In the Zhangtai Palace.
No one knew what Ying Zheng and Wei Liao discussed.
Meanwhile, thousands of miles away in the Wei capital.
Outside the city.
Tens of thousands of Qin soldiers were lined up in formation, sending waves of arrows into Daliang. Alongside the arrows, catapults relentlessly hurled massive stones into the city.
This display of force weighed heavily on Daliang.
However, while the attack inflicted some casualties, it had little impact on the city's defenses.
Inside the city.
In Wei Wuji's palace.
"My Lord."
"The Qin army has begun their harassment again."
"But just like before, they haven't launched a full assault."
"They should retreat after a while, once their arrows are spent."
A Wei general reported to Wei Wuji.
"Ensure that all soldiers remain vigilant."
"Be prepared for anything." Wei Wuji ordered.
"Yes, my Lord."
The general quickly retreated.
However, Wei Wuji's brows remained furrowed as he pondered something.
"My Lord."
"It has been a month now."
"The Qin army harasses us daily, causing some casualties, but nothing significant enough to change the tide of battle."
"What exactly are they planning?"
A Wei general standing before Wei Wuji asked in confusion.
"This is indeed puzzling."
"Since Zhao Feng took command, he has never hesitated in battle. Now that he stands before our capital, why is he holding back?"
"Could this be a trick?"
"Or is he waiting for the Qin army at Hangu Pass to reinforce him?"
"If not, then there seems to be no other explanation."
"Our capital, under my careful fortifications, is an impenetrable fortress. There is no way to breach it besides a full-scale assault. Could Zhao Feng have found another way?"
Wei Wuji's generals voiced their doubts, surprised at Zhao Feng's prolonged delay in attacking.
This was completely different from what they had anticipated when the Qin army first arrived.
After a month of mere harassment without any major offensive, their initial tension gradually faded.
"That's enough, all of you, leave me be."
"Let me think in peace."
Seeing his subordinates bickering, Wei Wuji waved them away.
"Yes, my Lord."
The generals bowed and left.
Once alone, Wei Wuji walked to the center of the hall and stared at the sand table depicting Wei's territory, his face tense and filled with deep thought.
"What exactly is Zhao Feng planning?"
"He won't abandon the attack."
"Since becoming a Qin general, he has never given up battle merits to others. Every battle, he fights with everything he has."
"Now, with the chance to take our capital a once-in-a-lifetime achievement he wouldn't just let this opportunity slip away."
"He must be plotting something."
"But what?"
"Is there truly another way to breach Daliang?"
Wei Wuji stared at the sand table, his expression grim.
Even he couldn't predict what Zhao Feng was about to do.
He stood there alone, contemplating.
Meanwhile.
Within the borders of Wei, atop a mountain the highest peak in the region.
Throughout the surrounding valleys, rafts and boats had been meticulously prepared.
Fifteen hundred elite guards, clad in black armor, and armed with swords and bows, were stationed at various points.
At the mountain's summit.
Zhao Feng stood with his hands behind his back, clad in full battle armor, the Longquan sword at his waist. His presence was commanding and awe-inspiring.
He gazed calmly into the distance, where the silhouette of Daliang faintly emerged.
"My Lord."
"News from General Tu Sui has just arrived."
"The troops are awaiting your command to break the dikes and flood the city."
Han Chenyan hurried forward and reported respectfully.
Zhao Feng nodded.
He raised his hand. "Light the signal fire."
"The Lord has given the order light the signal fire!" Zhang Ming shouted.
A short distance away, a pile of wood and materials for the smoke signal had already been prepared.
As Zhao Feng's command echoed, several guards immediately raised torches and ignited the fire.
At once.
Thick smoke billowed.
Black plumes of smoke spiraled into the sky, visible for miles.
As the smoke rose from the mountaintop.
Before long.
Smoke signals ignited on the distant peaks one after another, spreading rapidly.
This was the era's unique method of relaying orders beacon fire signals!
Long ago, before the decline of the Zhou dynasty, when the vassal states still swore allegiance, a notorious event had occurred the "Beacon Fire Hoax," orchestrated by King You of Zhou.
