Liu Yao said reproachfully, “Sir Yin, please do not try to harm our morale. The current situation isn’t anywhere near as bad as what you are describing.”
Liu Guang also said, “That’s right. Our brothers control all the soldiers of this world. The palace even has the empress dowager overseeing it, so we hold the advantage. How can we talk about fleeing so easily? From here on, if anyone chooses to run, they will immediately be executed without exception!”
After all, not too long ago, he had even wanted to blame the disappearance of the reinforcement army in the Fiend races' territory on the regent. He had even ordered many of his own subordinates to denounce the regent. How could they suddenly turn around and rely on him?
That damn brat who still stinks of his mother’s milk just got some lucky opportunities. We’ve eaten more salt than he’s eaten rice! Why would we need him to save us?
The strategist surnamed Yin shut his mouth, but his expression was quite angry.
...
Then, many other strategists and military officers spoke. There were some in the Liu manor that mainly spoke words of flattery, but there were also those who really were competent as well. There were many individuals with reasonable suggestions.
Liu Guang sometimes felt that one idea was better, but then changed his mind and decided another was better. He just couldn't come to a decision.
Sir Yin sneered when he saw that.
An immature person is not to be consulted in planning.
He stood up and said, “Great general, I’ll leave to inquire about the intelligence around the Imperial Palace for now. I’ll also gather the clan’s guards to support us along the way.”
Liu Guang nodded and said, “Alright, come back quickly.”
Sir Yin smiled, then strutted out the door.
Come back quickly? What, come back to follow you all into death?
As soon as he left, there were many experienced individuals who quickly caught on. They then all found various reasons to excuse themselves too.
At first, Liu Guang reflexively agreed, but later, Teacher Zhu brought that to his attention, telling him that just under half of the hall was missing. He finally realized what was happening and roared, “Those bastards! This old one treats them quite generously normally, and yet they're all leaving me one after another at this vital time! If anyone else dares to leave, don’t blame me for being rude!”
Quite a few of the remaining people complained inwardly. They were regretting having hesitated earlier. Now, they couldn't leave even if they wanted to.
When Liu Guang finally chose a plan of action and was about to leave, a servant suddenly ran over to report in alarm, “Elder, a huge army of men suddenly appeared outside. They have completely surrounded our Liu manor with layer upon layer of men!”
“What?!” Everyone in the room was horrified, especially Liu Guang. He regretted not making a decision sooner.
Teacher Zhu suggested, “We need to hurry and gather all of the Liu clan’s disciples. The moment of life and death has arrived!”
“Fine!” Liu Guang waved his hand and struck a bell in the main hall.
An ear-piercing peal spread throughout the entire Liu manor; it was their highest-level alert. Not only would it inform every single person in the manor to prepare for battle, it would also contact the Liu clan’s friendly forces inside and out, and summon them to come to their aid. The Liu clan still had more than a thousand men in total, including the guards and servants. Together with the Liu clan’s defensive structures and high-level formations, they would still be able to hold on for some time.
“The rest of you will follow me. This old one wants to see who dares to behave poorly in front of our Liu clan!” Liu Guang also brought out his imposing manner as the War Chariot General. Everyone present who had been a bit shaken up now calmed down.
Right, the Liu clan has the greatest authority in the capital. We have so many troops, and we even have the reliable empress dowager. Why do we need to fear anyone?
Soon after, Liu Guang’s group arrived at an observation point by the entrance. When they saw the one leading the enemy, they were shocked and furious. Liu Guang exclaimed, “King Wu, do you know that moving troops inside the capital in the middle of the night can be considered treason?!”
“Treason?” King Wu seemed as if he'd heard the funniest joke and burst out laughing. “Liu Guang, perhaps you still haven’t fully understood the current situation?”
Liu Yao was furious, saying, “Zhao Yan, you actually dare to treat the War Chariot General with disrespect!”
King Wu sneered and didn’t pay him any attention. He took out a yellow silk-wrapped imperial edict and declared, “Liu Guang, Liu Yao, receive this edict!”
Liu Guang and Liu Yao’s expressions changed. The other side had clearly come with bad intentions, but the special runes and power the imperial edict gave off could not be falsified. They could only kneel, saying, “We subjects will receive the edict!”
King Wu then opened it and said, “By the grace of the heavens, the emperor issues a decree... War Chariot General Liu Guang and Guard General Liu Yao have colluded with the Fiend races and sold out the human race’s army, resulting in the deaths of a hundred thousand elite soldiers. They have plotted a rebellion and betrayed the empire. All of the Liu clan’s people are to be stripped of their official positions and thrown into the imperial prison to be tried by the three departments...”
