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

"Greetings, Commander."

"Pengju has arrived? Please have a seat."

After a surprise attack that annihilated the Goguryeo forces, Yue Fei rode swiftly to Rangzhou City and met Shen Lang.

After he took his seat, Shen Lang looked at him with great satisfaction: "Pengju, you are very good. You have now become a famous general. I never expected that you would personally lead the Jianzhou troops to Rangzhou."

Yue Fei replied, "You flatter me, Commander. After receiving your personal order, I knew that the situation in Liaodong was urgent. The Jin Dynasty had just been destroyed, and personnel transfers were still proceeding in an orderly manner."

That's why I decided to personally lead my troops to Liaodong to provide reinforcements. But rest assured, Commander, I am here to see you as the commander of the Jianzhou army, not as a general of Chu.

Shen Lang was very pleased. Yue Fei didn't need him to remind him; he could understand his meaning immediately. This was probably the extraordinary quality of a famous general.

"By the way, Commander, this item needs to be given to you."

Yue Fei took a knife from behind his back and held it horizontally in front of Shen Lang.

Looking at the familiar scabbard, Shen Lang was momentarily stunned, as if he had returned to the battlefield of Bingzhou, to the scene of fierce fighting.

"Commander, this was personally given to you by Liu Wu of the Ministry of Justice. He said it was your honor, which you had kept for two years, and now it's time to return it to its rightful owner."

After listening to Yue Fei's words, Shen Lang snapped out of his thoughts and chuckled lightly: "This weapon was made by the army blacksmith when I was eleven years old, after I earned my first military merit. I used all the rewards I received for my military service to have it forged."

This weapon stayed with me until I left the army. Seven years have passed, and now it has returned to my hands once more.

After receiving the weapon, A Lang slowly drew out a corner of the blade.

The cold, icy light reflected off his heroic face.

The once lifeless battle blade seemed to have found its long-lost master at this moment, and when Shen Lang drew it from its sheath, it emitted a series of piercing clangs.

With his eyes closed, feeling the chill and killing intent emanating from the blade, a trace of pain, a reluctance to look back, flashed across Shen Lang's calm face.

Just then, Wang Xuance came to report: "Commander, the battlefield has been cleaned up."

Upon hearing this, Shen Lang silently sheathed his sword, and his mind immediately returned to clarity.

Wang Xuance noticed nothing amiss and began to report the battlefield statistics in an orderly manner...

"This battle was a great victory, thanks to the Solon cavalry holding back the main cavalry force and separating the Goguryeo infantry and cavalry. Now that Gao Zang is dead, only the Chu and Yan states are left fighting each other in Liaodong."

After reporting the battle plan, Wang Xuance appeared very excited.

"Commander, what should we do next? Should we take over the entire Liaodong region?"

Shen Lang did not answer, but lowered his eyes to ponder the question.

Suddenly, he asked, "Does anyone know how Murong Zhao's health is?"

Wang Xuance was a little confused. Why was Murong Zhao being mentioned out of the blue?

Although Murong Zhao is indeed the emperor of Yan, the one who truly controls the power of Yan now is Murong Ke.

"No one knows for sure. All that is known is that Murong Zhao's health has been deteriorating day by day since last year."

"I see."

Upon hearing this, Shen Lang pondered for a moment.

It was at this time that Murong Xiang, the envoy of the Yan state, arrived in Rangzhou City once again...

This time, however, his attitude was no longer humble. Instead, he spoke to Shen Lang with an air of superiority that seemed to come from nowhere.

"Lord Zhenguo, how have you been?"

"Your Excellency's presence at this time makes me wonder if it's because Anshi City has already been captured?"

"Hahaha, the Duke of Zhenguo is right. As soon as Gao Zang left, our Great Yan army swept through the enemy lines and took Anshi City in one fell swoop."

These lowly Goguryeo people actually naively believed that my Great Yan would swallow this insult and lead my troops back east.

