The imperial court had issued an order: within five days, everyone in the Grand Commander's Residence was to relocate in full, moving to the capital.
Now it was the fourth day at you hour (around sunset).
The golden light of dusk was fading. The sky over Liangzhou City—the massive fortress of the northern frontier—darkened into deep indigo. Thousands of lanterns flickered to life across the city. The night markets were still lively, especially along Willow Street, where red-sleeved courtesans leaned out from balconies, waving silk handkerchiefs. Everything seemed unchanged from the Northern Liang of old—peaceful yet poor, calm and struggling all at once.
Inside the Immortal Crane Pavilion, tonight marked the final evening before the current Grand Commander of Northern Liang, Chen Sanshi, was to depart for the capital. To bid farewell, he hosted a banquet for his subordinates and old comrades.
Gathered there were the veterans of Poyang—Zhao Kang, Feng Yong, Liu Jinkui, Xiong Qiu'an, Wang Li, Xu Bin, Wu Da, and even the logistics officer Zhao Qiao. Only Zhu Tong was absent, still imprisoned in the military dungeon.
Besides them were Deputy General Chu Shixiong, Lieutenant Generals Xiao Zheng, Xia Cong, You Jike, Meng Dingxin, and Dong Yulin of the Hongze Battalion—all in attendance.
The table overflowed with fine wine and lavish dishes.
The wine was immortal-grade spirit wine. The meat was from a rare beast Chen Sanshi himself had hunted in the Luotian Mountain Range. Even the vegetables were fresh autumn wild greens—each dish prepared with care and effort.
After three rounds of drinking, Deputy General Chu Shixiong, already flushed with alcohol, stood and raised his cup. "My lord, I drink to you!"
As soon as he spoke, the other four lieutenant generals rose together.
Their words were filled with emotion—they hadn't expected to be invited to what they thought was a "farewell feast."
"Grand Commander!"
After draining his cup, Chu Shixiong swapped it for a large bowl and raised it high. "My lord, I know that those of us sent from the capital have always been outsiders in your eyes—never as close as your Poyang brothers.
"But it doesn't matter!
"I, Chu Shixiong, truly admire you!"
"That's right," Meng Dingxin chimed in. "My lord, perhaps you don't know this, but back in the capital, General Chu was to be appointed as a main commander of a battalion in the Black-Armored Army. Yet he refused, insisting instead to be transferred here to Liangzhou to serve under you as a deputy general."
"Please don't laugh at me, my lord!" Chu Shixiong said, swaying slightly but his tone earnest. "I come from a family of military men. Since childhood, I've studied the art of war. When I read of your four crossings of the Hongze River in the Battle of Mingzhou, I was utterly awed. Later, after hearing how you shattered one hundred thousand enemies with only three thousand troops at Hulao Pass, I swore that no matter what, I'd come to learn under you.
"To be honest, at first, I doubted. You were so young—could you really command such astonishing victories?
"But after Wolf Juxu Mountain, I was completely convinced.
"My lord, you were born a Saint of War!
"At Guandu, even when we ran out of rations, not once did I believe we'd lose—and neither did the brothers of the Hongze Battalion. Sure enough, in the end, you led us to turn defeat into victory once again.
"Fighting under your command, my lord—it's exhilarating!
"When you go to the capital, I believe you'll return one day. When that happens, we'll fight by your side again, live or die together!"
"Exactly!" Xiao Zheng added, slamming his hand on the table. "Maybe in a few years, our Great Sheng Dynasty will expand its borders again. When that happens, it'll be you, my lord, leading us Northern Liang soldiers once more!"
"Grand Commander!" Chu Shixiong said solemnly, his tone heavy with conviction. "Say the word, and I, Chu Shixiong, will obey without hesitation. If the court commands war—if you order me to die—I won't even frown!"
"So it seems…"
Chen Sanshi swirled the wine in his bowl, his gaze sweeping over each of them. "All of you are truly loyal ministers of the Great Sheng Dynasty."
"That goes without saying!" Chu Shixiong pounded his chest. "For three generations, my Chu family has basked in the grace of the throne. We were born as generals of the Great Sheng Dynasty and will die as its ghostly warriors. My lifelong wish is to follow you, my lord, and serve the empire with all my heart!"
"To the Great Sheng Dynasty, and to the Grand Commander!"
"To the Great Sheng Dynasty, and to the Grand Commander!"
The five men shouted in unison. Their bowls clashed together, wine splashing out as their eyes fixed on the man in white—waiting for his move.
"Good."
Chen Sanshi switched to a large bowl as well, lightly clinking it against theirs. But his words were slightly different. "To the Great Sheng Dynasty, and to loyalty and valor."
He drank half, then poured the rest onto the ground.
Chu Shixiong and the others assumed he was offering a toast to the fallen brothers who'd died on the battlefield, so they did the same—drinking half and pouring half, then downing what remained.
The feast came to an end.
