Chapter Summaries

Huang Shaojie questioned General Meng Xing about the whereabouts of Ye Chen, then learned that Annan Kingdom had been raiding Great Chu’s borderlands. The commanders awaited imperial authorization for a campaign, while one valiant commander volunteered to lead a retaliatory raid.

• Huang Shaojie asked Meng Xing to help locate Ye Chen, an exiled conscript whose father had been executed fifteen years earlier.
• Meng Xing ordered his commanders to check their camp rosters for anyone named Ye Chen, while the valiant commander silently reacted to the name.
• A scout reported that Annan Kingdom had attacked Dongxing County, killing and wounding civilians and looting their property.
• Meng Xing explained that Annan Kingdom had stopped paying tribute and that he planned to report its raids to the Emperor before taking military action.
• The valiant commander offered to lead three thousand elite soldiers into Annan Kingdom territory to retaliate.

Huang Shaojie questioned Meng Xing about Chou Sihai, suspecting the imposing general might be Ye Chen, but learned the army had no record of anyone named Ye Chen. After a welcoming banquet, Huang Shaojie returned to his courtyard and began writing letters to his parents, Xiao He, and Vermilion Bird.

• Meng Xing ordered Chou Sihai to lead three thousand elite troops on a raid into Annan Kingdom.
• Huang Shaojie suspected Chou Sihai might be Ye Chen because of his name, appearance, and martial cultivation, then asked Meng Xing about his background.
• Meng Xing said Chou Sihai came from Datong, Shanxi, had risen through the ranks, and was expected to succeed him as Yong Prefecture's General Commander.
• At a banquet, Meng Xing told Huang Shaojie that the military rosters contained no one named Ye Chen and suggested he had probably died long ago.
• After the banquet, Huang Shaojie returned to his courtyard, dismissed the maidservants, and wrote letters to his parents, Xiao He, and Vermilion Bird.

Huang Shaojie sent letters and urgent reports to the Capital City about the Annan Kingdom’s invasion, then considered who might be backing it. He decided to travel to Annan Capital City to gather intelligence and capture its king.

• Huang Shaojie wrote personal letters and official reports describing the Annan Kingdom’s attacks and warning that a stronger power might be behind them.
• Huang Shaojie sent the five sealed letters and documents with Meng Xing’s memorial by 800 Li Express.
• Huang Shaojie considered whether the Annan Kingdom had allies or a new Suzerain State supporting its invasion.
• Huang Shaojie decided to set out for Annan Capital City to gather intelligence and capture the King of Annan Kingdom.

Annan Kingdom’s invasion of Great Chu prompted urgent reports and speculation that another country was backing it. Xiang Qingyang recognized the crisis as an opportunity and learned that Huang Shaojie had identified it as one for her as well.

• Azure Dragon read Huang Shaojie’s urgent report from Yong Prefecture, recognized an opportunity for Prince Ning, and sent him a secret letter.
• Ling Xiaotian received Huang Shaojie’s report, suspected Annan Kingdom had a foreign backer, and went to report to Emperor Xuande.
• Emperor Xuande discussed the invasion with Ling Xiaotian, who suggested Japan might be behind Annan Kingdom, and ordered senior officials summoned to court.
• Xiang Qingyang summoned advisers to Sleeping Phoenix Residence to discuss the invasion and asked Vermilion Bird for Huang Shaojie’s assessment.
• Vermilion Bird told Xiang Qingyang that Huang Shaojie believed the invasion was meant to provoke Great Chu and create an opportunity for the Princess.

Princess Pingyang gathered her secret allies to plan how to turn Annan Kingdom’s invasion into an opportunity to claim command of the campaign. She then visited Prime Minister Zhuge to seek his assistance before the court convened.

• Princess Pingyang told Shi Quan, Jiang Cheng, and Tang Feng about Annan Kingdom’s invasion, and declared that she intended to become commander of the campaign.
• Princess Pingyang instructed Jiang Cheng and Shi Quan to caution Prince Qi and Prince Han against rushing into a military campaign, while Vermilion Bird was to report a Japanese alliance with Annan Kingdom to Ling Xiaotian.
• Princess Pingyang told Tang Feng to advocate strongly for war at court the next day.
• Princess Pingyang went to Prime Minister Zhuge’s residence, where Zhuge Qingyun asked whether she had come to discuss Annan Kingdom’s invasion.

