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

Li Bi would not give Liu Sheng and Liu He any chance at all.

He didn't even glance at their venomous gazes, but abruptly waved his hand and gave a stern order:

"The time has come! Execute!"

The executioner, who had been waiting nearby, immediately stepped forward and pinned the two struggling men down.

Just then, a shout erupted from the crowd watching below the stage.

This voice wasn't one of sympathy for the former dynasty's prince, but rather...

"Good for them! All they know how to do these days is fight!"

"That's right! We finally got to be allocated land and could have a few days of peace, but they come back to cause trouble again!"

"His Majesty the Emperor of Chu has distributed land and exempted us from taxes; this is truly for the benefit of us common people!"

"I don't want to fight anymore! Kill them and let's have peace!"

These voices, though chaotic, clearly expressed a simple wish—aversion to war and a longing for stability.

The equal-field policy and the tax exemption for recruiting soldiers implemented by the State of Chu have, in a short period of time, begun to subtly change the hearts and minds of some people.

For these ordinary people, whoever can provide them with land to cultivate, food to eat, and the ability to survive is the better ruler.

These comments, like the sharpest daggers, pierced the hearts of Liu Sheng and Liu He!

They listened in disbelief as these "people of the Han Dynasty" whom they had vowed to "save" were now cheering for the enemies who had destroyed their country, and even regarding them as sinners who had disrupted their peace!

A tremendous sense of absurdity, frustration, and the sting of betrayal overwhelmed them instantly.

All their struggles seemed to have lost their strength, and their faces, which had turned from flushed with anger, turned ashen, their eyes filled with endless sorrow and despair.

With a flash of light, two once-noble heads rolled onto the execution platform, their faces still frozen with extreme resentment and frustration.

They died without ever uttering a word of their own defense.

Seeing this, Li Bi secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

This public execution not only fulfilled His Majesty's order, but also, to some extent, helped him vent his fear of being threatened and proved his worth to the new dynasty.

He waved to signal the cleanup of the scene, his gaze sweeping over the gradually dispersing crowd below the stage. He understood that Chang'an City, and indeed the entire Han region, after this baptism of iron and blood, would truly begin to step onto the track set by the Great Chu.

The ghosts of the old era seemed to have faded somewhat with the deaths of Liu Sheng and Liu He.

The stench of blood had not completely dissipated from the West Market. The crowd of onlookers, filled with complex emotions, gradually dispersed, and the yamen runners and soldiers began to silently clean up the execution ground.

Li Bi stood there, watching the two headless corpses being dragged away at will. He felt little joy, but rather a weariness of surviving a catastrophe and a deeper worry.

Although things had temporarily calmed down, he knew that he was now firmly bound to the war chariot of the Great Chu, with no way out.

He composed himself and turned to walk towards Ran Ming, who had been watching with his arms crossed and a relaxed expression.

At this moment, Ran Ming was no longer seen as a bald, fierce general who only knew how to kill, but as an imperial envoy who represented the emperor's will and held the power of life and death.

General Ran,

Li Bi put on a respectful yet slightly ingratiating smile and bowed deeply.

"If it weren't for the general's divine intervention and miraculous turn of events, I and Chang'an City would probably have met with certain death."

"General, you've worked hard! It's past noon now, and I'm sure you haven't had your meal yet."

"If the general does not mind, please come to my humble abode, where I will prepare a small feast to express my gratitude and to welcome the general away from home."

Ran Ming touched his bald head; he had been fighting all night and all morning and was indeed hungry.

Having found Li Bi's "sensible and tactful" words quite agreeable, he grinned and said in a carefree manner:

"Alright! I'm hungry too! Then I'll trouble you, Lord Li!"

The group then left the still chaotic West Market and returned to Li Bi's heavily guarded residence.

The banquet was held in the inner hall, which, while not extremely luxurious, was still quite exquisite.

Li Bi deliberately dismissed his attendants, leaving only two trusted confidants to serve him at a distance, to demonstrate his intimacy with Ran Ming and the privacy of their conversation.

After a few drinks and a hearty meal, Ran Ming's already rough and unrestrained nature became even more uninhibited.

He hiccuped as he glanced sideways at Li Bi, who maintained a cautious and respectful demeanor throughout.

Suddenly, in a tone that was half-joking and half-testing, he said seemingly casually:

"Lord Li, after this battle, in this Han land... no, it should now be called the Great Chu Han land, in this territory, on the surface, only you, Lord Li, are left who can command troops!"

His voice wasn't loud, but it exploded in Li Bi's ears like a thunderclap!

Li Bi's chopsticks froze abruptly, his expression changed slightly, and a hint of undisguised panic flashed across his eyes.

He immediately put down his chopsticks, stood up, and bowed deeply to Ran Ming, his tone urgent and fearful, as if he had been greatly wronged:

"General Ran! This is not something to be taken lightly! You are making me too proud!"

His voice trembled slightly: "Your Majesty has bestowed upon me great favor, entrusting me with important responsibilities and placing great trust in me!"

"If it weren't for His Majesty's great fortune and the general's divine prowess, I would have been beheaded last night!"

"Your Majesty's loyalty is as clear as day!"

"In this life, I will dedicate myself wholeheartedly to serving the Great Chu and sharing His Majesty's burdens, with absolutely no disloyalty! How dare I... how dare I harbor even the slightest improper thoughts?!"

He practically swore to heaven and earth, completely absolving himself of any responsibility.

military power?

To him, this was not power, but a death sentence!

Especially in front of this ruthless general who is ruthless in killing and loyal to His Majesty, any slight reluctance or hint at the need for military power could lead to death.

Ran Ming looked at Li Bi's pale face and eagerness to show his loyalty, and couldn't help but burst into laughter, his voice shaking the roof tiles.

He stood up, walked to Li Bi's side, and patted Li Bi's slightly thin shoulder heavily with his large, fan-like hand.

With a loud bang, the force was considerable, causing Li Bi to stagger and almost lose his balance.

"Hahaha! Lord Li, look how scared you are! I was just saying it casually, just joking!"

Ran Ming grinned, revealing a set of white teeth, but a glint of shrewdness flashed in his leopard eyes.

"What kind of person is His Majesty? He has discerning eyes! Since he dares to employ you, he must trust you!"

"His Majesty has high hopes for you!"

He dropped some of his joking tone, his voice now carrying a warning and reminder:

"You mustn't... disappoint His Majesty."

Li Bi felt the heavy weight on his shoulders, and the implied admonition in Ran Ming's words.

With a chill in his heart, he quickly bowed again: "This humble official understands! This humble official will remember the general's teachings! I will certainly devote myself to the cause until my dying breath!"