Now that Zong Sibo had an heir, he had a weak spot too. He could never again be as reckless as before.

He looked up at the De Emperor in his impotent rage, and an idea came to him.

"Your Majesty, Liangzhou has fallen to Ning Chen, and it will take his army three or four days at most to reach the capital.

Ning Chen's army is strong now, and the Dragon Guard, the garrison and the imperial guards in the capital add up to fewer than fifty thousand... We're no match for Ning Chen. We need a plan, and fast."

The De Emperor shuddered.

He knew very well that if he fell into Ning Chen's hands this time, he was a dead man.

Last time, it was only because Father Emperor didn't want to kill him, and Huai'an didn't want him dead, that he'd gotten a second chance.

"No, this emperor hasn't lost. This emperor still has more than a hundred thousand troops on the eastern frontier... This emperor still has Father Emperor. With how Ning Chen feels about Father Emperor, he'll never dare attack the capital."

Zong Sibo said quickly, "Your Majesty, Ning Chen's surname is Ning, after all. He isn't the Emperor Emeritus's own son... Next to the dragon throne and power, that pitiful bit of feeling means nothing.

The eastern frontier army is still more than ten days from the capital, and Ning Chen needs only three or four. Waiting for the eastern frontier army to relieve us is hopeless."

The De Emperor's face twitched. "What does the Right Chancellor suggest?" he asked urgently.

Zong Sibo said, "Your Majesty, the capital can't be held... Withdraw!"

"Withdraw?" The De Emperor was stunned. "Withdraw where?"

Zong Sibo said, "Your Majesty, the only place left to go is the eastern frontier. We have more than a hundred thousand troops there. All we need is to hold Xiangzhou.

Xiangzhou is on the coast, and there are countless islands out at sea. Even if Ning Chen attacks Xiangzhou, we'll still have a way out.

Some time ago Ning Chen petitioned the…