Merchant City, within the Song Troops’ barracks! Outside of Gao Xianzhi’s tent!
Following Lin Chong’s exposure of his upper body, revealing the great amount of fierce-looking knife scars as he kneeled on the floor, more and more people followed his lead in kneeling. In the flash of an eye, five hundred people followed Lin Chong and kneeled.
After the information was spread, all of the soldiers in succession had came to know of the extreme evil of the emperor’s grandson. In the rear, the disgraced deserters whose family members had been murdered stood, while near the front were those who had also received the critical news; the soldiers that had been suppressed by Gao Xianzhi also one after another followed Lin Chong into kneeling down.
That was the emperor’s esteemed grandson, it was as if his whole nature had been put onto a banner. Within everybody’s heart was a certain weight; would the Commander, in order to placate all the officers and soldiers, treat everybody equally fairly? If the next day it was my family members that had met with an unfortunate mishap, would the Commander, in order to to preserve his status, choose to sacrifice me?
The soldiers oftentimes had their lives and death intersect. Once one person kneeled, an intimate friend would mutually follow; similar to the domino effect, everybody went down in a chain reaction.
Five hundred, one thousand, two thousand, four thousand, eight thousand, ten thousand, twenty thousand…!
“We request earnestly of the Commander, according the code of law, he has killed my loved ones, so behead him immediately!”
“We request earnestly of the Commander, according the code of law, he has killed my loved ones, so behead him immediately!”
“We request earnestly of the Commander, according the code of law, he has killed my loved ones, so behead him immediately!”
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First one could count hundreds, then it was thousands, and then it was in the ten thousands. After a while, the clamoring of the soldiers seemed to surpass all of the nine sky divisions¹; the pandemonium seemed to bring out an aura of wrath, while the wrath seemed to bring out an aura of unwillingness. Finally, the chaos seemed to converge together into one loud roar.
While all of the soldiers were all roaring, the sound covered the entire Merchant City.
In a place not very far away, the Song Crown Prince heard the enormous roar that seemed to shake the very heaven and earth. Seeing more and more kneeling soldiers, within the Song Crown Prince’s heart penetrated a momentary chill.
This was not just a flare up in the barracks, this was mutiny! Not long ago, in the first flare up, there had been several thousand times more people participating, although in this mutiny, the innumerable amount of people were furthermore seeing red from both eyes.
“How did it end up like this? How did it end up like this?” The Song Crown Prince appallingly watched this scene.
Within Gao Xianzhi’s tent.
Gao Xianzhi released the broken teacup inside of his palm. His complexion was unsightly as he spoke: “Gu Hai? So it turns out that experience really does matter in battle! Originally you seized all those troops in order to let panic overtake my barracks? You waited all these days, just for today, in order to force my entire army against me?”
For a very long time, Gao Xianzhi was incapable of remaining calm. Only after a long period of overwhelming feeling inside his chest had passed, did he slowly calm down.
In the outside world, the sound seemed to shake Merchant City to its very foundations, as if asking oneself to show respect in order for justice. The amount of kneeling soldiers grew more and more, more and more.
Gao Xianzhi rose up, slowly striding outside of his tent.
In a place not very far away the Song Crown Prince panickedly ran over, looking towards the direction where Gao Xianzhi was currently walking out of the tent.
“Commander!” Everybody shouted loudly in one collected sound.
“Commander! I request earnestly for the Commander to reenact the code of law, and get revenge for Xiao Die! This subordinate is willing to exchange his own life in order to end his!” Lin Chong weeped in rage.
“Boom, boom, boom…!”
Lin Chong unceasingly kowtowed on the ground, his head covered entirely with blood as a result of banging it against the ground.
Blood, tears, and mud mixed on his face, resulting in him looking incomparably miserable.
Seeing Lin Chong, Gao Xianzhi deeply inhaled a breath of air. It was true that this mutiny was single-handedly brought about by Lin Chong, but, Gao Xianzhi did not blame him. Contrariwise, inside his eyes flashed a trace of guilt.
Because Gao Xianzhi remembered, even if there was no Lin Chong, Gu Hai would still be able to create an affair similar to today’s events. Furthermore, this Lin Chong had followed him for many years, and had always executed his commands without the slightest amount of doubt, always rushing to get ahead, the knife scars on his body all caused from accomplishing his orders. All these years, even if Lin Chong had suffered a grave injury he would not allow himself to cry; but presently, as he kneeled in front of him, his entire self looked as if he were going to fall apart.
“We request earnestly of the Commander, according the code of law, he has killed my loved ones, so behead him immediately!”
The numbering about a hundred thousand kneeling soldiers simultaneously released a loud shout; there was a sort of morale that surrounded them, a kind of morale that no one would ever be able to obstruct. This moment, everybody was all looking at Gao Xianzhi, waiting for the Commander to address the unanimous morale of the entire army.
The emperor’s grandson, to be beheaded immediately?
