Starting with a Wei Wu soldier

Chapter 245 The Imperial Seal

On the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month, the day before New Year's Eve, the red flags with golden dragons that once represented the Southern Dynasty on the walls of Jinling had all been lowered. In their place hung plain white surrender flags hastily made for the occasion, drooping helplessly in the bleak winter sun. The city gates slowly opened inward, and the drawbridge over the moat had already been lowered. Led by Zhang Zhao, the Vice Minister of Rites, the three dukes and nine ministers, civil and military officials of the Southern Dynasty who remained in Jinling, except for a few who had committed suicide or gone into hiding, were all dressed in plain clothes, barefoot and without hats, their faces ashen, and lined up outside the city gates. Behind them were piles of weapons and armor, symbolizing complete disarmament, and a group of close relatives of the Southern Dynasty, their hands bound behind their backs and their heads bowed on the ground.

The air was icy and stagnant, permeated with a heavy, almost tangible sense of humiliation and desolation. In the distance, the Xingqi Army, clad in black armor, stood like a forest, their banners obscuring the sky, their chilling aura striking the scene of deathly silence and surrender at the city gate.

At the third quarter of Chen hour (around 7:45 AM), a deep bugle call resounded from the Xingqi army formation. A small but extremely imposing ceremonial procession slowly emerged from the camp. Leading the way was a troop of imperial cavalry in black armor and golden helmets, carrying dragon banners and axes. Behind them followed Chen Xing's four-wheeled imperial carriage, not particularly ornate but exceptionally sturdy, pulled by eight magnificent black steeds. Key civil and military officials, including Jia Wen, Chen Wei, Dian Xiong, and Shen Qing, rode alongside on horseback, their armor gleaming and their expressions solemn. Lin Wan'er and Lan Fenghuang also followed in their carriages. Their roles were unique: one advised on civil affairs and pacification, the other oversaw medicine in preparation for unforeseen circumstances. Now, they were also witnesses to this historic surrender ceremony.

The imperial carriage came to a steady stop a hundred paces from the city gate. Chen Xing did not rush to get out of the carriage, but calmly watched through the slightly lifted curtain the mass of Southern Dynasty officials kneeling at the city gate, and behind them the majestic capital that had once represented the prosperity of Jiangnan and the separatist regime.

Zhang Zhao took a deep breath, suppressing the myriad emotions churning within him. He raised a sandalwood tray covered with bright yellow silk high in both hands, crawled several steps on his knees until he was ten zhang in front of the imperial carriage, touched the ground with his forehead, and used all his strength to prevent his voice from trembling too much:

"Your humble servant, Zhang Zhao, Vice Minister of Rites of the Southern Dynasty, has been ordered by His Majesty the King of Chu to lead the civil and military officials stationed here to present this letter of surrender! From this day forward, the land of Jiangnan, the city of Jinling, all the civil and military officials, and the common people all submit to Your Majesty Xingqi! We humbly beseech Your Majesty, whose mandate of Heaven is bestowed upon us and whose holy virtue is awe-inspiring, to pardon our crimes deserving of death and to have mercy on the millions of lives in Jinling!"

Having finished speaking, he raised the tray high above his head. A Star Guard stepped forward, took the tray, examined it carefully, and then quickly presented it to the imperial carriage.

Jia Wen took the document on behalf of Chen Xing, lifted the yellow silk, and inside was a beautifully bound memorial, bound with gold thread, which was Xiao Jingyan's surrender document, personally signed and sealed. Jia Wen unfolded it, quickly glanced through it, confirmed it was correct, and nodded slightly to the person inside the carriage.

Chen Xing, supported by his attendants, slowly stepped down from the imperial carriage. Today, he was not dressed in military attire, but in a black embroidered gold casual robe, with a winged crown on his head and a long sword at his waist. He stood tall and straight, his face calm, and his eyes deep as an ancient well. As he swept over the kneeling crowd, he exuded an aura of authority and dominance over the world.

"I have read the surrender document." Chen Xing's voice was not loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears. "The King of Chu was able to recognize the Mandate of Heaven and follow the will of the people, thus saving Jinling from the ravages of war. This is also a merit. I grant his request. All civil and military officials of the Southern Dynasty who wish to submit will be employed according to their talents; those who wish to leave will be granted gold and allowed to return to their hometowns. The people of Jinling may live in peace and their livelihoods be secure. My army will not commit any offenses against them."

"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!" A deafening roar erupted from the Xingqi army, shaking the very heavens. The kneeling Southern Dynasty officials, upon hearing this, felt a great weight lifted from their hearts. Many wept, their grief a mixture of sorrow for their lost kingdom, relief at surviving a catastrophe, and uncertainty about the future. They kowtowed repeatedly, saying, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your divine grace! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

Zhang Zhao kowtowed again, but did not rise. Instead, he gestured to another old minister behind him to present a smaller, yet unusually heavy, vermilion-lacquered and gilded wooden box. The old minister's hands trembled slightly as he raised the box high above his head as well.

