Chapter 1098: Decisive Battle (8)

Wulie and the Left Minister fell silent. If this was Qi Haoran’s plan, it would explain why he allowed them to take away 20,000 bodyguards.

20,000 people was not much; not enough to threaten Great Qi, but not a number to scoff at either. It was enough manpower for them to survive on the grassland and constantly cause trouble for Great Yuan, making it unable to spare any energy to deal with Great Qi for the time being.

As for why they obediently went to find trouble with Great Yuan, it was obvious. Their land had been snatched by Great Yuan. Wanting to survive on the grassland was causing trouble for Great Yuan in and of itself.

Wulie lowered his eyes and thought for a moment. “Great Yuan’s 300,000 troops are in North City. If they send troops, we won’t be able to go far even with 20,000 people.”

Qi Haoran corrected him again. “It’s not you guys, it’s them. You can rest assured about this. They can leave through the west gate. As long as the city isn’t breached, Ogedei won’t pay too much attention to the situation outside. Moreover, if your personal guards don’t even know how to hide their tracks, I don’t think there’s a need to attempt to leave the city. They can just stay in the city and be wiped out.”

Wulie sneered and said, “There’s no need for Prince Rong to worry about my soldiers. How many days do you plan to give them?”

“Three days.” Qi Haoran said, “I’ll stay in the city for another four days. You have one day to make arrangements. It’s best if you leave after nightfall tomorrow. After three days, no matter where they escape to, you have to open the city gate for us.”

“Aren’t you afraid I’ll go back on my word?”

Qi Haoran sneered at him with an extremely arrogant attitude. It was obvious that he was telling him that even if he went back on his word and killed him later, Great Qi would definitely pursue those 20,000 people to the end.

Wulie was angered by Qi Haoran’s attitude and choked in anger, but he indeed did not dare to go back on his word.

Great Jin already had a formidable enemy, Great Yuan, so there was no need to provoke Great Qi in addition to that, even though Great Jin had been destroyed by both Great Qi and Great Yuan.

Wulie nodded with a livid expression, agreeing to Qi Haoran’s conditions.

The Left Minister wanted to say something but hesitated. Wulie glanced at him and stopped him from speaking. After Qi Haoran left, he said, “It’s useless. The Emperor of Great Qi wants to give his subjects an explanation. He won’t let me leave alive.”

The Jin Kingdom’s Left Minister could only sigh.

The nobles and the royal family of the Jin Kingdom were already prepared to live and die with the capital. There was no choice. Whether it was Great Qi or Great Yuan, there was a blood feud between them.

The nobles still had a chance of survival. Perhaps they could use money to buy a life after the army entered the city, but the royal family would definitely die. This was because no one would be willing to let the previous royal family survive.

Hearing that they could leave alive, everyone was in a daze.

All members of the royal family could leave, this being a condition that Qi Haoran had casually agreed to. However, the number of spots left for the nobles was limited.

Wulie and the Jin Kingdom’s Left Minister discussed for a long time before coming up with a list. Then, they urgently summoned all the ministers and nobles. That night, many 11 or 12-year-old children were sent to the palace.

The next afternoon, Wulie told Qi Haoran that they were ready.

Qi Haoran went to look at the team that was standing at the west gate. When he saw that it was about to exceed 30,000 people, the corners of Qi Haoran’s mouth twitched, but he didn’t say anything. In any case, they were escaping from this place and entering West Xia and Great Yuan’s territory. Thus, it wouldn’t affect Great Qi even if there were more people than previously agreed upon.

Qi Haoran turned a blind eye and let them open the city gate to leave.

Outside the city gate, General Yuan was standing outside with his bodyguards with a dark expression. Qi Haoran walked in front and waved at him.

Even if General Yuan was unwilling, he had no choice but to wave his hand to get the soldiers to move aside and let Great Jin’s people leave.

Wulie rode on his horse and watched as the team walked further and further away until they disappeared. He turned around and said to Qi Haoran, “I hope Your Highness will keep your promise. In three days, as long as they send a letter saying that they are safe, I will leave and open the city gate to welcome the Qi army.”

