章 28: Chapter 28
The west region plunged into chaos as a massive army emerged, crushing cities and moving swiftly eastward. To reach the east, they would pass through the Taihan border and enter the Xia kingdom.
War became inevitable for the Xia kingdom as the armies descended upon them without warning, leaving them no chance to prepare for defense. These were not ordinary foes but beastly soldiers resembling wild animals, with terrifying war cries that struck fear into the hearts of all.
In a cruel and swift attack, the Xia kingdom was decimated in a single day, its people slaughtered, and the land ravaged by fire. News of this massacre spread far and instilled fear among neighboring kingdoms, who recognized the attackers as the fabled kugu armies from ancient tales, now a horrifying reality.
Fearing the monstrous strength displayed by the kugu armies, the old enemies that had their history recorded of being in conflicts with the kugu tribe, sought refuge in remote mountain ranges to avoid their wrath, even though these kugu armies seemed to be moving eastward.
The journey eastward was a month-long ride through a land system with no water routes, leading the kugu armies through direct paths across jungles and valleys.
As they moved through forested areas, valleys, and mountains, the kugu armies left destruction in their wake, decimating everything in their path. After travelling for half a month, they arrived at the Wuzhen village on the outskirts of Louyang city, only to find it empty, adding much to their frustration.
Disappointed by the lack of prey in the village, the kugu armies, despite their beastly nature, needed to rest and recuperate from their non-stop rides and recent battles. They decided to pause for several days in the deserted village before resuming their march towards the east.
Having arrived at Wuzhen village, the kugu armies had covered half the distance to their destination. With the Rin empire looming in the east, they were on the brink of reaching their final destination.
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In the grand throne room, a small silhouette sat regally on a majestic throne, eyes fixed on the people lined out before him. It had been just over two months since his coronation, and the flurry of events that had followed left him no respite. Everything seemed to blend into a continuous stream of new responsibilities and daunting decisions.
Arrayed around the throne down the steps of the platform was another, less grandiose yet still affluent seat, positioned twenty steps away from the assemblage of nobles and dignitaries. This seat, made of gold but lacking the lustrous sheen of the primary throne, was occupied by a woman of striking presence, her demeanour commanding silent resentment masked by feigned smiles among the audience. This woman, known as Da Xia, exuded an air of pride, while a short distance away from her, the smaller silhouette was unmistakably Da Zihan, the little emperor.
From the gathering, the Chancellor, known derisively as Chancellor Beetle, stepped forward. His tone was measured yet laced with underlying tension as he began, "Your excellencies, it is of utmost importance that we handle the present crisis with swift and prudent actions. I fear the involvement of a woman and a child may prove detrimental. Following standard protocol could very well be our safeguard against the looming threat to our Rin Empire."
Da Xia's eyes narrowed. Her voice was sharp, bristling with indignation, "Chancellor Beetle, your words seem to undermine the authority of the throne itself. Are you suggesting that my son and I should be excluded from these discussions? If that were the case, why then are there two thrones before you? If you do not respect the boy, surely you should respect me."
The Chancellor's expression wavered momentarily before he responded with forced calm, "Your Highness Da Xia, please, understand it was merely a suggestion. This morning, I received urgent news. I was brought a message that a large horde of armies is advancing toward our Rin Empire, and they are already halfway here."
Da Xia's eyes flashed with incredulity and anger. "If such a message is true, is it not the emperor's duty to address it? Given his young age, I am authorized to act on his behalf. Why then do you suggest my presence is unnecessary here, Chancellor Beetle?"
The Chancellor's face grew taut as he quickly retracted, "Your Highness Da Xia, it was not my intention to offend. Since you assert your rightful place, let us turn our attention to the pressing matters at hand. I trust your judgement will guide us wisely and not lead the Rin Empire to ruin."
A sharp retort was on the tip of Da Xia's tongue. "Chancellor, your words are weighted with ill intent. It's evident you aspire to a position beyond your reach."
The Chancellor spluttered in response, clearly flustered. "You…cheh...!"
A scribe stepped forward to present the primary concerns. Unfurling a scroll, he began to read aloud the recorded issues requiring immediate action.
Once the reading concluded, the Chancellor resolved to address the most pressing matter. "The gravest concern," he began, "is the unforeseen invasion from the west. This is troubling as we have not engaged in any conflicts nor conducted any diplomatic actions that might provoke such a response from that direction."
Da Xia, with a sense of disbelief, raised her concerns to the council gathered before her, "We've distanced ourselves from the west, our trading routes avoid that direction. We've had no disputes with any western nation. Why would there be talk of armies invading us from the west? Is this message even plausible?"
The room fell silent, every leader and advisor present grappling with the implications of the dire news and the uncertain path ahead for the Rin Empire.
"Our scouts positioned there should not have deceived us; they have been stationed for quite a while and we've never received a message like this before," one of the military officers stated firmly.
"I agree. The message reached my outpost, and I promptly dispatched my men to verify the situation," a dignified individual with sharp eyes and a flowing beard remarked.
Da Xia inquired with a somber expression, "When can we expect their return?"
"Perhaps within a week," the dignitary responded.
Concerned, Da Xia pressed on, "Chancellor, who exactly are we dealing with in this army?"
Rumours suggest they are the ferocious Kugu forces, with strength akin to wild beasts, leaving destruction in their wake. Even the Xia kingdom purportedly fell to their brutal onslaught, sparing neither men, women, nor children," the chancellor shared gravely.
Sceptical, Da Xia questioned, "The mythical Kugu warriors from fables? Are we expected to believe every rumour, Chancellor?"
