At 100 years old, he joined the army in place of his granddaughter, and became a national war god.

In the capital city of Qingchao, the entire city was shrouded in a somber atmosphere.

The order for the emperor and his ministers to fight to the death in the Chaoyin Palace spread throughout the capital. Soldiers on the city walls donned their armor and drew their weapons, ready for battle. The entire capital was enveloped in an atmosphere of vowing to defend against the enemy to the death.

But outside the palace, in the mansions of the powerful and wealthy, people's hearts are unpredictable, and undercurrents are already surging.

Night was just beginning to fall, and the darkness was deep.

At the house of Fujiwara Shigenobu...

After returning from the imperial palace meeting, Fujiwara Shigenobu secluded himself at home, summoning everyone in his household and anxiously making arrangements for his future.

As the head of the Dongyi civil officials, he held a high position and great power, enjoying wealth and honor for decades.

But now the country is on the verge of collapse, and the 300,000 mighty troops of the Great Qian are crushing in. The Eastern Barbarians have only 60,000 soldiers left to defend their isolated city. Defeat is already inevitable.

Compared to the soldiers on the city walls who vowed to die for their country, his only thoughts were to protect his family's lives and safeguard his family's legacy.

Inside the mansion, concubines and servants were running around in a panic, packing their valuables and hiding supplies. Everyone looked terrified. The mansion was filled with the sounds of soft sobbing and hurried footsteps, completely devoid of the solemnity and order of a noble mansion in the past.

Fujiwara Shigenobu stood in the courtyard, looking at his panicked family, his brows furrowed with worry and fear, his heart filled with unease.

Just then, a butler hurried through the corridor, walked up to Fujiwara Shigenobu with a flustered expression, bowed and whispered his report.

"My lord, Lord Tachibana no Tadakatsu has come to visit us from outside the palace, accompanied by five high-ranking officials from the court. They say they have important matters to discuss and request an audience."

Upon hearing this, Fujiwara Shigenobu's brows furrowed suddenly, his face filled with astonishment.

What time is it now?

With the nation in peril, martial law was declared throughout the city. His Majesty the Emperor personally inspected the city's defenses, and all civil and military officials performed their duties and went to various places to stand guard and prepare for war. Everyone was on high alert.

At such a critical moment in the dead of night, it was truly strange and suspicious that Tachibana Tadakatsu arrived at his private residence with a group of high-ranking court officials.

A sense of vigilance instantly rose in his heart, and he wondered what exactly Tachibana Tadakatsu wanted to achieve by leading his men here.

After a brief moment of thought, Fujiwara Shigenobu spoke in a deep voice.

"Please wait in the main hall, gentlemen. I will be there shortly."

"Yes!" The butler acknowledged the order and withdrew.

Fujiwara Shigenobu straightened his court robes, suppressed his chaotic thoughts, composed himself, and strode toward the main hall of the mansion.

Before long, Tachibana Tadakatsu was seen sitting in the hall with five civil and military officials dressed in court attire. The men had secretive expressions and their eyes were darting around.

When everyone saw Fujiwara Shigenobu enter the hall, they all stood up and bowed.

After everyone was seated, the tea-serving servants withdrew, and the hall doors were closed to isolate them from all outsiders, Fujiwara Shigenobu stopped beating around the bush, looked directly at everyone, and asked in a deep voice:

"Tonight, the entire city is on high alert and the whole country is in turmoil. You gentlemen are not at home, yet you have all come to visit my humble abode so late at night. What brings you here?"

Upon hearing this, Tachibana Tadakatsu raised his eyes, his face losing the compassionate and benevolent demeanor he usually displayed in court, replaced by a shrewd and worldly expression.

He cupped his hands slightly, chuckled softly, and, no longer trying to hide anything, went straight to the point.

"Lord Fujiwara is the head of our Eastern Barbarian civil officials, and is highly respected. At this critical moment, the five of us have come late at night, just to inquire about your thoughts and decisions."

Fujiwara Shigenobu looked surprised and asked, "Oh? May I ask what decision you made?"

Tachibana Tadakatsu's gaze swept over his colleagues behind him, then he looked directly at Fujiwara Shigenobu, his tone calm yet earth-shattering.

"To be honest, sir, we have already decided to secretly leave the city and surrender to the Great Qian army!"

hum!

