Fantasy: After transmigrating, I effortlessly became a god.

Zheng Qian bluntly stated that Xia Wenrui should be killed, and all three hundred officials fell silent.

Xia Wenrui, who was used to scheming and plotting, was now on edge. If Zheng Qian dared to kill Lu Chu, he would definitely dare to kill him, Xia Wenrui.

On second thought, since Feng Feiyang rose up to seize the throne, killing Lu Chu's entire family would be the greatest achievement. Zheng Qian dared to kill Lu Chu to seize the credit, so this morning Feng Feiyang bestowed upon Zheng Qian the title of Duke of Zhenguo as a reward for his merit.

The killing of envoys from various countries wasn't because Zheng Qian was particularly capable, but because in that desperate situation, if Zheng Qian didn't resist, he would be killed. Feng Feiyang's conferment of the title of Duke of Zhenguo on Zheng Qian was precisely to elevate Zheng Qian's status and give him an incomparably noble identity. By having various countries join forces to attack him, they could push him out and save the overall situation.

Xia Wenrui suddenly realized the key point: using subordinates as live targets was one of their common tactics, which is why Xia Wenrui was able to clearly grasp this crucial information.

A person with a dark side only thinks of dark things; Xia Wenrui is destined to miscalculate.

Pulling at his sleeve, Xia Wenrui maintained his arrogant demeanor and sneered, "I am over seventy years old and have never been threatened before. You, Zheng Qian, are the first. Today, I will see how you will kill me, Xia Wenrui."

The court fell silent instantly. Feng Feiyang sat on the throne in silence, while Fan Lang was ready to capture Xia Wenrui and Shen Hong at any moment, so as to threaten their clansmen and prevent them from rebelling.

The officials behind Xia Wenrui looked at Zheng Qian with disdain. In this place where intrigue and scheming prevail, no matter how strong one's martial arts are, one can only enjoy temporary pleasure and will ultimately be manipulated to death.

Zheng Qian flicked his clothes as if brushing off dust, his voice still icy.

“I, Zheng Qian, have at least 38,000 lives on my hands, if not 50,000. A few hundred more lives wouldn’t matter to me, so I’m not after you, Xia Wenrui.”

Xia Wenrui's disdain deepened. Zheng Qian had been talking for so long, but it was all bark and no bite. In this court, who would dare to kill him who commanded 350,000 troops?

However, Zheng Qian's next words made Xia Wenrui's mind go blank.

"I'm going to kill three generations of your direct family."

"You brat, how dare you!" Xia Wenrui could no longer sit still. Zheng Qian's words had touched his sore spot. How dare he say that he would kill three generations of his direct relatives? Wasn't that wiping out his entire clan?

Zheng Qian sneered: "I have evidence. In the past ten years, you have wiped out thirteen families. And the reason you wiped them out was that the people of these thirteen families did not listen to you, right?"

Xia Wenrui remained silent with a cold face. He couldn't remember how many families he had wiped out, but in the last ten years, there were thirteen families, which should be the correct number.

Shen Hong said sarcastically, "Do you even know how big the Xia family is? You're just a frog in a well, yet you dare to spout such nonsense."

Without a second thought, Zheng Qian said, "Xia Wenrui has 118 direct relatives across three generations, and Shen Hong has 73 direct relatives across three generations."

Shen Hong felt a pain in his liver. Zheng Qian's words were a blatant threat. He had never been threatened since birth, and he laughed out loud.

“You brat who hasn’t even grown a beard yet, how dare you threaten me? You will find it impossible to move an inch in Guangxiang Kingdom, and you will suffer a fate worse than death. I, Shen Hong, am telling you.”

Zheng Qian sneered: "I'll give you one last chance. Kneel down and admit your mistakes to the Emperor, hand over all military power and all your businesses, or you'll bear the consequences."

“Ignorant.” Xia Wenrui finished speaking, closed his eyes to rest, and didn’t bother to look at Zheng Qian.

Shen Hong laughed loudly: "I'll keep my eyes open and see what the consequences are."

Zheng Qian knew that the two men were determined to cause trouble, so he calmly ordered, "General Zuo, pull him up."

Zuo Han bowed sharply: "Yes, Duke Zhenguo."

He strode to the palace gate and roared, "Pull him up!"

"Go, hurry up!" came the soldiers' shouts. One hundred and ninety-three men were dressed in splendid clothes, while two others were barely clothed and had been dragged out of bed.

Without exception, everyone was chained, their eyes filled with terror, and their mouths were gagged to prevent them from speaking. They staggered, never having suffered such torment.

"Are you trying to force me to rebel?" Xia Wenrui was no longer calm; the people outside were his direct relatives for three generations.

Shen Hongteng stood up abruptly: "Zheng Qian, if you dare to lay a finger on them, the Thirty-Five Army will dare to enter the city."

Zheng Qian remained calm. He didn't even flinch when Lu Chu was killed. What did he have to fear from Xia Wenrui and Shen Hong?

"kill."

"You dare!" Xia Wenrui and Shen Hong glared at Zheng Qian, not believing that Zheng Qian would actually dare to kill.

Zuo Han obeyed Zheng Qian's command and roared, "Kill!"

The soldier raised his sharp sword and swung it down with a whoosh, head falling to the ground and blood splattering everywhere.

The court fell silent. Xia Wenrui and Shen Hong stared in disbelief at the door. Their three generations of direct relatives had indeed all been killed.

