Alien Arms Empire

Chapter 1863 1864 A rare wise king in history

"If Jade City is lost, Your Majesty..." The minister paused, his voice echoed in the empty hall, and his tone became heavier, as if he was suppressing a huge weight.

"Then we really don't have many chips in our hands." He raised his head and looked at Lions II worriedly, hoping that his words would attract the young emperor's attention.

Lines City, the imperial capital of the Lines Empire, has experienced months of tension. There is a suffocating and depressing atmosphere in the air, like the calm before the storm.

The imperial palace, which the empire had just expanded less than half a year ago, should have been splendid, noble and elegant, but now it was shrouded in a layer of gloom.

In the main hall, Lions II sat on a gold-plated throne inlaid with gems. His figure looked particularly lonely under the bright lights. Although the place was decorated according to his favorite style, it now made His Majesty the Emperor upset.

His brows were furrowed and his expression was solemn, like a volcano about to erupt. His eyes swept across the ministers standing below, trying to find a glimmer of hope on their faces, a glimmer of hope that could turn things around. However, all he saw was confusion, fear and despair.

No one else spoke in the hall, and everyone lowered their heads. Only the minister's admonishment echoed in the empty hall, making the whole hall seem so empty and lonely, as if it foreshadowed the impending decline of the empire. The exquisite murals hanging on the walls seem to silently tell the past glory of the empire, forming a sharp contrast with its current predicament.

The splendid splendor here could not cover up the swaying atmosphere of impending storm, but instead highlighted the empire's current precarious situation.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Another minister stood up and took a step forward. The sound of heavy footsteps echoed in the silent hall, breaking the suffocating silence. The minister's face was full of anxiety, as if he had foreseen the imminent collapse of the empire.

But everyone present knew that what he was anxious about was just the fact that Lions II was still unwilling to make up his mind to surrender. His voice also became a little trembling because of anxiety: "If the Tang army captures Jade City, then we will really have no danger to defend it."

His gaze, like a machine gun that was firing, quickly passed through everyone present, as if he wanted to find his supporters in the crowd. Unfortunately, his efforts were doomed to be in vain, because almost all the ministers were low-key. He shook his head and refused to even look at him. It's like... they've all been hit by bullets.

"Your Majesty! It's not too late to surrender now!" A gray-haired veteran stood up and stepped forward tremblingly. Every step he took was like stepping on the tip of a knife. His back was hunched, as if he was bearing a huge burden. There was a hint of pleading in his voice, hoping that Lions II could recognize the reality and make the choice that was best for the empire.

"If it's later, I don't know what changes will happen in the Tang Empire." His words were full of worry, because he knew that war is never something that can be easily predicted. On the ever-changing battlefield, Anything can happen. Once the situation on the frontline becomes more collapsed, the conditions that the Tang Empire can accept will definitely change accordingly.

"Variables? What variables can there be?" Lions II murmured to himself, his voice was low and weak, and his tone was full of confusion and helplessness. He leaned weakly on the throne, his eyes dull, like a puppet that had lost its soul. He couldn't understand why the empire had come to this point and why he was facing such a dilemma.

"Your Majesty, if you offer your country, then the Tang Empire may give you a good title, but if you are a prisoner, the treatment will be different." A minister said carefully, bowing his head Body, head slightly lowered, trying to persuade Lions II in this way," a minister said carefully, trying to persuade Lions II in this way.

"But, but..." Lions II's voice trembled, revealing the struggle and contradiction deep in his heart. He cast his confused eyes at the minister, his eyes full of hesitation and reluctance.

"Paul is still fighting in Yucheng, fighting **** battles, resisting the enemy's attack at all costs, but I declare a ceasefire at this time. Am I a bit sorry for him? I'm sorry for the sacrifices he made for the empire and for me?" He said There was a hint of guilt and a hint of intolerance in his tone, as if he had made some difficult decision.

After all, he is also a human being, even if sometimes he is a little crazed and sometimes he is a little stupid and incompetent... But he is not a fool.

Of course he can tell who is somewhat loyal to him. At least he knows that General Paul, who is in charge of the overall situation in Yucheng, is a general who is relatively loyal to him!

Under such circumstances, he felt that he should give Paul enough support, at least not destroy the last hope of the defense of Yucheng while Paul was still fighting to the death.

That is not only Paul's hope, but also his last hope as Lions II!

"Your Majesty, General Paul... he can't hold it anymore!" The minister's voice was low and hoarse, as if he was telling a cruel fact.

"This is a fact. We can no longer deceive ourselves." He paused, with a hint of comfort in his voice: "I think General Paul is a man of great righteousness and he will understand His Majesty's good intentions. Yes, he will understand that everything you do, Your Majesty, is for...it is all for the people of Lanes, and him..."

"Is there really no other way? For example..." Lions II leaned weakly on the throne and rubbed his temples tiredly, as if he wanted to dispel the haze that enveloped his heart. He raised his head, a glimmer of hope flashed in his eyes, as if he was grasping a life-saving straw.

"For example...Paul, Paul guarded Jade City?" His voice became smaller and smaller, and his tone was full of uncertainty, because he himself knew that this was just a luxury hope.

No matter how crazy he is, he knows that Yucheng will definitely not be able to defend it. The army of millions is on the verge of collapse. The latest news is that the Dornish troops south of Lines have stopped moving north and have begun to return to the country. Without reinforcements, the situation in Yucheng will only become more difficult. No one can guarantee how long Paul can last in Yucheng. Lions II knows the current situation better than anyone else, but he is still unwilling to accept the reality.

