Wandering Sword Seller's Life in the Qin Dynasty

The guard responsible for protecting the royal treasury knelt trembling on the main hall, his forehead bleeding from kowtowing, and reported in a tearful voice: "Your Majesty! The treasury...the treasury has been robbed!"

Which treasury?

Upon hearing this, King Jia of Wei immediately asked.

King Jia of Wei was not actually a foolish ruler. On the contrary, he was quite young and had the ambition and drive of a young man. However, when he ascended the throne, the state of Wei was already in decline. Later, the state of Qin destroyed the state of Han. Even though he wanted to carry out reforms in Wei, the results were minimal.

In other words, given the current global situation, the Qin state's dominance is already established, and the emergence of a wise ruler in the six states east of the mountains cannot rewrite the landscape.

When the Qin army attacked the State of Wei, King Jia of Wei did consider resisting, but unfortunately, it was all in vain. He could only keep listening to bad news. Then, the Qin army marched all the way to the city of Daliang and surrounded it.

As the Qin army besieged the city, food supplies in the city became increasingly scarce, and people were filled with anxiety. King Jia of Wei was already uneasy, and upon hearing this, he immediately became angry.

Before the guard could answer, he hurriedly said, "Investigate! Investigate thoroughly!"

On the surface, this is just a theft.

However, upon closer examination, it was no small matter. The theft of the royal treasury meant that either outside thieves had broken into the royal city, or there had been a traitor within the palace.

Either way, it's a very dangerous thing.

Even the royal palace could be infiltrated? Is Daliang City really that impregnable?

Have Qin spies already infiltrated the city?

If a traitor appears within the palace, the situation is even more serious. It means that some people no longer have a good opinion of the Wei Kingdom and believe that it is doomed. Even people within the palace do not have a good opinion of the Wei Kingdom, let alone people outside.

Thinking of this, King Jia of Wei issued a new order.

"Issue a citywide curfew! No one is allowed to move freely within the city. Increase the number of patrol soldiers in the streets and alleys, and search every house to find the thief and recover the stolen treasure! Anyone who dares to harbor the thief or conceal the stolen goods shall die!"

King Wei's true intention was to eliminate those who harbored treacherous intentions and were wavering, while also using this opportunity to solidify the people's hearts and minds, letting those traitors know that betrayal would only lead to death.

However, he was ultimately too young and unaware that such actions would only breed deeper resistance.

As soon as his order was given, the city of Daliang was plunged into an even deeper panic. The streets and alleys, which were already lifeless due to the siege of the Qin army, were now even more deserted. Only soldiers in armor, holding long spears, patrolled back and forth with serious expressions. Their heavy and hurried footsteps pounded on the hearts of every citizen.

Every household kept their doors and windows tightly shut, fearing that the soldiers would suspect them and bring about their own demise.

Martial law flags were raised throughout the city, and the once bustling streets fell into complete silence; even the cries of children could not be heard.

Food was already becoming increasingly scarce. After martial law was declared, vendors were unable to set up stalls, and ordinary people found it even more difficult to find food. Many families had already run out of food and could only huddle indoors, sighing and looking on with despair in their eyes.

The already somber atmosphere in the city plummeted to freezing point under the oppressive atmosphere of martial law, making matters worse.

In this oppressive atmosphere, rumors, like poisonous vines, quietly sprouted and spread throughout the city.

At first, it was just a few civilians talking privately in the corner, their voices kept very low, afraid of being overheard by the patrolling soldiers.

"Do you think this theft of the royal palace means Heaven is going to destroy our Wei Kingdom? The Qin army is eyeing us covetously outside, and now this has happened in the city. I'm afraid we have no way out..."

"In my opinion, it's better to surrender than to wait for death in the city! No matter how fierce the Qin army is, they may not be able to exterminate us all. It's better than being trapped here and eventually starving or dying in battle!"

These words immediately drew agreement from those around them. Someone sighed, "Yes, our supplies are almost gone. If we continue to hold out, we'll just be throwing our lives away. I've heard that the Qin army doesn't exterminate surrendered civilians; at least they manage to save one's life."

The rumors spread far and wide, gradually reaching the soldiers from the common people.

Even worse, some spread more offensive rumors: "Do you really think King Wei wants to defend Daliang? He doesn't care about the lives of us civilians and soldiers at all! The Qin army is eyeing us covetously outside, and instead of thinking about how to repel the enemy, he only cares about his own treasury and those rare treasures!"

