Fifty li north of Wuguan Pass in Henan Province lies Zhang Tao's vanguard camp.
As dawn broke, a patrol of soldiers discovered a body that had been inadvertently exposed in the bushes outside the camp. The body was dressed in tattered courier clothing, with torn bags and several bloodstained letters scattered around it.
The letter was quickly delivered to Sun Han, a valiant general under Zhang Tao, the vanguard commander.
Sun Han is a rough and tough man, but he is not brainless.
He examined the letters suspiciously, especially the copy of the "secret edict" with a blurred seal and shocking contents.
"...Upon arriving ten thousand years later, Zhang Tao shall immediately take over Yang Chao's troops. If Yang Chao disobeys orders, he shall be charged with treason and executed on the spot..."
Sun Han read on, his brows furrowing. "And this letter... it seems to be a plea for help from Yang Chao to someone? It mentions that he has decided to rebel and asks the other party to hold off our army so that he can defeat us?"
"General, judging from the wounds on the body and the scene, it seems like a small group of cavalry ambushed and killed the body, leaving these behind in the struggle," the lieutenant whispered. "Could it be that Yang Chao's men intercepted the imperial messenger but missed these?"
"Has Yang Chao really rebelled?" Sun Han asked, still somewhat doubtful.
Although he received orders from the imperial court to take over Yang Chao's troops, the imperial edict did not explicitly state that Yang Chao had rebelled, nor did it mention anything about "execution on the spot."
Is this secret edict... real? If it is, why hasn't the court officially issued it? If it's fake... who forged it? And what was their purpose?
"Report!" A scout galloped into the camp. "General! To the southwest, near the exit of the Ziwu Valley, a large amount of dust has been spotted, indicating the movement of a large army!"
"Judging from their direction, they seem to be heading towards our flank! There are also rumors that reinforcements from the Yin Army in Wannian City have arrived!"
Sun Han was startled.
Reinforcements from the Yin Dynasty? Could it be that Yang Chao has really colluded with Zhao Muyun?
If this secret edict is genuine, it means that His Majesty knew all along that Yang Chao had ulterior motives. So what role did Zhao Muyun play in all of this?
"Reconnoiter! Send more scouts to keep a close watch on the Ziwu Valley and the movements in Wannian City! Immediately report any findings and military intelligence to Military Governor Zhang!"
Sun Han dared not be negligent and immediately ordered, "All troops to be on alert, slow down the advance, form ranks, and send out more scouts to guard the flanks!"
He picked up the blood-stained copy of the "secret edict," and then looked at another letter from "Yang Chao" pleading for help. He felt as if a huge, conspiratorial vortex was unfolding before him.
Your Majesty, Yang Chao, Zhao Muyun...
Who is plotting against whom?
Will he, the forward, become the first pawn to be sacrificed on someone else's chessboard?
Hesitation and doubt, like a plague, spread through this vanguard force that should have been advancing swiftly.
......
In Xi'an, the first rays of dawn break.
Under the escort of elite cavalry, Yin Yao's carriage quietly entered the city gate and headed straight for the Prince of Jin's residence.
Almost simultaneously, several carrier pigeons took flight from different corners of the city, carrying secret reports about the latest situation in Wannian, flying towards Hedong, towards the capital, and towards even more distant places.
Prince Yinji of Jin did not sleep all night, and his eyes were bloodshot.
He had received a brief report from Zhao Muyun, and was aware of Yang Chao's forced rebellion, Zhang Tao's approach, and Zhao Muyun's strategy of using a counter-strategy to advance the situation.
Seeing my sister return safely and bring more detailed plans brings me some relief, but also greater pressure.
"Brother Wang, my husband asked me to convey that everything at the front is under control. Please hold Xijing firmly and observe the situation."
"Pay special attention to the Longmen Pass direction. Li Jingang may launch an attack after learning of Yang Chao's rebellion," Yin Yao said quickly.
