The Prodigal Son

Tiger Peak.

As news of Yan Wujiu's death reached Huyao, the atmosphere in the Yan court became even more bizarre.

Although the Yan army still had Huzhou to defend, it was clear to everyone that the Yan state had reached its end.

The death of Yan Wujiu in battle can be said to be the last straw that broke the camel's back.

The State of Yan is finished!

This time, these powerful and influential people need to find a way out for themselves.

The news of Yan Wujiu's death in battle caused a huge uproar in the court, but the court meeting did not last long.

It's even shorter than before.

It's not that things have been resolved, but rather that things are beyond resolution.

Yan Li knew all too well what those ministers were thinking.

Although there are still a few loyal ministers in the court, they are no longer able to change the situation.

When people's hearts are scattered, nothing has any meaning.

Yan Li originally intended to go to see the Yan Emperor and tell him the news of Yan Wujiu's death in battle, but he hesitated halfway there.

My father's health was already poor.

Hearing this news, I'm afraid I'll be so angry I'll vomit blood again.

But he couldn't keep such a big thing from his father forever!

Moreover, although his father had appointed him to oversee the country, his father was not without spies in the court, so even if he wanted to hide it, he couldn't.

After much deliberation, Yan Li finally decided to tell the Emperor Yan.

When he arrived at the Yan Emperor's palace, the emperor had just finished drinking his medicine.

Seeing Yan Li's expression, Emperor Yan knew that there must be more bad news.

"So, Prince Su suffered a defeat?"

Emperor Yan calmly inquired of Yan Li.

"Um."

Yan Li nodded slightly, looking at Emperor Yan with a complicated expression, hesitant to speak.

Seeing Yan Li's appearance, the Yan Emperor's heart skipped a beat, and he tentatively asked, "Prince Su... how are you?"

"Prince Su..."

Yan Li opened her mouth slightly, but only managed to utter two words before she could no longer speak.

"I...understand!"

Emperor Yan clenched his fists tightly. Although his heart was bleeding, he remained extremely composed and did not vomit blood as Yan Li had expected.

Perhaps he had already mentally prepared himself for Yan Wujiu to die on the battlefield.

After a long silence, the Yan Emperor asked in a trembling voice, "The people in the court are already in turmoil, aren't they?"

He certainly understood the consequences of Yan Wujiu's death in battle.

The instability in morale is just the beginning.

Without Yan Wujiu's deterrent, those ministers in the court who harbor ulterior motives will become completely unscrupulous!

"The people's morale has been low for a long time."

Yan Li replied with a bitter expression, "It's just more unstable now."

After a long silence, the Yan Emperor slowly spoke: "What do you intend to do?"

Yan Li took a deep breath, his eyes filled with determination: "Your Majesty, I wish to request that Your Majesty attend court! I will personally go to the front lines to command the troops and stabilize morale."

The Yan Emperor gave a wry smile, "Do you think you can stabilize the morale of the army?"

Maintaining morale is no easy task!

Suhe Baoyin has already disobeyed the imperial court's orders!

The troops of Bei Qi had already arrived in Yunzhou.

Because Xiao Yanguang proposed that the Yan army should obey his orders and arrangements, and Suhe Baoyin refused to give up, the Northern Qi troops were unable to participate in the battle.

Now that Yan Li has arrived at the army camp, he might be kidnapped by Su Hebaoyin and handed over to the Ning people.

They had no way out, but the ministers and generals in the army did!

Faced with the Emperor's question, Yan Li was unable to answer for a moment.

"Perhaps we can stabilize the situation!"

Ultimately, Yan Li gave an ambiguous answer.

"You can't keep this in check!"

The Yan Emperor sighed, shook his head, and slowly closed his eyes: "Prepare to surrender to Northern Qi!"

"What?"

Yan Li's heart trembled violently. He looked at the Emperor in disbelief and gritted his teeth, saying, "Your subject would rather die than surrender!"

"Then let's put it another way."

The Yan Emperor still did not open his eyes. "Seek refuge in Bei Qi!"

Seeking refuge?

Yan Li gave a bitter smile.

