Chapter 411: The White Dew Incident

The day the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army received its reward was the "White Dew" among the twenty‑four solar terms.

Zhang Jun never expected to die in this uneventful solar term, to die so suddenly and so humbly.

A few seconds after Fang Chongyong uttered the word "kill," he was slashed to death by the charging He Changqi! Blood poured from his neck at once!

Zhang Jun collapsed helplessly on the ground, utterly unable to understand why the petty official He Changqi dared to kill him, a Minister of Justice!

He was the Minister of Justice, whose authority among the Six Ministries was far above ordinary, a central third‑rank official, just one step away from the Prime Minister.

He could control any official below the sixth rank who committed a crime! If a petty official committed a crime, there was no escape!

He was the eldest son of the famous Zhang Shuo, from a scholarly family of officials, who could command wind and rain; who on a daily basis didn't let anyone defy him?

What right do these petty officials have to raise a blade against him? Didn't they think about how it would end?

Zhang Jun couldn't figure it out, and never got the chance to.

The ground he lay on was soaked with blood everywhere.

Zhang Jun's consciousness faded, filled with deep resentment and hatred, as he left this world that, for a noble like him, was supremely comfortable, beautiful, and almost like heaven.

He Changqi carried out Fang Chongyong's order with ruthless decisiveness; Zhang Jun became the first person slain inside Xiangji Temple!

"Divine Strategy Army, listen up: I only execute the chief evildoer, disarm but do not kill!"

Fang Chongyong shouted to the circle of Divine Strategy Army soldiers protecting Xian Yu Zhongtong in the center,

This man, nearing his sixties and who had survived in the Jian'nan Military Governor's office, still had to be more alert than a scholar like Zhang Jun who had never even touched a sword.

After all, his dealings with petty officials hadn't been brief.

Before the petty officials rebelled, there were always omens. Xian Yu Zhongtong had seen and deeply understood this before.

He had simply been delayed by the comfortable life in Chang'an over the years.

The moment Zhang Jun was killed, Xian Yu Zhongtong ducked behind his personal guards and ordered them to form a protective circle.

"Hold the line, the Divine Strategy Army main force is nearby, watch our unit for the signal!

Hold out for at most the time a single incense stick burns!"

Inside the circle, Xian Yu Zhongtong shouted, as if whistling to steady his nerves while walking a night road.

He shakily used a fire‑folding fan to ignite a firework; this army‑issued firework is conspicuous even in daylight, visible from afar.

Bang!

The firework blossomed in mid‑air, dazzlingly brilliant, representing a certain hope.

If the Divine Strategy Army's ambush arrived in time, perhaps he could still escape disaster. Xian Yu Zhongtong thought his luck had been genuinely good all his life, and believed this time he could also turn misfortune into fortune!

After all, the Divine Strategy Army ambush was just a stone's throw away!

"All of you, step back!

Xian Yu Zhongtong rebels, the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army, by the saint's command, executes traitors; anyone who blocks me shall die!"

Fang Chongyong roared at those Divine Strategy Army soldiers.

No one stepped back, because they knew the ambush's Divine Strategy Army main force was nearby; they only needed to endure the critical moment.

People of the lower strata, limited by their perspective, often cannot choose freely.

Fang Chongyong understood this helplessness, but would not indulge them.

"These are all comrades of Xian Yu Zhongtong; deal with them together."

Fang Chongyong shook his head at He Changqi, sighed, turned away, not wanting to see how those people met a gruesome death.

He glanced at Di Wu Qi, trembling under the desk, and couldn't help but feel a bit amused.

Tang‑era desks were not like the large tables from Fang Chongyong's previous life; they were actually very low, unable to hide a person.

Di Wu Qi beneath the desk was almost lying on the ground, trembling with his hands clutching his hair in a pitiful manner.

Fang Chongyong flipped the desk in one motion, then helped Di Wu Qi to his feet, patting the dust off his body and saying, "Di Wu Qi, don't panic; we are executing traitors by imperial decree. As you saw, the Divine Strategy Army ambushed, trying to annihilate the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army during the award ceremony—they are the true traitors."

He said solemnly, his face set in a serious expression.

Di Wu Qi, still shaken, nodded and replied, "I see now."