Yinji nodded, his gaze resolute: "I understand. I have temporarily suppressed those clamors that Muyun is hoarding military power and becoming arrogant."
"Yang Chao's rebellion at this moment proves that Li Jingang is muddle-headed and immoral, destroying his own Great Wall. Mu Yun's dealings with him are for the benefit of the country."
"I will immediately draft a proclamation to announce to the world, condemning Li Jingang's wickedness and warning the people of Henan. At the same time, I will strengthen the city's defenses and train the troops in preparation for any eventuality."
He paused, looked at his sister, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes: "Yao'er, you've worked hard too. Go and rest. Your brother is here in Xijing."
Yin Yao shook his head: "I'm not tired. Brother, do you have any new news from Hedong?"
"Han Zhonggang has just reported that Niu Desheng and Ma Zongliang's offensive is showing signs of fatigue, and our army is preparing to counterattack when the opportunity arises. Master's judgment is correct; there is no major problem in Hedong for the time being."
Yinji walked to the window and looked at the gradually brightening sky. "The real storm is under Wannian City, between Yang Chao and Zhang Tao, and also... on Li Jingang's chessboard."
"Let's see how this fire will eventually burn."
......
The capital city, the imperial palace.
Li Jingang also didn't sleep all night, his eyes filled with a mixture of madness and anxiety.
He received several reports that infuriated him:
Yang Chao defied the imperial decree, killed the envoy, and put the entire army on high alert, seemingly harboring rebellious intentions.
The men sent to urge or even secretly eliminate Yang Yan found nothing on the Dragon Ridge Ancient Road; Yang Yan had vanished without a trace.
The attacks of He Dong Niu and Ma Ershuai were thwarted;
What alarmed him even more was that the spies lurking in Xi'an sent vague messages suggesting that there was an unusual exchange of messengers between Zhao Muyun and Yang Chao...
"They've rebelled! They've all rebelled!"
Li Jingang swept all the documents off the table, roaring in fury, "Yang Yan ran away! Yang Chao is also rebelling! Zhao Muyun is up to no good! And Niu Desheng and Ma Zongliang, those two good-for-nothings!"
Feng Liang cautiously tidied up the mess on the floor, and whispered, "Your Majesty, please calm down. General Zhang Tao is nearly ten thousand years old; he will surely be able to quell the situation..."
“Zhang Tao?” Li Jingang suddenly grabbed Feng Liang’s collar, breathing heavily. “What if he can’t control things? What if Yang Chaozhen and Zhao Muyun collude and attack Zhang Tao first? If Henan is in chaos, the capital will be shaken, my heartland!”
He released Feng Liang, staggered a few steps, stared at the ten-thousand-year mark on the map, looked at Jiannan, then at Hedong, and felt as if he were surrounded by enemies on all sides.
"Draft an imperial edict! Give Niu Desheng and Ma Zongliang ten days to capture Longmen and Luzhou! Otherwise, they shall bring back their heads!"
"Give the local military governors a thorough warning: keep a close watch on their jurisdictions, especially those near Jiannan and Henan. If any unusual activity is detected, suppress it immediately! Also..."
A ruthless glint flashed in his eyes. "Give the palace...give Consort Yang a cup of wine, and say that her husband plotted a rebellion, and she died suddenly from grief and anger! Then find a way to pass the news on to Yang Yan and Yang Chao!"
Feng Liang trembled, his face turning deathly pale: "Your Majesty...that's your own sister..."
"My own sister?" Li Jingang sneered. "A married daughter is like water spilled from a bowl; if the Yang family rebels, she will be the sinner! Go and take care of her!"
Feng Liang knelt down with a thud, but dared not try to persuade him any further.
He knew that the emperor had been completely consumed by suspicion and fear, and his rationality was crumbling.
Imperial edicts and secret orders flew out of the palace again, carrying an even stronger stench of blood.
However, can they keep up with the rapidly deteriorating situation?
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