"It seems the decisive battle will take place in Chu," Daniel Davis remarked after observing the absence of Mohist disciples on the battlefield in Yan. This confirmed his suspicions about Yan Dan's intentions. To Yan Dan, Yan was inseparable from his ideals, and he would never abandon it. Even if Qin's unification brought lasting peace and prosperity, Yan Dan would remain fixated on restoring his kingdom.
Similarly, Lord Changping's ambitions mirrored Yan Dan's, though he was more pragmatic in his approach. By contrast, Han Fei seemed more willing to abandon the idea of restoration if Qin achieved true peace and order. For both Yan Dan and Changping, however eloquent their rhetoric might be, their ultimate desire was power. Yan Dan's anti-Qin stance stemmed from an unwillingness to relinquish his current status.
Daniel Davis found Yan Dan particularly contemptible in this regard. While Changping was an opportunist with designs on unification, Yan Dan's vision was limited to preserving his narrow dominion over Yan. From a broader perspective, Yan Dan had already lost.
That said, Yan Dan was no fool. His literary and martial talents, as well as his strategic foresight, were undeniable. For instance, his decision not to deploy the Mohist disciples in the field was a shrewd move. With neither trust from King Yan nor General Yan Yi, sending Mohists into battle would only waste their strength and resources. It would also lead to significant losses among the disciples and the Mohist mechanical beasts.
Although the Mohists had retained the ability to produce mechanical constructs like the Mechanical White Tiger, their production capacity was limited by a lack of resources and logistical support. In contrast, Qin's assembly-line manufacturing, bolstered by Ying Zheng's full support, rendered it far superior.
The saying "Mohist machines: wood and stone on legs; bronze speaks, consult Gongshu," highlighted the Mohists' resource constraints. Their reliance on wood and stone was not for lack of ingenuity but due to an inability to procure large quantities of bronze and steel.
---
"Even with overwhelming advantages, war still takes a toll," Daniel Davis mused. Despite their dominance, the Qin army suffered notable casualties during the siege of Ji, Yan's capital.
Ji's fortifications were not as formidable as Wei's Daliang, but they were still a significant obstacle. Assaulting such a city head-on inevitably resulted in heavy losses. Throughout history, siege warfare has been synonymous with high casualties, and even with Qin's arsenal of arrow towers, Mechanical Vermilion Birds, and Flying Bats, the pattern held.
Yan, as the Mohist stronghold, possessed advanced weaponry that King Yan had largely ignored. The giant ballistae defending the walls rivaled those crafted by the Gongshu clan in power. Originally invented by the Gongshu clan during Chu's campaign against Song, the ballistae were designed to counter Mohist mechanical beasts. Though cumbersome and difficult to maneuver, they were highly effective in defensive battles.
These weapons could obliterate Mechanical Vermilion Birds in a single strike and even withstand the Mechanical White Tiger or Burrower for a few volleys. Qin's constructs, while numerous and advanced, were far from invincible.
Eventually, General Yan Yi, now a secret ally of Qin, opened Ji's gates, allowing Qin forces to enter. Following their occupation of the city, resistance quickly crumbled. While a few loyal ministers fought to the end, most surrendered immediately. King Yan himself was taken prisoner.
In wars of annihilation, kings often had no choice but to resist to the bitter end, but ministers could surrender and serve their conquerors. The Zhang family of Korea, who had served as prime ministers for five generations, surrendered promptly after Korea's fall. Zhang Kaidi, for instance, was alive and well under Qin rule.
---
"General, your foresight is truly remarkable!"
"Of course. I'm not one of those stubborn, outdated fools. Also, don't call me General anymore."
In the dimly lit hall of the former Yan General's Mansion, Yan Yi sat comfortably behind a low table, surrounded by four sycophantic attendants. Unlike most generals, who chose loyal and skilled bodyguards, Yan Yi had selected flatterers for his entourage.
Thanks to Yan Yi's betrayal, Qin captured Ji far more swiftly than expected. Although Meng Tian loathed the man, he had to publicly commend him and even reward him. This was essential to Qin's policy of clear rewards and punishments, a cornerstone of Legalist philosophy. Yan Yi's character, deplorable as it was, became a secondary concern.
