"Heh heh... I see you’re doing quite well in Yin Country, so why don’t you demonstrate your loyalty by dying for it? I recall that the words loyalty and righteousness carry significant weight..."
Feeling speechless at how easily the old Yin Country general gave in, Wang Zhifan began to mock him, wanting to see if he was up to any trickery.
"My lord! Loyalty and righteousness are important, but living is even more so! As long as this old general remains useful, I can expand the territories for you! Serve you faithfully! I’ve worked hard in Yin Country for so many years, yet I’m still a Deputy General at my old age, which leaves dissatisfied!"
The old general candidly explained his fear of death, pointing out that Yin Country hadn’t treated him well, so he had little burden in betraying them.
"Heh heh... You should know that to join , you need to provide evidence of loyalty, rely killing soldiers doesn’t count."
Though Wang Zhifan didn’t hold much regard for such a person, considering the current situation, he was in need of new forces, so he temporarily agreed to the general’s surrender. However, surrender wasn’t just about words, actions were needed to gain his trust.
"My lord! I understand! I can capture the Yin Royal Family for you to prove my loyalty!"
The man replied imdiately after hearing Wang Zhifan’s words, clearly having anticipated this.
"Oh? Then I shall see if you can truly accomplish that..."
Wang Zhifan sought the convenience of having local people deal with their own, ensuring there would be no further rebellion during the process. He had confidence in his ability to control them.
Thus, the process of surrender began. Wang Zhifan first released control over the Yin Country Army and then asked the surrendering old general to unify the soldiers’ belief, quickly eliminating those unwilling to surrender. He personally supervised the old general as he led troops to the Yin Country throne.
anwhile, the three thousand Feng Country soldiers under the command of an armored young general began to take control over the key locations of the city.
This kind of direct allegiance change is usually very risky because if the surrendering troops are pretending, it could release a tiger back to the mountain. But Wang Zhifan didn’t care; he could always eliminate those trying to deceive him a second ti. The power of Ice Source made it quite simple to freeze and control the water in their bodies, which was its forte.
So ti later, the surrendered Yin Country general, with his subordinates, hurried across the muddy streets to the Yin Country throne. Accompanied by soone beside him, he dared not make any move, ordering his soldiers to surround the throne and personally called for the King Yin to co out and surrender.
At that mont, Wang Zhifan didn’t seem to mind that there was no response from the seemingly quiet throne; instead, he marveled at how the building was much more splendid than any in Feng Country.
"A three-story palace, with the top estimated to be twenty ters high, built entirely with white stone, elegant and majestic. Now this is a place fit for a monarch to reside."
Comparing it to his own mud-brick palace on Feng Country’s mountain, Wang Zhifan understood how poor Feng Country really was. He rembered the old Chancellor saying that Yin Country was not a major power, just a small plain country. But seeing the scale of this palace and the architectural style along the streets, it was clear they couldn’t compare to Feng Country, hence why Yin Country looked down on them before the siege.
"From today on, this will be one of my residences."
After satisfying himself with the sight of the lofty Yin Country throne, Wang Zhifan mused softly.
At that mont, the surrendered Yin Country general approached him, bowing to report:
"My lord! There’s no response from the throne! May I have permission to take n inside to capture King Yin!"
He acted very loyal, looking to show his willingness to oppose his old master to please the new one, but Wang Zhifan’s next words made him uneasy.
"No need..."
With a smile, Wang Zhifan shook his head.
"You’ve been dawdling outside the throne for quite a while, haven’t you? Giving your old master ti to escape through the tunnel. I’m certainly not assured letting you take n to capture him..."
Wang Zhifan then looked at him, half smiling.
"My lord, you’ve wronged ! Heaven and earth can testify to my loyalty; I have no ulterior motives! I’ll capture King Yin and present him to you right now!"
The old general imdiately delivered a gravely wronged expression, hurriedly turning to proceed with the task.
However, before he moved a few steps, a voice from behind interrupted him:
"No need to busy yourself... Were you planning to trick with their doubles? That makes no sense... Heh, my n have already captured the real ones."
As soon as Wang Zhifan finished speaking, a tall figure erged from the previously empty and quiet Yin Country throne, their face obscured. Each hand held a noble-dressed man, one middle-aged and one younger, both unconscious.
"My lord... Your Highness..."
Seeing this scene, the Yin Country general’s face turned ashen. These were King Yin and the Crown Prince! But how had they not escaped through the tunnel despite the ti passed since leaving the city gates and the commotion caused by the tornado? Were their bodyguards unbelievably incompetent?
"Old man, stop stalling! Kill them imdiately, or you’ll all die together!"
As the agitated Yin Country general halted in shock, Wang Zhifan gave him no ti for thought, his face turning cold and urging in a commanding tone, while an intimidating aura burst forth from his body, prepared to act at any mont!
"You... you monster..."
Under this extre pressure, the Yin Country general could not withstand it. He pointed at Wang Zhifan, cursing, because his initial plan was to feign surrender to allow King Yin to escape the capital, then slowly plot against the enemy. But Wang Zhifan’s sudden action caught him off guard, turning false surrender into genuine submission.
Boom!
Suddenly, the surrounding soldiers, bewildered by the scene, watched the berserk old general and the unconscious Yin Royal Family mbers explode. Their bodies, along with their armor, blasted into ice shards, leaving not even bones!
"If you don’t intend to submit, don’t pretend to! Do you think I can’t conquer this city without you?!"
In the midst of scattering ice, a natural boundary prevented anything from soiling Wang Zhifan. His gaze shifted to the shocked and terrified Yin Country soldiers around, and he coldly declared:
"If you wish to live, kneel and submit to ! Otherwise, I have no qualms sending you all skyward!"
His words weren’t loud, yet they surged through the ears of all Yin Country soldiers present like an electric current. Slowly, then more rapidly, the sound of knees hitting the ground echoed. Conquered by fear, every Yin Country soldier dropped to their knees without exception.
"We swear allegiance to our lord!"
"I submit to you, my lord!"
...
After kneeling, each tactful Yin Country soldier verbally pledged loyalty, an act that spread like an contagion, prompting others to follow suit, causing waves of loyal chants to reverberate around the throne.
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