Chapter 904 - 90: The Death of Wanyan Liang, Crimson River

On the same day, places such as Suzhou State, Huzhou, and Jiaxing followed suit, with nearly all local cities changing allegiances almost overnight. The Jin flags on city walls were thrown into the fire, replaced by long-lost Song flags and banners reading "Follow Heaven and Embrace the People, Welcome Grand Tutor Gu."

——The major situation has already completely concluded.

Yingtian Prefecture.

Amid constant clamor, even though the Song Army and rebels had yet to thoroughly invade, chaos had already sprung forth in Yingtian Prefecture.

Of course, this chaos was not due to fear among the Han People.

This, after all, was the Gu Clan army. How could they pose any threat to them?

Those truly in fear were the Jurchen soldiers.

This is their final frenzy, naturally leading to countless disturbances.

Chuigong Hall.

Wanyan Digü dismissed all Han ministers and palace staff, leaving only the most central Jurchen noble commanders.

At this moment, he had already shed the magnificent yet heavy imperial robes and donned an old but tidy Jurchen military outfit, resembling how he was at the Northern Border years ago.

Though he had aged considerably, the heroic spirit within him remained undiminished.

"My time has come." His voice was frighteningly calm, as he glanced at the clan members who had followed him half his life, having fought from the White Mountains to the Jiangnan mists, "They should now be safely back north."

"My mission is complete."

Some commanders knelt and wept blood, pleading to escort him in a breakout.

Wanyan Digü shook his head, a hint of almost relaxed smile appearing on his face: "Breakout?"

"Where to?"

"There is no place in Jiangnan for me to stand."

"Return north?"

"I’ve sent the children back there already."

"I am the Emperor, the founding monarch of Great Jin. How can I flee back like a stray dog?"

"Furthermore, if I don’t die..."

"How would our descendants find a way to survive?"

He walked to the high platform outside the hall, gazing at the faintly visible Song Army encampments and smoke outside the city, and said slowly: "Gu Hui commands troops as steadily as Mount Tai, and Yue Fei’s attack is unstoppable."

"To lose to them is not shameful."

The smile on his face was very relaxed.

Compared to the past few days, Wanyan Digünai clearly was completely at ease about this matter.

The so-called imperial throne,

All the so-called power,

When all of it has completely vanished into thin air, any previous reluctance turned into present acceptance.

He has done more than enough and also attained honors he had never dreamed of before.

All this, for Wanyan Digünai, had left no regrets.

Yet... there is something he has not done!

That is to secure a way out for his people!

In fact, if any other individual were leading the Song Army, Wanyan Digünai would never have chosen this way.

After all, entrusting one’s life to others is itself a foolish act.

But this concerns the Gu Clan!

The mention of these two words always inspires hope, even among those of foreign races who hold this thought!

That very night.

Without any forewarning, the news of Wanyan Digü passing in Chuigong Hall spread rapidly.

And those remnants of the Jin Army, who only knew how to create chaos, immediately chose to desist.

They even voluntarily withdrew from Yingtian Prefecture.

Thus, they protected Wanyan Digü’s body, heading directly to the Song camp.

And the most crucial aspect—

They did not use imperial rite for Wanyan Digü, nor even the rites of an ordinary minister, instead using the unique Jurchen rites to bring his body directly before Gu Hui.

This was Wanyan Digü’s attitude.

He was indeed very clear that Gu Hui would certainly discern his true intentions this time.

For this, he had prepared two plans.

If Gu Hui truly refused to give the Jurchen a way out, he was prepared to exhaust all efforts in the Central Plains, determined to inflict damage even in death.

This was both his bait and hope left behind.

And secondly, he intended to trade his life.

He sought to exchange his life for peace in the Northern Border!...

....