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In the autumn of the fourth year of Xiande, Su Ning held a military parade in Yangzhou.

But the eyes of all the generals in the tent were now fixed on the largest blank space in the center of the map.

Southern Tang Dynasty.

"Your Highness," Cao Bin began, "the Later Shu will only be at war for another three months at most. But what about the Southern Tang? Are they just going to leave it hanging like this?"

Suning did not answer immediately.

He walked to the map, looked at the place marked "Jinling", and remained silent for a moment.

"I'm not going to let it air dry anymore."

The tent fell silent.

"Pass on the order," Su Ning said. "The First, Fourth, and Fifth Divisions, deploy defenses at all the ferry crossings along the north bank of the Yangtze River. From Yangzhou to Hezhou, nail down every place where you can cross the river."

"The 7th and 11th Divisions will advance from the west. Huangzhou, Qizhou, and Shuzhou, along the entire riverfront, will be under our control."

"Naval forces, proceed from the mouth of the Yangtze River. From Jiangyin to Zhenjiang, no Southern Tang ships are permitted on the river."

"The 18th Division is pressing in from the west, blocking the western entrance to the Southern Tang."

"I want the Southern Tang to become an isolated island."

The generals were invigorated and responded in unison.

Someone asked, "Your Highness, what if the people in the city want to escape?"

Su Ning glanced at him.

"Run? Where to run?"

"We are to the north, we are to the west, we are to the east. If they want to escape, they can only run south."

"Run south, and you'll reach the sea."

A low laugh rang out from inside the tent.

Military orders were issued one after another and sent to various places by express courier.

On the north bank of the Yangtze River, the national defense forces began a large-scale mobilization.

The First Division advanced westward from Yangzhou, setting up a sentry post every thirty li along the river and stationing a battalion every fifty li.

All ferry crossings are now closed.

If any Southern Tang ships try to dock, shoot them directly.

The Fourth Division marched south from Chuzhou and took control of the Jiangpu and Liuhe areas.

All the boats that were originally used to cross the river were requisitioned, dragged ashore, and burned.

The Fifth Division advanced westward from Hezhou and joined forces with the Seventh and Eleventh Divisions.

From Huangzhou to Shuzhou, the entire area along the river was under the control of the National Defense Army.

The navy, on the other hand, acted even faster.

Two hundred warships set sail from Yangzhou and entered the mouth of the Yangtze River.

Patrols are conducted day and night on the river from Jiangyin to Zhenjiang.

The Southern Tang navy wanted to get out, but was blocked in the port and couldn't get out; the Southern Tang merchant ships wanted to get in, but were blocked on the river and couldn't get through.

Half a month later, not a single ferry crossing on the north bank of the Yangtze River remained in the hands of the Southern Tang Dynasty.

A month later, not a single ship from the Southern Tang Dynasty could navigate freely on the Yangtze River.

The Southern Tang Dynasty was completely blocked.

When the news reached Jinling, Li Jing was in the palace reviewing memorials.

After hearing the report, he dropped the pen in his hand.

"Blockade...what does that mean?"

The official who reported this bowed his head, his voice trembling, "Your Majesty, the Zhou army has occupied all the ferry crossings north of the Yangtze River. The entire Yangtze is filled with their ships. Our people can't get out, and goods from outside can't get in."

Li Jing remained silent for a long time.

"Where's the food? How long can the food supply last?"

"The Ministry of Revenue said... at most three months."

Three months.

Li Jing closed his eyes.

Three months later, people in Nanjing will starve to death.

Zhou Jun was waiting on the other side of the river.

Wait for them to starve to death, wait for them to surrender, wait for them to fall into chaos on their own.

"Your Majesty," a minister whispered, "why not...send someone to negotiate?"

"Peace talks?" Li Jing opened his eyes and gave a bitter laugh. "What can we negotiate with? We've lost all fourteen prefectures north of the Yangtze River, and the Min, Chu, and Han regions are all gone. We're now an isolated city, at the mercy of the Zhou army. Peace talks? Do you think they'll even listen to you?"

The minister lowered his head, not daring to speak again.

On the third day of the blockade, some merchants attempted to sneak across the river.

He found a secluded ferry crossing in Jiangyin and rowed his small boat at night, intending to transport a boatload of grain there.

As soon as the ship left the shore, it was spotted by a naval patrol boat.

The patrol boat gave chase and shot an arrow through the boatman's throat.

