Dare to Besiege the Imperial Guard—Are You Trying to Rebel?

On the parade ground before the Commandant's Manor, more than ten thousand soldiers stood arranged in ten small formations.

Each small formation had one Commander of a Thousand and ten Commanders of a Hundred mounted on horseback, awaiting inspection by Commandant Cao Renqi.

At that moment, Cao Renqi sat astride a chestnut warhorse. Clad in armor with a treasured sword at his waist, he led two Brigade Generals and more than a dozen personal guards as he majestically inspected the ten formations and the drills of the ten thousand officers and soldiers.

Just then, urgent hoofbeats rang out.

Commander Zhao, dressed in crimson brocade, led three Banner Chiefs and over a hundred Imperial Guard Captains galloping toward them.

"Whoa—"

Commander Zhao yanked the reins, and his fine horse reared with a long neigh.

The more than one hundred Imperial Guards behind him also reined in their horses and came to a halt.

Cao Renqi turned in surprise to look at the sudden arrival of these more than one hundred murderous Imperial Guards, an ominous feeling rising in his heart.

He turned his horse around and rode forward with his dozen or so guards. Cupping his hands, he bowed to Commander Zhao and said:

"Isn't this Lord Zhao of the Imperial Guard? May I ask what business brings you to the Commandant's Manor?"

Commander Zhao drew the sword from his waist, pointed it at Cao Renqi, and shouted:

"Cao Renqi, you colluded with the Japanese pirates and plotted rebellion! Dismount and surrender at once!"

The entire parade ground of more than ten thousand officers and soldiers was stunned by these words!

The Commandant had colluded with Japanese pirates and intended to rebel?

How could that be possible?

Cao Renqi's heart skipped a beat. A chill rose from the soles of his feet straight to his scalp, making him feel as though he had fallen into an ice cellar.

How had the Imperial Guard learned of his dealings with the Japanese pirates?

Yet he still forced himself to remain calm and angrily said, "Commander Zhao, do not slander me so viciously! I, Cao Renqi, am loyal to my country. How could I ever do something as treasonous as secretly communicating with Japanese pirates?"

Commander Zhao sneered. "Cao Renqi, stop trying to wrangle your way out of it. Seize him!"

The three Banner Chiefs dismounted and led the more than one hundred Imperial Guard Captains toward Cao Renqi.

"Bold of you! You actually dare slander the Commandant! Retreat at once!"

One of the Brigade Generals beside Cao Renqi drew his saber, pointed it at the three Banner Chiefs, and shouted.

The other Brigade General also drew his saber, joining the dozen or so guards in protecting Cao Renqi.

Commander Zhao coldly shouted, "The Imperial Guard is handling a case. Whoever dares obstruct us will be killed without mercy!"

The dozen or so guards showed hesitation, but the two Brigade Generals raised their sabers and shouted, "We swear to protect the Commandant to the death! Whoever flees in the face of battle dies!"

Cao Renqi pulled out the command token at his waist and shouted to the more than ten thousand officers and soldiers, "By this Commandant's order, kill every one of these Imperial Guards at once!"

Military orders were as immovable as mountains!

As the commandant in charge of the army, Cao Renqi now held the command token and issued an order. None dared disobey.

The ten Commanders of a Thousand did not dare defy him. With a wave of their hands, each led his own thousand soldiers to surround them.

Clatter, clatter, clatter—

More than ten thousand officers and soldiers rushed forward. Blades, spears, and armor collided with earth-shaking clamor, and their sheer momentum made the hundred-odd Imperial Guard Captains pale.

Yet although the more than ten thousand officers and soldiers had surrounded Commander Zhao and his hundred-odd Imperial Guards tightly, no one dared step forward to attack.

After all, these were the Imperial Guard—the Emperor's personal guards!

They were no ragtag rabble.

Commander Zhao showed no fear. Pointing his sword at the more than ten thousand officers and soldiers, he shouted:

"Bold fools! Besieging the Imperial Guard is the same as besieging His Majesty the Emperor! Are you trying to rebel? Do you want your nine clans exterminated?"

That thunderous shout made the hearts of all ten thousand officers and soldiers tremble!