Chu Shixiong and the others were thoroughly drunk. Arm in arm, they stumbled out of the Immortal Crane Pavilion, singing old Northern Liang marching songs as they made their way back to camp.
Later that night, behind the Grand Commander's Residence, in the shadow of the back mountain—
Zhao Kang and the others gathered again.
They were still tipsy. "My lord, calling us here this late—what's going on?"
"Ha, probably to keep drinking!"
"Yeah! The Grand Commander's leaving tomorrow. Might as well drink our fill while we can!"
"My lord, could you maybe find us some work in the capital? Even if it's just as guards at your mansion?"
"Yeah, if you leave, there's nothing left for us here in Northern Liang."
Chen Sanshi sat quietly in the lakeside pavilion, listening to them finish before finally speaking. "How are your cultivations lately?"
"You mean our realms, my lord?"
"Clang—"
Zhao Kang suddenly drew his Reed-Leaf Saber, gang qi flashing along its edge. "My lord, both Wu Da and I have reached the Profound Manifestation Realm!"
"Thanks to your generosity, my lord!" Wu Da added. "I've already reached Meridian-Connecting!"
"That's right," Wang Li said with a smile. "From Poyang till now, you've always shared your resources with us. It's been almost five years, and with all those spirit ointments, pills, and medicines, even if we were useless, we'd have to improve at least a little."
Five years had passed in the blink of an eye.
With the abundance of rare resources Chen Sanshi had provided, even the most mediocre among them had achieved steady progress.
Zhao Kang had mastered Profound Manifestation.
Wu Da had entered Profound Manifestation.
Zhu Tong, Wang Li, Xu Bin, Liu Jinkui, Xiong Qiu'an, and Feng Yong had all reached Major Achievement in Meridian-Connecting.
Each of them was strong enough now to serve as mid-to-high-ranking officers.
None of these breakthroughs had been reported to the imperial court—they were hiding their true strength.
"My lord," Xu Bin muttered, "after you leave, I'm afraid we'll end up stuck in some border garrison or guard post. Neither high nor low—just forgotten."
The group fell silent, spirits low.
Then Chen Sanshi suddenly spoke.
"Zhao Kang, Wu Da—receive my command!"
"Eh?"
Both men froze, then quickly stood and saluted. "We await your order, my lord!"
"Starting tomorrow, the two of you will serve as commander and deputy commander—of the Heavenly Wolf Battalion."
"My lord?!"
They stared at him in shock.
Not only Zhao Kang and Wu Da—even everyone present froze in shock. They exchanged glances, eyes wide, uncertain of what to think. After a dozen breaths or so, realization began to dawn one after another. Their bodies trembled slightly, and their pupils quivered uncontrollably.
Then Zhao Kang and Wu Da, taking the lead, straightened their backs and spoke firmly, though keeping their voices low. "We obey, my lord!"
"Xu Bin, Wang Li, Feng Yong, Liu Jinkui, Xiong Qiu'an—hear my command!"
Chen Sanshi's tone remained calm but steady. "Starting tomorrow, the four of you will replace Xia Cong, Xiao Zheng, You Jike, Meng Dingxin, and Dong Yulin as deputy commanders of the five armies—front, rear, left, right, and center."
"Yes, my lord!"
They all responded together in unison.
As their voices faded, three more figures approached from the back mountain—Bai Tingzhi, Xie Sishu, and Lu Shuhua.
These three had met Chen Sanshi during the Elite Selection, later fighting alongside him in the Battle of Mingzhou. After the campaign, to weaken the power of the Hongze Battalion, they were deliberately reassigned to different divisions to serve as deputy generals. Still, just like the brothers from Poyang, they had all sworn the Blood Oath of the Battlefield—ready to die rather than retreat.
Since the Battle of Guandu, they had secretly kept in touch. The long delay in their return to Liangzhou was not entirely due to "cultivation."
Chen Sanshi said evenly, "Bai Tingzhi, Xie Sishu, Lu Shuhua—receive my command."
"We await your orders, my lord!"
"Starting tomorrow, each of you will remain in your own camps. Act according to the situation as it develops."
"Yes, my lord!"
As soon as his words fell, six more people arrived one after another.
It was the six senior brothers and sisters.
"I've reached the Martial Saint Realm!"
"I just broke through half an hour ago!"
Seventh Senior Brother Ye Fengxiu and Ninth Senior Sister Rong Yanqiu had both stepped into the Martial Saint Realm.
Adding Sixth Senior Brother Wang Zhi, that made three Martial Saints—or rather, four.
From the shadows at the edge of the mountain came a man in plain hemp robes, rushing in with long strides.
Deng Feng.
He too had been secretly summoned after the Battle of Guandu. He had abandoned his former post, gathered his family, and fled day and night to reach Liangzhou.
He had already attained the Martial Saint Realm before arriving.
"Finally, I don't have to play the humble dog anymore," Deng Feng muttered with pent-up frustration, cursing as he spoke. "Over there they called me an inspector, but in truth, I was just a figurehead—no one ever listened to me."
