Chapter 1131: Lonely City
The memorial was presented to the Little Emperor, who felt a surge of unspeakable anger upon reading it.
On that day, he acted impulsively and agreed to the plea of the Imperial Concubine, allowing Rong Ding to claim credit.
Unexpectedly, this fool managed to get lost even while delivering supplies!
It was his decision to send Rong Ding, which equates to a loss of face for her!
Having embarrassed the Little Emperor, Rong Ding had no luck left and was fiercely scolded by the Little Emperor. Originally holding a fourth-grade official rank, he was stripped of his title.
Rong Ding was thoroughly reduced to a commoner without any position.
Consort Rong dared not plead for leniency with the Little Emperor in his rage, though she internally cursed Rong Ding for being incompetent.
Less than a month after Rong Ding returned, battle reports arrived from the frontlines again.
Several armies had already gathered beneath the walls of Huining City. The final battle between Great Chu and Da Jin was imminent.
The court was filled with an atmosphere of jubilation, second only to the reclamation of Capital Jing.
Huining had now become an isolated city.
Feelings of despair enveloped Huining like dark clouds.
Back then, Great Chu, when besieged, could still hope for reinforcements, but for Huining, reinforcements were out of the question.
Under the gradual advance of the Duke’s strategy of scorched earth and fortification, nearly all the cities of Jin Country were conquered. Part of Jin Country’s army surrendered to Great Chu, while another part was annihilated.
The once resilient Da Jin now only had thirty thousand soldiers guarding the capital left.
Meanwhile, the Duke and Lin Shuo’s two hundred thousand troops encircled Huining impenetrably.
The Duke did not rush to attack the city.
He first had several letters shot into the city, each containing the same message: within three days, the Jin Country’s emperor must lead officials out of the city to surrender.
When Great Chu launched the war, the Jin Country emperor was already gravely ill. Not long into the war, the news exacerbated his condition, leading to his death.
Several princes, each backed by different forces, went through rounds of struggle and compromise, eventually allowing the six-year-old Prince, the youngest, to ascend the throne.
The choice of the youngest prince was naturally because he was easy to control.
The Duke’s letter made it clear that if, after three days, the Jin Country’s emperor did not lead the imperial family and officials out to surrender, Huining would be bathed in blood once the city fell.
The Duke had more than one letter shot into the city.
The news quickly leaked out, spreading secretly among the citizens of Huining City.
On the court, the officials were in a heated argument.
Some advocated surrender to prevent the future massacre by Great Chu’s army.
Others insisted on not surrendering, believing that Huining City was exceptionally strong and might not fall even after a year-long siege.
The nine-year-old Little Emperor, utterly clueless about whom to heed, sat on the dragon throne, bewildered, watching the ministers below quarrel.
Even the Empress Dowager, who was technically the regent, couldn’t make up her mind.
Recalling the horrors following the court and imperial family’s surrender when Capital Jing fell, the Jin Country’s princes understood that Great Chu would not spare them. Thus, they were exceptionally determined not to surrender and to defend Huining to the very last person.
As key figures holding real power within the court, the princes’ stance resulted in the decision against surrender.
News spread amongst the populace, with some citizens cursing the court and imperial family at home, while others praised the imperial family for their valor.
Outside the city, in the camps of Great Chu, tranquility reigned.
Being in an advantageous position, naturally, one could be calm and unhurried.
On the night of the assembly of the armies, the Duke granted Qi Er a three-day leave to visit his father.
The Duke and Lin Shuo’s forces surrounded Huining from the south and north.