79: Chapter 79 The Last Day Before the Fall of the Kingdom

[Simulation Year 11, Winter, the entire Great Qi Empire has fallen.]

[This year, you sent envoys to the Great Yan Empire, gifting shark pearls to show a desire for peace, while simultaneously sending Qiu Yuntian and others to Great Qi to search for those Martial Emperors who had not yet fallen.]

[Simulation Year 12, Summer, the Great Qi Empire officially fell, and Great Qi ceased to exist.]

[Simulation Year 13, with the demise of the last resistance forces, the entire territory of the Great Qi Empire became part of the Great Yan Empire, doubling its territory; by this point, its land mass was equivalent to 68 Shanhai Principalities.]

[Simulation Year 14, Spring, the Great Yan Empire launched a war against the Jiuyou Principality; Jiuyou was destroyed, and its entire territory was annexed by the Great Yan Empire; by this point, the Great Yan Empire's territory was equivalent to 69.3 Shanhai Principalities.]

[Simulation Year 14, Summer, the Great Yan Empire launched a war against the Chixiao Principality; Chixiao was destroyed, and its entire territory was annexed by the Great Yan Empire; by this point, the Great Yan Empire's territory was equivalent to 70 Shanhai Principalities.]

[Simulation Year 14, Autumn, the Great Yan Empire launched a full-scale invasion of the Shanhai Principality...]

Inside Xunying Pavilion.

Dressed in white, Su Fan gazed at the map alongside the two Martial Emperor powerhouses from Great Qi and Qiu Yuntian, a self-deprecating bitter smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "What was destined to come has finally arrived..."

Qiu Yuntian cupped his hands and said, "Young Master, you have operated for many years, planning and strategizing with all your might. If our principality falls one day, it is simply because the Great Yan Empire is too powerful; it can never be blamed on you!"

The Martial Emperor powerhouse from Great Qi, who stood nine feet tall with red beard, green hair, and colorful eyes, also cupped his hands and said, "Young Master's wisdom is unparalleled. You have exhausted your heart and blood, sparing no effort to protect the principality. Even Great Qi could not resist the Great Yan Empire for several years, yet under your meticulous operation, the Shanhai Principality has managed to hold out for over a decade. This is truly remarkable!"

His nickname was the Blood Fiend Mad Owl. As for his original name, no one knew it anymore, not even he himself remembered it.

The other, nicknamed the "Blood Fiend Dark Owl," was also a nine-foot-tall Martial Emperor with white hair, black beard, and white eyes with only a hint of black. He also cupped his hands and said, "My opinion is the same as Mad Owl's!"

The Blood Fiend Mad Owl glared at him. "Stop copying everything I say!"

The Blood Fiend Dark Owl turned his head away and muttered, "You're just better at speaking..."

Watching these two Martial Emperor big shots bicker, Qiu Yuntian, a Martial King, couldn't help but wonder how these two unreliable old fellows had actually managed to Cultivate to the Martial Emperor Realm.

Su Fan's attention was not on these trivial details. Instead, his gaze was fixed intently on the location of the Great Yan Empire's Fengqi Pavilion headquarters, contemplating whether to deliver a final blow.

Currently, the Emperor Realm and Saint Realm experts of the Great Yan Empire were all out on campaigns. Only four Martial Emperors remained at Fengqi Pavilion to guard the Phoenix Vein, and they had to be responsible for guarding four different entrances. This provided him with an opportunity.

After deep contemplation, Su Fan finally made up his mind. He slammed a fist onto the map and looked at the Blood Fiend Duo and Qiu Yuntian with a deep gaze. "The three of you, do you dare to pull off something big!?"

"Young Master, pray tell?" the Blood Fiend Duo asked respectfully.

As for Qiu Yuntian, he seemed to have long known about Young Master's plan; his expression remained calm, and he simply watched the Blood Fiend Duo.

Su Fan told the Blood Fiend Duo about the plan to occupy the Phoenix Vein.

The Blood Fiend Mad Owl laughed heartily. "You attack my territory, I occupy your lair; that's a good idea!"

After laughing for a moment, he sighed. "Why didn't we in Great Qi think of that back then? Otherwise, we wouldn't have fallen..."

The Blood Fiend Dark Owl chuckled along for a moment, then stopped abruptly and added, "My opinion is the same as Mad Owl's!"

Mad Owl slammed the table. "Can you stop copying everything I do!?"

Dark Owl pouted. "It's the same thing, isn't it!"

Qiu Yuntian looked at the two and didn't know what to say.

Did all big shots have some weird quirks? Was being childish considered a quirk?

Su Fan had someone bring a small box. As soon as it was opened, it emitted a light so bright it was almost blinding. The box was filled with phoenix spirit amber that looked like crystals.

"This is... phoenix spirit amber? Used to nourish the Phoenix Vein?" The Blood Fiend Duo's eyes widened. They hadn't expected Young Master to be able to obtain such things, let alone an entire box full of them.

This stuff was like a flame; even if the Phoenix Vein was extinguished, it could be reignited with this.

"Carry this box of phoenix spirit amber with you; you will definitely need it." Saying this, Su Fan handed the box of phoenix spirit amber to Qiu Yuntian.

Mad Owl laughed. "Good, good, good! Let this little friend Qiu be the mission leader; I have no objections!"

Dark Owl followed up, "Mad Owl has no objections, so I have no objections either!"

Mad Owl glared at Dark Owl again. "You idiot! Can you stop copying everything I do!?"

Dark Owl glared back at him. "You idiot! Can you stop copying everything I do!?"

Mad Owl: "I clearly said that first!"

Dark Owl: "I clearly said that first!"

Mad Owl: "You big fool!"

Dark Owl: "You big fool!"

"..."

Qiu Yuntian watched the bickering duo, his mind going numb.

