"Rumble—!"
In the dead of night, thunder roared through the wilderness.
Birds shrieked in panic, flapping wildly as they scattered into the darkness.
Spiritual light shimmered across the mountain as silver lightning dragons weaved through the sky.
Bathed in waves of spiritual qi, the divine altar at Chen Sanshi's neck opened once more. A new god awakened.
Neck Marrow God — named Ling Moge, styled Daozhou, five cun tall, clothed in white.
Technique: Dragon Scripture
Progress: 60/100
With the progress reaching sixty percent, Chen Sanshi took up the Black Serpent Bow, casually loosing several arrows that shot down a few startled birds circling overhead.
Skill: Archery · Perfection
Progress: —
His Archery was already nearing another limit break.
Technique: Swallowing Fire Art · Qi Refining (Second Layer)
Progress: 250/500
With the aid of pills, his Swallowing Fire Art was steadily advancing.
The war had dragged on—more than half a year now—with no end in sight.
After finishing his cultivation, Chen Sanshi hunted some game nearby. Unfortunately, the mountain was small, and prey was scarce. He managed to find only two wild boars. He planned to mix them into the soldiers' meals—at least they'd get some meat for once.
When he returned to camp, he saw Chu Shixiong dragging in a sack of severed heads, which he dumped heavily onto the ground.
"Fifty li outside the city!"
"We ran into a squad of enemy cavalry during patrol!"
"Cut down twenty of them."
"Lost two of our own."
Ever since retreating to Guandu, both armies had been stuck in the same stalemate—small skirmishes between scouting patrols, but never a full battle.
Those in the capital all believed that as long as the food supply held, neither side could possibly win or lose within three to five years at this pace.
"Commander, the Ministry of War has sent another order!"
"This month alone, nearly every day we've received an imperial decree to march!"
"Ignore it."
Eventually, Chen Sanshi simply stopped responding altogether. The military orders urging him to attack piled up like a mountain outside his tent.
After being refused entry several times, the imperial overseer from the capital, Eunuch Guo Fengjie, lost his patience. Holding the imperial golden plaque, he summoned Tong Xiaochu, Teng Le, and all the mid- and high-ranking officers of the Grand Commander's Battalion.
"The White Robe has no strategy and has missed every chance for victory!"
Eunuch Guo held the plaque aloft, glaring at the gathered officers. "The Ministry of War has ordered him to march several times, yet he refuses! At best, it's cowardice. At worst—it's insubordination!
"Tell me—are all of you going to follow the White Robe in defying imperial command?
"What's next—are you plotting rebellion alongside him?!"
"Lord Guo, such words cannot be spoken so carelessly!"
Tong Xiaochu panicked. "My Tong family has served the court loyally for ten generations! How could we ever harbor treasonous thoughts?"
"I was raised by His Majesty himself!"
Once a death-servant, Teng Le declared firmly, "Born a man of the Great Sheng, I'll die as a ghost of the Great Sheng! How could I ever fear battle or disobey? Lord Guo, how dare you insult me like that?!"
All the other officers spoke out together:
"We have always served under the imperial grace—none of us bears disloyalty!"
"Then why!"
Eunuch Guo's tone grew sharp. "Why have you refused to follow orders and delayed your attack?!"
"This…"
Tong Xiaochu hesitated. "It's all under the Grand Commander Chen's orders."
"Chen Sanshi has no talent!"
Guo Fengjie barked, "And what—without him, you all forget how to fight?! I'll tell you plainly—the Ministry of War is preparing to replace him!"
"Replace him?"
Teng Le frowned. "With whom?"
"Hmph!"
Eunuch Guo sneered. "If Jiazhou shows no progress soon, the court will summon General Jiang Yuanbo of the capital and Duke of Zhao, Lord Mu Lao to take command.
"As for Chen Sanshi—since he lacks the ability to attack, he'll be stripped of his position. If he fails to redeem himself before the war ends, his noble title will also be revoked."
"Lord Guo…"
Tong Xiaochu looked uneasy. "Are you saying…"
"Exactly. Chen Sanshi is no longer the Grand Commander. You no longer need to follow his orders."
Eunuch Guo slammed the golden plaque onto the table. "From this moment, I command you to draft a full attack plan. Once General Lü and the others arrive—you'll launch the decisive battle immediately!"
"Understood."
Tong Xiaochu bowed in acknowledgment.
The others dispersed one after another.
