I'm Fighting Desperately on the Front Lines While You Celebrate in the Capital?

However, with all ten banner commanders dead, he still needed someone of great prestige to take control of the army.

"Old General, Xiaoyu and I have known each other since childhood. How could I let you die? Still, I'll have to trouble you a little."

"Men, tie him up!"

The soldiers at his side swiftly bound Qu Tairan.

Having lived for so many years, Qu Tairan was naturally no fool. He knew why Lin Junyu was doing this, but he also worried about his future.

"Third Prince, do you intend to bear the grave charge of violating military discipline all by yourself?"

"Although you displayed your strength today and killed the banner commanders, there is still room to turn things around. But if you take me hostage and mobilize the army, then even if you are a prince, while you may escape death, you will have no future left!"

"Release this old man, and we can think of another way."

Qu Tairan stared intently at Lin Junyu. The old general simply could not believe that Lin Junyu had hidden himself for so many years just to cause such a scene on the front lines.

One had to know that privately mobilizing the army stationed at the crossing—even if he was the Emperor's son, eloquent and immensely powerful—the Emperor would never trust him again. After enduring in silence for so many years, was he truly willing to sacrifice his future for the front lines?

"Old General, this is the fastest and only way for now. The matter is of great importance. I hope you will cooperate later."

Qu Tairan looked at the Empire's young Third Prince with complicated eyes. He had never expected that, in the end, the Empire's future would have to be borne by him alone.

After this incident, he would undoubtedly withdraw from the struggle for that position. He might even be targeted and framed by the First Prince and Second Prince because he had exposed his strength. After all, no one would allow a threat who had learned to hide from childhood—and concealed himself for eighteen years without anyone noticing—to remain alive in this world.

The struggle for power had always been this cruel. He truly pitied the Third Prince. He had leapt over the Dragon Gate in a single bound, only to bloom briefly and fade.

Naturally, Lin Junyu had not thought that far ahead. He did not even intend to take part in this petty struggle for power and profit. The Luminous Empire was destined to be destroyed and divided eventually. The future belonged to his era.

As long as he stayed hidden in the shadows and developed his own strength and influence, then when the story of Purple River officially began... hehe.

More than a hundred years was enough time to make his arrangements.

Now, he needed to cast off the identity of the Third Prince. There was plenty of room to maneuver there. He did not want to end his first identity in this world with such a dull conclusion.

He had the old general tightly bound and brought onto the raised platform of the parade ground. Below, confused soldiers who had been summoned here stood in neat ranks.

Lin Junyu circulated his inner strength and amplified his voice, ensuring that all one hundred thousand officers and soldiers on the parade ground could hear him.

"Soldiers, I am the Empire's Third Prince. I came here this time to transfer troops to the front lines. But your ten banner commanders committed insubordination, colluded with the enemy, and betrayed the country. They attempted to assassinate me and throw the entire Empire's front lines into chaos, allowing the demon race to exploit the situation. They have now been executed on the spot by my soldiers!"

As soon as Lin Junyu finished speaking, waves of unrest swept through the soldiers below. Their commanders had been killed? And for deliberately betraying the country?

Lin Junyu gave the soldiers no chance to react and immediately continued.

"Right now, fifty thousand soldiers on the front lines are using their lives to resist the siege of one hundred thousand elite demon troops. The battle is extremely urgent. But I know your orders here are that without an imperial decree and the marshal's order, you are not permitted to mobilize."

"So I have taken the old general hostage. If you do not wish for him to be harmed, then obediently follow my orders and go to the front lines to kill demons. I will bear all the consequences and responsibility afterward!"

The soldiers looked at one another in utter confusion before finally turning their eyes to Qu Tairan, the Empire's highly respected pillar.

"Sigh, just listen to him. Otherwise, I won't survive either!"

Qu Tairan resigned himself helplessly. Though from this point on, he would gain the reputation of an old man afraid of death, he had at least preserved the Qu family.

Moreover, his prestige in the army had grown so great that it had already aroused the Emperor's suspicions. Otherwise, the Emperor would not have assigned him ten banner commanders who refused to obey him. This was meant as a precaution, a restraint, and a balance.

Perhaps this incident was not entirely a bad thing. It could also resolve the crisis on the front lines. It was only unfair to His Highness the Third Prince.

Upon hearing the old general's words, the soldiers all dropped to their knees.

"We obey the Third Prince's command!"

One hundred thousand soldiers knelt and shouted, their voices shaking the heavens.

Looking at the dense black mass of people kneeling before him, Lin Junyu could not help feeling his blood surge. This was how a true man should be.

Far Capital, capital of the Luminous Empire.

At this moment, Far Capital was bustling with voices. The streets were covered in red decorations, for today was the forty-eighth birthday of their beloved Emperor.

All of Far Capital was immersed in celebrations for the Emperor's birthday. Within the palace banquet hall, the Empire's great councilors, ministers, generals, and marshals had gathered together in a harmonious celebration.

Just as everyone was chatting and strengthening their connections, the golden doors of the banquet hall opened.

"The Luminous Emperor has arrived!"

Everyone immediately rose and went to greet him at the doors. A middle-aged man dressed in golden silk robes and wearing a crown slowly walked down the red carpet into the hall, protected by guards on either side.

