The Fallen Nation System, Turning the Tide - Chapter 9: Surrender

Chapter 9: Surrender

“The Jin army has advanced.”

At the gates of Chang’an, two columns of armored soldiers cleared the way as an ornate carriage made a grand entrance. Adorned with gold and jade, the canopy was bright and luxurious, its tassels swaying as if concealing twinkling stars.

Though the carriage was lavish, it appeared rather ordinary amidst the concentration of nobility in Chang’an. What truly drew attention were the soldiers leading the procession.

Everyone knew that since the Empress ascended the throne, many in the court remained discontent. Those entering Chang’an with troops were either rebel generals or royal clansmen returning to purge the court.

Observing the ostentatious display, the common people gathered around, whispering and speculating about which prince had arrived.

The carriage wheels turned, rumbling over the stone-paved Mingli Street where the powerful congregated, before finally halting in front of the Plum Garden.

Liu Xu and several senior officials stood waiting on the steps, anticipating the arrival of Ning Wangthe prince who had been carefully selected after extensive deliberation as the most capable candidate.

During his governance in the fief, Ning Wang had prioritized administrative affairs, restrained corrupt officials, and eradicated malpractice. Under his rule, people didn’t need to lock their doors at night, lost items were returned, and the local customs remained pure. His reputation was highly esteemed.

Possessing both grand ambitions and the competence to realize them, Ning Wang had been Liu Xu’s top choice among the royal clansmen.

However, not only had Ning Wang arrived in Chang’an much later than scheduled, but he also flaunted his status with extravagant carriages and horses, creating quite a spectacle. Strictly speaking, he had returned to the capital without an imperial decree.

He was already acting like an emperor before even ascending the throne.

Liu Xu frowned slightly.

No one is perfect, and a desire for prestige isn’t a major flaw. Suppressing his dissatisfaction, Liu Xu descended the steps and approached the carriage, cupping his hands in salute. “Your Highness, Prince Ning.”

A young attendant retrieved a stepping stool from behind the carriage and placed it beside the vehicle for Ning Wang to dismount.

After a long wait, there was no movement from within the carriage.

Thinking Ning Wang hadn’t heard him, Liu Xu raised his voice and called out again.

Still, there was no response. The young attendant stood quietly to the side, hands clasped, showing no intention of boarding to remind his masterclearly, he had been instructed beforehand.

The officials behind Liu Xu were all veterans who had served the late emperor. Having witnessed such old tricks countless times, they immediately understood that Ning Wang was asserting his authority.

How absurdeven the late emperor had treated them with respect, yet Ning Wang dared to challenge them the moment he arrived.

Some were already displeased with Ning Wang but restrained themselves out of respect for Liu Xu.

Maintaining his composure, Liu Xu said calmly, “Your Highness must be weary from the long journey. Please take your time to rest.”

With that, Liu Xu bowed and turned to leave.

Just then, a voice finally emerged from the carriage. “Chancellor Liu, wait.”

A hand lifted the carriage curtain, and a broad-shouldered, stout middle-aged man bent down and stepped out. His narrow phoenix eyes brimmed with ambition, and despite the long journey, he appeared energetic and refreshed. His clothes were impeccably neat without a single wrinkle, and the soles of his shoes were spotless, barely touched by dust.

Ning Wang leisurely descended using the stepping stool, his demeanor casual. Covering his mouth, he feigned a yawn and said apologetically, “Chancellor Liu, please forgive me. At my age, a few days of travel can be quite taxing. I dozed off just now and slept like a log.”

Liu Xu exchanged a few polite words, expressing understanding, then glanced sideways at the young attendant beside Ning Wang. Changing the subject, he remarked, “This attendant of Yours seems rather negligent, unaware of Your Highness’s discomfort. I shall assign a few more alert servants to attend to you.”

Prince Ning detected the underlying meaning in Liu Xu’s words, but among the imperial clan, the outstanding ones tended to die young, while the rest were mostly good-for-nothings who indulged in frivolous pursuits. As the late emperor’s brother with the most legitimate claim, no one was more suited for the throne than him. He had known since Xu Ying’s ascension that Liu Xu would eventually come to him.

What did it matter if Liu Xu was dissatisfied now? He had no other choice.

Prince Ning dismissed the concern. “I appreciate Minister Liu’s kindness, but he has served me since childhood and knows me best. Without him, I would feel ill at ease.”

Liu Xu quietly observed Prince Ning. The prince already viewed the throne as his for the taking, completely disregarding his words. Any further discussion would only breed impatience. If Prince Ning were to become emperor, he would likely ignore Liu Xu even more.

