The slogan, once uttered, roused the soldiers to exhilaration.
The entire army was mobilized, with men and horses well-fed and rested, conserving their strength.
This time, Liang Xiao dispatched only ten thousand cavalry as the vanguard, advancing ahead of schedule to guard against Helian Heng's ambush.
The remaining eighty thousand troops were poised to unleash their full might, timing their assault to coincide with Helian Heng's advance a hundred li away, catching him completely off guard!
The next morning, after their morning meal, the remaining eighty thousand strong army charged out of Dingjun Mountain, heading directly southwest to secure advantageous terrain.
As both sides advanced, the noble families, powerful clans, and officials across the Great Qian Kingdom began to stir.
In the capital, the core members of the Dugu, He, and Ouyang families convened in the Dugu family's inner hall, their faces contorted with fury.
"It's confirmed," He Anding gritted his teeth. "The crucial official documents and classics in the capital are under such tight scrutiny by the foolish emperor that even the scribes in our Ministry of Personnel are jointly monitored by the Imperial Guards and the Shadow Guards. Sabotage is nearly impossible!"
"The foolish emperor and Liang Xiao seem to have anticipated our potential defiance, even guarding against our rebellion, and have left no room for error…" Dugu Qun and the others, faces ashen, cursed incessantly.
Xiao Qing had canceled court sessions for months under the pretense of treating leprosy, yet her grip on power had not loosened in the slightest.
Under the leadership of Wang Canghai and Zhuo Zifang, even the correspondence of the six ministries was sent to the Imperial Secretariat and the Prime Minister's mansion for review before being approved by Xiao Qing.
The three great noble families and clans, who had originally intended to destroy vital documents, such as household registers, and then resign, now found their plans to be mere fantasies.
Their attempts to instigate rebellion in various regions were also rendered impossible.
"We cannot remain in the capital any longer. Let us join forces with the Gongyang clan. Centered in the capital, we will collectively resign from our posts nationwide, plunging the country into chaos. This will show the foolish emperor the consequences of suppressing our four great families. Perhaps then, the foolish emperor might even compromise to win us back!" Ouyang Ping sneered.
While the Gongyang clan still held some influence in parts of Jiangnan, they had already been expelled from the center of imperial power.
With their decision made, the three families finally resolved to sever ties with the Great Qian court.
On this day, Dugu Qun, He Wanli, and Ouyang Ping, leading all officials from their respective clans, simultaneously proceeded to the Prime Minister's mansion.
Wang Canghai, upon receiving the news, was taken aback and personally came out to greet them.
Dugu Qun smiled, "Prime Minister Wang, I trust you are well. Our abilities are limited, and most of us are advanced in years. It is time to resign and return home!"
Wang Canghai surveyed the assembled group. "Are all over three hundred officials in the capital, including your disciples, preparing to resign?"
"Indeed!!" Over three hundred voices roared in unison, leaving the guards and civil officials of the Prime Minister's mansion utterly stunned.
Despite Wang Canghai's usual composure, his breathing became ragged.
It was evident that the three great families had seen through the intentions of Xiao Qing and Liang Xiao. Rather than wait to be gradually replaced by talents chosen by Liang Xiao, they preferred to seize this opportunity to simply abandon their posts. Even if they couldn't force Xiao Qing's hand, they could leave a multitude of messes for the Great Qian to deal with across the land!
"This matter should be formally requested of His Majesty," Wang Canghai sighed.
"His Majesty has long since forgotten about our families. We are also aware of our failings towards the people, and it is indeed time to relinquish our seals and return power," He Wanli replied with a forced smile, his heart brimming with hatred.
They yearned for power, but now their authority was being systematically undermined.
Wang Canghai mused.
If it were merely the officials in the capital resigning, it would be a minor issue. However, these individuals were clearly prepared. This move signaled a widespread wave of resignations across the country, as officials closely associated with the three great families and the Gongyang clan were likely to follow suit.
What he had always feared most had finally come to pass.
This was precisely why the imperial family had historically been hesitant to offend the noble families and powerful clans.
Yet, Wang Canghai did not give up. He made a perfunctory attempt to persuade them to reconsider.
Regardless, the outward appearances had to be maintained.
