[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-peace-decree":3,"chapter-the-peace-decree-the-peace-decree-chapter-571":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Peace Decree",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2328746,4553,"Chapter 571: Pacifying the World!","the-peace-decree-chapter-571",571,"\u003Cp>Outside the Eastern Capital, the great army converged, crimson banners emblazoned with qilin patterns billowing as they encircled the capital of Ying Guo, where nearly all the strongest warlords of the realm had gathered; the tide of destiny surged, and the capital of Ying Guo was certain to fall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet no direct assault was launched; instead, the army withdrew five hundred paces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Between the capital of Ying Guo and the great army, at the very center of the five-hundred-paces gap, a simple platform was erected, the great banner planted beside it like a vast umbrella or swirling clouds; the Emperor of Qin rode his divine steed forward and sat calmly at one side of the platform.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Emperor Jiang Gao sat opposite, seated before the capital of the great Ying state.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Gao placed the imperial seal beside him, then took out two cups and poured wine from the flask into them; the wine glowed amber-hued, and Jiang Gao gazed at the liquor within the cup, saying, “More than ten years ago, Your Majesty was merely thirteen years old.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“At that time, the old Chen state still existed; in Jiangzhou City of southern Chen, misty rain still painted a beautiful scene, intoxicating to behold. I had long been Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace, and Your Majesty was still a Jinwu Guard of Chen Guo, holding the title of Baron of Kaiguo—a rising talent.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Back then, I wished to recruit you, but alas, because of Yuan Er, we never truly had a proper conversation. Before the Great Sacrifice in Chen Guo, I remember hoping to share a drink with you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Guanyi gazed at Jiang Gao before him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gazed at an old friend.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Were they friends? It did not seem so close.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Over the twelve years since their first meeting, Li Guanyi and Jiang Gao had met infrequently and for brief durations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If one counted from the moment Li Guanyi truly stepped onto the world at age fourteen, they had only crossed paths a few times: during his inspection tour of Zhongzhou City, when he entered Ying Guo’s borderlands, and when he rescued Yuan Zhi’s mother.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had also briefly shared time during the Western Regions campaign.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Over the past decade, they had mostly been separated, with little conversation or correspondence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet to say they were not friends—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That could not be said at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sometimes, the relationship between people and their positions bore no direct relation to the time spent together; Li Guanyi picked up the cup, his martial aura surpassing the physique of former overlords, his blood and qi mighty and domineering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But most crucially, he knew what kind of man Jiang Gao was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Li Guanyi’s eyes lay pity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Gao raised his cup, gazing at the Emperor of Qin: “I said I truly wished for peace across the realm, for no more wars—when you and I, good friends, could sit beneath bamboo groves in the clear wind, when I would become a schoolmaster and you would come to visit me, and we would drink.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In recent years, I had imagined this promised drink would be you pouring wine upon my grave—but I never imagined it would be like this…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Gao’s eyes shifted, gazing at the Qilin Army not far away, the crimson banners igniting heaven and earth; Li Guanyi said, “The world changes—how can those of our kind ever fully comprehend it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Guanyi said, “Gao Xiang once begged me to spare your life.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Gao looked at Li Guanyi and asked, “Will you spare me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Guanyi replied, “This campaign alone has cost over four hundred thousand lives between my army and Ying Guo; since the autumn of Tianqi Eleven, the number of dead and wounded is beyond counting.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Countless lives have bled onto the earth; the land is dyed red.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The death and sacrifice have been enough.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Li Guanyi hopes Jiang Gao may live well as himself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Gao said, “But—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He fixed his gaze on Li Guanyi and whispered, “In this battle alone, over four hundred thousand have perished; among my hundred thousand Ying troops, more than two hundred thousand are dead, the wounded uncountable—blood flows across the earth, swords and spears broken, cast into rivers, left to be washed by the annals of a thousand autumns.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Under these circumstances—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Guanyi asked, “Do you wish to live?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Gao said, “Jiang Gao wishes to live.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But the Emperor of Ying cannot live.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Gao held the cup, his eyes reflecting his own image; he looked at his friend, his old companion, his confidant, his enemy—and spoke in the tone of a friend, uttering words cruel to history:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But, Emperor of Qin, the Emperor who bears the realm cannot permit the Emperor of Ying to live.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Gao whispered, “I know this. You know this too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As long as Jiang Gao lives, there will always be those with ambition.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Perhaps Jiang Gao’s surrender to the Emperor of Qin might symbolize peace, allowing a former emperor to become a commoner—but I am not such a man. I have my pride.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is life and death truly the most important thing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“After my father, the Grand Tutor, Yuwen, He Ruo, and Chancellor Wei have all passed—must I remain alive? Emperor of Qin, grant Ying Guo and me a dignified end.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“An era forged by sword and spear must end with vigor.