The grain sank to the bottom of the river, and the bodies were retrieved and hung on a flagpole by the river.

A sign stood nearby: "Smugglers will have their entire family executed."

Once the news spread, no one dared to try it anymore.

During the first month of the lockdown, grain prices in Nanjing tripled.

In the second month, it increased fivefold.

In the third month, even with money, it was impossible to buy food.

The people began to eat wild vegetables, tree bark, and rats.

Some people starved to death in the streets, and their bodies were taken away by the government and buried somewhere unknown.

Li Jing sat in the palace, listening to the commotion outside, growing more and more silent each day.

The Southern Tang Dynasty truly became the last isolated island.

……

In November of the fourth year of Xiande, in Yangzhou.

On the map, all the southern kingdoms had been incorporated into the territory of the Great Zhou, with only the Southern Tang still clinging to life. The area to the west marked "Later Shu" was still blank.

"Later Shu," Su Ning said, pointing to the map, "Meng Chang has enjoyed himself in Chengdu for thirty years; it's time for his time to come."

The generals in the tent were invigorated.

After two years of fighting, things went more smoothly and we became more and more energetic.

"Your Highness, how should we fight?"

Suning walked up to the map and drew three lines with his finger.

"Advance along three routes simultaneously."

"The Western Route Army, led by Chen Chong and Li Chongjin, consists of the Sixth, Ninth, and Seventeenth Divisions, totaling 30,000 men, and is attacking southwestern Shaanxi. They will capture Fengxiang and Qinzhou and then advance from the north."

"The Northern Route Army, led by Wang Yanjun and Wang Mingyang, consists of the Second and Sixteenth Divisions, totaling 20,000 men. They marched south along the Jialing River from Fengzhou, conquering cities and territories along the way, and penetrating deep into the heart of Sichuan."

"The Eastern Route Army, led by Cao Bin and Shi Shouxin, consists of the Third and Eighth Divisions, totaling 20,000 men. They marched up the Yangtze River from Guizhou, breaking through the natural barrier of the Yangtze and encircling the enemy from the east."

"The three armies will advance separately and attack together. Within a month, I will meet them at the gates of Chengdu."

"promise!"

After a moment of silence in the tent, a thunderous roar of responses erupted.

The three armies set off on the same day.

The Western Route Army was the first to be dispatched.

Chen Chong and Li Chongjin led 30,000 troops from Chang'an and headed straight for Fengxiang.

The garrison commander of Fengxiang was surnamed Wang and named Zhaoyuan. He was a veteran general of the Later Shu.

Upon hearing that Zhou Jun was coming, he summoned his generals and declared with great fervor, "Gentlemen, the Shu Road is an impregnable fortress; however many Zhou Jun soldiers come, they will all perish! We will defend the city, and we will surely prevail..."

Before he could finish speaking, a scout came to report: "General, the Zhou army has arrived at the city walls!"

Wang Zhaoyuan was stunned.

"So fast?"

Then he climbed up the city wall and saw that the area outside the city was dark and full of Zhou army camps.

"Hold on...hold on!"

They waited for three days.

On the fourth day, the Western Route Army captured Fengxiang.

Wang Zhaoyuan was captured and brought before Chen Chong.

Chen Chong stared coldly at the prisoner before him. "Will you surrender or not?"

Wang Zhaoyuan hesitated for a moment, then said, "Surrender."

"Hmph! You're smart to know what's good for you! The Meng family is nothing but bones in a grave."

"..."

Then, the Western Route Army continued its southward advance, sweeping through the enemy lines with unstoppable momentum.

Qin Prefecture, Cheng Prefecture, Jie Prefecture—one city after another surrendered without a fight.

A month later, the entire southwestern part of Shaanxi fell into the hands of Zhou's army.

When the news reached Taiyuan, Liu Min of the Northern Han Dynasty became even more ill.

When the news reached Dingnan Army, the Tanguts began to reconsider which side they should stand on.

……

The Northern Route Army is making faster progress.

Wang Yanjun and Wang Mingyang led 20,000 troops from Fengzhou southward along the Jialing River.

The banks of the Jialing River are lined with high mountains and deep valleys, forming the treacherous Shu Road.

The defending troops thought that Zhou's army would move slowly and that they could ambush and intercept them on the way.

But they were wrong.

The National Defense Forces do not take mountain roads, but waterways.

