Chapter 21: The Descent of Chaos, A Game of Black and White

The three battalions (fifteen hundred men) stationed under the Star-Gazing Tower were summoned by General Yang Hu of the Guard of the East. Two full battalions were mobilized, rushing toward the residence of Prince Yuan.

At this hour, how could anyone in Chengde Ward sleep soundly?

Anyone with a tall building in their estate had sent men to keep watch from above. Even those in courtyards without high structures had men stationed in their largest trees to observe the winds of change. Therefore, as soon as the troops responsible for suppressing the ward departed the plaza beneath the Star-Gazing Tower, a commotion stirred in every manor throughout Chengde.

Countless experts scaled walls and vaulted roofs, showing off their unique skills. Connections were made, messages were sent, assassinations were attempted, and defenses were fortified. Amidst the shadows, the intensity of the slaughter escalated by more than a level.

One pull triggered the entire body; the whole of Songjing City began to convulse. Even those factions that had previously remained aloof and secure in their positions were forced to enter the fray, desperate to control the situation.

A small black bird landed on a high tower. The girl beside Wen Xian immediately stepped forward, untied the paper scroll from the bird’s claw, and brought it over.

Wen Xian opened the scroll and was startled. "Young Master, that rider with the golden crown has charged out of the Yuan residence alone on horseback, heading toward the direction of Heaven Street."

"Hmm? He went alone? Why not stay and defend the Yuan residence?" asked the young man in the green robe.

"My Lord, the path toward Heaven Street leads to the Royal City," the man in black behind the green-robed youth reminded him.

Songjing City and the Royal City were not the same. Songjing was the capital of the State of Wu, but it contained an inner city where the Wu court and the harem resided. Princes of Wu under the age of twelve were also permitted to live within the Royal City.

"So what? It’s not as if that man can charge into the Royal City alone on one horse," Wen Xian retorted.

She was the intelligence chief for the State of Chu in Songjing, having operated for nearly a decade just to reach the harvest season. In her eyes, this man in black was merely here to pluck the fruit she had cultivated. Yet, her logic was sound—even if the golden-crowned knight possessed the courage of a champion warrior, a warhorse could not simply run up the city walls.

Another small bird landed.

Wen Xian took the scroll from its leg and glanced at it, her face changing. Daring not to conceal the news, she reported: "Prince Jiu has personally led two battalions of the Golden Guards out of the Royal City and is currently rushing toward Chengde Ward. That golden-crowned knight—"

***

Prince Man stood up, paced back and forth twice, and finally made up his mind.

Nine fathoms of earth for a mountain, but the final basket of dirt determines success or failure. I cannot fall short now.

He turned toward the wall and bowed. "Xiang Man is incompetent. I ask the Master to intervene once more to ensure the safety of Prince Jiu."

On the wall hung only a painting of two men playing chess. One in white held a white piece, his hand suspended over the board as if about to move; the other in black held a cup of clear tea with an air of leisure, a wisp of steam rising from the cup.

"He already knows," a voice, ethereal as clouds and mist, drifted from the painting after a moment.

The green-robed Xiang Man let out a sigh of relief. He stood up, only to notice that the man in white in the painting had already placed his piece.

***

In front of the Yuan residence.

Armored soldiers stood in formation along the long street, archers occupied the high ground, and a small cavalry unit waited on the flanks. Despite such a rigorous array, General Luo Gan still frowned.

His current manpower was too thin, and these were no longer the battle-hardened elites of his youth. Dealing with the General of the East’s thousand men was already an exhausting task; if Prince Jiu arrived with a thousand Golden Guards, he would not only fail to hold the position, but even breaking through would be exceptionally difficult.

Many of General Luo Gan’s personal guards were veterans who had followed him for years, men who, like him, had come here to retire. Of course, there were also many youngsters, but they had been recommended by old acquaintances to gain a few years of seniority before being commissioned as officers. These youths had martial skill, but they had never seen a major campaign. Luo Gan had no confidence in how they would perform.

His personal guards were, on average, at the eighth rank, but in military formation, the difference between the eighth and ninth rank was negligible. Most of the time, it was actually easier for ninth-rank soldiers to form an effective phalanx.

There was no trick to it. Ninth-rank warriors practiced only raw, dead-set power, often honing a single simple technique to its absolute limit. Thrusting a spear, swinging a blade, drawing a bow—after ten thousand repetitions, their bones and muscles deformed to serve that singular movement. The power of their strike was truly astonishing. Even experts above the sixth rank who had cultivated internal energy and could exert one hundred percent of their strength might not necessarily perform better within the confines of that single strike.

(Archaeological excavations of British longbowmen show that their spines were curved and their arm bones deformed, differing significantly from the average person.)

While these ninth-rank warriors were at a disadvantage in a duel, they were incredibly effective when coordinated in a military formation.

The men under the General of the East were true elites, and now many palace retainers were siding with him. Without a powerful warrior like the golden-crowned knight to clear a path, it would be extremely difficult for him to break out with his daughter and grandson.

***

It was a pity he hadn't kept a close eye on him, and the man had run off. Of course, he believed that a hot-blooded young fool like Lu Ao...

For now, he could only see if the golden-crowned knight could actually kill Prince Jiu. If Prince Jiu died, it would naturally open a new chapter, bringing everyone back to the same starting line. If that knight was merely boasting and failed to kill the Prince, he would have to cut off his tail to survive. In the midst of the chaos, even if he had to sacrifice every guard in the Yuan residence and his own personal troops, he would have to break out of Songjing City with his daughter and grandson.

***

"Clang, clang, clang—"

The sound of iron boots striking Heaven Street was perfectly synchronized. The hundred-man formation moved as one entity; despite running, their footsteps rose and fell in perfect unison.

When it came to combat power, the Golden Guards wouldn't claim to be unmatched in Wu, but when it came to the art of marching in formation, they were indisputably the finest in the kingdom. This was because the Golden Guards served not only as the royal escort but also as the ceremonial guard—they were the face of the State of Wu.

However, at this moment, a discordant, high-speed noise suddenly cut through the rhythmic thudding of boots.

"Clatter-clatter-clatter—"

In the distance, a man and a horse galloped toward them. The golden hair-tie crown on the knight’s head reflected the torches lining the road, flickering with light.

"He actually came. This man is truly bold beyond measure," Prince Jiu said, half-laughing, half-sighing.

Lu Ao had fought his way into Songjing and then through Chengde Ward; intelligence about him was flying everywhere. If not for the extreme time pressure, they probably would have investigated his ancestors back eight generations. Prince Jiu had naturally heard of this madman.

"Tong Zhi, Shi Lie, An Lian, the three of you work together. Kill this man for me at once." Prince Jiu did not dare to underestimate the golden-crowned knight. He named three men, ordering them to join forces to end the fight quickly.

According to the gathered intelligence, this man was peerlessly fierce and accustomed to breaking through military formations. Therefore, Prince Jiu sent three experts to fight him, lest ordinary soldiers get in the way and be defeated by this man in the confusion.

If he was delayed by this man and the old brute Luo Gan managed to escape, it would be troublesome—even killing this man afterward would be of no use.