Chapter 1013: First Volume, Chapter 1013: On the Eve of Annihilation

First Volume, Chapter 1013: On the Eve of Annihilation

Even if Li Yu did not say it, the King of Northern Di knew full well that the third option was for the King of Northern Di to voluntarily abdicate.

Regardless of which method, for the King of Northern Di, all were merely drinking poison to quench thirst—utterly incapable of solving the actual problems.

If they fled north, the northern environment was far too harsh to allow any development; even with ten or more years of breathing room, the King of Northern Di could never stir up any significant wave.

Holding onto the Jingji cities was not impossible, but the problem was that the Jingji Garrison troops had already lost all morale—who would be willing to accompany the King of Northern Di to face death together?

As for the final option of abdication, it was not even within the King of Northern Di's consideration, neither in public nor private, nor by sentiment nor reason.

After long hesitation and deep thought, the King of Northern Di made a decision even Li Yu had not anticipated.

"I shall lead the army in person!"

"I will personally lead loyal ministers and righteous warriors to confront Qin Feng's army!"

Sensing the King of Northern Di's resolute gaze, Li Yu sighed inwardly, silently marveling that even now, the King of Northern Di could still muster such courage—he was truly a great ruler of the North.

Leading the army in person was indeed a sound strategy; perhaps it could even reignite the garrison's morale.

Though the chance to turn the tide was slim, a desperate last stand might yet carve out a future.

Seeing the King of Northern Di had made his decision, Li Yu no longer hesitated; he immediately issued orders to announce the King's decree and mobilized the Imperial Party troops to the utmost, preparing for a final, life-or-death battle against the enemy.

The news first reached the Ministry of War, and at this moment, the Ministry was nearly deserted, with only a handful of officials still maintaining its basic operations.

The Vice Minister of War had already left Jingji to join Chen Si.

The Minister of War, though friendly with Chen Si, had stayed behind; as an Old Minister, even if he remained in Wang Du, the future "New Monarch" would not trouble him—and besides, the Minister of War's backbone had not yet been broken; he would see this nation through to its final end.

But upon hearing that the King of Northern Di intended to lead the army in person, the Minister of War offered no active support; instead, he politely refused.

"Lord Li, it has come to this—stop clinging to illusions."

"You know full well the current situation: to supply logistical materials to Ezhou, we have stripped every county in Jingji bare—now, civilian morale is boiling over, and not a single grain of grain can be squeezed out."

"Yesterday, officials sent to procure grain in the countryside fled back directly; their attendants were all beaten to death by enraged civilians."

"The people have no path left to survive—if we push further, before we even meet Qin Feng, we must consider whether we'll be destroyed by our own furious populace."

Warfare requires money; even so-called "leading the army in person" begins with mobilizing troops, then securing grain and forage.

Without grain and forage, the mobilized troops would scatter within two days at most.

And what Northern Di lacks most right now is grain and forage.

It was not that the Minister of War opposed the King of Northern Di's decision—he simply had to face the most realistic problem.

Li Yu knew full well the true state of the nation, but he still clung to a faint hope that the King of Northern Di could turn the tide.

He immediately asked: "Even if we cannot gather grain for ten thousand troops, surely we can scrape together rations for three or five thousand men?"

Hearing this, the Minister of War felt a wave of bitter amusement.

What use would three or five thousand men be? Qin Feng's army was elite to the core—just over twenty thousand men had first shattered Zhuozhou, then pierced straight into the Ezhou North Line; even Chen Si and Wu Kang's combined forces could not stop them.

Even if His Majesty led the army in person, protected by imperial authority, what good would three or five thousand second-rate troops do?

Even if they reached the battlefield, they would only be walking to their deaths.

The Minister of War did not refuse outright; he shook his head and sighed: "To support E Bei, grain and forage from garrisons across the regions have been gradually withdrawn—but the garrisons must eat too; even if they still have grain, no one can extract a single grain from them."

"If Lord Li does not believe me, go and see for yourself in the Wang Du Garrison Camp!"

The problem now is that the people have no grain left, while the garrisons still have grain—but they refuse to give it up; ultimately, the issue lies in the weakening of imperial authority: everyone knows clearly that even if they defy imperial orders, the King of Northern Di has no power to punish them.

As Qin Feng's army draws closer to Jingji, the military pressure on regional garrisons grows ever greater.

They have already made their plans: if Qin Feng is willing to absorb them, all will be well; if not, they will rely on their grain and troops to hold their cities and fight to the death.

After hitting a wall with the Minister of War, Li Yu was preparing to go to the Ministry of Revenue when the Minister stopped him.

The Minister of War shook his head with a bitter smile: "Lord Li, if you intend to go to the Ministry of Revenue, let me advise you—save your strength."

"The situation in the Ministry of Revenue is worse than ours; it was previously attacked by Night Owls, and every official there lived in fear—now that the outcome is settled, the Ministry's officials have fled or run away."

"Compared to our Ministry, the Ministry of Revenue is entangled far deeper in various interests—especially since they once aided Lü Li and offended Qin Feng; they are terrified of being purged and retaliated against by Qin Feng."

Li Yu closed his eyes, drew a deep, bitter breath, and said: "Has our great Di become so weak that we cannot even muster a single decent army?"

The Minister of War also felt helpless, but the truth was as it was.

All elite troops had been dispatched to Ezhou to block Qin Feng's advance—but they failed to hold, and were instead pulled away by Chen Si and Wu Kang.

With Chen Si and Wu Kang both having rebelled, the court and the realm had completely collapsed.

Even if the King of Northern Di's blade was still sharp and his aura still fierce, what use was one man alone? He was ultimately a solitary tree unable to hold back a forest.

Li Yu refused to give up: "Must we just wait to die now?"

The Minister of War shook his head with a bitter smile: "What else can we do? Lord Li, we have served together in court—I advise you: hurry and secure your own escape route."

"After all, you are the head of the Night Owls; once Qin Feng enters the capital, you will surely be his first target."

"You know Qin Feng's methods—he will give you no chance at all."

Li Yu knew this well—otherwise, he would not have remained fiercely loyal to the King of Northern Di.

In the entire Northern Di, there were three men Qin Feng must eliminate: Lü Li was already dead, the King of Northern Di was a spent force, and the last remaining man was Li Yu.

After all, the Night Owls had inflicted countless losses on Qin Feng—whether on his close associates or his own troops, all had been wounded by the Night Owls.

When the city gates open and enemies meet, hatred will burn red-hot.

Li Yu closed his eyes; despair filled his heart—Great Di was truly doomed.