This news spread like wildfire, shocking the world.
The most panicked were the neighboring countries of Great Xia.
Great Xia was already the number one Empire in the world. Which country could withstand them if they went to war?
To the south of Great Xia was a Dynasty, the Great He Dynasty.
The Great He Emperor had just received the news and was greatly shocked: Did you just say that Great Xia is preparing to mobilize its troops?
An old minister bowed and said, Yes, Your Majesty! We have just received information that Great Xias troops and food supplies are all on the move! Judging by the amount of provisions being mobilized, they are preparing for a large-scale war involving millions!
A war involving millions!
The Great He Emperors face changed as he anxiously asked, Where are they planning to attack? Is it us, Great He?
The minister shook his head: Your Majesty, we do not know yet. We are still gathering intelligence.
Trash! the Great He Emperor cursed.
You cant even handle this simple task timely. What use are you to me? Go and find out immediately. If you cant bring back news, dont bother returning!
Yes, Your Majesty!
Three days later, detailed information came back.
Reporting to Your Majesty, for this battle, Great Xia is preparing to deploy 1.8 million troops, dividing them into three groups heading west, south, and north, with 600,000 soldiers in each group. They will march and conquer along these routes! Our Great He Dynasty is one of the targets of Great Xias southern army!
The Great He Emperors face changed: They are indeed coming for us!
Although Great Xia only sent out 600,000 troops, one must remember that Great Xias weapons and armor are extremely advanced, surpassing other nations by a whole level.
Their weapons are sharper, their armor is sturdier, and one of their soldiers could match three others.
In other words, those 600,000 troops are equivalent to 1.8 million ordinary troops.
Dont panic, dont panic. Even though they have 600,000 elite troops, I have 3 million. Theres strength in numbers. We could simply overwhelm them with sheer force! the Great He Emperor comforted himself.
The old minister continued his report: In addition to the regular troops, each army is accompanied by 30 Innate experts!
The Great He Emperors face changed again: 30 Innates? That many?
It was known that the demon of Green Garment Tower had once come to capture Innates in his territory.
After his havoc, Great He was left with fewer than 10 Innates, barely enough to defend the country.
The enemy, however, had 30 Innates. How could he possibly fight against that?
Dont panic, dont panic. Although the enemy has many Innate masters, I can still spend a fortune to hire Innates from the rivers and lakes! As long as the price is right, nothing is a problem! the Great He Emperor comforted himself once more.
Your Majesty, in addition, each of their armies is led by a Grandmaster wielding a divine weapon!
The Great He Emperors face turned pale: F*ck! Theyve even sent out a Grandmaster!
It was known that the Great He Dynasty was just an ordinary dynasty without any Grandmasters at its helm.
They actually sent out a Grandmaster to attack an ordinary dynasty, and one with a divine weapon at thatit was completely against the martial code of honor!
How many nations under heaven could withstand that? It was pure bullying the weak!
Dont panic, dont panic. Even though the enemy has sent out a Grandmaster with a divine weapon, I have no need to worry! Because worrying about it is useless, theres no need to trouble myself over it, the Great He Emperor comforted himself for the third time.
However, the thought of the enemys Grandmaster coming to kill made the Great He Emperor shiver with fear, restless and uneasy.
He could only swallow his saliva to calm his nerves.
Looking at the civil and military officials, he asked with a hint of hope, Do any of the Ministers have any wise suggestions?
Report to Your Majesty!
The Grand General stood up, his voice resounding strongly, Although Great Xia is powerful, we are not to be trifled with! Since they dare to come, we dare to fight! Even if we end up utterly defeated, we must show the spirit of the Great He! We Great He people are not cowards! We would rather be shattered jade than intact pottery!
We would rather be shattered jade than intact pottery!
We would rather be shattered jade than intact pottery! (We prefer to die with honor rather than live in disgrace!)
Everyone shouted with fervent passion!
The Great He Emperor was overjoyed and clapped his hands while laughing, Good! Since you all are so willing, then I will send you all to the battlefield to perish together with the enemy to fulfill your loyalty!
