Chapter 78 (1/2)
Chapter 78
Translator: Nyoi-Bo StudioEditor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
”Reporting!” Another warning sound echoed in the air. Everyone shivered subconsciously in fear of the bad news that these soldiers would bring. Before the soldier spoke, Zhao Qi interrupted, ”Has anyone been killed again?”
The soldier was dazed, shaking his head. ”No.”
Everyone heaved a sigh of relief. At this moment, the soldier continued, ”Your Majesty, something bad has happened! Zi Wei Square, outside the palace, the southwestern ancestral temples, Da An Temple, Jiu Wai Street, the southern lakes, Hua Rong City near Xi Zhi Gates, Western Residential Areas, Eastern Guwan City, Eastern Coastal Camp, Southern Scholar Residences… Fires have all broken out in these places. Also, bandits have run amok in the city, killing and committing arson on various shophouses. Jiu Wai Street is in chaos, with many casualties. We estimate that about 30 thousand people have involved themselves in this conflict.”
A few older officials nearly fainted in panic after hearing these words.
Zhao Song raged, ”What's going on? Is there a rebellion? Where's the Cavalry Camp? The Green Army? The Southwestern Envoy? Have they all been killed?”
”Thirteenth Royal Highness, Lieutenant Colonel Song has led a few hundred troops outside to restore order. Those people who committed the robberies and arsons have been found to be normal civilians. Some of them are local hooligans, some from the universities, some are highly skilled bodyguards from foreign lands. Some of the civilians also said that they wanted to take back what was theirs. Also, some troops from the various police departments.”
”Even the troops from the police department participated in the robberies? Are they tired of living?”
The messenger broke out in cold sweat, replying, ”Third Royal Highness, the troops went out to restore order. However, they were robbed by other people. Some of them were overwhelmed by anger, some of them were swayed by money, and some of them were coerced. Hence, they removed their uniforms and participated in the robberies. It is too chaotic, the few hundred troops outside are also helpless! Your Highness, there is no news from the Cavalry Camp and the Green Army. The forces stationed at the Southwestern Envoy's residence are nowhere in sight. Lieutenant Colonel Song has said that this rebellion is not coincidental. There is someone behind masterminding this operation, adding fire to the flames. Your Majesty, Lieutanent Colonel Song also said that the rebellion is escalating out of control. More and more civilians are participating in it. When all the civilians in the capital are involved, we won't be able to control the situation. Your Majesty, please make a decision swiftly!”
Everyone focused their sights on the Emperor. He stood high up on the stage, a solemn expression on his face. He remained silent for a long while.
”Your Majesty! Your Majesty!” A series of shouts echoed in the air. A soldier, covered in fresh blood, dashed into the pavilion. Everyone in the pavilion was unable to suppress their fear. As they looked at the messenger running into the pavilion, no one dared to speak a word.
Zhao Che stood amongst the crowd, frowning but calm. He probed in a low voice, ”What else has happened?”
”Yan Xun has rebelled! He has brought the army from the Southwestern Envoy's residence to attack this place! The Green Army, Cavalry Camp, Seventh Army, Ninth Army, the troops from the Sixteenth Camp, the Magistrate's Residence are nowhere to be heard of! All the roads have been sealed. All the relay outposts have been cut off, and all messengers have been killed. The southern, northern and eastern gates have been conquered by the enemy. The commanders from the twelfth, nineteenth and thirty-sixth divisions have brought reinforcements towards the royal capital, but have been stopped by the unrestrained civilians. They are unable to break through the perimeters of Jiu Wai Street. Yan Xun has sieged the Zi Jin Gates. Lieutenant Colonel Song is weathering the storm over there. With less than three thousand troops there, we were unable to withstand their attack!”
Everyone was stunned with panic. A few elderly officials struggled to remain on their feet, collapsing in their seats, the color drained from their faces. Was this an indication that a change was imminent?
The Xia Emperor closed his eyes slowly. At this moment, he had no choice but to admit to the complete failure of Ba Lei and Wei Shuye's assassination plan. He had mobilized a thousand troops to eliminate a caged, defenceless bird, but the tables had turned around spectacularly. Even the Southwestern Envoy had defected towards Yan Xun now. In these eight years, what exactly had he nurtured?
The elderly Xia Emperor sighed to himself. Shicheng, how could I have forgotten? He's your son after all!
The entire Xia Empire, even the entire continent of West Meng, did not expect the Xia Emperor, Zhao Zhengde, to release the Prince of Yan Bei back to his homeland unscathed, after eight years of imprisonment. No one had expected the Prince of Yan Bei to submit obediently too. Everyone had expected Yan Xun, who had dared to fight against the royal troops on the platform that day, to plan a series of escapes, be it through methods like poisoning others or disguising himself as a civilian to sneak out of the city and being chased by the royal troops for thousands of miles. If he was lucky, he would have escaped to a place where he could have started anew, only wreaking havoc occasionally. If he was unlucky, he would have died in the hands of the royal army, his body never to be seen again.
In their eyes, the Prince of Yan Bei was only capable of such antics. After all, he had been under the surveillance of the Xia Emperor for seven or eight years. How capable could he have become? However, no one had expected Yan Xun to be capable of stirring up a rebellion of this scale. On the contrary, he looked courteous, peaceful and ordinary. However, when he struck, he was swift and determined to fight until the end. It was evident from his methods—the endless fighting and bloodshed, the scheming, the assassinations, the mutinies, setting fires to the structures of the capital and attempting to siege it without any consideration. Fueled by desperation, he had risen from the ashes. Yan Xun was the son of Yan Bei's Lion King, Yan Shicheng indeed! Scheming, resilient and brazen, he deserved to be named ”the world's leading lunatic.”
”Reporting!” With another long shout, Scholar Cui's old heart could not withstand any more shocks. He fainted, making a loud thud on the ground.
”You're panicking and making noises! What has happened? Has Yan Xun entered the city?”
The soldier froze and replied, ”No, Seventh Royal Highness.”
”Then what are you panicking for?”
”Your Majesty, I am here to inform all of you to get out of here. The fire has spread here!”