After becoming the villain

Chapter 284 "The New Emperor's Ascension to the Throne" and "The Massacre of Jinling"

Imperial Master Yan Fei left Zijin Mountain and went to the Jinling Palace to meet with the old emperor Zhao Purui.

Yan Fei told the latter, "[Longevity Pill] is complete, only the last step is left."

The old emperor Zhao Purui was still wearing white clothes and a crane cloak, sitting quietly to contemplate immortality.

After hearing the news, she was overjoyed, and immediately decided to leave the palace, move to the National Teacher Temple on the top of Zijin Mountain, and live in the temple.

He wanted to see the refining of the [Immortality Pill] completed with his own eyes, and then gain immortality immediately.

The mortal world has no meaning to him.

……

Qianyuan 38 years.

early december.

Emperor Zhao Purui abdicated the throne.

Prince Zhao Lingrui ascended the throne and changed his reign name to "Chengye".

Great cause of peace.

The new emperor, Zhao Lingrui, took this as his reign title, hoping that he could turn the tide, turn the crisis into safety, and reshape the peaceful and prosperous world.

Or it is an allusion to the late Qianyuan Dynasty, when the Holy Emperor abandoned the court and appointed traitors, causing chaos in the world.

The change of the year name has been agreed upon.

Zhao Lingrui made many political moves in a short period of time.

Inside.

Before Zhao Lingrui ascended the throne and was still the prince, he kept in mind the exhortations of the former prince Zhao Lingfeng, and he knew that the big trouble of Daqian's confidants was internal.

When Zhao Lingrui first took over the power of supervising the crown prince, he had already begun to rectify the officialdom, using various vicious methods to punish corrupt officials to death, which restored a trace of clarity to Daqian that had been in chaos for many years.

Now that the new emperor Zhao Lingrui has ascended the throne, Zhao Purui has completely delegated power and become the supreme emperor. He even secretly went to live in the Guoshi Temple of Purple Mountain.

Zhao Lingrui has great power. In addition to dealing with the rebel crisis, he also completely rectifies the internal affairs of Daqian.

Many royal party elders who had been entrenched for many years were completely liquidated.

And intends to promote some honest and promising officials.

However, at this moment, not many officials still want to stay in Jinling.

The new emperor Zhao Lingrui also had a private conversation with Gu Beiju and intended to make him prime minister.

However, he was declined by Gu Beiju.

Zhao Lingrui didn't force it.

I just sighed in my heart, now that the vassal rebels are approaching day by day, the position of Prime Minister Dagan, which everyone envied and coveted in the past, is now so despised.

foreign.

The vassal king's rebellion was imminent, Zhao Lingrui tried his best to mobilize the army, and at the same time began to win over the King of Zhenbei.

In addition to the many promises he made to King Zhenbei when he was the prince of the country, now that Zhao Lingrui has ascended the throne, he has also followed the promise he made to Yan Wulu when he was in Jinling.

And for the king of Zhenbei, he added nine tins, crowned him with twelve enamels, rode a golden chariot, drove nine horses, and used the emperor's ceremonial ceremony to go out and go out.

The King of Zhenbei is as indistinguishable as the emperor.

……

The Zhenbei Army's march south to King Qin was not too slow.

But obviously...

The rebels of the feudal lord were faster.

Late October of the 38th year of Qianyuan.

Xiao Tianzuo was defeated and died, and the vassal rebels began to counterattack.

Early November of the 38th year of Qianyuan.

Prince Zhao Lingrui had no troops to mobilize, so he began to ask for help from the King of Zhenbei.

At the same time, the vassal rebels once again invaded Daqian territory.

It was the end of November in the 38th year of Qianyuan.

The king of Zhenbei swore an oath in the north and followed the imperial edict to go south to the king of Qin.

Early December of the 38th year of Qianyuan.

The new emperor ascended the throne.

At the same time, the city of Chuzhou was destroyed, and the rebels of the feudal lord advanced by land and water, aiming directly at Jinling.

While mobilizing reinforcements, Zhao Lingrui tried to secretly negotiate peace with the southern vassal king, but the envoy was killed and the negotiations broke down.

The first year of Chengye.

At the beginning of the first month.

