Issue a self-criticism edict, and I will withdraw my troops

Report, report...

On the capital's city wall, a messenger rushed over in a panic, reporting, D-Duke, the enemy... seems to have retreated.

What?

Ren Tianye was stunned. Retreated?

Why? Did they run out of cannonballs?

The messenger knew what Ren Tianye meant by cannonballs, as the term was vivid enough without needing much explanation. He immediately replied, Duke, it doesn't look like it. They still seem to have plenty of cannonballs...

It's just, I don't know what happened...

They retreated.

Now Ren Tianye was completely baffled.

He quickly rushed back to the edge of the capital's wall and looked down. Sure enough, he saw Lin Zixiao's two hundred thousand rebel troops retreating in a massive, sprawling formation. Then he looked at the city wall that had been bombarded by the Red Barbarian cannons...

The outer bricks and stones had peeled off, the wall was cracked, and the structure had been shaken loose.

Furthermore...

Because those twenty cannons had basically hit the exact same spot, the rammed earth beneath their feet was mostly pulverized, forming a massive crater with penetrating cracks.

This made Ren Tianye even more bewildered.

The capital's city wall was built with a rammed earth core wrapped in stone and brick, about twenty meters thick. It was a world-class fortress. Even Yunji City, where he had built his foundation, couldn't compare to the capital's defenses if not for its mountainous terrain.

Yet even such defenses were battered into this state.

The rebels hadn't run out of ammunition either. It was almost certain that with a few hundred more shots, they could absolutely blast open a breach wide enough for a charge.

And Lin Zixiao had twenty Red Barbarian cannons.

In an hour at most, this wall would collapse.

Under such excellent circumstances...

They retreated?

No, seriously, why retreat?

Ren Tianye had done detailed research and investigation on Lin Zixiao. This was a commander who had perfectly inherited the military capabilities of Lin Yi, the commander-in-chief of the Chifeng Army.

Among the widely recognized four schools of military commanders...

He absolutely belonged to the School of Military Strategy and Tactics.

He emphasized grand strategy, meticulous layout, strict military discipline, and achieving victory through overall superiority!

He was an opponent Ren Tianye had always deeply feared.

Therefore, Ren Tianye couldn't help but wonder.

Could this Lin Zixiao have some backup plan?

A grander scheme?

But he's already raised an army in rebellion; he has no righteous cause left. Taking the capital right now is his best chance. What kind of unpredictable, god-like plot could he possibly have?

Ren Tianye couldn't figure it out.

And it wasn't just him.

Wei Shuo, Shi Hu, and Wang Ming, who had just been issued military orders, couldn't figure it out either. As a result, they had already sent people to inquire.

Lin Zixiao retreated, so...

Should they still proceed according to the plan?

Ren Tianye thought for only a moment before making a decision.

Wei Shuo's mission is changed to stationing his troops outside the city, commanding the external army to form a pincer formation with the capital.

Shi Hu's mission remains unchanged. He must prepare for urban street combat.

Wang Ming, your mission is changed. Go notify and pacify the commoners and officials of the capital. Tell them street fighting might occur and to be prepared. At the same time, send patrols onto the streets to suppress anyone taking advantage of the chaos to commit crimes!

After issuing these revised orders in one breath, Ren Tianye watched from the capital's walls for a while longer, continuously receiving reports from his scouts.

Report, Duke! The rebel army has retreated five miles away!

Report, Duke! The rebel army has retreated twenty miles away!

Report, Duke! The rebel army has retreated thirty miles away and set up camp in the exact same spot they were yesterday.

Ren Tianye: ...

So, what exactly did Lin Zixiao come here to fight today?

Did he fight to reverse time?

Going right back to where he came from?

As Ren Tianye pondered this, he felt slightly relieved. He was no longer needed on the wall for now. After arranging for people to repair the defenses, he returned to the Duke's estate.

He began running simulations on his sand table.

Regardless, Lin Zixiao's army was equipped with Red Barbarian cannons and flintlock muskets, a mighty power that didn't belong to this era. If Lin Zixiao launched another frontal assault, defending the capital would be utterly useless.

He had to launch a sneak attack.

It seems I still have to let Wei Shuo make a move. Even if it results in countless casualties, we must deal Lin Zixiao the heaviest blow possible before his army can form their ranks!

His decision was made.

Just as he was about to finalize the plan, a personal guard rushed in from outside.

Duke, a letter from Lin Zixiao has arrived.

It's explicitly addressed for the Empress to open personally!

Ren Tianye quickly took it. It was sealed with red wax, bearing Lin Zixiao's personal stamp.

This was a common method used by the ancients to prevent letters from being intercepted and read, but Ren Tianye merely glanced at it before tearing open the envelope without hesitation.

Inside was indeed the letter Lin Zixiao had written to the Empress.

Your subject, Lin Zixiao, marches his army upon the capital not for treason, but to cry out against the injustice suffered by his father!

My late father, Lin Yi, guarded the northern borders and commanded seventy thousand Chifeng elites. He spent his life defending the nation's gates and protecting the state, yet he was executed without crime. His loyal soul harbors grievances in the netherworld!

Today, my army has reached the city walls. Your subject dares not harbor the slightest intention to harm the imperial city or frighten Your Majesty. It is not that I lack the strength, but truly that it is not my ambition.

What your subject seeks is not power over this empire.

I only beg Your Majesty to issue an Edict of Self-Reproach, proclaiming clearly to the world: you wrongfully executed a loyal subject and falsely accused Lin Yi!

The moment the edict arrives, your subject will immediately withdraw his troops!

And submit to whatever punishment you deem fit!

Ren Tianye finished reading it in one glance, his eyes widening.

He read it carefully a second time, and his eyes widened even further.

Terrified that he had misread it, he had his guard read it aloud to him, his eyes practically bulging out of his skull.

He kicked the guard.

General, what are you doing?

Does it hurt?

A little.

Oh, good. So I'm not dreaming!

In a daze, Ren Tianye stumbled back behind his desk. He couldn't calm his racing heart, not out of fear or terror, but because it was just so... unimaginably absurd.

No, seriously, brother. You fought your way all the freaking way to the imperial city, your Red Barbarian cannons were on the verge of shattering the capital's walls, and you're saying you didn't come to seize the throne?

You just want Xiao Mingzhao's Edict of Self-Reproach?

If Xiao Mingzhao admits her mistake, you'll just surrender and accept punishment?

Holy shit!

Why the hell didn't you say so earlier!

You made me worry for so many days for nothing!

...