Forced to Ascend the Throne after Transmigrating

Two days passed in a flash. Although Ye Shuo did not hear any movement, he was not really worried.

The State of Chen is now a spent force and cannot escape the fate of destruction. However, in order to prevent the remaining people from fighting back desperately, Ye Shuo would naturally be happy if the issue could be resolved peacefully with fewer casualties.

The more it is at this time, the more careful we must be. Otherwise, it would be a pity to fail.

Ye Shuo took a deep breath, barely suppressed the restlessness in his heart, and forced himself to calm down.

“Don’t worry, brother. Come drink a cup of tea with me.”

Prince Ding, who was pacing nearby, was startled. After hesitating for a moment, he finally sat down.

On the other side, in the capital city——

Marquis Xiangding was feeling agitated and wanted to go out to relax. Of course, the most important thing was to see what the situation was like outside. However, as soon as he went out, he ran into Marquis Yong’an across the way.

Isn’t this a coincidence?

Marquis Xiangding and Marquis Yong’an were neighbours. They saw each other every day and could talk to each other. Marquis Xiangding saw the same anxiety on the other’s face, and he was moved, so he asked, “Together?”

Marquis Yong’an did not deny it. He quickly changed into his usual indifferent look and walked out of the alley with Marquis Xiangding.

The two marquises changed into ordinary coarse linen clothes, and if you didn’t look closely, they looked like ordinary people.

Although Marquis Xiangding and Marquis Yong’an had anticipated this, they were still shocked by what they saw outside when they went out.

The one guarding the city now is General Pan Zhong, and Pan Zhong’s soldiers are everywhere. The people are in a panic and walk hurriedly, some even carrying their luggage on their backs. It is obvious that they are in a hurry to escape. The whole street is in chaos. The bustling wine shops and tea shops on weekdays are now closed. However, the city has become particularly deserted in just a few days. It really looks like… a country in ruins and chaos.

Even the two marquises felt a sinking feeling in their hearts at this moment.

His Majesty fled secretly, leaving behind a mess. What is the difference between them and the people in front of them? They are just a group of stray dogs.

Xiang Dinghou took a deep breath and spoke casually, “What do you think of what Emperor Zhou said outside the city?”

Yong’an Hou paused and said cautiously: “How can empty words count?”

Anyone who can sit in this position knows that the emperor’s words are the most unreliable. Even if a letter is written as proof, the emperor can go back on his word at any time.

The so-called golden words are spoken to ordinary people.

“We must trust General Pan’s ability. It is better not to disrupt the morale of the army at this time.”

“Of course.” Xiang Dinghou nodded, as if it was a matter of course: “We are the ministers of the Chen Dynasty, so we will not be deceived by the Emperor Zhou.”

They said they would not be bewitched, but ever since their Majesty fled, no one has been calling him the dog emperor anymore.

Sensing this keenly, Marquis Yong’an’s heart paused. Just as he was about to say something, he heard a commotion not far away.

“Surrounded! They surrounded Simon too!”

The South Gate is the main entrance to the royal capital. Merchants usually travel along this road, and dignitaries travel along this road. Naturally, the Great Zhou would choose to attack from here. The West Gate is the narrowest and most hidden of the three gates: south, west and east. Now that the West Gate is surrounded, one can imagine what has become of the other two city gates.

Marquis Xiangding and Marquis Yong’an suddenly remembered that although the emperor of the Great Zhou asked them to surrender, he did not specify a date. Now that two days have passed, he must have become impatient. In this case, do the conditions proposed by the emperor of the Great Zhou still count?

Just when Marquis Xiangding and Marquis Yong’an were thinking about something, riot broke out at the west city gate.

“Let us out! Let us out!”

All exits were blocked, and there was the threat of a city massacre. Every hour and even every moment was shrouded in death. Under extreme fear, those with less endurance completely collapsed.

As the first person rushed forward, the people following behind him became excited and rushed forward regardless of anything.

However, they had only walked a dozen steps when countless arrows flew at them. The people in the front were immediately shot into hedgehogs. The splattered blood dyed the stone slabs under their feet red, causing the people behind them to stop abruptly, trembling in fear and keeping silent.