The vassal rebels have already arrived at Jinling City, surrounded Jinling City, and launched a fierce offensive and defensive battle with the defenders in the city.

Jinling City, which was renamed "Chengye", spent the New Year's Festival of the first year under siege by the rebels.

At the same time, the connection between Jinling and the Zhenbei Army was completely cut off by the feudal rebels.

The new emperor, Zhao Lingrui, contacted the Zhenbei Army for the last time. The latter's vanguard army on the east route had arrived in the Xuzhou area.

It’s roughly half a month’s journey from Jinling.

"Hold on for half a month."

Zhao Lingrui was wearing a bright yellow dragon robe with five claws and gold patterns and a twelve-pin crown, walking back and forth in the main hall of the palace.

He has dispatched all available Six Division forces and garrison forces in Jinling City to defend the city.

but……

Even so, he still didn't know if he could hold out against the rebels for half a month.

Within the imperial court.

Countless officials are panic-stricken.

When the government was being discussed in the early dynasty, there was a resurgence of siege outside the city.

Many courtiers looked panicked for a moment.

Zhao Lingrui could only try his best to comfort him, and he said seriously——

"Back then, during the battle to seize the throne, the late emperor faced countless rebels and defended the imperial city for more than half a month. Finally, Yan Dong, the king of Shangzhu Kingdom and Qianzhenbei, led his troops to relieve the siege."

“…Today’s moment is just like that moment back then.”

"...The reinforcements from King Zhenbei have arrived in Xuzhou, and we still have the entire Jinling City in our hands. We are much more advantageous than before, so how can we not hold it for half a month?"

Zhao Lingrui said it righteously and sternly.

The courtiers were encouraged.

Only Gu Beiju, an "old King Yu's confidant" who was good at observing words and expressions, could see the subtle movements in Zhao Lingrui's hands.

This is a sign of Zhao Lingrui's lack of confidence.

When Zhao Lingrui made such a micro-movement, he said words that even he himself could not completely believe.

Gu Beiju is deeply pessimistic about the future of Jinling City.

But thinking about it, fortunately, my younger sister had already married Ye Changtian from the North.

At least, she would be safe.

……

Xuzhou.

Ye Changtian's army has already moved forward.

The main force led by King Zhenbei followed and stationed in Xuzhou.

Xuzhou governor, county guards and other officials went out of the city for ten miles and lined up to welcome him, as if they were welcoming a holy emperor.

King Zhenbei accepted it calmly.

After entering Xuzhou, Southeast Governor Lingzhi sent his men to deliver the news——

"Supervisor Ling has been investigating and handling Penglai and Jiangnan affairs for many years, and he has peeled off the cocoons from it. He discovered that the person behind the death of the late king seemed to have something to do with [Tingyun Pavilion] in addition to the presence of Da Qian."

The words fall.

King Zhenbei's eyes immediately changed.

After listening to the report from his subordinates, King Zhenbei directly asked Ling Zhi to come to Xuzhou for an interview and accompany Wang Jia.

At the same time, he ordered the army to temporarily station in Xuzhou and stop moving south.

The mighty army of King Qin that marched south suddenly fell into silence.

……

The first year of Chengye.

In the middle of the first month.

Shu land.

After Longxiang General Li Mieling led the Western Route Army into Shu, he was invincible and victorious along the way.

According to the secret order of the King of Zhenbei, Li Mieling brought many close officials from Beidi, Hetao and other places, took over all the recovered areas of Shu, and left a garrison.

The Longxiang army under Li Mieling attacked quickly and fiercely, often attacking and seizing the city by surprise. In less than half a month, they captured Chengdu, the capital of the Han Dynasty.

Li Mieling personally beheaded the King of Han, the enemy of King Zhenbei, and had him put it in a brocade box and sent it to the king on a starry night journey.

The Han army once again became a rebel army and bandits.

Li Mieling left his deputy general to lead the army to suppress it and took over the entire Shu territory.

He himself led the main force of Long Xiang's army and immediately took a boat to move eastward along the river.

Don't waste a moment.

Li Mieling had already heard the news that Jinling City had been besieged by the vassal coalition for a long time.

He was very impatient and angry inside.

His eyes looked to the east, like a beast looking down at its prey.

