Chinese animation: Starting with Bad Guys

Ying pursed her lips and added a sentence, but her ears turned red.

"I'm ready to serve you anytime."

Qin Chuan nodded slightly, then waved to the crowd before stepping into the bright sunlight.

The figure faded into the distance, finally disappearing at the end of the road, leaving only a faint scent of wine lingering in the wind, and the unspoken words—

The chaos will soon end, and the future will be long.

Chapter 123 Bring Your Head to Me!

The giant bronze bell at Chengtian Gate was struck by a strongman, and the deep, desolate sound waves spread, collided, and echoed like tangible ripples among the majestic palaces and buildings of the imperial city.

The lingering sound, penetrating the vermilion walls and seeping into every corner, heralded the start of yet another court assembly.

As dawn broke, the civil and military officials filed in.

Dressed in various court robes, with solemn expressions and hurried steps, they crossed the empty square and gathered at Jiaolan Hall.

Inside the hall, golden pillars with coiled dragons stand tall, and the throne hangs high above.

However, the dragon throne, which symbolizes the supreme ruler, is now empty.

After the earth-shattering collapse of the Longquan underground palace shattered Zhu Youzhen's last dream of resurrecting his birth mother, the Liang emperor completely fell into depravity.

Alcoholism became his solace, and he abandoned symbolic court assemblies like worn-out shoes. In the depths of the vast palace, only his increasingly dejected figure and endless emptiness remained.

The officials in the hall were already tacitly aware of this, and their faces remained calm and composed.

Who doesn't know? This dragon throne on the main beam is now nothing more than the most magnificent decoration in the temple.

The true power to control the universe, to overturn the clouds and rain, and to decide life and death, was firmly held in the hands of that figure standing below the imperial steps, dressed in a blue robe with a long sword at his waist.

"Your humble servants pay their respects to the Imperial Preceptor!"

A deafening roar suddenly erupted, and the officials, as if drawn by invisible threads, knelt down in unison, their foreheads touching the ground, performing the most solemn three kneelings and nine kowtows ceremony.

Their movements were perfectly synchronized, conveying an almost reverent awe.

Qin Chuan stood with his hands behind his back, his posture as upright as a pine tree, and his blue robe made his face appear even more cold and profound.

He accepted the imperial ceremony with composure, his figure in the empty and solemn palace seemingly absorbing all the light, appearing even more profound and unfathomable.

Once the tidal wave of worship subsided completely, the hall fell into a deathly silence, where even breathing was barely audible.

Qin Chuan slowly opened his mouth, his voice not loud, but with a strange penetrating power, clearly echoing in everyone's ears, like ice shattering:

"According to a secret report from the Bad People, it was discovered that Prince Shi Jingtang of Jin had secretly colluded with Empress Shuliduo, the Queen of Yingtian in the northern desert, and secretly formed an alliance with her, attempting to cede the fertile land of the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun, thus inviting wolves into the house and wreaking havoc on the foundation of China."

His heart is so wicked that his entire family should be exterminated; his actions are so despicable that they deserve eternal contempt; he should be destroyed on the spot!

Inside Jiaolan Hall, the air seemed to freeze. In the silence where you could hear a pin drop, only Qin Chuan's cold, knife-like pronouncements echoed and reverberated among the carved beams and painted rafters, carrying with them a rusty, bloody stench.

"My esteemed advisor wishes to raise an army to punish this traitor! What are your thoughts, gentlemen?"

His gaze slowly swept over the assembled officials below the steps. His gaze was tangible, carrying immense pressure. Wherever it passed, everyone lowered their heads and fell silent as if trembling in fear.

Although it was a question, the tone was like the clanging of metal, cold and hard, allowing no room for doubt or dissent.

After a brief silence, a wave of enthusiastic responses erupted:

"Shi Jingtang colluded with foreign tribes and betrayed the ancestral lands. His crimes are unforgivable! His country should be destroyed and his lineage cut off!" An elderly minister with white hair and beard stepped forward first, his voice filled with indignation.

