Far away in Western Xiao.

Inside the Royal Library Pavilion, Shang Lu looked over recent memorials with Prime Minister Wen at his side.

Prime Minister Wen spoke: “Your Majesty, Daxiang’s civil strife grows tense. Word arrived stating Prince of Xiang personally leads the army to Abyss River.”

Hearing this, Shang Lu paused his brush.

“Leading the army personally?”

Shang Lu felt surprised and asked: “I remember Zhao Zhen is over sixty?”

“Yes, Zhao Zhen is sixty-nine, nearing seventy years old.”

Shang Lu shook his head with a smile. “Still so restless? Does he believe himself young, daring to command personally?”

Prime Minister Wen sighed. “Zhao Zhen placed 150,000 troops at Frontier Pass. Likely not just guarding against Western Xiao, but plotting something long ago.”

Shang Lu said: “Zhao Zhen has immense ambition. Before, we might have feared him. But today’s Western Xiao is beyond his reach.”

“All owing to Your Majesty’s leadership,” Prime Minister Wen said respectfully.

Shang Lu waved dismissively. “Just tend to your duties, Prime Minister Wen. Many matters need only a memorial. No need for a special trip.”

The Prime Minister recognized his dismissal but opened his mouth again. “Your Majesty, this old subject meant to say… Daxiang holds no threat. We could even raise troops and attack!”

Hearing this, Shang Lu fell silent.

His eyes fixed on the memorial, not looking at the Prime Minister.

After a moment, he finally said leisurely: “Prime Minister Wen seems rather confused lately.”

The Prime Minister’s heart sank, but he pressed on: “Your Majesty, the chance won’t last! This old minister observes Daxiang’s situation. Likely Zhao Zhen cannot defeat the Rebel Army. We may lose this perfect timing!”

Shang Lu paused, then asked: “Does Prime Minister Wen truly think Daxiang is so weak?”

Prime Minister Wen argued: “This old subject worries. If Zhao Zhen crushes the rebels, Daxiang’s army will strengthen further. Then Western Xiao faces great peril. Since we now hold power like the butcher’s knife, why not strike first?”

Shang Lu pondered inwardly.

Prime Minister Wen wasn’t entirely wrong. Daxiang had coveted their lands for long. Threatening Western Xiao was only a matter of time.

Modern Western Xiao held slight strength over Daxiang but had weaknesses. High mountains, scarce grain. Troop numbers might surpass Daxiang, but weapons lagged far behind.

Western Xiao lacked such craftsmen.

Fighting now, even if victorious, would bring heavy losses and drain national power.

Further rebellion later could shake the nation’s foundation. The cost outweighed the gain.

Shang Lu declared: “Prime Minister Wen, seeing Western Xiao’s recent prosperity, perhaps lost perspective. I think the Great Xing Temple offers peace. Rest there, eat temple food. Return when thoughts clear.”

Prime Minister Wen choked back words. Finally, he let out a long sigh.

Through gritted teeth, he uttered: “Your Majesty lacks bold vision.”

After speaking, Prime Minister Wen left the Imperial Study without looking back.

Hearing this, Shang Lu shook his head. Later, he sent an edict only cutting Prime Minister Wen’s salary for one year. Nothing more.

After returning home, Prime Minister Wen went alone to Great Xing Temple. He withdrew entirely from court affairs.

He clearly knew: Victory was highly likely. It could unify the land!

But His Majesty refused.

His Majesty cared only for people and homeland, not the grand unification through ages.

That’s why he dared speak those bold words.

Yet only his pay was cut.

Prime Minister Wen understood. Raising it again, His Majesty would never agree.

Now to the army camped beyond Abyss River.

Eighty thousand troops halted there, unmoved for ten days.

Rumors slowly spread in the camp.

Now, even commanders lost patience. One entered the command tent to advise.

“Your Majesty! Recall only fifty thousand elite soldiers from Frontier Pass! Abyss River would fall instantly!”

His reward? Kicked out, stumbling and crawling.

After that, no commander dared speak again.

Not one soldier from Frontier Pass could move.

“What exactly is Your Majesty thinking?”

“Ah…”

All commanders sighed deeply, lost for words.

Zhao Zhen refused.

He knew recalling frontier troops was possible, but those at Frontier Pass were true veterans—battle-hardened, utterly different from local forces. The gap was immense.

He wouldn’t risk losing even one!

So one day later, Zhao Zhen made a decision.

“Leave behind thirty thousand troops! Camp here!”

Beyond Abyss River, thirty thousand soldiers camped, trapping rebels inside.

The remaining fifty thousand followed Zhao Zhen as he withdrew home.

Abyss River’s terrain was easy to defend, hard to attack, but escaping proved equally difficult. Thirty thousand troops could lock them inside.

No rebels bottled inside Abyss River could cause trouble.

No commander objected, yet all felt pent-up frustration.

But on reflection, they felt relief.

“His Majesty still treasures both realms.”

“Which realms do you mean?”

“Two realms!”

Summer of the fourteenth year of Xinglong.

Time flew.

A whole year passed in a blink.

Troops still camped beyond Abyss River. Several miles outside Qingshan City, barracks stood. Drills continued daily, never ceasing.

Chen Changsheng awoke from sleep. When he looked toward Qingshan City again, it had utterly changed.

“Trouble?”

Chen Changsheng silently calculated. Then his mind jolted.

“Already happened?”

He sighed, shaking his head. Then he walked toward Qingshan City.

Not yet inside the city, guards stopped him.

A gate-keeping soldier demanded: “Got any government papers?”

Chen Changsheng paused. After the Righteous Army took over, checks grew this strict?

Reaching into his robe, he pulled out written “papers.” Naturally fake—just an Illusionary Trick.

The soldier glanced at them. “These papers look less than certain.”

“Oh?”

Chen Changsheng asked: “Where uncertain?”

The soldier grinned. “Of course… they could become certain?”

Chen Changsheng understood but shook his head. “My family’s poor, sir. Could you bend the rule?”

The soldier declared: “Then these papers have no certainty.”

“No room to negotiate?”

“What are you? Why would I negotiate with you?”

Chen Changsheng nodded. From his waist purse, he pulled scrap silver, placing it in the soldier’s palm.

“A little money. Buy wine with your men.”

The soldier handed the papers back. “Much better. Go on in.”

After entering, Chen Changsheng looked back at the soldier guarding the gate.

“Bold. Taking my money so easily?” My silver claimed just like that.