Hanhai Pass, the ninth day of the Yan Army's siege.
Shangguan Wuji received a message delivered by flying eagle from Great Ye and immediately reported it to Princess Qingyun and Wang Chen.
First came the news of Emperor Shaowu's death. On the very day Prince Jing ascended the throne, the Son of Heaven of Great Liang—deposed by his own younger brother and the Empress Dowager—died within the imperial palace.
The cause of death was a recurrence of heart disease.
This also confirmed Wang Chen's earlier premonition.
After Prince Jing ascended the throne, he granted a general amnesty, changed the state name to Yuanjing, and issued an edict summoning the commanding generals of every prefecture back to the imperial capital to report on their duties.
Emperor Yuanjing had now learned that the Yan Army had violated the border. He ordered Shangguan Wuji to hold Hanhai Pass at all costs and commanded West Sea Prefecture to provide its full support.
Meanwhile, the Rebel Faction and heretical sects were causing trouble in several southern prefectures, with sparks threatening to set the prairie ablaze.
Great Qi's delegation was also on its way to Great Ye, and the two nations were very likely to reach an alliance in the near future.
The latter pieces of information had come through Shangguan Wuji's private channels.
Though the Great General Who Suppresses the West was stationed at the frontier, he had his own informants in Great Ye, allowing him to stay abreast of events in the imperial capital at all times.
"The reinforcements from West Sea Prefecture are not something we can count on for now."
Shangguan Wuji said gravely, "Their military strength is weak, and their troops are not formidable. At most, they'll send over a cavalry unit to put on a show. If we want to