When they were gone, Tong Xiaochu sat before the map, face heavy with worry, struggling to find any breakthrough.
"General Tong," Teng Le sighed. "So they're really removing General Chen?"
"An ineffective commander must be replaced."
Tong Xiaochu spoke helplessly. "You and I were both dismissed from command once, weren't we?"
"That's true, but…"
Teng Le spread his hands. "Even Chen himself couldn't find a strategy to defeat the enemy. What could you or I possibly do? Honestly, I think the court's being too hasty this time. The Grand Commander said to wait—maybe waiting was the right move. Who knows, a turning point could've been coming."
"Teng, the court has its own burdens."
Tong Xiaochu sighed deeply. "They can't afford to wait any longer. Maybe Chen just wants to protect his 'unbeaten reputation,' that's why he refuses to gamble with a full battle."
——
Central Command Tent.
"My lord! Bad news!"
Zhao Kang burst in, glancing around to make sure no outsiders were near before lowering his voice. "That eunuch—last night, he gathered all the officers of the Grand Commander's Battalion. Word is, in a few days he'll strip you of command and appoint someone else to take over!"
"Is that true?"
Zhu Tong, who had been crouched on the ground gnawing dry rations, sprang to his feet and cursed. "If Shitou can't do it, who the hell can? Replace him with what? A pack of useless drunks!"
"Damn right."
Xiong Qiu'an, who had been dozing with his axe in his lap, perked up immediately. "Who are they sending? If it's some idiot who'll lead us to slaughter, then screw it! My lord, we should bail. Head back to Liangzhou—to hell with this war! Let whoever wants to die here fight it themselves!"
From outside the tent, Liu Jinkui, standing guard, leaned his head in. "Hey, Xiong, watch your mouth! Running off mid-campaign with a whole organized force—that's not desertion anymore. That's raising your own army!"
"There's such a good deal?"
Zhu Tong grinned. "Sounds great to me."
"Enough out of you both."
Zhao Kang scolded them sharply. "Keep your voices down! If Chu Shixiong and the others overhear, they'll report it straight to the court."
He turned back to Chen Sanshi. "My lord, if they really replace you—what should we do?"
"No matter who comes," Chen Sanshi said quietly, "we'll hold the line."
This war had never truly been for the court in the first place.
Now…
The world itself was beginning to change.
The struggle among nations for land had turned into a struggle for the ancestral vein itself—and behind that struggle stood multiple immortal sects.
Once the ancestral vein was lost, Fallen Leaf Valley—backed by Western Qi—would gain a firm foothold in the Eastern Divine Continent. When that happened, the Shengyun Sect would immediately abandon the Great Sheng Dynasty, and with no more "Immortal Masters" to support them, the kingdoms of Qing, Xu, and Qi would all turn against Sheng. The world would plunge into chaos, and countless people would die once again. Only by keeping the ancestral vein firmly in hand could one qualify to negotiate with the immortal sects. Otherwise, they would be nothing but a bargaining chip on someone else's table.
"How's the intelligence I asked you to gather?" Chen Sanshi asked.
"It's all confirmed."
Zhao Kang pulled a sealed letter from his chest. "Our supplies are barely holding up, but Western Qi isn't doing any better. Their grain stores are nearly exhausted. They've forcibly requisitioned more from their own lands, and the last shipment is currently en route. This batch should be their final transport."
He hesitated before adding, "Still… they'll last longer than we will."
In war, the final contest always came down to logistics.
Whoever had stronger supply lines—won.
And by the same logic, whoever could destroy the enemy's supply lines—also won.
"Keep scouting and report again."
Chen Sanshi's voice was low. "Our next focus is their grain convoys."
"Yes, sir!"
——
Western Qi Military Camp.
"Immortal Master."
Zhong Wuxin gave his report. "The grain requisition has been handled. The new supply is enough to sustain us for nine months. As for the Sheng troops, they'll run out of food in about four to five months at most. The shipment you arranged will be crucial to our victory. Once it reaches Jiazhou, where should it be stationed?"
"Wu City."
Han Xiang placed another white stone on the board.
"A fine location," Zhong Wuxin mused. "The main roads are well connected, which minimizes transport losses. It's not far from our headquarters either, so even if something happens, reinforcements can arrive in time. If we assign an Immortal Master to guard it, there'll be no risk at all."
Once he had clarified all the details, Zhong Wuxin let out a long breath of relief.
