Outrageous! The Third Prince Is Going to Rebel?

Luminous Empire, Bin River Province, Danna Crossing.

This was a transfer station for the Empire's troops, provisions, and supplies.

The previous Emperor had dredged the tributaries of the Lancang River, expending vast manpower and resources to construct the Lancang Canal, which connected the Lancang River and the Wanie River.

With the advantage of the canal, the Empire could continuously and swiftly transport supplies and troops to the Jiashan Fortress, which was still under construction.

Danna Crossing was an important military stronghold built alongside the canal. One hundred thousand Imperial troops were stationed there, commanded by Qu Tairan, one of the Empire's Five Tigers.

"Elder Qu, the situation is critical. I hope you can make a decision as soon as possible and lead the hundred thousand troops at Danna Crossing down the canal to Jiashan Fortress, relieving its crisis!"

After bidding farewell to Zichuan Mingri, Lin Junyu led eight hundred Feather Forest Army soldiers and rushed without rest to Danna Crossing.

To his surprise, the commander of the Danna Crossing army was Elder Qu. Qu Xiaoyuer had often taken him to play at the Qu residence when he was young, so he naturally knew this elder—the earliest renowned and most senior of the Empire's Five Tigers. Lin Junyu told him what had happened at Jiashan Fortress. As an experienced old general, he would surely understand the urgency of the situation.

Wearing white armor, Qu Tairan sat in the main seat of the command tent, staring at the military map on the table with a helpless, troubled expression.

"Third Prince, of course I know the situation is urgent. But without an Imperial decree and a marshal's order, this old man cannot mobilize a hundred thousand troops. I... I have the will, but not the power!"

As an old general who had fought for more than a decade, he naturally understood the importance of this battle.

Leaving aside Jiashan Fortress's importance to the Empire's eastern campaign, once it fell into the demon race's hands, they could advance by using the Empire's completed canal to threaten Danna Crossing, or retreat by cutting off the Empire's deployment and communications in the Southeastern Plains, thereby gaining complete control of the region.

Once the Imperial forces deployed in the Southeastern Plains were wiped out and the plains were occupied by the demon race, the Empire's eastern campaign would lose its buffer zone and end in utter failure.

The demon race might even use Jiashan Fortress as a base, travel down the canal, and counterattack Danna Crossing. If the crossing fell as well, the demon army could advance along the rivers and freely ravage the Empire's heartland.

The crossings and fortresses the Empire had painstakingly built would instead become powerful weapons for the enemy's counteroffensive, placing the Empire in danger of destruction!

The situation was urgent, but the order given to his hundred thousand troops was to defend the crossing. Given its importance, the army could not be moved without an Imperial decree and a marshal's order. Anyone who disobeyed would be executed without mercy!

Faced with this situation, he truly had the will but lacked the power. What the hell were those people in the Southeastern Plains doing, to let a hundred thousand elite demon troops drive in so easily?

Seeing Elder Qu's helpless and pained expression, Lin Junyu thought for a moment before speaking.

"If that is the case, could you do one thing for me, Old General? Gather the Banner Captains of every unit. I will handle the matter of mobilizing the troops!"

"You'll handle it? Could it be that the Third Prince possesses a secret Imperial edict?"

"You need not concern yourself with that, Old General. Just gather everyone in the command tent."

"Very well. For my granddaughter's sake, I'll help you this once. I hope you truly have a way!"

Qu Tairan rose and left the tent, ordering several reliable soldiers to summon the Banner Captains of every unit to the command tent for an urgent discussion.

What secret Imperial edict could Lin Junyu possibly have? Qu Tairan said he could not move the troops because he feared being held accountable for violating orders. The other Banner Captains were the same—they did not dare disobey the Empire's commands.

But what if someone put a blade to their throats and forced them to go?

When the time came, whether to save their own lives or avoid punishment later for disobeying orders, they would have no choice but to obediently follow him.

Given the choice between having someone else bear the heavy responsibility for violating orders, allowing them to escape punishment and keep their lives, or losing their lives on the spot—

Lin Junyu believed they would know which to choose!

Qu Tairan led ten men into the main camp. Upon entering the command tent, they discovered that besides the old general, the Empire's Third Prince was there as well.

"Greetings, Your Highness the Third Prince!"

The men respectfully knelt on the ground. Though this prince had no notable reputation and was seen as an insignificant figure, none of them thought much of him.

Still, he was a prince, and the proper courtesies had to be observed. They did not know what this Third Prince had come to the military camp for.

If it was some trivial matter, they could help him settle it quickly and send him on his way.

But if he intended to meddle in the affairs of the camp, then they could not blame them for outwardly obeying while secretly defying him.

What right did a prince with neither ability nor influence have to command battle-hardened soldiers like them?

