Chapter 635: The False Song

False Song world.

Lin'an.

Huangcheng imperial palace, Hall of Supreme Awe.

The atmosphere was no longer oppressive.

But rather, dead silence.

A dead silence verging on despair.

Zhao Gou on the dragon throne, his complexion ashen, his eyes sunken, seemed to have aged ten years in just a little over a month.

He clutched a military report whose edges were soaked with sweat.

His body trembled slightly.

Below the imperial steps.

Civil and military officials, not a sound.

Most lowered their heads, daring not to meet the emperor's gaze, let alone look at that military report.

It seemed those few thin pages were some man-eating demon.

Chancellor Qin Hui stood at the forefront of the civil officials.

His complexion was just as grim, yet compared to the emperor's lost and dispirited state, he barely maintained a semblance of composure.

Only the slight twitch of his mouth corner and the fist clenched in his sleeve betrayed the turmoil within.

"Ladies and gentlemen..."

Zhao Gou's voice was dry and hoarse, like a broken bellows.

"Everyone... please take a look."

He weakly handed the military report to the attendant beside him.

The attendant bowed to receive it, then began to read in a trembling voice.

His voice was not loud.

But in the hall where even a dropped pin could be heard, each word rang clear as thunder.

"……On March 27, the Yuan army's great general Boyan captured Lu Prefecture; the defending general Du Chong…… surrendered."

"……On April 3, the Yuan army's flank took Anqing; the navy was defeated, leaving a gap in the river defenses."

"……On April 9, Yuan scouts had already appeared north of the Yangtze at Jiankang Prefecture, coming and going as if in an uninhabited land."

"...... According to multiple scouting reports, the armies of Huai Xi and Huai Dong either surrendered, fled, or held isolated cities, with most communications cut off. The Yuan main force is now gathering ships along the river, its aim…… likely Jiangnan."

The attendant's voice grew ever lower.

Finally, it was almost inaudible.

Yet every person in the hall heard it clearly.

Lu Prefecture.

Anqing.

The opposite bank of Jiankang.

These place names, like heavy hammers, struck everyone's hearts one after another.

What does this mean?

It means that north of the Yangtze, the Huai River defense line exists in name only.

It means the Yangtze, regarded as a natural moat, has already been exposed to the Yuan army's spear.

It means the Yuan army's next target is undoubtedly Jiangnan!

It is Lin'an.

It is their last refuge of southern retreat.

"How…… how is this possible?" an old minister staggered, nearly fainting, "The key stronghold of Huai Xi, a hundred‑thousand‑strong army…… only a few days have passed—how could…… how could this happen?"

No one could answer.

Nor did anyone want to know the answer.

The facts lay plain before them.

That monster called the Yuan, with a speed that was devastating and utterly unreasonable, swept away all obstacles in the north of the river.

Now.

Its gaze has already crossed the Yangtze.

Coldly, it turned toward the warm, prosperous but militarily lax Jiangnan.

"The Jin…… where are the remnants of the Jin?" someone clung to the last straw, shouting, "They still have troops in Shandong and Henan, don't they? How can we just watch the Yuan march south?"

Upon hearing this, Qin Hui's mouth twitched even more severely.

He drew a deep breath, stepped forward and bowed, his voice hoarse with fatigue:

"Your Majesty, ladies and gentlemen."

"According to the latest…… and also the final news."

"In Jinan Prefecture of Shandong, the last Jin notable clansman general Wanyan Chengui opened the city ten days ago…… and surrendered to the Yuan."

"Within Henan, the last organized Jin force, about five thousand strong, attempting to flee north to the steppes, was overtaken by Yuan light cavalry and utterly destroyed."

"The Jin ruler…… his whereabouts unknown, likely perished."

"The Jin state……"

He paused, then with all his strength uttered the final words.

"Gone."

The Jin state is gone.

These four characters.

Like the final death knell.

It echoed in the great hall.

It utterly shattered the last, impractical fantasies lingering in some people's hearts.

Ally with Jin to restrain Yue?

Drive out the tiger and swallow the wolf?

Now, the 'tiger' is dead, its bones chewed up and swallowed.

And that more ferocious 'wolf' is licking its blood‑stained lips, baring its ivory fangs at these self‑styled 'hunters'.

"Yue… Yue Fei, where is he?"

Zhao Gou suddenly seemed to recall something, and a complex glint mixed with resentment and last hope flickered in his eyes.

"Isn't he in Luoyang? Isn't he capable of fighting? The Yuan army's main force has moved south; his Luoyang is on the flank! Can't he send troops to pin them down? Can't he harass the Yuan rear?"

This question carried a hint of panic and a hint of hoping to shift blame.

Qin Hui gave a bitter smile.

At this point, the emperor actually still thought of letting Yue Fei serve as this almost certain‑to‑die shield.

He fell silent for a moment, then reported truthfully:

"Your Majesty, Luoyang… has been tightly besieged by a Yuan detachment, and news has been cut off for a long time."

"Yue Fei himself can barely survive; he probably… can't spare any strength to help others."

"Furthermore…"

He raised his head, glanced at the emperor, and forced himself to say:

"Moreover, even if Yue Fei could send troops, given the Yuan army's present momentum, it would likely be like a cup of water to extinguish a cartload of firewood—unable to turn the tide. The vigor of their forces is something no single city or place can block."

