Wu Rui Camp, a vast drill ground where ten thousand soldiers were gathered. The air was thick with the smell of blood, yet no one paid it any mind.

Seeing the sudden massacre of Li Bingwen and others by the Lü Liang cavalry, no one stepped forward. Ever since the Xia Village incident, the soldiers had been uneasy about the fate of their army. Thanks to the discussion system previously promoted by Ning Yi, this unease had seeped into the hearts of every soldier, from the top down.

However, after Qin Shaoqian's removal, rumors spread like wildfire, changing three times a day. Among the lower-ranking officers, some cried out about the impending doom of the nation and the fury of a common man, but ultimately, they dared not take any action. Except for He Zhicheng, who fought against the Wangfu guards in the capital for Qin Shaoqian's reputation and was even beaten with military batons as a result.

The arrival and departure of Luo Shengzhou, the arrival of Li Bingwen with the backing of Tong Guan, the martial god of the Wu Dynasty, all these things weighed down on them, and no one dared to move. Later, Qin Shaoqian was assassinated after being exiled, and Ning Yi was brought to Wu Rui Camp to take sides. The soldiers watched all this and found themselves unable to speak.

Though they remained silent outwardly, they harbored resentment in their hearts.

These suppressed feelings made many people yearn for something to happen. Therefore, when the heavy cavalry crushed Li Bingwen at the front of the drill ground, the soldiers were either shocked or stunned, but remained unmoved. However, it was only when Han Jing shouted those words that they truly panicked.

On the other side, the cavalry had already broken through the camp gate. From the crowd, someone suddenly shouted, "General Han! What about us!" This was a young officer in the army, seemingly filled with enthusiasm, wanting to join the Lü Liang people in their grand endeavor. Not far away, Han Jing reined in his horse.

"I won't make things difficult for those of you with families!"

He left those words behind and turned to leave. The ground rumbled as the rolling iron cavalry, like a long dragon, galloped towards the capital. Before long, the cavalry disappeared from the soldiers' sight. The sunlight shone down, and even the colors seemed to turn pale. The soldiers on the drill ground looked at the few generals in front, including He Zhicheng, but some were looking in the direction the cavalry had gone, and some were looking at the bloodbath on the drill ground, seeming somewhat lost.

A buzzing sound began to rise from the ranks. The Lü Liang people had rebelled and were going to kill the emperor. Li Bingwen was dead, and Wu Rui Camp was without a leader. What was going to happen next? The generals in front were still sizing each other up. He Zhicheng and Sun Ye walked together, whispering a few words to each other. From the crowd, someone said, "This can't go on!"

Someone next to him echoed, "That's right, they're only two thousand strong. They won't succeed in the capital. We'll be abandoned here, with no place to die."

"I have family, I can't rebel..."

"I don't, but still..."

The crowd was in an uproar. Seeing that the generals above had not made a decision, they seemed to tacitly approve of the discussion. Some people were already impatiently speaking up. After all, there were soldiers and officers in Wu Rui Camp who had families. Before long, someone said, "We should light the beacon fire to give a warning."

Someone else said, "You dare!"

"Why wouldn't I dare! Are they looking for death, and we're going to die with them!"

"Since Xia Village, who are the loyal ministers and who are the treacherous officials? Who is for the country and the people, and who is abusing power and harming the country? Can't you see that! Lighting the beacon fire, you traitor!"

"Me, a traitor! They've already abandoned us—"

In a short period of time, a heated argument broke out. Amidst the debate and taking sides, many people were still looking at the generals in front. At this moment, Sun Ye and He Zhicheng also began to argue. Sun Ye supported lighting the beacon fire, while He Zhicheng advocated rebellion. Someone in the crowd shouted, "General Sun, we're coming over! Let's see who dares to stop us!"

"At a time like this, we can't hesitate."

The generals shouted loudly, leading a group of people to walk out. Many others also broke out of the ranks to join them. He Zhicheng waved his hand: "Stop! Block them!"

