The World Online

The End of an Era

5th month, 22nd day, imperial capital.

“Great Zhou wants to negotiate?” Ouyang Shuo asked.

“Yes,” replied Honglu Temple head Zhang Yi.

Di Chen did not contact Ouyang Shuo through the communication compass like Xiong Ba and Chun Shenjun. Instead, he opted to use proper diplomatic means.

“Then let’s discuss!” Ouyang Shuo said expressionlessly.

Zhang Yi asked carefully, “Your majesty, do you have any instructions?”

“Let Great Zhou surrender without any conditions.”

“This…”

Zhang Yi’s expression showed the difficulty of the matter. How was this a negotiation? It was more of a forced surrender. How could they negotiate?

“That’s all!” Ouyang Shuo did not say anything more.

“Yes, my emperor!”

Zhang Yi helplessly bid farewell, thinking about how to complete this tough job.

…

The next day, Handan City.

Within the Imperial Reading Room, Di Chen’s face turned red as he asked with uncertainty, “He really said that?”

“Yes.”

Juedai Fenghua was also really surprised. Logically speaking, since Ouyang Shuo could accept Chun Shenjun, he should also be able to accept Di Chen’s submission. Who would have expected him to reject it so decisively?

Di Chen gritted his teeth, “The old fox is determined to kill me.”

“Then what are you prepared to do?”

Di Chen kept silent. He was angry, but that was all he could do. Apart from that, there was no other method. “If he forces me, at most, I’ll fight to the death.” Di Chen’s face was filled with rage and craziness.

Juedai Fenghua shook her head and said, “Do not be rash. If you go all out, nothing good will come of that.”

“…”

Di Chen felt totally at a loss. Obviously, he understood that, but apart from fighting to the death, what other choice did he have? Going all out would be to defend the last shred of honor of the family.

Thinking back to how he had worked so hard for six years to fall at such a stage in the end, Di Chen felt his heart break apart.

“So what should I do?”

Fenghua Juedai thought about it for a while and asked in an uncertain tone, “Is he testing us?”

“Test? Is there a need? He is just determined to humiliate me.”

“I do not think so.”

Maybe because she was not involved in all this, but Juedai Fenghua saw things more thoroughly and clearly than Di Chen. Di Chen’s tantrum all the more confirmed her judgment as she said, “With his current position, he should not be so bored as to play with the lives of millions of soldiers just to teach you a lesson.”

With the strength of the Great Zhou palace guards, if both sides went all out, the Great Xia Army would also suffer heavy casualties.

“Really?”

Di Chen’s face was filled with self-mockery. He felt like he did not even have the ability to make Ouyang Shuo angry and take revenge.

Juedai Fenghua opened her mouth to say something but swallowed it. The current Di Chen did not need someone to console him, much less sympathy. Instead, she said, “I guess he wants us to unconditionally surrender to test us.”

Di Chen’s eyes focused, seriously contemplating Juedai Fenghua’s words before he said, “You mean he still has worries about us and wants to use this method to crush our last bit of hope?”

Juedai Fenghua nodded. A clearheaded Di Chen was still quite exceptional.

“Only that makes sense. With our six years of fighting, it’s normal that he does not trust us.” Fenghua Juedai analyzed.

“Haha.” Di Chen laughed, “So it means the old fox still treats me as an opponent.”

“Yes.”

Think about it, if China did not have Di Chen or the Yanhuang Alliance, Great Xia might have been able to reach such a step, but they would not be so quick and determined.

The two of them grinded and trained up one another. However, the regretful thing was that there could only be one victor.

Di Chen move toward the window once more. He stood there for a while before making up his mind. “Since that’s the case, let’s give him what he wants. I agree to their conditions!”

Juedai Fenghua nodded. A look of sadness appeared in her eyes for the first time.

“Also, tell him that I’ll personally hand over the seal.”

“This…”

Juedai Fenghua was really surprised and said bitterly, “You do not have to do that.”

Anyone could see how painful of a decision it was for Di Chen to make such a choice. There was nothing as disappointing as bowing his head to an opponent of six years.

