NOVEL WEB Chapter 80.2
While Great Xia enjoyed peace and prosperity, with its national power soaring day by day, news from the outside world arrived.
The Great Yue Kingdom suddenly deployed 300,000 troops, invading the Shang Kingdom.
Not to be outdone, the Peng Kingdom and An Kingdom also mobilized a total of 300,000 troops, hoping to carve out a piece of territory for themselves.
The three kingdoms converged, with a total force reaching 600,000.
At this time, the Shang Kingdom, having fought Great Xia twice, had suffered heavy losses in its military strength and a significant decline in national power. It was already incapable of resisting the united attack of the three kingdoms, and its territory was rapidly being conquered.
Inside the Shang Kingdom’s imperial palace, the Emperor and his officials were extremely anxious.
“The armies of the three kingdoms are coming. What should we do now?”
“With the current state of the Shang Kingdom, we simply cannot hold out. We might as well flee!”
“But where can we escape to? We are surrounded by enemies on all sides!”
“Should we surrender?”“Surrender? Do you think they will let us go if we surrender?”
“What should we do now? You tell me!”
The Emperor of the Shang Kingdom watched this scene with both anger and helplessness.
If it had been two months earlier, would he have come to this?
Two months ago, he had an army of 500,000 soldiers and three Innate masters. His strength was considered formidable among the small kingdoms.
The surrounding nations, when considering sending out their troops, must weigh their own strength.
But now everything has changed!
Three Innate masters have perished, and the total military strength has suffered a loss of over 400,000.
Without sufficient national defense forces, any country looking on would want to take a bite; national extinction is imminent!
It’s all Great Xia’s doing!
It’s all because of that foolish Emperor!
Had he not been provoked, we wouldn’t have fallen to such a fate today!
Watching the noisy court, the Emperor of the Shang Kingdom felt nothing but irritation and, with a loud shout, exclaimed, “Enough with the noise, silence! Whoever speaks another word will be dragged away and beheaded!”
The officials fell silent as if they had been struck by a cold chill, not daring to speak another word.
In the end, it was the Prime Minister who mustered the courage to speak: “Your Majesty, the reason the officials are so agitated is for your sake and for the Shang Kingdom! If we have offended you, we beg for your forgiveness!”
“Please forgive us, Your Majesty!” the officials echoed in unison.
The Emperor of the Shang Kingdom, weary at heart, waved his hand dismissively: “I understand the difficulties faced by you Ministers, but rest assured, I already have a solution in mind!”
The officials were greatly alarmed, “Your Majesty, have you already come up with a solution? What is it?”
The Emperor of the Shang Kingdom clenched his teeth, “We must seek help from Great Xia!”
The officials were shocked once again.
“What? Seek help from Great Xia?”
“Your Majesty, that must not be done! If those three countries are like jackals and wolves, then Great Xia is definitely a tiger or a leopard!”
“Our two nations have too deep a grudge. It would be good enough if Great Xia did not kick us while we are down!”
“Please reconsider, Your Majesty!”
“My esteemed ministers, am I not aware of your concerns?”
The Emperor of the Shang Kingdom said with a wry smile. “But at this point, do we have any other choice? Our neighbors, the Great Yue, An, and Peng Kingdoms, have all sent out their troops with the intent to annihilate my Shang Kingdom and annex our lands—they will not rest until they do!”
“At present, only the Great Xia to the south has held back its forces! Moreover, Great Xia once conquered my Shang Kingdom but then returned it, indicating that they are not interested in our territory!”
“Now, the only power capable of confronting the allied forces of the three nations is Great Xia!”
“Therefore, we have no choice but to seek assistance from Great Xia!”
The officials exchanged glances, full of uncertainty: “But will Great Xia agree to help us?”
The Emperor of the Shang Kingdom recalled Lin Beifan’s insatiable greed with a somewhat twisted face and said with heartache, “As long as a sufficient price is paid, he will surely agree!”
……
Lin Beifan was very surprised, having just received An Lushan’s subtle invitation to fight, and now the Shang Kingdom had sent someone over, asking him to lend a hand to save the Shang Kingdom.
The enmity between the two nations was as deep as the sea, and they were as incompatible as fire and water. Yet, you still dare to come and ask for help?
Lin Beifan was a bit impressed by the audacity of the Shang Kingdom’s Emperor.