The simultaneous resignation of over three hundred officials from the three great families in the capital caused a sensation.
Zhuo Zifang and others, working in the Imperial Secretariat, rushed over upon hearing the news and also attempted to dissuade Dugu Qun and his companions.
The members of the three great families simply met them with smiles – polite smiles, cold smiles, sneering smiles…
Without exception, they were resolute in their decision to resign, offering no leader, only citing their failings towards the people and their immediate desire to step down.
In less than half a day, the situation escalated, and other court officials rushed to offer their counsel.
"Gentlemen, why don't we go and speak with His Majesty?" one official ventured.
Dugu Qun was inwardly ecstatic but immediately refused, "Our minds are made up. His Majesty already dislikes seeing our aged faces; why should we seek embarrassment?"
The over three hundred individuals secretly rejoiced, but outwardly maintained a steadfast demeanor of resignation, unswayed by any persuasion.
Xiao Qing, who was recuperating in the Western Palace villa due to her pregnancy, soon received the news and was equally surprised.
"Don't get agitated, Shuang Mei…" Luo Qingxue, though shocked, rushed forward to comfort her.
"They deliberately chose this moment to resign. Brother Xiao has been on campaign for two months; there's absolutely no way he can return to the capital to deal with them…" Xiao Qing sighed.
"If this happens, thousands of officials might be vacated across the country!" Khristi couldn't help but worry.
As Liang Xiao's wife, they, too, were concerned for the nation and its people.
The loss of thousands of officials, including over three hundred from the capital alone, could lead to prolonged stagnation of the national machinery!
"Brother Xiao had already foreseen this. A short pain is better than a lingering one; it's far better than leaving rebels scattered throughout the land…" Xiao Qing suddenly smiled.
Concurrently, officials from the four great families and clans across the country were seeking opportunities to destroy important documents.
However, they progressively discovered that these documents were now in the hands of prefects and county magistrates, who in turn had local Great Qian soldiers, and even several Shadow Guards, stationed under them.
The opportunities for destroying documents were virtually nonexistent!
Angered, the members of the four families resigned en masse.
A year prior, when Liang Xiao gained prominence, the heads of the four families had secretly informed their kin and disciples across the land, instructing them on how to prepare for such eventualities.
This was their final trump card. Since rebellion was not feasible, they decided to collectively abandon their posts as a form of protest, to force the court to compromise, or even to have Liang Xiao step down.
At this moment, the members of the three great families in the capital wore smiles on their faces.
The more Wang Canghai and the others pleaded, the more triumphant they became.
"His Majesty already believes that without our families, the nation will surely prosper. Isn't the Imperial Son-in-law Liang Xiao also promoting his cronies everywhere? Since that is the case, it is a joyous occasion for us to cooperate willingly, is it not??" Dugu Liang, already dismissed from office, stroked his beard and laughed heartily, filled with exhilaration.
The number of individuals from the three families alone who were eligible to attend court sessions approached forty, and this was after Liang Xiao's suppression; previously, they constituted half of the court officials!
If military officials were excluded, then these civil officials still comprised three-fifths of the civil officials attending court…
This was an absolutely undeniable force! The situation had escalated to the point where even the common folk in the surrounding areas had come to inquire about the developments, filled with anxiety.
With so many officials gone, how would official business in the capital be handled? Would the entire city descend into chaos??
Perhaps even the entire nation would be in turmoil!
Just as the officials from both sides pleaded in vain, Ding Wuyi, the leader of the Shadow Guards, arrived at the entrance of the Prime Minister's mansion with an imperial decree.
"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: I have learned that Grand Tutor Dugu Qun, Grand Tutor He Wanli, and three hundred and forty-two other capital officials have requested resignation. I cannot help but lament, but I will not force them. Therefore, I have decided: any who resign will have their requests granted. Prime Minister Wang Canghai, Minister of Personnel Zhuo Zifang, and the remaining Six Ministers and Vice-Ministers of the Six Ministries will assist in arranging replacements for the vacant positions! Thus decree."
Ding Wuyi's proclamation struck like thunder, leaving Dugu Qun and the others kneeling to receive the decree with a buzzing in their minds.
They actually agreed??