"Chen Sanshi is a clever man. He'll probably retreat before his food runs out. Once he withdraws from Jiazhou, it'll be nearly impossible for him to return. We'll have secured Mount Mang by then—no need to keep fighting."
"No."
Han Xiang interrupted him. "Not one of them is leaving. They won't have the chance."
Zhong Wuxin frowned in confusion.
Han Xiang stretched out his slender hand, picking up the white stones from the board. The black stones representing the Great Sheng army were suddenly replaced with Western Qi's white pieces. What was once a stalemate now showed Sheng's black pieces surrounded on all sides by Qi's white.
"Hiss…"
Zhong Wuxin blinked, startled. He didn't yet know that the Great Sheng emperor had already struck a secret bargain with Fallen Leaf Valley. "How could their black stones suddenly become our white ones—turning around to kill their own?"
"Indeed."
Han Xiang's tone was calm, almost pitying. "The player across the board never imagined that after all his effort to play for the master of the gameboard—the master himself no longer wishes to win."
Pa—
The final stone fell.
Step by step, move by move—until the checkmate was sealed.
——
"Chen Sanshi!"
Eunuch Guo Fengjie stormed into the central command tent, voice sharp. "This is your last chance! Within three days, will you march or not?"
"The time has not yet come. We must not act rashly."
Chen Sanshi gave the same calm reply as before.
"In that case," Guo snapped, pulling out a scroll, "Lord Chen, hear the new decree!"
He read aloud, voice booming through the tent.
"Marquis of Champion, Chen Sanshi, has commanded without strategy and delayed the war effort. He is hereby dismissed from his post as Grand Commander. He is appointed Grand General of the Western Expedition, ordered to assist the new commander-in-chief, Mu Fengchun, with the Hongze Battalion. All military matters are henceforth subject to the new commander's orders."
"Mu Fengchun?"
Xia Cong and the others exchanged glances, frowning as they searched their memories.
They vaguely recalled that Mu Fengchun had once worked under Sun Xiangzong, serving as his foremost strategist. The two later quarreled and parted on bad terms.
After that, Mu Fengchun had led several campaigns, always undefeated, but he retired early from court. No one had expected him to return now.
When the announcement ended, a young eunuch stepped forward, holding a tray before Chen Sanshi.
"Lord Chen, what are you waiting for?" Guo Fengjie lifted his brows. "Hand over the command seal."
"The seal is on the table. Take it if you want."
Chen Sanshi's voice remained level. "But I'll say it once more—no matter who takes command, now is not the time to move. Forcing a decisive battle now will only bring greater disaster."
"Well, well," Guo Fengjie sneered, "and I'll say my piece again—the court has its own burdens to bear. Jiazhou cannot be lost. No more delays! The Ministry of War has been merciful enough not to punish you—for now. Best make yourself useful from here on out."
He shot a glance at the young eunuch beside him.
The youth stepped forward, ready to take the seal—
"Report—!"
"Terrible news! Terrible news!"
A Lieutenant General in charge of grain transport stumbled into the tent, gasping for air. "Rebellion! Rebellion in the rear!"
"Calm down," Tong Xiaochu stepped forward. "Where's the rebellion? How many troops?"
They'd already seen dozens of small uprisings these past few months. None had been serious, so most men in the tent barely reacted.
But Chen Sanshi's face darkened.
He remembered this officer's post—he was responsible for the grain route outside Jiazhou, along the border of Chenzhou, separated from Jiazhou by the Tianzong Mountain Range, which guarded the very gates of the Central Plains.
"It's not in Jiazhou!"
The lieutenant general's face was pale with panic. "It's Chenzhou—the border prefectures of Wujun, Dounan, and Guangyuan have all rebelled! When I was escorting the grain convoy, we were ambushed. Out of five hundred brothers, fewer than twenty made it back alive!"
"What did you say?"
Eunuch Guo Fengjie stared in disbelief. "We—we just passed through Dounan not long ago! The prefectural commander, Jiang Youru, is a hereditary earl of the realm—how could he possibly rebel?"
Tong Xiaochu trembled violently. He rushed to the map and spread it open, tracing the three prefectures' positions with his finger. His face instantly went cold.
Those three prefectures sat right at the exit of the Tianzong Mountain Range, each supporting the other in a triangle formation. If all three had rebelled, that meant—
They and the Western Qi army would form a front-and-rear pincer.