"This old minister seconds the motion! If this villain is not eliminated, the country will never have a peaceful day!" Another senior minister followed suit.

"He deserves to die! He deserves to die!"

"The Imperial Advisor is wise! The time is ripe to raise an army to punish the rebels!"

In an instant, the crowd inside the hall was in an uproar, with shouts of condemnation rising and falling, the sound almost lifting the roof off the hall.

However, amidst this surging wave of noise, all the officials felt a chill run down their spines, as if they had fallen into an icy abyss.

They exchanged knowing glances, both understanding that whether the Prince of Jin was truly colluding with the enemy was no longer important. The Grand Preceptor's actions today revealed his true intentions—

This was a warning to others, and the true beginning of the unification of the Central Plains!

The State of Jin, which occupied the three Jin states and whose strength ranked among the top among the feudal lords, was the chosen chicken waiting to be slaughtered!

And those feudal lords in the world who are still watching and hesitating are like a swarm of monkeys trembling and waiting for their fate to be decided!

Once the fierce tiger of Jin is mercilessly crushed by the iron hooves of Daliang, who else would dare not be utterly defeated and submit to its rule?

"General Wang!"

Qin Chuan's gaze suddenly flashed like lightning, piercing through the crowd and landing precisely on Wang Yanzhang, the tall and resolute man at the very front of the military officer platoon.

"Your subordinate is here!"

Wang Yanzhang strode forward, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and bowed deeply. His voice, booming like a bell, carried the fierce and valiant air of war, causing the dust on the beams and pillars of the palace to flutter down.

"You are hereby appointed as the Grand Marshal of the Expedition against Jin, commanding 100,000 troops. Set out immediately and march into Jin! Sweep away the enemy's stronghold and annihilate their rebellious forces!"

"Your subordinate obeys!"

Wang Yanzhang's voice was resolute, filled with unparalleled confidence and fighting spirit.

The ministers looked at each other, their eyes revealing surprise and deep thought.

Who doesn't know that this unfathomable Grand Preceptor is none other than the once mighty and invincible young marshal?

Such an important war against Jin, a crucial step in unifying the country, yet he did not personally lead the troops into battle?

Could it be... that he intends to sit in the heart of Luoyang and, with the overwhelming force of his campaign against Jin, simultaneously intimidate all the feudal lords of the land, preventing them from making any rash moves?

The thought intensified the chill in everyone's hearts.

The echoes of the court's bells had barely faded when news of the Liang dynasty's brazen invasion of Jin spread like wildfire, as if carried by invisible wings, riding the wind and clouds, and reaching every corner of the land with astonishing speed, stirring up waves of excitement.

Whether the feudal lords were surprised, fearful, happy, or worried, and how the undercurrents were surging, remained unknown.

But at this moment, inside the Jin Palace in Jinyang City, which symbolized the pinnacle of power, there was a gloomy atmosphere and a scene of impending doom.

The newly enthroned Prince of Jin, Shi Jingtang, had long lost the high spirits he had when he first ascended the throne.

Like a cornered beast, he paced anxiously in the luxurious yet cold palace, his face ashen, his eyes bloodshot, and his forehead beaded with cold sweat.

"It's over...it's all over..." he murmured, his voice hoarse.

He used every trick in the book to secure his position as the ruler of Shanxi after Li Siyuan's death.

He had barely warmed the throne and his grand ambitions were just beginning to unfold—he originally intended to use the powerful army of Shuliduo in the northern desert as an aid, to coordinate an attack from within and without, to disrupt the Central Plains in one fell swoop, so that he could fish in troubled waters and seize the throne.

Unexpectedly, before the curtain of the beautiful dream could be drawn, it was torn apart by an invisible giant hand!

That damned Qin Chuan! How could he... how could he possibly have survived that earth-shattering collapse of the Longquan Underground Palace?!

Not only did he not die, but he also eliminated the threats from Raojiang and Mobei in the blink of an eye with lightning speed!