"Jinling City must be captured by me!"

……

on the Yangtze River.

The large navy has already mobilized many to fight in the south.

But even so, although Li Mieling's Long Xiang army was not afraid of death and extremely brave, it was indeed not good at water warfare.

Facing the waterside wall of Jinling City and the remaining navy, something might happen.

For this reason, Li Mieling led his army to deflect the course and go to the Dongting Lake water system.

There, Li Mieling saw an extremely spectacular water village.

The army suppressed the stronghold.

Li Mieling entered the water stronghold alone, without any soldiers or even a box of treasure.He only has the title of "Navy Commander" in the Zhenbei Army.

He met Long Tao, the leader of the water thieves.

Long Tao still had the same short hair and a huge metal earring on his left ear. He was sitting on the main seat of the water village with one foot on the desk in front of him.

Chic and uninhibited.

He glanced slightly sideways at the people in the hall.

"I know you. Li Mieling."

"Long Tao."

"... This general, following the orders of my brother-in-law, is going to capture Jinling. I hope your water thieves can help me."

"I heard that the King of Zhenbei wants to go south to help the king to suppress the rebellion. Li Mieling, what are you doing? Are you forcing the King of Zhenbei to rebel?"

"Long Tao, you don't need to know so much. Just say whether you agree or not."

Li Mieling's words were very strong.

The water thieves around had long been dissatisfied with the person in front of them, and at this moment, they all stepped forward with knives and looked fierce.

Li Mieling was unmoved. In his eyes, the difference between the people here and the dead was just a matter of his own thoughts.

Long Tao looked at Li Mieling, and raised his hand to signal the younger brothers around him to back down.

He stood up and said——

"If it is really King Zhenbei's idea, I, Long Tao, will go all out."

"...But if it's not and you just have your own way, don't get involved with me, Long Tao."

When Li Mieling heard this, he immediately smiled with anger.

He threw the badge of "Navy Commander" to Long Tao.

Long Tao grabbed it in the air with one hand.

"This is the position my brother-in-law left for you back then. Attacking Jinling is what he meant. If you can capture Jinling, you will be the first."

Long Tao saw that this badge of the Zhenbei Army was indeed the "Navy Commander" proposed by Yan Wulu when he recruited him when he was in Hedong.

The Zhenbei Army did not have a navy in the past, and the "Navy Commander" could only be appointed by the King of Zhenbei.

"Okay! Since it is the meaning of King Zhenbei, then I will go to Jinling with you."

Long Tao took the badge and suddenly laughed evilly.

"...But I still have to ask General Li more. Is there any reward for this trip? And how much?"

"... After all, we are not members of the Zhenbei Army."

Li Mieling also knew the water thieves' money-hungry nature and smiled accordingly.

"Take Jinling, and the wealth in the city will be yours to use."

"Deal!" Long Tao agreed immediately.

Jinling is the richest city in the world.

Li Mieling's Longxiang army was definitely not comparable to the fierce battle between the two armies in Jinling.

Capturing Jinling was as easy as flipping a finger.

that day.

Long Tao led tens of thousands of experienced water thieves under his command, and together with Li Mieling's Longxiang army, they sailed eastwards and approached Jinling.

……

The first year of Chengye.

At the end of the first month.

Jinling has been under siege for nearly a month.

King Qin's reinforcements never arrived.

Jinling City has a large population. Although there was an urgent search for food and grass reserves before the siege, the siege in January had already exhausted the food and grass in the city.

The morale of the army was shattered, and the people wanted to change.

early February.

Jinling City sent messengers to break out of the encirclement and contact the Zhenbei Army, but no one brought back a reply.

Li Mieling met Long Tao at the Dongting Lake Water Village, and the two reached a cooperation and sailed eastward.

mid-February.

The outer city of Jinling has been captured by the rebels.

The vassal coalition forces and the Daqian Army launched the final street battle in Jinling.

Now, only the Imperial City is still under the control of Daqian.

However, it will soon be no longer the case.

……

Inside the palace.

Countless eunuchs and maids stole the palace treasures and fled in all directions.
The entire Jinling Imperial City was in a mess.

Without food for a long time, Daqian's military morale had already weakened.

