[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-peace-decree":3,"chapter-the-peace-decree-the-peace-decree-chapter-75":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},2328250,4553,"Chapter 75: The Fall of a Nation","the-peace-decree-chapter-75",75,"\u003Cp>BOOM!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rain curtain fell with a thunderous sound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside, a heavy rain poured down; a bonfire had been lit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the bonfire sat an iron pot boiling mutton; the milky-white broth. A young man in black clothing sliced rib meat with a small knife, dipped it in sauce, and ate while sitting cross-legged on the grassland—his expression calm, yet the man with ornaments on his forehead looked far from pleased.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Turkic Seventh Prince toyed with a curved blade—a trophy taken from the Tuyuhun—crafted of gold, its hilt inlaid with seven gemstones the size of pigeon eggs, as luxurious as a work of art, yet its edge swift, as if it could slice through the northern wind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Seventh Prince said: “Your strategy is brilliant—we’ve seized the vast lands of the Western Regions.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But my elder brother suffered a great loss.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Seventh Prince barely restrained the urge to curse his brother a fool pig.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When they discovered that Yuwen Lie had launched a surprise attack, the Turkic Fifth Prince, unable to resist the chance to win glory, struck the garrison town Yuwen Lie had guarded—its civilians had already fled, and they crushed the original garrison and entered the city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But they never expected that Yuwen Lie, this fierce general, was also skilled in long-range raid tactics.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While they were drunk, Yuwen Lie returned, burned down the original Yingguo garrison town, and simultaneously roasted the Turkic iron cavalry alive—tens of thousands of armored elite troops were reduced to charred flesh, a devastating blow that nearly crippled the Fifth Prince’s martial strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuwen Lie nearly wiped out all the Fifth Prince’s accumulated gains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Fifth Prince barely escaped with his life; upon learning of the Seventh Prince’s gains, he flew into a rage, blaming him for attacking the Western Regions and thus exposing the weakness of his own defenses, demanding he surrender the lands he had seized, and even the Fifth Prince’s father—the steppe lord beneath the golden yurt—ordered the Seventh Prince to help settle the Fifth Prince’s tribe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Seventh Prince’s face darkened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The land he had won was being taken by his father to compensate his foolish elder brother.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet he could not defy the Great Khan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this moment of fury, he was powerless—when the General of Destruction smiled faintly: “I have a plan that can help you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Seventh Prince sat upright: “I await your counsel.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Breaker looked outside: “It’s raining hard.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Seventh Prince, puzzled, merely nodded: “Yes, spring is ending—the steppe will slowly enter the rainy season; snow from the mountains melts and flows into rivers, spreading westward across the entire steppe, making it the finest time of the year.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Breaker said: “Indeed. The Western Regions are highland, and Turkic tribes live by water—they never dig wells.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Seventh Prince’s eyes widened as he stared at the young man: “Why not poison the upper river? By the time the Fifth Prince arrives, he’ll be no threat. Steppe herders are superstitious—we can spread rumors that the gods have unleashed their wrath upon the Fifth Prince for seizing your domain.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Death, plus fear—his men will be shattered. They’ll surely retreat.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The dead horses, cattle, sheep, and people will make this grassland flourish.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Seventh Prince flew into a rage, drew his blade, slammed it on the table, and roared:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You want me to poison my own people?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you know how many will die?!!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Breaker ignored the blade’s edge and said simply:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Better that the Fifth Prince’s tribe dies than yours, is it not?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Seventh Prince said: “Yet I would rather settle this with sword and spear.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Han strategist laughed aloud, rose, placed his hand on the curved blade, and pressed with a menacing tone: “What difference is there between killing with a sword and killing with poison? You’re already killing—why cling to a good name?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you so bound by reputation? But Seventh Prince, have you ever considered?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Breaker stared into the Seventh Prince’s eyes, his gaze burning with fire:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even if you give him all this land—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He will never thank you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He’ll see you as a child afraid of your father, a fool—he’ll ride out to plunder your lands, drag your beauties into his tent, whip your warriors—because of your mercy right now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These words struck the Seventh Prince’s deepest thoughts; the strength in his blade waned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at Breaker, he seemed defeated, sank back, lifted a wine cake to his lips, drank deeply, and finally, drunk, sighed: “You’re truly ruthless, Master. My reputation will be ruined by your scheme.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Breaker said: “If you insist on blaming me for this evil, and convince yourself you’re innocent to make this choice, I don’t mind.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Seventh Prince stared at the strategist who had read his mind, and said nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Seventh Prince toyed with the curved blade; the atmosphere grew quiet, thick with menace. Breaker ate meat heartily. Suddenly, the Seventh Prince said: “I recall you said you wished to return to the Central Plains. Is the steppe not good enough? Have I not been generous to you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Breaker said: “You’ve treated me well. I love the steppe’s scenery and its beauties.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Seventh Prince asked: “Then why do you wish to leave?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Have I not been sincere enough?