Since the time of Yu and Xia, China had never fallen into such ruin.
Generally speaking, once the capital was breached and the emperor captured, the country was essentially lost, and the remaining forces would surrender after receiving an imperial proclamation.
But this was different. The surrendered emperor had issued edicts urging the various regions to surrender time and again, yet none of them obeyed. They continued resisting to the death, willing to support the Imperial Clan in fighting the Yuan and establish a government in exile.
The Mongol Army slaughtered cities all along the way, while the court in exile retreated again and again. Even after retreating all the way to the sea, they still refused to submit.
Unfortunately, no matter how unwilling they were, they could not determine the rise and fall of the realm.
One monarch died and another was enthroned. One emperor died, and then another child emperor was installed.
Now the child emperor had died as well. Zhang Shijie had not wanted to give up, even though he knew perfectly well that the tide had turned and Zhao Song was beyond saving. Yet he still intended to break through and find another member of the Zhao clan to continue resisting the Yuan.
However, the tides at Yashan, like the rolling tide of destiny, pushed him toward the enemy forces. This final decree of Heaven completely shattered the last shred of hope in his heart.
Heaven had decreed it. What could he do against Heaven?
This should have been the final moment of China's collapse, the instant when Great Song had perished as completely as it possibly could. Yet unexpectedly, fate had changed! The imperial artifact had emerged!
Zhang Shijie realized that Heaven had not abandoned him. On the contrary, Heaven had chosen him to wield