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

"Madam, please take a look. This is the treaty signed with the Wu Zhao Kingdom. If there is anything you are still dissatisfied with, I can continue to raise it with them."

"The Kingdom of Wuzhao actually agreed to such conditions?"

"Yes, I didn't expect Wu Zhao Kingdom to be so generous. As expected of the number one country in the world, they are very friendly to my Chu Kingdom."

Jiang Mengxuan looked at the "Chu Wu Zhongdu Friendship Agreement" that she had just signed not long ago, her face beaming with a bright smile.

After carefully reading the treaty, she couldn't help but say, "Ah Lang, even the Wu Zhao Kingdom has been defeated by us, so what about the Chu Kingdom...?"

Shen Lang nodded: "All the world's mountains and rivers bow down in submission. The Chu Kingdom has reached its peak, and there is no one left in the world who can rival it."

Jiang Mengxuan remained silent for a long time before asking softly, "Then, can we go home now?"

"Yes, I can go home soon."

Having been away from the State of Chu for nearly a year, Shen Lang couldn't help but feel homesick.

Now that this expedition against Wu Zhao has been a great success, it is time to return to Chu.

There are my children there, my friends there, and everything I know there.

For a moment, Shen Lang's face couldn't help but show anticipation.

Jiang Mengxuan sensed the change in Shen Lang's emotions, took the initiative to link her arm with his, and gently rested her head on his shoulder.

"Ah Lang, don't worry, I will always be with you, and we will never be apart."

"Me too."

The two whispered sweet nothings to each other inside the carriage, while the four-wheeled carriage slowly drove toward the gate of Zhongdu City.

……

"Sir, what are you moving? Do you need my help? Just let me know."

"Sir, I've made some egg noodles. Please try them."

"Sir, why are there so many carriages? Where are they going?"

On the main street of Zhongdu, one carriage after another, covered by canvas, slowly drove out of Zhongdu city.

The Chu soldiers in charge of escorting the goods directed pedestrians to the sides of the road in an orderly manner to avoid unnecessary conflicts.

However, the onlookers keenly sensed something was amiss.

They discovered that many soldiers were already packing their bags.

At that moment, they immediately realized that the Chu army might be about to leave.

Instantly, the people became agitated.

Since the Chu army arrived, they have not only treated the people without harm, but also provided food and clothing to the people in the city, and even provided free medical care to the poor.

In addition, during the period when the Chu army took over Zhongdu, the city's security efficiency improved significantly, and the crime rate dropped noticeably.

More importantly, the Chu army also made significant improvements to the sanitation of Zhongdu City.

Littering and urinating indiscriminately are prohibited on the streets. Crucially, the river that nearly made Pei Ju and Ban Dingyuan vomit last year has been cleaned to crystal clarity under the coordination and management of the Chu army. Furthermore, all residents are strictly prohibited from dumping garbage into the river, and anyone caught doing so will be fined.

The city's previously lazy officials, under the coercion of the Chu army, became extremely diligent.

In just over a month, the once filthy outer city of Zhongdu has been completely transformed, and even the unpleasant smell in the air is gone.

The orderly and disciplined governance, coupled with the Chu army's characteristic of never disturbing the people, quickly won over the people of Zhongdu to their rule.

But now that this army is leaving, the people are finding it hard to accept.

Soon, a man blocked the army's path: "Sir, are you leaving?"

The leading officer frowned: "Get out of the way immediately and don't obstruct military affairs."

The common people quickly made way for them, saying, "Sir, please tell me the truth? Are you really leaving?"

The officer ordered the convoy to continue towards the edge of the city, then patted the civilian on the shoulder: "Yes, this matter is over."

We should go back now. We are truly sorry for causing you so much worry these past few days.

"But don't worry, someone from your Wu Zhao Kingdom will come to pick you up soon; they won't abandon you."

"What? Sir, you're really leaving?"

Unexpectedly, the people blocking the road suddenly became furious.

"Sir, you can't leave! You really can't leave!"

He grabbed the officer's arm, his face contorted with grief, and said, "Sir, although I, Black Dog, am illiterate and know nothing of social etiquette, I still know who treats us well."

Since you arrived, no one has bullied us anymore, and we don't have to worry about the officials' attitudes when we go out to do errands.

Over this period of time, everyone has already accepted the fact that you exist, but if you leave,

What are we going to do? Those officials came here and colluded with those parasites in the inner city to oppress us in every way imaginable. They don't treat us like human beings at all.

We've finally found you living bodhisattvas, and after just a few days of living like normal people, are we going to go back to the way things were before?

"Sir, please don't leave! Stay! If you leave, you'll be in deep trouble when those officials return!"

The black dog's wailing and pleading with the Chu army also alerted the surrounding civilians, who gathered around.

"Oh no! The soldiers are leaving! Everyone, stop them!"

Upon hearing that the Chu army was about to leave, the normally orderly people all blocked their way.

These simple, honest people have no other skills; the only way they can persuade someone to stay is to kneel down, bow, and kowtow.

They prayed that the Chu army would take pity on them and stay to continue governing them.

This left the officers at a loss. In the end, after much persuasion and a vague promise, they were finally able to calm them down.

On the second floor of a teahouse not far away, Jiang Mengxuan and Shen Lang watched the scene unfolding on the street side by side.

Jiang Mengxuan sighed with emotion: "The people of a country would rather hold back the enemy's troops than let their own officials govern them. I really don't know how much the people of Wu Zhao Kingdom usually exploit."

Shen Lang: "The people are like water; water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it. No matter how much the officials of Wuzhao oppress the people, they all know right from wrong in their hearts; they just don't have the opportunity to vent their anger."

Jiang Mengxuan: "A Lang, if we really break the agreement now and launch a full-scale attack on Wu Zhao Kingdom, do you think they can be saved?"

Shen Lang shook his head: "Only they can save themselves. They will not know how to cherish anything they obtain through external forces. There is no savior in this world. The process of fighting for rights is always difficult and tortuous. The consequence of getting something for nothing is that they will fall into depravity once again."

Jiang Mengxuan smiled slightly: "I knew you would say that, which is why I sponsored Chen Mo in Haixi and helped him establish the cooperative, so as to leave a spark of resistance among the people."

Let those people who have suffered under tyranny understand that there are other places in this world worth learning from besides Wu Zhao Kingdom.

Shen Lang smiled: "The correct approach."

Then I looked towards Shengjing.

"Xuan'er, would you like to go to Shengjing together? Before we leave, let's see how its military and political center differs from Jinling."

Jiang Mengxuan smiled gently: "Alright, let's just consider this a rare moment of solitude for us in this foreign land."