The entire 150,000-strong army of the Great Sheng would be trapped inside Jiazhou!
Once the food ran out…
It would mean total annihilation.
"How—how could this happen?!"
Tong Xiaochu grabbed the lieutenant by the collar, voice trembling. "Did you ask? Did you try to negotiate? Those prefectural commanders are all trusted men of the court! They're not the same as the traitors here in Jiazhou. The war isn't even over—if they had rebellious hearts, they shouldn't have dared reveal it now!"
"I don't know, my lord."
The lieutenant's face was dark with soot and blood, streaked with grime. "All I know is that among those who attacked us—there were Immortal Masters from Western Qi."
He stammered as he spoke, "Maybe… maybe the Immortal Masters promised to teach them immortal techniques, or gave them Foundation Establishment Pills?"
"The three prefectures don't have many troops, but their terrain is easy to defend and hard to attack. As long as they hold their walls, we can't pass through in the short term. If we force our way in, the Western Qi army behind us will never just sit and watch.
"This means—we're all going to die here in Guandu…"
After grasping the situation, Tong Xiaochu's face went completely ashen.
"Lord Guo!"
Teng Le spoke up. "Where are Mu Lao and General Jiang Yuanbo's troops? Have them march straight to suppress the three prefectures!"
"Mu Lao and General Jiang were sent to take command only—they rushed here with no armies of their own!"
Guo Fengjie was already losing his composure.
The central command tent descended into chaos. Officers shouted over one another, none knowing what to do.
At last, every gaze turned toward the man in white.
"G–Grand Commmander Chen," Tong Xiaochu asked anxiously, "what should we do next?"
"Yes, Commmander," Teng Le echoed. "There are 150,000 brothers here—this concerns all their lives!"
"Damn it!"
Wang Zhi cursed openly. "Weren't you all just talking about stripping him of command a moment ago? Now you're begging him for answers faster than flipping a page!"
Tong Xiaochu's face flushed with embarrassment. "The court's under pressure—we had to comply! Changing commanders isn't our choice. If the imperial decree ordered us to die, we'd have to obey that too."
"Different times, different needs," Guo Fengjie said with a forced smile. "If Mu Lao and General Jiang reach Guandu, then they'll hold supreme command. But if they're blocked behind the three prefectures, then naturally, the situation here must still be handled by Grand Commmander Chen."
"Commmander!"
"Please—give us a plan!"
Tong Xiaochu and the others were at their wits' end. Only now did they truly understand how hard it was to maintain even a fragile stalemate like before.
Then, from the commander's seat, Chen Sanshi finally raised his head from the map. His voice was steady and clear, completely calm.
"Guo Fengjie," he said, "write a letter immediately. Request that the capital dispatch reinforcements from the Capital Garrison. It's likely too late for them to arrive, but at least they can pressure the three prefectures. Also send word to the Prince of Zhen'nan—ask if he can spare any troops."
"Yes—yes, I'll start writing right away!"
Guo Fengjie pulled out brush and paper, sweating as he began drafting the letters.
"Wang Jun," Chen Sanshi continued, "find out exactly why those commanders rebelled, and what terms Fallen Leaf Valley offered them. Whatever the sect promised—you, from Shengyun Sect, match it."
"No problem."
Wang Jun nodded firmly.
For mortals, all that mattered were techniques and pills. Neither cost the sects much. Even better offers could be made if it meant preserving the ancestral vein.
"What about the grain?"
Chen Sanshi turned to the lieutenant. "You were attacked. How long can our supplies in Jiazhou last?"
"Five months!"
The lieutenant swallowed hard. "Before the rebellion, most of the final shipment had already arrived safely in Jiazhou. So the uprising didn't have much effect on our supplies."
At that, everyone in the tent—Tong Xiaochu and the rest—let out long sighs of relief.
As long as the grain wasn't lost, there was still a chance. They weren't immediately doomed.
But Chen Sanshi's expression only grew darker.
"You're saying," he asked quietly, "the grain arrived safely—and then the rebellion began?"
"Yes."
The lieutenant nodded nervously. "Luckily, my schedule wasn't delayed. Otherwise, the consequences would've been unimaginable. I guess… that's misfortune within fortune."
Chen Sanshi inclined his head slightly.
'Fortune… or intent?'
If the rebellion had been planned, the most effective moment would've been before the grain arrived.
