In the winter of the two thousand four hundred and thirty-second year of the Wu calendar, a snowstorm of unprecedented severity blanketed the Kingdom of Wu overnight, accompanied by the whistling of a desolate wind.
The Kingdom of Wu, scarred and weary, appeared tranquil beneath the thick layer of snow.
In the royal capital of Wu, vast white banners hung like snow from the immense royal palace, and the sounds of weeping echoed within and beyond the city walls.
Dong~dong~
Dong~
The tolling of bells reverberated through the heavens!
The great King of Wu had ultimately failed to survive this winter. Throughout his life, he had championed martial prowess, aiming to lead Wu back to its former glory with his own strength.
During his reign, he had led numerous campaigns, guiding the aged and enfeebled Kingdom of Wu to victory against formidable enemies and reclaiming lost territories.
Alas!
The Kingdom of Wu's national strength was too frail; a few victorious battles could not alter its fate.
Constant warfare had crushed the colossal kingdom.
Externally, the Jin Dynasty and the Kingdom of Langya massed troops along the borders, while internally, the Tiangang Sect and the Sword Sect watched with covetous eyes.
His eyes fixed on the domed ceiling above, he clutched the royal seal, passed down through a thousand years of Wu's history, in his right hand. A mouthful of blood sprayed forth, staining the golden seal crimson.
In the winter of the two thousand four hundred and thirty-second year of the Wu calendar, the reigning King passed away, taking with him a profound sense of regret, leaving behind the Kingdom of Wu he had dedicated his life to protecting.
That night, Crown Prince Ji Fa urgently summoned the Grand Eunuch Zhang Yan and Ji Hu, a pillar of Wu and a veteran of two reigns. After a lengthy discussion, the four gates of the capital were opened, and teams of men and horses departed the royal city.
On the second day after the King of Wu's demise, Crown Prince Ji Fa, wielding the might of a Grandmaster, ascended the throne of Wu with the support of the two Grandmaster powerhouses, Zhang Yan and Ji Hu.
He then used swift and decisive measures to gain complete control of the military power in the three provinces of Sili, Yanzhou, and Yuzhou.
Instantly, out of the thirteen provinces of the realm, all except Yizhou, Jingzhou, Qingzhou, and Xuzhou offered tribute and pledged allegiance, congratulating the new King on his ascension.
Faced with the defiant inaction of the four provinces, Ji Fa was enraged. Today was his coronation, yet these four provinces dared to be so presumptuous, showing him, the new Great King, no respect.
Especially his royal uncle, Ji Shu, the Provincial Governor of Yizhou, whose entire province felt like a stagnant, silent mire.
Ji Fa, in his fury, convened a council of princes and ministers to deliberate on how to deal with this situation. Meanwhile, in Xuzhou and Jingzhou, the Tiangang Sect and the Sword Sect...
jointly unfurled the banner of "Kill Ji, Destroy Wu," launching the Heavenly Gate Uprising. Within a day, major cities in Qingzhou, Xuzhou, and Jingzhou defected.
The next day, the Heavenly Gate Uprising spread throughout all thirteen provinces of Wu. Sects, families, and bandits across the land followed suit, rising in rebellion alongside the Tiangang Sect and the Sword Sect.
Within a month, the flames of the Heavenly Gate Uprising engulfed the entire nation, with the thirteen provinces and forty-eight prefectures erupting in chaos.
Under the command of the three Grandmasters of the Tiangang Sect and the Sword Sect, the rebel forces advanced like a destructive tide. Yangzhou, Youzhou, and Jizhou fell one after another.
Liangzhou, Bingzhou, Yizhou, and Yongzhou descended into paralysis, with officials fleeing and shockwaves reaching the royal capital!
Ji Fa instantly realized he had underestimated the power of the Tiangang Sect and the Sword Sect, and was also astonished by the ferocity of the provincial rebellions. He hastily summoned the Grand Eunuch Zhang Yan and Ji Hu, the pillar of Wu and a veteran of two reigns.
"Your Excellencies, how do you advise we proceed?"
Ji Fa suppressed the anger churning within him.
"Your Majesty, your humble servant believes that with our current national strength so weakened, although we Grandmasters can hold our own against the Heavenly Gate rebels, but!"
Ji Hu said cautiously.
"But what!"