I don’t know whether it started when the former crown prince Zhao Lingfeng was sentenced to death, or whether it started when the military general Xiao Tianzuo was defeated and died in battle.

Zhao Lingrui had a premonition of the defeat of Daqian on this day.

At that time, Zhao Lingrui finally ascended the throne that he longed for.

But I found that there was no way to save it...

At this moment, Zhao Lingrui was sitting alone on the dragon chair in Qianqing Palace with disheveled hair.

He was the only one in the huge palace.

The maids and servants inside and outside the palace had already started to flee separately, in a state of chaos.

Zhao Lingrui doesn't want to care about them now.

Anyway, even if they escaped from the palace, they would die among the chaos.

If they were lucky enough to survive, it would be considered their good fortune.

Finally, footsteps came.

Zhao Lingrui raised his head and saw Princess Yu, who is now the queen of the world.

...It's a pity that she only wore the Queen's Crown for less than three months.From now on, I'm afraid I won't be able to wear it anymore.

The queen took a look around and saw that the gorgeous palace decorations were still there.

But now, it feels like it is covered with a layer of lonely dust.

She walked forward slowly, came to the gorgeous dragon chair where Zhao Lingrui was sitting, and squatted down.

She held Zhao Lingrui's right hand that was placed on the armchair of the dragon chair with both hands, and exhorted -

"Your Majesty, please don't give up and stick to the imperial city. King Qin's reinforcements from King Zhenbei will arrive soon. Such examples have not happened before."

"It's impossible. Yan Wulu, it's impossible for him to send troops here."

"... In one and a half months, if he really wanted to help me, the reinforcements should have arrived long ago."

Zhao Lingrui's voice was somewhat self-deprecating, but there was no sign of cowardice at all, "However, I don't blame him either."

"...I should have known this a long time ago."

"It is right for him to hate Daqian and the late emperor. Even if he wants to be the emperor himself, I don't blame him."

"...Actually, if I were put in his position, I would do the same, and even do it even better."

As Zhao Lingrui spoke, his face covered by his long hair revealed a strange smile.

The queen's eyes were filled with tears.

She is the eldest daughter of a noble family in Jinling. She has been with Zhao Lingrui for many years and has a deep friendship.

Back then, when Yan Wulu, who was still the crown prince of Zhenbei, was in Jinling, she still had fresh memories of the scenes of negotiation in the palace with Zhao Lingrui, who was still Prince Yu.

"Your Majesty, you were close friends who talked about everything in Jinling City back then. At that time, Your Majesty, you almost became brothers with different surnames!"

"...Could it be that King Zhenbei doesn't even care about this friendship?"

Zhao Lingrui raised his head slightly when he heard this, and then leaned on the back of the dragon chair.

The brilliant golden color around him made him look even more tired and helpless.

"The most ruthless imperial family."

"...Don't talk about him. Even if it were me, even if there was no rebellion, and I ascended the throne, even if there was an imperial edict and an iron scroll, I would still cut down the vassal!"

"...I will also attack him, King Zhenbei!"

As Zhao Lingrui spoke, his eyes opened slightly, filled with the calmness of an ancient well.

"Your Majesty, has it really reached this point of no return?"

"Queen, I am helpless."

Zhao Lingrui turned his head slightly and looked at his queen.

He reached out and gently brushed away the tears on the queen's cheeks...

"Have all the princes and concubines in the palace been summoned?"

"Here we are, everyone is here..." the queen choked with tears, "...they are all waiting outside the palace."

"Let them in."

Zhao Lingrui said, and then put a purple-gold medicine bottle into the queen's hand, "...This one is prepared for you. You are most afraid of bitterness, so this one is sweet."

"...There will be no pain after taking it, and it will be over soon."

The queen's face didn't change when she heard the words, she just smiled wryly, "Lingrui, when will you still remember that I am afraid of suffering."

Tears flowed uncontrollably from the queen's eyes, and she held the poison that Zhao Lingrui gave her.

"Your Majesty, I am willing to die with you, but... do you really want to kill all your children and sisters?"

"They are the Daqian royal family and must not fall into the hands of the rebels."

Zhao Lingrui's eyes were determined, "...I am doing this for them."

The queen understood. She still wanted to say something, but in the end she said nothing.