Yan Yi's rewards didn't end with mere praise. He received substantial monetary compensation, a noble title, and ownership of his former mansion, now renamed the Yan Residence. Though stripped of his high military rank and barred from rejoining the army, Yan Yi found these concessions satisfactory.
As one of Yan's wealthiest individuals, having amassed a fortune through corruption and extortion, Yan Yi was content. Unlike other opportunists such as Ji Wuye, who used embezzled funds to build power, Yan Yi squandered his wealth on personal indulgences.
---
"What now, General?" one of Yan Yi's lackeys asked.
"Relax. I've already planned everything. Once I return from Xianyang, we'll resume making our fortune."
Despite his ineptitude in military matters, Yan Yi excelled in currying favor and exploiting opportunities. With his wealth as leverage, he planned to ingratiate himself with new patrons in Qin.
His musings were interrupted by the sound of bodies hitting the ground outside. The sudden disturbance silenced the room. The four attendants grabbed their swords, while Yan Yi did the same.
"Who's there? Show yourself!" Yan Yi demanded.
A figure emerged from the shadows, stepping into the light. Seeing the man's face, Yan Yi gasped and turned pale.
"Prince Dan?!"
Everyone had assumed Yan Dan had escaped Ji. No one expected him to be here.
"Ji Dan, how dare you show your face? Qin has placed a bounty of ten thousand gold taels on your head!" one of Yan Yi's attendants sneered, greed gleaming in his eyes. The reward for Yan Dan's capture exceeded even the bounty on Gai Nie in the original story.
The attendant lunged at Yan Dan, sword in hand. He managed only three steps before a blade flashed, and his body crumpled to the floor, blood pooling beneath him.
"The preparations are complete, my lord," Dao Zhi said, the spinning Flying Wheels in his hands still shimmering. He showed no concern for the fallen man as he addressed Yan Dan with respect.
Yan Yi's arrogance evaporated in an instant. He began trembling as his remaining guards cowered behind him. The attendant who had been killed was the strongest among them, yet he hadn't even survived a single exchange.
"Prince… I had no choice!" Yan Yi stammered.
Ignoring him, Yan Dan retrieved the Mohist heirloom sword, the Mo Mei, from his side. Despite its legendary status, the Mo Mei had never been listed in the Sword Rankings, a peculiarity that Daniel Davis had always found irksome. He had long considered revising the rankings but decided to wait until Qin unified the Six States.
Under the flickering lamplight, black energy emanated from Yan Dan's blade. Screams filled the hall as the energy engulfed Yan Yi and his men. Only Yan Yi's cries persisted as the others fell silent. Severely injured, Yan Yi collapsed to the floor, gasping as Yan Dan overturned a lamp and set the hall ablaze.
---
Flames consumed the mansion, fueled by the accelerants Dao Zhi had prepared. By the time the fire was noticed, it was too late to extinguish it. Yan Dan's intent was clear: to destroy Yan Yi's ill-gotten wealth rather than let it fall into Qin's hands.
When Meng Tian received news of the fire, he hurried to the scene. Though he despised Yan Yi, the murder of a defector was a direct affront to Qin's authority.
---
"Why be so angry, General? This is nothing more than a desperate last gasp," Daniel Davis remarked as he arrived at the scene. With a wave of his hand, he unleashed a freezing chill that rapidly engulfed the blazing mansion. The fire was extinguished, leaving behind an ice-sculpted ruin that preserved the flames' shapes within.
High above, standing on the Mechanical Vermilion Bird, Yan Dan and Dao Zhi watched the scene unfold, their expressions grim.
"His mastery of White Dew Surpassing Frost is extraordinary," Dao Zhi muttered, referencing Daniel Davis's ice technique.
---
Meanwhile, the chaos in Yan coincided with troubling news: the Xiongnu had launched a southern incursion. With Yan's border defenses stripped bare to reinforce the capital, the frontier had been left vulnerable.
As Qin tightened its grip on the Central Plains, opportunistic foreign tribes, including the Xiongnu, Yuezhi, and Wusun, began probing for weaknesses. However, they underestimated Qin's resilience and military advancements. Despite their attempts, Qin's frontier forces inflicted heavy losses on these invaders.
Hearing of the Xiongnu's actions, Daniel Davis's patience snapped. While he refrained from directly intervening in Qin's war for unification, he had no such reservations against foreign aggressors.
"Fire Release: Majestic Flame Annihilation."
------------------
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