"Right now."
"Now?"
Su Ming was taken aback, seemingly not expecting it to be so urgent.
"First, eliminate the court."
Chen Yuan extended a finger, and a portal instantly condensed in the air. Then, he got up and stepped into it, with Jiang He following in silence. Su Ming opened his mouth, forced a bitter smile, and followed suit.
...
As Chen Yuan set off, the four prefectures of Central State were gradually falling. Everywhere the troops passed, the Great Jin Court’s officials and the stationed generals surrendered one after another.
There was quite a sense of the people welcoming the king’s troops with simple food and drink.
The gathered elite troops had already reached half a million, but wherever they went, they did not harm the people in the slightest. Those who violated military rules were executed in public.
This was prepared by Chen Yuan to gather the Qi Fortune for his future ascension to emperor, and he had supplied the army with ample provisions, all of which had been prepared in advance.
Anyone who dared to be greedy had no one but themselves to bla for his ruthlessness.
Within a short ti, smoke and flas rose throughout Central State, and except for the Divine Capital City, almost all court territories had fallen. Now, this court that had stood for over two hundred years was finally nearing its end.
Within the Divine Capital City, the usual hustle and bustle had long vanished. Besides so panic-stricken soldiers on the streets, few commoners were seen, even though the people in the Capital had a good impression of Chen Yuan.
But with the army pressing in, they dared not gamble.
They could only stay quietly at ho, awaiting the final judgnt. Of course, so with status and influence had long left the capital, seeking stability.
Outside the Capital, everything was under the control of Chen Yuan’s uncle, Chen Huaiyi, and within the Capital, the dignitaries and nobles had long been secretly communicating. So had even begun to offer their strategies, claiming that their offspring were guarding the city gates and could open them at any mont to welco the king’s troops.
But all were rejected; only when Chen Yuan arrived would the decisions be made.
Within the Imperial City, the palace maids and eunuchs were in chaos, visibly panic-stricken. On the court, the gathered officials murmured in low voices.
It seed as if they were discussing so plan to save the nation, but only Sima Ke, sitting on the dragon throne, knew that most of them were considering selling out the country, not saving it.
On the military side, everything was in the hands of Princess Pingyang, with the Great Governor of the Heavenly Patrol Bureau, Xiao Jing, and the forr Divine Envoy Zhang Yantong as her wings, they had basically purged everything.
Princess Pingyang sat below the dragon throne, eyes closed and silent, making the Golden Throne Hall feel very oppressive.
Outside the hall, many elderly clan mbers of the Sima Family gathered, and after reporting, they entered the Golden Throne Hall, with expressions of resoluteness on their faces.
They all bore the Sima surna and, though stripped of power and influence, were still mbers of the Royal Family and would share in the court’s fate. The civil and military officials parted to make way.
Two young Sima Family royal mbers supported an elder with white hair and beard, leaning on a cane as he gradually approached.
"The Chief Patriarch had long since retired, why is he here today?"
Princess Pingyang opened her eyes, glancing at the elder.
But the Chief Patriarch ignored her, looking directly at the new Emperor Sima Ke on the dragon throne, and asked solemnly:
"Your Majesty, the rebel army is at the gates, how do you plan to respond?"
Sima Ke’s mind repeatedly recalled the words of Grand Ancestor and Chen Yuan’s face, and after a mont of silence, he said softly:
"The rebel forces are vast, boasting hundreds of thousands of troops, with mighty fighters abound. For the sake of the Capital’s people, I intend to surrender the city to preserve their lives and avoid unnecessary slaughter."
"Your Majesty...."
"Your Majesty....."
A few senior civil officials, with tears streaming down, kneeled to the ground as if lanting the dynasty’s downfall. Many civil officials, seeing this, followed suit, crying within the Golden Throne Hall.
But few military officials wept, most observed coldly, as if it had nothing to do with them.
"Bang!"
The old Chief Patriarch struck his cane against the ground, glaring angrily at Sima Ke, saying:
"We are prepared to fight to the death, how can you, as Emperor, surrender first?"
"Do you... do you stand up to the ancestors of the Sima Family?"
"In the afterlife, how will you face the late emperor, Emperor Taizhong, and Grand Ancestor?"
Sima Ke frowned slightly, thinking this old fool couldn’t see the situation clearly. Besides so of the Sima Family, who else was willing to die fighting? If there was hope, why would he willingly beco a fallen emperor?
"The old Chief Patriarch is confused, take him away."
Sima Ke gestured with his hand.
But no one dared move.
Sima Ke’s expression turned slightly unpleasant as he looked towards Princess Pingyang, whispering:
"Sister...."
"Escort the old Chief Patriarch out."
Princess Pingyang said coldly.
Zhang Yantong waved a hand, and instantly several Martial Artists from the Heavenly Patrol Bureau stepped forward, ready to escort him out.
"Let’s see who dares to lay a hand on . Pingyang, you traitorous descendant bringing disaster to the nation, you’ve taken control of the court’s power. How can you behave so? If unwilling to fight, then chop off my head and step over my corpse to kneel and beg for rcy!"
The Chief Patriarch directly rebuked.
"Very well, everyone, take him away gently," Princess Pingyang said softly.
"Let’s see who dares!"
The old Chief roared angrily, but the experts from the Heavenly Patrol Bureau disregarded, directly subduing him and forcing the royal family mbers to retreat from the Golden Throne Hall, while the old Chief Patriarch’s angry voice continued echoing inside.
"Continue with the court discussion."
Pingyang continued.
Sima Ke cleared his throat, took a deep breath, and spoke:
"King Yan, Chen Yuan, is of cultured and martial virtue, with outstanding rit, a leader of territories, possessing the deanor of a ruler. I am of average talent, unfit for great responsibilities. For the sake of the Capital’s citizens, for all people, I wish to open the city and surrender. What do you all think?"
Zhang Yantong, Xiao Jing, and many mighty military generals, bowed in unison and said:
"Your Majesty is wise, we support your decision."
The civil officials who had been crying earlier quickly wiped their tears and snot, and also spoke up:
"Your Majesty is wise, we support your decision."
Sima Ke paused for a mont, and said:
————
"First, give so Monthly Tickets, and then surrender imdiately."
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