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just as once, you and I, let us drink for peace!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Guanyi closed his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Emperor of Qin slowly nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Drink.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He toasted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Gao smiled, rose, swept his sleeves, clasped the cup with both hands, bowed deeply, then upended the cup and drank the wine; the fiery liquor burned down his throat—when suddenly, the imperial seal crashed down, and Jiang Gao gripped a weapon in his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the Emperor’s Sword of Ying Guo, thrust with piercing fury toward the Emperor of Qin’s chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Majesty!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lord, beware!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among the Qilin Army’s generals, many reacted instantly, grasping their weapons; the clashing of steel rang sharp and deadly—the blade struck Li Guanyi’s armor, and Jiang Gao’s gaze fixed on Li Guanyi, his eyes filled with pleading.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Simultaneously, the Emperor of Qin’s blade pierced Jiang Gao’s body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blood stained the dragon-embroidered sleeves, igniting the crimson of the Qilin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet the two men seemed like friends sharing one final embrace; the Emperor’s jade hairpin held his hair, and he did not look at his enemy, his friend—he simply gazed quietly ahead. Jiang Gao staggered, unsteady on his feet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His hand pressed upon the Emperor’s shoulder, blood continuously dripping from his mouth; in a daze, he murmured:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I never thought, Li Guanyi…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The peace-drink I offered you… would be my blood.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Imperial blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet also the blood ending the chaotic age.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this age, heroes were too many, warlords too many, ambitions too many—only the blood of the final monarch could seal away chaos and ambition forever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Gao’s face was pale, his eyes darker than ever, blood trickling from his lips; tears glistened at his corners, yet he whispered softly: “But I truly worry for you, Li Guanyi. Your nature is too bound by sentiment.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You reached this position—without a teacher, without kin, without parents—and now you must kill me yourself… I’m sorry…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You will become the true emperor—but I pray you do not grow cold and heartless. The path ahead is yours alone. A king who kills friends, kills enemies, loses all—do not yield.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Li Guanyi.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Emperor of Qin stood there; the Qilin Army soldiers saw their emperor slay the Emperor of Ying. They knew nothing of the resolve in that cup, nothing of their final conversation, nothing of the third drinking vow they had finally fulfilled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They knew not that this truly final cup was the Emperor of Ying’s blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They drank this cup.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To truly forge the age of peace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Qilin soldiers rejoiced—joyful for their emperor’s divine prowess, joyful for his unmatched achievements, joyful that the age of peace was finally dawning; they raised their banners, standards, and weapons, shouting, “Long live the Emperor of Qin!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amidst the roar of celebration, the age of peace was about to begin; the jubilant cries of a million soldiers seemed to dye heaven and earth into an ocean of joy—but at the very center, there was solitude.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Emperor of Ying’s eyes slowly lost their light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His hand rested upon the Emperor of Qin’s ceremonial robe, slowly sliding down; his voice had grown too faint to hear, yet he murmured: “Thank you… for granting me this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Create a good age of peace.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I will watch over you… below.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He said: “My friend.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Gao’s gaze dimmed, his arm draped over the Emperor’s shoulder, like a final embrace before parting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then he died.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the last enemy of the Emperor of Qin in this chaotic age.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the past two hundred years of chaos, the last twenty saw heroes rise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Emperor of Ying, the Emperor of Chen, the Khan, the Divine Martial, the War God.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Emperor of Qin rose from obscurity, maneuvered across the realm, clashed with every opponent of his age—and finally, by personally killing Jiang Gao, ended the centuries-long division and restored unity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the palace of Ying Guo, Jiang Cai gazed at the sky, listening to the cheers carried on the wind; this disciple of the School of Vertical and Horizontal Alliances lowered her eyes, sat quietly, her expression devoid of personal liking or aversion, and said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Truly, the sound of a new age of peace has begun.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Forged by martial prowess, establishing a righteous state—undoubtedly, this is the true ‘Peace Before Peace’—the Emperor of Qin’s ‘Breaking the Array’ melody.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“All sing the ‘Breaking the Array’ tune, sharing the age of peace.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Cai hummed the rhythm, calmly drank a cup of wine; the poison spread through her breath. She remained seated, slowly closing her eyes, thinking of regret—that the School of Vertical and Horizontal Alliances, always reliant on circumstance, could never settle chaos like the Military School.