Chapter 1520: Chapter 1437: The Last Stand

The Tang Army’s tanks and armored vehicles have started to appear frequently outside the city. In fact, the main forces of the 3rd Corps are less than 15 kilometers from Wuyang City.

The reason they haven’t launched a probing attack yet is actually because the Tang Country has already agreed with the Qin Country to temporarily halt military actions against Wuyang.

On the other hand, the Qin Country has not been idle in recent days. Although they haven’t further mobilized troops, they are indeed reinforcing their own defense lines. However, due to lacking equipment and supplies, their reinforcements are somewhat at the mercy of fate.

Stacked bricks and haphazard sandbags, combined with various buildings and obstacles on the city’s edge, constitute the last line of defense the Qin Army can rely on.

The lines of defense built outside the city actually serve no real purpose. Even Zhang Xuan himself doesn’t hold out hope for those trenches, let alone the officers below him.

Due to a lack of large-caliber anti-tank weapons, the Qin Army has virtually no means to deal with the Tang Army’s tanks. It would only take one charge for those ornamental trenches and so-called bunkers to be taken by the Tang Army.

However, within the city, the Qin Army is fairly well-prepared, having set up cannons in the streets and concealed machine guns in buildings. As soon as the Tang Army begins its attack, they will more or less cause some trouble for them.

“As long as General Ang launches a counterattack from the south, everything will be fine.” This phrase has almost become a lifeline for the Qin Army in Wuyang City, often repeated whether there’s need or not.

Besides, another reason for their firm belief is that the Tang Army has not launched a frantic attack. They feel they still have the ability to hold their positions.

Ying Ke was anxiously waiting in the Imperial Palace for the command of the awakening Emperor Ying Duo. He was ready; if Ying Duo truly decided to fight to the death, he would personally go to the Tang Army to meet his end.

Since he made all the decisions, he naturally had to take responsibility for all the outcomes. His original intention was not to delay time; he genuinely wanted to negotiate peace with the Tang Army, and he should pay the price for his decision.

“His Majesty wants to see you.” A servant came out and told Ying Ke. Then he stepped aside, allowing Ying Ke to walk into Ying Duo’s room by himself.

In the room, Ying Duo lay on the sickbed, a sickly flush on his face, his hands uncontrollably trembling as if struggling to grasp something.

However, his arms were fixed to the bed, so he couldn’t break free to wave his arms. Ying Duo was extremely uncomfortable at this moment, as if countless ants were gnawing at his body.

Suppressing the pain and itching with great effort, his voice trembling slightly, he asked with difficulty, “Is it… ah… no longer possible to hold on?”

“Your Majesty, if the Tang Army attacks, in less than three days, Wuyang will become a wasteland. In only five days, we will be surrounded and cut off from water and electricity supplies…”

“We have little food, no medicine, and not much ammunition reserves… In such circumstances, we simply can’t hold out for long.” Ying Ke finally spoke the harsh truth with difficulty, making Ying Duo’s expression even more sinister: “We have already failed, Your Majesty, utterly failed.”

“Hold on until the last moment… I hope for a dignified end for myself…” A glimmer of madness appeared in Ying Duo’s eyes as he mumbled vaguely, “Make your own judgment… but, hold on… hold on until… the end.”

“I understand, I will hold on until the last moment, Your Majesty.” Ying Ke bowed his head, giving a difficult promise. He wished to refuse the bedridden Ying Duo, yet until the end, he never voiced his refusal.

After leaving Ying Duo’s room, he felt utterly exhausted. He was using the lives of the entire city’s population to give Ying Duo an explanation… unfortunately, it was destined to be a hopeless explanation.

“Have Zhang Xuan reinforce the city defenses again… His Majesty intends to hold on until the last moment, then surrender to the Tang Army.” Ying Ke, faithfully following Ying Duo’s orders, gave the command to his subordinates: “If the Tang Army breaches the main suburban defense lines… I will order a surrender.”

“Understood.” Zhang Tuo sighed helplessly, then nodded, stepping aside to pick up the phone.

Ying Ke then looked at his confidant: “Contact our representative negotiating at the Tang Army camp, and honestly convey our thoughts to the Tang Army… hoping they understand the feelings of Emperor Ying Duo of the Qin Country.”

“Yes!” His confidant looked at the crowd beside him, thinking to himself whether it was appropriate to announce such orders publicly. But after silently cursing, he resolutely executed Ying Ke’s order.

…

Because the peace talks deliberately kept the communication channel open for the Qin Army, the Qin Country representative in charge of negotiations immediately learned of the news within the Tang Army’s command headquarters.

Then, he anxiously sought out the officials from the Tang Country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, truthfully divulging everything he knew: “Emperor Ying Duo insists on a battle, but he has already promised the Prime Minister that if we are defeated in the suburbs, we can surrender… Moreover, Emperor Ying Duo’s health is not optimistic; our doctors diagnosed him as critically ill… I’m afraid he can’t hold on for many days.”

“Hmm?” Hearing the Qin Country’s intention to fight once before surrendering did not surprise the Tang Country’s representatives, but their expressions changed upon learning about Ying Duo’s poor health.

“What do you mean?” The Tang Country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs official asked discontentedly, “Wasn’t your Emperor’s health supposed to be fine? How did it become critically ill?”

“Our Majesty’s health was only mildly discomforted at first, and then he forced himself to manage the situation by secretly taking a drug called Black Crow… Recently, the side effects of the drug erupted, so he…” The Qin Country’s representative relayed all the information he knew, anyway, it’s the Prime Minister’s orders, so he bears no responsibility.

Upon hearing about the Black Crow, the Tang Country’s diplomat was visibly puzzled, having never heard of this bizarre drug and what it actually was.

“Why take such a drug with side effects? What exactly does it do?” The Tang Country’s diplomat hurriedly questioned. While he’s indeed not too concerned about other matters—even if Wuyang City refuses to surrender, he can hand the problem over to the military—he does know that the Qin Emperor is the father-in-law of their own Emperor. In Chang’an City, Imperial Concubine Ying Yue is waiting for a family reunion… If anything happens to Ying Duo, how could he explain it to the Imperial Concubine?