Chapter 1091: Decisive Battle (1)

“Father King.” Little Bear ran over in a hurry and shouted, “Father King, Wang Xi, who helped me retrieve the secret letter, wants to see you.”

Qi Haoran had just learned from Little Bear that Great Jin and West Xia were working together, so he naturally knew what had happened. Hearing this, he raised his eyebrows and said, “Let him come.”

Wang Xi was quickly brought over. When he saw Qi Haoran, he immediately knelt down and kowtowed. “Your Highness, I’m a messenger from the North Six Agency. I’ve always been in charge of communicating with Li Zhang.”

Qi Haoran’s expression turned solemn as he asked, “Shouldn’t you be in Dading Prefecture then? Why are you here?”

“Li Zhang sent me a message and asked me to immediately bring some secret files back. I didn’t see any messages after that. Not long ago, my colleagues from the North Six Agency in Dongjing received a distress message from Xue Ji.”

“Where are the secret files?”

“I hid the original copies in Dading Prefecture.” Wang Xi looked up and said, “The copy is in my mind.”

North Six Agency was a spy that Qi Xiuyuan had planted in the north back then. After the founding of Great Qi, the North Six Agency was established and these spies were gathered to manage it. It was considered a special agent organization in the north.

People like Wang Xi, who had undergone training and had special abilities, were especially entrusted with heavy responsibilities. Clearly, Wang Xi’s special ability was his extraordinary memory.

Qi Haoran did not ask further. He immediately got someone to prepare a pen and paper for him. After asking about the last time he communicated with Li Zhang, he left and got someone to surround the tent.

Little Bear was so anxious that he scratched his ears and cheeks. He couldn’t help but ask, “Father, isn’t Li Zhang Ogedei’s Military Advisor? Why is he related to the people from the North Six Agency?”

“He’s from the North Six Agency,” Qi Haoran said calmly.

Little Bear opened his mouth wide and said in admiration, “Father, you’re amazing. You can even plant spies like this.”

Qi Haoran sneered. “Eight years ago, Ogedei was just a slave in the mine. What’s so difficult about being someone by his side? Although Li Zhang once had the intention to stay on by Ogedei’s side, he’s considered loyal to Great Qi. Now that he’s disappeared, I don’t know if he escaped or was captured.”

Little Bear also frowned.

Mu Yangling said, “Didn’t Wang Xi say that Xue Ji took his family away? Xue Ji also asked the North Six Agency for help. He must have encountered danger. Why don’t we get someone to think of a way to save his family? No matter what, we have to protect his mother, wife, and children so that we won’t let him down.”

Qi Haoran nodded. “Since he didn’t let Great Qi down, Great Qi naturally won’t let him down.”

Previously, Li Zhang was the one who informed him that Ogedei had betrayed the alliance. This time, he even took the risk to let Wang Xi send the news. It was obvious how he felt about Great Qi.

“Father, Great Jin’s reinforcements are about to arrive. Why don’t you let me lead an army to resist the enemy?” Little Bear said eagerly.

Qi Haoran shook his head and said, “West Xia can’t win.”

Since they dared to start an all-out war, they naturally had already prepared countermeasures against West Xia. Besides, Yuan Zhao was leading a 100,000-strong army at the border of West Xia, and there was a rebellion in West Xia itself. He did not think that West Xia could send many troops to stop Mu Shi.

Moreover, he now had 150,000 troops and Qi Xiuyuan was leading 50,000 elite soldiers. If they gathered together, it would be enough to crush the enemy.

Qi Haoran rejected his son’s suggestion and decided to advance steadily. When the news of General Yuan taking down Hejian Prefecture came, he would move the battle line forward.

Great Jin’s decline was obvious. Even if Wulie wanted to salvage the situation, there was nothing he could do about it. 20 days after Zhending Prefecture fell, Datong Prefecture fell, and the three armies of the Qi army gathered in the Central Capital. The Great Qi Emperor’s carriage also arrived outside the Central Capital.

