Zhang Xin's smile lingered as he clasped his hands.
With Ma Ridi's help, the most troublesome issue—equipment—was at least partially resolved.
—
After leaving the Grand Commandant's residence, Zhang Xin did not return directly to camp.
Instead, he slowed his pace.
The streets of Luoyang were as bustling as ever—vendors shouting, carriages rolling, nobles passing by under guarded escort.
On the surface—
peaceful and prosperous.
But Zhang Xin knew better.
Beneath this calm exterior, currents were already surging.
The struggle between the eunuchs and the so-called "partisans"… had never truly ended since the days of the Disaster of the Partisan Prohibitions.
And now—
it was about to erupt again.
He exhaled slowly.
"Timing…"
Everything depended on timing.
If the partisans chose to act while he was away in Qingzhou—
then Luoyang would become a battlefield without armies.
A silent coup.
A bloody purge.
—
Back at the Xiyuan camp, preparations were already nearing completion.
Messengers reported one after another:
"General Gao Shun has departed!"
"General Zhang Liao has reached Hanoi!"
"General Xu Huang is gathering troops according to the roster!"
Zhang Xin nodded at each report.
Good.
Very good.
This was the advantage he had built step by step—
loyal subordinates who could act independently.
Men like Xu Huang and Zhang Liao were not just brave—they were reliable.
As long as they moved quickly, his reinforcements from Hanoi would soon be ready.
—
That night, Zhang Xin sat alone in his tent.
Before him lay two maps.
One of Qingzhou.
One of Luoyang.
His finger tapped lightly between the two.
Qingzhou—
open war.
Luoyang—
hidden war.
After a long silence, he muttered:
"Let's see… who makes the first move."
—
Meanwhile, within the imperial palace—
lamps flickered in the night.
In a quiet hall, several figures sat in low voices.
"The Xiyuan Army has left."
"The moment has come."
One man's voice was cold.
Another hesitated.
"But Zhang Xin left people behind…"
A scoff followed.
"A mere guard arrangement. Without him, the army has no head. This is our best chance."
Silence.
Then—
a final voice:
"If we don't act now… we may never have another opportunity."
The candlelight wavered.
Like the fate of the empire itself.
—
At dawn the next day—
drums thundered once more.
The gates of Luoyang opened wide.
Zhang Xin mounted his horse, clad in armor, his cloak fluttering behind him.
Behind him—
the Xiyuan Army stretched like a steel river.
Twenty thousand strong.
Orderly. Silent. Deadly.
He did not look back.
Because he knew—
once he left this city,
everything would begin.