When they heard the imperial edict, everyone in the Liu clan felt as if they had been struck by lightning. All of them felt as if the sky was collapsing on them.
“We’re being wrongly blamed! We brothers have already reached the highest official positions; why would we need to commit treason?”
“There must be a misunderstanding somewhere here! We wish to meet with his and her majesty!”
Liu Guang and Liu Yao were overwhelmed with distress.
The disdain in King Wu’s eyes grew even stronger. These men who occupied the highest positions were actually such weak-willed fools! They should’ve given up their positions to more competent individuals a long time ago. He said, “Any grievances can be spoken to the three departments later. Men, arrest them.”
Teacher Liu grabbed the Liu brothers while shouting at the same time, “That imperial edict is fake! The empress dowager is still in the palace, so why would this kind of decree be released? It is definitely a forged document King Wu made to eliminate his majesty’s loyal ministers and set his hands on the throne!”
For better or for worse, Liu Guang and Liu Yao had sat in high positions for many years and weren’t stupid. When they were reminded by Teacher Zhu, they immediately reacted. This was already a moment of life and death. Forget about whether or not King Wu could forge an imperial edict, even if it was real, they had to treat it as fake. They quickly said, “That’s right! The successive generations of ancestors have instructed that kings are not permitted to enter the capital for no reason. King Wu’s visit to the capital is clearly filled with evil schemes. Soldiers, arrest this traitor for the sake of his and her majesty!”
The Liu clan's men, whose faces were completely disheartened, immediately seemed to have grabbed onto hope again. All of them erupted with astonishing fighting spirit. They all knew that once this matter was decided, their entire clan would be destroyed. They could only go for one final gamble.
King Wu’s expression changed. He cried, “Preposterous! You actually dare to go against an imperial edict? That’s another crime added to the list. Men, arrest Liu Guang and Liu Yao! All who stand in the way are to be killed. Eradicate the entire clan!”
His subordinates were already eager to fight. When they heard that, they all charged at the main gates. The Liu clan’s formations also swiftly activated. Both sides immediately clashed, resulting in an extremely intense and bitter battle. Countless individuals died almost as soon as the fighting broke out.
...
Meanwhile, in the capital’s outer city, the Central Protection General Yuan Zhou sensed that there was something happening in the capital. He immediately summoned his subordinates to provide the Liu clan with aid. However, it was already late at night, so the city gates were already shut. The amount of forces he could transfer was limited.
Even so, he didn’t care. All of the remaining thousand or so troops were all elites. Furthermore, the Liu clan controlled various critical positions in the military. Gao Ying was the Left Guard General and Li Mian commanded the Palace Guards. There were also Liu Guang and Liu Yao’s respective troops. They had an absolute advantage. That was let alone the fact that all of the barracks outside the city were under their Third Elder’s control. He could bring the main force and quell the capital’s unrest at any time. He was curious just which little clowns dared to start a rebellion in the capital!
Yuan Zhou was speeding along when his expression suddenly changed. He quickly pulled on his reins. The army that was speeding toward the capital came to a sudden stop. He looked all around him amd saw that the windows and doors of the homes around him were tightly shut. Not the slightest bit of light leaked out. Only a cold wind blew some leaves along the street, making this place seem extremely quiet and somber.
Suddenly, the houses opened their doors and windows. Rows and rows of archers were hiding inside, and many soldiers rushed out from various alleys too.
“As expected of General Yuan, a veteran of the battleground. You were actually able to see through our ambush. Unfortunately, it is already too late,” a voice called out, as a figure in the distance slowly walked closer.
“Zhao Anming!” Yuan Zhou recognized who it was. His entire body immediately became cold.
Zhao Anming was the son of King Liang, Zhao Yi’, but that wasn’t the most important part. He was an incredibly high=ranking military officer who managed one of the capital city outskirts' six field armies! Normally speaking, he should have been under the administration of the Third Elder, but why was he able to silently appear inside the capital with his army? Did that mean something had happened to the Third Elder’s side?
“Isn’t the young master a bit too overconfident? Do you really think you can defeat my war-hardened army?” Yuan Zhou replied, seeing that Zhao Anming didn’t have that many subordinates with him. They were almost evenly matched. It seemed that if he wanted to enter the capital silently, Zhao Anming couldn't bring too many soldiers with him. In that case, since they were even in numbers, it didn’t necessarily mean he would lose.
Just then, someone spoke up from behind him with a sneer. “Then what if you add me to the mix?”