Xiang Qingyang persuaded Zhuge Qingyun to support her as commander of a campaign against the Annan Kingdom, then declared her intention at court after Emperor Xuande learned Japan and India were backing the kingdom. The court hesitated over the danger, and Tang Feng stepped forward to urge a punitive expedition.

• Xiang Qingyang told Zhuge Qingyun that Great Chu must crush the Annan Kingdom and volunteered to lead the army, and Zhuge agreed to recommend her.
• Emperor Xuande convened court for the first time in five years to discuss the Annan Kingdom's attacks on Yong Prefecture.
• Prince Qi and Prince Han both warned that a powerful foreign force might be supporting the Annan Kingdom, with Prince Qi suspecting India.
• Ling Xiaotian reported that the Western Pacification Office had uncovered an alliance between Japan and India against Great Chu.
• Emperor Xuande asked the ministers how to respond, but the court hesitated after learning of the alliance.
• Tang Feng urged Great Chu to punish the Annan Kingdom regardless of whether other nations stood behind it.

Emperor Xuande weighed how to respond to the Annan Kingdom’s border harassment as ministers debated war, and Prime Minister Zhuge Changqing recommended Princess Pingyang to command the campaign. The Emperor summoned his daughter to the Hall of Supreme Harmony to discuss the matter.

• Tang Feng volunteered the Tiger Swift Guard to fight, but Emperor Xuande asked Prince Qi for his opinion.
• Prince Qi proposed sending envoys to investigate Annan’s strength, while Prince Han advocated deploying troops to Yong Prefecture to pressure Annan and test India and Japan.
• Emperor Xuande asked who would lead the army, but Prince Qi and Prince Han stayed silent.
• Zhuge Changqing recommended Princess Pingyang as commander, surprising the court and Emperor Xuande.
• Zhuge Changqing said Princess Pingyang was skilled in military strategy, and Emperor Xuande ordered An Fu to summon her.

Princess Pingyang impressed Emperor Xuande with her assessment of Annan Kingdom’s invasion and accepted command of a five-hundred-thousand-strong western expedition. At Prince Ning’s residence, he suspected she was pursuing the throne but warned that Annan Kingdom’s forces could destroy her army.

• Xiang Qingyang answered Emperor Xuande’s questions by arguing that India was likely behind Annan Kingdom’s aggression against Great Chu.
• Xiang Qingyang urged a forceful response, and Emperor Xuande appointed her Grand Marshal of the Western Expeditionary Forces with five hundred thousand troops.
• Prince Ning learned from Azure Dragon that Xiang Qingyang had been given command of the expedition.
• Prince Ning suspected Xiang Qingyang had built her own faction and engineered events to keep Prince Qi and Prince Han from leading the campaign.
• Prince Ning told Azure Dragon that Xiang Qingyang could command troops, but Annan Kingdom had laid a dangerous trap for the Chu Army.

Disguised as a Great Chu traveler, Huang Shaojie entered Jiuzhen Commandery to scout the Annan Kingdom’s defenses. After killing a border patrol and taking the centurion Zhang Shan’s identity, he passed through Jiuzhen City and stopped at an inn, leaving his infiltration underway.

• Huang Shaojie encountered three Annan Kingdom soldiers on the border road and killed two of them when they attacked.
• Huang Shaojie used the Soul Searching Technique on centurion Zhang Shan, learned that Wu Di commanded eighty thousand troops in Jiuzhen Commandery, and killed Zhang Shan.
• Huang Shaojie disguised himself as Zhang Shan, took his uniform and token, and rode toward Jiuzhen City.
• Huang Shaojie entered Jiuzhen City without being questioned and surveyed its busy streets.
• Huang Shaojie went to an inn for dinner and ordered the innkeeper to bring the best wine and dishes.

Huang Shaojie disguised as an Annan Kingdom Centurion entered the General's Residence to seize General Wu Di and learn why Annan had invaded Great Chu. After deciding secrecy was impossible, he attacked openly and revealed his strength by killing two Grandmaster guards.

• Huang Shaojie overheard Annan commoners discussing Great Chu's attack, then returned to the barracks in his Centurion disguise.
• At night, Huang Shaojie went to the heavily guarded General's Residence, intending to abduct Wu Di and search his soul for intelligence.
• Huang Shaojie abandoned his plan to sneak in and landed in the residence's drill ground to draw Wu Di out.
• A Second Rank Grandmaster guard attacked Huang Shaojie, who crushed the guard's throat and killed him instantly.
• A Fifth Rank Grandmaster struck Huang Shaojie, who killed him with one punch and made the other guards suspect he was no ordinary Centurion.