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Seventh Prince stepped forward; his steppe lord’s cloak stirred slightly. He knelt halfway, hand striking his chest:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My great undertaking is not yet complete. Please stay. Beneath my yurt, your place shall be forever secured. When my war banner shines across the steppe, you will stand beside me—and then the people of the steppe will cheer your title, calling you Great Khan.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Stay with me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked at the handsome young man before him, his eyes earnest—but his hand rested on the hilt of his sword. Such talent and strategy—if he could not be kept, he must be killed and buried here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Any great ruler yearns to retain a peerless genius.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or a man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or a life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old guide’s fears came true: the Turkic Seventh Prince, above the third realm, erupted in an instant—enough to sever Breaker’s throat. Yet Breaker remained calm: “Precisely because of your great plan, I must go to the Central Plains.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Have you not realized?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Seventh Prince froze. Breaker helped him up, pointed to the map: “The Turkic and Yingguo have just fought a great war—you gained the Western Regions, but the Fifth Prince’s army is nearly annihilated. Do you think you can stand against General Yuwen Lie now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Seventh Prince fell silent. The Iron Turtles were powerful, but Yingguo’s Tiger Savages’ heavy cavalry were only slightly weaker.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Yuwen Lie himself was a peerless general and commander.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Seventh Prince shook his head: “I cannot match him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Breaker said: “So if Yuwen Lie seizes this chance, charges onto the steppe—how will you resist? He’s already cut off the heads and armor of the Fifth Prince’s generals and stacked them into a mound outside the old garrison—the whole steppe trembles in fear.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you think the eighteen tribes’ commanders will willingly fight this general?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Seventh Prince shook his head again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Breaker smiled: “So the steppe is no longer united. This is your chance.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The steppe is now split between those who wish to fight to the death and those who seek peace; your father has only the choice of war—but you are young, you have glorious victories. What if you go to Yingguo, ally with them, and marry their princess?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Seventh Prince looked at Breaker and said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then I become Yingguo’s blade to control the steppe.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Breaker met his gaze and smiled: “Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But the other tribes—the lords unwilling to fight Yingguo to the death—will come to you. They have tens of thousands of cattle and sheep, hundreds of thousands of serfs. They already live the best lives—they have no reason to fight the fierce generals of the Central Plains. Then those tribes will come here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They will gather beneath your yurt. When you ride out, kings will follow you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then your name and your orders will hold the same supreme authority as your father’s!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Seventh Prince stared silently at the handsome Han man before him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The steppe lord laughed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He gripped his sword hilt, straightened his spine, as majestic as an eagle: “Master, you intend to split the steppe—to divide the eighteen Turkic tribes into Eastern and Western Turkic, to fracture the authority of the steppe’s sovereign into two yurts?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was a hero—his purpose was plain to see.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Breaker looked at him: “Yes. But you see too little.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let me show you the world, Seventh Prince.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Breaker lifted the tent flap, pointed to the sky as rain poured down. The strategist and the lord locked eyes. Breaker said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Western Regions are already dead. There, chaos will reign supreme. Yingguo’s first goal will not be the steppe—they’ll pour money and support into you to stabilize it, then turn their hands to reclaiming the south and southwest, fulfilling the Central Plains’ ancient dream of [All Under Heaven United].”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“After that, they will turn on the steppe.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That is your moment: first, secure your own land; second, use Yingguo to stand against your father; finally, unify the steppe entirely. Then you will be a hero equal to the steppe lords of five hundred years ago.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“At that time, won’t you want to raise your blade and march south?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t you wish to accomplish what no one in millennia has achieved—to become the greatest hero in history?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Seventh Prince sat still, his inner fire stirred by words, his heart pounding violently; unconsciously, he gripped his weapon. Breaker’s narrow eyes smiled as he murmured:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Will the Central Plains first subdue the south—or will your yurt surpass your father’s?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The northern steppe and the vast Central Plains face each other—and the side that unifies first gains the advantage.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The strategy of dividing the world lies here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who will be the greatest hero of this age—the steppe’s eagle or the Central Plains’ emperor?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Breaker’s black hair dripped with rain. He struck his chest, his robe fluttering as he bowed in the steppe’s manner. In his eyes glowed a light that bewitched all things and a fire that burned everything. He smiled faintly: “Do you have such ambition—to reach for the whole world?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Breaker spoke truth—open strategy, irresistible temptation to any ruler with great ambition. What moves a man most is not beauty or gold, but the grandeur of the world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Seventh Prince’s breath quickened: “...And the only one capable of achieving this, the only envoy who can convince Yingguo to ally with me, is you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Breaker said: “So I must go to the Central Plains.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Long, long silence. The Seventh Prince gripped his weapon, clenched and released his fist, sighed:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I should kill you, Master Breaker.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But I cannot. You’ve shown me the great tide of a divided world—even though I know this is your scheme, that you wish to split the Turks into Eastern and Western yurts, that you seek to return to the Central Plains—I still cannot bring myself to kill you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Breaker said: “That is ambition—surpassing life and death.