When autumn comes, on the eighth of the ninth month, after my flowers bloom, all others shall perish (4,000 words)

The Northern Wilderness Army split into five forces, marching toward the Wei Kingdom's Imperial Capital from five directions.

The entire Wei Kingdom was forced onto the defensive.

The court had already split into a surrender faction and a fight-to-the-death faction.

The surrender faction consisted mainly of civil officials—the very scum who usually wallowed in luxury and corruption, sold offices and titles, and threw their weight around.

In their eyes, as long as they surrendered, they could save their own skins.

The ruler of the Wei Kingdom entertained the same idea, believing that ceding territory to sue for peace was the best solution!

But the moment he raised the idea, the military officers talked him out of it.

The fight-to-the-death faction vehemently urged the ruler of the Wei Kingdom—

The Qin Kingdom had committed its entire strength to attacking the Wei Kingdom. With the war having reached this point, it was obvious that their enemy intended to destroy their kingdom.

How could ceding a few provinces possibly settle the matter?

If the ruler of the Wei Kingdom sued for peace now, it would accomplish nothing except crushing the soldiers' morale.

Moreover, the Northern Wilderness Army's morale was soaring. Why would they agree to peace now?

Thus, with the great battle imminent, the court descended into utter chaos.

In the end, however, persuaded by the Wei Kingdom's prime minister, its ruler agreed to fight first and see how things went.

Meanwhile, Xiahou Nan gathered the remnants of his army and returned to the Wei Kingdom's Imperial Capital.

Xiahou Nan went straight to the palace to beg punishment.

Losing the southern territories was a grave offense, and by rights, Xiahou Nan should have been severely punished—even though much of the blame lay with the suspicious, backbiting scum in court and the ruler's indecision.