Chapter 901 - 89: Wanyan Liang’s Decision, Jin Dynasty Returns North

Wanyan Digunai did not immediately respond. He only quietly looked at his eldest son, whom he valued the most. A flash of pain passed through the depths of his weathered eyes, but it was quickly covered by a deeper resolution.

He released his clenched fist, slowly paced to the window, and gazed at the heavy darkness of Yingtian Prefecture’s night beyond. Once filled with music and dance, now it was left with only the sound of the wind and the faint sound of guard whistles.

"Fight?"

"With what are we to fight?"

He looked at his most valued son, speaking with exceptional seriousness, "Yue Fei is entrenched in Huaidong, Gu Hui has Shandong locked down, and Jiangnan is ablaze with rebellion."

"Our troops are swords, not firewood. They cannot be tossed into this bottomless pit to burn!"

He heavily jabbed his finger on the map at Yingtian’s location, then abruptly dragged it northward, "Here, we’re sitting on someone else’s rooftop, every beam underneath ready to collapse!"

"Returning to the Northern Border isn’t a retreat, it’s changing to a board where we can stand firm!"

He stared at his son, his words concise, "The prosperity of the Central Plains is poison, softening bones, blinding eyes."

"The grasslands and forests are our roots, return there so our bones can harden, our eyes can brighten."

"Gu Hui’s strategies can’t cure the cold winds of the north."

"Take what essence you can, discard the uncarriable fame, I will hold Gu Hui here, you go back and secure the roots."

He finally patted Wanyan Guangying’s shoulder, his tone brooking no dissent, "Remember, to live and return, to bring back the seeds, is more important than ten Yingtian Prefectures."

"Everything else is nonsense."

A heavy silence fell.

The few present all looked at Wanyan Digunai with complex expressions, looking at this Emperor who had led them out and now would abandon everything. They wanted to say something but didn’t know how.

What could be said?

Wanyan Digunai has already made the best arrangement.

He is even using his own life as bait, merely wanting to preserve the seeds.

Having reached this point, what more could they say?

An inexplicable sadness surged rapidly.

Wanyan Guangying was silent for a long time, then suddenly stood up, with a serious expression, "Please, Father Emperor, lead the army north, I wish to take your place and guard Yingtian Prefecture!"

"Foolish!"

Wanyan Digunai turned sharply, anger flashing across his face, and scolded, "Replace me? With what?"

"By your filial piety? By your bones not yet softened by Jiangnan’s decadence?"

He stepped forward, nearly face-to-face with Wanyan Guangying, his hot breath misting his son’s face, "What Gu Hui wants is this Emperor’s head!"

"The head of the Jin Emperor, who claimed the throne illegitimately and slaughtered his countrymen!"

"Only if I stay here will he aim all eyes, all swords at Yingtian, not dividing troops to pursue a convoy moving supplies north!"

"You stay?"

Wanyan Digunai scoffed, "If you stay, Gu Hui will see through this empty city strategy within three days!"

"He’ll immediately split his forces north to intercept the real seeds!"

"By then, if you die, it’ll be in vain, the seeds can’t be preserved, all my years of effort, the last vitality of the Jurchen race, would all be lost in your laughable ’filial piety’!"

He shoved his son away fiercely, stumbled back two steps, pointing north, "Go back!"

"Return to the grasslands where your grandfather rode freely, to the forests where your great-grandfather bent his bow to hunt eagles!"

"There, you are the wolf king’s cub!"

"Here, you’re just a piece of meat on the chopping board, waiting for Gu Hui to carve you up!"

Wanyan Guangying wanted to say more, but was forced back by Wanyan Digunai’s fierce gaze.

"My decision is final!" He declared firmly, every word hammered like iron on the chopping board, "In this life, I’ve killed those who needed killing, done things worth doing, sat on the dragon throne in the most prosperous place of the Central Plains, it’s worth it!"

"Now, exchanging this head for the survival of our race is worthwhile!"

This was his most genuine thought.

He must face death.

Only then can the whole tribe secure a path to survival.

After all...he had killed too many people and already sat in a place he shouldn’t.

Finishing, he walked to the imperial desk, lifted a cup of long-cold tea, drank it all at once, then smashed the cup heavily on the ground.

"Remember," he gave his son one last look, his gaze complicated, with resolution, reluctance, and a trust beyond life and death, "Once you’re back, tell the elders and children of the tribe—"

"Your Emperor didn’t disgrace the Jurchen face."

"He died standing in the Han People’s Imperial Palace.".....

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