But throughout history, incompetent rulers have always emerged.
King You of Zhou in the past.
Qin Er Shi in the future.
These monarchs simply enjoyed prosperity for too long.
"Flood Daliang, drown the city in water."
"Soon."
"Daliang will be submerged beneath a vast lake."
Zhao Feng gazed toward Daliang with an expression devoid of emotion.
The impending flood would drown countless people and collapse countless buildings within the city.
None of this concerned Zhao Feng.
"Wei has stubbornly refused to surrender."
"My Lord already gave them a chance."
"Besides."
"They once resorted to burning down their city to fight us. Their disregard for their people is evident this has nothing to do with us." Zhang Ming said firmly.
"The moment the flood sweeps through Daliang, we will launch our assault by boat." Zhao Feng commanded.
"Yes, my Lord."
The elite guards responded in unison.
Inside Daliang!
Everything was eerily quiet.
The Qin soldiers, who usually harassed them daily, had vanished.
The battlefield before the city was eerily empty.
It was as if the war had completely left this place.
Even the defending Wei soldiers were puzzled.
"It's been a month. Why hasn't the Qin army attacked?"
"Yeah."
"When they arrived, I thought they'd attack on the second day. But it's been so long, and all they've done is fire arrows. It's like they have no intention of launching a real offensive."
"I was all ready to slaughter these damn Qin soldiers, but they haven't even shown up. Sigh."
"Maybe the Qin army got scared of us."
"The Lord had us prepare for so long, yet we haven't even had a chance to fight. I was already planning to use a Qin soldier's head as my wine jug."
"Wei Da, you always boast like this. A few days ago, when it seemed like the Qin army was about to attack, you were so scared you almost wet your pants!"
"Hahaha!"
The soldiers around burst into laughter.
Clearly, after a month of waiting, the Wei army was no longer as tense as they had been at the beginning.
At this moment
"Something's not right."
"According to their usual pattern, by this time the Qin army should have started firing arrows."
"Why haven't they done so today?"
"And why is there not a single Qin soldier in sight?"
A Wei soldier spoke with a tone of doubt.
Hearing this, many other soldiers also started looking puzzled.
"That's true."
"At this time every day, we'd usually be hiding from the arrows. But today, there's been no reaction from the Qin army at all?"
"This is unusual."
"Should we report this?"
"Of course, we should! This is something the Lord must decide on."
"Go quickly and report to the Lord..."
In the Lord's Mansion
"What did you say?"
"The Qin army did not attack today? And there isn't a single Qin soldier stationed outside the city?"
Hearing this news, Wei Wuji furrowed his brows tightly, clearly caught off guard.
"Yes, my Lord."
"The Qin army seems to have completely withdrawn."
"And we haven't spotted any trace of them outside the city. We don't know what their intentions are." The Wei general who reported the news spoke with certainty.
Wei Wuji's brows knitted even tighter, a strong sense of unease rising in his heart.
"The Qin army has stopped their daily harassment and has even withdrawn?"
"Why?"
"For a whole month, they never launched a full assault only daily harassment with arrows. And now they've suddenly retreated?"
"What are they planning?"
Wei Wuji muttered to himself, completely unable to figure it out.
At that moment, his gaze once again fell on the map he had been pondering for so long.
Suddenly
A flash of realization struck him like lightning.
Wei Wuji rushed to the map, placing both hands on it. His eyes turned bloodshot, and his entire body trembled.
"My Lord, what's wrong?"
The attendants in the hall immediately rushed over, startled by his sudden reaction.
It was terrifying to see Wei Wuji like this.
"The rivers… the Grand Canal..."
"They're diverting the waters of both rivers to flood the city!"
"No… this is bad…"
Wei Wuji's face turned pale as a sheet.
After a month of uncertainty
Seeing the sudden retreat of the Qin army, it was as if he had finally been struck awake. He instantly understood Zhao Feng's true intentions.
"My Lord, what is happening?"
