Chapter 1 The Crack of the Whip

"Snap!"

"Snap!"

"Snap!"

The crisp sound of whips cracked through the air, followed by the resounding call of horns.

Situ Lei, clad in military attire, stood on a war chariot, his left hand gripping the railing before him, his right hand holding a banner embroidered with the Situ family crest. Behind the chariot were the ancestral tablets of generations of Situ family heads, brought forth from the ancestral temple.

In truth, Situ Lei possessed the Sword of the Son of Heaven and a complete set of imperial regalia. However, the Kingdom of Cheng had been established for less than a year. Not only the soldiers below, but Situ Lei himself found the so-called Sword of the Son of Heaven, the dragon robe, and all the other trappings to be cumbersome.

Situ Lei remembered his father's favorite saying when reprimanding his brothers:

"A turtle in a pond, pretending to be Xuanwu (Black Tortoise, one of the four symbols of the Chinese constellations)."

For a long time, Situ Lei had believed himself to be Xuanwu. He was the most outstanding heir of the Situ family in his generation, his excellence universally acknowledged.

After coming of age, he guarded the south, defeating several incursions by Chu troops. Later, he entered the imperial court, displaying his competence.

Weaving wings, gathering talent, winning hearts, he managed to push his two elder brothers, neither of whom were the eldest son, far away to gnaw snow in the snowy plains.

His father's aging and his own growth had allowed him to seize most of the Situ family's power long ago.

He was Xuanwu, the Xuanwu guarding the east. He had always believed this.

When the Yan army entered Jin, Situ Lei offered no resistance, leading his troops to the northeast to resist the rising barbarians.

The court and commoners speculated that he was using righteousness to coerce the Yan Emperor, a brilliant move.

But no emperor, no ruler, would dare to entrust his country to the integrity of a neighboring monarch.

It was his pride that led him to issue such an order. What surprised him slightly was that the Emperor of Great Yan, to some extent, also understood him.

Not only did he cease hostilities, but he also sent one of Great Yan's most capable marquises to the snowy plains to help him alleviate the pressure.

The restraint of the weak is merely the last vestige of poverty, while the benevolence of the strong is true magnanimity.

Situ Lei really wanted to go to Yanjing to meet the Yan Emperor and have a drink with His Majesty, sharing a hearty laugh.

Of course, such a meeting would inevitably imply a kind of submission, a legal surrender.

In fact, Situ Lei didn't find it entirely unacceptable to bow his head to the Yan Kingdom.

After all, a proud man will only recognize someone even prouder.

However, his original pride was completely buried at Xuehai Pass (Snowy Sea Pass). The most elite troops that the Situ family had cultivated for generations were almost completely annihilated in the vast snow plains.

Barbarians who had not entered the pass for hundreds of years began to ravage the lands of Sanjin (Three Jin States). This was a humiliation, a deep-seated shame for him as a Jin citizen, as a descendant of the Situ family, and as a remnant of the Great Xia Dynasty.

There were many reasons for the defeat: his own underestimation, the betrayal of his two elder brothers, the division of the family's power, and so on.

On many nights, he couldn't help but ponder how he would have done things differently if given another chance. But he knew in his heart that everything was beyond recovery.

Outside Yingdu, the rebel army had already gathered, with barbarian troops pressing behind them. They had not launched an attack on Yingdu, but were waiting for something. Situ Lei knew what his two elder brothers were waiting for and thinking.

The struggle for power was like this. Without external intervention, there would rarely be a situation of mutual destruction. Instead, there would be a waxing and waning.

Many people thought he was going to lose, most people thought he couldn't win.

"I, refuse to accept!"

These three words were bitten out of Situ Lei's mouth. His originally pale face flushed slightly.

He was the Phoenix Fledgling of the Situ family, bearing the pride of the Situ family. When his father grew old and senile, becoming fearful of the Yan people, he unhesitatingly borrowed the Sword Saint's sword and sent the decaying father away.

He wanted to prove to the world that his choice was right, that he could take over his father's mantle and better inherit the family's mission.

Better...

Eunuchs from the palace carried out chests of gold and silver treasures.

The palace maids brought wine from the treasury and began to distribute it to the surrounding soldiers.

Before the war chariot where Situ Lei stood, a group of generals knelt in submission.