"The gravity of this situation demands our attention, regardless of authenticity. We must prepare for the worst, as this threat looms ever closer," the chancellor insisted.
Disgruntled, Da Xia began, "I remain unconvinced..."
Before Da Xia could finish his sentence, the court doors swung open, revealing a hurried bald man who swiftly entered and bowed before the gathered dignitaries. The bearded dignitary who dispatched the verification team recognized the bald man immediately.
Without delay, the bald man spoke with urgency evident in his eyes, "I have news to report!"
Startled by the interruption, the chancellor demanded, "Who are you, and what brings you here unannounced?"
"This man is one of my scouts sent to investigate the situation from the west," the bearded dignitary explained.
"Why have you returned ahead of schedule? Has there been a development?" Da Xia interjected, surprised by the bald man's swift return.
"The Highness," the short bald man bowed respectfully. "I, Fangxiu, was among the scouts sent to verify the threat from the west. Our leader wasted no time in sending us out upon receiving this alarming news," the bald man acknowledged the sharp dignitary's subtle nod. "We rode without pause for two days on our swiftest horses, which is why we've returned earlier than anticipated."
Anxiously, the chancellor inquired, "Is the information about the army accurate?"
The bald man's expression turned solemn as he confirmed, "Yes, my Lord, it is true," delivering the news that sent shivers through those present.
Glancing at Da Xia, who remained seated, the chancellor questioned with a hint of disdain, "Does Her Highness still doubt the validity of this news?"
Ignoring the chancellor's tone, Da Xia focused on the bald man before her and requested, "Describe this army to me, baldy. What did you witness?"
"The army we saw defies all norms, Your Highness. They are savage beings, not quite human, but walks on two legs like us. They are massive creatures with fangs, horns, emitting terrifying growls that instil fear in all who hear them," the bald man quivered, sweat beading on his brow as he recounted his experience.
Da Xia, struck by the vivid description, was rendered speechless, as a hush fell over the room, the gravity of the situation sinking in for everyone present.
Meanwhile, Da Zihan had observed quietly, his thoughts drifting to deeper contemplation. Despite his detachment from this mortal world, it was still his home and a concern for the safety of the woman who had named him kept steering in his heart. Reflecting on this unexpected shift in his feelings, he mused to himself, "What has she done to evoke this much care from me, despite her mistreatment?" With a sigh, he peered at Da Xia's back, pondering the complexities of his emotions in this critical moment.
"We must prepare for war!" Da Zihan's sudden statement shattered the tense silence that permeated the room.
The dignitaries were taken aback, their expressions shifting in surprise. The presence of the young emperor on the throne had momentarily slipped their minds, reminding them that he couldn't possibly grasp the gravity of the situation. Da Xia's gaze bore into Da Zihan, her anger palpable. Despite his title, she held the ultimate authority; he was just a child.
"Do not pay heed to his words. He is still inexperienced and unaware of the true implications of this crisis. We will deliberate and decide on the necessary actions to defend against this threat," Da Xia declared, shooting a sharp glance in Da Zihan's direction.
Unfazed by the disapproval around him, Da Zihan rose from his throne with determination. "I decree that we fight. I am the emperor, not my mother. While she may have overseen court matters, I hold the ultimate power as the Rin armies will heed my commands. Let it not be forgotten who holds the seal," Da Zihan proclaimed before striding out of the courtroom, leaving a sense of unrest in his wake.
Da Xia seethed with frustration at Da Zihan's defiance. She had believed his silence in the past days implied he understood his place, never anticipating he would challenge her authority.
In her own fit of anger, Da Xia stormed out of the room, leaving the dignitaries bewildered. The chancellor exchanged glances with his colleagues, realizing the gravity of the situation. It was apparent that decisive action was imperative to avoid turmoil within the Rin Empire.
The chancellor observed his colleagues with a grave expression. Faced with the current dire situation, he realized the burden of action rested solely on him. "How can we ignore a menace potent enough to threaten our entire empire? They obliterated the Xia kingdom with such ease; what hope do we stand?" he pondered. Even though the Xia kingdom was weaker compared to the formidable Rin empire, Xia was still a force to be reckoned with and they had been wiped off easily.
"What are our options, Chancellor?" inquired the sharp-eyed dignitary.
After a moment of contemplation, the chancellor responded, "this war is inevitable. We can either heed the young emperor's command to engage in battle, or we can consider evacuation and concealment."
The dignitaries began to murmur among themselves. Maintaining his composure, the chancellor elaborated, "The motives of this invading force are unclear; I cannot discern a rationale. However, a persistent thought troubles me: they might seek to conquer our lands, given the esteemed stature of the Rin empire. Everyone covets the treasures within our palace walls, yet none have dared to confront us until now."
"The chancellor has clearly pondered deeply; it seems the most logical explanation," affirmed another dignitary. "Offering our surrender crossed my mind, but it would likely result in our swift demise."
"As things currently stand, following the young emperor's command to fight seems our sole recourse," another added.
The chancellor nodded solemnly. "Regrettably, this is our best course of action. An evacuation would leave many of our people behind."
"Can our forces alone withstand such a formidable enemy?" the sharp-eyed man queried again.
Reflecting for a few moments, the chancellor replied, "I will seek alliances with neighboring eastern kingdoms. Any threat we face now could eventually threaten them as well, so a united front is our best strategy."
The dignitaries expressed their approval with nods. "The chancellor's wisdom is unparalleled; how much simpler matters would be if you were on the throne," one remarked.
The chancellor gave a cautious smile, clearing his throat with a slight cough.
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