mtlumby2d Chapter 237: Issue the Imperial Order
Chapter 237: Issue the Imperial Order
In the court, the deathly silence was tightly wrapped in a heavy and oppressive atmosphere, as if a layer of impenetrable and bottomless haze was pressing down from the dome, squeezing out every inch of air, making people feel that breathing has become a luxury, as if they would be completely suffocated by this endless heaviness in the next moment.
Emperor Xuan Ye sat stiffly and sternly on the dragon throne, which was engraved with intricate and gorgeous auspicious dragon and phoenix patterns. The gold lacquer still gleamed with the afterglow of its former luxury in the dim light, but it could not conceal the solemnity and vicissitudes it now carried.
The emperor was wearing a bright yellow dragon robe, which was woven by the world's best weavers with countless efforts. The golden dragon embroidered with gold thread was baring its fangs and claws, and every dragon scale seemed to be shining with the majesty of the past, as if silently telling the glorious days when this dynasty was once brilliant and glorious and the world was subservient to it.
However, today, faced with one difficulty after another, the once dazzling and majestic light seems to be obscured by the haze in the sky, and has become much dimmer, leaving only a trace of afterglow lingering on the corner of the clothes, stubbornly reminding people of its former glory.
In the emperor's hand, he tightly grasped a border battle report that had just been urgently delivered a few days ago.
The paper was originally of high quality and tough texture, but now, due to being repeatedly read and rubbed by the emperor, it has become slightly wrinkled, with the corners slightly curled up, just like a bunch of withered flowers in the wind, weakly telling the emperor's inner struggle and torment in these days. Every wrinkle seems to hide an unspeakable worry and pain.
His fingers subconsciously rubbed the battle report lightly, his knuckles turning slightly white due to the force, and the slightly trembling fingertips seemed to carry a thousand pounds of force. Every touch seemed to touch the piles of corpses on the battlefield, and he felt the endless sorrow and despair suffered by the people in the war. It was a pain that went deep into his bones, piercing straight into his heart.
Every word on the battle report seemed to be written in blood, and like a sharp blade dipped in poison, it pierced his heart fiercely.
The Xiqi army was like a group of evil spirits emerging from the abyss of hell, invading our northwestern border like a surging and unstoppable tide.
Wherever they passed, there was devastation and destruction, and flames shot up into the sky, dyeing the originally blue sky into a horrible blood-red. Thick smoke billowed like the devil's claws, spreading wantonly, turning the once peaceful, harmonious and vibrant borderland into a living hell in an instant.
Although our soldiers were full of passion and fought to the death, fighting bloody battles on the battlefield, their blood dyed every inch of land red like a flood, but Xiqi's offensive was still as fierce as a storm, with no signs of weakening, as if it was a never-ending nightmare.
The border defense line was already crumbling under this overwhelming offensive. After losing two counties in succession, the people lost their homes and loved ones. In this cruel war, they fled everywhere like rootless duckweed, their cries shaking the sky. The miserable voices seemed to be a desperate accusation against this chaotic world, which was extremely tragic.
The emperor stared at the battle report quietly, his eyes empty and deep. The pain and helplessness revealed in them were like a bottomless pool of black water, so dark that people could not see a glimmer of hope.
In the past few days, the court officials have been arguing endlessly about this battle report, with each holding their own opinion. The fierce quarrel seems to still echo in my ears, but they have not been able to come up with a feasible countermeasure.
After a long time, he slowly closed his eyes, his cracked lips trembling slightly, and took a deep breath. The breath lingered in his chest for a long time, as if trying to calm the surging waves in his heart and trying to sort out his tangled thoughts.
Finally, he suddenly opened his eyes, and a glimmer of determination and perseverance flashed in his tightly closed eyes. The light was like a flash of lightning across the night sky. Although it was brief, it illuminated the entire court. It was the difficult decision made by the king of a country after a painful struggle at this moment of life and death. It was the courage to burn his boats and the determination to fight to the death.
The emperor slowly raised his head, his eyes as sharp as torches, which seemed to be able to penetrate all darkness and hypocrisy, and swept over the faces in the court one by one, some of which were anxious, some full of worry, and some with ulterior motives.
His voice was low and hoarse, as if it was a cry from the depths of his soul, yet it was filled with unquestionable majesty. It slowly echoed in the court, where the silence was so great that one could hear a pin drop, like the sound of a huge bell. Every word struck the hearts of every minister, awakening them: "Now Xiqi has invaded our border with a force as fierce as a wolf or a tiger. The people of our dynasty are in dire straits, their lives are devastated, and there is widespread grief.
