I, Am a Living Yama; Empress Advises Me to Stay Calm

Wu Yuanshuang returned to his residence—Prince Wu’s Mansion.
“Prince Wu, this is a token of my master’s sincerity. We hope you will fulfill your promise,” said a man dressed in fine clothes, his expression sinister.
Before him were six open trunks filled with dazzling jewels and gleaming gold ingots. Wu Yuanshuang’s eyes gleamed with greed as he chuckled.
“Go back and tell Zhangjia Agui that I’ve accepted the payment. I’ll follow through on my end.”
“I will ensure that Great Zhou delivers Yang Yi, but your master must also honour his word. Once Yang Yi is handed over, your army must retreat. It’s in no one’s interest to continue fighting. Our Great Zhou seeks peaceful coexistence with the Qing Dynasty.”
The Qing envoy gave a shallow smile, one that did little to mask his insincerity.
“I will convey Prince Wu’s message to my master.”
The envoy placed his hat back on and departed from Prince Wu’s mansion.
…
“General Heichi, the enemy is advancing rapidly. I’m afraid we won’t be able to hold out much longer,” Guo Jingzhi reported, his expression grim.
Heichi Changzhi wiped the blood from his face and spat on the ground.
“Damn Zhangjia Agui. He’s gone mad! 400,000 troops—are they trying to encircle and wipe us out?”
Many of the soldiers exchanged bitter smiles. After receiving his reinforcements, Zhangjia Agui wasted no time in launching his attack. The Qing Dynasty had suffered defeat at their hands before, losing Yucheng in the process.
Now that Zhangjia Agui was leading the assault on Great Zhou, he naturally aimed to reclaim Yucheng first.
But the disparity in numbers was overwhelming. The Qing army was several times their size, while Heichi’s forces numbered less than 100,000.
Were it not for Yucheng’s strong fortifications, they’d have been overrun by now. Even so, the casualties were mounting. They couldn’t hold out much longer if things remained as they were.
Heichi Changzhi glanced at the weary soldiers around him, then shifted his gaze to Li Cunxiao, who stood tall and unyielding as ever.
Heichi thought before turning to address the troops.
“No matter how many enemies there are, as long as the emperor hasn’t ordered a retreat, we will defend this place to the death!
“If the city stands, we stand!
“If the city falls, we fall!”
…
“Inform the Zhou army that if they hand over Yang Yi, I will order a halt to the attack on their dynasty,” Zhangjia Agui said calmly.
His subordinate bowed.
“Yes, General.”
Once alone, Zhangjia Agui narrowed his eyes, muttering to himself,
“Let’s see how the people of Great Zhou react to this. Yang Yi, what will you do now?”
…
“Your Majesty, urgent news from the front.” Zhang Jianzhi’s face was grim.
“Zhangjia Agui is leading an assault on Yucheng. Our forces have already suffered a thousand casualties. The enemy outnumbers us several times over. Yucheng is in grave danger.”
The oppressive weight of the situation hung in the air. Facing a force of tens of thousands, including the elite Iron Buddha cavalry, filled everyone in the hall with a sense of helplessness.
Wu Zhao’s expression remained composed, her cold, regal demeanor unwavering.
She gripped the edge of the dragon throne and spoke with a calm but authoritative tone.
“The enemy advances with great force. Great Zhou must not retreat. Minister Zhang, how many troops can we muster?”
Zhang Jianzhi hesitated before responding slowly.
“Excluding the garrisons and the forces stationed in the capital, we can mobilize 300,000 troops at best.
“However, many of these soldiers are new recruits, so sending all three hundred thousand would not be wise.”
A heavy silence followed. Even with every available soldier, it seemed unlikely they could withstand the Qing army’s overwhelming numbers. The difference in strength between a smaller kingdom and a mighty empire was stark.
Wu Yuanshuang surveyed the hall before speaking in a deep voice.
“Your Majesty, Zhangjia Agui claims that if we hand over Yang Yi, he will cease his assault on Great Zhou. I didn’t make this up.
“The enemy is pressing us hard, and if we don’t hand over Yang Yi, our country will suffer greatly. If we do, we can resolve this crisis.
“Three days have passed since Yang Yi claimed to have a solution, but he’s nowhere to be found. Relying on him to save us is a fool’s hope. In my opinion, handing him over would be the wisest course of action.”
As Wu Yuanshuang’s words echoed through the hall, several ministers began to waver.
Yang Yi had made numerous contributions to Great Zhou, but if offering him up could avert disaster, it seemed an option worth considering.
Li Yifu immediately chimed in,
“Prince Wu’s suggestion makes sense. In these desperate times, handing over Yang Yi seems like the best solution.”
Murmurs filled the hall as ministers whispered among themselves.
“Our army can’t withstand Zhangjia Agui’s forces much longer…”
“If we hand over Minister Yang, what will the world think of our Great Zhou?”
“Do appearances matter when our very survival is at stake?”
“Is Minister Yang’s life more important than the fate of our entire kingdom?”
The discussion grew louder, tensions rising with each comment.
Wu Yuanshuang smirked. To him, Yang Yi’s fate was of little consequence.
If surrendering Yang Yi brought peace and also filled his coffers, what more could he ask for?
Wu Zhao’s icy voice cut through the commotion, silencing the room.
“I will never sacrifice my ministers to save my own life.”
Wu Yuanshuang stiffened, staring at his sister in disbelief. Even at this critical juncture, she remained so resolute?
The court fell into uneasy silence, their gazes shifting toward the Empress. While some had hoped she would take the easy path, her refusal to betray one of her own made them feel a deeper sense of loyalty. This was a ruler worth serving.
Just then, a guard rushed in, bowing deeply.
“Your Majesty, Minister Yang requests the court’s presence at the training grounds. His strategy to defeat the enemy is ready.”
A wave of disbelief swept through the hall. Could there really be a plan?
Wu Zhao’s eyes gleamed with renewed hope. She stood abruptly.
“Let us go and see for ourselves.”
…
When they arrived, they found Yang Yi awaiting them, alongside several prisoners dressed in prison clothes.
Yang Yi bowed deeply.
“Your Majesty.”
Wu Zhao nodded, her gaze filled with expectation. Her voice was calm but carried the weight of her anticipation.
“Minister Yang, do you have a solution?”
Yang Yi smiled confidently.
“Victory is assured, Your Majesty.”
Wu Yuanshuang sneered.
“Victory? Based on what? Those prisoners behind you?”
Yang Yi raised an eyebrow and responded smoothly, “Indeed, Prince Wu. These prisoners are the key.”
The ministers exchanged bewildered glances. Was Minister Yang serious?
Wu Yuanshuang’s face reddened with frustration.
Feeling mocked, he snapped,
“Yang Yi, do you know how many soldiers are dying at the front because of you?”
Yang Yi’s eyes narrowed as he gave Wu Yuanshuang a cool smile.
“Rest assured, Prince Wu.. For every Great Zhou soldier who sacrifices their life, I will make the enemy pay dearly.”
Turning back to the Empress, Yang Yi spoke with utmost sincerity.
“Your Majesty, everything is in place. Please, observe.”
Wu Zhao nodded, and a flicker of curiosity flashed in Shangguan Wan’er’s eyes. Xu Jingzong, Wei Yuanzhong, and the others were equally focused.
Yang Yi gave a small nod and gestured toward the prisoners. One prisoner gritted his teeth and charged forward, holding a black object in his hand.
Before him stood a line of straw-filled dummies dressed in armour, arranged in neat rows.
The ministers watched, puzzled by what they were witnessing.
Then, the ground shook as a massive explosion erupted.