A group of Wei generals hurried in upon hearing the commotion, looking worriedly at Wei Wuji.
"Quick… tell all the soldiers to move to higher ground."
"Prepare for flooding."
"Also, break open the back gates immediately quickly!"
"Hurry!"
Wei Wuji shouted urgently, his old face filled with panic.
The surrounding generals were all dumbfounded.
"My Lord, what exactly is happening?"
One of the generals still failed to grasp the urgency.
"The Qin army is digging channels from the two rivers to flood the city!" Wei Wuji roared with all his strength, his voice hoarse.
As soon as he said this
All the generals turned deathly pale.
If these words had come from someone else, they might not have believed them.
But this was Wei Wuji speaking.
There was no way it wasn't true.
A terrifying realization dawned upon all of them at the same time.
Diverting the waters of two great rivers no matter how well-built their capital was, it was impossible to withstand such an onslaught. The flood would turn everything into a vast swamp.
But now
Even though Wei Wuji had figured it out, it was already too late.
In the past, to defend against Qin's invasion, he had reinforced Daliang like an iron fortress, sealing off all its gates.
This made it difficult for enemies to get in.
But now, it had also turned the city into a trap for its people, leaving them with no way to escape.
If they hadn't sealed the gates, they might still have been able to evacuate a portion of the population and preserve some military strength.
But now…
It was all too late.
"Report!"
"My Lord!"
"The flood… the flood is coming!"
"A massive, unstoppable flood is rushing toward Daliang!"
A Wei soldier ran in, panicked and trembling with terror.
Upon hearing this
Wei Wuji seemed to lose all strength, collapsing into his seat.
His old face was filled with despair.
"We've lost."
"It's over..."
"Zhao Feng…"
"What a strategy… what a method..."
"My city, which has stood for centuries, will be drowned and destroyed today."
"Zhao Feng..."
Wei Wuji's voice was filled with bitterness and helplessness.
For him, this was an overwhelming defeat.
It was over!
Everything was over!
His kingdom was doomed.
His plan to drag the Qin army down with them had turned into nothing.
And the Qin army, without even shedding much blood, was about to destroy Wei.
At this moment
The raging flood surged toward Daliang. The land where the Qin army had once camped was now swallowed by the floodwaters, which rapidly advanced toward the city.
Wei's capital had been built in a low-lying area.
Now, as if guided by an invisible force, the floodwaters rushed directly toward Daliang.
From the city walls, one could see the waves crashing against the fortress, making the entire structure tremble.
"Why is there a flood?"
"Our capital hasn't seen a flood in decades!"
"Why is this happening?"
"Can our city walls withstand it?"
"Should we retreat?"
"Retreat?"
"That would be suicide."
"We have orders from above no one is to retreat without the Lord's command. Anyone who flees will be executed!"
"The supervisors are watching closely."
"Then what do we do?"
"If the flood breaks through the city walls, we'll all be doomed..."
On top of the city walls, the Wei soldiers stared in horror at the surging flood below.
Some wanted to retreat, but the fear of the overseeing officers kept them rooted in place, not daring to make a move.
But as the floodwaters grew more violent, the trembling of the city walls intensified.
This only made the Wei soldiers even more fearful.
"The water level is rising!"
"The water has already seeped through the city walls!"
"I'm afraid the walls won't hold!"
As time passed, the shaking of the city walls worsened. The Wei soldiers were now sitting on pins and needles, terrified that the walls would collapse at any moment.
And then
Crack!
Crack!
A series of splitting and cracking sounds rang out.
The once-sturdy city walls were now riddled with cracks, eroded by the relentless floodwaters. More and more water seeped through, accelerating the collapse.
"Run! Run for your lives!"
"The walls won't hold back the flood!"
"Hurry run!"
At that moment, the Wei soldiers could no longer contain their panic. They shouted in fear and scrambled to flee.
But as they moved almost simultaneously, they unknowingly triggered a phenomenon that people of this era could not comprehend resonance.
Crack!
Crack!
Boom! Boom! Boom!
A series of deafening cracks and tremors followed.
