Indeed, not only was the Fourth Prince rebuffed, but the Northwest Army remained unmoved by his overtures.
As news of this defiance spread, a subtle shift occurred in the hearts of the populace.
The once unassailable authority of the royal family and the emperor quietly crumbled…
Suddenly, it seemed to everyone that even the emperor and his kin were merely ordinary.
Complicating matters further was the deliberate and inadvertent entanglement of the second prince in the conflict in Jinan. The war evolved into a protracted struggle with no end in sight.
In the capital, the fourth prince's grip on power steadily waned. Among the trio of princes, his position grew increasingly precarious.
While he held the title of heir apparent, he remained the last in line for the throne.
Although Beijing stood as their stronghold, its sustenance relied heavily on supplies from Jiangnan and the Central Plains. Deprived of these vital resources, Beijing's survival seemed uncertain.
