Chapter 318

"Dorgon."

"Imperial brother, your younger brother is here. Imperial brother, you must take good care of your dragon body…"

Hearing Huang Taiji's hoarse, low voice, Dorgon stepped forward with a look of concern.

"Heh heh, I know perfectly well what things look like now. Gao Ming, the Great Ming Emperor means to force me to death — I can't dodge it."

Huang Taiji raised a hand and cut off whatever Dorgon was about to say next.

He glanced beyond the palace, then spoke again: "Dorgon, listen! After I die, you are the headman — every banner answers to you! Take my head, kneel and crawl to Jingcheng to beg for peace, bow your head and submit as a vassal — no matter how great the humiliation, you must endure it. And leave a way out for the other Eight Banners' children too — let some of our clansmen flee north, leave a portion of our bloodline behind!"

Cold!

Hearing Huang Taiji's words, Dorgon felt a chill pierce straight through his heart and spread across his whole body.

His finger joints seemed to have gone stiff, unable to bend.

"Imperial brother!"

Huang Taiji's lonely figure was only a few steps away from him, yet it seemed separated by an impassable chasm.

Huang Taiji once more cast a reluctant, lingering glance at this world.

"Dorgon, what Fan Wencheng said before he died was right. We are using a corner of Liaodong to fight the Central Plains — it's no different than a mantis trying to stop a chariot. We can't hold them back!"

As his words fell, Huang Taiji drew the sword at his waist with a sharp "shing!"

Dorgon's eyes split with rage as he lunged to stop him. "Imperial brother!!"

But the gleaming cold blade in Huang Taiji's hand sliced across his own neck in one stroke — fresh blood sprayed out, splattering across the bright-yellow dragon robe.

The curtain fell on a generation's overlord!

Thud!

Huang Taiji's corpse crashed to the ground.

Dorgon lunged forward a step, dropped to his knees on the ground, tears gushing like a spring.

"Your Majesty has passed to the heavens!"

The guards and palace maids within the palace all knelt prostrate on the ground.

The bell on the palace tower began to toll.

Clang, clang, clang…

It tolled nine times in all.

The angry, clamorous noise that had filled Shengjing City fell silent at once; emotions cooled, if only briefly.

……

The news of Huang Taiji's suicide by his own hand could not be concealed at all.

Moreover, following Huang Taiji's dying instructions, Dorgon did not try to conceal it either.

It quickly traveled back from Liaodong to the capital.

Upon hearing the news, the civil and military officials — and Zhu Youjian — immediately burst into jubilation.

The bandit chieftain has lost his head!

Without shedding a drop of blood, they made the enemy chieftain take his own life!

What a momentous event, what a glory!

Zhu Youjian, moreover, was the first to open the chat-group interface and share the good news with the Laozu Sect.

Founding Emperor: "Good. It looks like letting Su Qiao go over there was the right call. But cut the grass without removing the roots, and the spring wind blows it back to life. Although Huang Taiji killed himself, we can't let the rest off either."

Chengzu Wen Emperor: "Father is right. Those who are not of our kind must have different hearts. We cannot be soft-hearted or soft-handed with them!"

……

Emperor Sizong Lie: "Great-great-grandfather is right. I definitely can't let them off!"

A starry night hung overhead.

Su Qiao's stomach was a little hungry, so he had someone bring some pastries, intending to fill his belly.

Bang!

He had just washed his hands and sat down when the courtyard gate was smashed open by the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

"Where is Lord Su? Quick, His Majesty and the Grand Secretaries are all waiting in the palace!"

The enormous noise startled him, and the osmanthus cake he had just picked up dropped straight to the ground.

"What's going on?"

Before he could even react, he was bundled onto a horse carriage in a daze by the Embroidered Uniform Guard and rushed straight to the imperial palace.

In the carriage, Su Qiao also figured out what was going on.

Huang Taiji had committed suicide in Shengjing, and then Dorgon had chopped off his head and was already suing for peace with the Great Ming.

Probably around this time—

Dorgon had likely already personally set off toward the capital with Huang Taiji's head.

Zhu Youjian and Du Du Yinxi, upon receiving the news, did not celebrate with the officials.

Instead, in a frantic hurry, they summoned him into the palace to discuss a plan.

"Lord Su, please don't blame His Majesty. It was this servant who was happy for His Majesty, and anxious for His Majesty too. It's been so long… since His Majesty ascended the throne, he has hardly slept a peaceful sleep. Open his eyes, close his eyes — it's Liaodong's war. Liaodong in ruins. Now at last there's a glimmer of light!"

As he spoke, Wang Chengen's voice even began to tremble.

He was just short of bursting into tears right in front of Su Qiao.

What could Su Qiao say? He could only wave his hands again and again.

"Eunuch Wang, this is your concern for His Majesty — I understand it perfectly."

"Lord Su, the fault of breaking into your residence in the dead of night is mine. If Lord Su wants to vent his anger, I'll accept any beating or punishment — I'll take it all!"

Wang Chengen was the most loyal of all the eunuchs at Zhu Youjian's side.

Moreover, he had followed Zhu Youjian ever since the latter established his household and became Prince Xinyang.

He had walked this path all the way to the present.

He had always protected Zhu Youjian, not only refraining from slandering superiors and flattering inferiors, but even offering kind admonitions.

An old eunuch, a close personal attendant by Zhu Youjian's side.

Even in this situation, could he truly strike and punish Wang Chengen?

"Not at all, not at all. Attendant Wang is overly worried; Su Mou does possess a bit of magnanimity."

"Whoa!"

A journey that would normally take most of a double-hour arrived in just a little over a quarter-hour.

As soon as the carriage stopped, Wang Chengen grabbed Su Qiao and leaped out of the carriage.

Inside the Imperial Palace, lights still burned brightly.

Under Wang Chengen's quick guidance, Su Qiao also hurriedly followed into the main hall.

As expected!

Zhu Youjian and Du Du Yinxi were both there, seemingly waiting for him.

"Your Majesty, Minister Su has arrived!"

"This subject pays his respects..."

"Enough, Minister Su, no need for formalities. Summoning you late at night is my fault, but I am too overjoyed to sleep, and neither can Minister Du."

Before Su Qiao could bow and perform his rites, he was directly interrupted by Zhu Youjian.

Su Qiao was somewhat speechless; so you dragged me here because you couldn't sleep?

"Minister Su, I assume Attendant Wang must have told you on the way: Huang Taiji has committed suicide, and Dorgon now seeks to submit as a vassal and beg for surrender in the south. Shall we do something?"

Du Du Yinxi asked tentatively.

Previously, the strategy regarding silver prices and paper money had been planned by Su Qiao; he had said he would take Huang Taiji's head, and he took Huang Taiji's head.

Simply too miraculous!

Like Zhu Youjian, Du Du Yinxi felt that listening to Su Qiao's advice would be better! Three.

175, hands and face are both numb!

"Dorgon has come to beg for surrender; what do Your Majesty and Senior Du think?"

Su Qiao, acting very familiar, found a brocade stool to sit on and asked casually.

Zhu Youjian paused, exchanging a glance with Du Du Yinxi.