The imperial court is ceding territory from our northern border? Then we'll rebel!

Emperor Yan's rhetorical question was like a bucket of ice water poured over everyone's heads.

Yes.

What can we use to fight to the death?

Seven million soldiers, gone just like that.

The two most capable generals of the Great Yan Dynasty, one died of anger and the other committed suicide.

The most elite Imperial Guards were used as targets and shot to death.

Now, the national treasury is empty, the army is depleted, and the generals are dwindling.

How can we fight then?

Should we organize another punitive expedition?

Where would the people come from? Even if all the Imperial Guards in the capital were sent out, plus the troops from various garrisons, could we possibly gather a million men by piecing together the troops from different places?

Even if we manage to assemble a team, who will be the commander?

Should we send those civil officials in the palace who only know how to talk?

That's not going to war, that's going to get yourself killed.

The officials who had been indignant before all lowered their heads and dared not speak again.

They then realized a cruel reality.

It's not about whether they want to fight or not.

Rather, it's that they've already lost the fight.

The current imperial court, in front of Xiao Jingchen, is like a weak woman stripped naked, utterly powerless to resist.

They command millions of elite troops, along with millions of surrendered soldiers they had just won over. Their military might has reached its peak since the founding of the Great Yan Dynasty.

And all that remained for them was a lonely, isolated capital city.

If Xiao Jingchen really marches south, what will they use to stop him?

Relying on the towering city walls of the capital?

Even a formidable pass like Huoyun City was breached by Cang Jia in a single day. How many more days can the walls of the capital hold out?

despair.

An unprecedented despair enveloped everyone's heart.

Only then did they realize that, without them noticing, the roughneck from the northern frontier they had always looked down upon had grown into a behemoth that they could only look up to and even fear.

Looking at his disheartened ministers, Emperor Yan was filled with disappointment and sorrow.

Is this the pillar of the nation she relied on?

Is this the civil service group she used to check and balance the military generals?

A bunch of useless cowards who only know how to talk big in times of peace and prosperity, but are helpless when it comes to a crisis!

Her gaze finally settled on the Prime Minister.

"Prime Minister, tell me, what should we do now?"

The prime minister's body trembled even more violently.

What can he do?

His mind is a complete mess right now.

We can't win.

If he surrenders, then he, the culprit who advocated for war, will definitely be the first to be punished.

What should I do?

He thought for a long time before finally managing to squeeze out a few words.

"Your Majesty... perhaps the best course of action now is... to delay..."

"Delay?" Emperor Yan sneered. "How? Tell Xiao Jingchen to wait a few years, until we've rebuilt a large army before we fight him again? Do you think he'll agree to that?"

The prime minister lowered his head even further.

"Then...then we can only...for now...agree to him..."

He spoke those words as if he had used up all his strength.

"Agree to him?" The imperial censor jumped out again. "Prime Minister! You're betraying the country! You're aiding the enemy!"

"Then what do you suggest we do?" The Prime Minister, also losing his temper, roared, "If we don't agree, he'll attack tomorrow! Are you going to lead the troops to defend the city?"

"I..." The censor was choked and speechless.

"Alright! All of you, shut up!"

Emperor Yan shouted sternly, interrupting their argument.

She felt a splitting headache.

She knew that now was the time to make a decision.

She faced only two paths.

The first condition is to refuse all of Xiao Jingchen's requests.

The likely consequence of this would be that Xiao Jingchen would completely break off relations and, under the pretext of "purging the court of corrupt officials," lead his troops south.

At that time, the Great Yan Dynasty will be plunged into an unprecedented civil war.

The imperial court, on the other hand, had virtually no chance of winning.

The country changed hands, and blood flowed like rivers.

This is an outcome she absolutely did not want to see.

The second condition is to agree to Xiao Jingchen's request.

Give him money, give him food, give him the title of "Northern Protectorate," and acknowledge his absolute rule over the northern frontier and Yunzhou.

This way, we can temporarily stabilize him and avoid the outbreak of war.

But the cost is also enormous.

This means that a "country within a country" that is not under the control of the imperial court will appear on the map of the Great Yan Dynasty.

Xiao Jingchen will become the true King of the Northern Territory.

His power will surpass that of the imperial court, and even surpass that of her, the emperor.

From now on, she, the Flame Emperor, will probably have to act according to Xiao Jingchen's wishes.

This was an immense humiliation for an arrogant and controlling emperor.

There are two paths: one is to perish together, the other is to survive by clinging to life.

What should she choose?

Emperor Yan closed his eyes, leaned back on the dragon throne, and his mind raced.

She was analyzing and weighing the options.

What exactly does Xiao Jingchen want?

Does he really want to be emperor?

If he really wanted to, with his current strength, he could have attacked directly without needing to go through all this trouble and submit such a memorial.

He wanted money, grain, territory, and recognition.

This shows that he doesn't yet have the idea of ​​replacing me.

He was more like... defining his own sphere of influence.

What he wanted was an independent, powerful, and uninterrupted northern frontier.

As long as the imperial court doesn't provoke him, he seems too lazy to provoke the imperial court.

Having figured this out, Emperor Yan slowly made a decision.

A head-on confrontation is a dead end.

A temporary compromise, though humiliating, at least preserves the Great Yan dynasty and her throne.

Where there is life, there is hope.

As long as she remains on that throne, there is still a chance to turn things around.

Xiao Jingchen, you are indeed very strong.

But you also have your weaknesses.

Your roots are in the northern frontier. You will face three tribes that are eyeing you covetously.

You have incorporated millions of surrendered soldiers, which may seem to greatly increase your strength, but these people are also a huge hidden danger and burden.

You need to govern the northern border and Yunzhou, develop people's livelihoods, and train troops for war. All of these require time and effort.

And I am the emperor of the entire Great Yan.

I have plenty of time; I can spend it slowly with you.

The humiliation you have inflicted on me today will one day be made to pay for it tenfold!

Emperor Yan suddenly opened his eyes.

The anger and panic in those beautiful phoenix eyes were gone, replaced by a deep, unfathomable calm and resolve.

She slowly rose from the dragon throne, her gaze sweeping over all the ministers in the palace.

"Issue my decree."

Her voice, though not loud, reached everyone's ears clearly.

"Granted."