The words His Majesty had spoken during the summons last night still echoed in their ears:

"Twenty or thirty years from now, when facing your grandsons, when they ask you about today, how do you want to tell them, to tell them what your ancestors did today?

I have already sent a letter of submission to the Yan Kingdom. The incorporation of Cheng into Yan is a foregone conclusion. You don't have to fight this battle for me, but you must let the Yan people see that the men of my Jin are not all cowards, not all weaklings. This is for your own future. The Yan people value brave warriors. Put on a good show and let them see! That way, you can still have a place to stand in the future!"

…

Yingdu was a large city, larger in scale than Quhe and Litian City. The tripartite division of Jin had lasted for a century, and the role of the political center had radiated for enough time.

As a result, the Jin imperial city in the Jingji area had become increasingly dilapidated and cramped over the years, while the "capitals" of the three families had gradually displayed their grandeur.

Power seemed to be the source of everything. Wherever it was, everything else would be attracted to it.

Old Master Situ Chunsheng was sitting on his grandmaster's chair, a maid fanning him, a string of bodhi beads constantly turning in his hand.

In this city, some were panicked and uneasy, while others were complacent, as if everything were under their control.

Clearly, Old Master Situ Chunsheng belonged to the latter.

Beside him, his eldest son, Situ Youcheng, was peeling an orange for his father.

"Father, I heard from the people below that His Majesty has left the palace and the city, gone to the military camp, and is calling up troops."

"Heh." Situ Chunsheng sneered, saying, "Our Majesty hasn't admitted defeat yet."

Situ Youcheng said:

"It seems like it's not quite time to admit defeat yet, is it?"

"He can't hold on, he can't hold on. The armies of the First and Second Masters have already crossed the Wang River and are only dozens of miles away from our Yingdu.

This world is about to turn a new page."

"Father, the letters from the First and Second Masters to you?"

"I replied. When the First and Second Masters return, you'll at least get a position as Minister of a department."

"That's good."

"From the day our Majesty ascended the throne, I felt that something was wrong.

A patricide is abandoned by Heaven. Look, wasn't I right? He almost ruined this great country and the ancestral foundation.

Alas, the family is unfortunate to have such an unfilial descendant."

"Yes, Father is right."

"Look, even though many troops have gathered outside the city, how many are truly determined to follow him to the end? Ultimately, this is a matter of our Situ family vying for the throne. No one is really stupid enough to risk their lives for this.

Especially the army generals who were most loyal to our Majesty, all of them were buried in the snowy plains and few have returned. Heh heh, this emperor is really not having any fun. He hasn't even warmed his seat before he has to make room for someone else.

By the way, have you arranged the matter I asked you to arrange?"

"How would I dare to neglect it? The West Gate garrison commander was recommended by our family, and the patrol division is the yamen (government office or bureau) where I used to work. I just gave them a hint, and they immediately understood. I guarantee there won't be any problems."

"Surrendering a city gate should be enough to give the First and Second Masters an explanation."

"I just don't know what the barbarians will say."

"Barbarians, a bunch of hicks who haven't seen the world. Once they're full and have had enough fun, they'll leave on their own. Do you know why they haven't rushed to attack this place?

The barbarians are afraid, afraid of the Yan people."

"So that's why..."

"You're not too stupid. Since neither side wants to see the situation completely deteriorate, the situation can't possibly get too bad.

Once the First and Second Masters enter Yingdu and the First Master ascends the throne, we can appease the barbarians to the east and bow our heads to the Yan people to the west. Then we can continue to live like this.

We are still the Situ family after all. How bad can things really get?"

"That's true. No matter how big the Yan people's belly is, they can't eat too much at once. It will burst."

"Hey, that's the way it is."

"Bang!"

Just then, the door of the inner residence was kicked open from the outside. A group of family guards began to retreat constantly, holding their knives but not daring to stop the intruders.

"Presumptuous! Who is it? Who is it!"

Old Master Situ Chunsheng shouted angrily.

Situ Youcheng also stood up. His eyesight was better than his father's. He saw that the leader was actually his second and third and fourth younger brothers, as well as a group of third-generation members, including his own two sons.

"By His Majesty's decree, to execute the rebellious traitors!" Situ Youde shouted.

Behind him, a group of Situ family members drew their weapons.

"Beasts, beasts! Are you rebelling against heaven? You're rebelling against heaven! I, your old man, am not dead yet! I'm not dead yet!"