When we reappeared outside Anshi City and launched a general offensive, the defenders on the city walls were so frightened that they didn't know how to fire their arrows!

Little did they know that this was a ploy by my second prince to lure the tiger away from the mountain. Gao Zang is the spiritual totem of the Goguryeo people; without him, Goguryeo is currently a disorganized mess.

Upon hearing this, Shen Lang clapped his hands in agreement: "Congratulations to your country! Now that Goguryeo has fallen, shouldn't the agreement between Great Chu and your country be fulfilled?"

Murong Xiang's expression changed slightly: "What agreement?"

Shen Lang: "Naturally, it means ceding the Shuofang land north of Bingzhou, and recognizing the rule of our Great Chu over the Taiji Kingdom."

Murong Xiang smiled and said, "The Second Prince said that he would fulfill his promise to your country, but at present, Liaodong has been pacified..."

"My Great Yan still has many matters to attend to, and the land handover process needs to be postponed further. Please forgive me, Duke Zhenguo."

Upon hearing this, Wang Xuance immediately wanted to speak.

But Shen Lang stopped him in time: "So, your country is unwilling to fulfill the terms of the agreement?"

“Da Yan is a trustworthy nation, how could it do such a thing? Duke Zhenguo, you can put your mind at ease.”

Shen Lang shook his head: "I also wish to trust your country, but your country had already agreed to hand over the Bingzhou land to Chu first, but delayed once under the pretext of having to annihilate Goguryeo."

"Considering the difficulty of achieving peace between our two countries, I will not make things difficult for you. But now that the situation in Liaodong has been stabilized, shouldn't we fulfill our promise?"

Murong Xiang replied, "What the Duke of Zhenguo said is quite true. However, in this great battle, the Yan Kingdom also suffered heavy losses. Years of war have already caused considerable discontent within the Yan Kingdom."

If the agreement is honored now, there will likely be no peace in Yan. It is hoped that the Duke of Zhenguo will prioritize the overall situation and wait until the situation in Liaodong is fully stabilized before further discussion.”

Shen Lang: "So, what should I do now?"

Murong Xiang thought for a moment and replied, "Now that the war in Liaodong has ended, please leave Liaodong without worry."

Shen Lang slowly rose to his feet: "Your Excellency, may I understand it this way: I went to great lengths to cooperate with your country in annihilating Goguryeo?"

In the end, we got nothing, and then we were expelled from your country, ending up with nothing at all, is that right?

Murong Xiang replied, "Duke Zhenguo, I have already said that once the Great Yan has dealt with the Liaodong affairs, it will naturally fulfill the agreement."

"What necessary connection is there between acknowledging that the Taiji Kingdom belongs to the Chu Kingdom and handing over the ceded Shuofang land and your handling of the Liaodong Benjing affairs?"

Your country says this action will provoke a backlash from the people of Great Yan. How can I, returning empty-handed, explain this to His Majesty?

Murong Xiang lowered his eyes and pondered for a moment: "Duke Zhenguo, His Highness the Second Prince said that as long as you are willing to withdraw from Liaodong, you can cede three more counties north of Bingzhou."

"what."

Upon hearing this, Shen Lang couldn't help but burst out laughing.

"I'm sorry, I have no interest in empty promises. You can go back now."

"When will the Duke of Zhenguo be willing to withdraw from Liaodong? Then our Great Yan army can take over Rangzhou."

"Once you agree to the promises you have made, I will naturally fulfill them."

Murong Xiang suddenly stood up: "So, the Duke of Zhenguo is unwilling to withdraw from the Liaodong region?"

Shen Lang slowly rose and replied coldly, "Since we've already torn off all pretense, why bother with any pretense? Until we receive a satisfactory response from your country, the situation in Liaodong will not be peaceful."

"If we're going to fight, then we'll fight to the last man. It's not my Chu soldiers and civilians who will die, so do you think I care?"

Murong Xiang trembled, quickly avoiding those icy gazes, and involuntarily took two steps back.