"Is everyone here now?"
Ninth Senior Sister Rong Yanqiu sat down, her expression turning serious. "Junior Brother, should we begin?"
"Still missing one," Chen Sanshi said, glancing toward the direction of the back gate leading into the residence. "But no matter. We'll start first."
"Missing one?"
Before anyone could wonder who it might be, the man in white continued his calm, methodical assignments.
"Wang Zhi, listen. From tomorrow on, you'll take command of the Hongze Battalion."
"Ye Fengxiu, Rong Yanqiu, hear my command. You two will lead the Heavenly Strategy Battalion."
"Cheng Wei, Meng Guangxin—you two will command the Azure Dragon Battalion."
"Deng Feng—tomorrow, you'll take charge of the Vermilion Bird Battalion."
"Yes, my lord!"
The senior brothers and sisters all complied without hesitation.
"Junior Brother…" Cheng Wei frowned slightly. "If things go as you've arranged, by tomorrow we'll control at least seven battalions—that's 100,000 troops. But will it really go that smoothly?"
Chen Sanshi didn't answer directly. Instead, he gestured with his hand. "Bring the map."
The group froze, patting their robes and searching through sleeves and belts.
"Who has the map?"
Ever since Xu Wencai had been reassigned, the campaign maps had been kept by Deputy General Xia Cong, who carried them at all times. But now that Xia wasn't here, none of them could produce one immediately.
Of course, there was no shortage of maps in the Grand Commander's residence.
"My lord, please wait," Zhao Kang said, rising to fetch it.
Before he could leave, a cold snort echoed in the darkness—followed by a voice they all recognized.
"You bunch of idiots!"
"Without this Marquis around, my lord's probably been working himself half to death!"
From the shadows, a figure stepped into the light. His feather fan and scholarly robes gave him a composed, refined air—but his face and lazy demeanor didn't quite match the image. Who else could it be but Wolong, Xu Wencai himself?
"Lazy bastard?"
Zhu Tong, who'd only recently been secretly released from the death cell, stared in disbelief, wondering if he were dreaming.
"Old Xu?"
"You—you…" Zhao Kang stammered, pointing at him. "Weren't you a lapdog of the imperial court?"
"So you were my junior brother's man all along?" Cheng Wei said with a teasing grin. "All those rumors about you two being at odds—were they your doing, to deceive the court? Using 'a ruse within a ruse,' eh? No wonder they call you 'Wolong,' equal to our Fourth Brother."
"You were acting?"
Only now did the brothers from Poyang finally understand—everything from the so-called "breakup banquet" years ago had been part of an elaborate act for the court's eyes!
"Of course!" Xu Wencai snapped, waving his fan irritably. "If I hadn't played that role, how do you think I'd have come to command two battalions—30,000 elite soldiers today?"
"Ha! I knew it!" Zhu Tong burst into laughter, completely forgetting his past grievances. "You may be lazy, but you've got some conscience left after all!"
"You idiot," Xu Wencai scolded, swatting at him with his fan. "You really think I did all this just to save your hide?"
He sighed, then stepped forward toward Chen Sanshi. Dropping to one knee, he declared loudly, "Your servant, Xu Wencai, pays respects to my lord!"
"What are you kneeling for?" Chen Sanshi said, pulling him up immediately. "You came at just the right time. You can explain the rest to them."
"Understood."
With a flick of his wrist, Xu Wencai spread a massive, marked map across the stone table.
"Listen carefully, everyone."
"Tomorrow… will decide life and death!"
He looked around at every face, his voice sharp and resolute.
"My lord and I have already discussed everything in secret. Let me lay it out clearly.
"As of now, within Liangzhou, there are: the Hongze Battalion, my two battalions, plus General Lü's three battalions, and General Pan Luo's Great Halberd Battalion. In total—seven battalions.
"That's four on our side, and three on theirs.
"General Lü's three battalions are stationed inside the city.
"My troops are camped outside the walls. Once we act, if we can't take Liangzhou City in a short time, we'll face encirclement from the other Northern Liang troops in You Prefecture and Yan Prefecture.
"And Liangzhou City itself—its walls are high and its defenses strong. Even with our men inside cooperating with those outside, it's impossible to seize it in one swift strike.
"So, my lord and I have decided—first handle the external threat, then secure the internal.
"Outside Liangzhou, apart from the three battalions we can immediately control…"
"At the border between You Prefecture and Liang Prefecture, there are still the Azure Dragon Battalion and the Vermilion Bird Battalion. However, they've been cut off outside the pass, effectively under the watch of the Heavenly Strategy Battalion and the Heavenly Wolf Battalion."
"The lord has already sent the couple Wei Xuan and Song Guizhi. They've ridden through the night and are now secretly embedded within the Azure Dragon and Vermilion Bird Battalions. Once the uprising begins tomorrow, they'll coordinate with my Town Garrison Battalion and Northern Garrison Battalion, launching a pincer attack to trap the enemy inside and out."
