The capital city, with a population close to a million, housed one hundred thousand members of noble families and clans. More than fifty thousand of them were slaughtered by Qin Feng.
This included all family members who had abandoned their posts nationwide and fled back to the capital to protest.
Their corpses lined the streets. Even the common folk, who had previously supported Qin Feng and Zhi Rou, found themselves in a scene of carnage and trembled uncontrollably.
Qin Feng, holding the severed head of a clan leader, declared loudly to the fearful populace.
"For the century of chaos, the noble families bear undeniable responsibility. Today, they must be held accountable!"
"From this day forth, the noble families shall cease to exist. Their illegal gains, totaling twenty-two million taels of silver, shall have twenty million taels distributed among the people nationwide, along with their forty-two million mu of land. All unregistered and undocumented individuals can register with the authorities and will also be eligible to receive rewards and land!"
The terrified populace was stunned.
These spoils were not going into Qin Feng's pockets, nor entirely into the national treasury, but were to be given to them?
After repeated explanations from the soldiers throughout the city, the people's fear vanished, replaced by overwhelming joy.
"Long live our Emperor! Long live the Regent King!"
In the previously terrifying scene of carnage, hundreds of thousands of voices erupted in cheers.
Countless citizens rushed out to denounce these noble families. Many trampled the still-bleeding corpses without fear, feeling only exhilaration.
The dust of the streets churned with the bones of officials and nobles!
The children of the noble families, too young to remember, would be sent across the country to be raised by ordinary families. Their origins would not be revealed to their adoptive parents, only additional monetary rewards would be provided.
From a tall building, Qin Feng and his wife, along with Cheng Qing and Ye Chengxiu, watched the jubilant citizens of Daliang.
It seemed they had never experienced such joy before, marked by the end of the noble families.
The price, however, was that the regime of Daliang was now irrevocably stained with blood. A majority of civil and military officials had perished in the massacre, forcing the court to appoint temporary officials to fill the vacancies.
This was almost a devastating blow. Even though military and political power was already in the hands of Qin Feng and his wife, the newly appointed officials were still filled with trepidation.
Witnessing the people trampling corpses and celebrating, Cheng Qing couldn't help but feel a surge of sorrow and sighed, "The masses are ignorant!"
Qin Feng responded without hesitation, "The ignorant are often happy."
Cheng Qing was taken aback, then nodded and sighed.
Indeed, how could the common people understand so much?
Those who ruled over them deserved death.
Those who cared for them, they would support.
The entire nation was plunged into fear, but upon hearing the court's promises of rewards, these people cheered enthusiastically.
Daliang, through a preposterous massacre, had resolved the issue of noble families that had persisted since the Wu Dynasty. However, this also triggered a chain of consequences.
But from the moment the common people received their scattered silver and land, they were filled with gratitude, pledging their unwavering loyalty to Zhi Rou and Qin Feng.
"Even the Marquis of Anguo wouldn't treat us this well!"
Liang Xiao was too far away for them to reach. To them, he was an unattainable figure, after all, he was not the Marquis of Anguo of Daliang.
Now, their affection for Qin Feng and his wife, even if temporary, far surpassed their reverence for Liang Xiao.
The Daliang soldiers on the front lines, whose morale had been low, were re-energized upon hearing that their families had received silver and land. They displayed a strong sense of shared purpose.
The Daliang army finally regained the courage to fight against the Daqian army.
News of the events in Daliang reached Jiangnan, leaving its inhabitants astonished.
"Such a butcher, we must absolutely not let him invade Jiangnan again!"
The common people had limited information, only disgust.
"Don't worry, we have the Marquis of Anguo. Even ten Qin Fengs wouldn't dare to come. Only our Marquis of Anguo will reclaim Daliang!"
Liang Xiao, while marching, was also greatly shocked by the news.
Qin Feng was doing what Huang Chao had done!
"Tens of thousands of members of noble families, all slaughtered without mercy?" The soldiers were shocked for a long time and then expressed, "The enemy is in internal strife, heaven is helping us!"
The Daqian army's morale also soared, eager to march into Daliang territory immediately.