Di Chen waved his hand and said, “You do not have to try and convince me otherwise. I’ve made my mind up. Since this is what he wants, I’ll give him face.”

“Treat this as the last thing I’ll do for the family!”

You lived and died as a part of the family.

Even at such a stage, Di Chen, who was the family representative, had to take responsibility. This was the fate of an aristocratic family child, and he could not avoid it.

“I’ll discuss with them.”

Juedai Fenghua held in her tears as she turned around and left.

…

5th month, 25th day, Great Zhou surrendered unconditionally to Great Xia.

The palace guards that were still fighting surrendered to the Great Xia Army and volunteered to accept reorganization.

The moment the news spread out, the entirety of China fell silent.

Be it the Great Xia players or the Great Zhou players, neither made a sound and no one mocked them. They only silently paid attention to the passing of an era.

At that moment, Xiong Ba in Minnan, Zhan Lang in Ecuador, and Chun Shenjun in Ludong stopped what they were doing and looked toward the north with really complicated expressions.

Also Wandering Magic, Sha Pojun…

To them, the Great Zhou Dynasty was a special memory. It was where their dreams had started, and it was where their dreams had ended.

Ironically, they had played a part in the process of ending Great Zhou.

Like in Xiong Ba’s case. When he decided to submit to Great Xia, he had predicted that such a day would come. However, when that day eventually arrived, he did not feel happy. Instead, he only felt a sense of disappointment and sadness that would not fade away.

Not only them, but even Bai Hua, Feng Qiuhuang, Gong Chengshi, Wufu, and the others had complicated emotions. Although they were not Lords anymore, as members of the Shanhai Alliance who fought against the Yanhuang Alliance, they gave them their respect.

Respecting the opponent was the same as respecting oneself.

Along with Great Zhou surrendering, the battle between the two alliances finally came to an end.

Now, the two alliances were a thing of the past. In China, only a single territory remained, and its name was Great Xia, their common home.

“I knew that there would be such a day, but I did not expect it to come so fast.” Bai Hua was filled with emotions.

Bai Hua thought back to the 1st year of Gaia. Back then, she was invited by Ouyang Shuo to discuss the Battle of Zhuolu. It was the first alliance meeting.

At that time, the Yanhuang Alliance was bearing down on their heads.

“It was also the 5th month. 5th month, 13th day, how coincidental.” Bai Hua remembered it like it was fresh in her mind.

At that time, Consonance Town had found Shanhai City to form an alliance. It was only because they were both in the same region, so they wanted to band together. Who would have expected them to receive so much support?

It was from that day onward that a number of them started a journey to the top with Ouyang Shuo, defeating the Yanhuang Alliance time after time in the Battle Map and expanding in the wilderness.

Finally, Great Zhou surrendered unconditionally to Great Xia today.

History was like a circle. No one could predict its end, but it was right in front of your eyes.

They treated Ouyang Shuo as an alliance leader and a friend. Who would have known that he would create such a huge legacy in China?

Six years of time seemed like it was just yesterday.

The once glorious Six Tyrants of Handan could only join Great Xia, either helping Ouyang Shuo take charge of a region or becoming a part of the crowd. They were not as arrogant as before and were now struggling to survive.

On the contrary, members of the Shanhai Alliance, apart from Xunlong Dianxue, who fell halfway, all became giants of a region. Bai Hua reached heights that she never could have imagined.

Six years ago, maybe even three years ago, who would have imagined all this?

One had to say that Ouyang Shuo was truly someone who creates miracles, and Great Xia was the land of miracles. On this vast land, miracles were happening at every moment.

As the sun set, that last bit of past glory totally disappeared into the horizon.

“The sun will continue to rise tomorrow, will it not?”

Bai Hua looked out at the horizon before turning around back to her seat. As the Nanjiang Governor-General, she had a heavy burden on her shoulders; she could not afford to slack off.

Especially after what happened to Cao Can, which added a dark cloud to her grand journey.

Bai Hua did not want to argue and did not want to help plead for him since he deserve it. Who knows whether his majesty would have any thoughts about her from this matter.