"Jing'an Prince Situ Chunsheng, colluding with barbarian rebels, plotting to rebel, execute him!"

Situ Youde's gaze swept around.

"Put down your weapons and step aside!"

The guards looked at each other.

The second son had led his brothers and a group of third-generation young masters to their door, wanting to kill their own father. What should the guards of this prince's residence do?

Reluctantly, many guards stepped aside.

This scene was just as Old Master Situ Chunsheng had said earlier: this was a matter for the Situ family, why should outsiders interfere?

Situ Youde stepped forward with his sword, walking to his father's face.

"Rebellious son, how dare you!"

"Pfft!"

"Ugh..." Situ Chunsheng.

Without further ado, the sword had already pierced the old man's body.

Situ Youde decisively pulled out his sword.

Old Master Situ Chunsheng clutched his wound and knelt down. His originally neat white beard was completely stained with blood.

"Beast...beast...the one on the dragon throne...is a beast...leading...a group...a group of beasts..."

Situ Youcheng looked at his second brother with some fear. His second brother was a martial artist with considerable martial arts prowess, while Situ Youcheng had not practiced martial arts and was a civil official.

"Dalang, Erlang."

Situ Youde called out.

The eldest grandson and second grandson of the eldest son walked over with knives, looking at their father.

"You...you...wicked sons...wicked sons..."

Situ Youcheng couldn't believe that his two sons would one day be pointing knives at him.

The faces of the two young men trembled, their eyes red.

The eldest son opened his mouth and shouted:

"The Situ family and the barbarians are irreconcilable!"

With that,

he slashed down.

"Ahhhhhh!!!!!!"

The second son also closed his eyes and swung his knife at his father.

This was a tragic scene,

but no one present wept, because there was no time to grieve.

The Situ family's ancestor was once a fierce general under the Marquis of Jin, who made numerous contributions in the great undertaking of creating the Three Jin States. Later, the family branched out and has continued to this day.

The Jin royal family had long declined, and the three families had grown strong. The descendants of the Situ family here were, in fact, of the imperial surname.

The glory of the ancestors seemed to have long dissipated in the distant river of history. Relying solely on the annual ancestral temple sacrifices was no longer enough to maintain and recall it.

Today, most of the Situ family descendants were wealthy idlers, except for a few who could still serve as officials in the imperial court.

In Yingdu, those gentlemen who walked birds and dogs invariably had the two characters "Situ" written on their foreheads. Even those who had fallen from power could still live a good life by relying on the legacy and connections of their ancestors. At the very least, they did not have to worry about food and clothing.

In Yingdu, if a Situ family member committed a crime, it would be handled by the Court of the Imperial Clan, and the yamen had no right to interfere. Over the years, the wastrels of each generation of the Situ family had committed many scandalous acts of bullying men and women and rigging markets, so it was not an exaggeration to call them a scourge of Yingdu.

And now,

these young masters and young men had rummaged through their homes and found ancestral armor that their ancestors had worn many years ago, and taken down family weapons that had long been enshrined but had not been wielded for many years.

Family elders with other intentions were directly killed, and anyone who dared to stop them was also hacked down.

The teahouses in the streets of Yingdu still circulated the story of how the current Emperor was a leader of a group of young bullies in Yingdu in his youth, committing misdeeds.

That was when Situ Lei was feigning depravity to protect himself.

After he joined the army from the south, he began his illustrious life. After returning to Yingdu, the former Yingdu bully revealed his true fangs, not only exiling his two elder brothers but also seizing most of the political power.

This story had been circulating among the second generation of Yingdu families. Even when their parents scolded them for their absurdity, they would bring up the story of His Majesty's past deeds and retort with a stiff neck:

"I am the Phoenix Fledgling feigning depravity!"

The younger generation regarded Situ Lei as an idol;

while the middle-aged generation, most of them had drunk and bullied men and women with Situ Lei, or at least cheered and shouted from behind.

Later, with Situ Lei's rise, and with their own growth in age, they had become fathers, and some had even become grandfathers.

The time they spent roaming the streets with His Majesty, calling each other brothers, could only surface after they had accidentally drunk a few too many cups of wine.

But now, when that man issued the decree, many people were moved.

More and more members of the Situ clan began to appear on the streets, including even white-haired old men.

Some of the armor did not fit well, hanging loosely on them. Some people could not lift their knives and could only drag them on the ground, their faces flushed red.

