Chapter 392

Wei Xi Yuan suddenly took a long, deep breath, then slowly exhaled.

All the complex emotions on his face gradually faded, leaving only calm.

He looked at Jiang Jinshi, repeating his previous words, but his tone was now different:

"Jiang Jinshi, give me…… a sword."

This time, his gaze was clear, without resentment, without reluctance, only a resolute acceptance that all was over.

Knowing the truth behind it, his failed and absurd life seemed to have found a twisted balance.

As a pawn in life, at least…… when it ends, he should choose the manner himself.

Jiang Jinshi looked into his eyes, after a moment nodded again: "Can."

The attendant understood, took the long sword and walked to Wei Xi Yuan, glanced at Jiang Jinshiyi, after receiving affirmation, swung the blade and cut the ox-tendon rope binding Wei Xi Yuan's wrists.

The rope loosened, Wei Xi Yuan staggered a bit, moved his stiff, numb wrists.

Then, he solemnly received that long sword.

He took a deep breath, thumb against the guard, slowly drew the sword out a foot.

He did not act immediately, but raised his head, finally glancing at his elder brother Wei Xikang.

Wei Xikang was also looking at him with a complex expression!

Wei Xi Yuan suddenly called out to Wei Xikang: "Elder brother…… you see…… in the end, it was I…… who won once."

Wei Xikang's body trembled slightly, not understanding why.

"You…… are the Crown Prince, the heir apparent, but you ultimately…… did not become emperor."

He slowly said, "And I…… Wei Xi Yuan, sat on the dragon throne, wore the dragon robe, received the homage of officials, called myself 'Gu,' said 'Gua'…… although only for a few short years, although…… I made a mess of it."

Finally, Wei Xi Yuan stared at Wei Xikang for a moment, ignoring the divination calculation, "Elder brother…… take care!"

At the moment his words fell, Wei Xi Yuan violently drew the sword fully, both hands gripping the hilt, before anyone could react, decisively and without hesitation slashed horizontally across his neck!

"No!!!" Wei Xikang let out a roar, instinctively lunging forward, but was grabbed by Han Xiao beside him.

Wei Xi Yuan's body stiffened violently, then slowly fell backward.

The long sword "Clang—" slipped from his hand and fell to the ground, rolling a few times, staining with bright red.

The last emperor of the Da Qian dynasty, Wei Xi Yuan, committed suicide in Shuoning City, Beijiang.

Wei Xikang stared blankly at his brother's body rapidly losing life, the whole person completely stunned!

Jiang Jinshi quietly watched for a moment, then slowly rose to his feet.

He said nothing, merely nodding at Han Xiao.

Han Xiao understood, solemnly ordered: "Collect the corpse, temporarily inter it with the rites of the previous dynasty's emperor; a proper burial will be discussed later."

Now the Ming Army has not yet taken Chang'an, cannot place it in the imperial mausoleum, can only temporarily set it aside.

Immediately after, Han Xiao looked at the nearly collapsing Wei Xikang: "Mourn! Someone, help Mr. Wei down to rest."

Several attendants stepped forward, carefully supporting the barely able-to-walk Wei Xikang out.

From beginning to end, Wei Xikang never glanced at his brother's corpse again, perhaps because he dared not, or could not.

Jiang Jinshi walked to Wei Xi Yuan's corpse, lowered his head and glanced.

"Issue the order: announce the news of Wei Xi Yuan's death and the fall of Da Qian throughout Beijiang, and…… try to let Tongguan, Xiliang, and everyone under heaven know."

Jiang Jinshi hadn't forgotten that Luo Feng was still on the way to assault Chang'an, "According to the original plan, execute it immediately!"

Everyone's expression tightened, they replied in unison: "Yes, sir!"

Then Jiang Jinshi looked at Shen Mo: "Mr. Shen, I have done what I promised you!"

Back in Jiangnan, Jiang Jinshi had said the truth might not one day surface; now the truth is fully revealed, but for some people this truth is too heavy!

Shen Mo exhaled with a complex expression, then performed a subject's salute to Jiang Jinshi: "Thank you, my lord! Had I known the truth earlier…… why would I have worried so long?"

I thought it was a plot against him, but never imagined others' schemes were so vast; he was merely an innocent fish caught in the pond.

Jiang Jinshi patted Shen Mo's shoulder, then left the hall!

The news of Wei Xi Yuan's suicide and the fall of Da Qian spread in an extremely short time at astonishing speed in all directions.

However, limited by the communication methods of this era, for the vast territories and ever-changing battlefield, a deadly time lag still exists.

And Jiang Jinshi is exploiting this time lag: from the moment Wei Xi Yuan began a full-scale general offensive, Luo Feng had already set out with his troops, so by the time the Xiliang king receives the news, Luo Feng's side has at least already covered half the distance.

Luo Feng kept Jiang Jinshi's orders in mind: fast! concealed! at any cost, plant the Beijiang flag on Chang'an's walls before Xiliang reacts!

Thus along the way they rested little, avoiding all official roads, relay stations, and towns, traveling exclusively through remote river valleys, hills, and dense forests.

By day they chose concealed spots to rest and feed the horses; by night they pressed on under starlight and faint moonlight.

Wang Hou's elite vanguard scouted dozens of miles ahead, clearing possible checkpoints, dealing with occasional cavalry patrols, and correcting the route.

Furthermore, via trained carrier pigeons and preset relay points along the way, they continuously transmitted the latest updates gathered from the rear concerning Chang'an, Tongguan, and Xiliang, using the shortest code, to Luo Feng.

"General, the latest pigeon message: great victory at Shuoning, Wei Xi Yuan slain. In the Xiliang direction, no major movements for now." The attendant handed the translated slip to Luo Feng.

Luo Feng glanced at it by the campfire, then casually tossed the slip into the flames.

"Great! Our lord succeeded there! Those Xiliang folks are probably still figuring out how much Wei Xi Yuan's death benefits them! Pass the order: speed up! We must cross the Longmen Ford before Xiliang makes a decision and mobilizes troops!"

It can be said Luo Feng never doubted whether his Ming Army could defeat the Da Qian forces; his admiration for the Ming Army and Jiang Jinshi was etched into his bones.

When Luo Feng's troops had covered about a third of the route and were about to reach the prearranged secret Yellow River ford, the exact news of Wei Xi Yuan's death and the detailed outcome of the Shuoning battle finally arrived, delivered at six-hundred-li express speed, placed on the desk of the Xiliang king in Luoyang.

The news did not come from Shuoning, but was the result of a highly efficient multi-layered intelligence network that Xiliang had placed in Tongguan, Hedong, and even near Chang'an, after consolidation and analysis.

Although it was later than Beijiang's internal knowledge, it was still astonishingly swift.

Upon receiving the news, the Xiliang king immediately convened an emergency midnight military council.

After delivering that shocking report to the civil and military officials, everyone present had a grim expression.

"Wei Xi Yuan…… really died. Outside Shuoning City, the emperor personally led the campaign, the entire army was annihilated; after being captured…… he committed suicide in front of Jiang Jinshi."

Wei Wenlie spoke slowly, his voice tinged with a complex emotion: "Da Qian is finished. Completely finished."