"Your Majesty, please stop having unrealistic illusions!" A general in military uniform stood up and said with a wry smile, his tone full of helplessness and bitterness. He is a general on the staff, so he naturally knows the actual situation.

"It's impossible. The situation in Yucheng is already very bad. In the last telegram, General Paul asked us to provide reinforcements of 300,000 troops. Isn't this a joke?" There was a hint in his tone. There is a trace of self-deprecation and a trace of sadness, as if he is laughing at his own powerlessness.

"That's right, Your Majesty!" Another general stood up suddenly, his beard trembling slightly with emotion, his tone full of resentment and unwillingness: "If we really still have 300,000 Do you need to wait until now? They have already been sent to him! How can we wait until now?"

He is really afraid that if Lions II is happy, he will take the remaining crooked melons and cracked dates to support Yucheng... You know, the remaining defenders near Lions City no longer have any serious fighting ability, let them pretend It's okay, but if they really go to war, they will probably be scattered and run away before they get to the place.

So he tried his best to look like he was under great pressure, lowered his head and persuaded with sincerity: "Your Majesty, think about it, if we really have so many troops and let these troops reinforce Yucheng earlier, the war situation may not be the same. Such a passive force! An army of 300,000 is enough to sustain the place for a while! But now, everything is too late..."

He shook his head painfully, his tone full of remorse and helplessness. This is not an act, because he really does not have an army of 300,000... at least not that many now.

"According to the information we have received, street fighting is already taking place in Yucheng." A minister stood up next to the prime minister, took out a crumpled telegraph newspaper from his arms, unfolded it with difficulty, and said with a heavy tone: "This is The telegram sent back during the intermission period of the Tang Army's interference showed that the Yucheng defenders had suffered all casualties. General Paul...he..."

The minister choked up, holding back his grief and continued, "He has tried his best. Now the Tang army has occupied most of the neighborhoods, and the area controlled by the defenders is less than half of Jade City."

He couldn't talk any more, and choked with sobs as if what he had lost was not Jade City, but his backyard: "According to the speculations of the staff, it is possible for the Tang Army to occupy Jade City in two or three days at most."

"Your Majesty! The war is urgent. You can't hesitate any longer. You have to make a decision early!" The ministers advised each other, their voices full of anxiety and worry. They looked at Lions II worriedly, hoping that he could make a decision as soon as possible and lead them out of the predicament.

"But if I surrender now, what will happen to our ally Dorne?" Lions II sat weakly on the throne, closing his eyes in pain, his tone full of hesitation and uneasiness.

"They have at least nearly a million troops in our territory. If we abandon them at this time, what will they think? Where should our credibility and dignity be placed?" He opened his eyes suddenly. His eyes swept over everyone present, and he asked in a hoarse voice: "Are we going to bear the reputation of treachery and ignore the safety of our friendly troops?"

"Your Majesty, what time has it been and you are still thinking about this?" A minister said anxiously. He walked quickly to Lions II and said in a hurried tone.

"How can we care about them? This is a critical moment of life and death. We must protect ourselves first before we can talk about anything else!" He paused, with a hint of determination in his tone: "Your Majesty! We can inform Dorn in advance. But you really don’t have to consider their feelings! After all, in this world of the jungle, you can only consider others if you protect yourself first!”

"Yes, Your Majesty! Don't forget, when Susas surrendered, they didn't tell us!" Another minister echoed, his tone full of resentment and injustice: "What can we do? ? Can you still beat them? In this situation, you should take care of yourself! "

When the Susus Empire was mentioned, Lions II couldn't help but get angry. The other party really did a lot of harm, and his sudden surrender left him unprepared for any defense.

Originally, the battle line was still in the north of Susus. As long as Susus was willing to hold on to the end, then at least the Lions Empire would have a few months to deploy calmly, so Yucheng would definitely not be what it is today.

At least Bunas will not immediately defect with Beiling. In that case, the defense line in the north of Lanes will be complete, and Tamaki's defense line will be at least several times stronger than it is now!

But Susas surrendered so shamelessly! The Lions Empire ended up like this! So Lions II hated the old and dim Susas I, and often called him a coward!

The problem is that now that he is a noble of the Tang Empire, no matter how much he scolds him, he can't hurt him even a hair. Maybe, after he surrenders, he may still act based on the face of Susas I.

After all, even those who surrender have a distinction between high and low. Obviously, because of the complete surrender and the simplicity of the surrender... Susas I must be a relatively high-status king of subjugation in the Tang Empire - he, Lions II, may not be comparable.

Hearing someone say this, someone immediately echoed: "That's right! Susas sold us, what will happen if we sell Dorne? Now we should take care of ourselves!"

"Your Majesty, please make plans early!" The prime minister spoke at this time. He was promoted by Lions II. He was usually a yes man. Naturally, he did not dare to express his position easily now. He could only let Lions II make his own decision.

Of course Lions II himself has no idea. If he had, he would not hold such meetings so frequently.

But after several days of torture, he has now begun to waver. So after worrying for a long time, he finally chose to compromise: "Then contact the Tang Empire! Tell them that we are willing to negotiate... negotiate... discuss and discuss surrender."

"Your Majesty is wise!" "Your Majesty is wise!" Immediately, joy appeared on the faces of some ministers, which was in sharp contrast to the dull atmosphere in the hall before. These ministers praised Lions II one after another, as if he, the emperor who was about to lose his country, was one of the rare wise kings in history.