The entire court fell silent, and no one spoke!
Those who had shouted the loudest were now the quietest!
Why arent you shouting now?
The Great He Emperor sneered coldly, Didnt you just say youd rather be shattered jade than intact pottery? Im fulfilling your wish now, so why are you silent?
The civil and military officials shrank their heads and kept silent.
The Great He Emperor slammed the table and stood up, shouting, I tell you, even if we use the entire nations strength to resist Xia, we will still end up easily defeated! It will lead to widespread devastation and the people will suffer! Therefore, we absolutely cannot fight head-on. We must outwit them!
Your Majesty, do you mean
The Prime Minister raised his head, guessing, We strategically retreat?
The Great He Emperor stood up excitedly, cursing loudly, Idiot! Do you realize what youre saying? I am the ruler of a nation. Am I someone who fears death? I tell you, even if I die, I will die on this land!
The civil and military officials were shocked, all moved by the Great He Emperors strong spirit!
Who would have thought that this fat and unassuming fellow would show such loyalty and integrity to the nation at a critical moment!
Although he might not be a very good Emperor, he was fulfilling the responsibilities of an Emperor!
The Emperor guards the nations gate and dies for the altar and the state!
Deeply moved, the Prime Minister asked with tears brimming in his eyes, Your Majesty, I apologize, I misjudged you just now! So, what you mean is
We surrender!
The civil and military officials exclaimed, F*ck!?
Actually, Ive thought it through a long time ago! said the Great He Emperor with a smile.
Compared to Great Xia, were like heaven and earth apart! We definitely cant win in a fight, so why bother fighting? In the end, it would only lead to the destruction of our country, our homes, and countless lives lost!
But we can still run! a minister said.
Can we run forever if we escape now? the Great He Emperor glared at him.
As long as we flee, we will surely be hunted down! Great Xia is the foremost nation in the world now. Where could we possibly run to? Rather than that, isnt it better to submit from the start? That way, were all on the same side, and why would they, our own people, make things difficult for us?
The Great He Emperor sat down calmly and continued, Looking over the history of Great Xias conquests, Ive made a surprising discovery. Those who resist Great Xia meet with terrible ends, while those who submit, although they lose power, all end up with a good fate! So, we have only one choice now!
The officials looked at each other and said in unison, Your Majesty is wise!
In the end, the Great He Emperor smiled proudly, Great Xia surely wont be able to attack us as long as we surrender quickly!
Three days later, Lin Beifan received the surrender letter from the Great He Dynasty and was utterly dumbfounded.
I havent even attacked yet, and youve already surrendered?
That was too fast!
It caught him completely off guard without any psychological preparation!
Lin Beifan carefully read the surrender letter three times and finally confirmed that the other party truly intended to surrender.
The earnestness of the words and the obsequious tone made his skin crawl and goosebumps fall off!
What does the Great He Emperor say? Does he really want to surrender? holding the surrender letter, Lin Beifan asked the Great He Prime Minister before him.
You need not doubt the sincerity of our court! My Emperor is compassionate and cares deeply for his people. To avoid war between the two nations and the suffering it would bring, he is willing to submit our entire nation to Great Xia! said the Great He Prime Minister.
I see, the Great He Emperor truly is a benevolent ruler who loves his people deeply, I admire him greatly! Lin Beifan nodded.
Although, he felt that self-preservation was the real reason.
However, a true man judges others by his actions, not his intentions, and his choice indeed avoided war and reduced the casualties among their people.
What are his demands? Lin Beifan asked.
The Great He Prime Minister glanced at Lin Beifan, bowed respectfully, and said, His Majesty hopes to retain his dignity, to have a good beginning and a good end!
Lin Beifan laughed, Your Emperor is indeed a wise man, I will fulfill his wish! Apart from political and military power, I will preserve all his wealth for him! Additionally, I will bestow upon him a title so he may enjoy his later years in peace!