The city walls that Wei Wuji had painstakingly reinforced for so long crumbled under the onslaught of the flood, collapsing in an instant.
And it wasn't just a small section the collapse engulfed more than half of the entire city wall.
"Aah!"
"Help! Help me!"
"I can't swim!"
"Save me!"
"Aah!"
In an instant, the entire city was filled with screams of terror and cries for help.
Countless Wei soldiers were buried under the collapsing walls, their lives snuffed out in an instant.
Many others flailed desperately in the water, struggling against the merciless current.
The scene in front of the capital of Wei was one of utter devastation.
Yet, amidst this catastrophe, no one could do anything to stop it.
As the walls collapsed, the floodwaters surged forward without restraint, sweeping away countless Wei soldiers.
Before the power of nature, human strength seemed utterly insignificant.
The flood swallowed everything in its path.
Countless homes were instantly reduced to rubble.
Tens of thousands of troops stationed in the capital were completely powerless against the flood.
Those lucky enough to grab onto floating debris managed to stay afloat, but many were simply swallowed by the raging waters.
The flood showed no mercy.
Wei Wuji's carefully fortified city had become a massive death trap, leaving everyone inside with no escape.
Perhaps…
Only when the floodwaters finally reached the inner city and broke through the rear walls would they begin to recede.
Time passed.
An hour.
Two hours.
Until an entire day and night had gone by.
When dawn broke the next morning, the entire Wei capital had been completely submerged.
The hundred-year-old capital of Wei had been utterly destroyed.
Where the floodwaters had passed, only ruins remained collapsed houses, shattered beams, scattered debris.
Floating on the water's surface were countless corpses, stripped of life by the flood's merciless embrace.
It seemed the water levels would take time to recede.
But Wei Wuji's elaborate defenses had proven utterly meaningless before the flood.
At the front of the city
On the turbulent river that continued to rage toward the capital, countless rafts and small boats drifted toward the city.
Standing on these vessels were Qin soldiers, armed with bows and blades.
"The great capital of Wei, standing for a hundred years, is now nothing but ruins," one Qin soldier murmured.
"With one brilliant strategy, the Supreme General has spared our Wu'an camp from losing tens of thousands of men."
As they gazed upon the waterlogged remains of Wei's capital, the soldiers aboard the rafts and boats were deeply shaken.
Even though they were the ones who had breached the riverbanks, the scene before them was too shocking to take in easily.
At the center of the fleet, standing on a slightly larger boat, was Zhao Feng.
His expression was calm and unreadable.
"Enter the city," he commanded.
"By the Supreme General's order enter the city!" Zhang Ming relayed the command.
The fleet of rafts and boats moved forward, gliding along the currents into the city.
Standing on their vessels, they could see the remnants of the collapsed city walls, the floating corpses, and the struggling Wei soldiers.
"Help us!"
"We surrender!"
"Please, save us!"
"General, we surrender!"
Upon seeing the Qin army approach, the surviving Wei soldiers clung to the last shred of hope and shouted desperately for mercy.
Zhao Feng glanced at them.
"Those who surrender, rescue them."
"Those who refuse, grant them a swift end."
His words became law.
His elite soldiers swiftly carried out his command.
But Zhao Feng's gaze remained fixed on the ruins of Wei's capital.
Just yesterday, this city had stood tall and secure.
But now, under the flood's might, it was nothing more than a wasteland.
A month ago, Wei Wuji had been full of ambition and confidence.
Now, he was likely drowning in despair.
As Zhao Feng's boat drifted further into the city, encountering no resistance, he spoke softly to himself:
"The power of nature is truly unstoppable."
"I wonder… How strong would I have to be to achieve such a feat myself?"
"To control a flood of this magnitude perhaps only the gods could do such a thing?"
Gazing upon the devastation he had orchestrated, Zhao Feng felt an indescribable emotion stir within him.
Was he pleased?
Perhaps.
After all, he had conquered Wei's capital without a bloody battle.
But as he looked at the countless floating corpses, it was impossible to feel anything.
Yet, this was war.
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