Chapter 1283: 1200 a new King
To the new Emperor Zhao Yu of the Dahua Empire, this day was not a good one. Because the rebellion in the south led by Zhao Jie, due to Qin Country’s covert interference, had yet to be quelled, while he had to execute the conditions promised to Tang Country on this day.
Despite many ministers strongly opposing and despite their reluctance to acknowledge this fact, Zhao Yu knew he simply had no ans to refuse.
He must fulfill his promise; otherwise, the Great Tang Empire could show him what a crushing offensive truly ans.
War… particularly war with the Great Tang Empire, was sothing Zhao Yu dared not attempt. Everything he had was given by the Great Tang Empire, even the command of many of his troops was held by the Great Tang Empire’s advisory group.
“Your Majesty! This cannot be!” pleaded an old minister, who had experienced the rebellion in the Imperial Capital, to Zhao Yu. He had witnessed the chaos not seen in centuries in the Imperial Capital and was reappointed when Zhao Yu ascended the throne, replacing Zhou Qiang as the Minister of Personnel.
The old man was nearly 85 years old now, although free from major illness, he looked as though he could collapse at any mont, much like the Empire he served.
Beside him, a young noble with a pale face, though strikingly handso in appearance, shared similar tastes with Zhao Yu, being greedy and indulging in various excesses, had risen to beco the new Imperial Chancellor through the Emperor’s patronage and trust.
However, this young chancellor skilled only in pandering to the Emperor had little real ability, agreeing to most decisions and then implenting the Great Tang Empire advisory group’s suggestions.
“The cession of so much territory before has already caused public outrage! If we abdicate and call ourselves a king now, the Dahua Empire’s face will be utterly lost!” Seeing Zhao Yu sitting silently on the throne, the old Minister of Personnel once again spoke passionately to persuade.
“Chief of Staff! You know that if we do not fulfill our promises, the Great Tang Empire will halt support, and might even declare war on us, don’t you?” The young chancellor, with little tact, directly invoked the Great Tang Empire to bolster his persuasion.
His thought process was simple: If you have the ans, go deal with the Great Tang Empire! Why say these things to us here?
His words prompted the other ministers to mutter among themselves, shaking their heads frequently. All were either forr ministers recalled by Zhao Yu or remaining nobles who hadn’t fled previously, unwilling to bear the political consequences of “abdication.”
As ministers of an Empire, if the empire’s status is lost during their tenure and reduced to a kingdom, it would inevitably be marked in history, becoming a disgrace for themselves and their entire family.
These ministers’ thoughts were quite simple; they lacked the courage to defy the Great Tang Empire but hoped Zhao Yu would give them a little ti before abdicating, allowing them to step down gracefully from this ss.
Unfortunately, Zhao Yu gathered them precisely to take the bla; how could he let them off, making his decisions appear like “one person ruined all the ancestral estate”?
“With the southern war undecided, we should earnestly plead with the Great Tang Empire to grant us so ti.” A minister offered his opinion, a re suggestion to delay events, a kind of stalling tactic.
But the new Minister of Rites beside him knew that the Great Tang Empire had already issued an official ultimatum to the Dahua Empire. If Zhao Yu continued to cling to power, it might lead to border conflicts.
The Dahua Empire’s troops, struggling even against Zhao Jie, would be hard-pressed if caught in a two-front war, one side being with the world’s strongest Great Tang Empire, the outco was obvious without needing imagination.
Many believed that defeat and annexation by the Great Tang Empire wouldn’t be bad; surrendering to a conquered nation carried more dignity than abdication.
But those with a bit of strategic insight saw that the situation was not as simple as imagined.
Once the Great Tang Empire declared war on Dahua Empire, Qin Country would certainly seize the opportunity to take advantage. Would Zhao Jie in the south miss his chance?
If chaos ensued, war broke out on three fronts, the question remained whether everyone would still have the chance to beco Tang People or if it was all in doubt.
Furthermore, everyone else could choose to surrender and live as wealthy gentlen in Tang Country, but Zhao Yu couldn’t…
From Zhao Yu’s standpoint, abdication would still make him the King of Dahua Kingdom, a king supported by the Great Tang Empire, with power and wealth seemingly in his grasp–appearing at least.
But if his country were extinguished, he’d lose everything! Unlike those ministers hoping for national defeat, he preferred to remain a king rather than a ruler of a vanquished nation.
So he coughed, quieting the ministers, and spoke slowly: “Since I raised troops, I’ve been under the Tang Emperor’s protection… now speaking without faith, how can I stand firm?”
“Furthermore… with Tang’s might and military strength, while Dahua is embroiled in war, how can it counterbalance?” He asked the second question, the ministers below lowering their heads in silence.
They instinctively opposed Zhao Yu’s abdication yet subconsciously dreaded facing war with the Great Tang Empire. They evaded this question because its outco ant nothing to them.
“If the Great Tang Empire cuts off support, how do we maintain the southern war line?” Zhao Yu posed the third question, quickly followed by the fourth: “If the southern war is lost, will you then serve Zhao Jie as his right hand?”
“Your Majesty!” Several self-proclaid loyal ministers hastily spoke, trying to express their loyalty to Zhao Yu. Alas, in such tis, loyalty alone was far from sufficient; one needed capability too!
If incapable of achieving miracles, preventing the empire’s downfall, one must at least serve as the empire’s sustainer, maintaining the Dahua Empire against both internal and external threats.
“Enough! I’ve signed the decree, just promulgate it.” Zhao Yu stood up, among so many, feeling that at this mont, no one truly understood his emotions.
At least he was an emperor! Soon to beco a king, who among these ministers understands the taste of this transition? If given the choice, he wouldn’t want to lose the title of emperor! But did he have a choice?
The next morning, Emperor Zhao Yu of Dahua announced “removal of Dahua Empire emperor title, changed to Dahua Kingdom king,” the Dahua Empire on this day also beca history, existing only as Dahua Kingdom thereafter…
Upon hearing this news, Zhao Jie imdiately publicly criticized Zhao Yu for selling out the country for personal gain, a statent supported by many. The southern battle beca more passive for Zhao Yu’s forces, turning Dahua’s civil war into the focal point for the various powers.
—-
The second update will be ready for everyone to view tomorrow morning.
Reviews
All reviews (0)