Chapter 210: The Fall of Chai Rong

Chan Prefecture, the residence of the military governor.

The candlelight inside the sleeping hall seemed even dimmer than the previous night.

That heavy scent, a mix of medicinal stones and decay, was so thick it almost couldn't dissipate.

Chai Rong lay still on the couch, his face emaciated, eyes tightly shut, his breath so faint it was like a spider's silk.

Wang Pi stood alone by the couch, like a loyal old servant, guarding the candle about to burn out.

His gaze lingered long on Chai Rong's face, which had lost all color.

The lord he had devoted his heart to assist, a hero of great talent and ambition, who originally wished to pacify the world and restore peace.

Now he had reached the end of his life.

Outside the hall, the night was deep and all sounds were still.

But Wang Pi knew that beneath this silence lay a stormy surge capable of swallowing everything.

Chen Wen had already gone to Chen Bridge.

Zhao Kuangyin's Jun Ying had also set out.

At this moment, surely the scene that would decide the fate of the world is now unfolding.

And within Chan Prefecture city, Han Tong and he were desperately trying to maintain the last fragile calm before the storm.

"Cough... cough cough..."

A weak, hurried cough startled Wang Pi from his reverie.

He hastily bent over.

Chai Rong had opened his eyes at some point.

Those eyes no longer held their former sharpness and vigor; only a murky clarity that sees through worldly affairs remained, along with the emptiness before life's departure.

His lips twitched slightly, as if he wanted to say something.

Wang Pi brought his ear close.

"What... time is it...?" Chai Rong's voice was as faint as a mosquito.

"My lord, it is already the third watch of midnight." Wang Pi replied softly, though his heart clenched.

The third watch of midnight is exactly the time Zhao Kuangyin planned to launch his mutiny at Chen Bridge, according to Qian Gui's intelligence!

Chai Rong's murky eyeballs turned slowly, gazing at the black night sky outside the window.

The corner of his mouth seemed to strain, pulling up an extremely faint, inscrutable arc.

Like release.

Like mockery.

And also like a... sigh of realization.

"... It's over..."

He uttered these three words, his voice so faint it was almost inaudible.

Immediately, the last faint light in his eyes, like a candle guttering in the wind, flickered once and then went out completely.

The breath he had barely maintained also ceased abruptly.

His arm, powerless, drooped over the edge of the couch.

The actual controller of the Later Zhou, the military governor of Chan Prefecture, Chai Rong.

He who should have inherited Guo Wei's legacy in history and ascended the throne as emperor.

Diligent in governance, he would have opened the era of Xiande's rule, laying a solid foundation for the Northern Song, a heroic lord of his generation.

Because of Chen Wen's unexpected rise and intervention as a 'variable,' his fate's trajectory was completely rewritten.

He did not live to see the day when the yellow robe would be placed upon him and he would rule the world.

Thus, within this Chan Prefecture headquarters, he passed away suddenly, bearing unfulfilled ambitions and endless regrets.

He was thirty-nine years old.

Inside the sleeping hall, a deathly silence fell.

Wang Pi stood stiffly before the couch, motionless for a long time.

He gazed at that lifeless face, and his old tears finally slid down silently.

An era fell with the demise of this heroic lord who should have become an imperial star.

In a wholly different way, it announced its end.

He slowly and solemnly adjusted his attire.

Then he stepped back three paces, lifted his robe, and made a deep bow to the couch, touching the ground.

"Pi... respectfully see off the lord..."

His voice choked, echoing in the empty great hall, filled with endless sorrow and loss.

Almost at the same time.

At Chen Bridge station, on the official road leading to Bian Liang.

Torches like dragons, the sounds of horse hooves, footsteps, and wheels merged into a roar.

The newly enthroned Great Chen Emperor Chen Wen, on horseback, was listening to a report from a scout who had just caught up with the troop.

"Your Majesty, an urgent report from Chan Prefecture!"

The scout's voice carried the panting from his journey, as well as an irrepressible excitement and tension.

"Speak."

Chen Wen's gaze was calm, yet his heart already had a premonition.

"Mr. Wang Pi sent a swift horse with news... Lord Chai... passed away at the third watch of tonight... in the Chan Prefecture headquarters... from illness!"

The news struck like a muffled thunderclap, exploding in the ears of Chen Wen and the several core commanders around him.

Although he had been mentally prepared, when this moment actually arrived, the profound weight of history and the dramatic nature of fate still shook his mind and spirit.

the third watch of midnight

Exactly the moment when, at Chen Bridge, he donned the yellow robe and proclaimed the founding of the new dynasty!

