A thousand-year-old family begins with one fighting against ten thousand.

Xia Jie gritted his teeth and decided to try to appease Changsun Wuji.

Moreover, this war is too important. He must ensure the stability of the three southern cities and not use those he doubts.

"Rest assured, sir. All defense and military and political power for this mission against the Tang Dynasty will be under your control."

"Including the troops that withdrew from the three northern cities, and the resources they brought back, all were handed over to you for allocation."

"The surrounding provinces are also under your control."

Xia Jie directly granted Changsun Wuji military and political power, enabling him to control several prefectures. This was so that Changsun Wuji could mobilize a large amount of power at any time, and could effectively stop the Tang Dynasty from breaking its promise.

"I entrust half of my kingdom to you, sir."

Changsun Wuji's eyes were slightly red as he bowed deeply. "Your Majesty, rest assured, I will not fail in my duty."

Xia Jie was stunned. What did he just call him?

Your Majesty... Your Majesty? !

Are they calling him?

Was it really calling him?

Da Congming, standing to the side, was so envious his veins turned purple. "A treacherous minister," he thought, "this guy is a complete treacherous minister."

All he knows is how to flatter. He should be the one doing the flattery, why didn't he think of that?!

If you can't be the first, be the second.

Da Congming also quickly bowed and addressed the emperor as "Your Majesty".

"Hahahahahahaha!"

"Hahahahahahaha!"

Xia Jie laughed heartily, unable to stop.

This name is absolutely fantastic!

"Now that a great war is imminent, why doesn't Your Majesty seize the opportunity to ascend the throne? After ascending the throne, the people will surely follow you. There will definitely be loyal and righteous men among the rebel Zhai Hong. The rebels will restore Xia, and the soldiers will fight hard for the loyalty of Great Xia. Before the battle even begins, the rebel Zhai Hong will be intimidated."

"We humbly request Your Majesty to ascend the throne!"

All the officials bowed down and shouted "Long live the Emperor!"

Changsun Wuji's lips curled up like an old fox. Now, Zhai Hong had no choice but to fight Xia Jie to the death. On the contrary, Xia Jie would definitely fight Zhai Hong to the death for the sake of his orthodoxy.

In this way, their Great Tang Dynasty can reap the sweetest fruits.

Go ahead and hit them, hit them hard!

"I am but a mediocre and ignorant man, lacking both virtue and talent since childhood. I have survived only thanks to the legacy of the late king. The throne is of paramount importance and great significance, and cannot be held by someone of meager virtue. I fear that my virtue is insufficient to warrant this position, and that I may bring chaos to the people. Therefore, I dare not accept this mandate and wish that you, my lords, choose a worthy successor."

Changsun Wuji raised an eyebrow sharply. These words were spoken so fluently and profoundly, perfectly in accordance with etiquette. Could this really be Xia Jie's words?

You must have practiced a lot in private, right? Otherwise, how could you be so skilled?

This time, Da Congming didn't wait for Changsun Wuji, but immediately jumped out.

"Your Majesty, the Ganges River is clear, and a Qilin has been born in a certain county. This is an omen of the birth of a sage. A sage is an outstanding person, which is in line with Your Majesty's name. This is the will of Heaven, and it cannot be defied."

"Great Wisdom said."

"The nation is in great distress, and the world is not at peace. I... lack the talent to save the world and the strategy to quell the chaos. If I were to ascend the throne, it would surely lead to the displacement of the people and the collapse of the ancestral temples. This is unacceptable."

Xia Jie was so excited that he almost blurted out "I am the Emperor," while simultaneously giving Da Congming a wink.

Even if the emperor were to decline the throne three times, it wouldn't be this quick, and it can't be just these officials.

But Da Congming, whether from excitement or something else, didn't react in time.

He still wanted to go up and offer advice, but Changsun Wuji quickly stopped him. However, Da Congming thought that Changsun Wuji wanted to ask for credit, so he pushed Changsun Wuji aside and knelt down in front of Xia Jie.

"The throne of Great Xia has been vacant for a long time, and a traitor sits on the throne. If Your Majesty does not ascend the throne, I will kneel here forever and die to prove my loyalty!"

