Longevity by Picking up Attributes in the Battlefield

Chapter 285: Chapter 139: Capturing the King of Zhao! Ying Zheng Arrives at the Dragon Terrace! (Part 3)

On the other side, north of Handan City, they were now less than ten miles from the capital.

”General.”

”We really can’t go on. Can we rest for a while?”

”Yes, my lord. Even if you want to deal with us, please let us rest. We’re about to collapse from exhaustion.”

”Let us rest for a while...”

By now, it was already approaching midday. Zhao Feng had been leading them for nearly four hours.

When they first fled, they had been a desperate mob, each person wishing they had more legs. But now, they wished they could slow down, dragging things out as much as possible.

”My Lord.”

”Most of these people are nobility, accustomed to a life of luxury and comfort. After walking for so long, I fear they are truly on the verge of death.”

”This subordinate suggests we let them rest for an hour. We shouldn’t actually work them to death. After all, they are all military achievements,” Zhang Ming said with a chuckle.

”Mm,” Zhao Feng nodded, then spurred his horse to the side. He dismounted and sat down.

”By the general’s command, everyone rest where you are!” Zhang Ming bellowed. ”Anyone who moves beyond ten paces will be killed without question!”

At his command, the seven hundred trusted aides immediately spread out. The cavalry formed an outer perimeter, while the more than five hundred foot soldiers scattered to form an inner circle. At this moment, seven hundred of his trusted aides were guarding nearly three thousand people, composed mostly of Zhao nobility and their families, as well as servants from the Zhao Royal Palace.

”I must relieve myself,” Zhao Yan said, his face flushed with anger.

”Just pee in your pants,” Zhao Feng glanced at him.

”You will not humiliate me like this!”

”No matter what, I am still a king!” Zhao Yan said angrily.

”A king who fears death is nothing more than someone born to a better life—useless and incompetent,” Zhao Feng retorted coldly.

”Then kill me,” Zhao Yan said furiously. ”If you kill me, Ying Zheng won’t let you off either!”

”General,” the Zhao official who had previously identified Zhao Yan said in a panic, ”I... I also need to use the privy.”

”You traitor! If it weren’t for you, how would I have been exposed?” Zhao Yan glared furiously at the official.

”Zhao Yan, our statuses are all the same now; we’re all prisoners,” the senior minister of the Nine Ministers could no longer bear it and erupted in a tirade. ”Besides, if you weren’t so incompetent, we wouldn’t have ended up like this. You, a traitorous wretch! The throne of Zhao rightfully belonged to Lord Chunping! You conspired against the minister, Mao Sui, who was sent to bring Lord Chunping back, preventing his return to Zhao. In the end, you, the son of a mere concubine, seized the throne. Do you really think that no one is aware of your hidden deeds? You’re not a king at all! You’re an unfilial son, a traitorous official!”

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yan’s face turned deathly pale.

”You... you...” He stared in fury but could not utter a single word.

What the old minister said was true. His ascension to the throne had indeed been illegitimate. Before the previous King of Zhao passed away, he had sent Minister Mao Sui to Qin to escort Crown Prince Zhao Yi back to Zhao. However, Mao Sui was intercepted and murdered along the way, a plot orchestrated by Guo Kai. Because of Mao Sui’s death, Zhao Yi never returned, which allowed Zhao Yan to succeed the throne.

”What’s wrong? Cat got your tongue?” the old minister sneered. ”Did I strike a nerve? Let me tell you, Zhao Yan, of those men Guo Kai found for you, even though you secretly disposed of many, some slipped through the net. You are an unfilial son unworthy of your father and a traitorous official unfit to serve. You usurped your elder brother’s position, and yet you dare to call yourself king? I spit on you!” The Zhao official, holding nothing back, unleashed a continuous barrage of curses.

The scolding was so intense that Zhao Yan could not even raise his head, at a complete loss for words. With that outburst, the way the surrounding people looked at Zhao Yan changed. Now that his usurpation of the throne was exposed, his ascension was no longer proper; he was a usurper. In this era, rightful succession and legitimacy were paramount. This revelation meant Zhao Yan had completely lost the people’s support. He had no chance left.