At this time, calling them a rabble was an exaggeration.

But everyone's brows were filled with a fierce aura.

Demonic beasts liked to emphasize bloodline inheritance. The more powerful the demonic beast, the more likely they were to retain some innate abilities in their bloodline.

Humans are actually the same.

The inheritance of ancestors was awakened after who knows how many years.

Thousands of Situ clan members left Yingdu through the East Gate. They wore white gauze on their right arms. When they saw the war chariot that had been passed down from their ancestors, and when they looked at the ancestral tablets of the Situ family, everyone slowly knelt down.

A solemn atmosphere emanated from this group of people.

Situ Lei pushed away the eunuch who wanted to help him and stood up with a trembling body.

"I am ashamed of the country, ashamed of the ancestors, ashamed of the people of Jin."

At first, Situ Lei's voice was still trembling slightly, but then his voice began to grow louder, and the flush on his face became more and more obvious.

At this time, he seemed to have not been injured at all. He was still the Phoenix Fledgling of the Situ family who had risen through military merit.

"The ancestors of the Situ family were vanguard generals of the Marquis of Jin, who followed the Marquis of Jin into the land of the Three Jin, driving out the barbarians and opening up territory for the Xia people. It was by virtue of this merit that the family has had glory to this day;

that we have been able to establish a country this year and have the atmosphere of calling ourselves lonely and widowed!

Descendants of the Situ family, do not forget the origin of your family's inheritance. People of my Jin, do not forget the origin of the land where you were born and raised!

The late Emperor wanted to ally with the barbarians, and I killed him!"

A dignified emperor, in public, in front of thousands of Situ family members, in front of the entire army, admitted the rumor that he had murdered his father.

"Now, the barbarians have entered the pass, bullying our homeland, and the rebels are unconscionable, acting as accomplices; when the country is broken and the mountains and rivers are shattered, what should we, the descendants of the Situ clan, do!!!"

Beside the war chariot, thousands of Situ family members shouted in unison:

"Fight to the death!"

"Fight to the death!"

"Fight to the death!"

Situ Lei raised the banner in his hand,

his voice truly like thunder, echoing in all directions:

"What should my people of the Three Jin do!"

The soldiers of the Cheng army around him smashed the wine bowls in their hands, threw the wealth they had just received on the ground,

struck the armor on their bodies with their weapons,

and shouted:

"Fight to the death!"

"Fight to the death!"

"Fight to the death!"

Situ Lei waved the banner forward with his right hand,

and roared:

"If we fight to the death, the descendants of the Situ family should die in front of ten thousand men!

Beat the drums, advance!"

…

The Crown Prince's central army, led by him, entered the Cheng Kingdom first, and did not advance quickly, but first contacted the local officials of the Cheng Kingdom to ensure the supply of food and grass.

Everything was proceeding in an orderly manner.

But today, an emergency military report from Yingdu was delivered.

Inside the commander's tent,

the Crown Prince read the military report and placed it on the table.

Sitting in front of him were Li Bao and Li Fusheng, two commanding generals.

"Your Highness, has something happened in Yingdu?"

Li Fusheng asked with some concern.

If the Situ family could not even defend the capital, then the situation they would face would instantly become extremely棘手 (jí shǒu - thorny, troublesome).

The Crown Prince shook his head, bit his lip, and said:

"Situ Lei has personally led the army, defeating the rebel barbarian coalition and pursuing them for eighty li."

"Hiss..."

"Heh..."

Li Bao stroked his chin with his only hand, and said with emotion:

"This Situ Lei is not completely useless, after all."

No one wanted their teammates to really be pigs, and the impression that the Cheng Kingdom and the Situ family had given people before was that of terrible teammates.

Li Fusheng also nodded, and said, "In this way, we can be much more at ease."

The Crown Prince ordered:

"Li Bao, listen to the order!"

Li Bao heard the words and immediately stood up and knelt down, "Your subordinate is here!"

"I order you to lead 30,000 iron cavalry, march day and night, and station them outside Yingdu City, without delay!"

"Your subordinate obeys the order!"

Li Fusheng immediately asked, "Your Highness, what does this mean?"

Now that the situation has eased, it is a good opportunity for everyone to slowly and deliberately implement the established strategy.

The Crown Prince replied:

"After the battle, the founding Emperor of the Cheng Kingdom passed away that night."