The Empress has abandoned me? I'll support a new emperor and destroy your kingdom!

Just as the generals of Tiebi Pass were filled with grief and despair because of this absurd appointment, this imperial edict that caused such a great uproar also stirred up a huge wave in the imperial court of Linyuan City.

The argument inside the Linde Hall was more intense and dangerous than the military deliberation at Tiebi Pass.

The urgent message about the fall of Shuofeng City arrived late one night three days ago.

Upon hearing the news, Emperor Yun Hong vomited blood on the spot, and chaos erupted in the alchemy room.

The next day, he barely attended court, his face sallow and his eyes unfocused, as if he had aged ten years overnight.

"Useless! All useless! Yang Jiye ruined the country! Zhou Bo was incompetent! Thirty thousand soldiers held out for more than a month, and the city fell and everyone died? What about my Shuofeng City? What about my northern gateway?!" The emperor roared hoarsely, but his voice was weak and sounded even more tragic.

"Your Majesty, please calm down! Take care of your health!" The ministers all knelt down.

"Calm down? How can you expect me to calm down?!" The emperor swept a stack of memorials impeaching Yang Jiye and Zhou Bo for their poor military performance to the ground. "What's the use of saying all this now?! The Di have broken through the north wind; their next target is Tiebi Pass! If Tiebi Pass falls, the vast plains of the northern frontier will have no natural defenses left! Modu's iron cavalry will be able to drive straight in and drink from the Yangtze River! Tell me, what should we do now?! Hmm?!"

The main hall was deathly silent. The Minister of War bowed his head to the ground, not daring to utter a word.

The Minister of Revenue was trembling with fear, terrified that the emperor would ask him for money or grain.

"Your Majesty!" The eldest prince, Yun Jie, stepped forward, his face filled with grief and indignation. "The loss of Shuofeng was certainly due to the incompetence of the garrison commander, but it was also related to the fact that some people in the court insisted on war, which angered the Di people, yet they failed to provide sufficient support to the border!"

The current situation is that the Di people are at the height of their military power, while our army has just suffered a defeat, morale is low, and supplies are running low.

In my opinion, the most urgent task is to send envoys to negotiate with the Northern Barbarians, explain the advantages and disadvantages, and offer them gold and silk to appease Luandi Maodun and buy time to prepare for war! This is the wise and prudent way to govern a country!

He once again put forward the theory of "peace", and subtly pointed the blame for the defeat at the "war faction", and even alluded to Yun Jin, who had sabotaged the marriage alliance.

"Absurd!" A clear and sharp shout rang out as Princess Yun Jin of Jingguo stepped forward. Today, she was dressed in a plain and simple outfit, without any makeup. Her brows showed the weariness of days of anxiety, but her eyes shone brightly.

"Does Your Majesty mean to surrender the vast lands and millions of people of the Northern Frontier to the iron hooves of the Di people? The blood of the thirty thousand soldiers of Shuofeng City is not yet dry, their bodies are not yet cold, yet our dynasty is already kneeling before the enemy chieftain, begging for peace with gold and silk? This is not governing the country, but rather harming it! It will chill the hearts of all the soldiers and embolden the arrogance of the Di invaders!"

Her gaze was sharp as she swept over the eldest prince and the few officials behind him who echoed her: "The marriage alliance failed, so you think it was our dynasty that angered the Di people? That's a big mistake! Modu is ambitious and has been preparing to annex the tribes of the grasslands for a long time. He has long harbored the intention to invade the south!"

The marriage alliance was merely a pretext for them to lull our dynasty into a false sense of security and buy us time! Even if the marriage alliance had succeeded back then, we would still be facing war today!

In fact, because of our show of weakness, their invasion will only come sooner and be more intense!

"As for the loss of the north wind," Yun Jin's voice turned somber, filled with regret.

