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

When Zhongdu fell, Yingxue went bankrupt, and a large number of Wuzhao soldiers were escorted to the military camp by the Chu army.

When it was fully light, the people who went out suddenly discovered that the city streets were full of soldiers in blue uniforms, patrolling back and forth with rifles on their shoulders.

"What's going on?"

For a moment, the city's residents were completely dumbfounded.

How could so many unfamiliar soldiers have appeared in Zhongdu overnight?

"They...they..."

A young student pointed in terror at the Chu soldiers walking down the street, his voice trembling.

"Why didn't they wear queues? Weren't they afraid of being beheaded?"

After the young scholar explained it, the people finally realized what was going on.

Those soldiers didn't even have braids!

This is utterly treasonous! Aren't they afraid of being beheaded?

For a moment, everyone was talking about it, their eyes filled with disbelief.

"What are you doing? Behave yourselves!"

Suddenly, a platoon-level officer shouted an order to stop the civilians.

"Go back inside and stay there. Don't wander around!"

These civilians, who were already used to being oppressed, immediately cowered and retreated when they heard such a shout.

The officer glared at them fiercely before turning and leading his team away.

Even now, the people in Zhongdu City are unaware that the city has undergone a complete transformation.

Those soldiers in "strange clothes" were the "foreign barbarians" they called "foreigners" who had been driven into Jiankang City by the Wu Zhao army.

Meanwhile, Shen Lang, the "foreign barbarian leader," was sitting upright in the high hall of the Zhongdu Prefectural Government Office.

Kneeling before him were officials from all over Zhongdu, each one shrinking their heads and trembling.

Shen Lang remained expressionless as he flipped through the official register. After a long while, he finally spoke: "Prefect of Zhongdu, Baierjia, stand up."

Bairjia raised an eyebrow, immediately stood up tremblingly, and said cautiously, "I am Bairjia, the Prefect of Zhongdu. May I ask who you are...?"

Before he could finish speaking, Shen Lang raised his hand and slammed the official register on the table: "Just stand up when I tell you to. Why are you talking so much nonsense?"

Bairja immediately shrank his neck and replied with a smile, "Yes, yes, yes, please feel free to ask whatever you wish."

In fact, Bairjia did not expect that when she got up early in the morning and was caught here, the people she met were the "foreign barbarians" who had already been defeated.

After all, Li Hong's "Winning Theory" not only deceived the common people, but also brainwashed the officials in various government offices in the north, making them firmly believe that Wu Zhao Kingdom had defeated the foreign barbarians.

Whether the news is true or not is not important. Since the emperor said they won, then they must have won.

However, they never expected that Winning Strategies would be ruthlessly bankrupted after only half a month of implementation due to Shen Lang's arrival.

"Bairjia, I've come here with only one request: the conflict between Chu and Wuzhao must eventually come to an end."

Let your emperor come and negotiate with me in person. You can pass this letter of credence on to your emperor.

I need accurate information about your emperor within five days.

Otherwise, I will lead my army to conquer the capital and wipe out Li Hong and all the members of the royal family.

I've stated my requirements. Did you understand?

Bai Erjia was completely dumbfounded. By the time Shen Lang finished speaking, she already had an agreement in her hand.

"Absolutely not!"

Before he could speak, a young county magistrate immediately stood up and shouted loudly.

"His Majesty is of inestimable worth; how could he possibly condescend to negotiate with you barbarians!"

"Foreign barbarians, you were just routed by my Wuzhao army, how long has it been, and you've already forgotten the pain?"

"If it weren't for His Majesty's mercy in sparing you barbarians, how could you be so arrogant!"

"You should all face the capital, kowtow to His Majesty, and accept His Majesty's teachings. Stop being so stubborn! Do you hear me!"

Pei Ju and the other officers and soldiers in the government office squinted at the county magistrate, thinking to themselves: "Hey kid, can you at least look at the situation before you say that? We've been defeated and are now retreating north to Shengjing, right?"

After listening quietly to the magistrate finish speaking, Shen Lang couldn't help but chuckle softly: "You've got guts."

The next moment, Dong Biao went directly behind him, suddenly raised his hand, grabbed his braid, and pulled it up sharply.

"Ah~"

A pitiful scream rang out, and the county magistrate grimaced in pain.

"How dare you touch my hair! I will definitely..."

boom--

Before he could finish speaking, Dong Biao punched him in the face.

"You're about to die and you still dare to be stubborn. Look at your rat tail, it's so ugly! You actually treat it like a treasure and hang it on the back of your head. I'll tear it to shreds."

"No, don't touch my braids, please!"

Without saying a word, Dong Biao forcefully pulled the braid off the back of the magistrate's head.

"Ah, my braid! My braid! Give it back to me! Give it back to me now!"

The magistrate's scalp was covered in blood, but his first instinct was to snatch the braid from Dong Biao's hand.

Shen Lang crossed his arms and watched the scene with a completely expressionless face.

Bairjia and the other officials trembled incessantly, some deliberately tucking their braids into their official hats and plumes to avoid becoming the next target.

"Give me back my queue! Give it back to me! Give it back to me! Without my queue, I'm a traitor, and I'll lose my official rank! Give it back to me! Give it back to me!"

boom--

The next moment, a gunshot rang out, and the magistrate had a bloody hole in his forehead.

But Shen Lang held up a Browning, his face indifferent.

"Since you want to die, then I will grant your wish. You can now serve your emperor faithfully."

As soon as he finished speaking, the magistrate collapsed to the ground with a thud, and soon a pool of blood flowed from the back of his forehead.

This scene frightened the other officials so much that they dared not utter another word.

Shen Lang walked up to Bai Erjia and continued, "I'll just ask you one question: Can you go to Shengjing and give this agreement to Li Hong, and have him give me a reply within four days?"

Bairjia was taken aback: "Wasn't it five days? How did it become four days?"

"If I don't get a reply within three days, and I don't get to see your emperor to invite me to the capital for a face-to-face meeting, then I will attack Shengjing. You know better than I what will happen then."

Upon hearing this, Baierjia realized that if he didn't agree, he would likely follow in the footsteps of the county magistrate, so he had no choice but to grit his teeth and agree.

"Okay, I agree, but can you give me a hint as to why you insist on seeing the Emperor?"

"Why? Heh, he should know himself that daring to make a move on my woman, Shen Lang's woman, is courting death."

After saying that, he patted Bairjia on the shoulder: "Time is of the essence, hurry up and go." Then, he forcefully pushed him out of the yamen.

After Bairjia left, Shen Lang glanced at the remaining officials and couldn't help but let out a soft snort.

"Ran their entire homes, detain all their family members, and kill on the spot anyone who dares to play tricks or resist."

"Furthermore, all the officials, high and low, in the city who thought Wu Zhao Kingdom had won have been slaughtered without needing to be reported."

"Yes!"

Upon hearing this, Dong Biao immediately summoned the guards outside the door, who then grabbed one official in each hand and carried them outside.

In an instant, cries of "father" and "mother" filled the government office.

Annoyed by the crying, Shen Lang directly ordered: "Commanders of the three battalions, immediately open the treasury and gather all available money and grain into the government office."

From this day forward, martial law will be in effect in Zhongdu. Anyone who dares to violate the martial law regulations will be shot dead on the spot, without prior notification!

After issuing the order, Shen Lang, who had been maintaining his composure, revealed his violent and cruel side for the first time. In just one morning, 127 officials of all ranks were killed on the spot.