"Then, Ye Fengxiu, Rong Yanqiu, and Deng Feng—the three of you will work with the Wei couple to directly behead the current commanders of the Heavenly Strategy and Heavenly Wolf Battalions!"
"Remember this well."
"Unless absolutely necessary, we kill only the top commanders. Do not slaughter the rank-and-file soldiers. We execute the upper officers, recruit the middle ranks, and the Northern Liang army will quickly fall into our control."
"Once this first step is done…"
"Our two battalions will immediately grow threefold—turning into a total of six battalions."
"With six battalions outside the city, we'll march south, cut off the grain supply routes, seize the roads of reinforcements, and together with the Hongze Battalion, completely surround Liangzhou. Then we'll move step by step to take the city."
When the plan was fully laid out, everyone memorized every detail by heart.
The greatest problem, however, was still how to deal with Lü Ji and his three battalions, totaling 45,000 troops.
"That bastard!"
Meng Guangxin's face flushed red with anger, veins bulging on his neck. "If he'd just sided with us, would there be so many damn obstacles?"
"Or maybe…"
Cheng Wei hesitated before suggesting, "Should I go and talk to him again? After all, he's our eldest senior brother. Surely he wouldn't really turn against us and draw blades on his own disciples and brothers, right?"
"No!"
Wang Zhi immediately stopped him. "Loose lips bring disaster! Senior Brother Lü already suspects we're planning something. If you show up now, he'll definitely notice something's wrong—and it could ruin everything!"
"Ah…"
Cheng Wei sighed heavily. "He was the one who taught me my stance training…"
The air turned heavy.
The word "eldest" in eldest senior brother wasn't just for show.
There's an old saying among the people: 'The elder brother is like a father.' Though their senior brother wasn't quite a father figure, he was at least half a teacher to them all.
"Bang!"
Meng Guangxin slammed his fist down onto a stone beside him, shattering it into fragments. "What's there to hesitate about? He sold himself to three masters, then fell into evil cultivation! He's no longer our senior brother. If he's smart, he'll step aside. If not…"
"The Buddha once said even a Vajra can grow wrathful. He was the first to betray his master and abandon righteousness. When the time comes, we'll just be doing what must be done—cleansing the sect on our master's behalf!"
"Enough."
Chen Sanshi stood up, his voice cold and decisive. "No one's resting tonight. Go to your posts and be ready. At dawn tomorrow—when the signal fire rises—Liangzhou will revolt!"
Orders given.
Everyone dispersed from the back mountain, hurrying to make their preparations through the night.
Chen Sanshi left the mountain and returned to Fufeng Pavilion.
Chen Duhe was still awake.
Though only three years old, the boy brimmed with energy and spoke with uncanny fluency for his age. He was mischievous by nature and often bossed others around. Once Liangzhou was settled, Chen Sanshi knew he'd have to start disciplining the child properly.
Perhaps sensing that something significant was about to happen, both Gu Xinlan and Sun Li had also stayed awake. By the light of a flickering candle, they quietly busied themselves—one helping him into a freshly cleaned white robe, the other sewing a rough protective charm with clumsy but careful stitches. Neither asked questions.
By the time the night reached yin hour, the sky was still cloaked in darkness.
Chen Sanshi turned to Housekeeper Wu and said calmly, "We leave."
"So early?"
Housekeeper Wu looked at the faint horizon. "Wasn't the departure time set for mao hour?"
"No," Chen Sanshi said after a short pause. "No luggage. Just people."
"Understood."
Wu nodded, eyes deep with thought, then moved quickly to carry out the order.
Before long, several carriages rolled out quietly, light and unburdened. Under the cover of night, they slipped out of Liangzhou unseen.
Meanwhile, Chen Sanshi went alone into the city, stopping in front of a grand mansion—
The Yu Residence.
The sky hadn't yet lightened, though the faint crowing of roosters broke the silence. Through the half-open gates, two young men could be seen practicing martial forms in the courtyard.
"Master?"
When Chen Sanshi pushed open the gate, Yu Ji and Yu Lie—the brothers—hurried to greet him. "Master, why are you here so early?"
"I came to deliver something."
A faint gleam of spiritual light flashed from the storage ring on his hand, and a large, covered plaque appeared beside him.
"What's this?"
Yu Ji lifted the cloth carefully.
Carved upon the plaque were four golden characters: "Loyal and Righteous General."
"What the Cao family refused to give General Yu—I will."
Chen Sanshi's tone was steady but heavy. "Hang it up. Then come with me."
In the capital, the wind was already rising—the time had come.
Dongyi City.
After the imperial decree had ordered Chen Sanshi's return to the capital, the Hongze Battalion had withdrawn from the city and encamped in Dongyi City, one of the two garrison cities under Liangzhou's jurisdiction.
It was still before mao hour. The sky was gray and dim, the horizon tinged with cold mist.
Inside and outside the city, silence reigned.
