Chapter 21: Court in Fury, Three Kings Attack Jiang

# Chapter 21

When news of Liu Qianqiu's death reached the Capital City, the Emperor was watching a dance in Zichen Hall.

A eunuch knelt on the ground and presented a secret memorial.

After reading it, the Emperor's face suddenly darkened, and he smashed the wine cup hard against the floor.

"Rebellion!"

The dancing girls in the hall were so terrified they all fell to their knees.

Wei Chong stood aside, head bowed, saying nothing.

Since returning from Han Zhou, he had not dared to recall the scene where Jiang Che severed the Imperial Edict.

The Emperor roared, "I pardoned his death penalty and gave him the chance to enter the Capital City for enfeoffment, yet he dares to kill the Sect Master of the Nanyue Sword Sect!"

Wei Chong said cautiously, "Your Majesty, Jiang Che's prestige is now extremely high; the people of Han Zhou support him, and the Sword Pavilion stands behind him. If we rashly move troops..."

The Emperor looked at him coldly.

"What, are you afraid of him too?"

Wei Chong immediately knelt: "This servant dares not!"

The Emperor descended the imperial steps, his voice lowered.

"Though the Heavenly Gate is shattered, what the Heavenly Gate left behind remains."

Wei Chong was startled.

The Emperor looked toward the shadow behind the hall.

"National Preceptor."

From the shadow, a gray-robed Taoist slowly stepped out.

His face was withered and thin, yet his eyes glowed with a pale gold light.

"Your Majesty."

The Emperor asked, "Can Jiang Che truly threaten me?"

The gray-robed Taoist said, "He awakened the Northern Border Sword Vein and shattered a Heavenly Gate in the Lower Realm. If he is allowed to grow, all Sword Cultivators in the world will eventually turn their hearts to Han Zhou."

"By then, Your Majesty's imperial power will be suppressed by the power of the sword."

The Emperor's eyes darkened.

"Then kill him."

The gray-robed Taoist smiled slightly.

"I have already sent a message to the Three Kings."

"The Prince of Dongling, the Prince of Xichuan, and the Prince of Nanyue are all willing to follow the edict to punish Jiang."

Wei Chong asked in a low voice, "What about the Sword Pavilion?"

The gray-robed Taoist said, "Someone from the Sword Pavilion is being held up."

The Emperor narrowed his eyes: "Who?"

The gray-robed Taoist said, "The Second Elder of the Sword Pavilion."

The Emperor laughed.

"Good."

Three days later, a bright edict spread throughout the world.

Jiang Che has committed treason; Han Zhou is in rebellion.

Order the Prince of Dongling Zhao Yin, the Prince of Xichuan Meng Qing, and the Prince of Nanyue Han Jin to march out on three routes and jointly attack Han Zhou.

The edict listed ten great crimes of Jiang Che.

Killing a prince, destroying the Imperial Edict, maintaining a Private Army, gathering the martial world, disrupting the Northern Border, deceiving the monarch, defying Heaven, confusing the people, seizing the pass, and plotting against the state.

Each charge alone was sufficient to warrant the execution of the entire family.

When Han Zhou received the edict, Jiang Che was inspecting the city defenses at White Bone Pass.

Chen Shanhe, enraged, tore the edict into pieces.

"Young Master, they are forcing Han Zhou to its death!"

Jiang Che was not surprised.

"How many troops?"

Chen Shanhe said in a deep voice, "Eighty thousand from the Eastern Dongling Army, sixty thousand from the Western Sichuan Army, thirty thousand Black Armor from Nanyue, plus twenty thousand Imperial Guard troops allocated by the court, totaling a claimed two hundred thousand."

Everyone on White Bone Pass fell silent.

Han Zhou currently has only twenty thousand combat-ready soldiers, most of whom are newly recruited.

Two hundred thousand troops encircling from north and south, with additional support from martial world factions, would place Han Zhou in extreme danger.

Xie Tingxue approached from a distance, her expression also grim.

"Something has happened at the Sword Pavilion."

Jiang Che looked at her.

Xie Tingxue said, "The Second Elder has betrayed the Pavilion and sealed the mountain gates. My master is trapped in the Sword Pavilion and cannot lead people north for the time being."

Chen Shanhe gritted his teeth: "As expected, one ring traps another."

Jiang Che gazed southward.

There, wind and snow obscured the view, revealing no end.

Yet he seemed to already hear the sound of an army pressing against the border.

Xie Tingxue asked, "What shall we do?"

Jiang Che did not answer immediately.

A moment later, he turned to look at the Nameless Stele outside White Bone Pass, where the heroic souls were buried.

"Hold."

Chen Shanhe was stunned.

Jiang Che said, "Han Zhou cannot retreat."

"White Bone Pass cannot fall."

"The Sword Vein cannot be yielded."

He walked to the top of the city wall, drew the Green Bamboo Sword, and planted it beside the Zhenbei Flag.

"Send the order."

"All of Han Zhou is to prepare for war."

"White Bone Pass shall be held by Chen Shanhe; Hanzhou City shall be held by me personally."

"Also issue an Edict to the World."

Xie Tingxue asked, "Write what?"

Jiang Che said calmly:

"The court says I am rebelling."

"Then let me ask the world one thing."

"If those who guard the border are rebels, and those who sell the country are loyal—"

"Is this world still worth kneeling for?"