1:15 AM.
Despite having convinced herself, Jin Fengluan calmed the ministers in the palace and asked them to wait with her for new battle reports from the city tower. However, as time passed, the long-awaited battle reports did not arrive as expected.
This is quite unusual. Even if the battle is fierce, there should be reports coming back one after another. But since the last report, there has been no news at all.
Jin Fengluan was finally overcome with panic and could no longer control herself. The others in the hall seemed to sense something as well, and were now even more restless. Jin Pingyong anxiously rubbed his hands together, finally unable to hold back any longer and spoke:
"Your Majesty, no military intelligence has been sent from the front lines yet. I'm afraid this is not only unfavorable to our side, but... it may even be..." He trembled and couldn't even finish the sentence.
Jin Fengluan waved her trembling hand and forced herself to remain calm, saying, "They must be in the midst of a fierce battle and have no time to report."
"However, I sent someone to inquire a moment ago, so I think... we'll know soon."
Not long ago, Jin Fengluan flew into a rage after waiting for news. She then sent the Imperial Guards to investigate, but what she did not know was that the frontline troops had already surrendered. The few Jin generals who escaped in the chaos no longer cared about the capital and hurriedly headed west of the city, intending to flee far away.
Jin Zhou was the first to be affected. While guarding the main city tower, he took advantage of the chaos to escape. After leaving the battlefield, he rode straight west of the city, already far away from the imperial city.
At this moment, the Imperial Guards who went out to investigate finally caught sight of the Yan Army troops marching towards the Imperial City. Immediately, some of the less resolute turned and fled, not even returning to the Imperial City.
But there were still some loyal people who rushed back on horseback, arriving at the palace just in time.
There wasn't even time to report it when Jin Xuan, the leader of the Imperial Guards, rode his horse into the palace. He dismounted just before reaching the steps of the Golden Palace and galloped towards the inside.
The sound of horses neighing outside the palace was naturally heard by those inside. Wang Yong's heart skipped a beat, and he almost fainted. He already felt that this battle was likely to be lost, and upon hearing the sound of horses neighing, he immediately realized that the rebel army had entered the imperial city.
"It's over! They're coming!" He slapped his hand hard and yelled loudly.
Caught off guard by the sudden howl, Jin Fengluan trembled and collapsed onto the dragon throne. But before she could speak, Jin Xuan rushed into the hall in a panic.
Wang Yong turned his head and breathed a sigh of relief. It was Jin Xuan! He had almost been scared to death!
Before he could even pat his chest to reassure himself, Jin Xuan hurriedly said:
"Your Highness! Something terrible has happened! The rebel army has entered the city and is heading straight for the imperial city!"
As soon as the words were spoken, everyone's pupils contracted, and the color drained from their faces instantly. Apart from the voice, the only sound in the hall was gasping for breath.
Jin Xuan continued, "The men we sent hadn't even left a few markets when they saw the enemy army charging towards them, and surprisingly, not a single one of them tried to stop them!"
"Clearly, the troops in Zhengdong City have been defeated! No...! Even if they were defeated, they should have suffered a crushing defeat in the fighting, not failed to send back news. They... they probably surrendered without a fight!" Jin Xuan was extremely anxious, but his face still showed no sign of anger.
During the Battle of Datong, his father died in battle, and his elder brother Jintan also perished. Fortunately, his younger brother Jinzhou survived. After returning, he even volunteered to make amends by guarding the main city tower and defeating the enemy. Jin Xuan also placed high hopes on him.
But now it seems that not only has the city gate fallen, but the inner city garrison may have even surrendered. As the commander-in-chief, he is to blame. Nanze is the last city, and the safety of the imperial city depends entirely on the outer city gate. He led his troops to surrender and did not send back any military intelligence. At this critical moment, he actually did such a thing!
Jin Xuan was furious, wishing he could chop him up with a knife, but it was no use doing anything now. With the rebels coming, disaster was truly imminent.
But just as he finished speaking, a sharp, piercing laugh suddenly rang out.
"Haha! You're talking nonsense again."
“My troops are all brave and skilled in battle. There are at least tens of thousands of them in the city. The previous message said that the rebels were still leading their men to attack the city walls. How could they have already come to the capital in such a short time?”
"...Nonsense, you must be mistaken."
Jin Fengluan's face was soaked with sweat, her makeup was ruined on her haggard face, she was still huddled in the dragon throne, one hand holding the dragon head armrest, a stiff smile on her face.
Jin Xuan sighed deeply, knowing that this matter had dealt a tremendous blow to His Majesty, but he couldn't worry about that now. He immediately stepped forward and said in a deep voice:
"Your Majesty, it is absolutely true, there is no mistake. In a few moments, we will be able to hear the sound of enemy horses' hooves right here!"
"Your Majesty, we cannot linger here. We must leave as soon as possible before the rebel army enters the capital!"
Having said that, Jin Xuan quickly stepped forward.
The ministers were in a panic. Some clapped their hands, some stamped their feet, some sat on the ground with pale faces, and some cried out, muttering, "What should we do!"
Of course, most people turned around and ran outside. Jin Pingyong was the first to do so. He had already turned around when Jin Xuan said the first sentence, and he rushed out of the hall as soon as Jin Xuan finished speaking the second sentence. Wang Yong followed closely behind.
At that moment, an even more piercing scream came from the dragon throne.
"Don't leave! Nobody is allowed to leave!"
"All of you, come back to me!" Jin Fengluan staggered to her feet, her face contorted in a ferocious grimace, and screamed at the top of her lungs.
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