The man in white rode at the front on his white horse, flanked by Wang Zhi and the two Yu brothers. They stopped before the city gates.
Yu Ji cupped his hands and shouted up to the wall, "The Grand Commander is here! Open the gates at once!"
"The Grand Commander?"
Xia Cong, who was on duty for the night watch, leaned out from the wall, surprised and delighted. "The Commander's come to see us off? I'll open it right away!"
"Rumble—"
The massive gate slowly creaked open.
"After last night's feast, I thought I wouldn't see the Commander again for several years. Didn't expect it'd be so soon."
Xia Cong came down personally, bowing deeply. "What orders does the Commander have?"
Chen Sanshi didn't respond. He just rode forward in silence.
Xia Cong looked at the white-robed figure whose expression was unreadable, and a chill crawled up his spine.
He didn't question further but followed closely behind. The white-robed figure drew nearer and nearer to the main command tent. Watching that familiar back, Xia Cong's face twisted in confusion and sorrow. His lips curved into a faint, bitter smile as he muttered to himself in a low voice,
"Grand Commander… to be honest, not long ago, the court sent me a secret decree. It ordered me, General Chu, and the others to watch over the Hongze Battalion—to stay alert against you, and report any unusual movements immediately.
"At the time, I thought, isn't that ridiculous?
"How many victories has the Grand Commander won for the court? How many achievements carved into history? How could someone like you ever harbor disloyalty? It must be those senile ministers in the cabinet—paranoid and foolish, blinded by suspicion.
"Besides, if you truly wanted to rebel, could we even stop you?
"Take the city gate just now, for example—if I hadn't opened it, you could've flown over the wall or smashed it apart with one punch. Who could've possibly stopped you?
"So, Grand Commander…"
"Xia Cong."
Chen Sanshi suddenly spoke. "How long have you followed me?"
"Three years," Xia Cong replied immediately, as if the number had been branded into his memory. "Three years ago, the court ordered me and several others to lead 3,000 Black-Armored Soldiers to Tongnan Prefecture to await your arrival. Then came the thirty-four prefectures of Laizhou, surrendering without a fight, the lightning strike at Silver Pine Cliff, and the Three Thousand Victory at Hulao, where you shattered Southern Xu's army.
"At Ziwei Mountain, you risked your life to protect His Majesty. Later, you led us north into the desert, crushing the tribes so completely that no royal court remained south of the dunes. Then came the Battle of Guandu, where you scaled the walls first, slew the so-called War Immortal, turned defeat into victory, and reclaimed Mount Mang…"
He listed every battle, every triumph—each name clear and vivid, his voice heavy with reverence.
By the end, Xia Cong reached into his robe and pulled out several folded maps. "Look, Grand Commander—every campaign, every formation you devised, I marked them myself."
"Then die with dignity," Chen Sanshi said quietly.
Before Xia Cong could respond, they had already arrived at the main command tent. Chen Sanshi didn't let him speak further. He dismounted in one motion, strode inside, and took up the Hongze Battalion's Command Token from its case. Without a word, he tossed it to Wang Zhi.
From this moment forward, Wang Zhi would command the Hongze Battalion—the most elite unit of the Northern Frontier.
Wang Zhi raised the command token high, his voice booming through the dawn silence.
"All soldiers of the Hongze Battalion, hear my command—prepare for battle! Assemble outside the city!"
Yu Lie, one of Chen Sanshi's disciples, rushed to the side and struck the war drum.
"Boom… boom… boom…"
The thunderous rhythm rolled through the camp.
The Hongze Battalion had survived countless wars—four deployments across the Hongze River, the Battle of Hulao, the Sealing of Langjuxu, and the Battle of Guandu. They were veterans forged in blood. At the very first beat of the drum, they moved instinctively—armor donned, weapons ready, assembling in perfect order on the parade ground within moments.
Xia Cong's face drained of all color.
"What are you doing?!"
Deputy General Xiao Zheng burst out of his tent, eyes wide and wary. The secret decree had been sent to more than one officer. He understood instantly—something was about to happen.
He shouted, his voice hoarse with urgency. "Return to your posts! The Hongze Battalion follows orders from the Ministry of War, not rogue commands!"
The soldiers hesitated—but only for a heartbeat. Then, as one, they turned and continued toward the parade ground, their discipline unbroken.
"Didn't you hear me?!"
Xiao Zheng drew his sword, intending to make an example of someone. "You—!"
"Die!"
Before he could act, Wang Li and Xu Bin lunged from both sides, blades flashing.
Xiao Zheng swung to block, but the moment their weapons met, his eyes widened in shock.
Both men had reached the Meridian-Connecting Realm!
Before he could process the thought—his head rolled across the dirt.
"Old Xiao!"
Meng Dingxin froze. Then realization struck—this was no drill, no mistake. The warnings from the court were true. The man in white intended to revolt. He reached for his blade—but his world went dark before his fingers could even close around the hilt.