"That's right! When the treasury was robbed, his first reaction wasn't to worry about the country, but to be furious that his treasures were gone! In my opinion, he had already planned to surrender to Qin. He'll take the remaining money and become a rich man in Qin. He won't care about our lives at all!"

These words were like sharp knives, piercing the hearts of every soldier.

They stood guard on the city walls day and night, enduring hunger and cold, and doing everything in their power to resist the Qin army's attack, all to protect Daliang City and their families.

But now, with rumors spreading, they are beginning to doubt the meaning of their perseverance. If even the King of Wei only cares about himself, why should they sacrifice themselves in vain?

On the city wall, the soldiers who were once full of energy were now listless, their eyes vacant, and the spears in their hands felt heavy.

Some people leaned against the city wall, looking at the dense Qin army camps outside the city, their faces full of confusion and despair.

Some people whispered about the rumors, their voices filled with dissatisfaction and unease.

Some people quietly wiped away tears, missing their loved ones at home and worrying that they would never be able to go back.

And this is just a change that has occurred in the last two days.

Daliang City is very large, but it is ultimately just a city. From the time King Wei casually issued the royal decree to the time when the city became like this, it did not take too long.

Of course, at present, it is only some people who are dissatisfied.

So, on the third day, Xu Qing added fuel to the fire.

The garrison commander of Daliang City brazenly rebelled.

"The King of Wei is unrighteous, so don't blame us for being unjust!"

"I am opening the city gates today not to seek wealth and power, but to give the people in the city a way to survive!"

"When the Qin army besieged the city, the King of Wei, instead of thinking of the people, ordered a city-wide search for a few lost treasures, cutting off the people's means of survival..."

Similar words came from the mouth of the garrison commander of Daliang City.

In an instant, it resonated with the hearts of many soldiers.

Under his command, these people quickly opened the city gates of Daliang City. Even though Dian Qing and other pro-war faction members arrived quickly to try to stop them, the city gates were eventually opened, and the drawbridge behind the moat was also lowered.

Outside the city of Daliang, Wang Ben had already ordered his army to be on high alert.

Although he wasn't sure if Xu Qing was telling the truth, he naturally didn't mind giving Xu Qing a chance. After all, it wouldn't hurt to try, since they couldn't keep defending like this forever. They had to try and see if they could break through Daliang City through a strong attack.

"General, the gates of Daliang City have been opened..."

The moment the gates of Daliang opened, the Qin army immediately noticed this and reported it to Wang Ben.

Upon hearing this news, Wang Ben recalled his late-night meeting with Xu Qing.

He immediately issued a military order: "All troops, attack! Launch a full-scale assault on Daliang! We will not rest until the city is breached!"

Military orders are absolute, and the Qin soldiers, who had been waiting in battle, instantly erupted in excitement.

The bugle call soared into the sky, shaking heaven and earth. A hundred thousand troops surged toward Daliang City like a tidal wave. Their armor clanged, their footsteps were deafening, and the dust they raised blotted out the sun, shrouding the entire outskirts of Daliang City in a gray haze.

The vanguard soldiers, armed with shields and spears, were the first to charge onto the lowered drawbridge and advance towards the city gate. The main army followed in droves, advancing with unstoppable momentum.

Within the city, the rebellion had completely spiraled out of control.

The garrison commander and several generals, whose illusionary seeds had been secretly planted by Xu Qing, stood on a high platform near the city gate, loudly urging their soldiers: "Brothers! King Wei only cares about his own treasures, not our lives or the survival of the people! The Qin army has arrived. Defending to the death is the only way out. Open the city gates and surrender, and you can save your lives and your families!"

Their words were like a spell, constantly eroding the already wavering minds of the soldiers.

Many soldiers, whose will was already weak and whose fighting spirit had been worn down by panic and rumors, completely laid down their weapons upon hearing this. Some stood still and watched, while others simply sided with the rebels, shouting and jeering as they rushed toward the city gate to welcome the Qin army into the city.

"Stop! You traitors! The Great Liang Dynasty is not yet fallen, how dare you betray your country and surrender to the enemy!"

Dian Qing's roar shattered the chaos. He was clad in heavy armor, wielding a heavy axe, his muscles bulging. His reputation as "a man of iron head and arms, invincible in a hundred battles" was fully on display at this moment.