She stood up and called the princes and concubines who were waiting outside the palace.

Zhao Lingrui also stood up from the dragon throne.

He pulled out the stainless steel sword hanging next to the dragon chair.

The bright blade of the sword illuminated the determination and helplessness in his eyes.

As the sword shadow flickered, there was a pool of blood.

There was a loud rumble outside the city.

The palace gate seemed to have been blasted open at just this moment.

Zhao Lingrui was sitting in a pool of blood holding a sword, and the bright yellow dragon robe on his body had been dyed blood.

The queen drank the bottle of poison, and she fell into his arms.

Blood flowed from her mouth. She looked at Zhao Lingrui and finally said -

"Lingrui, it's really a pity that I couldn't see you become an eternal wise king."

Zhao Lingrui touched her cheek, "I regret it very much, Gao Shan. There are still too many things that have not been done between you and me."

"...But I am very lucky, because all along, even now, you are still by my side."

The man in his arms has closed his eyes peacefully.

The gentle smile on Zhao Lingrui's face gradually disappeared, returning to its usual dead silence.

He took one last look at the glorious palace through the palace gate.

Then... swiped his sword and killed himself.

He and his queen fell in a pool of blood strewn with the corpses of the royal family.

……

The new emperor Zhao Lingrui committed suicide in the palace.

When the vassal coalition forces are about to break through the imperial city.

Li Mieling led Long Xiang's army to attack suddenly, crushing and scattering the vassal king's coalition forces as if they were destroying everything.

After more than a month of besieging the city, the main army in the city completely collapsed, and the coalition forces of the feudal kings were exhausted.

Facing the iron hoof of Long Xiang's army, no one can stop him.

Later, the warship navy of the vassal alliance on the river was attacked by Longtao water pirates. The navy suffered numerous casualties. The warships were all set on fire and buried in a sea of ​​fire.

The coalition forces of the vassal kings almost failed and had to withdraw their troops and leave Jinling.

After half a day of fierce fighting, Li Mieling and Long Tao had already taken control of the entire Jinling City.

Li Mieling stood on the towering tower, overlooking the endless Jinling City.

... the most prosperous and most vicious city in the world.

Long Tao came to ask Li Mieling for payment.

Li Mieling nodded slightly.

He stepped forward and looked at the silent and neatly arranged Longxiang army under the city, as well as the scattered Dongting Lake water thieves who had begun to plunder everywhere.

Li Mieling suddenly ordered loudly——

"Pass my general's order to massacre the city for three days and reward the entire army!"

The words are powerful, with strong internal force attached to them, and they continue to echo around the city.

The water thieves immediately raised their swords and shouted.

The only one or two thousand water thieves who came here to gather immediately turned around and joined the plundering and massacre team.

Long Xiang's army stood still and hesitated at first.

But after confirming that this was the general, he immediately drew his sword and joined the bloody massacre like a bloodthirsty madman.

Long Tao personally didn't seem to be in a hurry to plunder the property, he stood quietly on the top of the city.

Li Mieling's deputy general reminded Li Mieling urgently——

"General, if you do this, the king will be furious when he hears about it."

"Ha." Li Mieling sneered, "...what do you know? My brother-in-law promised me many years ago."

"...Once I take Jinling, this city will be destroyed by me!"

Li Mieling said with a crazy expression.

The lieutenant's face suddenly turned pale, "Then... the royal family?"

The deputy general suddenly mentioned.

Li Mieling also thought of this and immediately ordered -

"You take the war team and the general's personal guards to protect the imperial city, as well as the Qin family, the Gu family, the Cen family... Forget it, bring me a map of the city, and I will draw it out for you!"

While talking, the deputy general came over with a map of Jinling City.

Li Mieling looked at this picture and highlighted several people who had good relations with King Zhenbei.

"Protect the imperial city and these places, don't let blind fools offend my brother-in-law and friends!"

As Li Mieling spoke, he threw the wolf-hair brush in his hand to his guards.

The deputy general was trembling with fear.

He always felt that massacring the city of Jinling would offend the king.

But facing the king's brother-in-law, champion, and general Longxiang, he did not dare to refute, so he had to respond respectfully.

……

(End of this chapter)