The Demon Lords

Chapter 813 179: Come to Meet_2

Can Prince Jingnan replicate the glory of the first Earl of the North Border back then?

He is welcome to try.

Moreover, Chu State's internal issues remain unsolved. With this defeat, the Blue Luan Army is utterly destroyed, inevitably causing internal turmoil in Chu State. The Regent not claiming the throne is actually a compromise for not having cleared internal factions.

All signs show that the Chu people won't launch a full-scale war in the short term.

Even if they were to start a war,

when it comes to risking the fortune of the state,

Yan has three iron triangles that are just three madmen, where others see the country's foundation and state affairs as immovable, as heavy as Mount Tai!

But in the eyes of these three in Yan, they've risked the National Destiny more than once or twice and have already accumulated rich experience.

"And what about you, Prince?"

"I will start referring to myself as the Earl again in the future."

Tian Wujing speaks very calmly, as if he had expected this all along.

Zheng Fan suddenly understands, having killed forty thousand war captives, to block the domestic and foreign complaints, there must be a punishment for Tian Wujing, thus withdrawing the newly granted princely title and demoting the rank.

But honestly speaking,

for Tian Wujing,

is there a difference between being called Prince Jingnan or Lord Jingnan?

When one's personal power and influence reach a high level, titles become little more than an extra adornment.

"I will open my office in Fengxin City, closer to Chu State."

Fengxin is where Zheng Fan previously led troops to kill the Situ Yi brothers with filth, east of Jade Plate City. If Tian Wujing takes charge in Fengxin City, it would be equivalent to hanging a sharp sword at the doorstep of the Chu people, representing a substantial deterrent to them.

From Zheng Fan's perspective, as the general of Snow Sea Pass, if Tian Wujing governs Fengxin City, he wouldn't have to worry about facing the pincer attack from the Chu people and the wild people, allowing for much more ease in various aspects.

The final issue is actually Town South Pass. According to the treaty, Yan people allowed the Blue Luan Army to return home, and Chu people were to return Town South Pass, originally belonging to Cheng State, to Yan. But now, that's certainly not possible anymore.

However, it doesn't matter anyway. After all, the Chu people are unlikely to start a major war, so whether Town South Pass is in his hands makes little difference.

"Rest assured, Prince, once I have trained my soldiers well, I will reclaim Town South Pass for you."

Upon hearing this, Tian Wujing nodded slightly, seemingly unconcerned.

As the two walked, Chen Yang rode over on horseback.

When he saw Prince Jingnan and Zheng Fan standing together like brothers taking a walk, he confirmed who had issued the order to execute prisoners.

"Prince, Qu TianNan has slit his throat and thrown himself into the river."

Qu TianNan is dead,

The Yan soldiers had no intention of killing him; he was actually being protected by dozens of his bodyguards. Meanwhile, the Yan armor troops deliberately left his side open.

But this pillar of Chu, having seen his soldiers slaughtered one by one,

did not choose to cling to a chance of survival,

but instead pushed aside the protection of his bodyguards,

picked up a knife,

and under the cold stares of the Yan army cavalry,

beheaded himself with a single stroke,

his body falling into the waters of Wang River.

Dozens of his guards followed him in death.

This pillar of Chu State upheld his dignity by committing suicide.

In fact, he did not lose.

Leaving today aside, the Blue Luan Army on the Jin land battlefield never truly faced defeat.

The main reason for the lack of food was because they were tricked by wild people, later stationed alone outside the border, while no reinforcements from home were sent, which wasn't his fault.

Qu TianNan had done everything he could,

but was deceived by the treaty to open the city gates.

Those in the royal court fooled him in an exceedingly naive manner.

Of course, Qu TianNan himself wasn't entirely blameless. His biggest mistake was trusting Tian Wujing's oath.

But did he really completely believe it?

It's truly hard to say;

for compared to the inevitable outcome of the entire army starving, as the commander, he could only gamble on another ending.

Qu TianNan's death marked a full stop to this year-long chaos in the Jin land.

The Yan people cleared out the last faction of the Chu people in Jade Plate City, firmly taking control of the Three Jin lands.

Zheng Fan didn't see Qu TianNan's body; it should have already drifted downstream along with the bodies of those Chu soldiers.

He did see Jingyang, the envoy of Chu State, kneeling by the river,

crying bitterly.

It's true that Yan people acted "faithlessly", but Jingyang, as the middleman, couldn't escape responsibility.

However, given his status as an envoy, he wouldn't be at risk of execution.

Crying bitterly, he flung some food gathered from the ground towards the river,

when most Chu soldiers were killed, they didn't even have a full meal, dying as starving ghosts.

Zheng Fan hesitated for a moment,

ultimately deciding to be somewhat merciful,

and refrained from suggesting the use of lotus leaves to wrap sticky rice for a more ceremonial offering.

Zheng Fan saw Li Fusheng sitting on a pile of bodies by the river,

covered in blood,

holding a handful of roasted beans, with a jug of wine in front of him, swallowing a few beans and a jug of wine, a taste that must have been quite intoxicating.

He also saw Prince Cheng, Situ Yu, who was meant to witness the treaty ceremony, but this mascot once again faced the "carnage".

His fate is indeed grim, even with the respect shown to the Situ Family by the Yan Emperor and the court due to Situ Lei,

he couldn't shake off this political mascot role, nor did he dare to.