Early morning.
Forty li from the Divine Capital.
Banners fluttered at the foot of Mang Mountain. More than six thousand soldiers, armored and armed, drilled in battle formations with overwhelming force.
"General Pei!"
An officer hurried over to report:
"Thousand-Household Commander Jia and his men will arrive in another hour and a half."
General Pei narrowed his eyes, summoned six trusted men, and declared sternly:
"This is an official dispatch from Grand Secretary Cui of the Grand Secretariat, and Grand Secretary Cui acts entirely on the Retired Emperor's instructions."
"Jia Huan of the Northern Commandant Office has deceived his sovereign and risen in rebellion. His bones must be crushed and his ashes scattered! Every one of his subordinates must also atone with death!"
With that, he displayed the dispatch.
"Relay my orders! The army will surround and annihilate Jia Huan from three directions. Anyone who disobeys military orders will be killed without mercy!"
"Yes, sir!"
General Pei then sought out more than a dozen Martial World Masters, including several Imperial Eunuchs.
"Please spare no effort."
They nodded one after another.
They, too, wore helmets and Bright Light Armor.
General Pei instructed them:
"If Jia Huan flees, kill his subordinates and seize the prisoner!"
Jia Huan might be able to escape, but his pack of running dogs lacked that ability.
Grand Secretary Cui had said to rescue Young Master Cui first and destroy all evidence of guilt, then pin every crime on that Deputy Thousand-Household Commander Zheng.
Meanwhile, Jia Huan led several hundred riders to a halt on the official road.
After a long wait, urgent hoofbeats sounded in the distance, and a dense mass of dark figures gradually came into view.
"Jia Huan of the Northern Commandant Office, do you acknowledge your crimes?!"
With a furious roar, more than a