Chapter 239

And just as the Lu Province formation collapsed completely, the Flaming Province battlefield to the west was also about to lose control.

Translate: "And just as the Lu Province formation collapsed entirely, the Flaming Province battlefield to the west was also on the verge of losing control."

And just as the Lu Province formation collapsed entirely, the Flaming Province battlefield to the west was also on the verge of losing control.

At this moment, above the court of the Great Qian Dynasty, the early morning sun shone, and the resplendent golden-green palace, bathed in the morning light, appeared all the more solemn and reverent.

Translate: "At this moment, above the court of the Da Qian dynasty, the early morning sun shone, and the resplendent golden-green palace, bathed in the morning light, appeared all the more solemn and reverent."

At this moment, above the court of the Great Qian Dynasty, the early morning sun shone, and the resplendent golden-green palace, bathed in the morning light, appeared all the more solemn and reverent.

Emperor Si Xiao Fei sat firmly on the dragon throne, wearing a bright yellow dragon robe embroidered with nine golden dragons of various forms, symbolizing the supreme status of the Nine Five Honor.

Translate: "Emperor Si Xiaofei sat upright on the dragon throne, wearing a bright yellow dragon robe embroidered with nine gold dragons of varying forms, symbolizing the supreme status of the 'Nine Five Honor'."

Emperor Si Xiao Fei sat firmly on the dragon throne, wearing a bright yellow dragon robe embroidered with nine golden dragons of various forms, symbolizing the supreme status of the Nine Five Honor.

At this moment, the palace lights in the court remained lit, yet they could not conceal the solemn, killing atmosphere and heavy tension.

Translate: "At this moment, the palace lights in the court had not been extinguished, yet they could hardly conceal the atmosphere of solemn killing and heaviness."

At this moment, the palace lights in the court remained lit, yet they could not conceal the solemn, killing atmosphere and heavy tension.

The officials, dressed in their robes, stood solemnly on both sides; their faces no longer bore the usual composure and calm, replaced by barely concealed panic and worry.

Translate: "The officials, dressed in their uniforms, stood solemnly on both sides; their faces no longer bore the former composure and calm, replaced by barely concealed panic and worry."

At this moment, the highest-ranking Si Xiao Fei sat on the dragon throne, his face grim and terrifying, his eyes flashing with anger and unease.

Translate: "At this moment, the highest-ranking Si Xiaofei sat upon the dragon throne, his countenance darkly terrifying, his eyes flashing with anger and unease."

He tightly gripped the jade seal in his hand, the very symbol of supreme authority, which now felt extraordinarily heavy.

Translate: "He tightly gripped the jade seal in his hand, that jade seal which originally symbolized supreme authority now felt incredibly heavy."

The officials' breaths grew shallow and cautious, fearful of breaking this silence.

Translate: "The officials' breaths seemed to have become cautious, fearful of breaking this tranquility."

Suddenly, a loud cry of 'If there is matter, present it; if not, withdraw from court' shattered the silence.

Translate: "Suddenly, a loud cry of 'If there is matter, present it; if none, retire from court' shattered this tranquility."

We need to keep the quoted phrase exactly as Chinese but translate? The phrase is a standard court announcement. We should translate meaning: "If there is matter, present it; if none, retire from court." Keep quotes.

The high-pitched, thin voice of the chief eunuch of the Office of Ceremonies, like a sharp sword, instantly tore through the stillness above the court.

Translate: "The distinctive high-pitched voice of the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonies, like a sharp sword, instantly tore through the tranquility above the court."

The general lowered his head, unable to meet the emperor's furious gaze, and spoke with a trembling voice.

Translate: "The general lowered his head, not daring to meet the emperor's wrath, and spoke with a trembling voice."

「」

This line is empty quotes? It appears as an empty dialogue line. Probably a placeholder for something omitted. We must output exactly the same: an empty string within quotes? The line is: 「」. So we output 【12】 「」? Actually we need to output the translation. The source line is empty quotes; translation should be empty quotes? Probably we should output empty quotes as well. So 【12】 「」.

