"How goes the battle?" Zhao Feng asked.
"Reporting to the lord."
"The army’s results are remarkable."
"With the royal edict bearing the King of Chu’s seal in hand, nearly every city we encountered opened its gates and surrendered."
"Within ten days, our Wu’an Camp has successively captured more than twenty cities. If it weren’t for the long distances and the vastness of Chu’s territory, we would have captured even more and larger cities."
"Of course, there were some city commanders who were obstinate and inflexible, and upon breaching their cities, we exterminated them directly," Zhang Ming reported immediately.
"Quite so." Zhao Feng nodded.
"There is another matter."
"Chu State now has a new king."
"Xiang Yan has installed the traitorous Mi Qi as king."
"He has already ascended the throne in Huainan City," Zhang Ming added.
"Mi Qi."
"It seems he would indulge in the pleasures of being a king even if it kills him," Zhao Feng chuckled, then continued, "Tu Sui and the others should already be advancing their troops over there, right?"
"Just as the lord anticipated."
"Though the three generals have divided their forces, the final convergence point is set for Huainan."
"Within a month, they will surely reach Huainan City."
"Additionally."
"The army from the Hangu Pass Camp is also pressing towards Huainan."
"Within a month, the two camps will unite," Zhang Ming replied.
"Transmit my order: within twenty days, the army must be at Huainan."
"I will attend in person," Zhao Feng said solemnly.
"Understood," Zhang Ming replied respectfully.
...
Huainan City!
The former main hall of the Prefect’s Mansion!
At this moment, it has become a small court.
Mi Qi, dressed in the king’s robe and crown, sat solemnly on the throne.
Though he had only become the King of Chu for a few days, once adorned with the king’s robe and crown, an unprecedented feeling swept over Mi Qi.
He had done it!
He truly became the king of Great Chu.
Even if this king had no real power, and even if the kingdom he inherited was shattered, teetering on the brink of collapse, he was still a king.
"We pay our respects to the Great King."
Led by Xiang Yan, dozens of civil and military officials in the court bowed to Mi Qi.
Amidst the resonant cries.
Mi Qi’s face was filled with intoxication, wholly immersed in the moment.
"Rise."
Mi Qi commanded loudly, expanding his arms.
If any minister from the Great Qin Dynasty court witnessed Mi Qi’s actions at this moment, they would realize he was totally emulating the postures of King Ying Zheng of Qin.
"Report to the Great King."
"Our former capital of Great Chu has been completely breached by the Qin Army, and they are pursuing aggressively."
"I ask the Great King to make a decision," Xiang Yan said loudly.
Even at this moment, he was deeply troubled.
"Did the Shangjiangjun not say that many soldiers and officials from across Great Chu have fled to Huainan?"
"In my view, immediately reorganize all the escaped soldiers into the military to defend Great Chu."
"Any who dare resist integration, kill them," Mi Qi declared at once.
On the day the Qin Army attacked Chu’s capital,
not all Chu officials stayed obediently within the main hall.
Many ministers had fled, and upon learning of the Qin’s advance, numerous aristocrats had already sent their families away.
Perhaps the most unexpected were the three influential families. They initially believed that, given their power in Chu State, Zhao Feng would consider their influence beneficial for swiftly pacifying Chu with reduced losses and would hence accept their allegiance.
However, the outcome was completely opposite to their expectations, leaving them unable to flee.