Chapter 953

After noticing the Qian Wang's abnormal condition, the civil and military officials below were even more filled with sorrow.

Their great king's body is so frail—who knows when he might suddenly pass away?

If a new king ascends, it will be even harder to resist the terrifying offensive of the Cangling Dynasty.

Thinking of this, everyone felt profound dread for the future of Great Qian.

If the state survives, the people survive; if the state falls, the people fall.

Facing such dire peril, no one dared speak of surrender.

They swore to perish with Great Qian, to fight the Cangling Dynasty to the end!

Even the mighty Cangwu Jiang family could not shake their conviction!

Upon the highest throne.

With Su Xiaofeng's aid, the Qian Wang's breathing gradually steadied.

He took a deep breath, waved his hand at him, signaling for him to withdraw.

But Su Xiaofeng shook his head, still supporting the Qian Wang, not leaving his side for an instant!

"Great King, your condition—I need not say it, you know it well."

"You are needed by me, just as Great Qian needs you; the situation now is as unstable as a storm-tossed boat—you cannot be spared..."

Hearing this, the Qian Wang paused his movements and ceased his resistance.

He slowly turned his head, gazing down at the civil and military officials.

His gaze swept over each one.

After finishing his inspection of the last man, the Qian Wang spoke in a deep voice: "With a mighty enemy at our gates, not a single soul wishes to surrender—I am deeply moved..."

No sooner had he spoken than the officials hastily bowed and said: "If the state falls, our homes fall! How could we surrender our homeland to others?!"

"True! As long as even one subject of Great Qian remains alive, we shall fight on!"

"Even with such a mighty foe, what of it? My colleagues and I are no cowards who fear death!"

"If Wang Cheng falls and Great Qian perishes, and we cannot turn the tide, we shall hang ourselves to die for our nation—to repay our sovereign's grace!"

Voices rose one after another, echoing through the hall, long unceasing!

The Qian Wang was visibly moved, his eyes growing even more complex.

He gripped his cane tightly, summoning all his strength to struggle upright from the throne.

Facing them all, he solemnly said: "I know your hearts—I too am resolved to perish with Great Qian. But the Cangling army's might is the peak of the Nine Kingdoms; no nation, save the Imperial Dynasty, can stand against it!"

"In mere months, Cangling's forces will reach Wang Cheng and sever Great Qian's lineage!"

Hearing this, the state tutor Su Xiaofeng beside him suddenly guessed his intent, his face paling: "Great King, you..."

The Qian Wang raised his hand to stop him, his expression unchanged, continuing: "Since death is certain and doom is inevitable, why should I cause Great Qian further bloodshed?"

"Heh. Must we fight Cangling to the death for nothing but the two characters 'Great Qian'? Must we bury countless families, scatter wives from husbands, and leave the people in misery? Is this ruined land truly what you want? Do you know how innocent the people of the world are?!"

The Qian Wang's voice rang out, growing louder and louder!

The civil and military officials below all showed shock, realizing what their great king was about to say.

They tried to speak in protest, but his voice drowned them out: "The Cangling Dynasty stands behind the Cangwu Jiang family—its strength dwarfs all other dynasties!"

"How long will you remain blinded by this foolish loyalty? Do you truly wish to watch Great Qian drown in blood?"

"With your intellect and talent, how can you not see the truth, the key point?"

"The Cangling Dynasty is destined to unify the Nine Kingdoms!"

"Once the Nine Kingdoms merge, war will vanish forever—you will find better places to live, and the people will enjoy a better life."

"Such peace was what my father longed for but never attained; in those days, it was for peace that my elder brother made his sacrifice..."

"Therefore, I refuse to make any more futile sacrifices. I am willing to abandon this throne to secure lasting peace—to truly end this decades-long feud between our two nations!"

As the Qian Wang's final words fell, the entire hall fell utterly silent!

All stared at the Qian Wang's figure, their expressions deeply complex.

They all understood: if they fought Cangling to the death, only annihilation awaited.

Yet they still could not bear to watch Great Qian perish.

Hence they embraced death, resolved to die with Great Qian.

But now, the Qian Wang's words struck them like a thunderclap!

Yes—how innocent are the people of the world?

How can we, for the sake of "Great Qian," ignore their lives and deaths?!

Looking back, we were so selfish...

Thinking of this, one official suddenly knelt, voice trembling with tears: "If... if the Great King surrenders for the sake of the people, then we shall follow."

At these words, the other officials all knelt down, echoing: "We shall follow the Great King in surrender!"

Seeing this, the Qian Wang's aged, wrinkled face finally broke into a faint smile: "Good..."

Saying this, he suddenly drew his waist sword, in full view of everyone's shock, and pressed it to his own throat.

The crowd gasped and rushed to stop him: "Great King, no!"

"After Qin Wang surrendered, he was granted the title Duke of Qin by the Cangling ruler, and his royal house retains hereditary nobility! If you surrender, your treatment will be no worse than Qin Wang's—why do this foolish thing?!"

Facing their pleas, the Qian Wang shook his head and said gravely: "I surrender for my father, for my elder brother, and for the people of the world."

"But... I am still a sovereign—alive, I am a sovereign; dead, I am a sovereign. I cannot live on as a subject of another land, shaming my ancestors and the fallen heroes!"

"To answer my conscience, I must give them an accounting..."