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Chapter 1129: Chapter 456 Abandon the City and Flee_2 Chapter 1129: Chapter 456 Abandon the City and Flee_2 Iron needs to be hard on its own.

In order to treat an illness, apart from good doctors and medicine, one must also strive to save oneself.

Although reinforcements are good, before their arrival, Xu State must hold on by itself.

Previously, the dispatch of three hundred thousand reinforcements to the teetering Sheqiu City was precisely an act of self-rescue.

But now, the result is clear.

This act of self-rescue, although it had some effect, was not as useful as imagined.

It merely changed imminent death to a delayed one after half a month—there was an effect, but it still did not save lives.

“How could this be, how could this be…”

Hearing Prime Minister Chen Xun’an’s words, Emperor Xu’s last hope also shattered, and under the weight of despair, his spirit became somewhat dazed.

“Your Majesty, Minister Zhao is right, the situation is urgent.

We indeed need to plan ahead and hunt North before the Chu Army arrives!”

“Yes, indeed.

If we wait until the Chu Army arrives, we will not be able to leave.”

“Great Xu has stood for a thousand years; it cannot be destroyed in our hands.

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We must hunt North sooner rather than later.”

At this moment, numerous ministers below, upon receiving the Prime Minister’s personal confirmation and knowing there was no hope of recovery, began to speak one after another.

No one wanted to give up their current achievements and flee back to their old homes in disgrace.

But the situation was such that they had no choice but to flee.

After being buzzed around by many ministers like flies for some time, Emperor Xu also came back from his daze and saw each minister with a look of fear, feeling extreme disgust in his heart.

In the face of national disaster, these people only thought of preserving their lives; not one of them was willing to stand up and sacrifice themselves for the nation.

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‘They are all parasites of the nation, they all deserve to die.’

Emperor Xu cursed inwardly, feeling powerless, he sighed and looked at Prime Minister Chen Xun’an, “Prime Minister Chen, the situation is beyond resistance.

If so, for the sake of Xu State, let us hunt North.”

As he spoke, his heart bled.

In recent years, the citizens of Xu State had all migrated to Qingzhou—a population of more than thirty million people.

Those left on the mainland, after several rounds of conscription and the mobilization of a large number of prime population to the South, probably didn’t even amount to eight or nine million by now.

Now abandoning the essence of the South and fleeing to the North disgracefully.

Even if it meant struggling to survive for a while, relying on the old, weak, women and children left in the North, could Xu truly be revitalized?

It was feared that it wouldn’t take long before falling into the same fate as the already extinct State of Zhao, disappearing amidst the tide of Barbarians.

Keep in mind, Xu had brought the Barbarians of Xuzhou under its control less than a year ago.

Originally Xu was strong, so the Barbarians chose to rely on it for survival, contributing their population and horses for Xu’s use.

But now Xu was suffering from a devastating defeat, and those Barbarians who had pledged their loyalty also suffered heavy losses on the southern battlefield.

After the great defeat, with interests compromised and no sufficient deterrence left, it was feared that those recently submitted Barbarians would flip instantly and rebel.

The just stabilized land of Xuzhou would also be plunged into chaos immediately.

Out of the eight or nine million remaining people on the mainland, half were Barbarians.

If these people became chaotic, how could the mainland fare any better?

Thinking this, Emperor Xu’s heart tightened, and he could no longer afford to lament the loss of Qingzhou.

He hastily said, “Besides moving North, the forces on the southern and southeastern front lines should no longer hold their ground.

Have them retreat immediately and join us in moving North.

And let the civilians who are currently under control be migrated back with us.

Leaving these populations behind would only benefit the Chu people.

Once we return to the mainland of Xu, if we want to counterattack back here, we will surely need enough soldiers, and we cannot do without the support of the civilians.

The same goes for Wuyan City.

Before the Chu Army from Sheqiu City cuts off their retreat, have the great army there pull back too.

Let them cross the river directly from where they are and return to Xuzhou.

While there is still some time, before the Chu Army catches onto our movements, let’s withdraw as many people as we can.

All of these people are the capital for our future counterattack on Central State to preserve Xu—try to keep as many as possible.”

Oh, and the same goes for Qingping County.

There are still a million soldiers and over a million civilians in our control in that region, and we should not leave any of them for the Chu people—withdraw them all.

The Chu people want Qingzhou?

I’ll give it to them, only it will be an empty shell without people, thousands of miles of barren land.

Let them slowly recover and refill it.”

Having realized the inevitability of the situation, Emperor Xu started to take stock of his assets, looking to minimize the losses as much as possible.

In Le’an Prefecture at present, the Xu Army numbered around one million three hundred thousand, and there were twelve Inborn Grandmasters as well.

This force was not weak.

Normally speaking, to defend a prefecture with this power would actually be more than sufficient.

Unfortunately, while the Xu Army was not weak, the Chu Army was stronger.

Faced with two of Chu State’s military expeditions, along with another that was en route, Xu State had no power to resist.

To even save their own lives, they had to abandon their homes and flee.

“As you command, I will arrange for the withdrawal of the troops from various regions immediately,”

Prime Minister Chen Xun’an replied, then expressed his concerns, “However, with the Chu forces pressing step by step, it will not be easy for the troops from various routes to retreat smoothly.

Also, to move several million people back to Hebei, the number of ships needed is astronomical.

With the number of ships we have in the country, to evacuate everyone, I am afraid it would be a rush until winter when the heavy snow freezes the rivers before we can barely manage it.

During this period, the Chu Army will certainly not sit idly by; they will definitely attempt to obstruct and interfere.”