Remarrying Chun Yuan

Chapter 345 Abdication

The Empress never expected that Qin Mushuo would dare to directly force Emperor Qi Xiao to surrender!

"Don't you think it's going too far to bring this up at this time?!"

She was furious with Qin Mushuo because he had never discussed this matter with her!

The Empress felt betrayed and was at a loss, since the Crown Prince would always consult her before making any decisions. But today, she truly knew nothing about what had happened.

Qin Mushuo, standing to the side, also went all out, saying, "Things have come to this point, and not a single message has come back from the southwest. It's clear that the entire army has been wiped out."

"Although our Great Qi has discovered excellent mineral veins, we cannot make up for the lack of troops in a short time. Sending generals and soldiers to the battlefield now would be tantamount to sending them to their deaths!"

"The wishes of the ministers are also to ensure that the people of Daqi can survive and not become dust in the war."

“Father, I know of your great ambition, but this must be done gradually…”

Qin Mushuo knelt on the ground and delivered a passionate speech.

The Left and Right Chancellors exchanged a glance and immediately knelt on the ground, begging Emperor Qi Xiao to surrender!

Seeing them kneel, all the ministers looked at each other in bewilderment and had no choice but to kneel as well.

Even those who disagreed couldn't sway the Left and Right Chancellors. These men, who had fought their entire lives, had admitted defeat on this matter, clearly indicating that the Great Qi's chances of winning this war were truly hopeless!

The ministers knelt on the ground, and Emperor Qi Xiao felt a sudden darkness before his eyes.

He never imagined that he would be forced to abdicate by his own son, the very crown prince he despised the most!

"You cowards who fear death, are you still loyal subjects of the Great Qi?!"

"We, your subjects, endure this humiliation out of loyalty to the Great Qi, and we do not wish for the Great Qi to lose the lives of so many soldiers for the sake of a moment's anger!" The Right Chancellor stepped forward and said.

The Left Chancellor nodded in agreement. "This old minister has also been in contact with His Highness the Third Prince, who also believes that a hasty and desperate fight would lead to failure. His Majesty has devoted himself to the well-being of the people of Great Qi. Now, by admitting defeat and surrendering, and having the Court of State Ceremonies negotiate with the states of Yan and Chu, we might be able to give Great Qi a chance to breathe. This is the best course of action!"

"Your Majesty is also aware that I and the Left Chancellor have disagreed on court affairs for many years. Today, we are able to petition together, which is also the wish of all the ministers and the people!"

"Father, I know you are unwilling to admit defeat. I am willing to stand up for you and bear this humiliation! If the states of Yan and Zhao wish to mock me, they may do so by calling me a coward!"

Qin Mushuo had already prepared his words, and with a generous and righteous speech, his eyes brimming with tears, he said, "Your subject is willing to play the role of someone who fears death and is cursed by the people!"

"I believe that the people of Great Qi would rather live in peace and prosperity than be constantly at war!"

"The southwest may already be a land of devastation, where not a single blade of grass can grow!"

"Your Majesty, please accept this as the only time!"

……

The court officials knelt down one after another, uttering unpleasant words.

Emperor Qi Xiao's gaze grew colder, freezing like ice. He swept his gaze over everyone kneeling on the ground, "You all want me to surrender? Is there not a single proud and unyielding subject in Great Qi?!"

"Your Majesty, I refuse." The one who stepped forward was Prince Chun. "Your Majesty, I hope you can seize the opportunity and defeat the Yan and Chu kingdoms in one fell swoop!"

Emperor Qi Xiao felt a tightness in his chest and was even more angry.

The instigator of this incident may be Prince Chun, and the person who caused his successive deaths was also him!

“Uncle, we must not act rashly in this matter!” Qin Mushuo turned to discuss, “Your western region may have already been occupied by the Yan and Chu states. I know your grief, Uncle, but we must not rush into this matter!”

"Your Highness, please calm down!"

"Although the West has been lost, we will take it back one day!"

Two more court officials stepped forward to support Qin Mushuo.

Emperor Qi Xiao was furious. He once again felt the pain of being coerced, whereas before he had been suppressed for ten years by the Empress Dowager with the words "shame of the royal family".

He looked at Qin Mushuo, how could he not know the feelings in his heart?

Saying they're helping him bear the blame is just a way of forcing him to step down!

"Besides Prince Chun, is there really no other courtier who supports continuing to resist the Yan-Chu allied forces?"

He asked the question again, his heart filled with sorrow, his voice trembling, truly unable to bear it.

"I support you." The person who stepped forward was Chen Zhongyao.

"Imperial Censor Chen, what are you doing stirring things up at a time like this!" Qin Mushuo turned his head and saw it was him, and was truly annoyed. "You are just a civil official, you have no idea how cruel war is!"

"The one who fought against the combined forces of Yan and Chu in the Southwest was my father. What reason does Your Highness have to judge that I am not aware of the cruelty of war?" Chen Zhongyao retorted directly, and people then remembered Chen Hongwu.

Even the Left Chancellor sheepishly backed down.

Because the Third Prince received the imperial edict but did not carry it out.

Huai Prefecture did not provide the Southwest with a single penny of military funds, let alone send a single soldier!

“This is no small matter… The Great Qi will avenge Governor Chen one day!” The Right Chancellor stepped forward and spoke.

"What right do you have to say that you will avenge my father sooner or later? Your Right Chancellor's Mansion didn't contribute a single soldier, only a few mouths. You climbed up the ladder as soon as you saw benefits, but when Yan and Chu launched a fierce attack on Qi, your knees buckled at the first sign of trouble?"

Chen Zhongyao's tongue was sharper than steel; he didn't care whether it was the Left Chancellor or the Right Chancellor, he was the most qualified person to stand up and express his opinion!

"Imperial Censor Chen, please don't speak so harshly. We are only thinking about the future of Great Qi!" The Left Chancellor also stepped forward at the right time. He hadn't expected that Chen Zhongyao would actually stand up and stand firm on this matter!

"What gives you the right to speak? You married your daughter to the Right Chancellor's family, turning enemies into in-laws, and now you're all united against a common enemy, kneeling down and admitting defeat?" Chen Zhongyao showed no fear. He was always indifferent to joy or sorrow, and his light-hearted sarcasm was so mild that it left the Left and Right Chancellors speechless!

"Chen Zhongyao, don't act crazy at a time like this. I know your father died in battle. You may be heartbroken and hope that the generals of Daqi will avenge your father, but this is not the time to act recklessly!" Qin Mushuo stepped forward to refute him. He hated Chen Zhongyao the most.

He was just an imperial censor.

But he was always nitpicking and finding fault with everything. Too many of his people were used as nails by Chen Zhongyao to get rid of them!

If he ever actually gets to that position, the first thing he'll do is get rid of Chen Zhongyao!

Emperor Qi Xiao also recovered from the shock of what he had just witnessed.

He saw that Chen Zhongyao still wanted to argue, but simply raised his hand to tell him to step back for the time being.

He scanned the crowd before him, looking at almost everyone.

Yuan Cuo didn't come today, and he didn't know where this illegitimate son had gone.

But none of that matters anymore.

He just wanted a final result.

"I am determined to fight against the states of Yan and Chu; this is my final ambition. If you are unwilling to support me, I will abdicate and pass the throne to a more worthy successor."

"Those who support me can stay put."

"Those who wish for my abdication may stand behind the Crown Prince!"