Chapter 806: Rogue Bandits Assault the City, a Lone Gamble

Chen Yan and his band of rats indeed did something even more foolish.

On the seventh day after the Xiazhou Lüshu was promulgated, Gao Jiong's Hidden Agent sent back an urgent secret report from the mountainous area south of Ningyuan Xian.

The secret report contained only three lines of text, but the ink of each line was crooked and wobbly because the writer's hand shook excessively.

"South of Ningyuan Xian, in Qingfeng'ao, about four thousand unidentified armed individuals have gathered; more than half wield Blades, the rest carry farming tools and clubs. Someone is distributing proclamations within the army, claiming to cleanse the county office of corrupt officials for the people."

"The leader is the deputy of Zhao Shuzhi, the former shopkeeper of Zhou Ji Pharmacy, using the alias Yang Sandao. He is an outer‑circle member of the Qi State Shadow Department; the true commander's identity is unknown, suspected to be a high‑rank remnant of the Shadow Department."

"The force broke camp this morning and is marching along the official road toward Ningyuan Xian town, expected to arrive before sunset."

When Gao Jiong spread the secret report before Chen Yan, it was just past noon.

Chen Yan's finger lingered three beats on the number "four thousand people" in the report.

"Four thousand people, where did they come from?"

Gao Jiong clenched his jaw.

"Shuyi investigated and found that roughly fifteen hundred are Private Soldiers and enforcers secretly raised by the powerful families we have on our net list, and about five hundred are wandering outlaws bought with silver by the Qi State Shadow Department."

He paused, his voice dropping another half step.

"The remaining two thousand are coerced Liuren and local landless peasants."

Chen Yan lifted his finger from the report, tracing a faint arc in the air.

"Two thousand coerced ones."

Gao Jiong nodded.

"Those outlaws went from village to village spreading propaganda, saying the Court intended to capture Liuren and send them to the Grassland to die, that anyone who didn't follow would have their entire families implicated and confiscated. Some timid Liuren believed it and were half‑coaxed, half‑deceived into the ranks."

Chen Yan leaned back in his chair, his finger slowly drawing an arc on the armrest.

"What banner are they marching under?"

Gao Jiong pulled a crumpled coarse cloth from his chest, unfolded it, and eight large characters were written in crooked black ink.

Uphold Heaven's Way, Law does not hold the masses accountable.

Chen Yan stared at the eight characters, the curve of his mouth slowly taking a shape.

It was not a sneer, not mockery, but an extremely calm disdain that sent a chill down the spine.

"Law does not hold the masses accountable."

He repeated those four words in his mouth, his voice so light only he could hear it.

He rose, strode to the military Shupan on the wall, and pressed his finger on the spot representing Ningyuan Xian.

"How far is Gu Yu Ci's cavalry camp from Ningyuan Xian?"

Gao Jiong answered instantly.

"Forty li; a forced march of two hours will get there."

Chen Yan withdrew his finger from the Shupan, turned, and walked toward the doorway.

"No need for his cavalry camp."

A twitch flickered across Gao Jiong's brow.

"What the Pillar of the State means."

Chen Yan paused a step at the doorway and turned back.

He looked into Gao Jiong's eyes.

"I, the Duke, will go personally."

Gao Jiong's complexion changed.

"Pillar of the State, a four‑thousand‑person uprising, you cannot risk yourself…"

Chen Yan cut him off.

"Among the four thousand, two thousand are coerced Liuren; if I send a large force to encircle them, a single slash cannot distinguish friend from foe, and the two thousand innocent civilians will be buried with them."

His palm pressed against the doorframe, the pressure of his knuckles leaving a shallow dent in the wooden frame.

"My command is to allocate tax‑free land to give them a way to live, not to send them to die."

He released his hand.

"Prepare horses."

Hongye's silhouette appeared silently behind him; the fine‑steel short sword in his right‑sleeve was already set to draw at a moment's notice.

Half Hour Rest later.

Three li outside the south gate of Ningyuan Xian town, the wheat fields flanking the official road were trampled into a mess.

The four‑thousand‑strong column surged along the official road, the front ranks clutching various Blades and farming tools; the rear ranks some bore hoes, some carried shoulder‑poles, and many were empty‑handed, their faces not fierce but a bewildered mix of fear and blind obedience.

At the head of the column, a black banner bearing "Uphold Heaven's Way" was shouldered by a Bald Man with a face full of flabby flesh, the flag flapping noisily in the wind.

That Bald Man was Yang Sandao; two short knives hung at his waist, a large cloth flower tied to his chest with a red strip, his stride swaggering as if inspecting an army.

Seven or eight fierce‑looking outlaws flanked him, each gripping a glinting weapon.

"Brothers, push harder; when we reach the county office, pull out all those corrupt officials and cut them down, the grain and silver will be split among everyone."

Yang Sandao's voice boomed like a Gong, carrying far through the crowd.

Some of the coerced Liuren behind him shouted twice, while more walked forward in silence, their bewilderment thicker than fear.

When the column reached less than two li from Ningyuan's south gate, Yang Sandao raised his hand to signal a halt.

He squinted and looked ahead.

The south gate's doorway was empty.

No guard silhouettes were visible on the wall; even the stationed soldiers had vanished.

Yang Sandao's mouth curved into a smug grin.

"See? The officials have all fled in terror; we'll charge in together with our few thousand. Law does not hold the masses accountable; even you, Chen Yan, however formidable, would not dare slaughter us all!"

He thrust the Black Banner into the ground, drew the short knife at his waist, and pointed toward the city gate.

"Charge!"

The four‑thousand‑strong formation surged forward like a flood pushed by a shove, roaring toward the city gate.

Then they stopped.

Not of their own accord.

From the deep shadows of the gate opening, against the light, a figure slowly emerged.

A Zaojia Horse, its rider a young man clad in a Black Python Pattern Cloak, bore a Zhangba Horse Spear across his hands; the spear tip reflected a dazzling cold glint at the line where shadow met sunlight.

The entire gate had only that one person.

One rider, one horse.

Yang Sandao halted his steps fifty paces from the gate, squinting as he examined the mounted figure for a couple of breaths, his voice still booming.

"Who are you, what are you doing blocking the way? Be sensible and move aside; I'm going into the city."

The Zaojia Horse paced at an even trot out of the gate opening, its hooves striking the Qingshi road with a sound that rang sharply through the silence of the four thousand.

Sunlight fell on the face atop the horse's back.

Yang Sandao had never seen Chen Yan.

But among the Liuren he had herded, someone had seen him.

From the rear of the crowd erupted a clamor even louder than before—some screamed, some retreated, and some voices carried a fear that sent a chill down Yang Sandao's spine.

"It's Chen Zhuguo… that's Chen Zhuguo!"

Yang Sandao's smile froze at the corner of his mouth.

He turned his head to glance at the pallid, desperate companions behind him, then turned back to stare at the young man riding slowly toward him.

Fear and bravado swirled in his mind; bravado won.

"What's wrong with Chen Zhuguo? We're four thousand; can he stop us alone?"

He swung the short knife twice in the air and roared toward the crowd behind him.

"Brothers, don't be afraid; he's just one man. If we, a few thousand, charge, even with three heads and six arms he can't hold us!"

He turned back and shouted again toward Chen Yan's direction.

"You, surnamed Chen—if you have any sense, move aside now. Law does not hold the masses accountable, understand? You can't kill us all!"