[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-after-the-immortals-disappeared":3,"chapter-after-the-immortals-disappeared-after-the-immortals-disappeared-chapter-11":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","After the Immortals Disappeared",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2283895,4468,"Chapter 11: Bad News from the Front","after-the-immortals-disappeared-chapter-11",11,"\u003Cp>Outside the Suhong Hall is a small garden. As the father and son passed through the garden gate, they happened to see two figures inside the hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Chunhua tilted his head slightly, his voice faint: \"The two people seen in the city center the day before yesterday—are they these two?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Lingchuan also saw the guests and nodded quickly: \"Yes, it is them!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that time, these two were riding horses recklessly in the busy market, nearly trampling a child, and afterwards left through the city gate and headed northeast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Chunhua had not returned home for the past two days, and He Lingchuan had no way to report it; he did not expect that he would actually know about it too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who went to report it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most likely Uncle Hao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Lingchuan once again experienced his old man's meticulous control, whether it was over his two sons or over Heishuicheng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seems a bit terrifying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Entering the hall in a blink, He Chunhua looked at the two uninvited guests: \"May I ask, where do you come from?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The white-robed youth He Lingchuan had seen the day before yesterday had changed into a lake-green brocade robe today, with silk embroidery on the shoulders and lapels. Dressing so formally was to show respect to the local host.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He also finally saw the true face of the gray-clad person.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This person was nearly sixty years old, thin and tall, an old man with graying hair and beard, yet his eyes were very bright, as if they could look straight into a person's heart and dig out the most obscure secrets of others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The youth smiled: \"I am Nian Songyu, Martial Raising Commandant of Yuecheng in Xunzhou, here under the orders of my father, Nian Zanli!\" He then introduced his companion, \"This is the State Preceptor of the Great Yuan, State Preceptor Sun Fuping!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though He Chunhua had extraordinary composure, he could not help but be greatly shocked at this moment: \"What!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nian Songyu was one thing; he already knew that Xunzhou Governor Nian Zanli had sent people, he just hadn't expected it to be Nian Zanli's second son.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for the appearance of State Preceptor Sun, that was truly far beyond his expectations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A State Preceptor!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Great Yuan has a total of three State Preceptors, and every one of them possesses unfathomable powers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They usually assist the monarch in regulating the nation's fortune, and in wartime, they are the most terrifying weapons of mass destruction; if the timing is right, they even have the power to decide the fate of the world in a single strike.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the ultimate ideal for many sorcerers, this State Preceptor Sun should have been enjoying offerings in the capital; why did he suddenly run to this barren land? He Chunhua ignored the breach of etiquette, focused his gaze for a long while, and then let out a breath: \"It really is State Preceptor Sun, this official was presumptuous!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Fuping smiled slightly: \"At the Heaven Sacrifice Ceremony twenty years ago, I remember that Libationer He brought his third grandson to attend—that would be you!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Things have changed and people are different.\" He Chunhua felt a bit of emotion, turned around and pointed to his eldest son, \"My unworthy son, He Lingchuan.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had lived in the capital for over a decade and had seen this State Preceptor Sun on many occasions. Twenty years had passed, and State Preceptor Sun had aged, but his features remained the same; He Chunhua recognized him after taking a few more looks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Lingchuan had no choice but to step forward and pay his respects.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nian Songyu smiled at him: \"We meet again so soon.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Isn't that so?\" Hearing the hidden meaning in his words, He Lingchuan immediately smiled even more brilliantly, \"It seems Commandant Nian and I are fated.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Chunhua looked surprised: \"How so, have you two actually met?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Nian Songyu could speak, He Lingchuan rushed to explain: \"Father does not know, but the day before yesterday, while your son was eating by the street, I happened to encounter these two distinguished guests passing by. The street was bustling at the time, and Commandant Nian even took action to save a child, sparing him from being trampled!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Uncle Hao, who had just stepped into the back hall, heard this and his face twitched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Chunhua gave an \"Oh\": \"So that's how it is. Commandant Nian is young and promising, and it is rare to be so kind-hearted.