I support the army through farming and business.

Chapter 314 Final Battle
The city gate guard's expression changed drastically, and he took a step forward to seize the man.

Grand Secretary Xiao Li said calmly, "If you don't want to bear the blame for my death, then stay away from me."

If he didn't stop him, Emperor Pingyuan would take his anger out on him, leaving the general in a dilemma.

Grand Secretary Xiao Li assured him, "Don't worry, Emperor Pingyuan won't bother to hold you accountable."

The garrison commander was skeptical.

Xiao Li, the Grand Secretary, stopped looking at him and turned to face the people below the city wall.

"Young Grand Secretary Li, did Grand Secretary Li really commit suicide out of shame and indignation?"

“That’s right. I found my father’s last letter in his sleeve. In the letter, my father said that His Majesty not only distorted the truth and framed Prince Xuan, but also ordered the cabinet to send troops to attack the Northwest.”

"My late father did not want to continue aiding and abetting evil, nor did he want Your Majesty to make one mistake after another. He hoped to awaken Your Majesty's conscience through his death," sighed Grand Secretary Xiao Li. "But my late father did not expect that Your Majesty would have no intention of repenting at all."

"Yesterday, the cabinet issued a resolution to launch a campaign against the Northwest. Half a million troops are ready to go to the Northwest to annihilate the Northwest Army."

Grand Secretary Xiao Li wept, “Tens of thousands of soldiers of Dayu are about to die at the hands of their compatriots, and the land of Dayu is about to be in turmoil. As the Grand Secretary, I am powerless to do anything about it. I have failed the people of the world, and I have failed Emperor Gaozu and the late Emperor!”

Seeing the Flying Dragon Guards running towards them from afar, Grand Secretary Xiao Li sneered and shouted, "Your Majesty! Turn back! Don't let your own selfish desires implicate the people of the world. The common people are innocent!"

"Hurry, hurry up!" Wan Shi ran up the city wall with all his might.

"Today, before the people of the world, I humbly offer my life to remonstrate with Your Majesty, hoping that Your Majesty will awaken to the truth in time!"

As Grand Secretary Xiao Li spoke, he leaned forward and fell rapidly from the city tower like a falling kite.

Wan Shi, who was a step too late, lay on the city wall and watched helplessly as Xiao Li, the Grand Secretary, fell to the ground.

Blood gushed from beneath Xiao Li, and the people of Luoyang knelt on the ground, weeping bitterly.

Wan Shi roared, "Quickly, go and report to His Majesty!"

Inside the Dayu Imperial Palace, Emperor Pingyuan received news that Grand Secretary Xiao Li had fallen to his death in public. He was furious, like a raging lion, and shouted, "Go! Go and arrest everyone in the Li family and throw them into prison! They will be torn apart by five horses in three days!"

“No need,” Grand Tutor Zhang interjected, “This old minister has received news that the Li family has already fled; the Li family was prepared in advance.”

Emperor Pingyuan was so angry that he smashed the last piece of porcelain in his imperial study.

"Your Majesty, there's no use getting angry now. It would be better to calm down and think of a solution."

"A countermeasure? What countermeasures are there? Who would still believe that I haven't colluded with the enemy and betrayed the country?"

Grand Tutor Zhang pointed out, "Your Majesty, as long as you kill Prince Xuan and pin everything on him, you can simply say that the Li family has long since sided with Prince Xuan."

Emperor Pingyuan's eyes were bloodshot. "Will the people believe it?"

"What difference does it make whether we believe or not? History is written by the victors, and the people must believe whatever Your Majesty says!"

Emperor Pingyuan was still somewhat hesitant.

Grand Tutor Zhang said calmly, "If the people truly do not wish for Your Majesty to continue as emperor, Your Majesty can pass the throne to the eldest son, and Your Majesty can continue to rule as the Retired Emperor."

Emperor Pingyuan was taken aback. That's right, he could abdicate in favor of his eldest son and that would silence the gossip.