He led several hundred loyal soldiers and charged toward the city gate, hoping to plug the breach, kill the rebellious general, and close the gate again.

"Dianqing, a wise man submits to circumstances!"

The rebellious commander sneered and pointed his sword at Dian Qing, "The King of Wei is incompetent, and the State of Wei is doomed. Why are you so stubborn and willing to die? Why not surrender with us and save your life!"

"Bullshit!" Dian Qing's eyes widened in fury. He swung his heavy axe, the force of which howled, cleaving a rebel soldier charging towards him in two. "I, Dian Qing, was born a Wei citizen and will die a Wei ghost. How could I be a traitor seeking personal gain! Today, I will cleanse you traitors!"

A brutal civil war broke out inside the city gates.

The soldiers under Dian Qing's command were all elite, each one fearless and fought to the death with the rebellious soldiers. The clash of swords, the flying of flesh and blood, the screams and the sounds of weapons clashing all mingled together, echoing throughout the entire city of Daliang.

Dian Qing led the charge, and wherever his heavy axe struck, the rebel soldiers fell to the ground. However, the number of rebels continued to grow, and the generals controlled by illusions kept sending reinforcements. Although Dian Qing's soldiers were brave, they gradually became surrounded, their armor stained with blood, and they suffered heavy casualties.

Many civilians and soldiers still harbored a desire to protect the Great Liang and wanted to join Dian Qing's ranks. However, the rebellion was too swift, the shadow of rumors had already taken root in people's hearts, and with the Qin army having already breached the city gates, a steady stream of Qin soldiers poured into the city, fighting along the streets. Those who wanted to resist were either killed by the rebellious soldiers or defeated by the Qin army, leaving them powerless to reverse the situation.

When the sun begins to set.

This upheaval has finally come to a complete end.

This is because the city of Daliang has already fallen.

Or rather, when the city gates were opened, the drawbridge was lowered, and the Qin army seized the moment to rush into the city, the breach had already been torn open. Even though the outer walls of Daliang City were impregnable, once a breach was torn open inside, it quickly widened, eventually causing the entire city of Daliang to break apart.

The Wei army was no match for the Qin army; otherwise, they wouldn't have been able to cower in the city.

Even if there were experts like Dian Qing in the Wei army.

However, having a head of bronze and arms of iron does not mean that one's strength is limitless. Human strength has its limits, and under the repeated sieges of the Qin army, Dian Qing's strength was eventually exhausted, and he became a prisoner.

After the Wei army was completely defeated, the Qin army completely occupied Daliang City.

After entering Daliang City, Wang Ben also kept his promise to Xu Qing and did not kill innocent people indiscriminately. He only focused on suppressing the rebellious soldiers and the Wei army that resisted stubbornly, and did not harm the unarmed civilians.

Even so, the city was still in chaos, with people fleeing in all directions, and cries and screams filling the air. The once prosperous city of Daliang was now desolate.

When a rebellion broke out in the Wei royal palace, King Jia of Wei learned of it immediately. He promptly dispatched the imperial guards to quell the rebellion, for if the matter was not handled properly, the city of Daliang would fall.

Unfortunately, it was too late.

After that, a series of bad news kept reaching his ears.

First, the Qin army stormed into the city, and then news came that the city's garrison was suffering successive defeats.

King Wei was aware of these events, but he could do nothing about them; all he could do was roar in anger within the palace.

"waste!"

"They're all useless!"

Faced with the king's roar, the servants could only kneel on the ground, trembling with fear.

After his anger had been completely vented and he realized that the fate of the Wei Kingdom was sealed, King Jia of Wei finally began to consider his own future.

At that moment, the entire palace suddenly fell into absolute silence.

A figure dressed in a blue robe quietly appeared before King Wei.

"With the fall of Daliang, the Wei Kingdom is doomed. As the king, I beg the King of Wei to accept his fate!"

Chapter 321: Killing Another King, What I Saw After the Kingdom Was Destroyed!

Who are you? What do you want?

Upon seeing Xu Qing, King Wei Jia's body trembled slightly.

With the fall of Daliang, the Qin army could arrive in the capital at any moment. King Jia of Wei was worried about his safety. Just then, a mysterious man suddenly appeared in front of him and said something that made him fearful.

Who I am is not important!