The capital city, the imperial palace.
The same urgent military report arrived at Li Jingang's desk almost simultaneously.
Compared to the intelligence obtained by Zhao Muyun, the military reports of the Great Feng were more chaotic and delayed, but their direction was equally clear.
The main force of the Tartars marching south had indeed penetrated deep into the heartland, and their advance was terrifying.
"Useless! You're all a bunch of useless trash!"
Li Jingang flew into a rage, smashing the glass paperweight in his hand to pieces. "Li Biao and Li Bao led an army of 100,000, yet the Tartars managed to breach Daming Prefecture and advance unimpeded! What were those two good for?"
Feng Liang and several ministers prostrated themselves on the ground, offering their advice:
"Your Majesty's most pressing concern is how to deal with this! The Northern Barbarians' plan is to divide and encircle us. If Hedong cannot hold out, or if Zhao Muyun... harbors treacherous intentions, our Great Feng will be in grave danger!"
Just then, an imperial attendant urgently reported that Prince Cheng, Li Yuan, disregarded the palace restrictions and requested an immediate audience, saying that there was an extremely urgent matter from Fenglingdu.
Li Jingang immediately issued a summons.
When Li Yuan rushed into the imperial study, travel-worn and disheveled, and laid out all the new conditions proposed by Shen Qian, Li Jingang and Feng Liang fell into a deathly silence.
"Acknowledge its separatist regime...Release the merchants...Postpone the release of Li Hu?"
Li Jingang muttered to himself, each word like a needle piercing his heart.
This is blatant profiteering!
But he knew even better that Zhao Muyun was right: if Hedong Zezhou and Luzhou collapsed, the capital would be facing the Tartar army head-on.
"Your Majesty!" Feng Liang raised his head, "In times of emergency, expediency is necessary! Although Zhao Muyun is ambitious and treacherous, he is the only one who can hold off the Northern Di on the northern front at this moment!"
"If we do not agree, and they take the risk of secretly colluding with the Northern Barbarians, the consequences will be unimaginable!"
"Agree to his request; at least it will buy us time to rebuild our northern defenses!"
Li Jingang closed his eyes in anguish. He could almost see the Tartar cavalry galloping along the riverbank and hear the urgent cries for help from the Mengjin ferry.
He hasn't even been emperor for a full year yet. If the capital is besieged by the Tartars again, he might end up like Yin Zhao.
"I..."
Inside the imperial study, the candlelight illuminated Li Jingang's ashen and weary face, as well as his hesitant expression.
Seeing that Li Jingang was still hesitating, Feng Liang prostrated himself on the ground, his voice hoarse:
"Your Majesty, hesitation will only lead to more trouble! Although Zhao Muyun is using his power to demand a price, the Northern Di are the real threat now!"
"If their iron hooves are allowed to trample Luze and drink from the Yellow River, the capital will be in grave danger!"
Li Jingang clenched his fists tightly.
He understood this principle perfectly well, but he simply couldn't swallow his anger.
If they don't admit it, and Hedong falls, or Zhao Muyun becomes desperate and does something rash...
"His Majesty!"
Empress Gong barged in without being announced.
She had clearly learned of the Northern Di's threat to the capital from Madam Huang or other sources, and at this moment her face paled and her eyes were filled with tears.
"Your Majesty! For the sake of the country, for my child and for... for Hu'er to have a chance to live, please agree to their request for now!"
"Zhao Muyun wants a title, so give it to him! It's better than letting the Northern barbarians kill their way across the river!"
A woman's cries and her fear of losing her life are often more impactful than a minister's rational analysis.
Looking at his wife's terrified face, Li Jingang's last shred of hesitation was finally crushed.
He slumped back onto the dragon throne, as if he had aged ten years in an instant, his voice hoarse and broken like a broken gong:
"Draft the decree... That's enough. Feng Liang, you go and do it yourself. In the form of a secret decree, agree to Zhao Muyun's conditions first..."
"The first point is that its right to govern the existing controlled areas and its responsibility to defend against the Di people can be recognized, but it must be stated that this is an expedient measure for extraordinary times, and the official status will be discussed after the Northern Di troops withdraw."
"Secondly, open the Longmen Pass passage to allow supplies to travel north. The imperial court's grain and fodder for the northward journey can also pass through this route, escorted by the Hedong Army."
"The third order is to immediately release the relevant merchants and goods that have been seized."
"Article Four: Yang Chao is strictly ordered not to engage in any further provocative acts, or he will be sent back to the capital!"
"As for Li Hu... inform the other party that you should keep your promise and ensure Li Hu's safety. We will discuss the return of Li Hu once the situation has stabilized."
With each statement he made, his face grew paler.
This is almost a complete compromise with Hedong.
"This old minister... obeys the decree!"
Feng Liang kowtowed deeply, his heart filled with mixed emotions.
He knew that once this secret edict was issued, the court's prestige would plummet, but at least it gave him a chance to catch his breath.
Meanwhile, at the Yang residence.
Yang Yan sat listlessly in the shadows of the study, like a clay or wooden sculpture.
The news brought by his trusted aides was increasingly despairing:
The emperor urgently summoned Feng Liang and Li Yuan late at night. Even after the palace gates were locked, secret envoys continued to enter and exit. The lights in Madam Huang's house remained on all night...
All signs indicate that Li Jingang has decided to join forces with Zhao Muyun.
"That Li Jingang... he actually wants to bow down to that traitor... hahaha... hahahaha..."
Yang Yan let out a low, mournful laugh, “To secure the outside world, we must first secure the inside. Your Majesty is raising a tiger that will cause you trouble! Once we join forces to repel the Tartars, it will be the beginning of the demise of the Great Feng.”
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, the Great Feng Dynasty we have built up with such difficulty!"
The laughter was tinged with helplessness.
......
Xijing, the Grand Governor's Office.
Zhao Muyun received the latest news from Shen Qian from Fenglingdu.
Li Yuan has returned to Luoyang overnight and hinted that the court may be forced to accept most of the conditions.
At the same time, he also received more detailed military reports from Xiao Cheyun from the front lines in Zezhou and Luzhou.
The vanguard scouts of the Northern Barbarians have appeared more than 100 miles east of Luzhou, burning, killing, looting and creating panic along the way.
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