Just then, a general covered in dust stumbled forward, his face etched with terror and despair.

Translate: "Just then, a general covered in dust stumbled out, his face filled with terror and despair."

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger; the Yellow Turban rebel Meng Zhang wields troops like a god."

Translate: "\"Your Majesty, please calm your anger; the Yellow Turban rebel Meng Zhang wields troops like a god. \""

"Although General Yin Yuan Xun's forces are brave and skilled in battle, they are outnumbered and can only rely on the passes to barely hold on."

Translate: "\"General Yin Yuanxun's forces, though brave and skilled in battle, are outnumbered and can only barely hold out by relying on the passes. \""

Si Xiao Fei took a deep breath, trying to calm the anger in his heart.

Translate: "Si Xiaofei drew a deep breath, trying to calm the anger in his heart."

"How about the situation in Flaming Province? Has there been any improvement?"

Translate: "\"How about the situation in Flaming Province? Has there been any improvement? \""

"Moreover, they have hidden another unit of heavy cavalry dao soldiers and even drafted several Yellow Turban war god rebels from Wu Province to aid them, catching our forces off guard and inflicting heavy losses."

Translate: "\"Moreover, they have hidden another unit of heavy cavalry Dao Soldiers, and even conscripted several Yellow Turban War God rebels from Wu Province to aid them; our forces were caught off guard and suffered heavy losses. \""

"Your Majesty, the Lu Province battlefield has collapsed entirely; our army suffered a crushing defeat, with only a small contingent led by General Yin Yuan Xun clinging to the passes for survival. Please, Your Majesty, decide quickly!"

Translate: "\"Your Majesty, the Lu Province battlefield has collapsed entirely; our army suffered a crushing defeat, with only a small contingent led by General Yin Yuanxun barely surviving by relying on the passes. Please, Your Majesty, make a swift decision! \""

The Great Qian Dynasty will face imminent catastrophe.

Translate: "The Da Qian dynasty will face an existential catastrophe."

"Didn't we have hundreds of thousands of troops stationed in Lu Province? How could it be so easily defeated?"

Translate: "\"Didn't we have hundreds of thousands of troops stationed in Lu Province? How could it be so utterly helpless? \""

He forced himself to calm down and asked in a low voice.

Translate: "He forced himself to calm down and asked in a low voice."

"Your Majesty, the situation in Flaming Province is also... not optimistic. The governor of Flaming Province has repeatedly sent memorials requesting aid, asking Your Majesty to dispatch reinforcements quickly."

Translate: "\"Your Majesty, the situation in Flaming Province is also... not optimistic. The Governor of Flaming Province has repeatedly sent memorials requesting aid, asking Your Majesty to dispatch reinforcements promptly. \""

Looking at the disheveled general below, Si Xiao Fei shouted sternly.

Translate: "Looking at the disheveled general below, Si Xiaofei shouted sternly."

As soon as these words were spoken, the court erupted in an uproar.

Translate: "As soon as these words were spoken, an uproar erupted throughout the court."

He fell to his knees with a thud before the emperor, his voice trembling as he spoke.

Translate: "He fell to his knees with a thud before the emperor, his voice trembling as he spoke."

They knew that if General Yin Yuan Xun in the south were to lose his position again, the Yellow Turban's tens of thousands of troops would advance unimpeded.

Translate: "They knew that if General Yin Yuanxun were to lose his hold in the south again, the Yellow Turban's tens of thousands of troops would advance unimpeded."

The officials began to discuss among themselves, their faces showing panic and dismay.

Translate: "The officials began to discuss in earnest, their faces showing panic and dismay."

Emperor Si Xiao Fei suddenly rose to his feet, his eyes blazing with anger as he glared at the general kneeling on the ground.