“Terms, or rather, what’s in it for me?” Lin Beifan smiled as he looked at the envoy from the Shang Kingdom.
The Shang Kingdom’s envoy bowed deeply and said, “Respected Great Xia Emperor, as long as you dispatch troops to save the Shang Kingdom and His Majesty, our Shang Kingdom is willing to bow down to the Great Xia and pay tribute every year! If you need it, we are also willing to cede part of our territory!”
Bowing in submission?
There’s not a single substantial benefit. Lin Beifan has no interest in such empty gestures!
Paying tribute every year?
If I’ve taken all the good things from your country, what do you have left to offer as tribute?
Ceding territory?
It’s all barren land, of what use would it be?
Lin Beifan shook his head, “Your Shang Kingdom lacks sincerity. Bring out the real treasures! Otherwise, I can only stand by and watch as the Shang Kingdom falls and your Emperor becomes a prisoner at my feet!”
“But if our Shang Kingdom is destroyed, you will have to face the Great Yue Kingdom directly! The Emperor of Great Yue is ambitious…”
“It doesn’t matter. If they dare to come, I dare to fight!” Lin Beifan declared with an imposing air.
The envoy from the Shang Kingdom felt helpless and remembered the instructions given by his sovereign before departing, “Great Xia Emperor, actually our Shang Kingdom has another condition! We have a treasure worth 6 million taels buried in another country! If you send troops after the success of the mission, our Emperor will hand over this treasure to you!”
Lin Beifan was speechless, “Why do all Emperors have secret stashes like a cunning rabbit with three burrows? The Emperor of Mo Kingdom does this, and so does the Emperor of Shang Kingdom! However, to think that such a sum of money could compel me to send troops to save the Shang Kingdom and face three nations is impossible! Go back and tell your Emperor that this money is only enough to persuade me to save him! As for the rest, I am powerless to help!”
The envoy from the Shang Kingdom returned and reported the matter to the Shang Kingdom Emperor.
“I knew it, this foolish emperor is insatiable, always wanting more!” the Emperor of the Shang Kingdom gritted his teeth in anger.
He had already paid out 6 million taels, and all he got in return was his life?
He was extremely dissatisfied with this condition!
Because those 6 million taels were his last reserve of capital!
If he were to lose his money and his kingdom, what would be the point of living?
He might as well be dead!
Just then, news of three more cities falling reached his ears.
Three armies were already bearing down on the capital city.
The Emperor of the Shang Kingdom realized he could wait no longer and finally made up his mind.
“Go back immediately and tell that foolish emperor.”
He commanded, “Tell him that he must not only save me but also my family and ensure that I have no worries about food and clothing for the rest of my life! Once the deed is done, six million taels of silver will be his!”
“There’s no need for such trouble; just come with me now!” A man who had been drinking staggered forward.
The Emperor of the Shang Kingdom was shocked and alarmed. “Who are you?”
The man replied with a hiccup, “I… am the Wine Sword Immortal!”
“Are you the Wine Sword Immortal of Great Xia?” the Emperor of the Shang Kingdom exclaimed once again in great surprise.
He had long known that Great Xia had gained an Innate powerhouse known as the Wine Sword Immortal, whose strength was formidable and who killed people without batting an eye, causing the Great Liu and Great Zhao noble families considerable headaches.
He had not expected that this person would appear before him so suddenly.
“Are you the one sent by that fooli… Emperor of Great Xia?” the Emperor of the Shang Kingdom asked somewhat stutteringly.
“Correct!”
The Wine Sword Immortal nodded, smiling amiably as he said, “His Majesty told me that you are someone who fears death and is greedy for pleasure, not wanting to die yet unwilling to part with your wealth and glory, so you would definitely propose this condition! He told me that once you put forward this condition, I could take you away!”
The Emperor of the Shang Kingdom’s face flushed with embarrassment, realizing that he had been seen through by that foolish Emperor, leaving him at a loss for words!
“Don’t hesitate any longer. Will you go or not?”
The Wine Sword Immortal urged. “The allied forces of the three kingdoms are just 50 li outside the city, and they will arrive here in about two hours. If we don’t leave now, it will be too late!”
Shang Kingdom Emperor, with a quick decision, exclaimed, “Go! Leave at once!”
He quickly packed his belongings, gathered his family, and hurriedly fled.
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