Now, this sharp sword, which has slain countless heroes and stained with endless blood, is finally pointing mercilessly at him—Shi Jingtang! Pointing at the throne of the Prince of Jin, which he hasn't even warmed his seat yet!

"Guards! Guards! Send messengers immediately! With this letter in my own handwriting, spur the horses onward and send them to Wuyue, Shuzhong, Jingnan, and Nanping..."

Shi Jingtang abruptly stopped, roaring hoarsely, his voice distorted with fear:

"No! All the feudal lords! Tell them the principle of 'if the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold'! Tell them that the Qin Chuan barbarians have boundless ambitions; if they destroy us today, they will be the ones to destroy us tomorrow! Quickly form an alliance! Together we will resist the tyrannical Liang!"

Letters filled with earnest words, or more precisely, desperate pleas, bearing the seal of the Prince of Jin, flew out of Jinyang City in all directions like snowflakes.

However, he was met with deathly silence. Or perhaps, with the messenger bringing back an even colder reality.

The feudal lords reacted in unison: they avoided it like the plague!

Some cities kept their gates tightly shut, not even allowing messengers to enter.

Some are insincere and evasive, talking about other things while avoiding the real issue.

Even worse, some officials detained the messenger and sent him, along with the secret letter considered a "death warrant," to Luoyang by fast horse, to show that they were severing ties with this "traitor."

No one wanted to be stigmatized as a traitor, and no one had the courage to confront the invincible young marshal!

Shi Jingtang did consider begging for surrender.

He secretly sent his trusted confidant with priceless treasures and a humble surrender document, attempting to exchange them with Qin Chuan for the fate of a wealthy man who could barely survive.

Qin Chuan's reply was only four words, cold as ice and tinged with blood, which the messenger carried back verbatim: "Bring me your head!"

These four words completely severed all of Shi Jingtang's escape routes.

He had no choice but to grit his teeth and persevere! Like a gambler who had lost everything, he staked his last fortune and life on the table.

The only consolation was that it was Wang Yanzhang, not Qin Chuan himself, who was leading the troops to attack Jin.

Wang Yanzhang may be brave, but he is still human. Perhaps... there is still a glimmer of hope?

Chapter 124 The War to Conquer Jin, the Might of the Bad Guys!

However, Shi Jingtang's last bit of relief vanished in an instant, like dewdrops in the sunlight, the moment the Liang army marched out in full force and its troops pointed their spearheads!

Wang Yanzhang, a renowned general of our time, is not a name without merit.

His military tactics were as precise as an extension of his own arm, combining fierce and ruthless strength with unpredictable and ingenious tactics.

The Liang army, with its imposing armor and soaring morale, surged forth like a flood bursting its banks, heading straight for the gateway to Jin.

But what truly drove Shi Jingtang and the Jin army to despair was not the apparent strength of the Liang army.

Even more fatally, dozens of cities and towns in Jin had already been deeply embedded in their very being by countless unscrupulous individuals, like the most insidious hidden nails.

These shadows lurk among peddlers, low-ranking officials, and even mid- to low-ranking military officers, disappearing without a trace, like a drop of water in the ocean.

When the Liang army approached the city, they suddenly transformed into the sharpest daggers!

Under the combined attack from within and without, the Liang army's offensive can no longer be described as smooth; it is simply overwhelming and sweeping all the way through!

No city can be defended for three days!

At the foot of Luzhou City, the vanguard of the Liang army had just finished lining up when the drawbridge of the city gate crashed down. Flames erupted and shouts of battle filled the city. The head of the defending general had already been hung on the flagpole by the Bad People!

While the garrison of Zezhou was still asleep, the granary and armory were simultaneously ablaze. In the chaos, the south gate quietly opened, and the Liang army's iron cavalry poured in like a tide.

The general defending Fenzhou intended to fight to the death, but was stabbed through the heart from behind by his "personal guard" on the reviewing stand...

Similar scenes are playing out in various parts of Shanxi.