Fearing being killed for his overwhelming merits, the empress decided to marry him.

Inside Jianjia Pass, Lü Meng came to report...

"Commander, the latest news from the Jingwei Division is that the capital of Wu, Wu County, has been captured by bandits."

"So fast?"

Even though Shen Lang was mentally prepared, he did not expect that the bandits would conquer Wu County so quickly.

Lu Meng said, "Commander, according to the intelligence transmitted by the Jingwei Division, it was the eunuch Su Zhenwei, who was guarding Wu County, who took the initiative to open the city gates and let the bandits into the capital."

"I see."

Shen Lang then realized that if the Wu County soldiers hadn't opened the city gates on their own initiative, it would have been impossible for the bandits to conquer Wu County so easily, given their weapons alone. It would have taken them at least a year and a half.

"What about Wu Jiren?"

"Reporting to the commander, after receiving news that the bandits had attacked the capital, Wu Ji left Wu County with the imperial family the night before and is currently heading towards Jianjia Pass."

"what."

Upon hearing this, Shen Lang couldn't help but chuckle dryly.

He was worried that Wu Ji would suddenly disappear, but unexpectedly, he took the initiative to send himself to him.

Since that's the case, I can only accept it with a smile.

"Good, good, good. Does this foolish ruler really think that the State of Chu still regards him as the ruler of a country?"

"Since he has come to us of his own accord, we should give this deposed king a proper welcome."

As he spoke, Shen Lang stood up.

"Notify all troops within the pass to remain at their posts and prepare to welcome our distinguished guests!"

……

Three days later, inside Jianjia Pass.

A group of soldiers dressed in Wu Kingdom uniforms were eating bowls of steaming white porridge with pickled vegetables.

For three days in a row, they went without food or water, and were so hungry that their stomachs were practically sticking to their backs.

The Chu army cook, holding a long-handled ladle, stood in front of the porridge bucket, coldly watching them without the slightest bit of goodwill.

After finishing a bowl of porridge, the Wu Kingdom's imperial guards felt a bit stronger, but they were even hungrier.

Soon, they continued to crowd around the porridge bucket, hoping to get another bowl.

The cook, expressionless, scooped up spoonfuls of thick rice porridge and poured them into their bowls.

Watching them wolf down their food, the cook couldn't help but let out a contemptuous snort.

In another room, Wu Ji, Xu Qian, and other members of the Wu family and clan had bowls of rice porridge and side dishes laid out in front of them, receiving the same treatment as the Imperial Guards soldiers.

However, these people, who were already used to a life of luxury, had no desire to taste the food that these "servants" ate.

"Is this how your country treats its guests?"

Wu Ji flung his chopsticks down and shouted angrily at Zhang Dingbian, who was sitting opposite him.

"I am the sage of the Great Wu, how can I eat the food of mortals? Take it away and bring me better food. I have heard that the Eight Treasure Bird's Nest Soup of the Chu Kingdom is a royal delicacy, why not bring it for me to taste!"

As soon as Wu Ji said this, the princesses and princes also spoke up.

"Yes, we want to eat bird's nest soup!"

"I want to eat ginseng and black chicken soup!"

"Go get the chilled seafood hotpot in this sweltering heat! Hurry up, do you hear me?!"

Anyone who didn't know better would think they were in their own palace.

Zhang Dingbian couldn't be bothered to argue with these reckless fools.

He silently took out a wooden box from his pocket, opened it, took out a cigarette, and flicked it into his mouth.

Immediately, he took out a box of matches, took one out and struck it against the side of the box, and a flame immediately appeared, lighting the cigarette.

"hiss……"

Taking a deep breath, Zhang Dingbian closed his eyes, completely enjoying himself.

"call……"

Only after exhaling a wisp of smoke did he slowly open his eyes, glance at the group, and couldn't help but laugh.

"I advise you to face reality. You've fallen so low, yet you still act like royalty?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the eunuch serving Wu Ji immediately shouted angrily, "How dare you! Who are you to speak to the Emperor like that!"

"What kind of bullshit saint are you? Haven't you seen what the state of Wu has become along the way?"

How dare someone who was chased like a stray dog ​​by a group of bandits call himself a saint?

"Hehe, if you're a saint, then my commander is the saint's father!"

"you……"

The eunuch was speechless after being rebuked.

Wu Ji's face turned ashen.

Since he ascended the throne, when has he ever been treated so coldly?

"I want to see your general. Send him to see me!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Dingbian spat out a mouthful of saliva and flicked the cigarette butt from his hand.

"Send the commander to see you? How could you even say that?"

Just then, Brigade Commander Ye Hui led a group of soldiers into the house.

After glancing around, he gave Zhang Dingbian a military salute: "Instructor Zhang, the commander asked me to take Wu Ji to see him."

