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Shen Ru's words struck true, piercing through Gu Bei's thoughts.
Indeed, while this was an important aspect of strategy, as a commander of unification, Gu Bei certainly understood the necessity of sacrifice. Some things had to be given up.
However, understanding and accepting were not the same level of events.
From the moment Gu Bei first stepped onto the battlefield to kill enemies, no matter how many years passed or how many times he fought, he could never achieve true calmness.
Those were comrades with flesh and blood, who turned into cold corpses overnight. He could not simply regard everything as a given based on the word 'necessity.'
Shen Ru's eyes were filled with pain, but soon, all of it was concealed, leaving only tranquility.
"Gu Bei, you are the general; we have all gathered around you. If you cannot take this step, you will eventually collapse."
The failure of that battle years ago had nearly wiped out the entire army. This event brought immense negative impact to Gu Bei, crushing him under the weight of his guilt.
Gu Bei knew this truth well, but he truly could not do it.
"I'm tired; you may leave now."
In the end, Gu Bei could not promise anything. Shen Ru sighed silently and took her leave.
While Gu Bei was healing, news of his 'death' had already spread throughout the capital.
Murong Cheng had initially felt uneasy since he had not seen the body with his own eyes. However, seeing Gu Bei's subordinates in deep sorrow and noticing that Gu Bei showed no signs of life after several attempts to rouse him, he couldn't help but believe it to some extent.
When Gu Bei's 'funeral' was held as scheduled, Murong Cheng finally felt completely at ease.
"Gu Bei, oh Gu Bei, this is the consequence of your foolishness!" Murong Cheng gazed toward the direction of the general's residence and finally felt a sense of victory: "If you had chosen to serve me loyally, how could you have ended up like this?"
Now that Gu Bei, this troublesome obstacle, was removed, he could finally showcase his abilities and implement his next plan.
"Congratulations, Crown Prince, on eliminating Gu Bei. All that remains is the Third Prince. As long as we act faster than him, the throne will be within our grasp!"
A strategist stepped forward to congratulate Murong Cheng, and a chorus of flattery erupted from those present.
Murong Cheng listened calmly, his long-held wish just one step away from realization, and he couldn't help but feel excited.
"This is all thanks to your strong support that we have achieved such success," Murong Cheng said, a sense of pride washing over him as the gloom of the past faded. "Now, there is just one final step left, and I hope you all will generously offer your guidance to assist me."
After the polite exchanges, they quickly moved on to the main issue.
"I wonder if anyone has any good ideas on how to suppress the Third Prince?" Murong Cheng recalled Murong Jing and the forces behind him, feeling a twinge of annoyance.
Just one step away, yet so many obstacles stood in his way!
"Your Highness, there is only one path we can take!" The strategists nodded at each other, clearly having discussed this beforehand and reached a consensus.
Murong Cheng's face showed hesitation; it seemed he was already aware of the plan but had yet to make a decision.
The strategist advised, "Your Highness, those who achieve great things must not be bound by conventions! This method may seem extreme, but in a moment of crisis, it is indeed a viable option!"
"Yes, Your Highness!" the strategists chimed in agreement. "The Third Prince's strength cannot be underestimated. If we confront him head-on, we risk mutual destruction! If you wish to secure the final victory, you must take bold risks!"
Murong Cheng's expression shifted repeatedly before finally settling. Gritting his teeth, he said, "What you all say is true; this is for the greater cause! If my brother gets ahead of me with his ruthless nature, he will surely bring disaster to Dongchuan!"
"Your Highness is wise!"
Amidst the praises from below, Murong Cheng issued his command.
To seize the palace.
Determined to be the first to reach the imperial palace, Murong Cheng wasted no time after making his decision and led his troops straight there.
They had already gathered ample intelligence on the palace guards; breaching the imperial city would not pose a challenge for them. In fact, it was even easier than they had anticipated.
"Father, with chaos reigning now and the Battle for the Throne unfolding, this truly bodes ill!" Murong Cheng stood before the emperor's dragon bed, looking at the frail old man. "I implore you to issue an edict to bring about some resolution!"
