Outside Youzhou, within the vast encampment of Murong Bole's forces.
"By decree of the Empress Dowager and the command of our sovereign, the rebel Murong Bole has committed treason. All who follow him shall be executed!"
Two large pits had been dug within the camp. The one on the left was filled with oil and ignited, burning fiercely and emitting a pungent odor. The one on the right was a mud pit, filled with a dark, reddish sludge—the color of blood mixed with soil.
Thousands of Murong Bole's soldiers were now bound, some pushed into the burning pit, others into the muddy one. Those in the fire were instantly reduced to ash, while those in the mud pit faced a slower death, suffocated by the sludge or the weight of falling bodies.
Outside the pits, countless soldiers of the Zhongjie Army stood guard, their halberds used to shove bound prisoners into either the fire or the mud. The compliant were thrust into the flames for a swift end, while the resistant were pushed into the mud to suffer a prolonged demise.
On a high earthen slope, the Yan Imperial Guard and the commanders of the Zhongjie Army, Xie Lihu and Murong Kang, stood impassively amidst a hundred Yan generals, watching the scene unfold.
Empress Dowager Murong Qing, once she acted, was ruthless, eradicating all traces of opposition.
These over four thousand elite soldiers under Murong Bole, stationed outside Youzhou awaiting his command, had instead been met by the merciless slaughter of the Yan Imperial Guard.
When the rebels of Runan had attacked the Left Virtuous King's mansion, Xie Lihu and Murong Kang had led over thirty thousand Zhongjie Army soldiers out of the city, swiftly surrounding the camp with lightning speed.
Unaware of the specific situation within the city, without Murong Bole's orders, and facing the sudden assault of thirty thousand Zhongjie Army soldiers, Murong Bole's elite troops were captured without a fight.
Xie Lihu and Murong Kang then proceeded to annihilate these over four thousand elite soldiers. Their sole reason was the unwavering loyalty of these troops to Murong Bole.
The fate of the soldiers was brutal execution. The women of the camp suffered equally tragic destinies. Some attached themselves to others, becoming concubines or maids, which was considered fortunate. Others were forced into the Zhongjie Army camp to serve as prostitutes, for the amusement of the soldiers. Still others were sold elsewhere, becoming tools for profit. This was the fate of the young and beautiful; the old and faded were simply put to death.
In this chaotic era, human lives were as cheap as grass, as worthless as dogs!
At this moment, the camp echoed with cries and pleas, yet Xie Lihu and Murong Kang remained unmoved. Thousands perished unnaturally, as if the heavens themselves had changed color.
"Drip... drip..." A light rain began to fall, as if attempting to cloak the sins of humanity. The gray raindrops descended, only to transform into a dark red upon hitting the ground.
"Princess Consort..." a warrior from the Huolie Battalion said to Helu Shi, who was hiding in the woods, watching the tragedy unfold with sorrow.
Helu Shi covered her face and wept as she departed.
......
"Boom... boom... boom..."
"Wail... wail... wail..."
Outside the city of Changshan Commandery, an army of two hundred thousand, clad in white armor, stood amidst the strong wind. The thunderous war drums had sounded, and the horns of vengeance had been blown.
The tragedy that had unfolded in the capital would soon spread throughout the capital, across all regions of Great Yan, and across the entire realm.
Upon receiving the news, Murong Chi, the eldest son of Murong Bole, mobilized the two hundred thousand-strong army of Changshan Commandery and swore a solemn oath, vowing to never rest until Murong Qing and her cohorts were eradicated, to avenge his father, siblings, and family.
Among the two hundred thousand soldiers, only about eighty thousand were seasoned warriors; the rest were auxiliary troops or laborers.
"Boom... boom... boom..."
"Wail... wail... wail..."
After another round of drum and horn calls, Murong Chi, clad in armor and holding a long spear, his eyes red with tears, walked before the two hundred thousand soldiers, accompanied by a host of generals. The Changshan soldiers silently watched him.
"How did my father treat you?" Murong Chi asked loudly, looking at the Changshan soldiers.
"His grace was as boundless as the mountains!" the Changshan soldiers roared, brandishing their halberds.
Though called Yan soldiers, the Changshan troops were, in essence, Murong Bole's personal retainers and private guards. Many had been raised by Murong Bole, knowing only their lord, not the imperial court.
"How has our Murong family of Changshan treated you?" Murong Chi then asked loudly.
"Equally, with grace as boundless as the mountains!" the Changshan soldiers roared again, brandishing their halberds.
"My father, the Left Virtuous King and King of Guan-Ning of Great Yan!" Murong Chi said mournfully. "He rose with our ancestors, achieved countless military merits, served the nation with his might, and was valiant and loyal! He dedicated his life to Great Yan, yet met such a fate. My brother, who achieved great merit for the nation, was cruelly murdered by the regicide poisoner! His head... his head was hung upon the city gate... Oh, the bitterness!"
Murong Bole was not dead. When he attempted to take his own life, he was wounded by arrows and subsequently imprisoned in Pijin City.
After concluding these few choked words, Murong Chi, mounted on his horse, raised his spear high and roared, "If I, Chi, do not avenge this hatred, I have no right to live in this world! Without avenging this blood feud, I shall forever be no man!"