People in the ranks also drew their swords, rushing forward and lining up in a row. The scene immediately became chaotic. At the height of this chaos, someone shouted: "This rebellion plan was orchestrated by Mr. Ning! And now he has been summoned to court by the foolish emperor… Do you want to die!"

In the chaotic scene, the crowd's voices lowered for a moment, then the arguing and confrontation started again, but gradually, a strange atmosphere spread from the main ranks of the drill ground. Some people pointed and whispered, as if discussing something, and gradually people looked over there, and then said a few words and quieted down.

A line of figures was coming from over there. The leading man was tall, and seemed to have an injury to his foot, walking with a slight limp, but he was wrapped in a cloak and coming over from there, and the commotion in the army stopped for a time. The man had a scar on his face, a beard, and was blind in one eye.

"General Qin..."

When the moment of truth came, the dead man returned.

"Disarm them!" Sun Ye, who had previously supported lighting the beacon fire, pointed at the group of people who wanted to rush out and said. The crowd hesitated slightly. Sun Ye shouted, "Don't worry! We won't make things difficult for those of you with families! How could Mr. Ning not have anticipated you!?"

Under the rising sun, the group of people who had just been boiling, laid down their weapons. The one-eyed general stood in front of the army ranks. White summer clouds floated across the sky. Soon after, the army formation on the huge drill ground gradually began to separate...

This would be the most unusual day in many people's lives. No one yet knew what the future held.

...

"It's a eunuch..."

What does he want to do...

Outside Bianliang, at the tomb of Qin Shaoqian, Tie Tianying was momentarily lost in thought, but then he made his decision, choosing nearly half of his men: "Find the coroner, and you others guard this place! The rest of you, follow me back to the city!"

Return to Bianliang and capture Ning Yi!

After running around for several days, he had finally found a chance to break the deadlock, and also found the cause of Zong Feixiao's death. There was no room for delay between him and Ning Yi. A group of more than twenty riders galloped along the small road towards the main road. Recalling Zong Feixiao's death, Tie Tianying instructed, "Everyone be careful, guard against ambush!" In fact, it was past early morning, and although they were running on a small road, they occasionally saw passersby. Before long, the small road would merge into the main post road leading into the city. There was a small slope ahead, and travelers were stopping on and below the slope, looking towards the capital, not knowing what they were looking at.

"Don't stop, enter the city and recruit people! No matter what happens—"

The cavalry turned the bend, and the sound of hooves gradually stopped.

"Wh-what is that..."

Ahead, the post road led to the gates of Bianliang. Under the sunlight and the flocculent white clouds, the wilderness was vast, and a tidal wave of cavalry under this sky, thrust straight towards the gates of Bianliang.

"Those are... the Lü Liang people?"

"Wh-what's going on..."

Someone in the ranks murmured. Tie Tianying's horse turned in a circle. He looked at the Wansheng Gate of Bianliang in the distance, and whispered, "Close the city gate... close the city gate..."

At the city gate, merchants and travelers were scattering and running. On the city walls, people were falling from the outside of the giant walls.

...

Blood splattered everywhere!

On the city wall of Wansheng Gate, Du Sha wielded his saber, hacking and slashing as he advanced. Around him, the soldiers of the Badao Camp were pressing forward one by one.

On the distant wilderness, iron cavalry surged forward.

...

"The Western Army has rebelled!"

"The Wu Rui Camp has rebelled!"

"The army is entering the city to clear the emperor's side! The Suanzao Gate has fallen!"

On one side of Bianliang, a warhorse galloped through the long street, and a rider with bandages bound to him shouted loudly.

...

Liang Gate. The people on Shang Street were startled by the sudden fighting, scattering and running in all directions. The surrounding blocks successively exploded into chaos.

Teams of constables surged forward.

On the high city wall, Zhu Biao raised a hand: "Hold this place. For the time it takes an incense stick to burn."

...

The Ministry of War.

Sensing the sudden chaos, people ran out of the gate, looking around. Messengers on horseback galloped over, and the soldiers at the gate and the generals who had happened to gather there were panicked, not knowing what had happened in the city.

A rumbling sound suddenly rang out.