The emperor opened his murky eyes; poison had seeped into his organs, and he could barely see anything anymore.
"The Crown Prince, are you trying to force me to make you king?" The Emperor's words came out in a stutter, as if he might vanish at any moment.
Murong Cheng revealed a hint of a sinister expression, retracting the respectful facade he had just displayed. His tone dripped with malice. "Father, the facts are right before your eyes. Are you still going to evade them? This is all your fault! I am the legitimate Crown Prince, yet you continue to suppress me!"
His eyes were filled with hatred, as if he wanted to rush forward and strike the Emperor, but ultimately, he held back.
"If it weren't for your favoritism, why would I have to resort to such measures?" Murong Cheng's angry tone gradually shifted, taking on a smile.
"This will finally belong to me! Only I am the true True Dragon Son! How can those ants compete with me?"
Murong Cheng grew increasingly agitated, and by the end, there was even a hint of madness in his demeanor.
The Emperor gazed steadily at his son before letting out a soft sigh.
Once Murong Cheng calmed down after a reminder from his subordinates, he attempted to press for the edict again, only to find that the old man on the bed had already ceased breathing.
"Dead?" Murong Cheng was momentarily stunned. He knew the Emperor's health better than anyone and had been hoping for his demise for quite some time.
Yet for some reason, at this moment, touching the gradually cold body made him reluctant to believe this reality.
"Your Highness, Crown Prince, please hurry!" The soldiers urged repeatedly until their voices finally reached Murong Cheng's ears.
Startled back to reality, Murong Cheng stepped away from the bedside.
"Find the imperial seal! With Father gone, I will draft the edict myself!"
Years of ambition were realized in an instant. As Murong Cheng began to write, his hand trembled uncontrollably. The beautiful calligraphy he usually prided himself on appeared crooked and laughable.
With the imperial seal pressed down, this matter became a fait accompli.
Murong Cheng did not look back at the corpse on the bed. Holding the edict firmly in hand, he strode out confidently and encountered Murong Jing, who had rushed over upon receiving the news in front of the Golden Throne Hall.
"You've come too late, Third Brother; Father has passed away." Murong Cheng spoke joyfully about the funeral. "Fortunately, before his death, Father entrusted everything to me. You need not worry; just assist our elder brother in ascending the throne!"
Murong Jing's gaze was piercing, fixed intently on the roll of yellow silk before him. The few lines written on it determined the fate of everyone involved.
"Your Highness truly possesses extraordinary courage, to even think of a way to force the palace," Murong Jing remarked, feeling a sense of shame at his own inadequacy. He had not anticipated that Murong Cheng would descend into such madness.
They were all aware of the Emperor's health; even without a palace coup, he could hardly last much longer. What they had thought was merely a struggle between brothers had turned into Murong Cheng's ruthless pursuit of his goals.
In this round, Murong Cheng had emerged victorious.
Yet, his victory was bittersweet, leaving him with no support from the people. Forcing the palace was an undeniable scandal that could not be overlooked. Though he sat on the throne, he could not secure the hearts of the citizens at dawn.
He could not even find a reasonable justification to strike against Murong Jing and eliminate him entirely.
"Your Highness... Your Majesty, we cannot act against the Third Prince just yet!" a strategist stepped forward and cautioned. "The Queen and the Third Prince possess hidden strengths. Now that Your Majesty has just ascended to the throne and is faced with numerous challenges, if we suffer losses due to our conflict with the Third Prince, it may provide an opportunity for others to take advantage!"
Murong Jing slammed his palm down on the table, sending everything crashing to the floor. "I am already Emperor! Must I still be constrained by others? Am I to watch him escape right under my nose?"
After finally attaining this position, why did it not resemble what he had envisioned?
The strategist advised, "Your Majesty, if you do not endure, you will disrupt your grand plans! As for the Third Prince, once your foundation is solidified, what difficulty is there in removing a mere prince?"
Murong Cheng felt helpless. He had not lost his sanity; he understood his own capabilities and knew that ascending to the throne was not an instantaneous achievement. It would require more time to consolidate power while remaining vigilant against the ambitions of others.
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