Wang Yanjun had made preparations in advance, and requisitioned hundreds of civilian boats along the river.

The soldiers boarded the boats and sailed downstream, covering three hundred li in a day and a night.

Before the defending troops could react, Zhou's army had already appeared at the foot of Xingzhou City.

Han Baozheng, the garrison commander of Xingzhou, was drinking and making merry in the city.

Upon hearing that Zhou's army was at the city gates, they dropped their wine cups.

"How...how could it be so fast?"

He hurriedly climbed the city wall, where a dark mass of Zhou troops had already gathered outside the city.

They only held out for three days.

On the fourth day, the city fell.

Han Baozheng was captured.

When Li Jin, the garrison commander of Lizhou, heard that Xingzhou had fallen, he was so frightened that he sent someone to Chengdu overnight to request reinforcements.

However, before the reinforcements from Chengdu arrived, Zhou's army had already reached the city walls.

Li Jin gritted his teeth and held out for two days. On the third day, Lizhou fell.

Li Jin, the garrison commander of Lizhou, was brought before Wang Yanjun, where he knelt down and kowtowed.

"Surrender! This humble general is willing to surrender!"

Wang Yanjun glanced at him, then waved for someone to take him away.

Therefore, the Northern Route Army continued its southward march.

Jianmen Pass is just ahead.

Jianmen Pass, a formidable pass under heaven, is so strategically important that one man can hold it against ten thousand.

Throughout history, Sichuan has relied on this pass to thwart countless attacks.

The gatekeeper was Wang Yuandao, the Privy Councilor of Later Shu.

Wang Yuandao stood on the pass, looking at the Zhou army rolling in from afar, and sneered dismissively, "The Jianmen Pass is a natural fortress; the Zhou army will have no chance of escaping."

"The Privy Councilor's plans were flawless."

"Haha, today we'll show Zhou Jun the might of Erlang of Shu."

"promise."

However, Wang Yanjun was not in a hurry to tackle the problem.

Instead, he sent men to set up camp in front of the pass and drill every day, making it seem like he was going to launch a strong attack.

Secretly, he dispatched an elite force, led by local guides, to traverse mountains and valleys and circle around to the back of Jianmen Pass.

On the third night, the elite troops suddenly appeared behind the pass.

As expected, the garrison at Jianmen Pass was thrown into chaos.

Taking advantage of the situation, Zhou's army launched a fierce attack.

At dawn, Jianmen Pass fell.

Wang Yuandao was captured and brought before Wang Yanjun.

To lower or not to lower?

Wang Zhaoyuan remained silent for a moment, then had no choice but to lower his arrogant head, "...I surrender."

"I heard you look down on our Great Zhou National Defense Army?"

"This sinful subject...this sinful subject deserves to die a thousand deaths!"

"Don't worry! Our Great Zhou never sets up punishments privately. Your crimes will be investigated and judged by specialists."

"..."

With Jianmen Pass breached, the gateway to Shu was wide open.

The Northern Route Army advanced rapidly, heading straight for Chengdu.

……

The Eastern Route Army is not slow either.

Cao Bin and Shi Shouxin led 20,000 troops from Guizhou and sailed up the river.

The Yangtze River is a natural barrier, known as the "locking-the-river".

The Shu army strung iron chains across the river, cutting it off; the mountains on both banks were filled with archers.

Cao Bin stood at the bow of the boat, looking at the iron chains, and remained silent for a moment.

"set fire."

Dozens of small boats loaded with firewood were set ablaze and floated down the river.

The iron chain was heated until it turned red-hot, and finally broke.

The river surface opened up.

Zhou's warships filed in.

The archers on both sides of the river fired arrows wildly, but Zhou's army was prepared.

The shields blotted out the sun, and the arrows fell on the river, splashing up sprays of water.

Gao Yanchou, the garrison commander of Kuizhou, stood on the city wall and watched this scene, his face pale.

"We can't hold out any longer..."

Then, Gao Yanchou led his remaining troops to abandon the city and flee.

When the Eastern Route Army entered the city, the prefectures along the river surrendered one after another.

……

A month later, the three armies joined forces at the gates of Chengdu.

In Chengdu, Meng Chang hadn't slept well for a month.

He burned incense and prayed to Buddha in the palace every day, asking the Bodhisattva for protection.

But the Bodhisattva did not protect him.