Across the street, the high wall of the courtyard collapsed in a row, and smoke and dust flew up. On the other side of the smoke and dust, seven wooden, cylindrical things were lined up in a row. The first person to see the outline in the smoke and dust opened his mouth, his throat dry.

At this time, some of the generals of the Ministry of War already had a concept of the elm cannons.

The distance between the two sides—

The width of a street.

...

A young girl named Xigua, carrying her saber box, stood in the courtyard, looking up with more than a dozen others at the huge bag that was slowly rising.

The large bag was pieced together from dozens of cloths of unknown material. At this time, seven or eight stoves in the courtyard were connected to pipes, and huge blowers were turning to inflate it.

It was indeed a very large Kongming lantern.

Under the Kongming lantern hung a basket.

"I'm coming... I'm coming..."

She swayed her body and said softly.

On the city walls of the Imperial Palace, patrolling guards had already seen the rising large cloth bag, and about a mile away, another large cloth bag was also swelling and rising.

In the distance, black smoke rose in the city.

...

Zichen Hall.

In the solemn atmosphere, footsteps stepped onto the golden steps.

Du Chengxi rushed over from the side of the throne.

In the main hall that morning, with the sudden sound of gunfire, only a fleeting moment passed. It was a scene that no one had ever seen.

The figure's pace seemed slow but was actually fast, and in the blink of an eye, he had crossed the hall. With a violent shout from Tong Guan, his body flew up and his head smashed hard against the golden steps. In the blood, someone stepped over two steps and was also splattered. Qin Hui, reacting extremely quickly, failed to grab the figure. Du Chengxi rushed out two steps, and the guards outside only then began to look inside.

A blade slid out from the figure's left sleeve. Du Chengxi's figure was pushed, flying over Zhou Zhe's field of vision, flying over the back of the dragon throne, smashing the screen and porcelain vases behind the emperor's throne into a mess. In an instant, there was a crashing sound, and the beautiful, hollowed-out carved lamp post was still falling, smashing onto the dragon throne. Zhou Zhe sat there, his vision blurred. A sharp point was handed over, and he opened his mouth and reached out to grab it.

In this moment, the hall was filled with a mixture of "boom—bang—crash—" sounds, mixed with Tong Guan's cursing and screams. At this point, some people had already started to make sounds, and the great men located in the center of the world were shouting subconsciously, deafeningly, and some people were striding forward. In the small space in front of the throne, Zhou Zhe's eyes were confused and pained, and he subconsciously reached for the blade. However, no minister noticed this action. In the next moment, they saw the figure's right hand grab the clothes on the chest of the Emperor, raising his entire body into the air with one hand!

Then he turned around and threw him down hard!

The Emperor's body fell from the air, crashing heavily on the ground in front of the throne, on the golden steps. His right hand instinctively landed first, and then his head hit the ground, raising the dust on the ground. The people rushing in front blinked their eyes because blood spurted over and splattered on their faces. The Emperor's right forearm was already broken, and the white bones protruded from his sleeve. He writhed in pain.

Not many people could care about the sounds anymore. Some people shouted, some cursed, some rushed forward, and more people were stunned, their minds buzzing, trying to understand this impossible scene.

Above the golden steps, before the throne, the figure sat down on the steps beside him after throwing down Zhou Zhe.

Ning Yi sat down at the top of the golden steps. He looked calmly at everyone in front of him, those ministers who were either hysterical, or incredulous, or full of condemnation, or dumbfounded. The blade in his hand pressed down on the Emperor who was still writhing in pain on the ground, and then he used the back of the blade to hit him hard on the head!

The closest minister to him was only three steps away, Qin Hui with blood droplets on his face. Not far away, Li Gang's hair was disheveled and he was swearing loudly. Countless different expressions floated on their faces, but no one in the entire hall dared to take a step forward. He looked past the heads of these people, towards the outside of the hall, where the sunlight was blazing. The sky there must be filled with leisurely white clouds.

Bianliang was already in chaos.

Outside the city, by the distant post road, it was a suffocating moment.

