Back then, when the Xian'an Court fell into civil strife, powerful ministers held sway and the officials split into two factions that attacked each other, nearly coming to blows. They could no longer spare the attention to defend Flying Goose Pass, their most important strategic chokepoint. In the end, they simply granted away the region, establishing the Marquisate of He to guard the court's gate.
The Marquisate of He's troops had always been known for their strength. With many mountains, little farmland, and poor soil, the marquisate still relied on the Xian'an Court for grain and fodder.
For that reason, the marquisate was only semi-independent, with far less autonomy than states such as Wu-Yue. It could hardly compare to the great states of Yan, Qing, and Zheng in Central Province, which had all but ceased to acknowledge the Xian'an Court.
For a hundred years, it had served as a capable gatekeeper for the Xian'an Court.
But no one had expected a sudden upheaval. Baozhi City had now fallen completely under the control of the Survival Army, which had risen from among the refugees, and had become a grave threat to the Xian'an Court.
Now, beneath the fluttering banners of the Survival Army, heads hung high. Many belonged to officials of Baozhi City; others belonged to wealthy merchants and rich households.
Ever since these rebels had taken up arms, their practice had been to slaughter every official, wealthy household, landlord, and local strongman—everyone who had benefited from the old order.
Those bloody heads were only the beginning. Though the city remained largely calm, wisps of smoke still lingered over some quarters.
The capture of Baozhi City had been a coup, with little fighting. Those fires had been set during the looting...
At that moment, the Survival Army's generals were gathered in