Huang Shaojie infiltrated the General's Residence and defeated Wu Di, the General of Jiuzhen, before killing the guards and scattering thousands of soldiers. He seized Wu Di and escaped into the night.

• Wu Di arrived at the General's Residence and ordered the guards to stand down before demanding Huang Shaojie's identity and purpose.
• Huang Shaojie defeated Wu Di with a single punch and sealed his acupoints.
• Huang Shaojie used the Wind God Leg to kill the guards, including the chief guard, who had attacked to rescue Wu Di.
• Huang Shaojie unleashed the Dragon Subduing Eighteen Palms, killing at least two thousand soldiers and driving the survivors to flee.
• Huang Shaojie grabbed Wu Di and escaped into the night using his Lightness Skill.

Huang Shaojie learned that Nguyen Canh had seized the Annan Kingdom’s throne with India’s backing and planned to lure Great Chu’s army into an ambush at Giant Rock Ridge. Meanwhile, Xiang Qingyang prepared a 200,000-strong force for a swift campaign against Annan.

• Huang Shaojie crippled Wu Di, searched his soul, and learned that Nguyen Canh had replaced Nguyen Mien as Crown Prince through a coup.
• Huang Shaojie discovered that Nguyen Canh had shifted the Annan Kingdom’s allegiance to India and ordered attacks on Great Chu’s border to lure its army into an ambush at Giant Rock Ridge.
• Huang Shaojie killed Wu Di, returned to his inn, and the next morning rode toward the Annan Kingdom’s capital.
• In Chang’an, Xiang Qingyang completed preparations for a 200,000-strong western expedition army, choosing an elite force for a swift campaign.

Princess Pingyang led a two-hundred-thousand-strong army out of Chang'an to attack the Annan Kingdom, while Huang Shaojie arrived in its capital, Thang Long, after surveying its defenses. The expedition marched southwest as Huang Shaojie settled into an inn in the enemy capital.

• Xiang Qingyang rallied the troops with a speech about Annan's crimes, including fabricated atrocities, and ordered the army to set out.
• Prince Ning warned Xiang Qingyang to beware of ambushes, and Emperor Xuande and the princes wished her a safe and triumphant return.
• Xiang Qingyang led the expedition out of Chang'an amid the cheers of the people, accompanied by two Half-step Great Grandmasters.
• After ten days of travel and surveying Annan's troop deployments, Huang Shaojie reached Thang Long and found an inn.

Huang Shaojie infiltrated the imperial palace to abduct Second Prince Nguyen Canh, but learned that Indian forces had taken control and imprisoned Nguyen Canh. Disguised as a palace maid, he returned to the palace and was challenged by an Indian officer near Nguyen Canh’s residence.

• Huang Shaojie surveyed the palace’s defenses and decided to disguise himself as a palace maid rather than force his way in.
• Huang Shaojie captured Lan Xiang and learned that Indian forces had imprisoned Nguyen Canh and taken control of the Annan Kingdom.
• Huang Shaojie rendered Lan Xiang unconscious, disguised himself as her, and returned to the imperial palace.
• Huang Shaojie headed toward Qianning Palace but was stopped by an Indian military officer and his patrol.

Huang Shaojie infiltrated the Annan Kingdom palace disguised as a palace maid and learned through soul searching that India planned to ambush the Chu Army at Giant Rock Ridge. He killed the Indian officer and headed for Qianning Palace, intending to rescue Nguyen Canh.

• Huang Shaojie let a lecherous Indian officer lead him into a pavilion while keeping the officer's warriors away.
• Huang Shaojie sealed the officer's acupoints, kicked him in the crotch, and used the Soul Searching Technique to learn India's plans.
• Huang Shaojie learned India had sent one million troops to join Annan Kingdom forces in an ambush at Giant Rock Ridge and planned to invade Great Chu afterward.
• Huang Shaojie snapped the officer's neck, took his command token and clothes, and left for Qianning Palace.

Nguyen Canh regretted making Annan Kingdom dependent on India after Great General Azim abused his power and took Consort Chen from him. Disguised as a palace maid, Huang Shaojie encountered Azim and was forced to reveal his strength in a clash of palms.

