The escorting soldiers reacted quickly, wielding their spears to knock the assassin away.
"Seize him!" the captain of the guard bellowed, capturing the assailant alive.
Qin Feng was also alerted. He got out of the carriage to examine the man.
It was a burly man with a full beard, his face contorted with hatred as he glared at Qin Feng, his eyes bulging.
"Who are you?"
A sharp-eyed soldier quickly replied, "Your Majesty, I recognize him! He was a retainer of Yan Ming, the former head of the Yan family, Yan Long!"
"Are you trying to assassinate me for revenge?" Qin Feng asked.
"You ask what you already know!!" Yan Long, unable to break free from the soldiers' grip, could only roar at Qin Feng.
"The Yan family preyed on the common people, perverted justice, colluded with heretical cults, and brought disaster to the nation. Why are you so deluded?" Qin Feng asked.
"I ate the king's salt, and I serve the king faithfully! Yan Ming was my master, and it is natural for me to avenge him!" Yan Long retorted. Seeing Qin Feng's silence, he sneered, "I have fallen into your hands today because my skills are inferior. Make your move!"
Qin Feng observed that this man was different from the fanatical followers of the Huichun cult. He was clear-headed. Shaking his head helplessly, Qin Feng said, "You are not on the purge list, which means you are innocent. Go home and live a good life. Let this be the last time."
"I will kill you every time I see you! You butcher, traitor! You usurped the throne and made the capital flow with blood!" Amidst Yan Long's curses, the soldiers, following Qin Feng's orders, escorted him out of the capital.
"If you dare to assassinate the Marquis again, you will be torn to pieces!"
The next day, Qin Feng was inspecting the city and comforting the people when a woodcutter seized an opportunity to approach him. Suddenly, he pulled a dagger from his怀 and lunged at Qin Feng's heart.
Ye Chengxiu, who was by Qin Feng's side, casually parried the dagger with his sword and captured the assailant on the spot.
"It's you again?" Qin Feng frowned.
"You can tear me to pieces if you wish, otherwise, I was born to kill you!" Yan Long roared.
"Guards, have him drawn and quartered!" Ye Chengxiu ordered furiously, but Qin Feng stopped him.
"I will spare you this time. This is the second offense, not the third."
Yan Long was dumbfounded and was released by Qin Feng again.
"Try to avoid this person in the future," Qin Feng instructed his attendants.
The attendants, bewildered, could only agree.
"Please, have mercy..."
Seven days later, Qin Feng's convoy was approaching the imperial palace when they saw a limping beggar sitting by the roadside, his body covered in black and his entire face charred, his voice hoarse.
"Where did this beggar come from?" Ye Chengxiu frowned and ordered, "Someone, give him some steamed buns and send him away. From now on, civilians are strictly forbidden from approaching the palace area!"
"Seize him, this person must be Yan Long." Qin Feng suddenly spoke, startling everyone.
The men stepped forward and captured the person. Upon inspection, they found that his build was indeed similar to Yan Long's.
"You..." Yan Long's eyes were filled with shock, then he burst into laughter, "I have lost!"
Yan Long's wife, bringing their children, came and kowtowed, begging for mercy.
"My husband was determined to get revenge, so he broke his own leg, swallowed charcoal, and poured black paint on himself... None of us could dissuade him. Merciful Emperor, please show mercy and spare him this time. He is already crippled and no longer a threat to you..."
Qin Feng was silent for a moment, then sighed, "It is the second offense, not the third. I am sorry."
"My death is insignificant, but I have one request. Take off your clothes and let me stab them a few times, as if I were avenging my former master!" Yan Long gritted his teeth.
Qin Feng unhesitatingly removed his imperial robes and had them sent to Yan Long.
Yan Long's eyes glinted fiercely. Using his left hand for support, he leaped from the ground and fiercely pierced the imperial robes, terrifying Ye Chengxiu and the others.
If Qin Feng had hesitated and gone to comfort the "beggar," allowing him to get within ten feet, the consequences would have been unimaginable!
"My great revenge is complete! Thank you!"
After cupping his fists in gratitude towards Qin Feng, Yan Long committed suicide on the spot.
Qin Feng watched Yan Long's weeping wife and children, sent someone to give them a hundred taels of gold, and then left.
When the news spread, the common people could not help but sigh.