"Avenge! Avenge! Avenge!" the two hundred thousand soldiers roared in unison, their voices shaking the wilderness and piercing the heavens, causing color to drain from the faces of all who heard.
"Advance!" Murong Chi then shouted, raising his spear, "Slay the poisonous woman, execute the regicide rebels, and bring order to the world! Rectify the court!"
"Roar! Roar! Roar!"
The two hundred thousand soldiers advanced together. The cavalry galloped, stirring up clouds of dust, while the infantry marched in neat formations, like moving mountain peaks.
......
"Young Master!"
As Murong Chi led his army forward, Yang Hu, the Chief Clerk of the Prince's Mansion, galloped up, dismounted, and blocked Murong Chi's path.
"Chief Clerk Yang..." Murong Chi asked coldly, looking at Yang Hu, "Do you still intend to dissuade me?"
Yang Hu had consistently opposed raising an army, tirelessly trying to persuade Murong Chi, but Murong Chi had refused to listen. Now that Murong Chi had already dispatched his troops, Yang Hu, unwilling to relent, had directly intercepted the army. Murong Chi was already furious.
"Indeed!" Yang Hu replied loudly. "I implore the Young Master to pull back from the brink!"
"The arrow has already been shot. How can one pull back from the brink? Moreover, what brink is there, and how can one rein in the horse?" Murong Chi shook his head. "Given your loyalty, I shall not hold you accountable. You may withdraw now."
"Young Master!" Yang Hu still refused to yield, continuing loudly, "The Young Master's actions will harm the Prince and be counterproductive. The farther you go, the more distant the outcome!"
Murong Bole was indeed not dead, merely imprisoned by Murong Qing in Pijin City. Murong Chi's current action of raising an army to attack was, for Murong Bole, far from beneficial.
"Why is that? I wish to hear your reasons." Murong Chi, though initially dismissive of Yang Hu, knew him to be a loyal and upright official, incorruptible and respected by the people, so he patiently listened.
Murong Bole was imprisoned but alive. However, Murong Chi could not bear to see his father suffer or be humiliated in Pijin City. He also could not ignore the tragic death of his brother, Murong Ya. Therefore, Murong Chi planned to force his way to Youzhou, even to conquer the city, to rescue his father, kill Murong Qing's entire family, and exact his revenge.
"This is evident!" Yang Hu said loudly. "Although the Prince is imprisoned, he is still alive, and as long as he is alive, there is a chance of escape. The Young Master's actions are forcing the court to kill the Prince. This is one point. Changshan guards the critical pass of Jingxing. With the Prince present, the Zhao Hu dare not invade. Without the Prince, the Young Master bears the responsibility of defending the land and resisting Zhao. If the Young Master leads the army eastward, the Zhao Hu army will surely invade, and the people east of Changshan Commandery will suffer immensely. I beg the Young Master to reconsider! This is the second point. We also lament the misfortune of the Young Master's family. The Prince served the nation with unwavering loyalty, yet suffers such unjust accusations. All the people in the realm sympathize with him. If the Young Master now puts aside personal grievances and upholds righteousness, he will win the hearts of the people. By leveraging the people's sentiment, one can force the court to release the Prince. Is this not the most prudent strategy?"
One had to admit, there were many wise individuals in the world, and Yang Hu of Changshan's insight was indeed the best course of action. But would Murong Chi heed his counsel?
Even Murong Chi's retinue was moved by Yang Hu's wise words, but Murong Chi remained set on his course.
"My father is imprisoned, and my mother's whereabouts are unknown, likely in grave danger. If I do not save my father and mother, I am unfilial. My brother Ya was cruelly murdered, his head displayed on the city gate. If I do not avenge him, I am unrighteous. The former Emperor was murdered. If I do not eliminate the traitors, I am disloyal. Do you wish to force me to be an unfilial, unrighteous, and disloyal wretch?" Murong Chi roared at Yang Hu.
With that, Murong Chi turned his horse, intending to leave, no longer paying attention to Yang Hu.
"My family is destroyed, and yet you expect me to care about the Great Yan kingdom or its people?" Murong Chi thought to himself.
However, it was true that balancing righteousness and personal vendetta was incredibly difficult. Most people in the world found it hard to make such choices.
"The Young Master marches with an unrighteous army; I predict defeat!" As Murong Chi prepared to leave, Yang Hu still refused to back down. With a loud shout, he reached out and grabbed the reins of Murong Chi's warhorse, holding on tightly.
"Let go!" Murong Chi roared. Seeing that Yang Hu still refused to release his grip, he whipped the warhorse. The horse, in pain, neighed and reared, breaking free from Yang Hu's grasp.
But Yang Hu would not give up. He actually bit onto Murong Chi's pant leg. Murong Chi lifted his leg to shake Yang Hu off, but Yang Hu refused to let go, his mouth filling with blood as he was dragged along.
There was no greater loyal and righteous man in the realm than Yang Hu!
"Assist me!" Murong Chi, left with no choice, commanded his attendants.
His attendants stepped forward, attempting to drag Yang Hu away, but Yang Hu still refused to let go, until all his teeth were pulled out.
"Fetch a physician to treat him," Murong Chi said with a sigh.