Chapter 1308: First Volume, Chapter 1308: Changing the Dynasty and Replacing the Era Name

First Volume, Chapter 1308: Changing the Dynasty and Replacing the Era Name

Qin Feng no longer held back, for he had seen reality clearly: unless he replaced the Liang Emperor, the war would continue endlessly.

Over the next month, Qin Feng devoted himself solely to one task: eliminating all enemies within his territory.

All who surrendered were taken into custody; those who resisted to the last were eliminated without mercy.

After resolving the internal threats, Qin Feng began repairing the people's livelihood damaged by war.

Civilians who had fled for safety gradually returned to their homes.

To help civilians restore their lives as quickly as possible, Qin Feng dispatched large numbers of officials and troops to aid in rebuilding homes, even providing direct material support.

Through Qin Feng's relentless efforts, the war-torn people's livelihood of the Northern Border recovered at an astonishing speed.

In contrast, the Shedynasty was in chaos.

The news of Zhao Yuxiong's military death had long reached Jingdu; Zhao Li, a white-haired elder burying his black-haired son, was heartbroken and fell ill, refusing to attend court.

With Zhao Li's support gone, the Liang Emperor's position naturally became surrounded by enemies.

To avoid being forced into abdication by his ministers, the Liang Emperor had not attended court for half a month, desperately trying to reverse his decline—but to no avail.

Chen Zheng had a different plan.

He knew Qin Feng had no intention of letting Li Yong inherit the Imperial Throne, yet Chen Zheng would never allow the crown prince Li Zhang to ascend and corrupt the ancestral order.

So Chen Zheng decided to cut through the chaos with a swift blade: he would immediately install Li Yong as emperor, making the deed irreversible.

Chen Zheng allied with a group of court officials and the Imperial Guard, surrounding the palace at night, then personally went to the Liang Emperor's residence and demanded he immediately abdicate.

Knowing escape was impossible, the Liang Emperor stepped out of his bedchamber under the protection of Palace Guards.

Facing the assembled ministers and the menacing Imperial Guard, the Liang Emperor felt nothing but bitter regret and resentment at his current plight.

He stared at Chen Zheng and whispered sharply: "Chen Zheng, you pride yourself as a pure and upright minister—how could you commit such a forced palace coup? I misjudged you utterly."

Facing the Liang Emperor's rebuke, Chen Zheng showed not the slightest hesitation.

Instead, Chen Zheng replied solemnly: "The tide has turned. Yet you still refuse to abdicate—do you truly wish to wait until fire consumes the entire Shedynasty?"

"Zhao Yuxiong has died for his country. This war is not merely a defeat on the Front Line—logistics have been shattered, and our Shedynasty has suffered a mortal blow to its BuddingSpirit."

"And Qin Feng's army draws ever closer to Jingdu."

"Yet you hide within the palace, refusing to face reality. Since you cannot make a decision, I must bear this slanderous name myself."

"I beg Your Majesty to abdicate and let the Seventh Prince inherit the Imperial Throne."

The Liang Emperor exhaled deeply. He could pass the throne to Li Yong—but would Qin Feng agree?

Qin Feng's army was advancing toward Jingdu; if they learned Li Yong had inherited the throne, Qin Feng's nature would drive him to go all the way—storming Jingdu and dragging Li Yong from the throne.

After all, Qin Feng would not tolerate a second Liang Emperor.

"Chen Zheng, you are a capable official—but you are too naive."

"My feud with Qin Feng is not personal—it is an irreconcilable conflict between imperial authority and autonomy."

"No matter who sat upon the throne, none would tolerate a man like Qin Feng."

"Don't you know the saying: 'Under one's own bed, no stranger may sleep?'"

The Liang Emperor must answer for the entire imperial clan. If he did not act against Qin Feng, Qin Feng's power would only grow, until imperial authority was hollowed out.

He could not leave such a great hidden danger for his descendants.

"Qin Feng wants Li Zhang to inherit the throne precisely because of their bond—then the Northern Border will become fully autonomous, nominally still part of the Shedynasty, but in truth, already severed."

"Is this what you truly desire?"

In response to the Liang Emperor's question, Chen Zheng's reply remained firm and resolute.

"That is merely Your Majesty's self-delusion. Had you not moved against the Qin Family, how could Qin Feng have stood against the Shedynasty?"

"Qin Feng has always regarded himself as a subject—it was Your Majesty who drove him step by step to become the King of the Northern Border."

The Liang Emperor drew a deep breath: "Even if it is my fault, what does it matter now?"

"Installing Li Yong is merely drinking poison to quench thirst."

"Unless you also support Li Zhang's ascension, when Qin Feng returns to Jingdu, he will not thank you—he will see you as an enemy."

Chen Zheng clenched his teeth: "If that day comes, I accept it."

Hearing this, the Liang Emperor threw back his head and laughed loudly: "Hahahaha! You are indeed carefree—but you are gambling with the entire imperial clan."

"The scholars have ruined the state—there is no truth more accurate."

"Had you not been indecisive, constantly fearful, the war on the Front Line might not have ended in such utter defeat."

"Had you committed fully, even if the North Expedition failed, Qin Feng's army would never have reached Jingdu. Along the way, he recruited soldiers and gathered supplies—many rose in response. This was due not only to Qin Feng's personal prestige, but to your inaction."

Chen Zheng did not deny he had not fought Qin Feng with full strength—but this war had violated everyone's will from the start.

Now that it had come to this, Chen Zheng had no choice but to press forward.

"At this point, what use are your words, Your Majesty?"

"I beg Your Majesty to abdicate!"

The ministers who entered the palace with Chen Zheng all knelt and bowed, chanting in unison: "We beg Your Majesty to Shan Rang."

Though the officials still knelt in apparent humility, they had given the Liang Emperor no choice—tonight, he must abdicate, whether he wished to or not.

Now, the Liang Emperor had only Palace Guards left beside him—he was truly alone.

Under the ministers' pressure, the Liang Emperor gazed toward the Northern Border and let out a bitter smile: "Qin Feng, I have finally lost to you."

…

Two months later, the two ten-thousand-strong cavalry force Qin Feng had dispatched had grown into a forty-thousand-strong army—doubled in size.

Rebels among the people and troops across the land kept joining, and the force continued to swell.

Though numerous garrison troops still lined the path to Jingdu, not a single garrison dared to block Qin Feng's advance.

Even Zhao Zhenhai had arrived, taking Command Authority and leading the army straight toward Jingdu.

When the army reached Fuyun County, a Black Lieutenant had been waiting for a long time and quickly sent a messenger to arrive before Zhao Zhenhai.

"General, your servant has been sent by the new Monarch to welcome Prince Qin's army."

Zhao Zhenhai had long known that the Liang Emperor had abdicated, and that Seventh Prince Li Yong had inherited the Imperial Throne and become the new Monarch of Shedynasty.