That was already quite tactful.

The actual meaning is: don't count on Yue Fei anymore; if he can hold Luoyang and buy a few more days, that's already enough to answer to the Imperial Court—no, enough to answer to himself. The Yuan's momentum is already set, their sweeping force across the land is beyond human power to stop.

The glimmer in Zhao Gou's eyes faded completely.

He slumped onto the dragon throne, as if all his strength had been drained.

"The tide has turned… the tide has turned…"

He muttered to himself, his voice filled with despair.

The officials in the hall also looked ashen-faced.

A sense of impending doom, like icy floodwaters, completely engulfed everyone.

The previous scheming over factional struggles, power, and wealth, in the face of this cataclysm, seemed utterly ridiculous and utterly insignificant.

Now, they have only one thing on their minds.

What to do?

What should the Imperial Court do?

What should we do?

What should our families do?

"Your Majesty!"

A senior official of the Privy Council suddenly burst into tears and flung himself to the ground.

"The urgent task is to strengthen the Yangtze defenses! Gather all able-bodied troops and hold the Yangtze to the death!"

"Collect ships, recruit able-bodied men, reinforce the riverfront defenses!"

"At the same time… at the same time, send eloquent emissaries north to meet the Yuan commander, explain the pros and cons, offer annual tribute, submit as vassal and pay tribute… perhaps… perhaps there might still be a sliver of hope, Your Majesty!"

Submit as vassal and pay tribute.

This is the most practiced, yet most abject, response strategy of the Southern Song Imperial Court when facing a northern strong enemy.

It was the same in past dealings with the Jin.

Now, it's merely a matter of changing the opponent.

Although humiliating.

But… perhaps it could preserve half the realm, keep Lin'an's prosperity, and safeguard their lives and fortunes.

As soon as these words were spoken, they immediately drew the agreement of many officials.

"Lord Li's words are absolutely correct!"

"Only peace talks constitute the best strategy!"

"The Yuan, having risen suddenly, seek nothing more than wealth and women; our court, rich in Jiangnan, could satisfy their desires and temporarily halt hostilities!"

"Exactly! Buying time to plot later plans!"

The clamor for peace instantly gained the upper hand.

It seemed that as long as they lowered their heads and offered tribute, that Yuan army, which had already watered its horses at the Yangtze, would withdraw satisfied.

As for dignity,

as for the unification of the realm,

what is that?

Are lives and fortunes important?

Qin Hui watched this scene, his heart a tangle of mixed feelings.

Peace talks?

How could he not want it?

This is his most skilled, and also his most "safe," path.

But this time, his heart was filled with uncertainty.

The Yuan army……are they really just seeking wealth?

Seeing its thunderous means of sweeping away the Jin state and sweeping across Jiangbei, that ambition to thoroughly erase the previous dynasty's marks and establish a new order probably far surpasses that of the former Jin people.

Peace talks?

Probably just wishful thinking.

However.

At this very moment.

Besides peace talks, what else can the imperial court do?

Fight?

Fight with what?

The Jianghuai defense line has collapsed.

The Yangtze River navy cannot withstand a single blow.

The local garrisons are panic-stricken.

The only one capable of fighting, Yue Fei, has been driven by them to the opposing side, holding a lone city.

Besides lowering their heads, they beg for the enemy's mercy.

It seems……there really is no way out.

"Peace talks……"

Zhao Gou repeated these two words, his eyes gradually gaining a hint of focus.

Like a drowning person clutching the last floating straw.

"Yes……peace talks……"

"Qin Qing!"

He looked toward Qin Hui, his voice urgent.

"Quickly select staff, prepare ample gifts, head north……head north to contact the Yuan army!"

"The wording must be respectful! Terms……can be discussed!"

"As long as they agree to withdraw troops and agree to divide the river for governance……gold, silver, silk, women……everything can be negotiated!"

"Hurry!"

Qin Hui bowed.

"Subject……I obey the edict."

His voice carried a hint of bitterness and fatigue not easily noticed.

He knew this was very likely a futile errand.

It might even be a self-inflicted humiliation.

But.

This is an imperial edict.

It is also, at present, the only action the imperial court can take that appears "proactive."

He slowly withdrew from the hall.

Behind him, the emperor's even weaker voice came, discussing with the ministers how to strengthen that already riddled Jiang defense, and how to gather the gifts for the peace talks that are destined to be like a meat bun thrown at a dog.

He walked out of Chui Gong Hall.

The afternoon sunlight was bright and warm.

It fell on the majestic palace eaves of Huangcheng, and on the delicate plants of the garden.

Everything still seemed as tranquil and harmonious as usual.

But Qin Hui knew.

This tranquility is already an illusion.

This harmony will soon be utterly shattered by the iron hooves coming from the north.

He raised his head, gazing northward.

As if he could see through the layers of palace walls to the surging Yangtze River.

Seeing the endless, black military formation on the opposite bank.

A chill unlike any before.

From his heart.

It spread to his limbs.

False Song.

This dynasty built on compromise, humiliation, and false prosperity.

Under the blood-red sun of the Yuan's violent rise.

They finally arrived at.

The brink of total collapse.

And in Lin'an City, this final panic and struggle.

Merely before the downfall.

Insignificant.

The lingering echo.