These few words sent a jolt through Fujiwara Shigenobu. His body stiffened instantly, his pupils constricted sharply, his mind went blank, and he stared at Tachibana Tadakatsu in disbelief.

He was completely stunned!

He never expected that Tachibana Tadakatsu, who usually spoke of loving the people like his own children, being loyal to the country, putting the nation first, and showing compassion for the people in the court, was actually a deeply hidden opportunist!

When the nation was in peril and the capital was about to fall, the emperor, his ministers, and his soldiers were all willing to sacrifice their lives for the country and defend the territory to the death.

He harbored ulterior motives, secretly colluding with court officials, attempting to betray his country and country, defect to the enemy, and become a traitor who will be condemned throughout history!

After the initial shock, Fujiwara Shigenobu's face instantly turned cold, and he spoke sharply: "Tachibana Tadataka! Do you know what you're saying? With the nation in peril, soldiers are fighting to the death, and instead of serving your country, you intend to defect to the enemy! You are becoming a traitorous villain who sells out his country for personal gain!"

Faced with the rebuke, Tachibana Tadakatsu showed no remorse. Instead, he calmly shook his head, smiled faintly, and spoke with extreme pragmatism and clarity.

"Lord Fujiwara is mistaken."

As the old saying goes, "Those who understand the times are the heroes."

"The tide has turned, and it cannot be reversed by mere enthusiasm."

"With the old general Su Mu of the Great Qian Dynasty in command, his 300,000 elite cavalry are unstoppable. They have captured several important towns of our Eastern Barbarians. Our Eastern Barbarians only have 60,000 troops. It is like a mantis trying to stop a chariot."

"Continue to resist stubbornly, and the only outcome will be the destruction of the entire city, the execution of the court officials, and the deaths of all of us under the sword!"

He leaned forward, lowered his voice, and continued to persuade him patiently: "My lord, you may wish to think deeply about this. The Great Qian Dynasty's military expedition this time is only to destroy my Eastern Yi court, not to destroy my Eastern Yi country."

"Once this war ends, the entire territory of the Eastern Barbarians will be incorporated into the Great Qian Empire and governed as prefectures and counties."

"At the beginning of the Great Qian Dynasty, the people's hearts were not yet settled and they were unfamiliar with local customs. It was necessary to appoint local officials to pacify the people and govern the region."

"We are both important officials of the Eastern Barbarians, having cultivated our positions in the court for many years and being familiar with the local customs and terrain. As long as we take the initiative to surrender, submit, and express our loyalty, the Great Qian Dynasty will surely give us an important position!"

Upon hearing this, the five high-ranking officials accompanying him stepped forward to echo his sentiments, each of them looking anxious and offering repeated advice.

"Lord Fujiwara, Lord Tachibana's words are entirely true. To hold out to the end is certain death; surrender is the only way to survive!"

"Why should we waste our lives and our families' futures on the death throes of a corrupt royal family!"

"The Great Qian army is disciplined and does not disturb the people. If we surrender, we can not only ensure our own safety but also the safety of our families and the stability of our homeland. This is perhaps the best outcome for the people of Dongyi!"

Everyone chimed in with their own words, each sentence a plan for survival, each word a scheme for self-interest.

Tachibana Tadakatsu spoke again, his tone becoming increasingly earnest, deliberately emphasizing his words and playing on the vulnerability of family ties.

"Lord Fujiwara, our actions, though seemingly treasonous, are in fact a strategic move to preserve our homeland and our people!"

"Even if we take a step back and assume that Your Excellency disregards your own future and life, you must still consider your wives, concubines, children, grandchildren, and entire clan!"

"Once the Great Qian army breaches the city and the royal family is destroyed, you and I, as important officials of the court, will inevitably be purged and held accountable. At that time, our entire families will be executed, our clans wiped out, and our century-old family foundation will be destroyed in an instant. Are you really willing to accept that, my lord?"

Tachibana Tadakatsu's words progressed step by step, each sentence hitting the nail on the head.

Fujiwara Shigenobu stood silently in the center of the hall, gazing out at the deep night. Instantly, the image of his wife and children in the mansion filled his mind with fear and anxiety. He thought of the family's accumulated wealth over generations and the safety of his entire family.

Loyalty and righteousness gradually wavered and collapsed in the face of the family's desperate situation.

He knew that what Tachibana Tadakatsu said was true. The defeat of the Eastern Barbarians was inevitable. Defending to the death would only result in a gruesome end, while surrendering would offer a glimmer of hope.