"Commander Yang fought bravely and died for his country. The blood of his soldiers stained the city walls. His loyalty and bravery are as bright as the sun and moon! The reason for the defeat was that there were spies within the city who opened the gates, and that the court's support was insufficient and that there was a shortage of food and weapons. How can we blame the soldiers?"

Instead of focusing on regrouping and seeking revenge, they advocate for humiliating peace. Wouldn't this only cause pain to their allies and joy to their enemies?!

"You...you're just spouting nonsense!" The eldest prince's face flushed red. "If we don't negotiate peace, are we just going to stand by and watch Iron Wall Pass fall again, and the entire northern frontier be lost? What good plan do you have? Do you think you can repel a million Di soldiers with just your glib tongue?!"

"Yun Jin is unworthy, but I would like to offer three suggestions!" Yun Jin turned to the throne, bowed, and spoke in a clear and firm voice that echoed throughout the hall. "First, we should appoint veteran generals to reorganize the border troops. The former General of the North, Marquis of Weiyuan, Duke of Zhao, is a seasoned general who is familiar with the northern frontier. Although he has retired due to past events, he remains loyal to the country."

We can ask him to come out of seclusion and take command of the military affairs of the northern frontier. The current deputy commander, Zhou Bo, is familiar with the situation and can temporarily assume the post of garrison commander of Shuofeng City, allowing him to redeem himself through meritorious service.

At the same time, thoroughly investigate and eliminate traitors and spies within the military, reward those who have rendered meritorious service, severely punish those who are afraid to fight, and boost morale!

Should the Marquis of Weiyuan be reinstated? A thought stirred among the ministers.

That was a renowned general during the late emperor's reign, sidelined due to a political upheaval years ago, but his abilities and prestige in the army were beyond question. How dare Yun Jin propose to reinstate him?

"Secondly, we must raise funds and supplies to ensure logistical support. I request Your Majesty to issue an edict to borrow money and supplies from wealthy merchants in Jiangnan and Huguang, using the Imperial Treasury as collateral, and to use future salt taxes and customs duties as payment. At the same time, we must strictly investigate corruption in the storage and transportation links of various regions. All supplies must be escorted by imperial envoys and delivered directly to the army's front lines to prevent any deductions! Your son is willing to use the 'Princess Jingguo's' fiefdom and the remaining funds and supplies from the southern disaster relief efforts as collateral to raise a portion of the military funds!"

Using the imperial treasury as collateral for a loan? Using the princess's fief as collateral? The courtiers were once again in uproar.

Such a bold move, such determination!

"Thirdly," Yun Jin raised his head, his gaze resolute, "Your humble servant is willing to request permission to go north and personally visit Tiebi Pass as the 'Imperial Envoy to Inspect Military Performance,' to comfort the soldiers, coordinate the various armies, supervise logistics, and discuss strategies for defending against the enemy with Marquis Weiyuan, Governor Zhou, and others!"

Although I am a woman and do not know anything about warfare, I am well aware of the importance of the people's morale and the necessity of money, food and weapons.

Your son has some experience in the south, and may be able to help the border troops in terms of allocating resources, pacifying the people, and eliminating long-standing problems!

Furthermore, it can be declared to the world, and to the Di people, that our Jiangqiong royal family stands with the soldiers and people of the Northern Frontier, sharing life and death, advancing and retreating together!

Voluntarily heading north? To that desperate place where the city could fall and everyone could perish at any moment?!

The entire court was shocked! Even the Third Prince Yun Huan, who had been observing coldly, showed an expression of disbelief.

The eldest prince stared wide-eyed, as if he were seeing his younger sister for the first time.

Emperor Yun Hong stared intently at Yun Jin with his cloudy eyes, his chest heaving violently.

Appointing Marquis Weiyuan? Borrowing money using the royal family's credit? Sending the princess to the front lines in person?

Each of these three points is groundbreaking and carries enormous risks, yet each seems to pinpoint the most critical and fatal flaw in the current crisis in northern Xinjiang.

We lack leadership, funding, morale, and public support!