Even though he didn't understand the situation, he didn't dare to contradict Fang Chongyong's words at all.

Zhang Jun was already lying on the ground; if Di Wu Qi spoke up for Zhang Jun and the others, he would immediately end up on the ground too, joining them on the road to the Yellow Springs.

Thinking it over, he decided against it; he and Zhang Jun weren't of the same kind!

Di Wu Qi wisely chose to watch events unfold.

"Ah!"

The circle formed by the Divine Strategy Army was breached by He Changqi's slash. The blade slipped through a gap between shields and cut off an arm.

The scream came from the person whose arm had been cut off!

The Yinqiang Xiaojie Army soldiers, fierce as wolves and tigers, cared not whether the opponent felt pain; seizing the moment, they surged through the breach in the circle in a single rush,

then, shamelessly three‑against‑one, they engaged in close combat, slashing the personal guards around Xian Yu Zhongtong to the ground one by one.

These fighters were exceptionally skilled in tactics, clearly

In an instant, only the trembling Xian Yu Zhongtong remained, his face

He now wishes he could enter a Buddhist hall, pray to a Buddha, and ask whether there exists a regret‑relieving medicine in the world. If so, he wants to know where to buy it.

But the blade was already at his throat when the thought occurred, and it was already too late.

"You—You actually rebel... You, you!"

Xian Yu Zhongtong stammered incoherently; he never imagined that Fang Chongyong and his Yinqiang Xiaojie Army would be so audacious.

They didn't even ask, they just rose up and killed! How dare they!

"Over there, in the forest—over there—could it be, could it be..."

Xian Yu Zhongtong's mind raced rapidly, and he actually

He pointed at the thick smoke constantly rising from the distant forest, eyes wide as if about to burst, his heart shocked to the extreme!

This move by Fang Chongyong was even bigger than he had previously imagined!

"What do you mean 'what'? We're just supposed to stand here and let the Shence Army chop off our heads, right?

You damn dog of an official!"

He Changqi cursed at Xianyu Zhongtong, kicking him to the ground with one foot.

By now the civilian laborers who had followed Fang Chongyong and the others here had long since scattered — today's experience was enough for them to brag about until they were old.

On the plaza outside the main hall of Xiangji Temple, apart from Xianyu Zhongtong, there was Diwu Qi, who had been eating melons on the side until he nearly wet his pants, along with his subordinate clerks from the Ministry of Revenue.

Every grievance has its source and every debt its debtor; Fang Chongyong did not make things difficult for them.

"You're a rebel — stop acting like you're directing the affairs of the realm. Go in peace."

Fang Chongyong looked at Xianyu Zhongtong and said calmly.

He Changqi was not polite either; he stepped straight forward, grabbed Xianyu Zhongtong by the hair bun, and with a single stroke of his blade, cut him down!

A sense of absurdity, yet so real it made him want to cry, arose in his heart.

Whether it was Zhang Jun or Xianyu Zhongtong, neither had made He Changqi feel there was anything special about their necks.

One stroke of the blade, and blood would spurt; both would die beyond any doubt. Killing them was even easier than killing Tibetans or Arabs at the border garrisons.

These people's bodies would not become impervious to blades and spears simply because of the official titles they held or the backgrounds they came from.

Usually sitting high and mighty, putting on airs — stick a knife in them and they still die, don't they?

He Changqi couldn't help but spit on Xianyu Zhongtong's corpse.

"He the Tiger, dispatch fifty men each to guard the front and rear courtyard gates.

We can't rule out the possibility that remnants of the Shence Army might come this way!

Let's not capsize in a gutter."

Seeing that matters on the plaza had been settled, Fang Chongyong instructed He Changqi.

"Understood! This subordinate will go set up the defenses at once!"

He Changqi received the order and departed.

Although Fang Chongyong could be fairly certain that the Shence Army's ambushers would essentially not run in this direction.

But one could not absolutely rule it out — those with less-than-normal minds sometimes made some strange moves.

However, what happened next proved that Fang Chongyong was simply overthinking it!

At this moment, the two stretches of forest to the northeast and southwest of Xiangji Temple had already erupted in raging flames. The autumn leaves were plentiful and dry, causing the fire to be extremely fierce.

Driven on by the autumn wind, thick smoke and raging fire began to spread rapidly through the forest.