If they'd destroyed it, Guandu would've collapsed within one month.
But rebelling after the supplies entered Jiazhou… it meant giving them an extra five months of time.
"Pass my order."
Chen Sanshi's tone sharpened as he issued his third military command. "No one in this camp is to leak word of the three prefectures' rebellion. Anyone who spreads it will be executed as an enemy spy—beheaded and their nine clans exterminated!"
"Th-then what next?" Tong Xiaochu asked, voice trembling.
"Next," Chen Sanshi replied evenly, "we wait—for the moment to strike."
He looked around at all of them, his voice calm yet heavy. "The grain is safe. The three prefectures can only fortify their defenses—they won't march on us. In other words, our situation remains unchanged. There's no need for panic."
In truth—
the difference was clear.
Before the rebellion of the three prefectures, even if they couldn't defeat the enemy within five months, they could still retreat from Guandu and save their lives.
But after the rebellion—if they failed to break through…
there was only one path left.
Death.
No one would escape.
The air grew heavy.
The officers, faces grim, dispersed to carry out their orders.
Chen Sanshi remained before the map, his eyes lost in thought. His mind drifted back to the events of four years ago—at Poyang, Yunzhou.
The great walls of Yunzhou, once thought impregnable, had fallen as easily as paper.
Anding Prefecture opened its gates to surrender.
Hengkang Prefecture's commander was slain.
And after all that—
came the Ten Days of Yunzhou, and the slaughter of a million souls.
What lay before him now felt all too familiar, all too alike.
Only this time—
the ones trapped weren't a million civilians, but 150,000 soldiers.
"What is it?"
Wang Zhi interrupted his silence. "You think something's off?"
Chen Sanshi gave a faint nod.
"Good," Wang Zhi growled. "There damn well should be something wrong! I knew Jiang Youru's father personally—we had dealings in the past. The man was stubborn to the bone. Back then, he fell out of favor at court, and despite being a hereditary earl, he was demoted to guard a small city in the Central Plains. A man like him—he'd sooner die than turn traitor.
"Of course, maybe his family got captured by those Western Qi cultivators, forced into it.
"Whether the court had a hand in this… who knows.
"But if it was that old bastard in the capital pulling the strings, I wouldn't be surprised one damn bit.
"That man's capable of anything if it means saving his own hide.
"And I haven't forgotten how Junior Brother Buhui died either."
Chen Sanshi's expression was unreadable, eyes deep and cold.
So far, everything was still speculation between him and Wang Zhi—there was no proof. The rebellion could very well be coincidence.
After all—
the lure of immortality was hard for any ordinary man to resist.
"Sixth Senior Brother," he said calmly, "write to Fourth Senior Brother in the capital. Tell him to dig up what he can."
He hadn't forgotten—
the Embroidered Uniform Guard still had people loyal to the Grand Commander's Office.
And the capital had no shortage of hidden spies.
Back in Poyang County, it was Han Cheng, who had been secretly embedded in the Embroidered Uniform Guard, that had leaked the first crucial intel.
If he could get real evidence this time…
then Chen Sanshi would finally settle the debt that began with that poisoned cup—with Cao Kai.
——
The Capital. Zhongjue Hall.
"The three prefectures have rebelled!"
"150,000 troops trapped in Guandu!"
"What did you say?!"
Prince Jin, Cao Huan, nearly fainted on the spot.
The messenger, pale with exhaustion, laid out the entire report in detail.
"How could the three prefectures revolt?! Those are the gates to the Central Plains! Every commander there was handpicked!"
Grand Secretary Yan Maoxing was equally stunned. "Even if Western Qi has Immortal Masters, so do we in Great Sheng!"
"Grain!"
Minister of Revenue Tian Guang stomped his foot. "What about the grain?!"
Only after hearing that the supplies were intact did he finally let out a long breath of relief.
"The grain's safe, so they can still hold on."
Prince Jin, Cao Huan, analyzed quickly, "Hurry! Mobilize troops from the capital—no matter the cost, they must suppress the rebellion in the three prefectures!"
"It's too late."
Minister of War Ming Qingfeng shook his head with a weary sigh. "Even if we mobilize now, the distance is too great. Logistics alone would cripple the effort. At best, it'll look like we're sending reinforcements—just to put pressure on the traitors."
"Then… then it's over?"
