"Has my son, Dai Mubai, sent a reply yet?"
Before the morning court session, the Star Luo Emperor strolled through the Hall of Governance.
The attendant eunuch, Wei Hong, had served the emperor for thirty years and was his most trusted confidant.
Wei Hong replied, "His Highness the Crown Prince relayed a message through a covert agent—the alliance between the Heaven Dou Empire and the Spirit Hall is all but certain."
"The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's master appears to be in seclusion, contemplating countermeasures, but it's more likely he's avoiding the turbulent times."
A wave of frustration washed over the Star Luo Emperor. "We've been isolated. The Spirit Hall's schemes are truly insidious."
"That Xue Qinghe is determined to be a ruler who brings ruin to his country."
"However, there is good news as well," Wei Hong reassured. "The special envoy Your Majesty dispatched has made contact with the Clear Sky Clan. They've regrouped their former subordinate sects and regained some strength."
"Moreover, they are willing to form an alliance with our Star Luo Empire."
"Hmph! Only after being beaten do they think to resist—such short-sighted fools!" the emperor sneered in disdain.
"If not for the imminent threat, I wouldn't even bother with them!"
Before long, the ministers arrived one after another at the Hall of Governance, and the daily morning court session began.
A minister stepped forward to report, "The coastal regions have been struck by typhoons again, affecting two provinces. We implore Your Majesty to dispatch officials for disaster relief."
"Typhoons are natural occurrences—why must the court intervene? What are the local governors doing?" The emperor's expression darkened. "With external threats looming, all imperial affairs must prioritize military readiness."
"By my decree, order the governors of those two provinces to allocate grain locally for disaster relief. Ensure the situation does not worsen."
The Chancellor of the Palace stepped forward. "Your Majesty, the affected Cori Province primarily cultivates cotton and hemp. The people rely on fishing and hunting during agricultural off-seasons."
"Their taxes are paid in cotton and hemp, with grain as a secondary offering. The local governor lacks the means to provide relief."
Hearing this, the emperor felt a headache coming on.
"Minister of Finance, how much remains in the treasury?"
The elderly finance minister stepped forward. "Your Majesty, this year's treasury funds were all allocated to military expansion. We currently owe eight million gold soul coins to various ducal territories."
The emperor's expression turned grim.
To resist the Spirit Hall, the Star Luo Empire had begun preparations early. Last year alone, the construction of warships had consumed eight million gold soul coins—one-fifth of the empire's tax revenue.
This year, with international tensions escalating further, the tax revenue had been spent almost immediately upon collection.
There was simply no money left for disaster relief.
"If the fishermen have no grain, let them continue fishing!" The emperor waved his hand impatiently.
The deaths of a few commoners were insignificant.
But delaying military expansion and war preparations? That was a far greater concern.
"Next matter!"
His words left some ministers hesitant to speak further.
Yet the emperor had always been decisive and autocratic.
Forceful remonstration would only cost them their positions.
Reluctantly, the ministers let the matter drop.
The Minister of Military Affairs then stepped forward to present new defense arrangements.
"Though the Four Great Kingdoms are nominally under the Heaven Dou Empire's jurisdiction, they are effectively controlled by the Spirit Hall."
"If our Star Luo Empire attempts to defend against all four simultaneously, our forces will be stretched too thin."
"Rather than holding the border, we should retreat two hundred li and fortify the Tianhun Mountain Range."
"Your Majesty, this must not be allowed!" Minister of Civil Affairs Zhao Wenzhuo stepped forward, his voice firm in opposition.
Zhao Wenzhuo, of common birth, had served as an official for sixty years.
He had spent many years as a county magistrate in remote mountainous regions before his mentor became Chancellor of the Palace, leading to his own promotion. Now, as Minister of Civil Affairs, he appeared vigorous despite his eighty-six years—the eldest among the Star Luo court's advisory ministers.
As a man of humble origins, Zhao Wenzhuo naturally held deeper sympathy for the common people's plight.
"If we retreat to the Tianhun Mountains, three million of our citizens in the north will fall into the Spirit Hall's hands."
"Losing land is a small matter, but losing the people is grave. Your Majesty must reconsider—this will cost us the people's hearts!"
The people's hearts?
The emperor sneered coldly.
The Star Luo Empire was on the brink of annihilation by the Spirit Hall!
What use was there in worrying about public sentiment now?
The army must hold strategic natural barriers to sustain a prolonged war against the Spirit Hall!
"Our Star Luo Empire stands alone against the Spirit Hall."
"Sacrifices must be made."
"The lands north of the Tianhun Mountains… let them go."
The emperor's voice was eerily calm.
In the past, he would not have declared his stance so quickly.
After all, as emperor, too many misdeeds would tarnish his legacy.
Even if abandonment was inevitable, he would have allowed days of debate among his ministers before producing a scapegoat to bear the blame.
But the emperor had a premonition.
Time was running out.
The Spirit Hall could strike at any moment.
He had to prepare.
"Your Majesty! Those are three million lives—one-seventh of our empire's population!"
"Without the people, the nation will perish!"
Zhao Wenzhuo's voice trembled with emotion as he prostrated himself fully on the ground.
By Star Luo tradition, even in the emperor's presence, such deep kneeling was unnecessary.
Clearly, Zhao Wenzhuo was prepared to stake his life on this remonstration.
Indeed, his words gave pause for thought.
The Star Luo Empire's population barely exceeded twenty million.
Losing three million would be a devastating blow.
Moreover, unlike the Heaven Dou Empire's northern deserts, the lands beyond Tianhun were fertile plains—a vital source of tax revenue.
Yet precisely because the terrain was so flat, it was indefensible.
Once the Spirit Hall's forces advanced, they would cut through the plains with ease.
Faced with this, the emperor wavered briefly.
If they chose not to abandon the north, they would need to push the front lines into central Balak Kingdom, where mountain ranges offered defensible positions.
But the problem was—the Star Luo Empire could not openly attack Balak.
They could not afford to bear the blame for instigating war.
Already outmatched, losing the moral high ground would only fuel domestic unrest.
Yet the emperor was not one to hesitate.
After brief deliberation, he gritted his teeth.
"Minister Zhao speaks wisely. The people are our foundation—our citizens must not be forsaken."
"Dispatch a general to evacuate all civilians north of Tianhun."
"Those unwilling to leave may take refuge in nearby cities."
Relocating three million people was a monumental task.
But the Star Luo Empire was vast and sparsely populated—accommodating them would not be an issue.
"Your Majesty is wise!" Zhao Wenzhuo bowed deeply.
He had hoped the emperor would hold the lands north of Tianhun, but that was impossible.
The Star Luo military was far outmatched by the Spirit Hall.
The north would have to be abandoned—but saving the people was the next best option.
"Who will take on this duty?" the emperor asked, scanning the hall.
"This son volunteers!"
A golden-haired young man stepped forward—Dai Weisi, the crown prince.
As a prince, he refused to wait idly in the capital.
A true man must serve his country!
(End of Chapter)