Unlike Great Shun's soaring momentum, Anye Palace in the Nether Capital was shrouded in gloom.
In the battle at Yaolan Pass, all the principal commanders who had gone into battle had died. Since relocating to the Convergence Zone, the entire National Dynasty had never suffered such devastating losses.
This had undoubtedly shaken the foundations of the National Dynasty. That very day, the Nether Capital had issued orders to the garrisons across the land to come to the emperor's aid, yet few had responded.
It was not that all the regional garrisons were unwilling to remain loyal subjects. To coordinate with Chen Chuan and the others' offensive, Great Shun had reinforced the armies in every Convergence Zone and advanced them all into the former dynasty's territories.
This placed enormous pressure on the Old Imperial Household's garrisons everywhere. Moreover, Great Shun was not merely putting on a show this time; it had launched a genuine offensive, leaving every front in peril.
The various regional lords dared not move rashly either. They could barely protect themselves, so where could they find troops to rush to the Nether Capital's aid?
Besides, the Conservative Faction had been trying to persuade those lords to surrender. Though they had not agreed, they remained hesitant and indecisive, which made them fight without much resolve.
What the Conservative Faction had done might not have been what the Progressive Faction wished to see, but objectively, it had delayed, divided, and weakened the Old Imperial Household.
Naturally, there were still some loyal subjects among them, but most were not particularly powerful. One could say that the more loyal they were, the weaker they tended to be, because the Nether Capital had long suppressed and weakened them by every possible means.
At present, the strongest local power within the Ding Dynasty was