He seemed to have aged twenty years overnight. His former strategic and confident demeanor had vanished, leaving only the disheveled state of someone who had survived a catastrophe and a deep-seated despondency.
He barely managed to walk to the foot of the steps, almost on instinct, then collapsed to his knees with a thud, banging his head on the ground and letting out a hoarse, mournful cry:
"Your Majesty, I, a sinful subject, pay my respects! Long live Your Majesty ...!"
Her voice choked with sobs, seemingly filled with endless regret and guilt, echoing in the silent palace.
Li Jingang sat high on the dragon throne, looking down expressionlessly at his old brother who had once been regarded as his right-hand man but was now utterly defeated and in a sorry state.
He felt no pity, only surging anger and a cold scrutiny.
The loss of Xijing, the capture of Li Hu, and the annihilation of 100,000 troops—Yang Yan bears the primary and inescapable responsibility for all of this!
“Yang Yan,” Li Jingang’s voice was icy cold, devoid of any warmth, like the chilly wind of December, “you… you actually managed to come back alive to see me.”
These words struck Yang Yan's heart like a whip.
He trembled, his body pressed even lower against the ground, and he sobbed:
"This sinful subject...this sinful subject is incompetent, has lost troops and territory, and has failed His Majesty's trust. He deserves to die ten thousand times! He originally intended to die in Xijing to repay His Majesty's kindness, but thinking that His Majesty might want to know the situation of the enemy in Xijing, this sinful subject lingered on his life and fought his way out of the encirclement, just...just to report the truth about Zhao Muyun to His Majesty!"
In fact, Yang Yan herself was also wronged.
He had advised Li Jingang to first concentrate his forces on destroying Zhao Muyun and the small court of the Prince of Jin, and then to conquer Jiangnan, but Li Jingang did not listen to him.
Later, Yang Yan fought on two fronts, Longyou and Xiazhou. Li Jingang listened to Feng Liang's words and intentionally weakened Yang Yan instead of sending troops to support him immediately.
Moreover, this important pass, Longmen Pass, was actually guarded by a pus-filled coward.
But can Yang Yan say these things?
The fact is that he lost Xijing. Once he lost, nothing he said will make Li Jingang think he was shirking responsibility!
The Minister of War couldn't help but snort coldly, clearly not believing this explanation.
Feng Liang squinted, scrutinizing Yang Yan as if trying to discern something from every subtle expression on his face.
Li Jingang remained noncommittal and said calmly:
"Oh? Then tell me, how did Xijing fall? And what about Zhao Muyun, and what was the truth behind his actions?"
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