Those densely packed soldiers of the Shence Army lying in ambush were instantly dumbfounded!

To ambush so many people in this stretch of forest, the formation itself had to be very dense — inside the forest it was practically shoulder to shoulder, packed tight. Even the problems of eating, drinking, and relieving oneself were not easy to solve.

How the fire started, they had no idea. By the time they noticed, the forest was ablaze on all sides — there was absolutely no possibility of putting it out!

After the fire broke out suddenly, how could the soldiers care about any military orders? They bolted downhill with all they had; many were pushed to the ground and trampled to death.

The organizational structure of the Shence Army's four "commanderies" fell into complete chaos as they ran — soldiers couldn't find their officers, and officers couldn't find their units. In the confusion, no matter how the commanders shouted or waved their banners, nothing worked.

Those who were going to run, still ran!

However, when they burst out of the forest and reached a stretch of relatively flat, even ground — this was the farmland belonging to Xiangji Temple, one of the temple's main sources of income.

Before they even had a chance to catch their breath, the still-panicked soldiers of the Shence Army saw a cavalry force of no fewer than two thousand men coming from the west, kicking up dust and charging at full speed toward them.

And they showed absolutely no intention of slowing down — one look told them these were not visitors with good intentions!

"Form up! Form up!"

A commander in the Shence Army shouted, but in the clamoring crowd, such a voice was completely useless. When fleeing the forest, many soldiers had even thrown away the horizontal swords at their waists and the bows and crossbows on their backs, finding the extra gear too cumbersome and slowing them down.

Now, with what were they supposed to resist these cavalrymen wielding Changsuo?

"Run!"

Some, seeing the situation was dire, took to their heels and fled!

This momentum spread like a plague, as more and more Shence Army soldiers joined the ranks of the fleeing!

At this point, the disadvantages of a large army lacking effective command and having no renowned general to coordinate from the center began to magnify infinitely!

If Cui Qianyou were here, he could certainly have organized some resistance, fighting while retreating, gathering troops and forming lines as they fell back to hold off the cavalry's assault.

Even if they couldn't turn the tables, they could at least break contact and preserve a portion of the army.

Unfortunately, let alone Xianyu Zhongtong not being here — even if he were, he didn't have the ability to turn the tide!

The Shence Army soldiers, far outnumbering the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army, began running frantically toward Chang'an. Some even drew the Tang swords from their waists as they ran, cutting the cords on their armor so it would fall off on its own, not delaying their escape.

Wang Nande led the charge, the tip of his Changsuo like a viper's fang, wantonly reaping lives.

Pursuing and killing as he went, leaving a ground littered with corpses wherever he passed — he didn't treat the Shence Army as "friendly forces" at all.

Fang Chongyong had previously made it very clear: outside Chang'an, strike ruthlessly, and have no qualms about killing. The more useless the Shence Army was, the heavier their casualties, the more the Sage and the court would need this trump card, the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army.

But once inside Chang'an, the hand should be light. Avoid killing if at all possible; if killing was necessary, kill only those on the "death list."

The Shence Army ran ahead, and the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army's cavalry pursued from behind. Seeing that the Shence Army's organization had collapsed, Wang Nande did not press the chase too hard, always maintaining a rhythm of keeping a certain distance and then swallowing up each batch of stragglers.

And so they ran ahead and pursued behind, heading toward the south gate of Chang'an.

……

"Jiedushi, the great deed is accomplished — it was easier than a military exercise. The Shence Army were all like cattle and sheep, mounting no resistance whatsoever!"

Outside the main gate of Xiangji Temple, Che Guangqian, his face full of excitement, stepped forward and bowed to Fang Chongyong.

Everyone present breathed a sigh of relief; even Diwu Qi, whose face was written all over with discomfort, secretly rejoiced that he had gotten his life back!

Che Guangqian felt this battle had gone so smoothly it was hard to believe — the Shence Army had long been out of combat and lacked training. After encountering the great fire, they had already completely lost their will to fight.

Before the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army, which had marched ten thousand li and fought from Suiye to Mulu, they were nothing but tender little chicks.

Not an exaggeration in the slightest!

"Let's go, to Chang'an!"