"Zheng Qian, die!" Xia Wenrui jumped up and slapped Zheng Qian with his palm.

Clang! The Dragon Scale Void-Piercing Sword was drawn, and Zheng Qian slashed down with it.

"Explosive Slash".

Bang... Xia Wenrui, who was only at the Bone Shaping Mirror level, was directly cleaved apart by a single sword strike, his flesh and blood flying everywhere.

"You..." Shen Hong shouted in terror, but before he could finish, Zheng Qian also slashed down with his sword, causing the sword to explode.

The hundreds of officials who supported Xia Wenrui and Shen Hong were trembling with fear. They couldn't believe that Zheng Qian would actually dare to kill Xia Wenrui and Shen Hong.

The throne of Guangxiang Kingdom has just changed hands, but unexpectedly the Xia and Shen families have been massacred. Their family forces will definitely retaliate, and Guangxiang Kingdom will be plunged into further devastation.

Regardless of what they thought, Zheng Qian pointed the Dragon Scale Void-Piercing Sword at them and roared.

“Those who do not kneel before the Emperor shall have their entire clan killed.”

The words "kill the entire clan" echoed in their minds, and they hurriedly knelt down.

"Long live the emperor. Long live the emperor."

Feng Feiyang sighed inwardly. Zheng Qian's killing of Xia Wenrui and Shen Hong had shattered his hopes of restoring the Guangxiang Kingdom. He didn't blame Zheng Qian; he simply wanted to dismantle the Xia and Shen families gradually, like boiling frogs in warm water. Now that they were dead, who would dare to rebel? He could just keep killing them.

"Flat body."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Zheng Qian waved to the door: "Xia Zhen, Shen Yang, come in."

Xia Zhen is a direct descendant of the Xia family, but not of Xia Wenrui. Similarly, Shen Yang is a prominent figure in the Shen family. As soon as they entered, they knelt down in the main hall.

"Xia Zhen greets Your Majesty."

"Shenyang pays respects to Your Majesty."

Zheng Qian said, "Xia Zhen has rendered meritorious service to the country by guarding the border, and Shen Yang has made great contributions by operating the salt business for many years and paying taxes to the country. I, Zheng Qian, recommend that Xia Zhen serve as the head of the Xia family and Shen Yang serve as the head of the Shen family. I beg Your Majesty's permission!"

Feng Feiyang instantly understood: Zheng Qian killed the original family head, and then supported a new person to take over and manage the entire family. In that case, the family would still be the same family, and naturally, there would be no trouble.

High, really high.

Feng Feiyang had to look at Zheng Qian with new respect. How come he hadn't thought of this move?

"Approved. From now on, Xia Zhen and Shen Yang will be the heads of the family, personally appointed by me. Anyone who dares to object will have the power to kill or kill members of the family and will not be subject to legal punishment." Feng Feiyang was very happy, not expecting Zheng Qian to have such a trump card.

Xia Zhen knelt and bowed: "Thank you for your great favor, Your Majesty! As a new head of the family, I have family affairs to attend to and am truly powerless to govern the troops in the prefectures. I beg Your Majesty to reclaim military power so that I may focus on managing family affairs."

Feng Feiyang's pupils constricted slightly. Had Xia Zhen gone mad from guarding Jinlan City for so many years?

Shenyang kowtowed heavily with a thud: "Your Majesty, although I have business acumen, I lack the virtue to manage wealth. I beg Your Majesty to revoke the Shen family's salt business rights. From now on, the Shen family will only engage in cloth and some small businesses. I hope Your Majesty will grant my request!"

Feng Feiyang took a deep breath. Xia Zhen handed over military power, and Shenyang handed over the salt business. The two clans were completely dismantled. He couldn't understand what means Zheng Qian used to make the two of them hand over the very source of their clans' survival.

"Your Majesty, since General Xia and Shen Yang are willing to contribute to the country, I suggest that they be awarded a commendation and that their selfless dedication to the country and the people be widely publicized throughout the country."

Zheng Qian's words made Feng Feiyang's heart race. Good heavens, he actually managed to secure 350,000 troops and a salt business with just a few words of praise. This deal was too good to pass up, he said immediately.

"Approved. Xia Zhen is hereby named a selfless general, and Shen Yang is hereby named a gold merchant who has made significant contributions. Their spirit of selfless dedication will be publicized throughout the country."

"Your subject Xia Zhen thanks Your Majesty for your great kindness!"

"This humble citizen from Shenyang thanks Your Majesty for your great favor!"

Xia Zhen and Shen Yang left the main hall with relieved smiles on their faces, leaving everyone puzzled. What methods did Zheng Qian use to make the two of them willingly hand over their power and business, and even look so happy?

In fact, Zheng Qian's method was very simple: capture both families together, feed them poison, and send them all on the brink of death. Then give them the antidote. They, who had been pampered, would naturally agree.

Besides, the poison Fan Qin administered couldn't be cured in one go; he needed to get the antidote from her every month to survive.

Zheng Qian looked at Xia Wenrui's henchmen, and hundreds of officials retreated in unison.

Zheng Qian scoffed. These people were adept at scheming and plotting, but when it came to life and death, they were more afraid of dying than anyone else. He asked in a cold voice.

"Where are the envoys from various countries causing trouble? Summon them all here, and I will deal with them all at once."