"Our Regent has offended too many people in his efforts to liberate the people!"
Countless loyalists and chivalrous individuals from the populace voluntarily offered to protect the Regent's mansion.
Qin Feng returned to the palace and reunited with his wife and children.
Of the Six Beauties of Hengjiang, all but Li Xin were officially married to Zhirou. The three of them had children with Qin Feng and had been brought into the palace for care.
At this moment, Qin Feng's wives were filled with worry. "Husband..."
"I know what you want to say. There's no need," Qin Feng said, shaking his head.
The women fell silent.
Only the children played and frolicked nearby, completely unaware that the world outside had already changed.
Fortunately, Qin Feng had secured control of the national military power in advance, and with the common people redistributing the wealth of the aristocratic families, there was no overly violent mutiny among the soldiers in Da Liang.
On the fifteenth day, Zhirou and Qin Feng, leading the new civil and military officials, arrived south of Hengjiang, gazing into the distance with complex expressions.
A giant warship was approaching, cutting through the waves. As the ship drew closer, everyone finally saw the figure at the bow.
"The Marquis of Anguo of Da Gan, he has actually come..."
The civil and military officials who had briefly met Liang Xiao before were stunned into silence, unable to believe their eyes.
Even Cheng Qing's face showed shock.
Why was he taking such a risk?
Behind Liang Xiao were a group of generals led by Yue Qingtian, as well as the Qingtian Guard.
Gongsun Dingjun, who had once defended Luzhou with Liang Xiao, was also among them.
Qin Feng simply chuckled and stepped forward to meet the warship as it docked.
Liang Xiao disembarked, bowed to Zhirou, and then exchanged a look with Qin Feng. Qin Feng broke the silence first.
"I have been waiting for you for a long time, Marquis of Anguo."
Liang Xiao nodded solemnly. "I understand."
The entourage from both nations looked on with curiosity as Liang Xiao, Zhirou, and Qin Feng boarded their respective carriages. The convoy then proceeded towards the capital of Da Liang.
The atmosphere was extremely tense. There was little conversation between the two sides. After several hours, the convoy finally entered the capital of Da Liang.
"He really is the Marquis of Anguo! The Marquis of Anguo has truly arrived!" "My heavens!"
The citizens lining the streets, who had come to welcome them, exclaimed continuously.
As Liang Xiao waved to the crowd, he surveyed the entire scene from his open carriage.
There were still visible traces of blood on the ground, everywhere...
The capital, which could still maintain a facade of prosperity in the past, now appeared more filthy and dilapidated.
Qin Feng's slaughter of the aristocratic families had solved a major problem but had also led to more severe consequences. However, the soldiers and people of Da Liang did not yet realize the crisis.
Too many officials who held important positions had died at Qin Feng's hands, making it difficult for the state machinery to function effectively. The impact was far-reaching...
The convoy arrived at the largest square in the heart of the capital. Liang Xiao, Zhirou, and Qin Feng alighted simultaneously and walked towards a high platform.
On the platform, there was only a table and a few chairs.
Liang Xiao sat opposite Qin Feng and Zhirou and finally spoke, "I have come to Da Liang hoping that you will accept the unification of our two nations. My Emperor will absolutely not mistreat any of Da Liang's soldiers and people, including the two of you."
The guards around them lowered their heads in silence.
Cheng Qing, Ye Chengxiu, and the others dared not utter a sound.
Qin Feng pointed at the two cups of wine placed side-by-side on the table, looked at Liang Xiao, and smiled.
"It is not difficult for Da Liang to surrender. There are two cups of wine here, one of which contains a colorless and odorless potent poison. You choose, and then we will each drink one cup. Regardless of the outcome, from this day forward, Da Liang's fourteen prefectures will cease to exist, and there will only be Da Gan's fourteen prefectures."
As soon as he spoke, everyone except Liang Xiao and Zhirou was stunned and turned pale.
Even Cheng Qing and Ye Chengxiu gasped, "This..."
Gongsun Dingjun, the most composed, angrily said, "Qin Feng, our Marquis of Anguo has shown you great leniency, how can you be so presumptuous!"
The Da Liang soldiers and commoners watching from below, upon hearing Qin Feng's demand, could not help but feel ashamed and lowered their heads.
What right did they have to negotiate with Da Gan?