What was meant to come had finally arrived. The Inspector General hadn’t been wrong—all the variables would emerge this winter… Xu Qi’an sighed inwardly.

He wasn’t surprised by this outcome at all, having been mentally prepared for it, knowing this day would come.

Yun Province was bound to rebel, and it would happen this winter. So this news felt as natural to Xu Qi’an as the alternation of sun and moon.

“I need to quickly fulfill my agreement with the Nine-Tailed Fox and remove as many sealing nails as possible so I can recover my strength to deal with more changes. Hmm, I wonder what Floating Fragrance’s true form looks like? Is she beautiful?”

Xu Qi’an took out a plan from his Ground Book fragment, which clearly outlined his objectives.

“The matter of reviving Lord Wei will have to be put on hold. Let’s unseal Shen Shu first. Besides, I can’t find the Resonating Gold Stone now, and without it, the main shaft of the Soul-Summoning Banner can’t be forged…”

After making appropriate adjustments to his plans, he beckoned to Mu Nanchi:

“Let me see the ‘Great Feng Geographic Records.'”

The Geographic Records belonged to Mu Nanchi herself, like a woman planning to travel who enthusiastically bought a guidebook to learn about local customs and specialties wherever she went.

“The South Border is still within Great Feng’s territory.”

Mu Nanchi mumbled in confusion as she dug out the crumpled book from her small bundle and tossed it over.

Not caring for books at all… Xu Qi’an caught it and opened the “Great Feng Geographic Records.” The reason he wanted to look at this book was that it contained a very simplified map of the Central Plains.

So simplified that Great Feng’s thirteen provinces were reduced to irregular blocks.

“Yun Province borders the sea, and most of its northern territory adjoins Qing Province. If Xu Pingfeng wants to use Yun Province as a foundation for a northern campaign against the capital, he must first take Qing Province.

“If the court wants to buy time to catch its breath, the best counter-strategy would be to firmly contain the rebels within Yun Province.

“Therefore, the next storm will gather in Qing Province.”

[…]

In the Imperial Study.

Emperor Yongxing sat up straight, listening to the ministers arguing in the hall.

After news reached the capital that the royal clan from five hundred years ago had proclaimed an emperor in Yun Province, the entire court was shaken.

The senior officials remained quite calm, having been mentally prepared. If not for the overwhelming cold disaster keeping the court preoccupied, they would have launched a southern offensive already.

But for the entire officialdom and civilian population, it was a shocking awakening.

Since the year of the Imperial Examination, Great Feng had experienced one astounding event after another, including the annihilation of the army sent to suppress the Wu Shen Sect, the previous emperor’s death, the cold disaster, and now Yun Province’s rebellion.

Even common folk in the markets realized that the world was far from peaceful and great chaos approached, causing extreme panic.

As for scholars and lower-ranking capital officials, their panic and indignation ran even higher.

In recent days, students in the capital frequently held literary gatherings, widely inviting friends to discuss the Yun Province rebels and the situation in the Central Plains.

“Your Majesty, the Yun Province rebels proclaiming an emperor has shocked the court and populace. However, few know of the Buddhist sect’s support for the rebels, but paper cannot wrap fire—this is an extremely dangerous hidden concern.”

The Chief Minister of the Ministry of War spoke gravely.

The officials’ expressions were solemn. Yesterday’s allies turning against them to become enemies would undoubtedly intensify the panic.

The Buddhist sect’s power was a fact that even ordinary citizens could deeply understand.

When rebel forces claiming to be the royal bloodline from five hundred years ago proclaimed an emperor in Yun Province and received Buddhist support, this news spreading would make people across the land question the court and Great Feng’s royal family.

Although such doubts wouldn’t cause immediate problems, at most generating discussions in markets and the countryside, once the situation turned unfavorable, these discussions and doubts would ferment.

The common people would then have no psychological burden in supporting the enemy.

After all, they would still be subjects of Great Feng, perhaps even supporting the legitimate line.

If the rebels truly overthrew the current court in the future, the civilians might not even be able to raise the banner of “Restoring Great Feng.”

Throughout history, those who started rebellions and wars always paid great attention to having legitimate reasons.

This was why.