• Nguyen Canh drank in Qianning Palace while Consort Chen tried to comfort him about India's hold over Annan Kingdom.
• Azim entered Nguyen Canh's bedchamber, struck him down, and carried Consort Chen away despite her pleas for the Crown Prince.
• Huang Shaojie recognized Azim as he left Qianning Palace carrying Consort Chen and tried to pass him without attracting attention.
• Azim stopped Huang Shaojie, identified her as an Eighth Rank Grandmaster, and attacked her with an earth-yellow palm.
• Huang Shaojie countered with Cloud Dispelling Palm, and both survived the collision as Azim realized the palace maid could withstand his strike.

Huang Shaojie fled the imperial palace after Azim discovered her, then fought the Indian Great Grandmaster with Three Points Return to One Qi and the Indestructible Vajra Technique. The chapter ended with Huang Shaojie’s kick striking Azim in the groin.

• Huang Shaojie escaped the palace as Azim and the other experts pursued her.
• Azim gained on Huang Shaojie as they raced hundreds of li beyond the city.
• Huang Shaojie turned and attacked Azim with Three Points Return to One Qi, while Azim countered with the Earth God Profound Technique.
• Their palm strikes ended in a draw, sending both fighters flying backward and leaving Azim’s blood and qi churning.
• Azim trapped Huang Shaojie and punched her chest, but her golden Indestructible Vajra Technique left her unharmed.
• Huang Shaojie struck Azim in the groin with a Wind God Leg kick.

Huang Shaojie crippled Azim with a surprise kick, but Azim escaped and killed Consort Chen after returning to the palace. The next day, Huang Shaojie defended Great Chu’s actions to Annan citizens, beginning to explain how Chu’s generous tribute rewards contrasted with the small offerings Annan sent.

• Huang Shaojie endured Azim’s punch and struck his groin with a powerful kick, shattering Azim’s pelvic bones before Azim fled toward the imperial city.
• Huang Shaojie searched the battlefield but found Azim gone, then removed his disguise and returned to the inn.
• Azim returned to his bedchamber, rejected Consort Chen, and killed her when she begged him to spare the Crown Prince.
• The next day, Huang Shaojie listened as Annan citizens blamed Great Chu for invading their border and argued that Annan had the right to choose India as its suzerain.
• Huang Shaojie told the citizens that Annan had brought the conflict upon itself and described how Great Chu had rewarded Annan with goods worth far more than its annual tribute.

Huang Shaojie spread news in an Annan Kingdom inn that India had forced Annan’s court to attack Great Chu, aiming to turn the people against India and prepare them to support the Chu Army. After the inn’s patrons believed his account, he intended to report his successful effort to Great Chu’s commander-in-chief and Ling Xiaotian.

• Huang Shaojie explained that Great Chu’s tribute system brought Annan Kingdom valuable rewards and that India had stationed a million troops in Annan.
• Huang Shaojie claimed that India had ordered Annan Kingdom’s army to raid Great Chu’s borderlands and that he had witnessed soldiers slaughter and abuse civilians.
• Huang Shaojie showed his centurion’s command token, convincing the inn’s patrons that he was a military officer and that his account was true.
• Huang Shaojie described India’s plan to make Annan Kingdom and Great Chu exhaust each other so India could seize the advantage.
• Huang Shaojie privately celebrated that his story would turn Annan’s people against India and make them less likely to oppose a future Chu campaign.

Huang Shaojie infiltrated the palace and rescued King Nguyen Dan from house arrest, then fled with him to a ruined temple in the mountains. As Nguyen Dan rested, Huang Shaojie considered whether to take him to Yong Prefecture or to meet Li Chengbiao and turn Annan Kingdom’s armies against the Indian troops.

• Huang Shaojie disguised himself as an Indian officer and entered Cian Palace, where King Nguyen Dan was under house arrest.
• Huang Shaojie secretly told Nguyen Dan that he had come to rescue him on Commander Wu’s orders, and Nguyen Dan agreed to leave.
• Huang Shaojie carried Nguyen Dan out of the palace and raced several hundred li to a ruined temple in the mountains.
• Huang Shaojie revealed his true appearance and considered whether to bring Nguyen Dan to Yong Prefecture or to Li Chengbiao’s army at Giant Rock Ridge.