Chapter 753

The hall doors swung open.

Two figures, one tall and one short, one in front and the other behind, walked in slowly.

Wang Cheng'an walks ahead, looking about forty or more years old, his face gaunt, his eye sockets sunken.

Wang Jingzhao follows behind him, about thirteen or fourteen years old; although his features are fine and handsome, his eyes are dark and deep, showing no trace of youthfulness.

Wang Cheng'an halted his steps; the two slowly raised their arms, hands crossed over their chests, slightly bowed, and performed a Goryeo state ritual:

"Royal kinsman of Goryeo, Wang Cheng'an."

"Prince Wang Jingzhao pays his respects to His Majesty, the Emperor of the Fierce Kingdom."

Xiao Jieyun gave a slight nod: "Goryeo and the Fierce Kingdom are brotherly states; please be seated."

Several eunuchs hurriedly carried two embroidered stools and placed them beside the jade steps.

"Thank you, Your Majesty." They expressed their gratitude, yet neither sat down, still standing in the center of the hall.

Wang Cheng'an looked toward Xiao Jieyun: "Your Majesty, Goryeo has fallen."

All the officials widened their eyes, looking at him in disbelief.

Wang Cheng'an's voice heavy with grief: "Over a hundred thousand troops from the Eastern Ying crossed the sea; their yin-yang masters used sorcery to deceive and open the gates of the royal city, and in just a few days our royal city fell."

"My elder brother refused to flee and has already died for his country."

A low gasp rose from the hall.

"The Eastern Ying stormed the palace and cut him down upon the throne."

Wang Jingzhao trembled all over, his lips pressed tightly together.

"The queen herself set the sleeping chambers ablaze."

"The firelight illuminated half of the royal city."

"She said, 'We must never allow the queen of Goryeo to be captured by the Eastern Ying.'"

Wang Cheng'an paused: "Your Majesty, Goryeo's centuries-old foundation has fallen into the hands of the Eastern Ying."

The hall fell into complete silence.

"My elder brother entrusted the two children to me, asking me to bring them here," Wang Cheng'an slowly turned, looking at Wang Jingzhao, "Prince Jingzhao, thirteen years old; Princess Wang Jingning, only six years old this year."

He turned his head back, once again facing Xiao Jieyun, his tone earnest: "Your Majesty, Goryeo has never been a vassal of the Fierce Kingdom."

"Because my elder brother once said, the Fierce Kingdom and Goryeo share the same culture and are in harmony with the Way; they ought to be brotherly states, not a ruler-subject relationship."

A hint of bitter smile touched his lips: "But now, the last bloodline of the Goryeo royal family stands in your esteemed court."

Wang Cheng'an lifted the corner of his robe, dropped to his knees: "Your Majesty! I implore the heavenly troops of the superior nation to save the orphaned and weak of the Goryeo royal line, to preserve our line and restore our mountains and rivers!"

Wang Jingzhao followed suit and knelt on the ground; the youth's spine remained ramrod straight, though his eye sockets had already reddened.

Xiao Jieyun slowly spoke: "Cheng Jinyan, help them up."

Eunuch Cheng hurried down the imperial steps, using both hands to lift them up one by one from the ground.

Xiao Jieyun looked at Wang Jingzhao: "Is this the prince of Goryeo?"

Wang Jingzhao raised his head, stepped forward, knelt again, and performed the salute of a subject of the Fierce Kingdom.

"Wang Jingzhao pays his respects to Your Majesty."

"Before my father died for his country, he handed the state seal of Goryeo to me."

"He said, 'Go ask the Fierce Kingdom to send troops; only thus can the sun of Goryeo rise again.'"

Xiao Jieyun surveyed the officials: "Regarding this matter, what are your opinions, esteemed ministers?"

An elder official stepped forward: "Your Majesty, I believe this is a dispute between Goryeo and the Eastern Ying; our country ought not to intervene."

"The capital has just been secured, the treasury is empty; we should rest and recuperate—how can we launch another overseas expedition?"

No sooner had he spoken than another censor stepped forward to echo: "I second that! The great battle has just ended; how can we ceaselessly wage war for Goryeo? Please, Your Majesty, reconsider!"

Many civil officials stepped forward in succession, arguing that troops should not be dispatched.

The faces of Wang Cheng'an and Wang Jingzhao gradually stiffened as they listened.

Just then, Xiao Ningchen stepped forward and said: "Gentlemen, how was the capital secured?"

"It was the forty thousand reinforcements from the Western Regions and the fifty thousand Xibei soldiers who fought with their lives to win it."

"Although Goryeo is not a vassal of the Fierce Kingdom, the Eastern Ying harbor wolfish ambitions; today they have conquered Goryeo, tomorrow they will surely harass the Fierce Kingdom's coast."

"May I ask, are you planning to wait until the Eastern Ying march upon the capital, then argue with them?"

The few civil officials who had just spoken were left red-faced by his remarks.

Yet one of them still protested: "How perilous an overseas expedition is! You are still so young……"

Xiao Ningchen cut him off: "Although I am young, I know well that repelling the enemy beyond the nation's gates makes a true commander!"

"It is absolutely impermissible to indulge treachery, waiting until the enemy's troops are at the city walls before devising a plan to defeat them!"

He looked toward the Emperor: "Your Majesty, I believe we should send troops!"

All the officials' eyes furtively flicked toward Prince Ning.

Xiao Yuanhang adjusted his court robes, step by step approached the foot of the imperial steps: "Your subject, Xiao Yuanhang, requests to go to battle."

Just then, someone no one expected also stepped forward.

Zhou Jinhua.

He stepped forward a few paces, solemnly declared: "Your Majesty! This humble official also concurs!"

"The Eastern Ying have always harbored great ambitions and are full of deceit; we must never nurture a tiger to become a threat!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the entire assembly of civil and military officials froze.

Xiao Yuanhang turned his head to glance at him: "This old fox has always opposed me; why is he the first to stand up and support today?"

Zhou Jinhua smiled at him.

Xiao Yuanhang's mouth twitched, and he gave him a slight nod.

Zhou Jinhua was stunned, this was the first time they had been treated with genuine respect by Prince Ning.

Xiao Jieyun scanned the crowd, then slowly spoke: "Goryeo is not my vassal; I have no obligatory duty to rescue them."

"Yet they revere my script, read my poetry and books, as if brothers and siblings."

"Today they have been harmed by the tiger-wolf army of Japan; the state is overturned, and the living are suffering."

"The ones I protect are not a single royal family, but a lineage of Chinese poetry, literature, rites and music!"

All civil and military officials of the court bowed their heads: "His Majesty is wise!"

"Transmit my decree, appoint Prince Ning Xiao Yuanhang as commander, immediately prepare an eastern expedition, march on Goryeo, and expel the Wokou!"

"The Ministry of War, Ministry of Revenue, and Ministry of Works shall cooperate fully, preparing provisions, armaments, and warships."

"This battle I must fight; not only to help Goryeo restore its nation, but also to strike the mainland of Japan!"

"I will make the Japanese remember what the heavenly might of the Superior Kingdom is!"

Wang Cheng'an and Wang Jingzhao simultaneously knelt: "His Majesty is wise! Long live! Long live! Ten thousand years!"

Xiao Jieyun instructed: "Cheng Jinyan, settle them well, order the Four Directions Hall not to be negligent, and take good care of them."

"Princess Jingning is admitted into the Palace, temporarily residing in the Fengyi Palace, under the personal care of the Empress."

"Understood."