Yan Maoxing's face turned pale. "Not only can we not retake Mount Mang, but now 150,000 troops can't even retreat? If they're wiped out, we'll lose the six western provinces entirely! That's one-fifth of Great Sheng's territory!"
"A small blessing in great misfortune," Ming Qingfeng muttered. "At least the grain supply remains. The troops inside Guandu can still hold for a time. Let's hope some miracle arises…"
"A miracle?"
Minister of Personnel Yin Mingchun snorted. "The only 'miracle' would be Chen Sanshi himself! And if he could've beaten Han Xiang, he'd have done it already. What miracle? All that's left is a slow death."
"There's still the Prince of Zhen'nan," Ming Qingfeng added. "He might be able to spare some troops. He's closer to the three prefectures than we are, and his supplies can be raised locally. Send word to him at once!"
"And another thing," Cao Huan said, his eyes wild with urgency, "help me to the Wanshou Palace. We'll beg Father to summon the Immortal Masters from Shengyun Sect! If more of them join, maybe—just maybe—there's still hope!"
"That's right."
Minister Tian Guang turned to another official. "Young Grand Secretary, if I recall correctly, the prefects and commanders of Wujun and Guangyuan were both former disciples of Grand Secretary Yan, weren't they? Even if they've been away from the capital for years, they should still remember their old teacher, right?"
"Those two bastards!"
Yan Maoxing's hat nearly flew off his head in fury. "I'll write to them right now and ask what the hell they think they're doing! And I'll remind them—both of their sons are still here in the capital!"
With that, he stormed off, cursing all the way down the hall.
Yan Residence.
Fallen Phoenix Courtyard — this was the private residence of Grand Secretary Yan, the highest minister of the inner cabinet.
In the center of the courtyard stood an ancient wutong tree. Birds of every color perched on its branches and eaves.
Grand Secretary Yan was famous throughout the capital for his obsession with raising rare birds. Any bird randomly caught here could sell for tens of thousands of taels of silver; some rare spirit beasts were literally not for sale even at a price of thousands of gold.
It was said that just feeding his exotic birds cost more than 2 million taels of silver each year.
The old man, Yan Liang, frail and aged, sat lazily in a wicker chair. Two young maids attended him — one pouring tea, the other offering a tray of fruits — both bowing with quiet respect.
In his palm rested a handful of colorful seeds. As he gently fed the birds that fluttered down to his arms, his face glowed with serene gentleness.
"My dear father, what time do you think it is — and you're still sitting here playing with birds?!"
Yan Maoxing stormed into the courtyard, startling the flock into flight. "Do you even know? Yu Siji and Du Xiaocheng—they've betrayed the country and joined the enemy!
"These two men were the very ones we raised up from nothing!
"Now they've turned against the Great Sheng Dynasty—dragging us down with them!
"After the Yunzhou massacre ten days, when those two fools at Anding Prefecture lost their posts, everyone already whispered that it was our doing. And now this happens again? Even if we jumped into the Yellow River, we couldn't wash the stain clean!
"No. I'm writing to them—right now! I'll ask what the hell they mean by this!"
"Don't write."
"Of course I'll write! Even if it's useless, I have to!"
"I said—don't write. Didn't you hear me?"
Grand Secretary Yan's tone turned sharp. The weight in his voice froze his son mid-step.
A thought struck Yan Maoxing, and his pupils shrank. He strode forward, staring into his father's eyes. "Father… you—you knew already, didn't you?"
Something this huge—and yet his father hadn't shown the slightest reaction.
That said it all.
"What are you waiting for? Dismiss them."
Yan Maoxing waved the two maids away, then turned back, lowering his voice. "Father… it can't be… was this your doing?"
Yan Liang didn't answer. He only reached out to stroke the bright feathers of a nearby bird, his hand steady.
"So it really was you? Wh—why?!"
Yan Maoxing's voice trembled. "Father, you… you betrayed the dynasty? The Yan family has sided with Western Qi and Fallen Leaf Valley?"
At that, Yan Liang finally closed his eyes. After a long silence, he sighed.
"Yan Maoxing, after all these years in court, you've learned nothing. You still think in straight lines and call it wisdom."
"So… you didn't betray the dynasty?"
Yan Maoxing frowned, trying to piece it together. "If you didn't, then why send Yu Siji and Du Xiaocheng to defect? What was the—"
He stopped mid-sentence.
Because he suddenly understood.
Not just this incident, but the mystery behind the Ten Days of Yunzhou too—everything clicked into place.