How could they, who were unarmed, be a match for the soldiers armed with swords?

Pan Zhong stood on the tower, looked around, and said in a thunderous voice: “Anyone who disturbs the morale of our army will be killed without mercy!”

When the deep voice fell, the people below all felt a chill and dared not stay any longer. The people who had gathered together dispersed in the blink of an eye.

Marquis Xiangding and Marquis Yong’an calmed themselves down and did not dare to stay any longer.

When the two men returned to their respective houses and the corner gate was closed, Marquis Xiangding and Marquis Yong’an’s expressions changed, and they were no longer as calm as before.

The same thought flashed through the minds of Marquis Xiangding and Marquis Yong’an almost at the same time –

We can’t wait any longer. If we wait any longer, the whole family will be trapped to death in the city!

Even though Pan Zhong has managed to control a riot in time, everyone knows that this is just the beginning. Everyone also knows that Pan Zhong does not have the ability to turn the tide and save the collapsing bulge.

After hearing this, the prince standing by couldn’t help but be shocked: “But if we really surrender and leave the capital, won’t we be leaving our lives and property in the hands of others?”

Now at least we still have Pan Zhong and his soldiers to hold on. Even if we really open the city gate, there will be nothing left.

“But if we continue like this, we will surely die. In the entire Chen Kingdom, there is only a capital and a few small cities left. They can no longer cause any trouble. The outcome of the game has been decided and we have no way out.” So now it is a question of whether to gamble or not.

But even if he wanted to gamble, Marquis Xiangding would not be completely unprepared.

After a while, Xiang Dinghou slowly spoke: “Let’s… give it a try first.”

There are three places in total. Marquis Xiangding does not intend to compete for the first place, nor does he want to fall behind others. It would be best if he could keep the title of marquis.

Another three days passed. He didn’t know if it was Pan Zhong’s illusion, but he always felt that the turmoil in the royal capital was getting worse and worse, and more and more people wanted to leave the city.

Pan Zhong sensed that there was something fishy going on, so he sent people to investigate. However, he was shocked to find out that the mastermind behind this was none other than that group of princes and nobles.

The kings and princes were unwilling to take risks alone, so they supported the people in making trouble behind the scenes and made the people their pawns.

It would be fine if the emperor of the Great Zhou rewards them as promised, but if he breaks the promise, they will find other ways. Such sneaky behaviour is really ridiculous.

But even if Pan Zhong found out, what would happen? They were a group of people that even he couldn’t touch.

It’s not that Pan Zhong doesn’t have the courage to kill all these spineless people. Anyway, His Majesty has already fled with his men, and the only person who can give orders is gone. It’s not impossible for Pan Zhong to do the remaining ones by gritting his teeth and hardening his heart. But if he does so, wouldn’t he be playing right into the hands of the dog emperor of the Great Zhou?  

He would probably rather see a fight among himself first.

Unlike the ignorant common people, the nobles were not easy to deal with and would definitely not accept death. Both sides would suffer losses and the capital would be destroyed.

While Pan Zhong was hesitating, he had support behind him, and with the help of the people themselves, he finally found an opportunity.

As the leader, how could the people who led them not know that the group of princes were using them to test the emperor outside the city gate? But what could they do?

They had nothing to lose, but if they succeeded, it would be completely different. At least they could get a prince, no matter what kind of prince he was, it would be a world of difference compared to what they have now.

With such thoughts in mind, the leader was particularly brave when he launched the charge again.

“Success or failure depends on this one move. If you don’t want to die, follow me!”

With a roar, the eyes of the people who were already eager to make a move suddenly turned red. They didn’t even have any extra thoughts, they just wanted to live.

Although the soldiers defending the city were Pan Zhong’s subordinates, they were just ordinary people. Only a few of them were cruel enough to attack their own people. A moment of trance caused them to disperse the team and rush to the city gate.

In the king’s tent in the distance, Ye Shuo first heard a loud noise, followed by an unprecedentedly brutal fight.