Gao Xianzhi looked at the hundred thousand kneeling soldiers in front of him, his mind feeling distracted, as if he saw Gu Hai wearing armour, standing in front of him. At the present moment Gu Hai was the Commander, and was currently commanding his own hundred thousand soldiers to go against him.
The Commander of eight hundred thousand troops was no longer himself, but under the spell of Gu Hai?
At the present moment, the Gu Hai in his trance was holding a double-edged sword, pointing it at Gao Xianzhi. Just given the right order, these numbering about a hundred thousand troops would kill him, as if ripping him apart into fragments.
For a split second, Gao Xianzhi had a kind of fearful feeling, and shuddered.
“Commander?” From not very far away, the Song Crown Prince rushed over, an extremely unsightly expression on his face.
The Song Crown Prince was not a fool. At the present moment, with the entire army rebelling, could it be that he couldn’t see the current circumstances? The morale of the troops could not fall apart; one the morale of the troops fell apart, then the Song Empire would be in danger, and the entire country of Song would crumble apart. The morale of the troops, was the basis of the nation! This was the most important! But, simultaneously this really was his own son. Song Zhengxi you hoodlum, why did you kill all the family members of the soldiers.
“We request earnestly of the Commander, according the code of law, he has killed my loved ones, so behead him immediately!” The entire army once again exuded a loud roar.
Dimly, Gao Xianzhi gave a small quiver; watching the army, he solemnly shouted: “Soldiers!”
The army immediately stopped, as one looking towards Gao Xianzhi.
“This Commander has said before, anyone who brings disgrace by killing the family members of soldiers, no matter who it is, will be beheaded immediately!” Gao Xianzhi severely shouted.
With that one severe shout, the entire army furthermore quieted.
“No matter who it is, even if it is the emperor’s grandson, he will receive the same punishment. I, Gao Xianzhi, guarantee to you, as long as the emperor’s grandson really killed the family members of all those soldiers, I will throw away all my military duties, as well as report it to the emperor. Reenact the code of law, I will immediately reenact the code of law!” Gao Xianzhi fiercely shouted.
The Song Crown Prince stumbled in his steps. It was as if, in that moment, all of his strength had been completely removed.
The originally anxious soldiers, their hearts trembling, regarded Gao Xianzhi with increasingly more confidence and trust. What the Commander said he would do, he would do; he surely would get to the bottom of this.
“Commander, are those words of yours really true? In what way can I believe you?” Lin Chong spoke, his eyes red.
No one else knew about it, but he, Lin Chong, understood that not long ago Gao Xianzhi had still wanted to cover up the disgraceful deeds of the Emperor’s grandson. Now could it be that he was still deceiving him?
Lin Chong, having previously experienced a conspiracy, was now scared to trust Gao Xianzhi.
Gao Xianzhi looked at Lin Chong, sighing in his heart.
“What I say I will do I will definitely do. Since you are so anxious in this way, then set out and accompany me immediately towards the imperial capital Song City. As long as this affair can be verified to be true, I will immediately request the Emperor to behead the Emperor’s grandson! Is that good enough for you?” Gao Xianzhi solemnly spoke.
“The Commander is going to personally leave for the imperial capital?” The crowd of soldiers immediately revealed astonished expressions.
At the present moment, Gao Xianzhi was not doing this of his own volition. This situation would have to be handled with the utmost seriousness, or else the suspicions within the soldiers’ hearts would become more and more frightening; as the crisis brew, slowly Gu Hai would be able to take advantage of them.
“Thanks to the Commander, thanks to the commander!” Lin Chong unceasingly kowtowed on the ground.
“Soldiers!” Gao Xianzhi looked towards the numbering about a hundred thousand soldiers.
“Today I want to address the entire barracks, about why it would turn out like this. I also want to say that everything is happening because of Gu Hai’s interference, but I understand that there are definitely people who will not believe me. However, all the commitments that I, Gao Xianzhi, have promised to do, have always been honored. I hope that you will trust me, Gao Xianzhi; as I have said before, to all those soldiers that have had their family members disgraced, we will have him beheaded immediately! Lin Chong and a group of imperial soldiers will accompany me to the imperial capital, to act as witness for everybody that the punishment according the code of law has been dealt out. I hope that all of you will not be mislead by any other false news whatsoever! Because, all of this is caused by Gu Hai’s interference!” Gao Xianzhi shouted clearly.
All of the soldiers looked at one another at the same time, tightly furrowing their eyebrows. It was true, before there really were no matters like this, but now the entire army was staging a mutiny? Was this really something that had been caused by Gu Hai?
There were some that believed this, but there were also some, who, as before, held some traces of disbelief; that Gu Hai was not a god, so how could it be possible that he was so powerful?
“My request is not particularly hard. As long as everyone, during the time that I depart the camp, do not trust any rumors that float around, even if you have the greatest of grievances, wait for me to return first. I will see to everyone later on, but until then, comply with all of your military orders. Understand?” Gao Xianzhi solemnly shouted.
