Chapter 202: Extermination of Three Clans

The Barbarians breached the gateway to Dahuang Prefecture, and a million-strong army marched directly into its heart, sparking a fierce conflict that reshaped the war.

Subsequently.

In the Great Qin’s 383rd year, on the twenty-sixth day of the seventh month.

Great Zhou, who had always maintained a "live and let live" neutrality with Great Qin, suddenly mobilized its armies southward, invading Luo’an Prefecture. They swiftly captured several cities, inflicting heavy losses on the prefecture’s forces.

To counter the offensives from these two factions.

Great Qin initially dispatched eight hundred thousand Fire Scale Army troops to reinforce Dahuang Prefecture.

Later.

Another two million soldiers were sent: eight hundred thousand from the Azure Dragon Army, and one million two hundred thousand elite troops, a massive force heading towards Luo’an Prefecture.

The great war had erupted.

For two months.

Great Zhou intensified its attacks on Luo’an Prefecture. Fortunately, the Imperial Court’s reinforcements prevented the prefecture from falling into their hands.

At the same time.

The Barbarian side also increased their troop deployments.

During the Imperial Court session.

The Great Qin Holy Emperor, Gu Xuanji, maintained a solemn expression, and a palpable sense of murderous intent filled the hall.

Below.

"Your Majesty, half a month ago the Barbarians added one million two hundred thousand troops, combined with those that initially invaded Dahuang Prefecture and remain, the total force now numbers two million.

Although the Black Tiger Army and the Fire Scale Army are stationed in Dahuang Prefecture, they are under immense pressure.

According to the Heavenly Inspection Guard’s reports, the Barbarians show signs of further reinforcements. We need to take preemptive measures!"

Dongfang Zhao’s look was calm as he reported on the front-line situation.

The Heavenly Inspection Guard served as both the Demon Suppression Division’s eyes and ears, and Great Qin’s intelligence network.

While the Imperial Court had its own intelligence departments, they were far inferior to the Heavenly Inspection Guard.

Gu Xuanji’s face was impassive.

"Guardian Dongfang, in your opinion, how many more troops should Great Qin send?"

"I am not skilled in military strategy, and any hasty advice might delay critical decisions!"

Dongfang Zhao replied, bowing his head.

Gu Xuanji silently studied him for a moment, then gave a slight nod.

"I understand."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Dongfang Zhao bowed again and retreated.

Then.

Gu Xuanji turned his gaze to the others.

"You have all heard Guardian Dongfang’s words. The situation is dire. Dahuang Prefecture is Great Qin’s territory and must not fall into the hands of the Barbarians. What countermeasures do you propose?"

Upon these words.

A minister stepped forward.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, the Barbarians’ intent to seize Dahuang Prefecture is now blatant. All we can do is send reinforcements, ensuring they do not capture it. We are now entering autumn.

In a few months, the harsh winter will arrive.

The Barren Lands are a difficult terrain, and the Barbarians will not be able to sustain their offensive during winter, and will surely retreat.

At that time, the crisis in Dahuang Prefecture will resolve itself!"

Hearing this.

Chancellor Fu Yan nodded in agreement. After the minister finished speaking, Fu Yan stepped forward and said, cupping his fist in salute.

"Lord Liu speaks well, but there are still two or three months before winter, enough time for numerous changes to occur. Furthermore, the Barbarians’ winter retreat depends on one crucial condition: their inability to replenish supplies.

If we allow the Barbarians to plunder resources in Dahuang Prefecture, they may not retreat even when winter arrives."

The biggest difference between the Barbarians and Great Qin lay in resources.

Resources were scarce.

And the Barbarians had a large population.

Every winter, many people died.

Therefore.

Every year before winter, the Barbarians would fearlessly attack Dahuang Prefecture, seeking to plunder resources so their people could survive the harsh season.

Although attacking Dahuang Prefecture would lead to some deaths, it allowed more Barbarians to survive.

But if they didn’t attack.

Then, many Barbarians would die.

The trade-off.

Was not difficult for them to decide.

Therefore.

The Barbarians’ current invasion of Dahuang Prefecture also had a significant weakness: the problem of resource supply.

Normally.

The Barren Lands weren’t too harsh, providing enough resources to support the army’s invasion of Dahuang Prefecture. Once inside, the army could plunder resources to replenish their supplies, reducing their concerns.

But winter would pose a major problem.

After Fu Yan spoke, another minister said, "Chancellor Fu’s concern isn’t a major issue. The resources the Barbarians plunder come from Dahuang Prefecture. However, the consumption of millions of troops can hardly be met by current plundered resources.

I believe we only need to issue orders, instructing each city and region to guard their resources, preventing the Barbarians from plundering wantonly, and that will suffice."

"That is indeed a solution."

Fu Yan nodded, then shook his head with a smile.

"Unfortunately, at times, the Barbarians’ resources come from more than just plunder."

"What does Chancellor Fu mean?"

Gu Xuanji frowned.

Fu Yan bowed, then straightened up and said loudly, "Your Majesty may not know, but amidst the current war in Dahuang Prefecture, many merchants are secretly providing resources to the Barbarians, ensuring their supplies remain plentiful—"

"Impossible!" A minister interrupted Fu Yan, "Merchants are Qin people, how could they provide resources to the Barbarians!"