He looked down at the white-bearded elder presenting his report.
Ji Hu had served with unwavering loyalty, striving to protect this fragile nation. Ji Fa felt a pang in his heart seeing the aging and frail Ji Hu.
Alas, he had no young and vigorous generals capable of shouldering the vast empire!
"Your Majesty, our Wu troops are already stretched thin just trying to suppress the Tiangang Sect. Now, with the Sword Sect to the south and rebels rampant elsewhere!"
"The capital's forces are insufficient to deal with this nationwide turmoil!"
Ji Hu's eyes welled with tears. The previous King had barely passed away, and the likes of the Heavenly Gate had already harbored rebellious intentions, launching fierce assaults that covered vast areas of the country.
This was undoubtedly adding insult to injury for the Kingdom of Wu.
Bang!
Ji Fa kicked away the table with a loud bang: "These scurvy rats, how dare they bully me!"
"Your Majesty, there is only one path forward that offers any hope of survival!"
Zhang Yan bowed his head.
"Speak!"
Ji Fa's eyes blazed with ferocity as he looked at Zhang Yan.
"Allow the various regions to independently raise volunteer armies to suppress the rebels!"
Zhang Yan replied slowly, his head bowed.
Upon hearing this, Ji Hu erupted in thunderous rage: "Zhang Yan, how dare you utter such words! Releasing military authority will surely damage the foundation of the state!"
"Old General, that is where you are mistaken. The Heavenly Gate Uprising is incredibly ferocious, sweeping across more than half the realm in a month. General, if this continues, can we still be standing here speaking?" Su Dan Novel Network
"Furthermore, the nation's strength is incredibly weak. Local powers have long since formed their own armies; they merely outwardly obey the court!"
"Why not go with the flow? This can resolve our immediate predicament and, by using the rebels' hands, weaken the local powers. What's not to like!"
Zhang Yan looked coldly at Ji Hu.
"You!"
Ji Hu let out a furious roar.
"Eloquent as always, do you not realize such actions will destroy our nation's foundation and ruin the vast empire of Wu!"
"Enough!"
His booming voice silenced them both.
"Continue."
Ji Fa looked at Zhang Yan.
"Your Majesty, Yizhou has two Grandmasters. It would be a shame not to utilize these two forces!"
Ji Fa frowned.
Zhang Yan, noticing Ji Fa's questioning expression, stepped forward and replied: "The Provincial Governor of Yizhou, Ji Shu, possesses the Shengyuan Pill. At this juncture, he has likely already advanced to Grandmaster."
"He is, after all, of the Ji family lineage, Your Majesty's uncle. How could he stand by and watch these villains plunder our ancestral land."
"The other force is the Yang family, which has recently made a significant impact in Wuhui Ridge, fighting to a draw with Liu Ji. They should not be underestimated."
Ji Fa, hearing Zhang Yan's words, found his analysis to be sound. These two forces could certainly alleviate the pressure on the imperial court.
"Your Majesty, this must not be done! Ji Shu was once defeated by the late King and harbors resentment. He has long coveted the throne. This is truly nurturing a tiger that will devour us!"
Seeing Ji Fa waver, Ji Hu quickly implored.
"Old General, you worry too much. With these local powers lending their aid, the Heavenly Gate faction will likely be annihilated swiftly. Then we will have the freedom to deal with them, and it will not be too late!"
Zhang Yan sneered.
As his words fell, the entire hall fell silent. After an unknown period of time...
"Issue my royal decree!"
Both Ji Hu and Zhang Yan quickly knelt.
"Order all provinces and prefectures to independently recruit private soldiers and auxiliary troops to jointly suppress the Heavenly Gate rebels with the court!"
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The King's decree, a single royal command, spread throughout the thirteen provinces of the realm. Ji Hu, a veteran of two reigns, led a hundred thousand troops to sweep away the rebel forces in Guanzhou and then camped at the border of Yanzhou and Qingzhou.
Various powers, upon receiving the royal command, responded with alacrity, recruiting soldiers and purchasing horses. For a time, the Heavenly Gate's offensive was temporarily halted.
The long-dormant Provincial Governor of Yizhou, Ji Shu, issued a proclamation to all directions, responding to the court's call by raising a righteous army and advancing into Jingzhou, pressing towards the territories held by the Sword Sect.
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