Volume One, Chapter Two: Intimidating the Three Generals—the Plan to Escape the Capital Begins
The moment his voice fell, the courtyard erupted with the ringing of weapons from every direction. Sand and stones whipped through the air.
A short while later, the old eunuch and the Imperial Guards found themselves completely surrounded.
Seeing soldiers in armor with spears in hand on all sides, the sword slipped from the old eunuch’s grasp and clattered to the ground.
“Lu Yunduan, how dare you... How dare you hide hundreds of armed, armored soldiers inside your residence! You truly intend to rebel!”
[Fear Value +10]
[Fear Value +10]
[Fear Value +10]
Lu Yunduan gave a cold laugh, fury blazing in his eyes.
“Old eunuch, what use is there in saying such things now? Where is Gan Ning?”
From Lu Yunduan’s body emerged a man clad in silver-white armor, a white cloak draped over his shoulders, and a broad belt fastened around his waist. His armor flashed coldly beneath the sunlight.
He was the White-Sailed Pirate—Gan Ning.
He clasped his fists and knelt before Lu Yunduan.
“This subordinate, Gan Ning, is willing to brave fire and water for the descendants of the Lu family, without hesitation.”
“Kill every person here.”
“This subordinate obeys.”
Gan Ning rose, drew the twin halberds from his waist, and pointed them at the old eunuch.
“Hundred Cavalry Battalion, kill!”
The soldiers behind Gan Ning formed ranks and advanced upon them.
Terrified by the sight before him, the old eunuch hid behind the Imperial Guards.
The Imperial Guards were overwhelmed with fear. In numbers, weapons, and morale, they were vastly inferior to the forces before them.
But now that matters had come this far, they had no chance to retreat.
The two sides soon clashed. Blood from soldiers on both sides sprayed through the air, staining the snow-white ground crimson.
“Ahhh!”
One agonized scream after another rang out across the courtyard.
[Fear Value +1]
[Fear Value +1]
[Fear Value +1]
...
Before long, the old eunuch was the only one left alive, with Gan Ning’s sword pressed against his neck.
Lu Yunduan walked up to him and brushed the blood from his clothing.
The old eunuch’s body began to tremble violently. Terrified that his neck might touch the blade, he broke into a torrent of cold sweat and wet himself in terror.
“Old eunuch, you never expected this, did you? Fortune turns in its cycle. Now, you may rest in peace.”
“No... no, Lord Lu, spare me! If you kill me, the Emperor will never forgive you. He will never forgive you!”
“Do I still need that dog of an Emperor to forgive me? Today, I, Lu Yunduan, have rebelled.”
[Fear Value +100]
Lu Yunduan drew his painted sky-reaching halberd and brought it down upon the eunuch’s head. In the next instant, the head fell to the ground.
Lu Yunduan put away the halberd.
“Gan Ning, gather every soldier in the residence at once. We will convene in the main hall.”
Gan Ning sheathed his twin halberds, clasped his fists, bowed, and left.
In the Main Hall
Lu Yunduan had been waiting there for some time. Three generals arrived at the entrance, while outside, all the soldiers had assembled and stood ready.
All three generals had fought alongside his father against the Northern Tribes. They were also elders of his generation: Vanguard General Li Jingtao, Central General Yang Xiuwen, and Rear General Cao Xiu.
“General, you summoned us here. What orders do you have for this subordinate?”
Lu Yunduan said nothing. He walked before them and handed over the imperial edict in his possession.
They accepted it and opened it in confusion. When they read its contents, their expressions changed drastically, their faces filled with disbelief.
Cao Xiu asked incredulously, “General, is this real?”
Lu Yunduan said nothing, merely nodding.
The edict slipped from their trembling hands and fell to the ground. They had no idea what to do.
Since ancient times, when a ruler commands a subject to die, the subject must die.
“General, you...”
Before they could finish, Lu Yunduan interrupted them.
“Uncles, I have already killed the eunuch and the Imperial Guards sent by the Emperor. No matter what the truth may be, I have no road left to retreat upon.”
His words sent shock through the entire hall. They had never imagined that Lu Yunduan would dare to slaughter the eunuch and Imperial Guards dispatched by the Emperor. Whether or not he had intended to rebel, he had now undeniably done so.