The Minister of Justice spoke gravely:

“We must suppress the spread of rumors. Anyone who creates panic spreads rumors, or discusses this matter should be imprisoned and interrogated.”

Such methods treated the symptoms but not the root cause, yet rumors had to be controlled.

Countless historical examples proved that rumors were the best weapon for psychological warfare. Letting them spread unchecked was like voluntarily handing knives to the enemy.

Although the officials felt the Justice Minister’s method was a poor strategy, it was still the best option available.

Hearing this, Emperor Yongxing smiled and said:

“That won’t be necessary. Better to channel than block—since paper cannot wrap fire, we might as well make this matter public ourselves. This will demonstrate the court’s confidence. Let my subjects know that I don’t fear the Buddhist sect, and the court doesn’t fear the Western Regions.”

This… the officials looked at each other, thinking this didn’t match His Majesty’s usually steady and conservative style.

The Minister of Justice frowned deeply, couldn’t help glancing at the calm-faced Prime Minister Wang, and had a thought:

“Does Your Majesty have a good strategy to deal with this?”

Emperor Yongxing swept his gaze over the officials, seeing them slightly lower their heads in listening postures, occasionally looking up at him, though quickly looking down again, but the eagerness in their eyes was unconcealed.

His smile widened, producing some pleasure from controlling the court.

“Indeed!” Emperor Yongxing said slowly:

“Not long ago, Xu Qi’an fought against the Wu Shen Sect, Yun Province rebels, and the Buddhist sect in Jian Province, slaying two vajras. Now the Buddhist sect has no more Dharma-protecting vajras.

“This is Silver Constable Xu’s great victory, and our dynasty’s great victory.”

The Imperial Study fell silent, and the officials moved.

“Your Majesty, is, is this true?”

Left Censor-in-Chief Liu Hong asked in shock, voicing everyone’s doubts.

Although those present were all scholars who could only wield brush and ink, as those at the peak of Great Feng’s power structure, they were not unfamiliar with the Buddhist sect’s Dharma-protecting vajras.

Dharma-protecting vajras, Third Rank!

What concept was Third Rank?

Great Feng now only had Xu Qi’an as a Third Rank martial artist holding things together.

Emperor Yongxing nodded:

“This matter will soon spread in Jian Province, it cannot be false.”

Intelligence that would make the emperor speak of it on such an occasion must be certain.

The officials seemed to hear their hearts pounding wildly in their chests, their joy and shock were impossible to suppress.

The delight this news brought them was no less than news of victory in a major battle, perhaps even greater.

“Please, Your Majesty, make this intelligence public.”

“How magnificent! Thus, we can confidently make public the news of Buddhist support for the rebels.”

“Silver Constable Xu is truly Great Feng’s pillar of the state, the people’s hearts can be settled…”

The officials discussed endlessly, not stopping for a long time.

Emperor Yongxing didn’t stop them. First, the small court meeting in the Imperial Study wasn’t as formal as the morning court.

Second, he knew the officials also needed space to build confidence and release emotions. The Buddhist sect supporting the Yun Province rebels would make the common people anxious—weren’t the officials panicking inside too?

Outwardly steady as mountains, inwardly churning like sea tides.

Xu Qi’an’s achievements in Jian Province were undoubtedly an inspiring feat.

Once this small group holding power gained confidence, it would drive the entire dynasty’s cohesion.

After a long while, seeing the discussions gradually quieting, Emperor Yongxing looked toward the Minister of War and said:

“I have read Minister Xu’s memorial. Qing Province will become the inevitably contested ground between the court and Yun Province rebels. If Qing Province falls, the rebels will have their foundation for a northern campaign and a buffer zone for deploying troops.

“But isn’t the court too passive in merely defending? How can we guard against thieves for a thousand days? Would actively campaigning south be feasible?”

Left Censor-in-Chief Liu Hong stepped forward, bowed, and said:

“Launching a southern campaign to suppress the rebels could work, but now is not the best timing. The Yun Province rebels have long planned this, and have Buddhist support. Actively advancing deep into enemy territory might be walking into a trap.

“Moreover, after Lord Wei’s death, Great Feng has neither Transcendent Realm martial artists nor capable commanders, so steady progress should be our primary strategy.”

The court has no capable commanders? Several nobles and military officers coldly glanced at Liu Hong.

