sobbed like a child and said, "If only we could go back to the days when we were drinking in the Pavilion of Raindrops, how good would that be …"
He looked up at the jungle in the distance. His eyes flashed with despair. He knew that he could never go back.
After a long time, Feng Jixing stood up and poured the remaining liquor in the jar under the Nation Guarding Monument. With a determined look in his eyes, he said, "Brothers, wait for me. On the day Feng Jixing unifies the territory of the empire, I'll accompany you to drink in the netherworld!"
He turned over and mounted the horse, galloping away.
The next day, Feng Jixing led the 50,000 troops of Muyu City on an expedition to the east and went straight to Tianshu Province. At this time, Xiang Yu was leading the troops to attack Wugu City. This was undoubtedly another head-on blow for Yihe Country. Once they lost the protection of Tianshu Province, Wugu City would become a lonely city and lose all reliance and support.
…
Empire Calendar Year 7731, June 27, ten miles north of Wugu City, Xiang Yu's army camp.
Buckets of blood-red berries were transported into the camp. The berries emitted a strange fragrance, but all the soldiers in charge of escorting them had cold eyes and did not look at the berries at all.
"General is here." A chiliarch dismounted and saluted respectfully.
Xiang Yu carried the Bloodbath Spear and rode his horse into the crowd. He asked, "Is everything ready?"
"Yes, General!" A military officer in a purple robe cupped his fists and said, "Almost all the blood fruits in Cangnan Province have been picked by us. A total of 182 buckets of berries have been gathered."
"How toxic is it?" Xiang Yu asked.
The military officer smiled, "A thousand-year-old elephant accidentally eats a blood fruit. It's enough to kill it. In these wooden buckets, there are at least hundreds of blood fruits in each bucket. General should be able to guess the toxicity of these nearly 200 buckets of blood fruits."
"Hmph, good …"
Xiang Yu smiled slightly and said, "Pass down my order to the three armies. From today onwards, our drinking water can only be fetched from the Dragon Seeking Forest. We can no longer use water from the Rice River. As soon as it gets dark, immediately dump all the berries into the Rice River. The Rice River is the river of life for Wugu City. As long as the Rice River is poisonous, hmph, Wugu City will be defeated and destroyed!"
"Yes!"
One of the captains of Seven Seas City was astonished, and he said, "General, these Blood Fruits … won't just kill the traitors of the Yihe Nation, they'll kill the commoners of Five Valleys City as well. There are 2,400,000 people in Five Valleys City …."
"So what?"
Xiang Yu said lightly, "These people were originally citizens of the Empire, but they pledged allegiance to the Yihe Nation. Death cannot wipe out their crimes. Pass down my order, there must be no mistakes. If there is any crime, I, Xiang Yu, will bear it alone!"
"Yes!"
That night, 182 buckets of Acute Pain Berries flowed down and melted into the Rice River. The Rice River surrounded Wugu City and provided all the city's daily water supply.
…
The next day, hundreds of thousands of people died in Wugu City. It was chaos.
Both sides of the city road were filled with the moans and wails of the poisoned. It was unbearable to hear.
A row of cavalry slowly passed. Ding Xi was wearing a general's cloak, his hand on the hilt of his sword. His eyes swept across both sides and said lightly, "It is confirmed that the water source has been poisoned, is it?"
"Yes, General." The guard on the side said, "The entire Rice River has been infected with poison. All the dead fish on the river surface have floated up as far as the eye can see."
"Bastard …"
Ding Xi clenched his fist and said, "Pass down my order, no more drinking water from the Rice River. Dig underground water sources to drink."
"But General, the Rice River is deep. The poison must have already entered the underground water. Even if we drink well water, we will still be in danger of poisoning."
"This …"
Ding Xi frowned and said, "Perhaps we should consider withdrawing our troops. Immediately follow me to see the commander!"
"Yes!"
The Governor's Manor in Five Valley City had now become Qin Yi's Governor's Manor. Ding Xi entered with his sword in hand. When he entered the hall, he saw Ji Yao and Lv Zhao from afar. Qin Yi was leaning against a chair with his eyes closed, his face full of fatigue. It seemed that after the northern expedition, which had almost destroyed half of the empire, Qin Yi had not enjoyed the pleasure of becoming a king.
"Is it General Ding Xi?" Qin Yi asked lightly.
"Yes, General." Ding Xi cupped his fists and said, "Commander, Xiang Yu poisoned the Rice River. Moreover, it's a blood fruit poison. Hundreds of thousands of people have died today. This general suggests that we immediately abandon Five Valleys City and lead the army out of the city. Take the people of Five Valleys City and head south to Hundred Ridge City.
Lv Zhao's face turned cold, "Ding Xi, are you advising the commander to abandon the eight northern provinces of Yihe Country?"
"This General does not dare!"
Qin Yi slowly opened his eyes and said, "Pass down my order. Everyone starts drinking well water. Do not drink Rice River water. Hold on for another three days. If Xiang Yu still poisons, then withdraw!"
"Yes!"
"Also, what about Long Qianlin?"
"Hmph!" Lv Zhao said disdainfully, "That cowardly rat has already led his troops to the sword pavilion. He doesn't even dare to step into Wugu City's territory. He has been scared out of his wits by the imperial dogs."
Qin Yi said lightly, "Long Qianlin is not that kind of person. Alright, all of you are dismissed. Prepare for the withdrawal."
"Yes!"
…
In the following days, a large number of people in Wugu City died.
On the 4th of July, Wugu City was breached. When Xiang Yu and the imperial army entered Wugu City, they found that it was already a dead city. Excluding the hundreds of thousands who escaped from the city, the remaining 1.8 million people were all poisoned to death. The Yihe Country's army that could not retreat in time was ambushed by Xiang Yu's army. 30,000 people were killed and 40,000 were captured.
On the 7th of July, Xiang Yu led 30,000 troops to pursue Qin Yi. They were ambushed by Long Qianlin's sword pavilion and lost more than 10,000 men. He then decided to withdraw.
On the 15th of July, year 7731 of the empire's calendar, Feng Jixing defeated the Heaven's Core Corps and captured 40,000 men. He also captured Yuchi Tian and Yuchi Yan, recovering Divine Shadow City and Heaven's Core Province.
At this point, the neighboring Earth Star Province, Cangnan Province, and Heaven's Core Province were all recovered and incorporated into the empire's territory.
Apart from a small portion of the Yihe Country's troops that remained in Tongtian Province and Lingdong Province, the rest of them retreated to Lingnan. At this point, the empire was divided into two.
On the 21st of September, year 7731 of the empire's calendar, Qin Yin was crowned Empress. She was given the title "Empress" and the empire's name was still Qin.
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