Chapter 376: The Last Morning Court

Jiang Jinshi rode at full speed to return to the front lines, immediately summoning all core civil and military officials.

He briefly summarized the key points of his conversation with Wei Xikang, especially the judgment that Wei Xi Yuan might launch a desperate, reckless counterattack, and that the target was likely Beijiang.

Jiang Jinshi immediately issued an order: "Pass on my command! The entire Beijiang territory is to enter a state of highest combat readiness immediately!"

"All border passes, grain supply hubs, workshop areas, and major cities are to double their defensive forces; patrol and alert levels are to be raised to the highest grade!"

"Strictly investigate all suspicious individuals, especially refugees and merchant caravans coming from the directions of Guanzhong and Hedong!"

"Han Xiao, Bai Ting, and Jiang Ze, you three are to reorganize your troops immediately and prepare to provide reinforcements to any location at any time."

"Luo Feng, scatter all your scouts; keep your eyes locked on the direction of Guanzhong, especially on potential infiltration routes for small groups of elite forces!"

"Wang Hou! Get all your men moving!"

"Focus on preventing assassinations, poisoning, arson, and the incitement of rebellion! Strengthen the protection of generals at all levels, important civil officials, and master craftsmen in the workshops."

"Raise your vigilance tenfold regarding any information coming from Guanzhong or Jingcheng; it is better to believe it exists than to assume it does not!"

"When necessary, you may strike first to eliminate confirmed threats!"

"Mr. Xiao and Elder Feng, draft a public notice to reassure the people immediately, explain the situation to stabilize public sentiment, and simultaneously strengthen internal vetting to prevent the spread of rumors."

"Finally, find a way to leak the news that 'the Imperial Court intends to take desperate measures, either to frame Western Liang or to attack Beijiang, dragging the whole world down with them' to Western Liang. Let's see how Wei Wenlie and Si Wushuang react."

Jiang Jinshi quickly issued all the orders; what he needed to do now was not to launch an active offensive, but rather to defend.

Facing the final lingering power of Da Qian, one must never lower their guard.

If too much strength were consumed by Da Qian, the difficulty of facing Western Liang later would increase significantly.

Deliberately spreading this news to Western Liang was also intended to test the other side's reaction.

Perhaps that King of Western Liang, seeing Da Qian setting like the sun, would take the initiative to strike and prioritize occupying Jingcheng?

Of course, this possibility was not high; after all, Si Wushuang was no fool.

Now, it all depended on how Wei Xi Yuan would choose!!

……

Two more days passed, and a morning court was held once again within the Huang Gong; perhaps it was also Wei Xi Yuan's last time holding court.

On the dragon throne, Wei Xi Yuan was, for once, not being supported by anyone today.

Even though his eyes were still bloodshot, his mental state was actually slightly better than before.

He sat bolt upright, using every ounce of his strength to maintain his final dignity as an Emperor.

There were barely ten people standing scattered in the hall, all of them old officials with graying hair and worn-out official robes, or a few young officials of low rank with pale faces and looks of bewilderment and fear in their eyes.

The vast Huang Gong felt exceptionally empty at this moment.

There were no honor guards, no eunuchs chanting loudly, and even the most basic court etiquette seemed sloppy.

From childhood to adulthood, when had Wei Xi Yuan ever seen such a scene in the court?

His gaze slowly swept over these officials below, one by one.

"My ministers!"

Wei Xi Yuan spoke, his voice hoarse yet exceptionally clear, "Those who can still stand here today are the final loyal subjects of Zhen, and of Da Qian."

This short sentence made the few old officials below tremble uncontrollably, tears welling up in their eyes as they knelt and prostrated themselves, their heads touching the ground, emitting suppressed sobs.

The young officials also knelt in a hurry, their faces turning even paler.

Wei Xi Yuan did not tell them to rise, but continued, "Lu Wenchang is ill, Minister Liu is in mourning, Vice Minister Wang fell from his horse... Good! They have all left, all found their own ways out! When a tree falls, the monkeys scatter; it has been so since ancient times, and Zhen does not blame them."