When scholars disparage others, they cut to the bone.

Although supreme commanders like Wei Yuan were rare, Great Feng didn’t lack generals with rich military experience.

From Liu’s mouth, it seemed the court’s military was already devoid of talent.

At this point, the Chief Minister of War stepped forward and said:

“We could summon Xu Qi’an back to the capital, grant him military authority, and let him defend Qing Province.

“Xu Qi’an Wei Yuan’s disciple has written military treatises that even Great Scholar Zhang Shen admired. Moreover, he’s a Transcendent martial artist—no one is more suitable than him to guard Qing Province.”

Besides Xu Qi’an, Great Feng had no other Third Rank martial artists.

The Imperial Observatory’s existence was, most of the time, directly ignored by the officials.

Prime Minister Wang immediately stepped forward to object:

“Xu Qi’an has no battlefield experience. Letting him command troops to guard Qing Province is too risky. Qing Province cannot be lost—the court cannot afford to lose.

“Moreover,” he swept his gaze over several unconvinced officials and said gravely:

“Xu Qi’an is not invincible. Once the rebels have a Transcendent Realm martial artist to contain or even kill him, the court will lose Qing Province. Furthermore, Qing Province is already fully under Yang Gong’s control—wouldn’t changing commanders at this critical moment risk him having second thoughts?”

The Imperial Study fell silent, no one objecting.

On issues not involving faction struggles and conflicts of interest, the officials’ minds still worked well, clearly and accurately seeing the pros and cons.

Emperor Yongxing nodded and announced:

“Starting today, deploy troops and dispatch commanders to reinforce Qing Province.”

After speaking, he looked at Prime Minister Wang: “Hanlin Academy Scholar Xu Xinnian is Great Scholar Zhang Shen’s disciple, well-versed in military strategy, and has achieved merit in the campaign supporting the northern border against the barbarians. His name must be included in the list of reinforcements for Qing Province.”

Prime Minister Wang’s expression briefly paused, then he said:

“Yes!”

Emperor Yongxing intended to use Xu Xinnian to bind Xu Qi’an, making the Silver Constable who ignored court orders fight for Qing Province’s survival.

It was also a hint to Prime Minister Wang that he wanted to promote Xu Xinnian, giving the scholar a chance to earn military merit.

[…]

Yan Prince’s Mansion.

The former Fourth Prince, now Prince Yan, sat in his study where charcoal burned brightly. He wore white brocade robes, jade pendants tinkling, exuding nobility.

His left hand held a book volume, while tea and pastries sat to his right.

On the blue cover was written the title “Zhou Chronicles,” and Prince Yan was reading Chapter Thirteen of Volume Two.

It recorded the youthful experiences of an emperor from the middle period of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

That emperor was originally the son of a concubine, with three legitimate princes above him, and the crown seemed impossible to fall on his head.

But things happened just so—in a series of struggles, the three legitimate princes either died in accidents or fell from the emperor’s favor, ultimately benefiting him, the concubine-born prince.

“Huaiqing, you truly are my good sister.”

Prince Yan laughed: “I was too impatient. The struggle between ‘legitimate sons’ has just begun—how could I, a ‘concubine’s son,’ be so impatient?”

[…]

South Border, Ten Thousand Mountains.

In the desolate night, amidst the endless towering peaks, occasionally came the desolate cries of night owls.

A crimson giant bird twenty zhang long soared with spread wings, passing over range after range of mountains.

Reaching a certain valley, it suddenly folded its giant wings. Its body changed dramatically in mid-air—feathers retracted into its body, wings transformed into human arms, the sharp beak flattened and became lips.

The head swelled like a ball, becoming a human head… By the time it landed in the valley, it had transformed into a handsome man with narrow eyes.

In the valley was a stone cave, guarded outside by two beautiful women wrapped in animal skins, exposing tight thighs and flat bellies.

“Greetings, Protector Red Tassel!”

The two enchanting women bowed deeply.

“How is Elder Night Princess’s condition?”

Bird demon Red Tassel gazed toward the depths of the cave.

“Still hasn’t awakened. We’ve sent someone to invite Protector Green-Wood,” the enchanting woman on the left responded.

Red Tassel frowned deeply and asked gravely:

“Who injured Elder Night Princess?”