Chapter 1197: The City is About to Fall

It came so suddenly!

This really came so suddenly!

In all of Longyan, no one was prepared!

The entire country exploded.

Tiemu City has also dispatched troops?

And they are pointing their swords directly at Jinghua!

Who could have foreseen this?

"This Tiemu City has immense ambition!"

"As expected, a wolf is a wolf!"

"Wasn't it said that he had already been subdued by Chief Minister Liu!"

At this moment, the administrative ministers of Longyan were as anxious as ants on a hot pan.

Military reports were arriving one after another.

The situation is critical!

Jinghua is in danger!

They had calculated everything, but they never calculated that this "ally," Tiemu City, would actually stab them in the back during Longyan's crisis.

Indeed, nomadic peoples are not to be trusted.

However, at this moment, it was already a bit too late to understand this truth.

At this moment, the parliament had to make a decision.

Xie Ming was completely stunned by fear.

How could this happen!

Jinghua should be the safest place!

Jinghua is located in the heart of Zhongyuan; he had never imagined that one day, there could actually be an army directly threatening Jinghua!

"What is going on! Who can tell me what is going on!"

Where are the defensive forces of Longyan?

A group of people looked at each other in dismay.

No one dared to speak.

They were careless!

They were indeed careless!

This Tiemu City is also a cunning character; when Liu Zheng was in Longyan, he was always Liu Zheng's lackey... and thus, he had always been in an alliance with Longyan.

Even during the Liaodong campaign, he had helped deliver supplies to Kuye Island...

And so.

The troops of Tiemu City still had considerable freedom of passage within Longyan.

Who could have thought...

Who could have thought!

He actually struck a cold blow from behind, and this blade was thrust directly into the heart of Longyan, Jinghua!

Furthermore, they were clamoring for Xie Ming to leave the city and surrender, promising to spare his life!

"Bastard!"

"Where is Chief Minister Liu!"

"Bring Chief Minister Liu to me!"

In his panic, Xie Ming naturally wanted to find someone to take the blame.

Without a doubt, the one to take the blame was Liu Zheng.

Even...

In his heart, he still felt some joy—an opportunity!

This was another opportunity!

This was the best chance for him to reclaim his imperial power!

"Your Majesty..."

"This..."

"Chief Minister Liu is already on his way back; he also did not foresee this situation."

Zhu Zhen spoke up to defend Liu Zheng.

Xie Ming looked at him coldly: "What do you mean he didn't foresee it? I think he is the one with the greatest ambition; he is the one who wants to use Tiemu City to kill me, to kill me, right? Then he can become the Emperor!"

This...

The entire hall was silent.

If Liu Zheng wanted to be Emperor, would it ever be your turn?

A group of people grumbled in their hearts.

Zhu Zhen coughed awkwardly: "Your Majesty, since things have reached this point, we should make a decision as soon as possible."

Now, there were only two paths before them.

This was also the topic the Councilors were arguing about.

One, defend Jinghua to the death.

Two, abandon Jinghua and move the capital to Yingtian.

Regarding moving the capital to Yingtian, both the new and old Nobles were opposed; after all, most of them had their assets in the north, and once the capital was moved to Yingtian, their businesses in the north would all fall into...

... at the hands of the Mongol.

However, although they were unwilling, the Scholar-officials were still very much in favor; after all, their industries were all in Jiangnan, and the north had little to do with them, so whether it was lost or not did not have much impact.

Because of this, the whole assembly was in an uproar.

Yet, after arguing for a long time, they still hadn't reached a conclusion.

Nowadays, they actually thought of the Absolute Monarchy system; although that was very feudal, its execution was much faster than the current state of affairs.

And just as they were thinking about this, Xie Ming walked out.

"We cannot move the capital. Once the capital is moved, most of the northern territory will be completely lost, and by then, my Longyan will only be able to survive in a corner of Jiangnan."

"Defend! We must defend to the death! There is an ancient saying: The Son of Heaven guards the national gate, the monarch dies for the state. If Jinghua is lost in my hands, I will have no face to see my late father in the underworld!"

Looking at Xie Ming like this, everyone was stunned.

How did this mascot come out? And his words today were quite impressive!

At this moment, Xie Ming appeared righteous and awe-inspiring, but it was merely a facade; in his heart, there was no such righteousness.

Everything he said was taught to him by Xie Chen.

In fact, he wanted to move the capital more than anyone else; after all, he was the Emperor, and if he were captured by the enemy, he certainly wouldn't have a good end. It would be better to move the capital to Yingtian, wallow in luxury, and live happily and freely.

Moreover...

He dreamed of getting rid of Liu Zheng's control!

Everyone knew that this Chief Minister Liu was the head of the Northern Alliance!

Fleeing to the south might be an opportunity!

But Xie Chen told him that the complexity of this matter still required considering the level of the Council first.

With Liu Zheng absent, this Longyan was equivalent to having no one in charge.

So.

This was the best opportunity to take back imperial power; with the Councilors arguing endlessly, they naturally longed for a backbone who could make decisions.

If at this time, Xie Ming, this "Emperor," could turn the tide and prop up the collapsing building, he would gain prestige; then, with the support of the Prince of Zhao's two-hundred-thousand-strong army, regaining imperial power would not be impossible.

Furthermore.

Since ancient times, imperial power had always been the guiding light in the hearts of the people.

