Late 222 BC.
Wang Ben lived up to expectations, leading the Qin army to crush the Yan forces in Liaodong and capture King Xi of Yan alive. Yan became the fifth great state to fall into Qin's hands, following Han, Zhao, Wei, and Chu.
After destroying Yan, the Qin army did not return directly. Instead, it turned to attack Dai, the remnants of Zhao, and likewise captured the former prince of Zhao—now King Jia of Dai—alive. Moreover, Wang Jian had successfully and completely pacified Jiangnan, leaving Chu's former forces unable to pose any further threat.
Eight years had passed since Qin destroyed Han in 230 BC. Over those eight years, Qin had seemingly come to the end of the Warring States chaos that had lasted for centuries. Only Qi remained, cowering within its borders and watching Qin in the Central Plains with trembling fear.
Everyone understood that Qin truly was about to unify the vast Central Plains.
Many people felt dazed. For most, a chaotic world was the norm, yet now unification was actually about to arrive?
It was unheard of.
The Zhou Dynasty of old had merely been the head of the family, and the territory it controlled had been nowhere near as vast as this.
King Zheng of Qin was very likely about to accomplish a truly unprecedented feat.
Even if that great achievement had been built atop the corpses of the other six states, it remained great—perhaps even greater because of it.
Meanwhile, in the distant western frontier, within a vast and desolate basin.
Ji Chao watched Type One stomp the final evil spirit into annihilation and quietly let out a breath of relief.
By now, the foreign tribes in Wusun had nearly all been exterminated.
The foreign tribes of the Qiang Tribes, Yuezhi, and Wusun had