At the end of the horizon, a torrent of galloping iron cavalry surged into the city!

Bianliang, which had persisted for more than a month under the strong attacks of the Jurchens, had its gates wide open, undefended, at this moment.

At the gate of the Ministry of War, cannon fire rang out. Near Liang Gate, cannon fire also rang out. In an instant, the main nodes in Bianliang where fireworks could bloom were blooming everywhere. At the Forbidden Army Hall, Chen Tuozi led his men, broke through the outer wall and rushed straight in, beheading the Forbidden Army officials and seizing the order talismans and seals. Outside the walls of the Imperial City, many of the Forbidden Army soldiers were attracted by the two large leather balls that were rising, but at this time, chaos had spread inside the palace. On the western side of the palace wall, hundreds of people suddenly surged out. Some people were carrying a stack of ladders, and there were ropes and winches on the ladders. As the crowd pulled, the ladders were continuously raised section by section! Two siege ladders leaned against the palace walls! The others held more than a dozen modified giant crossbows tied with ropes, and shot the grappling hooks onto the city walls.

They swarmed up at the same time! Climbing the ropes, as fast as monkeys in the mountains!

In the waiting room next to the Imperial Study in the Imperial Palace, Hong Ti stood up and walked towards the door. Even here, the guards had sensed the chaos. A Da Nei master came to meet her, and when he reached out, Hong Ti also raised her palm. The master hesitated for a moment, and the palm fell lightly.

His figure retreated two zhang in an instant, but the top of his head had been shattered. In the last remaining picture in his vision, his long saber was inexplicably in the woman's hand. She walked out of the room. Under the eaves, where her two companions were, blood violently separated!

In that instant, what he saw seemed like the Asura hell...

The hot air balloon rose into the sky.

In the basket below the balloon, Xigua looked down at the entire city of the capital. Around her vision, everything was expanding, and the conflict of blood and fire, the killing, had begun. At Wansheng Gate, Liang Gate, and Lize Gate, people were paving roads, and the cavalry from Lü Liang Mountain were surging along the long streets, pouncing towards the Palace City!

Holy Lord, I've arrived.

At this moment, she thought of Hangzhou...

Time passed over the imperceptible long river, and many things were slowly slipping away. And the future of this moment pressed down!

***************

The confluence of blood and fire would create a smoke that could be smelled even in unseen places. The ground was shaking, the air was restless, but deep down there was peace. He sat there, and sometimes, in the deepest depths of unnoticed silence, a tangled light and shadow would appear.

"Young Master!" Behind the figure of the serious little maid, there were small braids that moved up and down.

"Husband." The lady gave a blessing, revealing a smile. She was no longer wary.

A woman in a long dress chased after a hen, appearing and disappearing in the fog.

An old man smiled by the river in Jiangning, dropping a chess piece: "Li Heng."

"Three circles to the left, three circles to the right, twist your neck, twist your butt..."

"...What have I done that's so unconscionable again?"

"You can only become...a third-rate expert."

"We in Lü Liang Mountain...live like less than human..."

When the heavy snow fell, in the wind and snow, the woman beside him reached out her hand, her smile pure.

In Hangzhou, smoke was filling the air and blood was rising.

"We Confucian scholars, the thing we should do most..." an old man cupped his fist in prison, "is to defend the Way!"

"I'm just a shepherd. I'm not that good. I only hope they...can all grab a steamed bun."

"We used to be fearless, but later, we were slowly taught to be afraid by this world...I want to tell them that some adults are not to be feared." "Bao Daoyi, you are going to die—"

"Why did you lie to me? My father...was killed by the court—"

"The Liangshan people, they..."

"I didn't want to kill you, but I must have Ning Liheng's life!"

"Try me and see if I'll talk to you about Jianghu rules!"

"I want to destroy Liangshan. Please help me. Don't worry...you can keep up."

"People in this world will encounter tigers."

"...So I eat people!"

Ning Yi struck Li Kui on the head with a stick, and then another stick, and then looked into his eyes: "I can watch you for a lifetime!"

In the dilapidated courtyard, the old man kicked Lin Chong out of the gate with one foot.