The next moment, his voice rose sharply, "But!! The tree has not completely fallen yet! The wall has not entirely collapsed! The flag of Da Qian is still flying over the walls of Chang'an! Zhen is still the Son of Heaven of Da Qian!"

He stood up abruptly, his movements somewhat unsteady; the old eunuch beside him tried to support him, but was fiercely shoved away.

He pointed to the south, his arm trembling, "Look! Look outside! The rebel King of Western Liang has usurped the southeast, his troops at Tongguan, plundering the wealth of my people! This is a national vendetta! We cannot live under the same sky!"

He then pointed fiercely to the north, "And that Jiang Jinshi of Beijiang! A mere mountain villager, and even more so a thief of the state! He hides the national seal, usurps the title of sovereign, practices evil politics, disrupts my order, and bewitches the hearts of the people! This hatred is irreconcilable! Zhen cannot sleep or eat in peace!"

"My ministers!!"

Wei Xi Yuan's emotions became even more agitated, "Tell Zhen, has our majestic Da Qian, with its heritage of many years, to perish so cowardly at the hands of others, or be destroyed by the schemes of national traitors?

Are future history books to write that Wei Xi Yuan was a monarch who surrendered without a fight and bowed his neck to the slaughter?!"

"Your Majesty! We are willing to die ten thousand deaths!"

The old officials below wept bitterly, and the young officials followed suit, kowtowing; the hall was filled with sounds of sorrow.

"Ten thousand deaths? Is dying ten thousand deaths of any use?"

Wei Xi Yuan laughed miserably, "Zhen knows what you are thinking! The morale at Tongguan is unstable, and the capital is short of grain! Now, it can be said that the soldiers have no heart for battle, and the generals harbor ulterior motives.

To fight is a dead end!

To defend is to sit and wait for death!

To negotiate peace? With whom?

Wei Wenlie wants Zhen's empire, and Jiang Jinshi wants Zhen's life!

Surrender?

Heh...

Zhen is the Son of Heaven, receiving the mandate from Heaven! How can Zhen kneel to rebels?!"

He walked down the steps, step by step, until he stood before the kneeling officials, looking at them almost one by one: "Zhen summoned you here today not to ask what should be done. Zhen has already decided."

He took a deep breath and spat out every word, "Zhen will fight!

The Son of Heaven guards the national gate, the monarch dies for the state!

This is Zhen's final dignity as the Emperor of Da Qian!"

"Your Majesty, please reconsider!" An old official with white hair suddenly raised his head, his face covered in tears.

"Your Majesty, it is not that we fear death, but truly... truly the national strength is exhausted, we are at the end of our rope! The morale at Tongguan has dissipated, the Imperial Guards in the capital are terrified, and grain is hard to sustain. If we fight now, I fear... I fear we will all be destroyed together, and Your Majesty's safety..."

"Destroyed together?"

Wei Xi Yuan interrupted him, a final madness in his eyes, "Yes! Exactly, destroyed together! This piece of jade that is Zhen, even if it must shatter, will splatter the rebels' faces with blood!

It will let the people of the world see that the Emperor of Da Qian has the backbone to rather be a shattered jade than an intact tile! As for safety..."

He looked around at everyone, his tone becoming even firmer, "Zhen's safety has long been cast aside. If your safety can help Zhen complete this final strike, your names will remain in history as loyal martyrs, which is better than being those tail-wagging, cowardly creatures clinging to life!"

These words truly spoke to everyone's hearts; those who were cowardly had long since left, and among those who remained, who was not someone who wished to leave their name in history?

If one could leave their name in history, even if it meant death, then one would go to meet it!

All the words of remonstrance in the court were blocked in their throats, turning into a sigh of despair, and they lowered their heads once more.

Another old official from the Ministry of War asked with a trembling voice, "Your Majesty... if we wish to fight, where should we attack first? Western Liang is powerful, their military force is sharp! And Beijiang... is also not a force to be trifled with."

This question made the atmosphere in the hall even heavier.

Who to fight? This was a fatal choice concerning where to use their very last bit of strength. ===== CHAPTER 377 =====