Since the eldest son is too young to rule personally, the government is still in his hands. Wouldn't that kill two birds with one stone?
Emperor Pingyuan smiled with satisfaction, "Grand Tutor is indeed a pillar of the nation." Grand Tutor Zhang bowed and said, "This old minister is unworthy of Your Majesty's praise."

Northwest, Lanzhou Prefecture.

After settling the Li family, who had endured a perilous journey to escape, Princess Xuan looked at her eldest son, who had returned home for the first time, and asked, "Is the time ripe?"

Gu Liu looked exhausted, but his eyes shone brightly. "The people of the world are indignant and their dissatisfaction with Emperor Pingyuan has reached its peak. Instead of trying to appease the people, Emperor Pingyuan has insisted on sending troops to conquer the Northwest, plunging the North into war. At this time, the Northwest's response is truly a last resort."

Princess Xuan sighed, "It's just a pity for the innocent people."

Gu Liu comforted him, "There's nothing we can do about it. Father has already instructed all the generals to control the number of casualties and try to avoid affecting ordinary people."

Princess Xuan clasped her hands together in prayer, "Amitabha, I only wish that the war can end soon."

Perhaps Heaven took pity on the people of Dayu, or perhaps the imperial army was too weak to withstand, and they suffered repeated defeats in the face of the Northwest Army's counterattack.

In less than two months, the Northwest Army successively captured Qinzhou, Jinzhou, Ezhou, Jizhou, and Yuzhou, tightly encircling Luoyang.

Inside the imperial study, Emperor Pingyuan sat listlessly on the dragon throne, listening blankly as the soldiers guarding the city reported that the Northwest Army was at the city gates, showing no reaction whatsoever.

Two months ago, he was still dreaming of killing King Xuan. Later, as news of the defeat kept coming back, Emperor Pingyuan no longer hoped to kill King Xuan. He even sent officials to the northwest to seek peace, but King Xuan refused outright.

To this day, his 500,000-strong army has been completely wiped out and captured. Now, only 10,000 garrison troops and a thousand Flying Dragon Guards remain in Luoyang.

Emperor Pingyuan's voice was hoarse, "Grand Tutor, what should I do now?"

Grand Tutor Zhang was no longer the spirited man he once was; he was old and frail, like a man nearing the end of his life. “Your subject is powerless and incompetent,” he said.

Faced with absolute power, all schemes and tricks are nothing but illusions.

“Even the Grand Tutor is helpless. It seems that Heaven truly intends to destroy me,” Emperor Pingyuan stood up and drew his Dragon Roar Sword. “But I am not resigned to this. Even if I die, I will never kneel before Prince Xuan and beg for mercy!”

"Guards, come with me out of the palace to meet the enemy!"

Emperor Pingyuan, surrounded by the Flying Dragon Guards, ascended the city wall of Luoyang and gazed at Prince Xuan, who was ten miles away.

"Uncle Xuan, are you planning to rebel against me?"

“Even on the verge of death, Your Majesty still tries to pin a accusation on me,” Xuan Wang shook his head. “I would also like to ask Your Majesty, I have been stationed in the Northwest by order of Emperor Gaozu and have never had any intention of rebelling. Why does Your Majesty keep pressing me and even collude with the Turks to kill me?”

"A common man is innocent, but possessing a treasure is a crime." Emperor Pingyuan was no longer willing to deny it and directly admitted, "Uncle Xuan is guarding the northwest and has an army of 300,000. Whether he is loyal to the emperor or not depends on his decision. How can I be at ease?"

"Uncle Xuan, please don't blame me. If we were in a different place, you would have done the same thing as me."

"Thank you for your understanding, Your Majesty," King Xuan said, clinging to the last shred of uncle-nephew affection. "If Your Majesty surrenders, I guarantee to spare your life."

Emperor Pingyuan sneered, "Men of the Gu family only know death, not surrender!"

"Good," King Xuan said, unusually showing his nephew any respect. "Attack the city!"

Tens of thousands of Northwest Army soldiers roared and charged toward the city gate. After dozens of rammings by the battering rams, the city gate of Luoyang was finally breached.

Emperor Pingyuan did not hesitate and immediately led his men down from the city wall to engage in fierce fighting with the Northwest Army.