Seeing this, all the generals present were ashamed and roared in their hearts: "Having such an emperor is the worst luck imaginable."
At a time like this, why do you still care whether a vixen suffers or not?
If we don't hurry up and come up with a solution, we might not even be able to sit still on the throne!
"Your Majesty, wake up! What time is it? You're still indulging in women!"
Suddenly, a thunderous sound came from outside.
Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw Sun Heling, the Vice Minister of Rites who had been demoted to a groom in front of the emperor, walking towards the emperor with his head held high and chest out, his hair disheveled.
As Sun Heling walked, he said, "Your Majesty, the campaign has come to this point, and this farce should come to an end. It's not too late to pull back from the brink!"
"Your Majesty treats your personal military campaigns as a joke, and turns a blind eye to the suffering of the people!"
"Has His Majesty forgotten?"
"Water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it!"
Sun Heling's words were piercing and incisive, directly attacking Zhao Gan's crimes.
Having come this far, he had long since disregarded life and death, only wanting to serve the new dynasty he was loyal to one last time, to spare the people from the calamity of war, and to prevent the Han dynasty, which had finally achieved unification, from disintegrating.
Sun Heling continued, "Your Majesty, it is still not too late to issue an edict of self-reproach. Your humble servant is willing to act as Your Majesty's envoy, to go to Tumu Fortress and negotiate peace with the Jingnan Army led by Prince Chen Huai'an, the heir of the Prince of Jin!"
Clang!
No sooner had Sun Heling finished speaking than Zhao Gan, who had been slumped on the ground, suddenly sprang into action, drawing his sword and slashing at Sun Heling.
Finally, the sharp blade stopped less than an inch from Sun Heling's neck.
The sharp sword energy even severed a strand of Sun Heling's loose white hair.
Under Sun Heling's angry scolding, Zhao Gan finally regained his senses.
He stared intently at Sun Heling and said, "Sun Heling, what did you say that you want me to issue an edict of self-reproach? Are you saying that the army that ambushed me outside Tumu Fortress was that traitor Chen Huai'an's army?"
Facing the sword in Emperor Zhao Gan's hand, Sun Heling showed no fear, but instead asked, "Your Majesty, what do you think?"
"Sink the light!"
"ah--"
"Your humble servant is here!"
Shen Guangming, the Minister of War who was suddenly called out by Zhao Gan, stood up tremblingly, with fine beads of sweat already seeping from his forehead.
Zhao Gan said, "As the Minister of War of this dynasty, and the person in charge of all the preparations for my personal expedition, I ask you, were those who ambushed me outside Tumu Fortress the remnants of the Longcheng Polu Army of that traitor Chen Huai'an?"
This question made Shen Guangming's heart pound.
To be honest, when facing the enemy army that ambushed the imperial army, Shen Guangming, as the Minister of War, was only focused on dodging the barrage of arrows and did not notice who the enemy was at all.
However, looking at the entire Xin Dynasty, the only one with the courage and strength to ambush the reigning emperor was probably Chen Huai'an, the heir apparent of the Prince of Jin.
As for why Chen Huai'an's Longcheng troops were able to suddenly appear behind the imperial army on its northern expedition, Shen Guangming had not yet figured it out.
"Shen Guangming, are you mute? Speak—"
"Your Majesty, I believe that the rebel army that ambushed Your Majesty was the remnant of the Longcheng Polu Army led by the traitor Chen Huai'an!"
At this moment, Shen Guangming had no choice but to bite the bullet and answer.
Ha ha!
Upon hearing this answer, Zhao Gan suddenly sneered and said, "Good, very good, excellent!"
As he spoke, he withdrew the sword from Sun Heling's neck, but instead of sheathing it, he brandished it and pointed it at the assembled high-ranking officials, continuing:
"You, have you already colluded with that scoundrel Chen Huai'an, conspiring to take advantage of my personal expedition to deliberately lure me into Chen Huai'an's trap?"
"After this is done, did Chen Huai'an promise you that you would become his loyal subjects, and be granted titles and ranks?"
"Your Majesty, I'm innocent!"
Immediately, the officials from the six ministries of the imperial court who had accompanied the expedition knelt down and kowtowed, crying out that they were wronged.
Sun Heling, who had already resigned himself to death, still earnestly advised, "Your Majesty, those who follow the righteous path receive much help, while those who stray from it receive little!"
"Such a simple truth, does Your Majesty still not understand it?"
snort!
Zhao Gan snorted coldly, looked at Sun Heling again, and said, "Sun Heling, you are indeed a unique flower in this dynasty. From the very beginning, you thought of dying for your country in remonstrance, so that you could leave a good name in history, right?"
"But I will not let you have your way!"
After saying that, Zhao Gan changed the subject and asked sternly, "Kang Yang, how many imperial troops are still inside Tumu Fortress?"
Kang Yang said, "Your Majesty, the Imperial Guard still has more than 15,000 men, and the anti-Japanese guerrillas should still have about 20,000 men. The rest of the troops have been scattered by the enemy!"
"Before entering Tumu Fortress, I had already ordered the messengers to disperse and gather the various troops, and commanded the main army to return to Tumu Fortress to defend the emperor!"
"good!"
Zhao Gan exclaimed in approval, then said, "Kang Yang, I order you to detain all the officials from the Six Ministries who accompanied you. They will be investigated after I quell the rebellion!"
"From this moment forward, the Imperial Guards and the Japanese Pirate Defense Forces stationed at Tumu Fortress shall be under my personal command."
At this point, Zhao Gan raised his sword high, raised his arm, and shouted, "From this moment on, there is no longer Emperor Zhao Gan of the Great Xin Dynasty here!"
"Only Zhao Gan, the Grand General of the Heavenly Strategy Army who led the Northern Expedition to quell the rebellion of the Great Xin Dynasty!"
"All generals, heed my command—"
"Your subordinate is here!"
"Follow me, the Supreme General, into battle to quell the rebels!"
"Your subordinate obeys!"
......
At the same time.
Chen Huai'an led the Longcheng Iron Pagoda and Tiger Leopard Cavalry to the outskirts of Tumu Fortress, where they joined forces with General Wang Jian and General Huo Qubing.
"Your Highness Prince Jin, the main force of the imperial army sent to quell the rebellion has been besieged in Tumu Fortress!"
"Emperor Zhao Gan, the dog, is also besieged inside Tumu Fortress. Your Highness, please make a decision!"
At this moment, General Wang Jian stepped forward and reported the latest battlefield situation to Chen Huai'an.
Twenty thousand Qin elite soldiers, under Wang Jian's command, are already arrayed around Tumu Fortress, and large siege crossbows and other siege equipment are ready.
They were just waiting for Prince Chen Huai'an of Jin to give the order to launch the attack on the city.
Suddenly, the simple city gate of Tumu Fort was pushed open from the inside.
A general riding a magnificent Akhal-Teke horse, wearing the same golden armor as Chen Huai'an, rode out of the city.
It was Zhao Gan, the emperor of the Great Xin Dynasty, who proclaimed himself General Tian Ce.
"Your Highness, it's the dog emperor Zhao Gan!"
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