"It was… him?"
He stared in shock. "But why? If the 150,000 soldiers die, won't our losses be catastrophic? Or did Fallen Leaf Valley offer something greater than 150,000 lives?"
"Yan Maoxing," Yan Liang said slowly, "there are many things I never told you. This world isn't as simple as you imagine. His Majesty is an ambitious man, but even he has his own burdens to bear.
"All you need to understand is this — only the Emperor can keep this world from falling into chaos."
He scattered the remaining seeds on the ground, then clapped his frail hands softly. "For the sake of the realm, some sacrifices are inevitable."
"But…"
Yan Maoxing felt his heart turn cold. "We're the ones carrying out all these things. What happens when someone digs them up later and uses them against us? What then?"
"Yan Maoxing, do you know how I became Grand Secretary of the Inner Cabinet in only five years, rising from a poor village scholar to stand above all civil officials?"
His father's eyes gleamed faintly.
"In the imperial court, to rise higher, you must do what others can't.
"As for your worry…"
Yan Liang's tone was calm, almost indifferent. "No one can bring us down—unless His Majesty decides we should fall. A so-called scandal is only a scandal if the Emperor says it is.
"I'm old.
"Sooner or later, the Yan family will depend on you.
"You think too highly of yourself, but you lack precision and caution. When I'm gone, if you want to survive in court, remember just one thing—
"In the Great Sheng Dynasty, only one man commands the wind and rain—and that man is the Emperor.
"The Yan family only exists to block that wind and rain. Even if the storm crushes you to death—you still stand in front of it without hesitation."
"I… I'll remember."
——
Marquis of Wu'an's Residence.
In the courtyard's pavilion, a tea set and chessboard sat between two men.
The scholar in blue robes studied the pieces silently, lost in thought.
"General Fang," Cao Zhi broke the silence, "don't you find this strange?"
Fang Qingyun dropped the chess piece from his hand. "Your Highness, just say what's on your mind."
"It's obvious," Cao Zhi said sternly. "This entire affair reeks of Grand Secretary Yan and his son!
"Such treacherous ministers are a blight upon our dynasty. We can't let them keep poisoning the court! If you and I work together, we could root out these snakes and restore clarity to His Majesty's rule!"
"Cough… cough…"
A cold breeze swept through, and Fang Qingyun, cloaked in thick robes, began to cough heavily. When he finally caught his breath, he spoke faintly.
"Your Highness, do you truly wish to destroy the Yan faction—or the one standing behind it?"
"You're a clever man, General Fang," Cao Zhi replied smoothly. "I don't need to spell it out for you."
He lifted a teapot, drinking directly from the spout. After a few gulps, he wiped his mouth and added, "But I'll warn you—we're running out of time."
Fang Qingyun looked him dead in the eye. "Do you even have the strength for this?"
Cao Zhi smirked and raised a brow. "Not quite yet. That's why I need your help, General."
Fang Qingyun slowly shook his head. "Your Highness, as I've said before—I'm just a broken man with not much time left. I fear I won't be of much help to you."
"General Fang, my elder brother—he's as good as dead."
Cao Zhi put down the teapot and picked up a chess piece, rearranging the board to depict Guandu's situation. "In a few months, when the food runs out and the high-realm cultivators from Western Qi swarm in, my brother will be doomed. Shengyun Sect won't lift a finger to save him.
"But I will. I'm his sworn brother.
"As long as you nod, General Fang, I'll find a way to get my brother out of that pit and bring him safely to the capital. After that, we'll join hands and wipe out the Yan faction together. What do you say?"
"I can't speak for my junior brother," Fang Qingyun said calmly. "And I can tell you with certainty—he won't come. You'd be wasting your time."
"I know," Cao Zhi replied, "he's stubborn. But I can wait. When 150,000 soldiers are dead and he's the only one left, he'll have no choice but to agree. And when that happens, all his anger will be mine to use."
"You can try."
Fang Qingyun said no more.
"Then I will!" Cao Zhi stood, pulling on his black cloak. "I'll make the arrangements. First, I'll save my brother from that grave, then we'll talk about the rest."
With that, he strode into the swirling snow and disappeared into the storm.
Not long after he left, a shadow emerged silently from the corridor. The man wore a dark uniform—the mark of an Embroidered Uniform Guard—and bowed slightly.
