Chapter 16: Surrender or Fight

Jialian grew increasingly cautious and replied, “I dare not deceive Prince Qian. It’s just that my household is strictly bound by propriety, with an emphasis on separation of the sexes. I have never seen the true faces of the two Misses Xue, only glimpsed them from afar a few times. They are all remarkably beautiful, with enchanting grace. As for their talents, I honestly do not know.”

“Hmm.”

Chu Yan asked a few more questions casually. Seeing that Jialian had nothing more to say, he signaled his personal guards to bring the horses. After mounting, he said to Jialian, “You may leave now.”

Jialian instantly regretted it.

He had been troubled all along by one matter: whether or not to surrender to Prince Qian.

To speak directly with His Highness, the leader of the righteous army, was an unprecedented opportunity. If he declared the Jia family’s willingness to surrender, perhaps it could save the lives and fortunes of everyone under their roof.

Yet his heart was fraught with doubts. Firstly, he was not the master of the Jia household; secondly, the patriarch and Elder Zhen might not agree.

Helpless, Jialian cupped his hands in salute and respectfully saw Prince Qian off.

“Your Highness, Prince Qian!”

Just as Chu Yan was about to leave, someone suddenly ran over from afar, shouting loudly in their direction. Chu Yan turned to see the man being stopped by the guards.

“Your Highness, I am Xie Gui. There is something I wish to tell you!”

The man bowed repeatedly, fearful that his rashness might offend the prince, but he was desperate—if he did not come out, the prince would leave.

Chu Yan glanced at Jialian, who avoided eye contact and hurried away.

“Are you part of the envoy?” Chu Yan asked Xie Gui from horseback.

“Yes, yes!”

Xie Gui hastened to smile and said, “I have been entrusted to deliver a message to Your Highness. Many ministers in the court wish to surrender, though there remain some reservations...”

Chu Yan caught the meaning behind his words and smiled. “Go back and tell them all: as long as they clearly pledge surrender, and no one in their households serves the court, I will spare their lives.”

“Yes, yes, Your Highness is merciful!”

Only then did Xie Gui take out a letter from his sleeve and respectfully present it.

A guard beside Chu Yan took the letter, showed its cover to him, then carefully broke the seal to ensure there was nothing else inside before handing it over.

Chu Yan quickly read it—it was a letter from Prince Zhongshun. Xie Gui was merely the messenger, unaware that the letter was secretly sent by Zhongshun.

Chu Yan said to Xie Gui, “Tell the letter’s sender that past grievances will be forgiven. After I enter the city, rewards and recognition will be given!”

Xie Gui bowed repeatedly, his heart finally feeling at ease and much lighter.

After bowing respectfully to see Prince Qian off, Xie Gui returned to the envoy camp. Upon seeing Jialian outside the tent, they exchanged a glance but said nothing further.

Xie Gui did not know why Prince Qian sought the Jia family, but he guessed the Jia would not betray secrets. Many ministers advocated surrender, and this time he represented their collective will.

What Xie Gui did not realize was that Jialian’s mind wandered elsewhere. He guessed that Xie Gui’s private meeting with Prince Qian was to reveal the unsavory dealings and secret transmissions within the capital, hoping to win the prince’s favor and thereby protect his family upon the prince’s entry into the city.

As the court’s nobles and ministers took sides, what fate awaited the Jia family?

At this moment, Jialian bore the weight of his family’s life and future on his shoulders. When Prince Qian returned, he would have another chance to speak with him.

The stakes were life and death; he had to be cautious.

Like an ant on a hot pan, he paced back and forth in the open space outside the tent. When someone from the envoy tried to approach and speak, Jialian waved them off silently.

After a while, he entered the tent. If the court surrendered, there would be no worries. He could immediately advise Prince Qian to select daughters from families willing to enter the palace to serve the new emperor, perhaps rising to prominence in the future.

But if the court chose to fight to the death and block Prince Qian’s forces...

After listening for some time, Jialian withdrew once more.

The court remained adamant against surrender but debated how many ministers could be spared if they did. The noble families discussed their assets. If the two sides fought for several days and then negotiated, what price would the court pay for Prince Qian’s retreat?