Zhu Tong's warhammer came down, crushing his skull with a wet crack.
"Grand Commander!"
You Jike raised his long blade, roaring, "Why are you rebelling?!"
Wang Li, Feng Yong, and the others surged forward as one. You Jike's cry ended in a spray of blood as his head was taken.
Dong Yulin tried to flee, but a single pursuit strike cut him down.
In the blink of an eye, all of the Hongze Battalion's senior officers were dead—save for two: Deputy General Chu Shixiong and Assistant General Xia Cong.
Chu Shixiong had drunk heavily the night before. Half-dazed from his hangover, he grabbed his broadsword and stumbled from his tent, still tightening his armor straps. What greeted him was a blood-soaked parade ground. He froze, thunderstruck, his expression blank with disbelief.
Xia Cong, on the other hand, seemed to have lost everything inside him—his spirit, his strength, his will. He dropped to his knees with a dull thud, as though his very soul had collapsed.
"Xia Cong!"
Feng Yong threw a sword down before him. "End it yourself."
"Grand Commander…"
Xia Cong raised his head, his eyes red as he stared at the white-robed figure standing beneath the pale dawn sky. "Grand Commander, why?! Are there traitors in the court trying to frame you? Why not just petition His Majesty and clear your name?!"
No answer.
The silence was heavy. The feast last night had already been their final chance.
"Enough talk, Xia Cong," Xu Bin said impatiently. "You still have a choice—join us and follow the Commander, or die here and now. Don't waste time."
"I… I am an orphan," Xia Cong whispered. "My parents starved to death when I was three. The court took me in, taught me martial arts, gave me food, armor, and purpose. How could I betray it and become a traitor?"
He picked up the sword with trembling hands and pressed it to his throat. His voice shook, but his tone was steady. "It's a pity… I couldn't die on the battlefield…"
He slashed.
The blade cut clean through. His body fell limply, blood soaking the ground.
Chen Sanshi murmured quietly, "They say the capital has countless orphans. But did you ever wonder, Xia Cong—why were your parents starving in the first place?"
Not everyone could awaken to truth as Deng Feng once had.
"Chu Shixiong. You're next," Wang Zhi said coldly, narrowing his eyes at the last man standing. "End it yourself."
And at that moment—
Chu Shixiong snapped awake as if from a nightmare—the drunken haze gone in an instant. His eyes widened in fury, veins bulging at his temples as he roared, "Chen Sanshi! I was blind to trust you! You really are a traitor and a rebel! I won't take my own life! Like I said before—if I die, I'll die as a loyal soul of the Great Sheng Dynasty!"
"Then I'll grant your wish."
Wang Zhi spoke coldly. His body erupted with surging true qi that flowed into his massive saber. The long blade glowed like a living Black Turtle, descending with the weight of Mount Tai.
The fight lasted but one move. Chu Shixiong was cleaved in half on the spot.
At the same time, the soldiers of the Hongze Battalion had already gathered in formation.
These men were different from Chu Shixiong and his kind, who were born under noble roofs and sheltered by imperial favor. The Hongze soldiers mostly came from humble families. The "Court" was a distant and vague idea to them—something they couldn't touch or feel. But their commander—the white-robed man who led them through countless battles, who was always the first to charge and the last to retreat—that was the man they followed.
To them, there was no "imperial edict," only "the General's command."
The rumors that the court's so-called rewards were mere pretenses, that Chen Sanshi was to be summoned to the capital and secretly imprisoned—those whispers had spread through the Hongze camp ever since the first decree after the Wolf Juxu Mountain Campaign.
In recent days, even darker rumors spread—about the three prefectures' rebellion at Guandu, and how the court's high ministers had colluded with Immortal Sects to sacrifice the Western Frontier armies. The rumors were swiftly suppressed, but that didn't mean the soldiers hadn't heard them.
150,000 men of the Western Front shed blood to defend the realm, while the court bartered with Immortals to send them to their deaths?
And now they were summoning their commander to the capital—most likely not just for imprisonment, but execution.
How could that be tolerated?
The deaths of the deputy generals earlier only proved what the soldiers already suspected—they had been the court's dogs, sent to pressure their commander. They'd betrayed their brothers-in-arms. Their deaths were well deserved.
Chen Sanshi ascended the platform, gazing down at the ranks of 15,000 soldiers assembled neatly before him.
No words were needed. No slogans.
Their bond wasn't built on speeches, but on a hundred campaigns fought side by side—on victories snatched from the jaws of death. Their trust wasn't born from loyalty to a crown, but from surviving together through blood and fire.
In this world, there were no comrades more resolute, no trust deeper than theirs.
Chen Sanshi spoke slowly, his tone steady and calm, yet his words carried across the field:
"March out."
"Begin the advance."
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
The drums of war thundered once more.
15,000 soldiers of the Hongze Battalion marched north from Dongyi, their armor gleaming beneath the pale dawn light.
The golden rooster crowed. The sun began to pierce the morning mist.
