The Northern Wilderness Army split into five divisions, advancing on the Wei Kingdom's Imperial City from five different directions.
The entire Wei Kingdom was thrown completely onto the defensive.
Within the Imperial Court, factions had already formed: one advocating surrender and another determined to fight to the death.
The pro-surrender faction consisted mainly of civil officials—the very same men who normally lived in decadent luxury, sold off official posts and titles, and behaved with arrogant impunity.
In their eyes, as long as they surrendered, their own worthless lives would be spared.
The Sovereign of Wei entertained this idea as well, believing that ceding territory in exchange for peace was the best course of action.
However, the moment the Sovereign of Wei considered it, he was dissuaded by the Military Generals.
The faction that favored fighting to the death strongly advised the Sovereign of Wei—
