Zhang San, please behave yourself!-Chapter 823 - 759: Former Che Shi Nation, Destroyed!

Clang——

As the gates of the Former Che Shi Nation were opened, the king hurriedly rushed in with hundreds of soldiers.

The first thing he did was to close the gates.

The Former Che Shi Nation, although one of the Thirty-Six Nations of the Western Regions, was essentially just a city-state, controlling a decent amount of surrounding land and villages on it.

But among the Thirty-Six Nations, it was only considered middle-tier.

In this battle, the king personally led six thousand troops, aggressively charging from the west to the east.

And now, they return in utter defeat, with only over six hundred people by his side.

The rest either died in the Battle of Julong Pass or were captured by the Sui Army on their way.

At this moment, seeing the gates finally closed, the king heaved a sigh of relief and led his soldiers towards his palace.

Upon hearing the news of the king’s return, all the citizens rushed out.

After all, these six thousand soldiers were not just soldiers of the Former Che Shi Nation.

They were husbands, fathers, and sons.

However, when the citizens gathered on the large square before the palace, waiting for their husbands, fathers, and sons to return,

they found that out of the once gallant army of six thousand, only over six hundred had returned.

Many would never see their family members again.

The king, having suffered such a massive defeat, was already in a state of irritation.

Moreover, being chased all the way back, he was in deep misery.

Finally returning with great difficulty, even before entering his palace, he heard his people weeping in front of it.

Annoying!

I’m not dead yet!

"Why are you crying? I’m still alive, aren’t I?"

The king shouted angrily at all the citizens present.

Instantly, many who were wailing loudly were so frightened they dared not make a sound.

But while adults could control their emotions, some children truly couldn’t.

Despite some adults quickly covering their children’s mouths to stop them from crying, crying is the most primal sound and emotion of humans; how could it be so easily controlled?

After the king’s roar, he heard someone still crying, immediately took off his longbow, drew it, and aimed an arrow towards the crowd.

The frightened citizens all knelt down at once.

Yet, at this moment, a young man, about seventeen or eighteen, stood his ground and did not kneel.

He was originally an orphan, adopted by an old soldier.

In this battle, the old soldier did not return.

"Aren’t you our king? Shouldn’t you lead the soldiers to expand our territory and make us more prosperous? But why? Out of six thousand soldiers, only these people returned? Where is my father? Where are their husbands? Where are those soldiers who were loyal to you? Where did they go?"

"Dead! All dead!"

The king roared at the young man, releasing an arrow.

But after such a long journey and panic, the king’s hand was trembling while shooting.

And the powerless arrow was easily caught by the young man with a raised hand.

Seeing this, everyone was shocked.

Especially the king, seeing his arrow caught by the young man, instantly felt a great challenge to his dignity and authority.

"What do you want to do? You all belong to me! I can do whatever I want! If they’re dead, they’re dead! What? Do you want to rebel?"

Enraged, the king of Former Che Shi Nation glared at the young man with blood-red eyes and roared.

The young man raised the arrow in his hand, shouting to all those who were kneeling around: "We are not yours! We belong to ourselves! Since you don’t treat us as humans, why should we listen to you, why support you as king?"

Hearing this, the king couldn’t help but laugh.

"Support me as king? Hahaha... Was it you who supported me? My father was the king! My grandfather was the king too! The entire Former Che Shi Nation belongs to me! All mine! If I want you to live, you live! If I want you to die, you die!"

As the king spoke, he raised his trembling hand to draw the bow again, while the young man gripped the arrow tightly in his hand, shouting to everyone around: "What need is there for such a king to exist? Even if a dog were to sit on the throne in the palace, what would be the difference? In fact... even I could do it!"

The moment these words were spoken, the king was not just furious, but even more terrified.

Because at that moment, he saw the angry hatred and venomous murderous intent in many people’s eyes.

Are they... really intending to rebel?

Just then, a familiar, yet terrifying voice to the king came from outside the city gates.

"I hope everyone leaves the life of this dog’s king to me!"

Boom——

As those words echoed, a powerful Sword Qi blasted the city gates apart.

In the next moment, a large cavalry force charged in from outside the gates.

The king was greatly alarmed, immediately shouting: "Stop them! Stop them!"

However, the remaining six hundred soldiers were either injured or had already been terrified by the Sui Army.

At that moment, seeing the armor of the Sui Army, many soldiers didn’t even have the courage to pick up their weapons.

Many soldiers could only grip their shields tightly to protect themselves or retreat behind others.

Zhang San led his troops, facing no obstacles along the way.

There was even a weird feeling of being welcomed by the masses and soldiers of the Former Che Shi Nation.