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, she thought of her childhood, weeping after being bullied, when that noble general taught her martial arts—her breath faded slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Yi had already died of grave illness, his life’s lamp extinguished, a month earlier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Following Wei Yi’s final plea, Jiang Cai killed He Ruo, the Empress of Jiang Yuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She took the poison of Fei and ended her own life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the Qilin soldiers pushed open the palace gates, the female official still sat there, spine straight, expression calm, radiating final dignity; when Po Jun saw Jiang Cai’s corpse, he said nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only silence. The outcome of that youthful wager—victory or defeat—had finally settled in death. For the Emperor of Qin, this was the pacification of the realm. For Wei Yi and Jiang Cai, it was the fall of their homeland, the land where they were born and raised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the winter of the fourth year of Qin, after the death of Emperor Jiang Gao, the endless clouds above the heavens broke into rain, which fell upon the cold world as thick snowflakes, covering the Eastern Capital, a city with three hundred years of history.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The massive palace gates, crimson with dark-gold door nails, required thirty men—fifteen on each side—to open.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the gates opened, scraping against the ground, they emitted a slow, heavy sound; the echo reverberated through the corridor, overlapping into a solemn, reverent tone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Emperor of Qin, clad in armor and battle robe, rode his divine steed into the palace through its central gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The hooves struck the palace’s flat ground with quiet, crisp sounds; here stood the final enemy of the battlefield. Li Guanyi ascended the steps, snow blanketing all, the world hazy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ying Guo had fallen; looking around, no opponent remained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Guanyi walked slowly through the snow-covered world, alone beneath the snow and sky, feeling an indescribable stillness and loneliness, and a strange, unnamable daze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I do not know where this body is, nor who this body is.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He walked step by step; the snow beside him was swept up by the wind, seeming to take the form of a young pharmacist, striding forward with him. Li Guanyi gazed at his thirteen-year-old self.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dressed in faded, washed-out clothes, he ran forward with a smile; the smile on his face faded, transforming into a guest minister clad in deep blue robes, who walked forward laughing and chatting, the deep blue robes turning into armor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The armor gleamed, a jade belt circled his waist, a golden crown bound his hair—he was a Golden Guard of Great Chen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Around the Golden Guards were the Night Doubters, the Zhouliu Camp, the thirty-six Golden Guard Captains, laughing and advancing, flames igniting—yet they were the wandering martial artist in plain robes, radiant and bold, until finally, he walked up these steps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sleeves fluttered in the wind, transforming into a crimson battle robe like roaring flame.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Armor scarred a hundred times, traversing countless battlefields, enduring repeated warfare, he finally overcame his foe here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Qin Emperor stood there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he closed his eyes, the swirling snow abandoned this body; all around fell silent, yet whispers seemed to reach the Qin Emperor’s ears—roars, shouts, countless voices, coming and going in turn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Figures appeared, as if in memory, as if in the snowstorm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Old man Zu Wenyuan, young friend, thank you for your aid earlier…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My name is Wang Tong.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hahaha, old man Siming, would you like to be my disciple? Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If not, you can be my teacher instead!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is the rule.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Immortality, immortality!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I am Jiang Yuan.” “The Night Doubters are mine!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...This is our destined pact.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This prince…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My great guest minister…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I was the first of five hundred years ago.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Chen Wenmian.” “Hahaha, nephew!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Guan Yi…” “Brother Li…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I am Chang Wen.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“General Chen Dajiang, Lu Youxian, loyal and upright, died for righteousness, forsaking his life—he was indeed a worthy minister of the Chen dynasty…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Divine Might Grand General Yuwen Lie!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Divine General, Jiang Su!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Divine Martial Prince Chen Chengbi, whose grand strategy shaped the age, needed no praise from the Red Emperor, had no time for imperial assemblies, divided his kin among the regions, wielded power tyrannically, deposed the emperor and installed a new lord, reversing heaven and turning the sun…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Guanyi lowered his gaze; one by one, old friends appeared, still in their prime, brows raised, heroic spirit blazing, swords clashing, voices swirling around his ears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Guanyi raised his hand, gripping his sword and thrusting it downward with force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tip of the dark-gold broadsword, formed from the Nine Li Warlord, touched the ground, emitting a grim, low hum. The snow of a thousand autumns raged; the pharmacist ran forward, transforming into a wandering martial artist, then a guest minister, a Golden Guard, a leader of a nomadic troop, the Marquis of Qinwu, the King of Qin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, the Qin Emperor opened his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All voices, all figures vanished!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only the world before him remained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only this body, fierce and unyielding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Let me be the first for all under heaven.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【The Emperor rose in arms at fourteen, brought peace at twenty-five.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>———《Historical Records · Annals I》\u003C\u002Fp>",2529,"2026-06-20T19:20:36.387Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","81d231dec3c33f44ae37f4c32e8cbeb9387e583416c94f790796f7444fad1e9b","the-peace-decree-chapter-572","the-peace-decree-chapter-570",593,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-peace-decree-cover.jpg"]