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Seventh Prince finally drew his golden curved blade, sliced through Breaker’s temple hair, sheathed the blade, and said: “Consider yourself dead, Master.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I hope we do not meet on the battlefield too soon.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In forty days, there is a grand sacrifice in Chen Guo. You will depart with the envoy for the Central Plains of Chen Guo.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Breaker held the strand of hair, smiled: “Very well. But won’t you give me a reward?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Seventh Prince burst into laughter: “What do you want?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Gold? Cattle? Beauties?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Breaker shook his head. Finally, he clasped his hands in a formal bow: “Give me a suit of armor.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Seventh King said: “There are plenty of armors in the armory. Choose whatever you like, Master.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Po Jun looked at the Seventh King and smiled faintly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I want a General-grade Tie Futu armor.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Seventh King’s smile froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stared fixedly at the strategist whose words had ignited a flame of chaos in his heart, and inexplicably recalled that heavy battle halberd—the Tie Futu full plate, the heaviest armor in the world—and wondered what kind of monster would emerge if paired with such a halberd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having already agreed to the previous demand, the Seventh King yielded quickly this time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Fine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>………………\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Jiangnan, upon seeing the imperial seal, Si Ming completely abandoned his dignity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a moment of stillness,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>he activated the Qi-Reading Technique, and the residual royal aura surged violently into his vision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a thunderous crash!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Si Ming’s eyes went black and he toppled over—yet he instantly sat upright again. Li Guanyi was too stunned to react as the old man appeared beside him, gripping Li Guanyi’s hand, staring fixedly at the seal, crying out: “Golden seal, tiger-shaped knob—I see script from Tuyuhun behind it...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“‘Crossing the Western Regions’!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is the Tuyuhun king’s seal—the one forged by the overlord who swept through the thirty-six Western Regions, melting down the royal seals of all thirty-six tribes to cast it. When this seal was made, he executed the other thirty-five tribal kings and used their blood to consecrate the furnace.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The fire that day burned crimson.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You, you...!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is what you called ‘a little thing’?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man stared at him. Li Guanyi grinned and said: “I don’t know how to explain it to you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It wasn’t me who did it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Guanyi tried to explain it wasn’t his achievement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the old man didn’t believe him—he widened his eyes and stared at the letter in Li Guanyi’s hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thanks to Brother Lai’s strategy, my valor.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Killing the king and seizing the throne—this seal is the gift.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man pointed at the letter, his face clearly saying: “You think I’ll believe you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Killing the king and seizing the throne, is it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Unrelated to you, but you’re giving me the seal, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Guanyi also looked at the rest of the letter, which described how a youth from ten thousand miles away led elite cavalry to the royal capital, finding the city lit by torches and the palace in constant revelry. The second prince deemed direct assault unwise, so he resorted to deception again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He feigned a massive army approaching, stirring up chaos. As the world shifted, the stars dimmed—the Tuyuhun’s national fortune was indeed waning. The drunken Tuyuhun king panicked, mounted his horse, and fled from the capital.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even then, he took along a seductive beauty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The youth, riding a steed infused with Qilin blood, loosed a warbow arrow that felled the Tuyuhun king.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Afterwards, “[He] seized all craftsmen, scholars, armors, grain supplies, and cartographic maps.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“[What he couldn’t carry, he burned.]”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“[This item holds little use for me—only for you to play with.]”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man studied the letter, piecing together the full story.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One youth had devised the strategy; the other had ridden forth with sword and bow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What truly ended a nation’s destiny?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From a worldly view, it was the destruction of cities; from a lineage view, it was the killing of kings, the seizure of the seal—erasing any possibility of revival.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, Si Ming suddenly realized something almost absurd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the surface, the one who destroyed Tuyuhun was the world’s greatest general, Yuwen Lie.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, it was these two youths, together no older than thirty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Guanyi stared at the seal, gripping it, lifting his head—he could now more vividly feel the shimmering light of the White Tiger’s Seven Mansions. He turned to the old man beside him, wanting to ask many questions, but finally only extended his palm, flat and open, the small seal resting gently upon it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This thing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is it enough?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Si Ming: “…………”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>?? The AI image generation still looks too naive—keep pushing. What I really want is a clear, intuitive power map—I need the faction layout to be more visually distinct.\u003C\u002Fp>",2661,"2026-06-20T19:20:33.127Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","9626da820a46dfbd9119db8addd3195dd5dd3ea6b5312826633d05857b9b5077","the-peace-decree-chapter-76","the-peace-decree-chapter-74",593,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-peace-decree-cover.jpg"]