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The four of them smiled together, pretending to be ignorant while knowing the truth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Lingchuan, however, understood very well: Nian Songyu's official rank was higher than his own, and Nian Songyu's father's official position was higher than his own father's; the small grievance from the day before should be glossed over, and they should get to the point as soon as possible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, he had a premonition that the main topic would not be very pleasant either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nian Songyu smiled and, as expected, did not mention that matter again: \"Lord He, the State Preceptor and I are on an urgent mission; we traveled for three days and three nights to get here.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Chunhua was also very considerate: \"The two of you have endured the hardships of travel; stay at the Baishi Tower tonight, that is the best guesthouse in Heishuicheng.\" Having said that, he turned to call the servants over to replace the hot tea for the two guests.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing that he did not ask questions, Nian Songyu had no choice but to continue himself: \"This mission will likely require the assistance of Lord He.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Chunhua gave an \"um\": \"I would like to hear the details.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nian Songyu said solemnly: \"Does Lord He know that Woling Pass has already fallen?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Chunhua was shocked and nearly jumped up. He could not care about etiquette: \"What did you say! Woling Pass was breached?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Woling Pass? He Lingchuan immediately searched his mind for this place name, but the original owner didn't seem to pay much attention to it; he only knew it seemed to be in the central part of the Great Yuan, with rivers and mountains nearby.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How is this possible?\" He Chunhua said in a heavy voice, \"I heard that the rebel armies from Buxin and Hongchuan joined forces in May and began attacking Woling Pass. But Woling Pass occupies a natural barrier and has been reinforced repeatedly over the past ten years; it is easy to defend and hard to attack. Furthermore, the defender Zhao Ronglue is known as the 'Iron Barrel General,' with elite troops and ample provisions; how could it be easily breached by thieves!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In his estimation, Woling Pass could hold out for at least a year or two without any problems, and by then, the threat of the rebels would resolve itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Lord He is far away in Jinzhou, yet your understanding of the war situation in the central region is far superior to many powerful nobles in the capital.\" Nian Songyu said gloomily, \"Unfortunately, the 'Iron Barrel General' was injured in his right eye during the chaotic battle and died of his wounds. Once he died, the morale of the army collapsed, the generals turned on each other, and the rebel army seized the opportunity to attack the city. Half a month ago, an inside traitor secretly opened the city gate and let the rebel army in.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such a vital location, falling without a fight. The Suhong Hall was silent, with only the sound of the Governor's breathing growing heavier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You also know the importance of Woling Pass to the hinterland of the Great Yuan.\" Nian Songyu stared at him and said, \"It guards the most important Fengling Ferry of the Hongchuan River. Now it is the high-water season, and there have been several rainstorms in the summer; the river is surging. If the rebel army goes down the river, they can bypass the heavy checkpoints on the shore and land directly at Shihan City downstream—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He said word by word: \"That place is only fifteen miles away from the capital!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fifteen miles, for cavalry moving at full speed, is reached in the time it takes to lift a leg.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He explained it very clearly, and even He Lingchuan, who did not know much about the geography of the Great Yuan, felt the severity of the situation. His family lived in the remote borderlands, guarding the national gate for the Son of Heaven. But if the capital itself fell, what the hell were they still working so hard to guard here for? He Chunhua only felt that he was exhaling cold air: \"Where is the rebel army now?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Still at Woling Pass.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hmm? Both the He father and son were stunned. The rebel army had finally managed to seize Woling Pass, yet they didn't take advantage of the momentum to move down? Speed is the essence of war.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, He Chunhua reacted in a blink: \"Something went wrong with the waterway?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Zhao Ronglue's deputy general Xu Dayou gathered the remnants at the moment the city was broken and burned all the ships in the docks. Even though the rebel army captured Woling Pass, they had no ships to use. There has been much rain recently, and it will take at least fifty days to fell trees and build ships again.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In any case, Heaven has shown mercy and bought us this bit of time. Now, armies from all over are rushing to Woling Pass, but the situation is not optimistic.\" State Preceptor Sun Fuping took over the conversation, \"Whether the Great Yuan's mandate can continue may depend on these fifty days.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1616,"2026-06-20T02:23:30.219Z",1,"Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite","6656f640e8393dfebf302aeb6cda74518268d8f305859001508cbb4e3e860243","after-the-immortals-disappeared-chapter-12","after-the-immortals-disappeared-chapter-10",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fafter-the-immortals-disappeared-cover.jpg"]