Chapter 32: Ask the Lord's Army Rises, and the World Responds

After Luo'an, Jiang Che did not immediately attack the capital.

The first thing he did was open the granaries to distribute grain.

The second thing was to erect a stele.

The Luo'an Altar was dismantled, the Black Stone was moved to the city center, and carved into a large stele.

The stele bore no eulogies, only the names of the victims.

There were too many names; it took a day and a night to carve them all, yet it was not finished.

Jiang Che personally carved the first stroke.

Xie Tingxue asked him, "Do you intend to lead the people of Luo'an to rise up?"

Jiang Che shook his head.

"I will not lead the common people."

"The common people have suffered enough."

"What I will lead are those willing to take up a blade."

Thus, Luo'an City issued a recruitment order.

The army's name: Ask the Lord.

Not to proclaim oneself king.

Only to ask three questions.

Ask the Emperor why he sacrificed the people.

Ask the court why it sold out the nation.

Ask the world what constitutes loyalty and treason.

Once the recruitment order went out, over fifty thousand people in Luo'an City signed up.

Jiang Che accepted only twenty thousand.

The old and weak were not accepted; only sons were not forced to join; those whose families had no one to support their parents were not accepted.

Some refused to accept this, kneeling outside the military camp and refusing to leave.

Jiang Che went to see them personally.

It was a fifteen-year-old boy whose parents had both died at the Altar, leaving only him.

With red eyes, he said, "Young Master, I want revenge!"

Jiang Che looked at him, as if seeing himself in the Broken Temple back then.

"What is your name?"

"Lin Xiaoman."

"Can you use a sword?"

"No."

"Can you read and write?"

The boy paused, stunned: "A little."

Jiang Che said, "Then go study."

Lin Xiaoman grew anxious: "I want to kill the Emperor!"

Jiang Che squatted down, looking into his eyes.

"Killing is not just about wielding a blade."

"Some kill enemies with swords."

"Some record crimes with pens."

"Luo'an needs someone to write down the truth so the world knows what happened here."

Tears rolled down the boy's face.

"But I hate."

Jiang Che said softly, "Let hate become fire, not ash."

In the end, Lin Xiaoman joined the Luo'an Scribe Camp.

They were responsible for recording the dead, writing proclamations, and organizing the National Preceptor's evidence of crimes.

This small camp, composed of scholars, accountants, and children, was later called the "History Camp" by the world.

Three days later, reinforcements from Han Zhou arrived in Luo'an.

Chen Shanhe personally led ten thousand soldiers of the Northern Garrison Army south.

The first thing he said upon seeing Jiang Che was, "Young Master, if you take such risks alone again, I will tie you up and bring you back."

Jiang Che laughed: "Can Uncle Chen tie me up?"

Chen Shanhe glared: "Even if I can't tie you up, I will still scold you."

Shen Wanjin also arrived.

Looking at the ruins filling Luo'an City, his face held little of its usual smile.

"The Beijing Capital Region branch of the Wan Tong Merchant Association lost eight hundred and twelve people."

Jiang Che said, "Carve their names on the stele."

Shen Wanjin nodded.

"Additionally, Young Master, the Merchant Association has sent messages along the route; seven cities have already responded to Luo'an."

"Seven cities?"

"Yes."

Shen Wanjin unfolded the map.

"After the news from Lu'an Sacrificial City spread, seven of the twelve cities surrounding the Beijing Capital Region killed the imperial supervisors and opened their gates to welcome the Wen Jun Army."

Chen Shanhe drew in a sharp breath.

"So soon?"

Shen Wanjin said, "It is not speed; the people have long resented it, waiting only for someone to draw the sword first."

Xie Tingxue said, "Sword Pavilion has also sent word."

Jiang Che looked at her.

A trace of relief finally appeared in Xie Tingxue's eyes.

"My master has broken free."

"The Second Elder has been beheaded."

"Three thousand Sword Cultivators from Sword Pavilion are rushing toward Lu'an."

Chen Shanhe rejoiced greatly.

Once Sword Pavilion arrives, the Wen Jun Army will no longer be merely the force of Han Zhou alone.

Jiang Che gazed at the Capital City on the map.

Lu'an is three hundred li from the Capital City.

These three hundred li are the most core region of Great Yin.

They are also the place where imperial power is heaviest.

Chen Shanhe asked, "Young Master, when do we attack the Capital?"

Jiang Che fell silent for a moment.

"No rush."

Everyone was stunned.

Jiang Che said, "I want the people of the world to see clearly first."

"We are not here to seize the Dragon Throne."

"We are here to question the crime."

The next day, Lu'an issued a second Edict to the World.

It was named the Wen Jun Book.

"If the ruler views the people as sacrifices, how can the people view the ruler?"

"If the court shepherds the people to offer them to Heaven, how can the world be called a nation?"

"Jiang Che raises the Wen Jun Army today, not to become Emperor, not to be enfeoffed as King."

"Only wishing that the common people of the world will no longer be treated as sacrificial victims."

This Wen Jun Book spread throughout the world.

In an instant, the north and south were shaken.

Many cities that had previously watched from the sidelines began to waver.

And within the Imperial Palace in the Capital City, the Emperor looked at the Wen Jun Book, his face bloodless.

He finally realized that the sword Jiang Che struck with was not merely a blade.

It was the hearts of the entire world.