Liang Xiao led the vanguard, marching rapidly towards the coast south of Wurozhou. He looked at the numerous warships, modified and improved by the prevailing winds, with satisfaction.
These warships were enough to transport two hundred and fifty thousand men to cross the river and engage in battle.
"Marshal, a messenger from Daliang has arrived to request an audience!"
Liang Xiao once again received Ye Chengxiu, who was acting as an envoy.
At this moment, Ye Chengxiu's hair and beard were white, and he had lost his former demeanor, but his expression was solemn, and his face was resolute.
"Marquis of Anguo, I hope you are well."
Ye Chengxiu faced Qin Feng with neither subservience nor arrogance.
"Commander Ye is a wise man, and I presume you are not here to persuade me to retreat." Liang Xiao said with a smile.
"That is correct! I am not here to persuade the Marquis of Anguo to retreat!" Ye Chengxiu replied decisively, then produced Zhi Rou's imperial decree and Qin Feng's letter.
"After repeated deliberation, His Majesty and the Regent King have decided to surrender!"
As soon as these words were spoken, the generals present were both surprised and delighted: "The Empress of Daliang and the Regent King have made invaluable contributions to unifying the two countries and saving the military and civilian population from the ravages of war!"
Ye Chengxiu shook his head and smiled, "It is merely a consideration of surrender. Whether His Majesty can lead the entire nation to surrender rests with the Marquis of Anguo!"
"Speak freely," Liang Xiao said.
Ye Chengxiu stated, "The Regent King said that as long as you are willing to lay down your arms and travel to Daliang, he and His Majesty will surrender the entire nation without regret!"
As soon as his words fell, the soldiers present were both shocked and enraged: "What kind of idiotic condition is this!"
Zhuo Ying, usually composed, finally became angry: "Minister Ye, have you perhaps misunderstood the situation? The timing, the geography, and the support of the people are all on our side in Daqian. The Marquis of Anguo is the pillar of our Daqian, how dare you plot against him?"
Ye Chengxiu ignored everyone, focusing only on Liang Xiao and speaking loudly, "If the Marquis of Anguo refuses, then the two countries will only have a decisive battle at the Heng River! Our army and people are united, even if the Marquis of Anguo wields the 'Heavenly Fire of Daqian,' he cannot destroy the fighting spirit of our soldiers!"
"So he's taking a gamble, a desperate last resort? How despicable!" The soldiers were all indignant.
Ye Chengxiu's voice finally began to tremble as he added, "Of course, the Marquis of Anguo can take me hostage. You are allowed to bring at most one warship's crew. No more. Marquis of Anguo, I will ask you one question now: Do you dare to go to the capital of Daliang and personally accept the surrender of His Majesty and the Regent King?"
Liang Xiao appraised Ye Chengxiu, a smile on his face.
"Where are the imperial decree and the Regent King's letter?"
After Yue Qingtian retrieved the Daliang imperial decree and Qin Feng's letter for Liang Xiao, Liang Xiao read the contents, circulated them among the generals, and then had his subordinates verify the handwriting.
"It is indeed the handwriting of the Empress of Daliang and the Regent King, using Daliang's most precious imperial decree material. There is no mistake!"
After verifying the authenticity, Liang Xiao suddenly burst into laughter.
"Marshal, you absolutely must not!" "Our army does not need the Marshal to risk his life. As long as the Marshal whips southeast, reclaiming Daliang will be a matter of time!" "Even if someone is to accept surrender, it should be this subordinate, not the Marshal himself!"
Liang Xiao merely dismissed the enraged generals, keeping only Zhuo Ying and Yue Qingtian. He then looked at Ye Chengxiu and said, "Commander Ye, I will also ask you one question."
Ye Chengxiu readily agreed: "I will answer anything you ask!"
"The Marquis of Zhenguo, did he already ascertain that Mu Xuan is not Emperor Wu's flesh and blood?"
Liang Xiao's question, completely unrelated to accepting surrender, bewildered Ye Chengxiu. Zhuo Ying and Yue Qingtian wore looks of utter confusion.