To the north, Ogedei raised the banner of the Great Yuan, also blocking the northern exit from the Central Capital. The Central Capital was besieged by both Great Qi and Great Yuan; though the two nations were not allies, they acted as if they were. Now, it remained to be seen which country would be the first to breach the capital city, destroy Great Jin, and take control of the Central Capital.

Wulie’s subordinates persuaded him to get out of the Central Capital and go into hiding, quoting the saying ‘where there’s life, there’s hope’. Wulie rejected them one by one and said, “A large area of Great Jin’s grassland has been divided up by Great Yuan and West Xia, while the south is occupied by Great Qi. Even if I attempt to escape, where can I escape to? In that case, I might as well die for my country. Since us descendants are unworthy and have let down our ancestors’ expectations, it’s time for me to go to the netherworld and apologize to them.”

Wulie smiled bitterly. “However, Great Qi and Great Yuan can forget about living well. If I die and Great Jin is destroyed, the two of them will be at each other’s throat next. As for the treacherous West Xia, they will not exist for much longer like our Great Jin.”

Wulie looked at the ministers and generals, and the hatred and suspicion he had for them dissipated one by one. With a sigh, he said, “You people should leave. Run as far as you can. I’ll wait here to see who will attack the city.”

At this moment, Mu Yangling was riding on her horse and looking up at the majestic Central Capital with mixed feelings. This was Beijing in her previous life and also the capital of Great Jin in this current life.

Qi Xiuyuan also looked up at the capital and sighed in admiration. “Although Jiangnan is prosperous, in terms of grandeur, it can’t compare to the north. Should I live in Jiangnan for a long time, I’m afraid my bones will go limb.”

Fan Zijin’s heart skipped a beat as he asked, “Your Majesty wants to move the capital back to Chang’an?”

Qi Haoran said happily, “Chang’an is good too. It’s not far from Xingzhou Prefecture, and we’re familiar with it.”

Fan Zijin rolled his eyes and said, “It’s also convenient for your wife to go back to her maternal family, right?”

Seeing them bicker, Qi Xiuyuan’s worries dissipated. He said in amusement, “Alright, if you continue to bicker, you’ll just make a fool of yourself.”

Turning around, he saw the complicated look in Mu Yangling’s eyes, so he asked, “Why? Do you have something to say about this?”

Mu Yangling lowered her eyes and thought for a moment. “Your Majesty, if you want to move the capital, then move the capital here.”

Qi Haoran was dumbfounded. “What nonsense are you talking about? The city walls of the Central Capital may look tall, but in terms of prosperity, even ten Central Capitals can’t compare to one Lin’an Prefecture.”

Mu Yangling said nonchalantly, “If the capital is moved here, it will naturally become prosperous. We don’t have to consider whether it’s presently prosperous or not.”

“Then we might as well move the capital to Chang’an. There being a natural pass, one man can hold out against ten thousand.”

“Most of the land there has been reclaimed. Although the land is vast and sparsely populated because of the Jin people going south, once things settle down, the population there will explode in a short period of time. Moreover, most of them are established aristocratic families from the past. There won’t be any room for development should we move the capital there.” Mu Yangling said, “But it’s different here. The Central Capital isn’t developed enough, and the land is fertile and vast, and there’s plenty that can be planned out for the Imperial City. Moreover, this place is close to the Great Wall, making it the entrance to the country. Anyone attacking from the north to the south has to pass through here…”

“Won’t that be putting the capital under someone else’s nose?” Fan Zijin said unhappily. “Once a war breaks out, they’ll all come to the capital.”

However, Qi Xiuyuan said thoughtfully, “The Son of Heaven guards the national gates; faced with such crises, the Emperor should strive for diligent governance. The Great Zhou, secure in Chang’an and shielded by the Hangu Pass, indulged in its safety. Yet, it was destroyed because of Hangu Pass; once the Pass was breached, the Great Zhou court could only flee southward.”