"Welcome, Your Majesty!"

"Hahaha, all of you are pillars of the Empire. Dispense with the formalities. Today is my grand birthday banquet, and the whole nation is celebrating. We shall not leave until we are drunk and enjoy ourselves to the fullest!"

Lin Huang carried himself with confidence, ease, and generosity, yet without losing the majesty of an Emperor.

Under his leadership, the Luminous Empire had flourished and grown stronger by the day. Its national strength was formidable, and it was about to launch an eastern campaign to reclaim the Far East. This achievement would surpass all emperors before him, and his name would surely be firmly engraved in the history of the Luminous Empire!

"Father Emperor! Your son went to great lengths to find a meteorite from beyond the heavens and sought out a master smith of this age to forge an incomparably sharp divine saber. I have named it the Divine Light Saber!"

"On the occasion of Father Emperor's birthday, your son presents this divine saber to you. Father Emperor's martial prowess is unmatched under heaven, and with this divine saber, you will be like a tiger with wings. I beg Father Emperor to accept this token of your son's filial devotion."

The Empire's First Prince, Lin Mingyu, hurried forward as his servants carried a gift wrapped in a brocade box.

Before the Emperor, the brocade box was opened, revealing a treasured saber with red gemstones embedded in its hilt and a blade that gleamed with a chilling light.

Delighted at the sight of such a weapon, Lin Huang picked up the treasured saber and swung it freely several times. The blade cut through the air with a humming, slicing sound, demonstrating its sharpness. It truly deserved the name of divine saber, and Lin Huang was greatly pleased.

"Hahaha, my son is thoughtful. I like this saber very much. I am pleased, so I have decided to reward you. Tell me, what reward do you want?"

"Your son desires nothing. I only hope Father Emperor enjoys health and longevity, so that you may lead our Luminous Empire to defeat the demon race and unify the continent!"

Seeing how reluctant his father was to put down the blade, Lin Mingyu's lips curled slightly. All the effort he had put into it had not been in vain.

"Father Emperor, your son also has a gift to present to you. Bring it in!"

"Hahaha, good, very good! Worthy of being my eldest son. Your father is greatly pleased!"

Lin Huang was clearly delighted by his eldest son, his hearty laughter echoing through the hall.

Seeing his elder brother steal the limelight before their father, a flash of gloom passed through Second Prince Lin Huiyu's eyes. He then ordered the servants to bring forth his gift.

A massive wooden frame covered in red cloth was carried in by four people with considerable effort.

"Huiyu, what is this?"

Lin Huang looked curiously at the enormous object being carried in, wondering what gift his son had prepared.

Lin Huiyu cast a sidelong glance at his dear elder brother, then instructed someone to pull away the red cloth.

As the red cloth fell away, the bright lights of the banquet hall reflected a burst of golden radiance.

Mounted on the wooden frame was a suit of pure golden armor—helmet and leg guards included—looking entirely like a full set of battle armor forged from solid gold.

The many ministers and generals all drew sharp breaths at the sight of the armor. The generals in particular stared at it with fascination.

"Father Emperor, this is the Light Armor I forged by gathering rare ores and gemstones and fusing them with gold. It is impervious to blades and spears, water and fire alike."

"Hahaha, did you two brothers coordinate this? One gave me a blade, and the other gave me armor."

"Father Emperor sees all. This was something my second brother and I discussed beforehand, so that we could prepare different gifts for you."

"Father Emperor is wise. This was arranged between my elder brother and me."

The two lowered their heads in salute. In that instant, their gazes met, both filled with intense hostility.

"Hahaha, good. You two brothers are both the sons I hold in the highest regard. You must help one another!"

Lin Huang was very pleased. Not only had he received such precious gifts from his two sons, but he had also witnessed such brotherly harmony between them.

The other, younger princes stepped forward one by one to offer their congratulations. The entire banquet hall was filled with the warmth of a loving father and dutiful sons.

The imperial council ministers and generals were deeply moved as they watched the scene in the great hall. The Empire's future was flourishing indeed.

Everyone lined up according to the rank of their civil or military office to offer birthday wishes to the Emperor.

The banquet reached its climax amid the birthday congratulations, as beautiful dancers twirled gracefully through the great hall.

Their graceful bodies swayed to the music played by the court musicians. The light within the hall shone through the white gauze draped over the dancers, illuminating their fair skin and lending them a hazy, seductive allure beneath their gauzy garments.

All the Empire's high-ranking officials were immersed in the atmosphere. They toasted one another, joy written across their faces, all intoxicated by dreams of the Empire's prosperity and strength.

The entire city of Far Capital had also fallen into celebration. Fireworks of every shape and color exploded across the skies above Far Capital, while the city's people cheered in celebration.

Yet beneath the moonlight, beyond Far Capital, urgent hoofbeats rang out along the official road.

Accompanying the hoofbeats were the anxious shouts of a messenger soldier.

"Urgent report from the front lines!"

"Make way, quickly!"

The soldiers standing guard at the city gate did not dare stop him. They swiftly moved aside the wooden barricades, allowing the messenger to enter Far Capital without hindrance.