Thank you, Your Majesty, for your great kindness! exclaimed the Great He Prime Minister loudly.
Lin Beifan, looking at the seemingly honest but actually cunning Great He Prime Minister before him, said with a smile, You too are a clever man. Come work for me, and you will surely make a name for yourself!
The Great He Prime Minister was overjoyed, Thank you for your great favor! I will serve with all my heart and energy until death!
After that, things became much simpler.
Lin Beifan accepted the surrender of the Great He Dynasty and did not send troops to attack Great He, but sent people to take over their land and government. The Great He Emperor cooperated fully, handing over all his rights.
Lin Beifan was very pleased and granted him the title of Duke of He.
Although he had no real power, he held a very honorable status within Great Xia.
Anyone who wanted to deal with him would have to consult Lin Beifans opinion first.
As for the officials of the Great He Dynasty, they were conditionally accepted.
After a detailed examination, those who passed both in capability and character could continue to serve in the court and become ministers of Great Xia.
Those who did not qualify and held bad intentions would be dealt with accordingly. Executed, arrested, or dismissed as necessary.
As for the common people at the bottom, they were not much affected.
They simply had a change of regime, and life went on as usual with farming and paying taxes. However, many were happy about the change.
Starting today, we are also citizens of an Empire!
And not just any empire, but the Great Xia Empire! Ive heard that the Great Xia Empire treats its citizens very well. Everyone has a job, food to eat, money to earn, and even a house to live in if they work hard.
Thats not just hearsay, its really happening! Weve finally made it!
That damn Emperor did many terrible things, but this one thing he did right!
Outside, the news spread rapidly across the world, and everyone was stunned.
Great Xia hasnt even attacked yet, and the Great He Dynasty has already surrendered?
The speed is too fast. Ive never seen such a cowardly act!
You think its cowardly, I think its smart! After all, they cant win in battle or escape, so surrender is the only option! Although they cant be Emperors, their lives are spared, and they can still enjoy endless wealth and luxury. Isnt that good?
Thats true! I wonder if others will follow suit?
This news spread like wildfire, shocking the world.
The most panicked were the neighboring countries of Great Xia.
Great Xia was already the number one Empire in the world. Which country could withstand them if they went to war?
To the south of Great Xia was a Dynasty, the Great He Dynasty.
The Great He Emperor had just received the news and was greatly shocked: Did you just say that Great Xia is preparing to mobilize its troops?
An old minister bowed and said, Yes, Your Majesty! We have just received information that Great Xias troops and food supplies are all on the move! Judging by the amount of provisions being mobilized, they are preparing for a large-scale war involving millions!
A war involving millions!
The Great He Emperors face changed as he anxiously asked, Where are they planning to attack? Is it us, Great He?
The minister shook his head: Your Majesty, we do not know yet. We are still gathering intelligence.
Trash! the Great He Emperor cursed.
You cant even handle this simple task timely. What use are you to me? Go and find out immediately. If you cant bring back news, dont bother returning!
Yes, Your Majesty!
Three days later, detailed information came back.
Reporting to Your Majesty, for this battle, Great Xia is preparing to deploy 1.8 million troops, dividing them into three groups heading west, south, and north, with 600,000 soldiers in each group. They will march and conquer along these routes! Our Great He Dynasty is one of the targets of Great Xias southern army!
The Great He Emperors face changed: They are indeed coming for us!
Although Great Xia only sent out 600,000 troops, one must remember that Great Xias weapons and armor are extremely advanced, surpassing other nations by a whole level.
Their weapons are sharper, their armor is sturdier, and one of their soldiers could match three others.
In other words, those 600,000 troops are equivalent to 1.8 million ordinary troops.
Dont panic, dont panic. Even though they have 600,000 elite troops, I have 3 million. Theres strength in numbers. We could simply overwhelm them with sheer force! the Great He Emperor comforted himself.
The old minister continued his report: In addition to the regular troops, each army is accompanied by 30 Innate experts!
The Great He Emperors face changed again: 30 Innates? That many?