There was a sacred concept inherent within it.

He felt that Xie Ming should step forward!

To re-establish imperial power!

"Your Majesty, defending to the death... I fear our military strength is insufficient. The enemy has a force of one hundred thousand, while we only have twenty thousand; there is simply no way to fight."

A representative of the Scholar-officials reminded him.

"We are not going out of the city to fight a positional battle with them; we are defending from within the city. The walls of Jinghua City are high and thick, and the Mongol are not skilled at siege warfare. It will not be so easy for them to break in. Besides, the imperial edict has already been issued, and soon Feudatory Kings will come to the rescue; by then, the crisis in Jinghua can be resolved."

Xie Ming said calmly.

Watching Xie Ming speak with such logic, the assembly of Councilors was stunned; they had not expected that this unreliable Longyan Emperor would actually have such a tough day.

Regarding this, the new and Old Aristocrats were very happy, and as for the Scholar-officials, even if they wanted to move the capital, since the Emperor had spoken personally, it would be difficult to move it.

"Alright, the matter is settled. Someone, bring me a set of Armor! From today on, the Son of Heaven guards the national gate, the monarch dies for the state! Only the Longyan imperial family can lead the direction of Longyan!"

Xie Ming spoke with such iron-willed resolve that it actually intimidated quite a few people.

Many people were instantly moved to tears.

This was the real Longyan!

This was their Son of Heaven!

What was this Council, some kind of messy thing that couldn't discuss a single thing after half a day!

"Your Majesty, you are the head of state, this Armor..."

"Rest assured, I am only standing on the city wall to command. Hey, at critical moments, one still has to rely on me. What use is Chief Minister Liu? In the midst of national crisis, as Chief Minister, he is actually not in Jinghua!"

Xie Ming looked around and shouted coldly:

"Now, our country is in imminent danger, with wars everywhere. All of this is because of Liu Zheng! You pillars of the former dynasty, is this the 'Constitutional Monarchy' you wanted to see? Arguing back and forth in this place every day, spitting everywhere—where is the civility? Where is the conscience?"

"Our Longyan is vast and rich, with a wide territory; it is simply not suitable for a Constitutional Monarchy. Only the traditional Monarchy of Longyan can unite the hearts of the people. My dear ministers, in the past, you were all important officials relied upon by my late father. Today, are you willing to join me in creating a restored Longyan? If successful, you will be famous ministers of the restoration! I guarantee to promote you and grant you titles, making you Marquises and Prime Ministers, to be remembered for eternity."

Although Xie Ming was not cut out for speech-giving, he at least had the draft Xie Chen prepared for him. Much of what he said was worth considering, and the ministers also began to ponder.

What was the point of pledging loyalty to the Council to the death? All they got was a faster way to make money given to them by Liu Zheng.

Liu Zheng gave money, but this little Emperor before them was giving titles!

In this world, the most profitable profession was being an official; if one had a title, making money would be even easier.

Liu Zheng gave people fish, while the little Emperor Xie Ming was "teaching people how to fish."

At this, the ministers also began to hesitate.

Zhu Zhen and the Prince of Qin looked at each other in dismay.

Unlike the others...

They only felt that the current Xie Ming was completely courting death...

The extent of Liu Zheng's control over Longyan was already deep in the marrow.

This was not something that could be changed overnight...

The others did not have such insight.

Most of them had direct or indirect economic dealings with Liu Zheng.

What exactly should be done.

After a while, these ministers came to their senses.

After a while, these ministers reacted.

Given Liu Zheng's temperament, he was certainly unwilling to abandon Jinghua; since both sides had this thought, choosing to support them would allow him to benefit from both ends.

As for their duplicity, Xie Ming actually understood it, but he did not care; as long as he could hold out against the Mongol and drag it out until the Qinwang Army arrived, his mission would be accomplished, and at that time, he would also bring up the matter of "restoration."

After changing into his battle armor, Xie Ming followed the soldiers up to the city wall.

At this moment, he saw the dark, dense mass below the city.

Suddenly, Xie Ming felt a wave of dizziness.

If that howling Cavalry down there came up, he would certainly not have a good end!

"Your Majesty, are you alright, Your Majesty!" Zhu Zhen supported Xie Ming and asked with a worried face.

"I am fine, I just slept too late last night and lack energy; Minister Zhu, I leave this city gate to you. No matter what means you use, you must hold it for me, do you understand?" Xie Ming said with a pale face.

"Yes." Zhu Zhen responded helplessly.

No matter what, he had to hold on until Liu Zheng returned...

Xie Ming spoke lightly, but when it came to actual defense, it was not the same thing at all.

The Mongol did not just charge forward with brute force; they also had brains.

Although they lacked Cannon, they had Catapult; while the power of these things could not compare to the Explosive Shell of a Cannon, they were perfectly capable of smashing the mortal bodies on top of the city wall.

Ceramic jars filled with kerosene were thrown onto the city wall one by one, while the Mongol were at

An arrow ignited the kerosene on the city wall, and the entire gate tower was instantly a sea of fire.

Due to the scorching heat of the fire, no one dared to approach the city wall; at this moment, the Mongol Battering Ram made its appearance.

Without the obstruction of volleys of arrows, the Battering Ram was pushed to the East Gate in just half an incense stick of time!

The city was about to fall! Pop-ups have been frequent lately, you can click to download,

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