Is it that Xia Jie doesn't want to ascend the throne?

It is against etiquette to refuse three times. How can you do that?

The clever man's flattery backfired again.

Xia Jie flicked his sleeve and snorted coldly, "Nonsense!"

He then got up and left.

"Gentlemen, why don't we return to my residence and discuss this further?"

Changsun Wuji addressed several highly respected ministers.

"good!"

The ministers clapped their hands in approval, and not one of them looked at the Great Congming kneeling on the ground, deeming it an insult to civility!

Several ministers arrived at Changsun Wuji's residence and discussed the matter. They agreed to choose an auspicious day to contact their relatives, elders, local officials, military generals, nobles, and members of various schools of thought to petition Xia Jie for his approval.

Nine days later, on an auspicious day, Changsun Wuji and the ministers, each leading their respective representatives and petitions, returned to the palace to invite Xia Jie to ascend the throne.

"We, your humble servants, risk our lives to plead with you three times! The fate of the world rests on Your Highness's shoulders; the fate of the ancestral temples and the state depends on Your Highness's single thought. Now, all the officials, both inside and outside the court, the regional governors, and the people of the land are eagerly awaiting your arrival. If Your Highness were to refuse again, you would be abandoning the Mandate of Heaven, abandoning the ancestral temples, and abandoning the people! We dare to plead with you even at the cost of our lives, that Your Highness may inherit the throne!"

Changsun Wuji initiated the attack, and the others immediately followed suit.

"Your subject and relatives from all over the land humbly request Your Highness to inherit the throne."

"Your subject and the elders from all over the land humbly request Your Highness to inherit the throne."

"Your subject and ministers from all over the land humbly request Your Highness to inherit the throne."

"Your subject and generals from all over the land humbly request Your Highness to inherit the throne."

"Your subject and representatives of all the schools of thought under heaven humbly request Your Highness to inherit the throne."

Da Congming followed at the back, his face turning pale. He knew where he had gone wrong.

He almost ruined everything. If he had messed up this three-way refusal process, Xia Jie would have wanted to skin him alive.

He quickly shrank back behind the crowd, shielding the other ministers in front of him.

"Your Excellencies have repeatedly urged me, and the Mandate of Heaven is clear, and the people's hearts are with me. If I were to refuse again, I would be going against the Mandate of Heaven and abandoning the people. Now I dare not refuse, and I will strive to assume the great responsibility, and I will be diligent day and night, so as not to fail the world."

Xia Jie said with high spirits, and immediately people came forward with various crowns and sashes to help him put them on.

"I ascend the throne today, inheriting the legitimate lineage of the Great Xia Dynasty, and hereby change the era name to Beishou!"

"Ten days from now, I will personally lead the expedition to the north, hunt down the Di rebels, restore the Great Xia, and return to the old capital!"

"Restore the Great Xia Dynasty and return it to its former capital!"

"Restore the Great Xia Dynasty and return it to its former capital!"

"Restore the Great Xia Dynasty and return it to its former capital!"

Everyone present shouted in unison.

This feeling was somewhat intoxicating for Xia Jie, and he looked forward to the Northern Hunt and the elimination of Zhai Hong even more.

Once he ascends the throne, he will surely work diligently to overthrow the Tang Dynasty and accomplish what no emperor of the Xia Dynasty could achieve.

He will become the creator of the only super empire in the world that spans two states, unprecedented and unparalleled!

Zhai Hong, the capital of the Great Xia Dynasty, received news of Xia Jie's ascension to the throne, and his expression was somewhat complicated.

At this point, one of his advisors suggested that Zhai Hongye ascend the throne.

Zhai Hong resolutely refused, his tone firm. He wasn't going to follow the old pattern of three refusals and three concessions, but rather, he had always considered himself the legitimate successor. If he were to ascend the throne now, his strength would be weakened before the battle even began.

There isn't enough time to boost morale and increase combat power through an ascension to the throne.

He didn't have much time to organize his troops and govern his territory, but since he also had an emperor, he wouldn't be at a disadvantage.

Moreover, Xia Jie ascended the throne while the emperor was still alive, which was blatant rebellion.