It was known that the demon of Green Garment Tower had once come to capture Innates in his territory.
After his havoc, Great He was left with fewer than 10 Innates, barely enough to defend the country.
The enemy, however, had 30 Innates. How could he possibly fight against that?
Dont panic, dont panic. Although the enemy has many Innate masters, I can still spend a fortune to hire Innates from the rivers and lakes! As long as the price is right, nothing is a problem! the Great He Emperor comforted himself once more.
Your Majesty, in addition, each of their armies is led by a Grandmaster wielding a divine weapon!
The Great He Emperors face turned pale: F*ck! Theyve even sent out a Grandmaster!
It was known that the Great He Dynasty was just an ordinary dynasty without any Grandmasters at its helm.
They actually sent out a Grandmaster to attack an ordinary dynasty, and one with a divine weapon at thatit was completely against the martial code of honor!
How many nations under heaven could withstand that? It was pure bullying the weak!
Dont panic, dont panic. Even though the enemy has sent out a Grandmaster with a divine weapon, I have no need to worry! Because worrying about it is useless, theres no need to trouble myself over it, the Great He Emperor comforted himself for the third time.
However, the thought of the enemys Grandmaster coming to kill made the Great He Emperor shiver with fear, restless and uneasy.
He could only swallow his saliva to calm his nerves.
Looking at the civil and military officials, he asked with a hint of hope, Do any of the Ministers have any wise suggestions?
Report to Your Majesty!
The Grand General stood up, his voice resounding strongly, Although Great Xia is powerful, we are not to be trifled with! Since they dare to come, we dare to fight! Even if we end up utterly defeated, we must show the spirit of the Great He! We Great He people are not cowards! We would rather be shattered jade than intact pottery!
We would rather be shattered jade than intact pottery!
We would rather be shattered jade than intact pottery! (We prefer to die with honor rather than live in disgrace!)
Everyone shouted with fervent passion!
The Great He Emperor was overjoyed and clapped his hands while laughing, Good! Since you all are so willing, then I will send you all to the battlefield to perish together with the enemy to fulfill your loyalty!
The entire court fell silent, and no one spoke!
Those who had shouted the loudest were now the quietest!
Why arent you shouting now?
The Great He Emperor sneered coldly, Didnt you just say youd rather be shattered jade than intact pottery? Im fulfilling your wish now, so why are you silent?
The civil and military officials shrank their heads and kept silent.
The Great He Emperor slammed the table and stood up, shouting, I tell you, even if we use the entire nations strength to resist Xia, we will still end up easily defeated! It will lead to widespread devastation and the people will suffer! Therefore, we absolutely cannot fight head-on. We must outwit them!
Your Majesty, do you mean
The Prime Minister raised his head, guessing, We strategically retreat?
The Great He Emperor stood up excitedly, cursing loudly, Idiot! Do you realize what youre saying? I am the ruler of a nation. Am I someone who fears death? I tell you, even if I die, I will die on this land!
The civil and military officials were shocked, all moved by the Great He Emperors strong spirit!
Who would have thought that this fat and unassuming fellow would show such loyalty and integrity to the nation at a critical moment!
Although he might not be a very good Emperor, he was fulfilling the responsibilities of an Emperor!
The Emperor guards the nations gate and dies for the altar and the state!
Deeply moved, the Prime Minister asked with tears brimming in his eyes, Your Majesty, I apologize, I misjudged you just now! So, what you mean is
We surrender!
The civil and military officials exclaimed, F*ck!?
Actually, Ive thought it through a long time ago! said the Great He Emperor with a smile.
Compared to Great Xia, were like heaven and earth apart! We definitely cant win in a fight, so why bother fighting? In the end, it would only lead to the destruction of our country, our homes, and countless lives lost!
But we can still run! a minister said.
Can we run forever if we escape now? the Great He Emperor glared at him.
As long as we flee, we will surely be hunted down! Great Xia is the foremost nation in the world now. Where could we possibly run to? Rather than that, isnt it better to submit from the start? That way, were all on the same side, and why would they, our own people, make things difficult for us?