Isn't this still surrendering?

How could they surrender!

They could perish with the Great Yan, they could die for their country!

But we cannot surrender!

Seeing that Yan Li remained silent, the Yan Emperor slowly opened his eyes and said self-deprecatingly, "What face do I, the ruler of a fallen kingdom, have to talk about? My Great Yan has always been struggling to survive in the cracks, merely changing the way I do it..."

He knew Yanli was unwilling to accept this.

But now, it's no use being unwilling.

The people in the court have lost heart.

Although the Yan state may have a force of 100,000 to 200,000 men, if those men were actually dragged onto the battlefield, before the war even began, it is estimated that half of them would choose to surrender or desert.

They can die for their country!

But they died for their country, and the royal family of the Great Yan Dynasty disappeared completely!

Only by living can there be hope for the restoration of the nation!

Only by staying alive can we hope to avenge ourselves against Ning!

Moreover, after Bei Qi occupied the territory of Da Yan, they would inevitably need people to win over the hearts of the people and help them govern this land.

This is also their opportunity.

Yan Li smiled wryly, "There are plenty of people in the court who can govern this land for them. Many ministers are probably just waiting to serve Bei Qi or Da Ning!"

"No!"

The Yan Emperor shook his head slightly, a cold glint flashing in his eyes: "They...don't have that chance!"

Upon hearing Emperor Yan's words, Yan Li's eyelids twitched suddenly.

Is there no longer a chance?

Could it be that Father Emperor wants to...?

The Emperor of Yan concealed the cold glint in his eyes and gently patted Yan Li's hand: "Find a suitable time for you to speak with Xiao Yanguang yourself! Leave the rest to me!"

"Father..."

Yan Li guessed what the Yan Emperor was going to do, and tears immediately welled up in her eyes.

"Don't cry! What's there to cry about?"

The Emperor of Yan glared at him. "You remember this well: you are the Crown Prince of Great Yan!"

"As long as you live, as long as the imperial line of Great Yan continues, we still have hope!"

"To die for one's country is certainly worthy of praise, but to live with a mission is even more worthy of praise!"

"If the Murong clan of Northern Qi had all thought of dying for their country when it was destroyed, would Northern Qi be what it is today?"

"You must live for me, live well!"

"You must be a cowardly prince who fears death in order to live longer..."

Surrendering to the Ning people is definitely not an option!

The Great Yan has come to this point entirely thanks to the Ning people!

If we want revenge and to make the Ning people pay the price, we have no choice but to rely on the power of Bei Qi!

The downfall of the Great Yan Dynasty was inevitable!

But Ningren might not necessarily win!

He wanted to make the Ning people watch helplessly as all their efforts benefited the Northern Qi!

Without the Yan state, the wars between the Ning and Bei Qi states would have been even more frequent!

Then they will understand the importance of the Yan state's existence!

"Father, are we really going to take this step?"

Yan Li's eyes were filled with tears, her voice trembled, and she couldn't help but smile bitterly to herself.

It's not as easy as Father Emperor thinks!

The Murong clan of Northern Qi was not completely wiped out back then, which is why they were able to make a comeback but failed to regain their throne.

How could the Murong family possibly give him a chance!

Even if he joins Bei Qi, once Bei Qi has used him up, he will either die of "illness" or be imprisoned for life.

"This is our only way out!"

The Yan Emperor's face was resolute. "Are you really willing to let Ning Ren be so smug?"

"..."

Yan Li opened her mouth slightly, unable to speak for a long time, only tears kept falling down her face.

Seeing Yan Li's hesitant appearance, Emperor Yan couldn't help but shake his head secretly.

At this point, what's there to hesitate about?

That's it!

He can't make up his mind, so let me help him make it!

"Crown Prince Yan Li, heed the imperial decree!"

The Emperor of Yan suddenly issued a low shout: "I order you to secretly negotiate surrender with Xiao Yanguang. This matter must be carried out in secrecy, and you must not let anyone know!"

Yanli's heart trembled, and he knelt down with a face full of grief and indignation: "Your subject... obeys the decree!"