Fang Chongyong took off the red greatcloak from his back and handed it to Che Guangqian, raised his right arm, and shouted to the elite soldiers of the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army behind him: "Honor the Emperor and punish the traitors—heaven's wrath upon the national traitors!"

"Honor the Emperor and punish the traitors—heaven's wrath upon the national traitors!"

"Honor the Emperor and punish the traitors—heaven's wrath upon the national traitors!"

"Honor the Emperor and punish the traitors—heaven's wrath upon the national traitors!"

The shouts resounded through Xiangji Temple, deafening to the ears!

"Yinqiang Xiaojie, by imperial decree to suppress the rebels!"

Fang Chongyong walked at the very front, shouting in a loud voice.

"Yinqiang Xiaojie, by imperial decree to suppress the rebels!"

The crowd behind him shouted in unison.

"Swords and blades have no eyes—bystanders, stand clear!"

Fang Chongyong shouted again.

"Swords and blades have no eyes—bystanders, stand clear!"

The people behind him followed his lead and shouted together.

"The treacherous chancellor has ruined the state—his crimes demand execution!"

Fang Chongyong shouted as he walked, and the people behind him followed along, parroting his words.

"Any who obstruct shall be deemed accomplices!"

"Any who obstruct shall be deemed accomplices!"

After finishing the chants, Fang Chongyong instructed Che Guangqian: "Raise the banners!"

"Yes, sir!"

Che Guangqian went off to carry out the order, and soon he returned to the very front of the column, flanked by four soldiers carrying four banners.

From left to right, they bore the four slogans Fang Chongyong had just shouted—one slogan per banner.

These four men marched at the very front of the column, clearing the way.

The entire column marched with martial bearing and high spirits, looking less like a mutinous force on the rampage and more like an armed parade!

Quite a few spectators along the way stopped to watch.

By the time Fang Chongyong and his party reached the south gate of Chang'an, Wang Nande had already completely secured the three city gates on the south side of Chang'an. The Golden Guard sentries on duty stepped aside of their own accord, offering no obstruction whatsoever.

"Jiedushi, we have entered the city—please issue your military orders!"

Wang Nande stepped forward, clasped his fists in salute, and addressed Fang Chongyong. As for those routed soldiers of the Shence Army, heaven knows where they had fled—their formations had long since been shattered.

"He Laohu, take five hundred men, go down the westernmost street, and strike straight for the outer city of the Imperial City. the Policy Hall and the Six Ministries' offices are there. Arrest people according to the list—those who deserve death, kill on the spot; those who should be arrested but not killed, protect well and bring back!

The outer city of the Imperial City is lightly defended. Enter in the confusion—if the gates are shut, climb the walls!"

Fang Chongyong ordered He Changqi.

"Yes, sir!"

He Changqi went off to carry out the order, off to do the dirty work.

"General Che, you are in charge of directing the guards carrying the banners. Walk at the very front, down Chang'an's Vermilion Bird Avenue. This prince will follow behind you. Everyone else, follow this prince.

Set out now!"

Fang Chongyong drew the Gale Phantom Blade and pointed north as he spoke.

Suddenly, Che Guangqian leaned in and asked in a low voice, "Jiedushi, where are we heading now?"

He had an answer in mind, but was still not entirely certain, because Fang Chongyong had kept it secret—even he had not been told.

"Xingqing Palace!"

Fang Chongyong uttered three earth-shattering words.

"Yes, sir!"

Che Guangqian clasped his fists in salute, his face filled with excitement!

Just as he had expected!

"Yinqiang Xiaojie, by imperial decree to suppress the rebels!"

"Swords and blades have no eyes—bystanders, stand clear!"

"The treacherous chancellor has ruined the state—his crimes demand execution!"

"Any who obstruct shall be deemed accomplices!"

Under the astonished gazes of the people of Chang'an, the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army advanced down Vermilion Bird Avenue in a peculiar yet orderly fashion, banners raised to clear the way, as though performing a military drill.

They marched and chanted slogans as they went.

Wherever they passed, markets shut their doors and pedestrians retreated to watch from a safe distance.

The Bai Lu Incident—left vague in the history books, like a thunderclap from a clear sky—unfolded in this manner, at a time when the vast majority of Chang'an's residents were completely unprepared.

It erupted!

(End of this chapter)