In September, Li Chen suddenly received word that the armies of Prince Yong and Prince Ning had finally joined the coalition besieging the Capital Region. The seven princes, together with five hundred feudal lords, swept forward with rainbow-soaring momentum, routing one Imperial Court army after another and closing in on the Sacred Capital.
The situation in Li Prefecture, Screen Prefecture, and Bingzhou had only just stabilized when Emperor Kangping urgently summoned the Flat Hill Demon Kingdom's army and the Imperial Court troops Li Chen had led away to return and reinforce the capital.
Upon hearing this, Li Chen smiled faintly. "Seven princes and five hundred feudal lords have raised their banners in rebellion, while more and more lords waver between the two sides, unable to decide their next move. What happens next will probably depend on whether the Capital Region can hold."
Nie Chen agreed. "You are quite right, Great General. Sometimes the allegiance of the people is like a surging river rushing downstream. Mortals can only guide its course, not contend against its force."
"The Capital Region must not fall!" Hu Ze's Avatar declared. "Pass down my command. Return to reinforce the capital."
There were three thousand feudal lords throughout the realm. Several hundred had now openly joined the seven princes, while another two or three hundred had been subdued along with the other three princes. More than a thousand farther afield held territories along the borders and were not an immediate concern, but the allegiance of the remaining thousand or more was still crucial.
These were all fence-sitters, waiting for the Imperial Court's armies and the rebel princes to settle the contest before pledging their support to the victor.
Once they made their choice, nearly half the Great Qian Dynasty's feudal lords would form a tide powerful enough