Zhang San led his men to the vicinity of the palace square of the Former Che Shi Nation.

The soldiers nearby immediately made way for Zhang San and his party.

Zhang San and his men walked right in.

Mounted on his horse, Zhang San glanced at the king holding a bow and arrow, then placed his hand on the hilt of the sword at his waist.

Just this small action made the king so frightened that he immediately dropped the bow and arrow in his hands to the ground.

If it weren’t for his people watching, the king might have raised his hands immediately.

"Are you the king of the Former Che Shi Nation?"

Zhang San asked the king, knowingly.

The king, remembering he was a ruler of a nation, decided to put on a strong front.

He immediately straightened his back, nodded solemnly, and said.

"Correct! I am the king of the Former Che Shi Nation!"

Zhang San frowned slightly, wondering why this man was still posturing at this point.

"I am the Duke Beyond the Law of the Great Sui, the Duzhi Military Envoy of the Divine Martial Army. This time, I assist General Li of Julong Pass along Longyou Road in battle. I now demand you lead the entire Former Che Shi Nation to surrender to the Great Sui. Become our vassal, pay tribute, and submit letters of surrender!"

Upon hearing this, the king was taken aback, then retorted, "This time, the Thirty-Six Nations joined forces to attack your Great Sui. Although our Former Che Shi Nation is indeed not your match, why must we submit letters of surrender?"

After all, for the Former Che Shi Nation, however weak we are, we remain an independent country. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

But once we surrender to the Great Sui, I will no longer be a sovereign king but a minister under the Great Sui.

By then, what will my subjects think of me?

What will the other kings think of me?

Zhang San sneered at the king.

"Rest assured, not only will your Former Che Shi Nation submit letters of surrender, but the Thirty-Six Nations of the Western Regions will also not be an exception! This time, you unfoundedly mobilized troops to invade us. If our Great Sui doesn’t give you a lesson, I fear anyone will want to trample our lands in the future!"

"No way!"

Zhang San thought his threat was already quite sufficient, yet unexpectedly, the king of the Former Che Shi Nation shouted in refusal.

Zhang San was shocked!

With your mere six hundred men, even ten men behind me could annihilate you all!

Where did you find the courage to say no!

"If other nations submit, only then will I submit! Otherwise, I will not!"

The king of the Former Che Shi Nation was arrogant, a demeanor suggesting no one could make him submit.

Zhang San couldn’t help but let out a cold laugh.

"Do you still think you have the right to negotiate?"

With those words, Zhang San drew the Imperial Sword from his waist.

With a swoosh.

The long sword pierced through the heart of the king of the Former Che Shi Nation.

The king fell to the ground with a thud, the Qi and fate of the nation rapidly absorbed by the Imperial Sword.

In an instant, the light vanished from his eyes.

At the same time, in the royal city of the Former Che Shi Nation, a palace that stood for hundreds of years collapsed with a roar.

The monarchy, with its centuries-long tradition, ended at this moment.

Zhang San raised his hand, sheathed the Imperial Sword back into its scabbard, and glanced over at the crowd with faces full of horror.

"Who is the new king?"

At that moment, lots of people instinctively stepped back.

Yet at this time, a seventeen or eighteen-year-old youth who had stepped forward earlier took a step forward again.

"If no one else is willing to step up, then I shall be the new king!"

Zhang San glanced at the youth.

"Are you willing to submit the letters of surrender as the new king, and pay annual tribute and offer allegiance to our Great Sui?"

The youth looked up at Zhang San on his black warhorse and asked, "Can you refrain from looting my country?"

"Of course! This war was because your Former Che Shi Nation attacked our Great Sui without reason. Our Great Sui had no intention of waging war! Moreover, when you pay tribute to us, if other nations within the Thirty-Six Nations of the Western Regions bully you, our Great Sui can uphold justice for you!"

"Is it really so?"

"It truly is so."

Hearing this, the youth knelt on one knee towards Zhang San and declared loudly, "I, Ding Shuyue, the new king of the Former Che Shi Nation, am willing to surrender to the Great Sui!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang San curiously asked, "Your name is Ding Shuyue?"

Ding Shuyue was stunned and asked in return, "General, do you know me?"

"Nothing, just feels unusual. It’s fine, it’s fine. Also, since there’s a new king, the name of the Former Che Shi Nation should also change. From now on, this place will be called the ’Latter Che Shi Nation’!"

Ding Shuyue awkwardly said, "General of the Great Sui! About one hundred and fifty miles west from here lies the Latter Che Shi Nation. Using the same name for our two nations might be..."

Zhang San chuckled lightly.

"No problem. The Latter Che Shi Nation will soon cease to exist."