Prince Ding, who was patrolling outside, was startled, then looked up. In a moment, he saw that the city gate that had been closed was opened.

Countless ragged civilians, some with wounds on their bodies, some even without arms and legs, still ran towards the camp of the Great Zhou regardless of anything.

There was blood all over the ground.

“I am Du You, a humble citizen, and I have come to accept your surrender. I hope that the Emperor will show mercy and spare my life.”

The leader suppressed his nervousness, knelt on the ground and kowtowed heavily. He did not even bother to wipe the muddy ground all over his head. Seeing this, the people behind him hurriedly followed suit.

There was no response for a long while. Just when everyone was so nervous that they almost fainted, the most conspicuous tent not far away was finally opened by a pair of hands. Then there was a young but majestic voice –

“Come here, give them a reward!”

With just one word of praise, Du You, who was just an ordinary citizen, immediately became the dignified Prince of Chen.

Du You was stunned, and then a little dazed.

Just two hours later, the news reached the royal capital, and the city gate that had been barely repaired was once again hit hard.

As expected, Marquis Xiangding ran into his old neighbour Marquis Yong’an at the city gate.

The two men had said before, vowed, that they would never betray the State of Chen, but now they met in such a place. No matter how thick-skinned they were, they couldn’t help feeling a little embarrassed.

But this emotion only lasted for less than a moment. No one who could start from scratch and sit in this position was thin-skinned.

There is only one marquisate that Emperor Zhou promised, and you won’t be able to get it if you go too late.

When they thought of this, several people brought the private soldiers and guards of the mansion and rushed out with all their might. As for the city gate in front of them, since it had been broken once, there would naturally be a second and third time.

After rushing out with Xiang Dinghou, on the way, he was sitting on horseback and looked back for some unknown reason. As luck would have it, he happened to catch Pan Zhong’s eyes.

Pan Zhong is only in his thirties this year, in the prime of his life, but now he is like an old man in his twilight years, without any vitality in his body.

When Xiang Dinghou saw this, a flash of guilt flashed through his heart.

How could Marquis Xiangding not know that his behaviour was tantamount to treason, but… there were about a hundred people in his family, a full hundred people, and they were all waiting for him to life.

Thinking of this, Xiang Dinghou’s heart suddenly made up. He turned around and ran towards the enemy’s camp with his men as if he was risking his life.

As this group of people fled, the gates of the capital of the Kingdom of Chen were opened wide and could never be closed again.

The situation was hopeless, and the mighty Chen State finally perished.

The deputy general next to him wanted to stop them again, but he found that his soldiers had started to run out at some point. The deputy general instinctively wanted to open his mouth to shout, but was stopped by Pan Zhong the next moment.

“Let them be.”

After thinking for a while, Pan Zhong said, “You should also run for your life.”

The deputy general was not without intention, but…

“General, what about you?”

“Of course I will fight for Chen Guo until the last moment.”

Pan Zhong did what he said. When Xu Kui led his men into the city, Ye Shuo saw with his own eyes that Pan Zhong led the remnants of the army like a mayfly shaking a tree. In a short while, the only hundreds of people left were like dead leaves and were devoured by the elite troops of the Great Zhou.

Ye Shuo was silent for a moment, and finally couldn’t help but speak: “If you surrender now, it’s not too late. I will definitely save you and your family’s lives.”

“…You dog emperor, forget it!”

“Even if I die today, I will never surrender!”

The moment he finished speaking, Pan Zhong placed the sword across his neck in front of Ye Shuo.

“I, Pan Zhong, will never be a coward!”

As Pan Zhong exerted force with his hands, the sharp sword immediately cut his neck. In an instant, blood spurted out a full two metres away. After a moment, Pan Zhong died.

Ye Shuo then looked at the generals following him. Before he could say anything, the remaining nearly a hundred people made the same choice almost unanimously.

With a “swish” sound, accompanied by the sound of swords cutting through skin and blood vessels, the remaining people fell down one after another.

Looking at the corpses all over the ground, Ye Shuo slowly closed his eyes.