The old lord fell, the new emperor ascended the throne.

These two earth‑shaking events actually occurred at the same time, in different places!

Is this a coincidence?

Or… is it the Mandate of Heaven?

Chen Wen reined in his warhorse, lifted his gaze toward the direction of Chan Zhou to the north.

The night was deep and dark; nothing could be seen.

But before his eyes, the scene reappeared of someone gripping his arm at Chai Rong's deathbed, using his last strength to give instructions.

"End the chaotic age, create an era of peace..."

He softly repeated that promise.

At this moment, the weight of that promise became clearer than ever.

He was not only making that promise to Chai Rong, but also to the world, to history, and to the myriad soldiers and civilians who followed him!

"Your Majesty..." the attendant general called softly, with a question.

Chen Wen withdrew his gaze, the hint of emotion on his face quickly faded, and he resumed the composure and resolve of the new dynasty's ruler.

"Issue orders to the entire army: increase speed, and be sure to reach outside Bianliangcheng by noon tomorrow."

"Moreover, in my name, draft an edict."

"First, announce to the world that the military governor of Chan Zhou, Lord Chai, has passed away; I am deeply grieved."

"In recognition of his service in stabilizing the state and his might that shocked the northern borders, he is posthumously granted the titles of Grand Tutor and Chancellor, to be buried with royal rites in the auspicious plot he chose in life, and envoys are sent to perform sacrifices."

"Second, proclaim the founding of Great Chen, change the era name and establish the capital, grant a general amnesty! All former Later Zhou officials and soldiers who wish to submit to the new dynasty will have their past crimes pardoned and be appointed according to ability."

"Third, strictly order all prefectural military governors and local officials to remain in their posts, guard the borders, not to take advantage to cause trouble or harass the localities! Violators will be attacked by all under heaven."

"Fourth, appoint Han Tong and Zhang Yongde to immediately stabilize the situation in Chan Zhou and the capital region, pacify the soldiers and civilians, and prepare to welcome the emperor's arrival!"

Orders were issued one after another in an orderly manner.

Sorrow and reflection must give way to the urgency of real responsibility.

He must make use of the massive impact caused by these two major events—the death of Chai Rong and the founding of the new dynasty—which occurred almost simultaneously.

Quickly stabilize the situation, firmly grasp control of the world's order.

I will obey!

The accompanying civil and military officials responded in unison and immediately went their separate ways.

The column once again began to move, its speed noticeably increasing.

Chen Wen could feel that, under the impact of these two great historical waves—the death of Chai Rong and the founding of the new dynasty—.

Inside him, the Growth Progress Bar, which had already reached 63%, began to rise again!

64%……65%……

The Fortune Momentum vortex spun up, the golden light blazing brighter, as if completely merging with the fortune of this newly born Chen.

A power greater in grandeur, heavier in weight, and vaster in scope.

It began to flow into his body, cleansing his meridians and expanding his sea of consciousness.

He realized that from this moment on, he was no longer merely the leader of a force, the commander of the Jun Ying.

He is the Son of Heaven bearing the fate of a newly born dynasty!

On his shoulders rests the whole world.

Just as Chen Wen's force raced toward Bian Liang,...

Several swift horses also set off from Chan Zhou and Chen Bridge Station, shooting off in different directions like arrows released from a bow.

They carried two earth‑shattering pieces of news—

"The military governor of Chan Zhou, Chai Rong, has died!"

and;

"The Chen Bridge mutiny, the yellow robe bestowed, Great Chen founded, era name changed and capital established!"

These two pieces of news, like two massive stones thrown into a calm lake, will spread at astonishing speed in all directions, stirring up towering waves.

Hebei's various prefectures.

Hedong's Liu Jun.

Huainan's Li Jing.

Xishu's Meng Chang.

Even the distant Khitan in Mobei…

All forces watching the situation in Zhongyuan will be stunned into speechlessness by these two pieces of news, arriving almost simultaneously.

They need time to digest, to reassess, and to decide.

An old era, amid sorrow and chaos, comes to a complete end.

A new era, amid haste and slaughter, is forcibly opened.

The road ahead holds more unpredictable storms and harsher trials.

The world henceforth enters the Chen era.

Chen Wen sat on his horse, his gaze fixed on the road ahead illuminated by firelight, leading to Bian Liang and the future.

The Growth Progress Bar steadily held at 65%.

He knew that the real challenge had only just begun.