"Whether it is true or not, Guardian Dongfang should be clearer than I am."

Fu Yan smiled faintly.

Gu Xuanji turned his gaze to Dongfang Zhao, "Guardian Dongfang, is the Chancellor’s statement accurate?"

"It is!"

Under everyone’s gaze, Dongfang Zhao nodded honestly.

Then.

He added, "The Barbarians have sent people to secretly infiltrate various regions, purchasing grain and other materials at high prices. Some merchants, for profit, secretly transport those materials to the Barbarians.

Therefore, the Demon Suppression Division has worked with local Yamen to apprehend many individuals."

Hearing this.

Many ministers were shocked, and some even cursed aloud.

"Inhuman wretches, being Qin people yet providing resources to the Barbarians, do they know what they’re doing to Great Qin."

"Every resource they provide leads to the death of many soldiers on the front lines. Kill, they should be killed!"

"Despicable—"

Voices of condemnation echoed through the hall.

Gu Xuanji’s expression was icy as he looked at Dongfang Zhao, "What has been done with those people?"

"They are all imprisoned in local Yamen, and await Your Majesty’s specific instructions."

Dongfang Zhao replied, cupping his fist in salute.

"Instructions!"

"What instructions do you think I should give?"

Gu Xuanji asked, and Dongfang Zhao lowered his head without answering.

He looked at the other ministers, his face cold and terrifying.

"Being Qin people, yet colluding with the enemy and betraying their country, is equivalent to colluding with evil and betraying Great Qin. This is a capital crime. Issue my decree: all those who secretly collude with the Barbarians and sell resources to them will be sentenced to death.

Furthermore, their nine generations will be exterminated. All males will be sent to the death camp, and the women will be sent to the Jiaofang Division, without fail!"

"Moreover—"

"From this moment on, anyone who dares to collude with the Barbarians will have their three clans exterminated!"

Exterminate the three clans!

The faces of most people paled, and they instinctively lowered their heads.

Compared to the extermination of nine generations, the extermination of three clans was undoubtedly more brutal.

What was meant by the extermination of three clans?

The paternal clan, the maternal clan, and the wife’s clan.

In Great Qin, the extermination of three clans was far more severe than the extermination of nine generations, rarely carried out. But once it was, countless heads would roll.

However.

No minister dared to plead for mercy.

Everyone could see that Gu Xuanji was enraged, and anyone who dared to speak might be implicated.

Besides.

In their view, profiting from national disasters at this time was indeed deserving of death.

Although the crime of exterminating three clans was severe, it also served as a significant deterrent.

Under such circumstances.

If anyone still dared to risk death to betray Great Qin, then their death would be truly regrettable.

After issuing the decree, Gu Xuanji’s expression softened somewhat.

"Issue my order to dispatch another seven hundred thousand troops from various regions to reinforce Dahuang Prefecture. I do not seek to expel all the Barbarians, but I will not allow them to advance even an inch further. When winter arrives, I want them to die without a burial ground!"

When winter arrived.

The Barbarians would have to ensure the survival of their tribesmen, while also supporting the Barbarians in Dahuang Prefecture. At that time, the deaths would not be limited to just one or two Barbarians.

Now the Barbarians were powerful, aided by Great Zhou.

Relying on the strength of Dahuang Prefecture alone to expel them all was unrealistic.

Therefore.

For the time being, they could only delay the inevitable.

"Luo Pei, I leave this matter to you!"

"This subject obeys!"

One person bowed and accepted the order.

Then.

Gu Xuanji looked at the silent Yang Yu.

"From the Imperial Academy, is there any news about the two Grand Confucian scholars who went to Great Liang and Great Yue?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, the journey to Great Liang and Great Yue is long, it will likely take some time."

Yang Yu responded, cupping his fist in salute.

Gu Xuanji nodded, "Expedite the matter. If Great Liang and Great Yue can lend a hand, Great Qin will be able to reduce some of the pressure!"

"This subject understands."

Yang Yu replied.

Although Great Qin’s national strength was strong, it was under considerable pressure to resist the Barbarians and Great Zhou. Not to mention the rampant evil that roamed the land.

Faced with the attacks from both factions, Great Qin had already shifted from offense to defense.

There was no choice.

If they didn’t defend and chose to confront them head-on, Great Qin would collapse even faster.

Now, only by holding their ground bit by bit could they curb the offensives of both factions, and seize an opportunity to reverse the situation.

Next.

Gu Xuanji said, "What major actions have the evil forces and the Eternal Life Alliance taken recently?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, evil still ravages various regions severely, but the Demon Suppression Divisions throughout the land are exerting all their efforts to suppress them, barely managing to maintain control. However, with the increasingly severe situation of evil outbreaks, the situation cannot be sustained for long.

As for the Eternal Life Alliance, the ordinary evil beings are not a concern."

Dongfang Zhao said in a deep voice.

The greatest threat to the Demon Suppression Division was evil. Evil beings were generally not strong. The Eternal Life Alliance could threaten a region, but they could never threaten the entirety of Great Qin.

What could threaten Great Qin.

Was only the evil behind the Eternal Life Alliance.

Gu Xuanji nodded.

"Focus all efforts on defending against evil, do not let them create any chaos at this critical juncture."

"Yes!"

End of Chapter