The Great He Emperor sat down calmly and continued, Looking over the history of Great Xias conquests, Ive made a surprising discovery. Those who resist Great Xia meet with terrible ends, while those who submit, although they lose power, all end up with a good fate! So, we have only one choice now!
The officials looked at each other and said in unison, Your Majesty is wise!
In the end, the Great He Emperor smiled proudly, Great Xia surely wont be able to attack us as long as we surrender quickly!
Three days later, Lin Beifan received the surrender letter from the Great He Dynasty and was utterly dumbfounded.
I havent even attacked yet, and youve already surrendered?
That was too fast!
It caught him completely off guard without any psychological preparation!
Lin Beifan carefully read the surrender letter three times and finally confirmed that the other party truly intended to surrender.
The earnestness of the words and the obsequious tone made his skin crawl and goosebumps fall off!
What does the Great He Emperor say? Does he really want to surrender? holding the surrender letter, Lin Beifan asked the Great He Prime Minister before him.
You need not doubt the sincerity of our court! My Emperor is compassionate and cares deeply for his people. To avoid war between the two nations and the suffering it would bring, he is willing to submit our entire nation to Great Xia! said the Great He Prime Minister.
I see, the Great He Emperor truly is a benevolent ruler who loves his people deeply, I admire him greatly! Lin Beifan nodded.
Although, he felt that self-preservation was the real reason.
However, a true man judges others by his actions, not his intentions, and his choice indeed avoided war and reduced the casualties among their people.
What are his demands? Lin Beifan asked.
The Great He Prime Minister glanced at Lin Beifan, bowed respectfully, and said, His Majesty hopes to retain his dignity, to have a good beginning and a good end!
Lin Beifan laughed, Your Emperor is indeed a wise man, I will fulfill his wish! Apart from political and military power, I will preserve all his wealth for him! Additionally, I will bestow upon him a title so he may enjoy his later years in peace!
Thank you, Your Majesty, for your great kindness! exclaimed the Great He Prime Minister loudly.
Lin Beifan, looking at the seemingly honest but actually cunning Great He Prime Minister before him, said with a smile, You too are a clever man. Come work for me, and you will surely make a name for yourself!
The Great He Prime Minister was overjoyed, Thank you for your great favor! I will serve with all my heart and energy until death!
After that, things became much simpler.
Lin Beifan accepted the surrender of the Great He Dynasty and did not send troops to attack Great He, but sent people to take over their land and government. The Great He Emperor cooperated fully, handing over all his rights.
Lin Beifan was very pleased and granted him the title of Duke of He.
Although he had no real power, he held a very honorable status within Great Xia.
Anyone who wanted to deal with him would have to consult Lin Beifans opinion first.
As for the officials of the Great He Dynasty, they were conditionally accepted.
After a detailed examination, those who passed both in capability and character could continue to serve in the court and become ministers of Great Xia.
Those who did not qualify and held bad intentions would be dealt with accordingly. Executed, arrested, or dismissed as necessary.
As for the common people at the bottom, they were not much affected.
They simply had a change of regime, and life went on as usual with farming and paying taxes. However, many were happy about the change.
Starting today, we are also citizens of an Empire!
And not just any empire, but the Great Xia Empire! Ive heard that the Great Xia Empire treats its citizens very well. Everyone has a job, food to eat, money to earn, and even a house to live in if they work hard.
Thats not just hearsay, its really happening! Weve finally made it!
That damn Emperor did many terrible things, but this one thing he did right!
Outside, the news spread rapidly across the world, and everyone was stunned.
Great Xia hasnt even attacked yet, and the Great He Dynasty has already surrendered?
The speed is too fast. Ive never seen such a cowardly act!
You think its cowardly, I think its smart! After all, they cant win in battle or escape, so surrender is the only option! Although they cant be Emperors, their lives are spared, and they can still enjoy endless wealth and luxury. Isnt that good?
Thats true! I wonder if others will follow suit?