"Scholars should have a ruler to measure the heavens and the earth, to define rules. Martial men should have a blade. If worldly affairs cannot be done...kill the rules!"

"What do you want? Tell me. I'll get it, and tie a bow on it..."

"I want...world peace?"

"Everyone in the Mani Church must die!!!"

"You mama's boy..."

"Heart demon! Ning Yi! No matter how fierce and powerful you are! I will find you—"

In the night wind, the last banners waved: "All laws are equal, without high or low. Eliminate evil and eradicate the strong...for the people's eternal happiness."

"Brother Li...please ensure that the commercial roads are clear."

"There are starving bones on the road..."

"You are opposing the great families of the world."

"Zhang Jue..."

"I want to guide people's desires, to tend to the heavenly principles..."

"They in Lü Liang Mountain, live like less than human..."

"The Blood Bodhisattva has a fierce reputation..."

"You are Hong Ti's husband? Hong Ti is married too! I'm her sister, Duan Yun. We starved together when we were little...her husband and mother-in-law, they went out, and haven't come back yet...they haven't come back yet..."

"Ning Liheng, after Hangzhou, you didn't think...I would still be alive to stand before you again, did you..."

"It must not be easy..."

"...That kind of day...we met bandits, and I was going to die...but then, she came out just like that. She was holding a sword, ah...she...was so beautiful..."

"You two, must live well..."

Luo Jinyan knelt down: "The teacher was wrong, but he had no choice." "This disciple is willing to try with this body, only asking the teacher to give this disciple the chance..."

"You have no chance..."

"Xiao Chan...mother and child are safe."

"The Jurchens are coming."

The front lines of war were like floods, slowly flowing into the mountains and wilderness, crushing everything that could be crushed, and countless crowds were fleeing and running.

"This country is in debt."

"How many lives can fill it?"

"Come back alive..."

A voice echoed in the darkness, that roar of unknown origin, shaking heaven and earth: "Kill Nianhan—"

"They're all people, why can't we win..." a cry rang out.

"My hand—my hand—" a shrill cry.

Countless people struggled, rose from the trenches, awakened, sacrificed, the endless succession of Xia Village. A general of unknown name faced the surging army, fighting to the end, hanging on the flagpole and flogged to death.

He said, "We have lost, don't go—"

"Don't be used—"

Blood and tears meandered, unwavering until death.

"I...I'm going to eat you—"

It seemed as if someone's scream could be heard in the air. Countless screams, they had appeared and then left.

The entire capital was boiling, fire, explosions, blood, fighting, the opposing cries were like thunder, inside and outside the hall, officials and Forbidden Army soldiers ran around, and various things happened. In the deepest depths, where no one else knew, there was such a conversation.

"Old Qin, looking back, you have put so much effort into this journey, but it's always been ineffective. You took the blame for the Black Water Alliance, hoping that the remaining people could cheer up, but they didn't. After your reinstatement, you worried about the Northern Expedition, going against the tide and offending so many people. The soldiers sent to the north couldn't fight, in the battles of Bianliang and Taiyuan, you always desperately tried to find a way out, and when there was finally a way, no one took it. Everything you've done has ultimately come to nothing, and you've been hit with stones, and had dung splashed on you. What do you feel in your heart?"

"This old man...is very heartbroken...for the things they might encounter in the future...my heart is torn."

"Mm."

"What about Liheng?"

"Mm?"

"Liheng...what does he feel?"

"..."

...

I am heartbroken for the people who have sacrificed along the way, and for the things that have already been encountered...

—My heart is torn.

*******************

At a certain moment, he grabbed Zhou Zhe's hair, pulling him to his knees.

In a daze, Zhou Zhe painfully raised his head in a twisted kneeling position. He heard him say in a low voice, "You...I..."

"Don't speak." Ning Yi leaned down and whispered, "I'll send you on your way."

He pointed the blade at his neck and stabbed down.

Overlooking the city, the fighting continued.

A new era had arrived.

*****************

(Volume 7 *The Ruler's Nation* End)