It was the final days of autumn plowing—the last period permitted by imperial law for planting spiritual grain.
Fifty li outside Liangzhou City, vast farmlands stretched across thousands of acres. Many of the city's and surrounding villages' fields lay here. During spring planting and autumn harvest, this area was always the busiest and most lively.
The ripe, unharvested Spiritual Grain shimmered like a sea of green waves, rippling under the cool autumn wind.
Spiritual Grain was harvested twice a year—after the autumn grain was taken in, the stalks of Spiritual Grain were reaped and replanted.
At dawn, Qi Dazhu, the village head of Qingping Village, led his fellow villagers to the fields. They came early, hoping to reclaim the last patch of land that the court had reserved for Spiritual Grain and instead plant winter wheat or other grains.
It wasn't much—but enough to save the village through the hard months and ease next year's hunger.
Since the incident with Governor Wu Youde, the local authorities had not caused further trouble. Perhaps, the court had finally shown mercy, allowing the people another year or two to breathe.
But just as the farmers lifted their tools and began their day's work—
The sound of thundering hooves shattered the morning calm.
A wave of mounted soldiers surged toward them, their banners flying, their formation vast and overwhelming.
At the head rode Wu Youde, the governor of Liangzhou, and General Pan Luo of the Great Halberd Battalion. Behind them followed the full strength of the battalion, lined in tight formation, the ground trembling beneath the weight of their charge.
Overhead, a figure descended from the clouds—riding a sword through the air.
It was the Immortal Qu Yuanxiang.
The Spiritual Grain of the Great Sheng Dynasty was tribute paid to the Shengyun Sect, and this particular Immortal was responsible for collecting the year's spirit grain taxes.
So today, Wu Youde had invited the Immortal himself to "oversee" the work.
"You insolent peasants!"
Wu Youde shouted from horseback, pointing a gloved finger at the villagers' faces. "Well? Will you plant the Spiritual Grain or not?!"
The farmers stopped and looked up. Seeing the armored soldiers and drawn weapons, fear crept into their eyes. Some stepped back, clutching their hoes and shovels tighter.
But Qi Dazhu stood his ground. His voice rang out clear and defiant. "This year, no matter what you say, we're not planting! If you force us, we'll destroy every stalk of Spiritual Grain in these fields!"
"That's right!"
"If we plant it again, we'll just starve anyway!"
"Better to die than to plant!"
"Let the court give us justice!"
The shouts rose together, the crowd's courage swelling like a wave.
"Well, well," Qu Yuanxiang sneered from the sky, lowering his wine gourd. His face twisted with disdain. "So this is the famed stubbornness of the Eastern Sheng Continent's peasants? Still don't know your place, do you?"
He raised his voice, mocking them. "Without us Immortals, you mortals would've been slaughtered long ago by demons and beasts!
"And yet you dare refuse to grow the Spiritual Grain that keeps balance in the world? Do you have no gratitude? No conscience?!"
He grinned coldly. "Fine. If you refuse to plant Spiritual Grain—then you'll plant nothing at all!"
He dove from the sky, his sword humming with a sharp, eerie resonance. Spiritual energy poured into the blade, its light flaring brighter and brighter—then, with one brutal strike, he swung down.
The sword energy ripped across the field, tearing apart an old woman's plot of land. The crops she had just sown were obliterated—soil and grain shredded to dust.
"Sin! Sin upon sin!"
The old woman and her frail husband collapsed to their knees in the dirt, wailing in despair.
That single sword stroke—though it spilled no blood—was no different from murder.
"See that?!"
Wu Youde barked, his voice loud and self-righteous. "The Immortal is merciful—he hasn't taken a single life yet! So get back to work! Plant the Spiritual Grain, and you'll live peacefully. Then I can report success to the court!"
"Bastard!"
Qi Dazhu finally snapped. With a furious roar, he raised his hoe and charged. "I'll fight you to the death!"
"Villagers!"
"Fight them!"
Under Qi Dazhu's lead, the farmers—who had long been standing on the edge of collapse—finally snapped. They grabbed their tools and charged.
"Hmph."
Governor Wu Youde had clearly anticipated this. He snorted coldly, full of contempt. "What did I say? Wicked lands breed wicked people. General Pan, show them what happens when peasants forget their place."
"Do it."
Pan Luo didn't even blink. He simply raised his hand.
In an instant, hundreds of soldiers stepped out of formation. They didn't draw blades or spears—only long whips.
Even so, the farmers stood no chance. They weren't trained warriors, just ordinary men who had tilled the earth their whole lives. Within moments, they were beaten to the ground, backs split open and blood streaming down.
Meanwhile, another detachment left the ranks—armed with great halberds. They began to plow through the fields like madmen, tearing up patch after patch of young grain that had just sprouted.
"You beasts without conscience!"
"You're worse than pigs and dogs!"
Covered in blood, Qi Dazhu and the others could only watch helplessly as their hard work was destroyed before their eyes. Everything they had planted, their hope for next year's harvest, was ground into mud.