No wonder Prince Qian left. To Jialian, it was clear the prince intended to fight; no amount of wealth would make him withdraw.

The talks within the camp were merely preparations, precautionary measures by Prince Qian’s subordinates.

After waiting two hours, near dusk, Jialian finally saw the tall Prince Qian riding back.

He avoided the crowd’s gaze and bowed distantly in salute.

“What news?” Chu Yan summoned him for a private talk.

“Your Highness, this morning a letter was sent from one of my elder sisters in the palace. It said the empress ordered several eunuchs to prepare three-foot white silk strips for the imperial concubines...”

Jialian’s words surprised Chu Yan. The empress was so chaste she intended to die alongside her husband?

This would not do!

Chu Yan would not allow Emperor Yongning to die with the kingdom.

Others in the capital could perish, but not him.

“Send for Xie Gui secretly,” Chu Yan ordered a guard named Dai Wei.

Dai Wei nodded and entered the envoy’s tent under the pretense of asking if they needed anything, giving Xie Gui a meaningful look.

Soon, Xie Gui excused himself and came before Chu Yan.

“Go back and tell them to protect the emperor’s life!”

Chu Yan’s expression was stern as he gave the order: “Remember, no matter what it takes, inform the eunuchs in power in the palace to watch over the emperor, empress, and concubines. Do not allow them to burn themselves or hang themselves!”

Xie Gui’s heart tightened; he quickly agreed.

After he left, Chu Yan pondered the pros and cons.

If the emperor died, the benefit was that Chu Yan could enter the city and ascend the throne immediately, cutting off the last hopes of some. But the downside was that the loyal clans across the lands would rebel continuously. If more imperial princes escaped the palace, endless troubles would follow.

Besides clans, some loyalists would rally the remnants of the Shun dynasty’s forces, claiming to avenge Emperor Yongning.

The best outcome would be the emperor’s surrender, Chu Yan granting him the title Duke Anle, then ordering all regions to capitulate.

In a few years, once peace was restored, he could decide the emperor’s fate as he wished.

Having finished his thoughts, Chu Yan rose and returned to the command tent. Under all eyes upon him, he took his seat again.

“Gentlemen, what is the conclusion of your discussions?”

He asked with a faint smile.

The Northern Quiet Commandery Prince and others dared not speak.

“Very well, then we shall fight.”

Chu Yan declared, then turned to Zhu Ming. “Escort the guests out.”

Zhu Ming stood, bowed to him, then gestured to the Shun dynasty envoy seated to the left. “Gentlemen, please.”

Shui Rong, Zhuang Jin, Wang Zitong, and others rose to bid farewell.

Chu Yan’s gaze landed on Wang Zitong, smiling. “You came all this way and accomplished nothing. It would not look good to say so, so I’ll give you a piece of advice.”

They all looked confused.

“On the day after tomorrow’s siege, do not climb the city walls. This is not a threat, but sincere counsel.”

Chu Yan smiled and motioned for Zhu Ming to see the guests out.

They said nothing more and left the tent in order, preparing to return to the capital.

Zhu Ming specially escorted them to the main gate of the camp, smiling as he said, “Please wait a moment. I want to show you something.”

Wang Zitong and the others looked over.

Zhu Ming ordered someone to remove a tarp covering a huge object behind the earthen wall on the camp’s perimeter, revealing its contents.

“This...!”

Their eyes widened.

Beneath the tarp was a massive black cannon, nearly thirty feet long, gleaming dark and shiny, exuding formidable intimidation.

Beside the cannon were dozens of iron cannonballs. Judging by the size of the cannon and its distance from the city walls, the destruction the cannonballs could wreak upon impact was unimaginable.

Wang Zitong looked toward the distance. Behind the earth wall were dozens more similar cannons, like crouching tigers lying in wait. At Prince Qian’s command on the day after tomorrow, they would unleash a barrage upon the capital.

“You have one more day to consider: surrender or fight. Gentlemen, farewell.”

Zhu Ming bowed and left, then rode back into the camp.