That was right. If the Emperor learned that the Imperial Guard had been besieged, what then?

They might not fear death, but they feared having their nine clans exterminated!

Forget extermination of nine clans—even extermination of three clans was enough to terrify anyone.

One Commander of a Thousand could not help waving his hand and quietly leading his thousand soldiers back.

Seeing this, the other nine Commanders of a Thousand also withdrew their troops one after another.

Cao Renqi panicked and shouted, "This Commandant orders you to kill these Imperial Guards! Whoever dares disobey will be dealt with under military law!"

However, not a single one among the ten thousand officers and soldiers obeyed him.

One Commander of a Thousand cupped his hands toward Cao Renqi and said, "Commandant, the Imperial Guard are His Majesty's personal guards. Besieging them is rebellion, a grave crime punishable by extermination of nine clans. Forgive this subordinate for being unable to obey!"

The other nine Commanders of a Thousand cupped their hands and said in unison, "Forgive this subordinate for being unable to obey!"

Defying military orders was a capital crime, but besieging the Imperial Guard meant the whole family would lose their heads. Naturally, they knew which was the graver matter.

Knowing there was no way back today, Cao Renqi gritted his teeth, raised his sword, and shouted, "Men! The current Emperor is foolish and without virtue. Corrupt officials run rampant, and the people cannot live in peace. We might as well rebel against the bastard! As long as you follow this general and fight our way to the Capital City, every one of you can become a marquis or minister, enjoying endless glory and riches! Kill!"

Cao Renqi was now making his final deathbed struggle. So long as he could talk these ten thousand officers and soldiers into rebelling alongside him, he would still have a chance to live.

Ten thousand soldiers could not stir up much of a storm, but he had the Japanese behind him.

If he brought these ten thousand soldiers to defect to the Japanese, he, Cao Renqi, would surely be granted a high official post.

If Japan eventually swallowed Great Chu, then he, Cao Renqi, would become an even greater meritorious official.

Yet the ten thousand officers and soldiers showed no reaction. Instead, they all glared at Cao Renqi with furious eyes.

What a joke—follow Cao Renqi into rebellion?

Even if their brains had been kicked by donkeys, they would not do something so idiotic.

By now, the ten thousand officers and soldiers were certain that Cao Renqi had betrayed the country to the Japanese. Otherwise, he would not openly call for rebellion.

Commander Zhao sneered. "Cao Renqi, stop making your final deathbed struggle. Dismount and surrender!"

With that, Commander Zhao leaped from his horse. His sword flashed with light as it slashed toward Cao Renqi.

Cao Renqi hurriedly raised his sword to meet it!

Clang!

Metal crashed against metal, and sparks flew in all directions!

Cao Renqi's tiger's mouth went numb from the blow, and the longsword in his hand nearly flew from his grip.

Knowing he was no match for Commander Zhao, he clamped his legs around his horse and drove his sword into the horse's rump.

The horse cried out in pain and bolted forward at full speed.

"Think you can escape?"

Commander Zhao gave a cold shout and used his Lightness Skill to fly after him.

The two Brigade Generals tried to flee as well, but the three Banner Chiefs intercepted them. Within a few exchanges, the two Brigade Generals were captured.

Among the dozen or so guards at Cao Renqi's side, only a few trusted confidants stubbornly resisted and were killed on the spot. The rest threw down their sabers, clasped their heads, and awaited capture.

Though a horse could run quickly, it could not outrun Commander Zhao's Lightness Skill.

Over a long distance, Commander Zhao could not outrun a fine horse, but over a short distance, he was far faster.

Cao Renqi had ridden barely over a hundred meters when Commander Zhao caught up from behind in a flying leap.

Commander Zhao slashed with his sword. Cao Renqi swung his sword backhandedly to meet it and barely blocked the attack.

However, that sword strike had only been a feint. Almost at the same moment, Commander Zhao's left palm shot out and struck Cao Renqi squarely in the back.

Bang!

Cao Renqi was blasted more than ten zhang forward. He sprayed out an arrow of blood and crashed to the ground, severely wounded.

Commander Zhao leaped down before Cao Renqi, sealed several of his acupoints with a wave of his hand, hauled him up from the ground, then mounted his horse and rode away.