Translate: "Emperor Si Xiaofei abruptly rose to his feet, his eyes shooting flames of anger as he glared at the general kneeling on the ground."

"The Yellow Turban rebels are unstoppable, having already seized most of Lu Province's territory and now pressing straight toward our Qian Province."

Translate: "\"The Yellow Turban rebels are unstoppable, already occupying most of Lu Province's territory and pressing straight toward our Qian Province. \""

"The Lu Province battlefield has collapsed entirely? How could that be possible?"

Translate: "\"The Lu Province battlefield has collapsed entirely? How could that be possible? \""

Another official stepped forward, trembling, his face filled with worry and unease, and reported in a low voice.

Translate: "Another official stepped forward, trembling, his face full of worry and unease, and reported in a low voice."

Si Xiao Fei felt a wave of dizziness; he gripped the armrests of the throne tightly before barely managing to stay upright.

Translate: "Si Xiaofei only felt a dizzy spell; he gripped the armrests of his throne tightly before barely managing to stand steady."

He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the anger in his heart.

Translate: "He drew a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the anger in his heart."

At this moment, any anger or blame is pointless; the key is to quickly devise a strategy to reverse the defeat.

Translate: "At this moment, any anger or blame would be futile; the key is to quickly devise a plan to reverse the defeat."

He looked around and asked in a deep voice, "What good plans do you all have?"

Translate: "He looked around, then asked in a low voice: 'Esteemed officials, what good strategies do you have?'"

The court fell into silence.

Translate: "The court fell into silence."

The officials lowered their heads in thought, yet none dared to speak.

Translate: "The officials lowered their heads in thought, yet none dared to speak."

They knew that any suggestion at this moment could determine the survival of the Great Qian Dynasty; a mistake would lead to unimaginable consequences.

Translate: "They knew that any suggestion at this moment could determine the life or death of the Da Qian dynasty; a mistake would lead to unimaginable consequences."

"Your Majesty!"

Translate: "\"Your Majesty! \""

A military officer stepped forward, his voice loud and firm, saying, "Your Majesty, the situation in Flaming Province is urgent; I propose we mobilize the Cangzhou Army of the Eastern Cloud King's Heir Apparent to enter the passes and support Flaming Province in confronting the Flame King."

Translate: "A military officer stepped forward, his voice loud and firm, saying: 'Your Majesty, the situation in Flaming Province is urgent; I propose we transfer the Cangzhou Army of the Eastern Cloud King's Heir Apparent to the passes to support, and go to Flaming Province to deal with the Flame King.'"

the Cangzhou Army of the Eastern Cloud King's Heir Apparent

Now, the Cangzhou Army under the Cloud King's Heir Apparent is brave and skilled in battle, with war gods gathering; surely it can turn the tide.

Translate: "\"Now, the Cangzhou Army under the Heir Apparent of the Cloud King is brave and skilled in battle, with War Gods gathering; surely it can turn the tide. \""

As soon as these words were spoken, the court immediately buzzed with discussion.

Translate: "As soon as these words were spoken, the court immediately buzzed with discussion."

The officials whispered among themselves, discussing the proposal, seemingly weighing its feasibility.

Translate: "The officials whispered among themselves, discussing at length, seemingly weighing the feasibility of this proposal."

"Your Majesty, that is mistaken!"

Translate: "\"Your Majesty, this is mistaken! \""

"Mobilizing the Cloud King's Heir Apparent's Cangzhou Army to enter the passes for support is clearly a misguided strategy!"

Translate: "\"Transferring the Cangzhou Army of the Cloud King's Heir Apparent to the passes for support is clearly a mistaken state policy! \""

However, at that moment, another civil official stepped forward, his face filled with anger and dissatisfaction.

Translate: "However, just then, a civil official stepped forward, his face filled with anger and dissatisfaction."

His voice was loud and powerful, instantly drowning out the discussion in the court.

Translate: "His voice was loud and powerful, instantly overpowering the discussion in the court."