Zhang Dingbian smiled and waved his hand: "Alright, although you're a brigade commander now, your promotion to division commander next year is a sure thing. Forget about being an instructor."

"That's too polite of you. Since the commander wants to see them, then take them away."

Ye Hui nodded, then waved his hand expressionlessly.

The soldiers behind him immediately tried to seize Wu Ji.

"presumptuous!"

"Be bold!"

The eunuchs and Xu Qian, along with a group of nobles, immediately blocked Wu Ji's path.

“A sage is of inestimable worth; how could he possibly meet with a mere mortal? Let him kneel and kowtow three times and come to invite him in person.”

The soldier frowned and turned to look at Ye Hui.

"You still haven't grasped the situation at a point like this? Then let me give you some serious advice."

Without saying a word, Ye Hui drew his pistol, released the safety, aimed at the eunuch, and pulled the trigger.

boom--

puff--

A gunshot rang out, and the eunuch's head exploded on the spot.

Boiling blood splattered all over Xu Qian's face, causing his old face to stiffen.

As the eunuch fell straight down, the room fell silent instantly.

"Anyone who dares to obstruct us will be dealt with according to military law!"

"Yes!"

Without further hesitation, the soldier shoved aside the stunned Xu Qian, grabbed Wu Ji who was now like a frightened bird, and dragged him out of the house.

After the gunshot rang out, no one stepped forward to stop it.

And so they watched helplessly as the "saint" was dragged out of the house.

After Wu Ji was taken away, everyone remained silent for about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea before gathering around Xu Qian.

"Mr. Xu, what should we do now?"

"Old Xu, something seems wrong."

"Say something! They treat the saint like this, don't you think of anything to do?"

However, no matter how much everyone in the room shook Xu Qian, he remained shocked and silent.

It wasn't until a prince noticed something was wrong that he reached out with a trembling hand to probe near his nose.

"Something's wrong! Old Xu, he's stopped breathing!"

A gasp rang out, and the room erupted into chaos.

Xu Qian, the powerful and treacherous minister who dominated the Wu Kingdom, died of fright.

"waste."

Zhang Dingbian, however, remained expressionless, gave a light rebuke, and then left the house.

……

Inside the garrison hall, Shen Lang and Wu Ji sat facing each other, one in charge and the other in charge.

Wu Ji couldn't believe that Shen Lang was so young.

That vibrant and energetic aura emanating from him actually made this emperor feel a little ashamed of himself.

He tried to calm himself down and spoke with the air of a superior: "I am the King of Wu, and Chu and Wu are friendly states. Aren't you afraid of being ridiculed by your Chu court for treating the ruler of a friendly state like this?"

Shen Lang chuckled lightly: "It's shameful for Chu to have a friendly nation like you. Look at your country, the people are suffering, and there are starving corpses everywhere. What face do you have to mention friendly nations?"

"This is an internal affair of our Great Wu, and it is not for you to judge!"

"Is that so? Then let me ask you, where exactly did the three million shi of grain that Chu donated to Wu go?"

Shen Lang asked in a cold voice.

"Three million shi of grain would have been enough to quell the disaster within your Wu Kingdom, but what have you done with all that grain?"

Wu Ji's lips twitched incessantly; he wanted to speak, but didn't know where to begin.

Shen Lang continued to press: "Furthermore, your killing of my Chu merchants is also an act of a friendly nation?"

Wu Ji, as the ruler of a country, you even dared to take the grain that should have been used to relieve the people under your rule to build palaces, yet you shamelessly call yourself a sage?

Where do you get the audacity to spout such nonsense to me?

This was the first time Wu Ji had been insulted like this, and he was filled with rage: "I will not argue with a mere mortal like you. Take me to see your Empress!"

"Don't worry, I will take you to see His Majesty." Shen Lang's eyes turned cold. "However, not as a guest, but..."

As he spoke, he flung out a pair of shackles.

"I am going to see His Majesty as a prisoner. I believe His Majesty will give you a perfect ending."

As soon as he finished speaking, a group of Jingwei Division members immediately pinned Wu Ji to the table.

"What are you going to do?"

"Let me go!"

"I am a saint, how dare you treat me like this..."

Ignoring Wu Ji's shouts, his dragon robe had already been removed, and he was forcibly dressed in prison clothes before his hands and feet were shackled.

"Put them in the prison cart and hand them over to His Majesty for judgment."

"And those members of the imperial family, take them all with you."

With Shen Lang's order, Wu Ji was immediately escorted out the door.

Once everyone had left, Qu Yi reported: "Commander, those three thousand Wu Kingdom guards have already..."

He made a throat-slitting gesture, meaning that they had all been poisoned.

“Well done. Find a place to cremate them and announce that they were attacked by bandits on the road and died fighting to the death. That will give them some dignity.”

Shen Langman said something casually, then turned and looked out the window.