After giving him some details, Su Fan handed him the troop deployment talisman and the Grand Commander's token, then went to the royal palace.

In the royal palace, faced with the Great Yan Empire's total military pressure, Crown Prince Qi Xiaobai had been so worried for days that he couldn't eat or sleep. Seeing his brother Su Fan arrive, he finally let out a long sigh and gripped Su Fan's hand tightly. "Brother! You've finally come! Quickly, tell me, what should I do?"

Su Fan had long since made arrangements for the retreat route.

He immediately took out the map, pointed to the route already drawn on it, and said to Crown Prince Qi Xiaobai, "Starting tomorrow, you will take the Queen Dowager, the Queen, the Crown Prince, your sister-in-law Yun Zhu and others, along with the Imperial Guard and the elite troops from each battalion, and retreat along this route. First, go to the Penglai Islands, then head south to this vast archipelago. Occupy this small nation, establish your country there, and expand; you can build a millennium foundation..."

Crown Prince Qi Xiaobai was slightly stunned, but he said anxiously, "Brother! But we don't have enough warships... And those generals won't be willing to follow me south; their families are all here..."

Su Fan smiled slightly and said, "I have long since prepared for this. A thousand warships have already been built; I just hadn't told any of you. As for those key generals, I have already sent people to persuade them, and they have all agreed to do this."

"Brother!!!" Crown Prince Qi Xiaobai excitedly hugged Su Fan and slapped his back hard. "You really are my savior!!!"

Su Fan couldn't quite handle it and said, "Qi Xiaobai, don't use so much strength!"

"Good, good, good! I'll go tell the Queen Mother about your plan right now!"

Crown Prince Qi Xiaobai excitedly headed to the Queen Dowager's palace.

Su Fan returned to his residence in Xunying Pavilion, explained the situation to Yun Zhu, and told her to retreat with the main force tomorrow.

Yun Zhu, who was knitting winter clothes for her husband, was slightly stunned upon hearing this and accidentally let the needle prick her finger...

Su Fan sucked on her finger, spat out the blood, and found gauze to bandage it for her.

"Husband... what about you?" Yun Zhu's eyes turned red, and tears were about to fall uncontrollably.

Hearing this, Su Fan felt moved. He truly hadn't expected that after fourteen years of simulation, the person who cared for him the most would be this woman who had been sent to him as a concubine, treated like a pawn.

Unable to help himself, he hugged Yun Zhu and stroked her head. "My mission is not yet complete; I must stay..."

"Husband, I will stay with you."

"No, Yun Zhu, you must go."

"Husband..." Yun Zhu sobbed, holding her husband tightly.

"The Queen Dowager has arrived!!!" As a loud shout came from outside the door, Jiang Ji had already walked in.

Seeing Su Fan and Yun Zhu in a tight embrace, she couldn't help but raise an eyebrow and said, "Yun Zhu, you may leave first..."

Yun Zhu, with tear-stained cheeks, was about to retreat...

Su Fan grabbed her and turned to look at Jiang Ji. "Queen Dowager, Yun Zhu is my wife; she is no longer your maid."

Jiang Ji was stunned. She no longer paid attention to Yun Zhu and instead gazed into Su Fan's eyes. "Su Fan, has it really come to this point?"

Su Fan nodded and said, "At the earliest, three to five days; at the latest, seven to eight days, and our principality will fall completely..."

"Qi Xiaobai said you have made all the arrangements. Are you not coming with us?" Jiang Ji gazed at Su Fan, her eyes also slightly red.

Yun Zhu stood to the side, weeping softly.

Su Fan looked at Jiang Ji, his expression darkening slightly. "I cannot leave. If the people find out that even I, Young Master, have left, then you won't be able to escape either. To pacify the people, I must stay. Furthermore, I must stay to negotiate terms with the Great Yan Empire and secure benefits for the people..."

"But, if you... if you lose your life, what should I do... You know, I cannot live without you..."

Ignoring Yun Zhu's presence, Jiang Ji pulled Su Fan directly into her arms and choked out, "You know, nothing else is important to me anymore. Only you and Qi Xiaobai are my lifeblood. If you die, I will suffer for the rest of my life..."

At this moment, Yun Zhu suddenly knelt and kowtowed to Jiang Ji, crying, "Queen Dowager! Please... my husband is mine... please... give him back to me... I am willing to die with him... I want to be with him for all eternity..."

Jiang Ji was stunned. She hadn't expected Yun Zhu to love Su Fan to this extent...

Su Fan was also moved by Yun Zhu's words. He pushed Jiang Ji away, gently hugged Yun Zhu, and tears flowed uncontrollably from his eyes as he reached out to wipe the tear stains from her face.

Jiang Ji fell to the ground, lost and dejected, laughing miserably. "Good, good, good... I have truly lifted a rock only to drop it on my own feet... Good, good, good... You two are in love... and I am superfluous..."

Then, she laughed crazily, as if she had gone mad, and stumbled out of Xunying Pavilion.

Even the eunuchs, palace maids, and guards following behind her were all dismissed by her shouts.

The next day, when Crown Prince Qi Xiaobai went to the Queen Dowager's palace to pick her up, he received the terrible news that the Queen Dowager had gone missing...

Crown Prince Qi Xiaobai wailed, not understanding why this was happening. Seeing this, the officials, having no time to search for the Queen Dowager, dragged Crown Prince Qi Xiaobai away to flee south.

...

The evening before.

Su Fan rode a white horse, sitting in front, with Yun Zhu sitting behind him. Yun Zhu held him tightly, accompanying him through the streets, passing by the homes of ordinary people, and admiring the sunset with him...

Mountains, streams, the smoke of cooking fires...

Small bridges, ancient trees, twilight crows...

The sunset light stretched their shadows long, very long...