Although the ten Banner Captains had obediently knelt to pay their respects due to his status, Lin Junyu could still see the contempt, arrogance, and wild pride in every one of their eyes.

Watching them kneel while remaining so unruly, Lin Junyu thought coldly, I thought they would be like Old General Qu. Who would have expected them all to be this sort of trash? They probably have no idea what is about to happen.

Lin Junyu suppressed the chill in his eyes, picked up the teacup resting on the table, and slowly ran his fingers around its rim.

He could test them first and give them one chance.

"Ten Banner Captains, I presume you have all received the news that a hundred thousand demon troops are attacking Jiashan Fortress?"

"I have something I need your help with. Will you help me, or will you not?"

Lin Junyu did not tell them to rise. Instead, he unhurriedly and patiently asked them a question.

The ten Banner Captains immediately raised their heads and naturally rose to their feet.

Of course they knew about Jiashan Fortress, but what did that have to do with their camp at the crossing? Their military orders were clear: without an Imperial decree and a marshal's order, they were not to mobilize. Otherwise, they would be executed without mercy!

So the matters at the front had nothing to do with them. However, this Third Prince would likely use the excuse of sending reinforcements to try to seize control of the camp at Danna Crossing.

With that thought, one of the Banner Captains spoke with probing warning in his expression.

"Your Highness, feel free to give any orders you wish. But as for matters within the military camp, I ask that Your Highness not interfere. Otherwise, we will report everything truthfully to His Majesty and His Highness the Second Prince."

A threat—a naked threat. And from the looks of it, his second brother's reach had already extended here.

Sure enough, having backing and influence made things easy. Even the ten Banner Captains in a military camp at such a strategic location had been secretly bought off.

His father really was too confident. He was probably still being kept completely in the dark by his second brother.

But since they were the Second Prince's lackeys, and since they had been so shortsighted before the great battle, standing by and watching the other Imperial armies die without lifting a finger, there was no need to show them any respect.

"Did I tell you to get up?"

Since he had given them face and they refused to take it, they could not blame him for turning hostile.

"Third Prince, don't go too far. This is the Danna military camp!"

One of the bannermen with triangular eyes shouted sharply, warning Lin Junyu to remember where he was and whose territory this was.

A worthless prince was throwing his weight around in front of them just because of his status? Did he really think they had no backing?

They no longer cared about Lin Junyu's identity as a prince. After all, standing behind them was the Second Prince, whose power far exceeded that of the Third Prince.

Moreover, this Third Prince was said to possess no martial skills. If a fight broke out, they could take the chance to get rid of him...

The ten bannermen exchanged glances, all understanding the thought they had reached without saying a word.

"Everyone! This is this old man's tent. For the sake of my position as commander, let us all disperse!"

Seeing the situation, Qu Tairan no longer held any hope that Lin Junyu had a way to mobilize the army. He had already offended all ten bannermen.

Thus, he could only step forward to mediate and make everyone leave. As for the crisis at Jiashan, he would think of another solution.

Seeing the old general speak, they put away their petty thoughts and turned to head outside the tent.

"Did I tell you to leave? I haven't finished what I came to say. Leaving just like that would be far too boring, wouldn't it?"

Since they belonged to his Second Brother, he would not need to hold back when he made his move later.

Lin Junyu casually released the cup in his hand. It immediately fell to the ground with a crisp bang.

The sound of armor scraping came from outside the tent. Everyone looked around as fully armed soldiers surged in from outside and surrounded them.

The neighing of warhorses could also be heard outside. The command camp had been surrounded and placed under guard as well.

"Lin Junyu, are you rebelling?"

"Do you really not fear the camp's hundred thousand soldiers?"

"The heavens are being deceived, the heavens are being deceived! My wise Emperor, hurry and see your rebellious son! He's rebelling!"

Seeing that they had been surrounded, the ten bannermen loudly cursed Lin Junyu, condemning him as a traitor to the Empire.

At this moment, even Qu Tairan, who normally remained unfazed even if Mount Tai collapsed before him, changed expression, his face filled with panic and urgency.

"Third Prince? Y-you truly intend to rebel?"

With a stern demand in his voice, Qu Tairan gripped the sword at his waist and stared fixedly at Lin Junyu.

At a time like this, if an Imperial prince rebelled, seized Danna Crossing, and took control of a hundred thousand Imperial troops, all while the demonic race was invading from beyond...

Just thinking about it made the old general's vision darken. If things truly developed that way, the Empire's future would be utterly bleak. This would be a disaster capable of destroying the nation!

If the Third Prince truly intended to rebel, then even if he had to give everything he had, he would kill him. He absolutely could not allow the Empire to be destroyed by his hand.

After all, if not for the fact that he had trusted him so deeply because he had grown up alongside his granddaughter, this incident would never have happened!