Fangpan City, in the Western Regions.
In a secret chamber of the Misty Rain Tower, Jia Huan sat in a chair in a moon-white robe, his head lowered in thought.
Had he not feigned his death, he would already have been on his way back to the capital to face punishment from the court.
Yet he had waited fruitlessly for four days and still had not found the attendant from the Prince of Liang's Mansion!
"My lord!"
Several men from the Embroidered Uniform Guard arrived, dust-covered and travel-worn.
They presented their intelligence.
"Fifth Rank Assistant General Wei Long has fallen in battle!"
"Qi Shanguo led thirty thousand border troops in a desperate defense without retreating. The pass fell last night, and his forces suffered devastating casualties!"
"Four commanderies and counties in Northern Liang have been ravaged. The Tatars are burning, killing, and plundering-there is no evil they will not commit."
"Wei Yuan is gathering his army for an all-out campaign to wipe them out!"
Jia Huan put down the Xuan Paper, his gaze icy.
Abandoning the border defenses wrought sins that towered to the heavens, and now he was doing everything he could to sweep away the Tatar Invaders. Those countless wronged souls of innocent people!
That old dog Wei had to be slaughtered. His sin value was beyond imagining!
He looked at his brothers.
"The major garrisons along the three frontiers have all received royal command tokens. Their armies will reach Liangzhou soon. Have the Tatar Invaders shown no sign of withdrawing beyond the passes?"
One guard shook his head, then reported with a grave expression.
"My lord, a Small Banner from our Guard Station captured two Tatars. Apparently, a prince of the Golden Royal Clan of Northern Mang is stationed in their rear. He seems to have come