Cold sweat broke out across their bodies.
[Fear Value +10]
[Fear Value +10]
[Fear Value +10]
“Then why did you summon us here, General...?”
“I called you here to ask whether you are willing to rebel against that dog of an Emperor alongside me. If you are unwilling, you may deliver my head to the Emperor now.”
They hesitated. On one side stood the son of the general they had followed for many years; on the other stood the Great Li Dynasty. At that moment, they did not know what choice to make.
As they wavered, Gan Ning stood to the side like a tiger watching its prey, his hand clasped tightly around his sword.
To Lu Yunduan, they had only two paths: follow him in rebellion against the wretched Emperor, or end up like the old eunuch, with their heads separated from their bodies.
After all, compassion could not command an army. Anyone who wished to accomplish great deeds had to be ruthless.
They seemed to sense the murderous intent surrounding them and realized that they had nowhere left to retreat. One after another, they dropped to their knees.
“This subordinate is willing to follow the General through mountain and sea, and serve until death, without hesitation.”
[Loyalty Value +100]
[Loyalty Value +100]
[Loyalty Value +100]
Seeing their loyalty to him steadily rise, Lu Yunduan stopped testing them.
“Excellent, excellent! With the aid of three uncles, how could we fail to accomplish our great undertaking?”
Lu Yunduan stepped forward and helped them to their feet.
“Then, General, what should we do now?”
Lu Yunduan pondered. With his current strength, trying to fight the dog Emperor to the death would be like an egg striking a rock—utterly futile.
Although they were in the capital, the city still had the Imperial Guards and the Gate Guard Army. A head-on confrontation would gain them nothing.
What he needed to do now was leave the capital. Only then could he gather strength, recruit soldiers, and purchase horses. Once he commanded an army of a million, he could march straight upon the capital, and victory would become possible.
To escape the capital successfully, however, they needed to create a major disturbance.
What could cause such a disturbance?
Of course—gunpowder. That would certainly be enough.
With gunpowder at their disposal, their departure from the capital would be assured.
“System, can I purchase gunpowder here?”
“Yes. One hundred Emotion Points for ten kilograms of gunpowder. How much would you like?”
Without hesitation, Lu Yunduan said, “I want thirty kilograms.”
“Purchase successful. The gunpowder has been placed in the armory within the residence.”
Lu Yunduan let out a breath of relief.
“We must leave the capital at once. Any delay could bring unforeseen complications.”
“General, how are we supposed to leave the capital? If we force our way out with our current military strength, I fear...”
“Uncles, do not worry. I already have a plan. Gan Ning.”
Gan Ning strode before Lu Yunduan and knelt.
“My lord, what are your orders?”
The three generals stared at Gan Ning in confusion. They had never seen this man before. Was he a new subordinate recruited by the General?
“There is gunpowder stored in the residence. Take ten men and place it by the western gate. Ignite it the moment midnight arrives.”
“This subordinate obeys.”
“Uncles, once the gunpowder explodes, we will wait the time it takes for one incense stick to burn, then launch an assault on the eastern gate and leave the capital through it.”
“General, were you not planning to blast open the western gate with the gunpowder? Besides, West Province lies to the west of the capital. Why not leave through the western gate?”
“I killed the old eunuch and the Imperial Guards. The dog Emperor will learn of it very soon. The western gate will certainly be heavily guarded. Once the gunpowder explodes, reinforcements from every direction will rush there. The eastern gate will then be left undefended, and we can break through it in an instant.”
A feint to the east and strike to the west, turning the enemy’s strength against itself.
What a brilliant strategy. Who would have thought that the General, despite his young age, possessed such wisdom and talent?
Heavens themselves must be blessing West Province.
Within the Imperial Palace
“Report! Your Majesty, Lu Yunduan has slaughtered the palace eunuch and Imperial Guards you sent.”
At the imperial court, beneath the Dragon Throne, sat a woman. She was none other than the female sovereign of the Great Li Dynasty—Long Yingchuan.
“Lu Yunduan! How audacious!”
“Transmit my decree. Seal all four gates of the capital. Order Grand Commander of the Ministry of War, Xu Rong, to personally lead the Imperial Guards in defending the western gate. Lu Yunduan and all his rebellious ministers are to be killed without mercy.”