All of the soldiers looked towards Gao Xianzhi, their former adoration growing with Gao Xianzhi’s upright and plainspoken speech. In a moment, countless amounts of people answered together.
“Yes!”
“Honor the Commander’s orders!”
“Honor the orders!”
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All of the soldiers in the army one after another shouted loudly, promising that during the time Gao Xianzhi left the camps, regardless of any rumors in the camp they would not flare up, waiting for Gao Xianzhi’s return.
“Lin Chong, as you will accompany me to the imperial capital, immediately prepare for the trip; in two hours we will depart!” Gao Xianzhi loudly shouted.
“Yes!” Lin Chong loudly shouted in response.
Gao Xianzhi, having once more appeased the army, returned back into the large tent.
Within the large tent, the Song Crown Prince was extremely dazed; as he looked at Gao Xianzhi, his appearance was incomparably complicated. Gao Xianzhi wanted to return to kill his only son, but he was helpless to do anything, truly absolutely helpless. Inside of his heart there was unwillingness and anger, but there was really no way out of this.
“Crown Prince, in accordance to what has been discussed before, you will immediately consolidate eight hundred thousand troops to set out towards Hulao Pass immediately. Make haste, make haste, make haste!” Gao Xianzhi had an extremely unsightly expression on his face.
“I will, only, when will you return?” The Song Crown Prince bitterly spoke.
At the present moment, Gao Xianzhi was not in the mood to comfort the Song Crown Prince. A country’s major events could not be allowed to fail; with the Song Crown Prince’s intelligence, he should have been able to see that.
“I will proceed to the imperial capital at top speed, which will require about eight days of time. Travelling straight from the imperial capital to Hulao Pass, will roughly take about fourteen days. In the imperial capital we might experience some delay, so in roughly twenty something days we will be able to return. However, for you to command the entire army towards Hulao Pass, with a long-term raid such as this, your speed will definitely be very slow, and will also require twenty something days before you reach Hulao Pass. About the same time you reach Hulao Pass, we will have returned!” Gao Xianzhi profoundly spoke.
“Has it already reached the time for the decisive battle?”
“Yes, I previously researched about Gu Hai’s tactics. He had previously spoke about ‘using ten to encircle, using five to attack, much like the strategy of divide and conquer!’, and that ‘encircling’ was the best strategy! Before we had oppressed the best of the Chen Kingdom’s soldiers with psychological attacks, but, but now that our opponent is Gu Hai, the more we attempt to drag them down, the more detrimental it is to ourselves. We can only use brute force, I now understand. Not that we will be using brute force, it will eventually evoke the enemy troop’s desire to fight until death; at that time my troops will certainly suffer disastrous damage, but, the overall damage we will take will be very light. It can only be in this way. If immediately the entire army travels straight towards Hulao Pass, after we defeat them, the Chen Kingdom will be annihilated, and everything else will end as well!” Gao Xianzhi profoundly spoke.
“I understand now! But if you go now, what if it is another one of Gu Hai’s tricks, will he ambush you?” The Song Crown Prince knit his brows together and frowned as he spoke.
“If it is according to normal luring the tiger away from the mountain² tactics, he definitely will. This is the best chance to do so; however, he is Gu Hai, I am unable to guess his intentions. However, you can be reassured, I have prepared for this. I will bring with me a group of elites to accompany me; simultaneously, doesn’t the Song Sect have extremely powerful people who have achieved Xiantian Periphery or higher? They are always making discreet inquiries about my first-hand information, so therefore, when they follow me, they will definitely protect me to a certain extent.” Gao Xianzhi solemnly spoke.
“My imperial secret guard will also be transferred to you!” The Song Crown Prince clenched his teeth tightly as he spoke.
Appointing innumerable experts to protect Gao Xianzhi while he went to kill his own son? The Song Crown Prince’s heart was suffering incomparably.
Gao Xianzhi did not decline, nodding his head.
“Hulao Pass has our own spies in it. Crown Prince, when you go, coordinate with these spies, and be extremely careful!”
Having finished briefing, he left the camp at a high speed, heading towards the direction of the imperial capital Song City.
Song City, Tian Mansion.
Gu Hai was currently sipping at a cup of green tea, when Gu Han quickly ran inside.
“Father, the pigeon has just delivered a letter; Gao Xianzhi brought a group of people with him to leave the barracks, and should travel directly to Song City, currently leaving now! Do you want for him to stay?” Gu Hai brought a trace of excitement with him as he spoke.
“No need, we can’t make him stay anyway. By Gao Xianzhi’s side there is definitely many extremely powerful people; wanting to assassinate him is practically impossible, so just let him arrive according to plan!” Gu Hai drank a mouthful of tea, smiling as he spoke.
“Yes!”
¹Some Chinese schools of cosmology believe in the concept of the “nine sky divisions” (九天), which is made up of the middle sky and the eight directions.
²This is a famous Chinese military strategy where one lures their adversary away from their territory, leaving both the opponent and the territory vulnerable.