"Listen up, all you peasants!"
Wu Youde raised his whip and shouted from horseback. "Anyone who refuses to plant Spiritual Grain will be exiled! Your land will be confiscated and turned over to the government—for planting spirit grain only!"
Today, they wouldn't kill.
Fear was the weapon they chose.
Obey, and you keep half your crop. Resist, and you lose everything.
"Ahh!"
The soldiers of the Great Halberd Battalion tore up the fields, lashing at the peasants as if they were livestock.
"Good! Excellent!"
Immortal Qu Yuanxiang laughed from above, sipping from his wine gourd. "Beat them harder! Let them remember their place!"
Then—
A thunderous sound split the air.
The sharp cry of a warhorse, long and fierce like a dragon's roar, echoed through the valley.
"Stop this at once!"
Chen Sanshi reined in his horse.
Beside him were the brothers Yu Ji and Yu Lie, one wielding a modao, the other a long spear. They leapt from their mounts and stormed into the fields.
"The Grand Commander orders you to stop!"
"Everyone, stand down!"
At last, after a long and tense silence, the field fell quiet again.
"Chen!"
Qu Yuanxiang barked sharply. "What business do you have here?!"
The man in white ignored him completely. Bathed in the morning sun, Chen Sanshi sat tall on his white horse, eyes fixed on the wrecked fields. His expression was unreadable as he spoke.
"Wu Youde, I told you—you are no longer the Governor of Liangzhou. Pan Luo, I told you as well—the affairs of the people are not yours to meddle in."
"Oh! So it's the Grand Commander himself."
Wu Youde forced a smile. "Strange… I thought today you were supposed to be traveling to the capital under imperial decree. How do you have time to come here?"
"Answer me."
Chen Sanshi's tone didn't rise, but it cut like steel.
A rumble rolled across the earth.
The ground began to tremble violently, as if something massive stirred beneath it. From the rear, a sandstorm swept across the plains, churning with wind and dust.
Out of that storm surged waves of Black-Armored Cavalry—the soldiers of the Hongze Battalion. Their formation was vast and overwhelming, their killing intent rising like a tidal wave.
The heavy-armored riders of the Great Halberd Battalion, who had moments ago been terrorizing peasants, now found themselves crushed by sheer presence alone. Even their warhorses snorted and trembled in fear.
"Who mobilized the troops?!"
General Pan Luo's face went rigid. "Who gave that order?! Where's Chu Shixiong?! Where's Xu Wencai?!"
By all logic, five days ago the Hongze Battalion had already been taken out of the white-robed commander's control.
"Grand Commander Chen—what does this mean?!"
Wu Youde's voice shook now. "The autumn planting is nearly over! If we don't plant Spiritual Grain now, it'll be too late! I'm only doing my duty, nothing more! Surely you can understand! Why bring an army for this? And besides—such an act violates military protocol, doesn't it?!"
"Wu Youde."
Chen Sanshi's calm voice made even the wind seem to pause. "Whipping innocents. Trampling crops. Oppressing the people. By law, such crimes demand arrest, trial, and execution. Take him."
At once, two soldiers of the Hongze Battalion stepped forward.
Wu Youde's personal guards reached for their blades—but before one could draw, Feng Yong cut him down in a single stroke.
"Disobey the order, and you die where you stand!"
"Chen Sanshi!"
Wu Youde was yanked from his horse, thrown hard into the dirt. He saw there was no escaping, and in desperation, he spat out, "You're nothing but an empty-titled commander! Who are you pretending to be? Spiritual Grain is an imperial decree—take me if you want, but it won't change a thing! You have no right to interfere! What now—are you rebelling?!"
"You're right about that."
Under his terrified gaze, Chen Sanshi walked into the field. He reached down, grabbed a handful of Spiritual Grain, and pulled it from the soil. Lifting it above his head, he said slowly, "From this day forward, I don't want to see a single stalk of this poison in all of Liangzhou's fields."
"Boom!"
Before anyone could react, his fist ignited in crimson flame. The Spiritual Grain burned instantly to ash, scattering into the wind until nothing remained.
Then, in that heavy silence, Chen Sanshi's voice rang out like thunder rolling across the heavens—loud, clear, and unyielding.
"Carry my command!"
"Burn every stalk of Spiritual Grain in Liangzhou! Leave nothing standing!"
"Above us, Heaven has no mercy! The so-called Immortals have no compassion!"
"Below, the court is blind! Corrupt ministers rule unchecked!"
"Today—"
"I, Chen Sanshi, will slay the Immortals and purge the traitors!"
"I rise in arms—for justice!"
Slay the Immortals. Purge the traitors. Raise the army. Proclaim righteousness.
The final four cries echoed through the sky, reverberating through the mountains and valleys of Liangzhou—carved forever into the hearts of all who heard.
At the end of autumn, in the northern frontier of Liangzhou—
The fields burned with fire, and the white robe rose in rebellion.