After a long while, he slowly closed his eyes, exhaled a long breath, and all the struggle and entanglement in his eyes faded away, leaving only a cold compromise.

When he opened his eyes again, he nodded heavily and said in a low voice, "Very well... then so be it."

Seeing that Fujiwara no Shigenobu had agreed, Tachibana no Tadakatsu and the group of senior retainers behind him instantly showed great joy, and their hearts, which had been hanging in suspense, were finally put to rest.

If this chief civil official takes the lead in surrendering, the matter will be mostly settled!

After a brief moment of elation, Fujiwara Shigenobu's expression turned grave. He went straight to the heart of the matter and asked in a deep voice, "But Takenaka Ryosuke's peace talks have already failed, and the Great Qian has resolutely refused to negotiate peace."

"If we surrender rashly now, without any proof, how can the Great Qian army believe our sincerity? If they feign surrender and then settle scores later, we will still face certain death!"

This question is precise and incisive, hitting the biggest hidden danger.

A smile played on Tachibana Tadatsura's lips, a ruthless glint flashing in his eyes, as he whispered:

"Lord Fujiwara, rest assured, empty words of surrender will not gain the trust of the Great Qian."

"If you want to live, you'd better offer enough proof of your loyalty!"

"What constitutes sufficient sincerity?" Fujiwara Shigenobu asked curiously.

"Open the city gates and let the Great Qian army into the city!"

Tachibana Tadatsugu spoke each word slowly and deliberately, his deep voice resonating deeply.

"We will secretly coordinate and open the weakest point in Qingchao Capital's defenses—the east gate—to welcome the Great Qian army into the city!"

"Without firing a single shot, we will help the Great Qian conquer the city and annihilate Ito Shinmu's generals! This pledge of allegiance is enough to earn the Great Qian's trust in our loyalty!"

After hearing this, Fujiwara Shigeyuki was shocked and gasped, feeling a chill run through his body!

By deliberately opening the gates to let the enemy into the city, they allowed the foreign enemy to raze their own imperial city to the ground!

This is no longer a matter of forbearance, submission, or taking advantage of the situation to preserve oneself; it is a blatant act of treason that will be remembered for eternity!

This plan is extremely ruthless. If it succeeds, they will be the eternal sinners who will destroy the Eastern Yi!

But things had already come to this point; he had already agreed and had no way out but to continue down this dark path.

Fujiwara Shigenobu suppressed his shock and asked in a deep voice through gritted teeth, "The entire capital city is now under martial law, with all four gates tightly closed and heavily guarded day and night, making it impossible for even birds to escape."

"We are all civil officials, without troops or power. How can we send out secret messages of surrender? If this matter is leaked and the Emperor finds out, we will all be beheaded in an instant!"

Seeing the worried look on Fujiwara Shigenobu's face, Tachibana Tadataka was confident and smiled faintly, "My lord, there is no need to worry. I have already made careful arrangements for this matter in secret."

"I have already planted trusted spies outside the city. All we need is for you and all our senior officials to jointly write a secret letter of surrender, clearly stating our sincerity and plan to open the gates, surrender the city, and lead our people to submit. My trusted confidants will risk their lives to deliver it outside the city, directly to the Great Qian Commander-in-Chief, Su Su Mu!"

Having said that, he stepped forward, his tone earnest, and urged again, "Lord Fujiwara, this is an opportunity not to be missed!"

"The main army has not yet arrived at the city walls, and the defenses still have gaps. This is the perfect opportunity for us to succeed!"

"You are the head of all officials, with the highest prestige. As long as you take the lead in signing your name, all the court officials will follow suit, and the great undertaking will be accomplished!"

"Our lives, our families' survival, all rest in your hands, sir. We urge you to make a swift decision and lead us to our survival!"

The surrounding ministers all bowed and pleaded, their eyes all fixed on Fujiwara Shigenobu.

Fujiwara Shigenobu's expression changed several times. His loyalty and righteousness were completely extinguished, and the will to survive took over his entire mind.

He finally made up his mind, gritted his teeth, and nodded: "Alright! Since everyone is determined, then I will take the lead!"

After saying that, he turned around and walked quickly to the desk, laid out paper, ground ink, and dipped his brush in the ink.

Drafting documents of treason and surrender...