Nine dragons fight for the throne, I don't want to sit on this throne

"I can give you wealth, power, and even a higher status than before."

Chu Ning's tone remained calm, but his words were full of temptation and threats.

"But the prerequisite is that you must understand what is the general trend and what is destiny."

He leaned forward slightly, his eyes like knives, as if to pierce everyone's soul:

"The great man is dead!"

"From now on, there will be only one voice in this land, and that is my voice!"

"There is only one dynasty, and that is the Great Chu!"

"Those who are willing to serve the Great Chu and me, please stand up. I will forgive past mistakes and recruit people based on their abilities."

"If there are still people who still care about the Han Dynasty and want to be the second Liu Bei..."

He didn't say anything else, but the bloody meaning contained in his unfinished words was more chilling than any direct threat.

The black smoke rising into the sky and the lingering smell of blood are the clearest explanations.

There was deathly silence in the square.

A moment later, like falling dominoes, some clever officials, or those who had already decided to leave, fell to their knees, banging their heads on the ground, shouting in trembling voices:

"Your Majesty, we are willing to be loyal to you! We are willing to serve the Great Chu! Long live your Majesty, long live your Majesty, long, long live your Majesty!"

With someone taking the lead, more people knelt down like a tide, forming a black mass.

Even though there is still resentment, grief, and shame in one's heart, in the face of the bloody threat of extermination and the reality of family survival, personal integrity and loyalty seem so pale and powerless.

Living a miserable life has become the only option at this moment.

Chu Ning looked down at the former enemy country's elites crawling on the ground below him, his face still expressionless.

He knew that the butcher's knife and appeasement have always been two sides of the same coin in the art of ruling.

Liu Bei's blood and the lives of his entire mansion paved the first step for him to take over the legacy of the old dynasty and stabilize the order of the new dynasty.

At this moment, the officials of Chang'an City were forced to submit to him in the most cruel way.

However, he also knew that beneath the surface of obedience, there must be undercurrents.

True conquest is far longer and more complicated than capturing a city or slaughtering a family.

At this moment, the air is filled with despair, panic and a sense of powerlessness that one's fate is in the hands of others.

No one dared to look up at the Emperor of Chu who was sitting high on the steps in front of the palace.

Chu Ning's stern face appeared angular in the firelight, and his eyes swept over the ministers below who were like lambs to be slaughtered, with an unfathomable depth.

He slowly raised his hand and waved his sleeves casually, his movements carrying an unquestionable majesty.

"Let's all go back."

The voice was not loud, but it was clearly heard by every kneeling official, like an amnesty or a final judgment.

Most people felt as if they had been pardoned, but they did not dare to stand up immediately and just buried their heads even lower.

Then, at the signal of the Chu soldiers, they climbed up from the ground tremblingly, supporting each other, lowered their heads, took unsteady steps, and silently and quickly retreated from the square, disappearing into the shadow of the palace wall.

Their fate is still unknown, but at least they have saved their lives for the time being.

However, not everyone left.

Seven or eight people remained where they were. Although they were also kneeling, their postures were completely different from those of their colleagues who looked as pale as death.

Although their backs were bent due to courtesy, their eyes flickered with an irrepressible expectation, even a hint of hidden pride.

When other officials receded like the tide, these "reefs" stood out.

Chu Ning's gaze, like a precise probe, fell on these people.

The corner of his mouth twitched upwards almost imperceptibly, revealing an elusive curve.

"Li Bi, Wang Yu, Zhang Tao, Zhao Ming..."

He read out the names one by one, his voice steady, without any emotion or emotion:

"And all of you, please stand up."

These people were the key figures who enabled the Chu army to break through Chang'an City so quickly, especially to successfully open the west gate - internal traitors of the Han Dynasty.

Led by Li Bi, they either held real power in the court or held key city defense positions.

When the Chu army was at the gates of the city, he chose to switch sides and use his old master's kingdom as a stepping stone to advance to the new dynasty.

When they heard Chu Ning personally call out their names and grant them standing, a huge weight lifted off their shoulders, replaced by ecstasy.

They kowtowed in a hurry to express their gratitude, then stood up cautiously, with their hands hanging down, showing an extremely respectful gesture.

Among them, Li Bi's movements were particularly difficult. He was ordered by Dugu Jia to be beaten with a stick. At this moment, he could only stand with difficulty. His face looked a little pale due to blood loss and pain, but the excitement in his eyes was hard to conceal.

Chu Ning walked forward and slowly swept his eyes across the faces of several people.

"Everyone,"

He spoke, his tone holding a rare, almost approving tone:

"This time, our army was able to quickly capture the fortified city of Chang'an, thanks to you all."

"He who understands the current situation is a hero. This is true. If you had not understood the righteousness of the times, obeyed the will of heaven, and cooperated internally and externally to open the city gates, I don't know how much more blood and sweat would have been shed by the soldiers of the Great Chu."

This praise was like a sweet rain that fell on the hearts of Li Bi and others.

They knew that they had won this gamble!

Wang Yu, Zhang Tao and others hurriedly bowed and said:

"Your Majesty, your majesty, has divine authority. We, your servants, are merely following the will of Heaven and doing our humble part. We dare not take any credit for it!"

"It is a great honor for us to serve Your Majesty!"

Chu Ning raised his hand slightly to stop their flattery, then changed the subject and got to the point:

"Chang'an is just beginning to settle down, and much remains to be done. People are unsettled, and order within the city urgently needs to be stabilized."

His voice grew serious. "Since you are familiar with Chang'an affairs and hold great prestige in the old dynasty, the important task of stabilizing the region and appeasing the people will be temporarily entrusted to you."

When they heard this, they were even more delighted.

This means that not only did they save their lives, but it seemed that they could also temporarily retain their power!

"From now on,"

Chu Ning continued, "You will all remain in your original positions for now and perform your duties. You must ensure that public security in Chang'an City remains stable, the market remains normal, and people's livelihoods recover as soon as possible."

"Things like posting notices to reassure the people, telling them to go about their business peacefully and not panic, are all your responsibility."

He paused and gave them a clear expectation:

"After the officials sent by Great Chu arrive one after another and become familiar with the affairs here, we will reward you according to your merits and adjust your official positions."

"When the time comes, there will be rewards."

This undoubtedly gave them reassurance and even the promise of a bright future!

As long as you do a good job now, in the new dynasty in the future, not only will you be able to keep your official position, you may even have the possibility of promotion!

Li Bi and the others were overwhelmed by immense joy. They could hardly suppress the smiles on their faces. They bowed again, their voices trembling with excitement.