northernbook Chapter 836 Powerless and Desperate
Chapter 836 Powerless and Desperate
Emperor Jindong's eyes were burning with rage, but also mixed with deep worry and despair.
"How dare you be so arrogant!" He growled, his voice full of anger and unwillingness.
This is not only a provocation to him personally, but also an insult and threat to the entire Fuso nation.
The night seemed to grow darker.
Emperor Rento paced back and forth in his study, thinking about countermeasures, but he felt unprecedented powerlessness and confusion.
Facing such a powerful enemy, it is difficult to turn the tide by one's own strength alone, but as the emperor, how can he sit idly by and watch the country fall into an irretrievable situation?
"Su Zhengyang, just wait. I, the people of Fuso, will never surrender to you!" Emperor Rendong swore secretly in his heart.
The next morning, the morning light of the Fuso Imperial Palace was shrouded in a thick haze. In the imperial study, the flickering candlelight illuminated the tired face of Emperor Jinto. He had not slept all night, and his eyes were bloodshot.
With the sound of hurried and orderly footsteps, several important officials such as Tojo Takehiro, Yasuaki Kōji, Ito Hirobumi, and Koga Ryukata were urgently summoned here, and their faces were also full of worry and heaviness. The moment they stepped into the imperial study, everyone's eyes involuntarily fell on Emperor Jinto. The face distorted by anger and anxiety made people feel awe.
Tojo Takehide, the Prime Minister of Fuso, was the first to break the silence, his voice low and full of concern: "Your Majesty, you must take care of your health. The future of Fuso still needs your leadership."
Upon hearing this, Emperor Rendong only nodded slightly, but his eyes seemed to be able to spit fire. He gritted his teeth and squeezed out every word: "The Chinese invaders have invaded, and my people are suffering an unprecedented disaster. After the fall of Kyushu Island, Shikoku Island is also facing the danger of destruction. Half of the country has been lost. I am heartbroken. How can I sleep peacefully!"
"Tell me how to solve the current dilemma. The strategy of seeking peace is no longer feasible. That damn Su Zhengyang is so arrogant and conceited that he doesn't even take Fusang or me seriously. He puts forward such harsh conditions. It's simply unreasonable!"
Upon hearing this, Tojo Takehide and others all looked solemn and exchanged complicated looks with each other.
The current situation has reached a critical moment of life and death. Since the road to peace has been blocked, the only way left is to fight. However, facing the powerful China, what can they do?
For a moment, the imperial study fell into dead silence, with only the occasional sound of wind coming from the window and the heavy breathing of everyone intertwined. Tojo Yuhide, Hosho Kōji, Ito Hirobumi, Koga Ryukata and others looked at each other, and everyone's heart was filled with helplessness and struggle.
The silence at this moment is not only the helplessness of the predicament, but also the deep fear of the unknown future.
Seeing this, Emperor Rendong could no longer suppress his anger. His eyes were like burning flames as he stared at the ministers kneeling below. "You are all silent and helpless?!" His voice was deafening, as if it was going to shatter the oppressive imperial study. "What is the point of me keeping you useless people?! When the country is in danger, why can't you give me a solution?!"
Tojo Takehide, Yasuaki Kōji, Ito Hirobumi, Koga Ryukata and others were frightened by the sudden roar, and they all knelt lower, burying their heads deeply in the ground, as if this could alleviate some of their guilt.
"Your Majesty, please calm down. We are incompetent, but we will do our best to help your Majesty solve his problems." Tojo Takehide spoke first, his voice full of fear and self-blame.
"Share my worries and solve my problems?" Emperor Rendong sneered, and that smile was full of bitterness and helplessness. "You know, my hatred for the Chinese country and Su Zhengyang is like the water of a river, endless and continuous! As long as the Chinese invaders do not withdraw from our Fuso territory, I will not have peace and will not be able to sleep or eat!" His words were full of anger and despair, as if a tortured heart was shouting.
Emperor Jindong could no longer control his emotions. He strode to the desk, grabbed the writing brush, ink and teacup on the desk, and mercilessly overturned them to the ground. There was a loud "crash", and the porcelain fragments flew everywhere, and the ink splashed everywhere, staining the originally neat desk into a mess.
"Those so-called allies," Emperor Jindong's voice was full of sarcasm and sadness, "will only sit back and watch the crisis of Fuso, watching coldly and laughing at our jokes! No one is willing to lend a helping hand, no one is willing to tide over the difficulties with Fuso!" His tone was filled with emotion about the fickleness of the world and anger at the betrayal of allies.
There was a dead silence in the imperial study. Only the fragments scattered on the ground and the scent of ink and tea in the air silently witnessed this scene.
The ministers knelt on the ground, not daring to make a sound, for fear of angering the angry emperor.
Emperor Ninto stood alone in front of the desk with his back to them, like a lonely statue guarding this land that was about to sink.
Just as Emperor Jindong's anger and despair reached its peak, the door of the imperial study was suddenly pushed open, and a pale and hurried courtier strode in, holding a sealed telegram in his hand. The hurried footsteps echoed in the silent air like an ominous omen.
"Your Majesty!" The courtier's voice trembled slightly due to nervousness. He stepped forward quickly, presented the telegram with both hands, his eyes full of worry.
Emperor Rento took the telegram with trembling hands, and had a bad feeling in his heart.
He slowly unfolded the telegram, his eyes sweeping over the brief and cruel text: "The main forces stationed in Kochi, including the Fuso 47th Division and the Jinhe Division, have recently encountered the army led by Commander Chen. After several days of fierce fighting, they were all annihilated. Currently, only the Lingxiang Division is left in Kochi, and it is unable to hold on alone. The fall of Shikoku Island is imminent."
After reading this line, Emperor Rendong's eyes suddenly widened, and there seemed to be flames burning in his pupils.
Emperor Jindong stood up suddenly, his muscles tensed with anger and shock, like an enraged beast.
Then, he let out a deafening roar, which was filled with endless sorrow and despair, as if it was going to blow the roof of the entire imperial study off.
"No——!" He roared, clenched his hands into fists, veins bulging, and with a sudden force, he tore the telegram in his hands into pieces, and the scraps of paper fell like snowflakes.
This sudden anger and grief hit Emperor Jindong's body like a flood. He felt a foul breath in his chest that almost suffocated him. His head was swollen and his eyes went dark.
Finally, he couldn't bear it any longer, and he spat out a mouthful of blood with a wow sound. The bright red liquid splashed on the ground, which was shocking.
"Your Majesty!" Tojo Takehide and other ministers were shocked when they saw this. They rushed forward with exclamations and tightly supported Emperor Jinto who was almost falling to the ground.
"Quick! Call the imperial physician!" Tojo Takehiro ordered hastily, while supporting Emperor Jinto's body with all his strength, fearing that he might make a mistake. Other ministers also took action, some took a clean handkerchief to wipe the blood from the corner of the emperor's mouth, while others hurriedly ran out to find a way to save the emperor.