"You've seen the latest reports from the front," he said quietly. "The court's already made a deal with Fallen Leaf Valley, but they haven't cut off the grain yet. I don't understand what that means."
"It's simple."
Fang Qingyun's gaze stayed fixed on the chessboard. "If His Majesty really gave up the ancestral vein in exchange for a Foundation Establishment Pill, it'd be a huge loss. He still has a bit of hope in my junior brother. He wants to see if Chen Sanshi can pull off a miracle—if he wins against all odds, His Majesty can always go back on the deal."
"I get it now."
The guard nodded. "No matter who wins or loses, the one on the dragon throne walks away with at least one Foundation Establishment Pill. What a scheme."
Fang Qingyun smiled bitterly. "Yes. He's never lost. Even our master—who once stood at the peak of this world—died still trapped in that man's grasp.
"Junior Brother Buhui, the Xuanwu Battalion, our master's lifespan, my leg…
"One thing after another—he's never lost anything."
He coughed violently, blood speckling his lips. "They call me the Phoenix Chick. What kind of phoenix am I? I couldn't even outplay him once."
The guard hurried forward in alarm. "Brother Fang, are you all right?" He grabbed a cloth and tried to wipe the blood from the chessboard.
"I'm fine," Fang Qingyun wheezed, refusing the cloth. "What about the evidence?"
"We've collected most of it for the Ten Days of Yunzhou, and we're still gathering proof for this time. It shouldn't be a problem—just give me a little longer."
He hesitated, then added, "At least this time, with Cao Zhi stepping in to rescue him, even if the front collapses, the young Grand Commmander won't lose his life."
He turned toward the courtyard, following the trail of Cao Zhi's footprints melting into the snow. "You know, that Twelfth Prince—I've always known he's the most ambitious of them all. Back when the former Crown Prince caused that mess at Ziwei Mountain, Cao Zhi used the chaos to get rid of a whole bunch of people, replacing them with his own men and those of Prince Jin, the Sixth Prince.
"If the Yan faction falls, the court will belong to him and Prince Jin.
"With the backing of Seeking Immortals Tower, he could easily secure the throne when the time comes.
"So this time—his real goal is to win Chen Sanshi over."
"Yes," Fang Qingyun murmured, "but he's being far too naive."
The mild, easygoing scholar's eyes suddenly turned sharp as blades. "Do they really think the Grand Commmander's Office will spend a lifetime bowing to others?"
"You're right."
The guard stared toward the distant imperial palace. "I've spent years in that place. I've seen everything—schemes, betrayals, blood on the floor. More than once, I wanted to run.
"No, I did pack my bags once.
"It was four years ago—Longqing Year 72. The old Grand Commmander's lifespan was nearly spent, and he still had to handle the corrupted evil vein and spirit vein affairs. He couldn't do anything about Cao Kai, and the Grand Commmander's Office had nowhere to retreat.
"Everyone was desperate.
"We all knew that once the Grand Commmander died, the court would come for the Sun family.
"The best outcome was to kneel before the leash—become obedient dogs—and maybe, if we were lucky, survive a little longer.
"But those poor children of his… Sun Buqi would never escape confinement in the capital for the rest of his life. Sun Li would be forced into the royal family—or worse, caged as someone's ornament.
"This empire has always belonged to the Cao clan.
"And if Cao Kai wanted, he could harvest the people's lives like herbs to extend his cultivation and lifespan.
"Nothing would ever change.
"Until the winter of Longqing Year 72—the night before the Ten Days of Yunzhou massacre—you sent me a letter.
"In it, you said that you and the Grand Commmander met a young man by the Hongze River. He was different from everyone else. Maybe he could shoulder the burden the Grand Commmander's Office had failed to bear."
He smiled faintly. "And from that moment, there was hope again.
"Now more than four years have passed. The old Grand Commmander is gone, and the young one can stand on his own.
"But who could've guessed we'd see another catastrophe—this time at Guandu?"
He clenched his fists, teeth grinding. "150,000 soldiers, thrown away with a single word from that bastard Cao.
"Sure, the young Grand Commmander might survive this, but…
"If the Hongze Battalion is destroyed, then the Grand Commmander's Office will have no troops left to command.
"And when that happens—there'll be nothing left for us but silence."
Guandu! Guandu! Guandu!
Fang Qingyun's eyes stayed fixed on the blood-smeared chessboard.
The outcome of this battle—
would decide the fate of the entire world.