Zhang Zhao's voice was even more strained and solemn than before, even carrying a hint of indescribable tremor: "This sinful subject... is hereby ordered by my lord to present... the Imperial Seal of the State! This is a divine artifact of Heaven's mandate, now returned to the true sovereign. I humbly beseech Your Majesty, that it may be blessed by Heaven and enjoy eternal prosperity!"

The moment the words "Imperial Seal of the State" were uttered, the atmosphere on the scene changed abruptly! The cheers in the Xingqi Army suddenly ceased, and everyone's gaze, whether civil or military officials or ordinary soldiers, instantly focused on that small vermilion wooden box! Even Chen Xing, whose eyes were calm, showed a barely perceptible ripple deep within them.

Jia Wen, Chen Wei, and the others paled, their breath catching in their throats. The Imperial Seal of the State! Forged from the He Shi Bi jade, inscribed by Li Si, it had been the supreme symbol of divine right of kings and legitimacy since the Qin and Han dynasties! Its eight characters, "Received the Mandate of Heaven, May Your Reign Be Long and Prosperous," carried the weight of countless dynasties' rise and fall, and the dreams of countless heroes! After the collapse of the previous dynasty, this seal was lost, scattered to various places, its authenticity uncertain, becoming the coveted object of all ambitious men. The Xiao family of the Southern Dynasties had always claimed to possess the genuine seal, but many outsiders remained skeptical. Now, it was truly here, presented to Chen Xing in this way!

Chen Xing nodded slightly. Jia Wen stepped forward and took the vermilion lacquered wooden box. It was heavy and cold to the touch. He carefully opened the lid.

In an instant, an invisible radiance seemed to overflow from the box. Inside, lined with bright yellow silk, lay a jade seal, approximately four inches in diameter with a knob adorned with five intertwined dragons. The jade was not pure white, but rather a warm, lustrous blue-green, its texture clear and lustrous, its inner radiance radiating. Even those unfamiliar with connoisseurship could sense its extraordinary material and the weight of time. The seal face upwards, the bird-and-insect seal script clearly visible—the eight world-famous characters: "By the Mandate of Heaven, May Your Life Be Long and Prosperous." Indeed, as legend had it, one corner of the seal had been repaired with gold; that touch of gold stood out starkly against the blue-white jade, as if recounting its trials and tribulations.

Jia Wen examined the seal carefully for a moment, then gestured for several learned senior officials accompanying him to come forward and jointly appraise it. Lin Wan'er observed intently, exchanging opinions with the senior officials in a low voice. They examined the seal inscription, the jade quality, the traces of gold repair, and even gently breathed on it to test the adhesion of the ink. They also compared it with records in classical texts and rubbings from previous lives.

A moment later, Jia Wen turned to face Chen Xing, bowed deeply, and said in a voice filled with barely suppressed excitement and solemnity: "Your Majesty! After our preliminary examination, the jade quality, carving, seal script, and gold inlay of this seal all match the characteristics of the Imperial Seal of the State recorded in historical records! Although further research and detailed examination are needed, ... the possibility that this seal is genuine is almost certainly true!"

Nine times out of ten! That judgment is enough!

Chen Xing's gaze finally settled entirely on the jade seal. Even with his transmigrator's composure, his heart was surging with emotion. This was not merely a precious antique; it was a symbol of Chinese legitimacy, a totem uniting the hearts of millions! Obtaining it meant that he, Chen Xing, and his Star Awakening Empire, had gained the most direct and powerful endorsement of their legitimacy! This possessed an intangible power far greater than a hundred thousand troops or a hundred miles of territory!

He slowly reached out and personally took out the jade seal, which carried too much historical weight, from the wooden box. It felt warm and heavy in his hand, as if he could feel the lingering warmth and will of countless emperors and generals who had wielded it over the centuries.

He raised the imperial seal high, facing the entire Xingqi army, facing the gates of Jinling, and facing the bright and clear heavens!

"The divine artifact of destiny now belongs to me!" Chen Xing's voice, infused with inner strength, resounded like a great bell, echoing throughout the land. "This is the will of Heaven! This is the will of the people! This is proof that my Xingqi will continue the orthodox tradition of China and sweep across the world!"

"Long live! Long live! Long live!"

This time, the cheers were far more fervent and devout than ever before! Countless soldiers were moved to tears, brandishing their weapons with all their might, the roar almost lifting the city walls! The appearance and submission of the Imperial Seal of the State propelled Chen Xing's image as "the chosen one" to an undisputed peak! At this moment, whether it was Xing Qi's old subordinates, the newly surrendered officials of the Southern Dynasty, or even the common people secretly observing in the city, everyone had a clear understanding etched in their hearts: a new era, a new true dragon emperor, had arrived!

Chen Xing solemnly handed the imperial seal back to Jia Wen for safekeeping, then turned his gaze back to the open gates of Jinling City and the faintly visible eaves of the palaces within the city.

"Enter the city!" he commanded in a deep voice, taking the lead and steadily walking towards the capital city that symbolized final victory.