With a loud announcement of "Imperial decree has arrived," Song Xuan's guards came to an abrupt halt. The blades in their hands froze in mid-air, and Wang Xiao felt a chill on his neck.

Everyone knelt down and bowed their heads to show their respect for the imperial edict.

The imperial eunuch entered the arena and announced loudly: "By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Tianyang Pass has fallen, the offensive in Lingnan is halted, and Song Xuan is ordered to lead the army north to retake Tianyang Pass. So be it!"

Song Xuan's expression changed. He hadn't expected the situation to change so quickly. He had originally wanted to annihilate the 400,000-strong army in Lingnan as soon as possible, but now it seemed he had to find another place.

"Your Majesty, I obey! Long live the Emperor!" Song Xuan replied loudly, his voice tinged with resentment.

Wang Xiao felt a mix of emotions. He was relieved to think that the imperial edict could save his life.

Wang Xiao thought the arrival of the imperial edict would be a turning point for his life, but he never expected that Song Xuan was so ruthless that even the imperial edict could not stop his murderous intent.

After Song Xuan rose to receive the imperial decree, he decisively ordered the Imperial Guards to take Wang Xiao and the others away and behead them.

"General, you mustn't!" A general stood up in shock, his voice trembling slightly.

Song Xuan gave him a cold look and retorted in a cold voice, "Wang Xiao disobeyed military orders and deserves to be executed. I am merely enforcing military law. Why is that not allowed?"

"General, Wang Xiao is the descendant of a veteran general from the late emperor's reign. Isn't this move too hasty?"

A ruthless glint flashed in Song Xuan's eyes: "No jokes in the army. Anyone who disobeys orders will be executed. This is military law, and no one is exempt!"

The generals all knelt down, begging Song Xuan to spare Wang Xiao, arguing that the descendant of a loyal and virtuous official should not be executed so easily.

However, their pleas came too late. Wang Xiao and the others' bloodied heads had already been brought back by the guards, a scene that silenced everyone.

"Song Xuan, you're using this to settle personal scores!"

A general angrily rebuked him, his eyes bloodshot and his clenched fists bulging with veins.

Song Xuan merely snorted coldly, his icy gaze sweeping over everyone.

"My actions are authorized by the Emperor. Anyone who disagrees may submit a memorial! Wang Xiao is dead. The matter of Tianyang Pass cannot be lost. All generals, listen to my command: immediately reorganize the troops and prepare to depart!"

Although the generals were furious, they knew that military orders were absolute, so they could only suppress their anger and silently accept this cruel reality.

...

On Shuangfeng Mountain, Zhou Xiang witnessed the movements of Song Xuan's army, his heart filled with doubt.

After watching for a while, Zhou Xiang suddenly realized that the commander-in-chief must have made a move, otherwise the 400,000-strong army would not have been mobilized so easily.

"Hou Jing, immediately send someone to Tianyang Pass. Make sure to find the commander-in-chief as soon as possible and ask about the next course of action."

Hou Jing nodded and accepted the order, immediately gathering several trusted confidants and setting off for Tianyang Pass.

As for Zhou Xiang, although he was somewhat worried, without Chen Zhennan's order, the 280,000-strong army must not act rashly.

...

On the border of the Great Yan, inside the commander's tent, the atmosphere was tense.

Chen Zhennan looked around and saw Song Yunyang, Jiang Yuan, and dozens of generals and deputy generals gathered together, which made him suspicious.

"Yunyang, why have you gathered so many people?" Chen Zhennan asked in a low voice.

Before Song Yunyang could speak, Jiang Yuan stepped forward, a hint of smugness on his face.

"Chen Zhennan, it was I who summoned the generals. Now that the war is urgent, our Great Yan must unite as one to discuss countermeasures. Don't you agree?"

Chen Zhennan frowned. This guy was clearly up to no good and was obviously looking to cause trouble.

"Your Highness Prince Liang is right, but what are your thoughts on the current situation?"

Jiang Yuan shook his head repeatedly and said with a light smile, "I am not a marshal, so how can I say that I have any brilliant ideas? However, you, Chen Zhennan, are aware of the last imperial edict, aren't you?"

The previous imperial edict?

Chen Zhennan suddenly opened his eyes wide. Of course he knew about the previous imperial edict. Jiang Wenyu ordered Song Yunyang to take Tianyang Pass within three days. Jiang Yuan was obviously going to use this matter to cause trouble.

"Of course I remember, but now half of Tianyang Pass is under the control of Dayan. Is Prince Liang dissatisfied with this outcome?"

"Of course we're not satisfied! Our Great Yan army of 300,000 has only managed to capture half of Tianyang Pass. Chen Zhennan, have you forgotten what you promised the Emperor?"

Should you agree to Jiang Wenyu's request?

Chen Zhennan actually thought about it carefully, and after a moment he burst out laughing, because he hadn't agreed to anything at all.

“King Liang, Jiang Wenyu and I promised each other only a cooperative relationship; I didn’t agree to anything else. Besides, Tianyang Pass was opened without bloodshed. If it weren’t for me, how much do you think Yan Kingdom would have had to pay?”

Jiang Yuan had to admit that without Chen Zhennan, even if the entire army of 300,000 were deployed, the casualties would probably be around 30,000. Siege warfare is essentially a war of numbers.

"Whatever the cost, it's worth it. I've gathered so many people here not to argue with you. Yesterday was the last day of the three-day deadline, and I've already given you a chance. So today, I will personally lead the army to attack Tianyang Pass!"

Jiang Yuan finally revealed his true colors, and Song Yunyang, who had been listening for a long time, hurriedly stepped forward.

"King Liang, what exactly do you mean by that? My men are already inside Tianyang Pass. As long as Chen Zhennan and Dong Ning discuss it further and make him understand Wu Yunyin's perverse actions, our Great Yan army can march straight in!"

Song Yunyang has been busy these past few days, meeting with Dong Ning three times. She knows that Dong Ning is a person who cares about the people and is very wary, and he still finds Chen Zhennan's behavior somewhat unacceptable.

However, although Song Yunyang believed in Chen Zhennan, Jiang Yuan was not there to listen to their reasoning.

"Marshal Song, what the Emperor wants is the entire Tianyang Pass. You failed to do so yesterday, so I have the right to execute you. If you still cannot take the entire Tianyang Pass today, then please return to the capital to plead guilty. I will personally lead the troops to attack Tianyang Pass."

"Chen Zhennan managed to win without bloodshed, and I absolutely will not allow you to break the peace agreement I reached with Dong Ning. I am the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces; without my orders, let's see who dares to send troops?"

These words caused quite a stir in the command tent; no one expected Song Yunyang to stand up to the King of Liang.

Jiang Yuan gritted his teeth, staring coldly at Song Yunyang.

"I order you to send troops."

"I am the marshal!"

"Do you intend to disobey the imperial decree?"

"King Liang, you mustn't force me to rebel!"

Upon hearing this, not only Jiang Yuan and the generals, but even Chen Zhennan stared wide-eyed in astonishment.

"What did you say?"

Although Jiang Yuan's eyes were cold, he was secretly overjoyed. He had wanted Song Yunyang to pay the price, but he never expected that she would give him such a huge opening.

"Song Yunyang, it seems you've harbored rebellious intentions all along. If we don't capture you today, my Great Yan's 300,000-strong army will be wiped out at Tianyang Pass! Men! Seize him!"

Seeing this, before Song Yunyang could react, Chen Zhennan suddenly stepped forward and pressed a dagger against Jiang Yuan's throat.