Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress novel Chapter 1264

Chapter 1264: Chapter 1259: Fearless Backing

Cui Shanzhong was unwilling!

Tears filled his eyes!

The defeat was as overwhelming as a landslide, and Cui Shanzhong’s sense of powerlessness... no one could understand.

"The old General cannot hold on any longer! The situation is hopeless! We must quickly retreat to the Imperial Palace! Perhaps we can hold out for a while longer! I will send someone to call for reinforcements immediately!" The lieutenant of General Cui urged loudly as Cui Shanzhong remained still, "The old General must not hesitate! If we withdraw most of our forces back to the palace now, we might hold out until reinforcements arrive!"

It couldn’t hold any longer...

Cui Shanzhong knew!

Even retreating to the Imperial Palace now would just be a futile struggle.

When Cui Zhongshan took command, he sent directives to each city, calling for troops to come!

Those willing to come had arrived, and those unwilling remained silent.

Moreover, with the Zhou and Yan Kingdom coalition having breached Yunjing, it was likely that the garrison commanders in other cities, upon hearing the news, would be contemplating whether to surrender to Zhou or to Yan Kingdom!

Who would still be willing to fight against impossible odds, bringing forces insufficient even to serve as a toothpick for the Zhou and Yan Army, to save the imperial court!

"Report! Yan Kingdom is attacking the east gate!"

"Report! The Zhou and Yan Kingdom coalition is assaulting the west gate!"

"Report! Zhou is attacking the south gate!"

War reports were continuously delivered to General Cui Shanzhong and Li Tianjiao at the Imperial Palace, and upon hearing the besiegement of all city gates, the soldiers of Xiliang felt a sense of defeatism.

Whether they were soldiers from Xiliang or other countries, in truth, what does one fight with in war? It’s morale! What brings morale... is hope!

It could come from their undefeated commanding generals!

Or from the belief that by fighting to the death, they could win a slim chance of survival for the people behind them!

Or from the hope of victory being near!

But what did Xiliang have?

Their renowned General Cui Shanzhong had not led troops in many years, was over eighty... and frequently showed signs of physical inadequacy on the battlefield.

Defend the people of Xiliang? Yet Zhou, after conquering a city, never massacred but rather distributed food to the people, divided lands and houses, implemented new policies, and treated the people as their own, which induced many people of Xiliang, aware of Zhou’s benevolence, to seek shelter in Zhou. Only a few who feared persecution fled further south into Xiliang.

Hope for victory? Now that Yunjing of Xiliang was surrounded on all sides, and the city gates were even breached, where was there any hope for victory? Retreating to the Imperial Palace was nothing more than a final stand in resistance!

Li Tianjiao had already descended from the high steps, gazing steadily at Bai Qingyu with a smile: "It’s said that a drop of water shall be returned with a spring of gratitude, it’s only a matter of a few words from General Bai. Surely, General Bai will not refuse?" 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

"Even if Your Majesty places a crown on my head, I’m afraid Bai Qingyu is powerless..." Bai Qingyu replied with a slight smile in his voice.

Li Tianjiao laughed softly, walking around Bai Qingyu with her hands behind her back. She suddenly bent down, speaking from above Bai Qingyu’s head: "General Bai is the brother of Emperor Bai of Zhou, possessing a significance so esteemed that when Emperor Bai learned of General Bai’s capture, it shocked him into early labor. He just gave birth to a pair of children, and disregarding his newborns and physical state, he embarked for Xiliang on the very same day. Judging from this, the importance of General Bai to Emperor Bai of Zhou is clear..."

Bai Qingyu’s palm clenched abruptly, his elder sister had gone into early labor?!

Was it because she learned of his capture or... did she truly believe Yan Kingdom had betrayed Zhou? And what about Xiao Rongyan? Did he fail to deliver the message to his elder sister?

Noticing Bai Qingyu’s slightly stiff demeanor, Li Tianjiao’s smile deepened: "If General Bai agrees, I... can release General Bai from the palace now."

Contrary to General Cui Shanzhong’s thoughts, Li Tianjiao knew that since the coalition of Zhou and Yan Kingdom was attacking and the eastern and northern gates were breached, there was no longer any point in holding Bai Qingyu, waiting for Bai Qingyan.

Better to send Bai Qingyu out and first declare a ceasefire with Zhou, announcing allegiance to Zhou. In such a scenario... for Yan Kingdom to continue attacking Xiliang would mean invading Zhou’s territory.

This... was Xiliang’s slim chance!

Otherwise, relying solely on the scant supplies within the Xiliang Imperial Palace, it wouldn’t last long.

Since now the course of events was unavoidable, Li Tianjiao didn’t want Xiliang’s soldiers to sacrifice themselves needlessly anymore. After all, securing the ten-year tribute exemption and lack of Zhou garrisoning meant, using these forces, she could slowly rebuild!