"The Three Great Surnamed Kings have always been united, advancing and retreating together."

Translate: "\"The Three Great Different-Surname Kings have always been united, sharing weal and woe. \""

"The Cloud King, Flame King, and Night King families have been friendly for generations, intermarrying. Now, as the situation in Flaming Province threatens to spiral out of control, sending the Cloud King's Heir Apparent's army to attack the Flame King would only add complications."

Translate: "\"The Cloud King, Flame King, and Night King families have been friendly for generations, intermarrying. Now the Flaming Province situation appears about to spiral out of control, yet sending the Cloud King's Heir Apparent's army to attack the Flame King would merely add complications. \""

"If the Cloud King's Heir Apparent harbors any treacherous intentions, it would be nothing short of a catastrophe for the Great Qian Dynasty."

Translate: "\"If the Cloud King's Heir Apparent harbors any rebellious intent, it would be nothing short of an existential disaster for the present Da Qian! \""

"Is this not inviting a wolf into the house?"

Translate: "\"Is this not inviting the wolf into the house? \""

He glared at the military officer and continued speaking.

Translate: "He glared at the military officer and continued speaking."

His words struck like a heavy hammer on the court, shocking everyone.

Translate: "His words struck like a heavy hammer on the court, shocking everyone."

The officials lowered their heads, seemingly contemplating the weight of his words.

Translate: "The officials lowered their heads one after another, seemingly contemplating the weight of his words."

The military officer's face flushed red, he clenched his fists, wanting to rebut but finding no suitable words.

Translate: "The military officer's face flushed red, he clenched his fists, seeming to want to rebut but finding no suitable words."

He stared at the civil official, his eyes flashing with anger and resentment.

Translate: "He stared at the civil official, his eyes flashing with anger and resentment."

Si Xiao Fei took a deep breath, knowing that the civil official's harsh words were true.

Translate: "Si Xiaofei drew a deep breath, knowing that the civil official's words, though harsh, were true."

The Three Great Surnamed Kings hold pivotal positions in the Great Qian Dynasty, and their alliance is such that a slight movement affects the whole.

Translate: "The Three Great Different-Surname Kings hold pivotal positions in the Da Qian dynasty, and their alliance is such that a single thread pulls the whole body."

The Tiaoyun King's heir apparent's army going to attack the Yan King is indeed a daring move.

A slight oversight could lead to unforeseen consequences.

"Your Majesty!"

Just then another general stepped forward, his voice filled with anxiety and worry: "The situation in Yan Province is already urgent; we can no longer hesitate!"

Si XiaoFei frowned, looking at the officials in the imperial court, his heart filled with conflict and struggle.

At this moment, the imperial court fell into silence once again, as the officials awaited Si XiaoFei's decision.

As the atmosphere grew ever more tense, Prime Minister Kang Zhengjie slowly stepped forward.

He wore a deep blue official robe, a jade crown on his head, his composure steady, his eyes revealing wisdom and resolve.

His presence seemed to bring a hint of stability to the imperial court.

Kang Zhengjie looked around, took a deep breath, and then spoke loudly: "Your Majesty, ladies and gentlemen, please hear my words."

His voice was loud and powerful, instantly drowning out the discussion in the imperial court.

Now the situation in Yan Province is critical; dispatching troops for reinforcement is urgent.

However, we cannot ignore the Heir Apparent of Yun King to the east.

However, I have a plan that may temporarily alleviate the pressing crisis.

Kang Zhengjie paused, then continued: "Not long ago, Great Qian just formed a marriage alliance with the Heir Apparent of Yun King, establishing a bond like that of Qin and Jin."

Since the Heir Apparent of Yun King has become a son-in-law of Great Qian, he ought not to betray trust and abandon righteousness, turning his weapons against us at this moment.

Therefore, we may temporarily ease our defenses against the eastern provinces of Cang and Yun.

(End of Chapter)