"I, appointed by Heaven as the ruler of the world, how can I watch helplessly as my people suffer such hardship? How can I sit idly by and watch this beautiful land be trampled upon by foreign enemies?"
"I have decided to send an envoy to set off immediately, galloping to the border without stopping.
The envoy must bring my will and deep concern, and reach every disaster-stricken corner as quickly as possible, and do his utmost to comfort the people who have suffered in the war, let them know that the court is with them, and the country will do its utmost to protect them, so that they will strengthen their belief in the victory of our dynasty. There must be no slackness or negligence, as even a minute or a second is related to the life and death of the people.
At the same time, the most capable, witty, and eloquent diplomats among the officials of the Ministry of Rites and the Honglu Temple were ordered to travel to the neighboring countries overnight.
They must use our dynasty's sincerity to explain the interests of all nations, explain the greater good to them, appeal to their emotions, and strive for material assistance and military alliances. They must pool the strength of all parties to build an indestructible line of defense to jointly resist foreign enemies, safeguard the integrity of our territory, and protect the peace of our people."
"Furthermore, I appoint General Xiao Zhenting, the Western Expeditionary General, as commander-in-chief to lead the entire army.
Under his command, General Zhao Chongwu, known as the "Tiger Mighty," served as the Left Deputy General. General Zhao was a veteran of many battles, a valiant warrior who would lead the charge in every battle. His reputation terrified the enemy.
General Xuanchen of Yingyang is the right deputy general. The eldest prince Xuanchen is both wise and brave, well-versed in military books, well-versed in strategies, and has great ambitions. His heart of serving the country is evident.
I order you to immediately lead a 100,000-strong elite force to the border and rush to the front lines to support them. You must repel the Xiqi bandits, ensure peace on our borders, and enhance our dynasty's military might!"
The emperor paused slightly, his eyes suddenly becoming as sharp as an eagle, staring closely at the Minister of Justice. His gaze seemed to penetrate his soul and see directly into every thought deep in his heart, which made people shudder, as if an invisible big hand was tightly strangling his throat, making him unable to move.
The emperor continued, "The Ministry of Justice will immediately dispatch additional personnel, exert all efforts, and mobilize all available resources to conduct thorough inspections throughout the capital. Every individual's household registration information must be strictly checked, and even the slightest error must not be overlooked. Anyone found with unknown origins or suspicious behavior, regardless of their status or wealth, will be detained and interrogated. There will be no leniency or tolerance for traitors, and no clues will be overlooked."
We must ensure the safety and stability of the capital, the heart of our dynasty. We must not allow spies to take advantage of this chaos to infiltrate our dynasty, disintegrate us from within, threaten the very foundations of our dynasty, and shake the very foundations of our nation."
Finally, the emperor straightened his body, and his originally hunched back instantly became as straight as a pine tree. His expression was solemn and dignified, as if he was a towering, unshakable mountain, standing firm.
His voice suddenly rose, each word resounding, like a thunderbolt from the heavens, a decree of heaven that could not be disobeyed: "Now a nationwide compulsory conscription order has been issued. This is a critical moment for the survival of the nation. The conscription concerns the safety of the country, the survival of the people, and the future of our dynasty.
This is a battle for the survival of our nation. Favoritism, corruption, or shirking of duty will be tolerated. Every household must send one man to serve in the army. This conscription must not offer money in lieu of military service as in previous years. Any disobedience will be severely punished and executed upon discovery! My resolve is complete. I implore you, my dear ministers, to put aside past grudges and work together to overcome this difficult time, safeguarding our country and our people, and protecting our dynasty's eternal legacy!
The emperor's decrees were like heavy bombs that exploded in the court in an instant. The ministers looked at each other with astonishment on their faces. That moment of loss of composure seemed to be frozen in this solemn court.
But soon, they all calmed down, suppressed the turbulent waves in their hearts, and shouted in unison: "Yes, Your Majesty!" However, under this seemingly calm court, undercurrents were actually surging. Various forces had their own ulterior motives and were secretly pondering what kind of impact and benefits these decrees would bring to them. No one could tell whether it was a blessing or a curse, an opportunity or a challenge.
The entire country was subsequently caught in a huge vortex of change. No one could predict whether it would struggle to survive and be reborn from the ashes in this desperate situation of internal and external troubles, or be completely swallowed up by endless darkness.
Only the dragon throne hanging high above the court, illuminated by the flickering candlelight, flickered with a cold and majestic light, silently witnessing this critical moment of historical turning point, witnessing the ups and downs of the country's destiny, and witnessing this game of power and destiny that concerns life and death.