Qi Haoran gave a soft “hmm” and looked strangely at the Left Minister behind him. “I originally thought that His Excellency the Left Minister would also leave.”

Smiling, the Left Minister said, “I’m old, so I’ll stay behind to accompany His Majesty.”

Such a Left Minister reminded Qi Haoran of the late Grand Tutor Yan of the previous dynasty. However, this Left Minister still couldn’t compare to the self-disciplined Grand Tutor Yan. It was said that this Left Minister often privatized land for his own use, bullied the common people, and his family’s wealth almost surpassed the national treasury. Unexpectedly, in spite of all his flaws, he was loyal.

Now that those who should leave had already left, Qi Haoran was unwilling to stay in the Jin Kingdom’s palace and stayed at Zhou Ju’s house.

Wulie did not force him, and only sent someone to protect him nearby. After all, he could not afford to let Qi Haoran die in the Central Capital, at least not before the three-day deadline.

Qi Haoran had been tense and prepared to escape at any time, but nothing happened to him during these three days. Moreover, in order to show his sincerity, Wulie had even transferred most of the remaining troops in the city to the North City Gate to resist Great Yuan. Of course, this was also related to Great Yuan starting a fierce siege.

As for the west and east gates of the South City Gate, which were surrounded by the Great Qi army, there was no movement.

Wulie held the letter and smiled happily. He said to the Left Minister, “A spy has come to report that Ogedei has mobilized another 400,000 troops. Looks like he’s determined to fight with Great Qi for the Central Capital. The heavens are really helping us. Now that they’re fighting each other, it makes our lives easier.”

The Left Minister bowed slightly. “Your Majesty, once the city gates are opened and the Qi army enters the city, there will be no fighting between the two sides.”

“That might not be the case.” Wulie sneered and said, “Great Jin is wealthy, while Ogedei is a pauper now. He has 600,000 troops, while Great Qi only has 480,000 troops surrounding the city. It’s not certain who will win. Moreover, after taking down the Central Capital, Ogedei can directly target Great Qi and head south at any time.”

“But Great Qi has Prince Rong and General Yuan. I’m afraid that’s more than Ogedei can bite off.”

“Is Qi Haoran not in the city now?” Wulie’s eyes darted around. “I promised to open the city gate for them, but I didn’t agree to anything else. Go, get someone to carry a few boxes of jewelry and spread them at the North City Gate. Tell Ogedei that I have plenty of gold, silver, and jewelry in the Central Capital.”

The Left Minister was speechless. Seems like the Emperor was determined to sow discord between Great Yuan and Great Qi. Although his plan was a little clumsy, the Left Minister had to admit that this method was effective.

They had only scattered two boxes of jewelry when the soldiers of Great Yuan looked at the Central Capital with covetous eyes and attacked even more fiercely.

When Qi Haoran found out, he sneered. Zhou Ju also shook his head and sighed. “Emperor Great Jin’s plan sure is vicious. Now, the ones guarding the city are still Great Jin’s soldiers. To think he disregards their lives like this… Sigh, even without our Great Qi and Great Yuan, doom is inevitable for Great Jin.”

“It’s just a small trick. Since tomorrow is the deadline, he won’t dare to let Great Yuan attack the Central Capital. He’s just trying to sow discord between Great Yuan and us. Could it be that Great Qi is afraid of a tiny country that has just been established?”

When the next day arrived, Qi Haoran brought Zhou Ju and the others to the South City Gate. Wulie was walking slowly along the city tower. Looking at the kneeling subjects below, he said coldly, “Open the city gate.”

“Your Majesty!”

“Open it. If the Emperor of Great Qi lets you live, you will live. If not, I wish each of you good luck.” Wulie took out his sword and shouted at Qi Haoran, who was below the city, “Prince Rong, I only hope that you remember your promise. Otherwise, the successive Emperors of Great Jin will definitely not let your descendants off!”

After saying that, he laughed bitterly at the sky. “Since I’ve let my ancestors down, I’ll go accompany them first.”

As soon as he finished speaking, he slit his own throat!

The Left Minister’s eyes were bloodshot as he drew his saber and followed closely behind. Henceforth, Great Jin existed no longer!