Xingzhou fell, Lizhou fell, Jianmen fell, Kuizhou fell...

Each battle report that arrived felt like a knife stabbing into his heart.

"Your Majesty," the ministers knelt on the ground, "the Zhou army is at the city gates, what should we do?"

Meng Chang slumped onto the dragon throne, his lips trembling.

"Hit...beat?"

"What can we use to fight? We've killed all our soldiers who could fight..."

"Then...then surrender?"

No one dared to answer.

Meng Chang thought about it for three days.

For three days, the bugle calls of Zhou's army outside the city sounded day and night, causing panic among the people in the city, who began to loot food.

On the fourth day, he finally made a decision.

The gates of Chengdu were wide open.

Meng Chang, dressed in white, held the imperial seal and knelt at the city gate.

Outside the city, Zhou's army stood in formation, their banners obscuring the sun.

Cao Bin rode up to him on horseback.

"Meng Chang?"

"I am guilty...I am guilty."

"Rise! His Highness has ordered that those who surrender are not to be killed."

Meng Chang was taken away and looked back at the city where he had lived for thirty years.

On the city gate, the flags of Later Shu were being torn down and replaced with the dragon flags of the Great Zhou.

He lowered his head and said nothing more, knowing that he was a prisoner.

From the time Zhou Jun set out to the time Meng Chang surrendered, it took thirty-six days.

The news spread far and wide, causing a stir in all directions.

……

Upon hearing this news in Taiyuan, Liu Min's condition worsened.

He looked north and murmured, "The Khitan... how much longer can the Khitan hold out?"

In Bianliang City, Guo Rong looked at the battle report and remained silent for a long time.

Thirty-six days.

The King of Qin destroyed a state that had been established for more than 30 years in just 36 days.

Thinking back to the battle I fought against the Khitans, it lasted for three whole months, with 20,000 dead and wounded, before we finally drove the Khitans away.

Different.

Really different.

Guo Rong suddenly felt a sense of relief.

Fortunately, this person was his brother, not his enemy.

Moreover, the King of Qin was willing to wait patiently rather than rush to ascend the throne; otherwise, he might not have been a match for him.

Soon, Meng Chang was escorted to Bianliang.

Throughout the journey, he sat in the prison van, watching the scenery along the way, without uttering a word.

None of the accompanying National Defense Army soldiers mistreated him.

Meals were delivered on time, water was provided on time, and they even found him a book to keep him entertained.

"What kind of person is your King of Qin?" Meng Chang asked a soldier escorting him, his face full of doubt.

The soldier thought for a moment.

"Your Highness... is not a man of many words."

Meng Chang was taken aback. "Just...just quiet?"

"Hmm. Not much of a talker, but a man of his word."

Meng Chang remained silent for a long time.

The prison cart continued forward, heading towards the capital city he had never seen before.

……

Upon arriving in Bianliang, Meng Chang was brought before Guo Rong.

Guo Rong looked at him. "You're Meng Chang?"

"The guilty subject is none other than Meng Chang."

Can you write poetry?

Meng Chang was stunned.

What's the problem?
"Yes...I know a little."

Guo Rong nodded.

"From now on, focus on writing poetry. The Great Zhou doesn't need you to fight wars."

Meng Chang was taken away and given the title of "Marquis of Mengchu," and placed in a mansion.

He spent his days writing poetry, drinking wine, and appreciating flowers, no longer needing to worry about politics.

Sometimes Meng Chang would think that this was fine too.

Moreover, his Lady Huarui was not forcibly taken by the powerful and noble of the Great Zhou Dynasty, or rather, the rulers of the Great Zhou Dynasty had no interest in the so-called Lady Huarui.

At least I won't be woken up in the middle of the night by news of defeat.

After the fall of Later Shu, the Great Zhou dynasty took over all of Shu territory.

The Land of Abundance was thus incorporated into the territory of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

Grain, cloth, salt, iron, and copper ore were continuously transported from Sichuan to the Central Plains.

The National Defense Forces received more pay, and the soldiers' lives improved.

The next step was the Southern Tang and the Khitan.

Especially the Khitan, who were at their peak, were still waiting for the Great Zhou.

A unified Central Plains dynasty is about to be reborn, and a world-shaking battle is inevitable between it and its powerful northern neighbor.

Suning is confident that it will not be overwhelmed by the Khitan like the weak Song Dynasty in history...

...(End of this chapter)