Better to choose someone mediocre than allow a proud and arrogant man to ascend the throne, no matter how talented he might be.

After careful consideration, Liu Xu ultimately decided to abandon Prince Ning and seek another candidate.

After settling Prince Ning at the Plum Garden, Liu Xu ceased all contact with him. Returning to his residence, he sat in his study and reviewed the roster of candidates.

This time, Liu Xu considered not only ability and political achievements but also personality, hoping to avoid another Prince Ning.

Unaware of the turmoil in Chang’an, Xu Ying in Youzhou remained distant from these events. However, Zhang Yu, who sought to control Xu Ying and seize power, knew the time was ripe.

Zhang Yu had just finished reading intelligence reports. Assassins had been targeting Xu Ying, but fortunately, his spies had eliminated them in advance without alerting anyone.

With the northern expedition’s failure and Prince Ning returning to the capital without summons, Xu Ying was likely too anxious to sleep. The added threat of assassins might push her beyond her limits.

Zhang Yu smiled and ordered his spies to cease protecting Xu Ying in secret. Instead, they were to operate openly and, when necessary, use a “bitter flesh” scheme to win her trust.

After releasing the messenger pigeon, Zhang Yu sat down and wrote a letter to Xu Ying. He informed her of Liu Xu bringing Prince Ning to Chang’an and expressed his support for her. Sealing the letter, he placed it within a routine memorial amid other impeachment petitions against Xia Chenglie and sent it to Youzhou.

Meanwhile, Youzhou was shrouded in the gloom of defeat. After their initial victory at Tanmuhu, the Northern Barbarians lit celebratory bonfires for several consecutive nights, further demoralizing the Jin army.

As Tanmuhu prepared for a second assault, his rest was abruptly interrupted by an envoy from the royal court. Annoyed at having his sleep disturbed, he rose irritably and snapped, “What is it?”

The soldier, pale and flustered, stammered, “It’s terrible, T-Tegin, it’s terrible! The Jin army is a-attacking…”

At the mention of “Jin army,” Tanmuhu jolted awake, assuming a surprise attack. He grabbed the soldier and demanded, “The Jin army is attacking us?”

To his surprise, the soldier shook his head wildly, stumbling over his words before finally managing, “N-no, not us, Tegin! The Jin army isn’t attacking usthey… they attacked the royal court! They’ve captured the Khan!”

Tanmuhu’s eyes widened in shock, his voice rising sharply. “What did you say?”

The soldier, now speaking more coherently, repeated the news and added fragments he recalled: “Tegin, the Jin army stormed the royal court and captured the Khan. The Khan has already signed the instrument of surrender. We can no longer wage war against the Jin dynasty.”

Enraged, Tanmuhu kicked the soldier away, his eyes blazing with fury. “When did Xia Chenglie reach the royal court? Why didn’t we detect anything?”

“No, it’s impossible, in such a short time, impossible…” Tanmuhu muttered, refusing to believe. He turned and glared fiercely at the soldier, drawing his blade and plunging it into the man’s stomach. “You’re lying! You must be a spy from Jin sent to undermine morale! It’s fake, all fake!”

The soldier died with his eyes wide open, unable to rest in peace.

Not only was Tanmuhu unwilling to believe, but Xu Ying also stared blankly at the instrument of surrender on the desk, lost in thought.

In the dead of night, an urgent dispatch had arrived from the front lines. The courier brought joyous news: Xia Chenglie had breached the royal court, captured the Khan of Beidi alive, and the Khan had signed the instrument of surrender. They were already on their way to Youzhou for the “enfeoffment” ceremony.

Beneath the instrument of surrender was a personal letter from Xia Chenglie, claiming there was more good news to present to the ruler.

The capture of the Khan of Beidi had already shocked her enough. She wondered if she could handle whatever additional “good news” Xia Chenglie planned to give her.

Opening the system control panel, she saw the hatred value skyrocketing. The air suddenly felt fresher, and the pain in her chest eased considerably.

Well, if he’d captured the Khan, so be it. The Northern Barbarians were composed of multiple tribesjust because the Khan surrendered didn’t mean the others would.

Considering how much Xia Chenglie had helped increase her hatred value, she decided to forgive him. She could still use him, but she wouldn’t send him out to battle again.

Xu Ying rubbed her temples, pondering what to assign Xia Chenglie upon his return.

Author’s Note:

Apologies for another short chapter. Will update 3k words tomorrow.

Thanks to the little angels who voted for me or provided nutrient solutions between 2023-03-27 17:59:56~2023-03-28 19:42:13~

Special thanks to Kerbern Callet for the hand grenade and landmine!

Many thanks for your supportI’ll keep working hard!