CHAPTER 64: CHAPTER 64: THE MERIT OF CAPTURING THE KING

Zhao Feng charged through, leaving the ground littered with the corpses of Han Imperial Guards. In the blink of an eye, he had broken through their ranks and reached King Han. Dragon Spring flashed, its blade resting directly on the king’s neck. Blood dripping from the sword’s edge stained King Han’s robe.

Zhao Feng turned his head and shouted coldly at the surrounding guards, "Take one more step, and your king is a dead man."

"Don’t come any closer! All of you, disperse!" King Han screamed in terror.

"Understood."

The surrounding Han Imperial Guards scattered, not daring to make a sudden move.

"Esteemed warrior," King Han said, "you’re merely a Qin Capital Commandant. There’s no need to treat me so harshly. If you release me, I can offer you wealth and honor. Moreover, I can take you to Wei and make you a general—a Great General in command of armies."

Facing Zhao Feng’s murderous aura, King Han An was filled with immense fear. "Furthermore, I have a daughter of peerless beauty. If you release me, I will grant her to you, making you my royal son-in-law."

"Relax," Zhao Feng said coldly. "As long as you behave, I won’t kill you. But if you don’t, well, I can’t guarantee my sword won’t slip."

Wealth, honor, and a princess for a bride... a tempting offer indeed. If the King of Qin had made such a promise, I might have considered it. But this comes from the king of a fallen nation. Even if I accepted, would I ever live to enjoy it?

Seeing Zhao Feng unmoved, King Han An increased his offer. "Valiant warrior! If you release me, I’ll give you thirty percent of the Han National Treasury... no, fifty percent!"

Zhao Feng didn’t bother to respond. He glanced over the guards and commanded coldly, "Have your men lay down their weapons and kneel together."

With a blade at his throat, the death-fearing King Han An had no choice but to comply. "Lay... lay down your weapons! Quickly! Everyone, kneel!"

Daring not to disobey, the surrounding Han Imperial Guards dropped their weapons and knelt.

Zhao Feng was satisfied with King Han’s attitude. "Very good," he said. "You get to live."

"Brave... brave warrior..." King Han started to plead again.

"Say one more word, and I’ll slaughter you," Zhao Feng said icily.

Meeting Zhao Feng’s gaze, the intimidated king didn’t dare speak further, trembling all over.

Seeing King Han’s craven nature, Zhao Feng’s eyes filled with contempt. And this is a king? In the end, he’s just a worthless fool born with a silver spoon in his mouth. A king who cannot live or die with his country and his people... how is he worthy of the throne?

Deep in his heart, Zhao Feng had his own standards for a true ruler, especially for a king whose nation had fallen. His favorite saying on the matter was, "An emperor defends the nation’s gates; a monarch dies for his state."

Since Zhao Feng harbored his own ambitions, he also held this ideal for himself. If he ever managed to forge his own dynasty during the tumultuous End of Qin, he too would be such a king.

To die for one’s country, to perish for the state. A true man must be so!

Time slipped by quietly.

With his strength alone, Zhao Feng had subdued King Han. Now, more than two hundred Han Imperial Guards knelt on the ground, not daring to move a muscle. To any observer, it was an impossible feat.

「About an hour later.」

The sound of hurried footsteps and clanking armor echoed from the surrounding forest. A glance revealed Wei Quan leading five hundred Sharp Warriors, rushing toward the temporary palace. When they saw the situation outside, Wei Quan and the five hundred Sharp Warriors with him were all struck with astonishment.

Wei Quan’s eyes widened as he took in the scene: King Han held captive by Zhao Feng, and hundreds of Han soldiers kneeling on the ground in surrender.

What happened here? Did Mr. Zhao handle this many Han soldiers by himself? And he even captured the King of Han?

Following Mr. Zhao was the right choice. Wei Quan thought to himself as he quickly ran toward Zhao Feng. At the same time, he ordered the Sharp Warriors behind him to advance. Having been tempered in bloody battles, the warriors understood his signal with a single gesture. They immediately rushed forward, drew their weapons, and seized the kneeling Han prisoners.

"Commander, are you alright?" Wei Quan asked with concern as he approached.

"Perfect timing," Zhao Feng smiled. He sheathed his sword and gave King Han a push. "Take him. Bring him back to General Li."

Two Sharp Warriors immediately stepped forward, their faces alight with excitement, and seized King Han.

When the two Sharp Warriors treated him roughly, King Han immediately expressed his dissatisfaction. "How dare you be so rude! Even though you have captured me, I am still a king! If you dare to treat me without respect, the King of Qin will not spare you!"

Zhao Feng didn’t even bother to look his way.

Wei Quan approached Zhao Feng and whispered, "Is this supposed to be a king? He acts more like a common street ruffian."

King Han’s behavior had a strange effect on Wei Quan. His eyes seemed to ask, *is this truly what a king is like?*

"Heh." Zhao Feng chuckled softly and said nothing more.

...

「Han Royal Palace, the Grand Council Hall.」

"Report!" a messenger called out. "Reporting to the General! We have just received a military dispatch! Commander Zhao Feng has captured the King of Han and is now on his way to the Royal Palace!"

The Personal Guard Commander, his face flushed with excitement, strode forward to report to Li Teng.

Upon hearing this, a wave of excitement washed over Li Teng’s face. "Excellent! Excellent! He’s finally been captured! This conquest of Han is now truly complete. I can finally give a proper account to the Senior General and the Great King!"

For Li Teng, the capture of King Han was unequivocally good news. As the Main General of the Han campaign, he had been under immense pressure, with the eyes of the entire court upon him. If King Han had escaped, his accomplishments would have been tainted, imperfect. Should another state have used the fugitive king as a political pawn in the future, his merits could have turned into demerits. Now, however, that potential disaster was averted. How could Li Teng not be overjoyed?

"I will personally welcome Commander Zhao Feng," Li Teng said with a loud laugh. "He has rendered a great service to Qin!" With that, he strode quickly out of the hall.

By personally greeting Zhao Feng, Li Teng was acknowledging the commander’s immense contributions to the Han campaign. Zhao Feng had now secured the honor of both breaching the capital and capturing the king.

「Outside the Royal Palace.」

The King of Han was confined within a prison cart, still dressed in his Ceremonial Robe. The surrounding Qin Soldiers couldn’t help but stare as he passed.

"Is that the King of Han?"

"He doesn’t look like much."

"Yeah. To think their king actually tried to run. What a disgrace."

"Hey, isn’t that Commander Zhao Feng from the vanguard? He was the one who got the credit for breaching the Han Capital. Don’t tell me he’s the one who captured the king, too?"

"Incredible!"

"If Commander Zhao really did capture him, that’s a legendary achievement."