My Cultivation Starting from Archery-Chapter 709 - 224: Striving for the World

Zhongjue Hall.

Ever since the Emperor sequestered himself for healing and cultivation, the Fourth Prince, Prince Qin, finally secured the long-coveted position of Supervisor of the Nation.

He sat on the throne, his mood quite complex.

However.

There were still many troubles to resolve at the moment.

There were formidable enemies arising from without, and within were King Jin, King Yan, and the rebellion of the Beiliang White Robes.

"My lords and ministers!"

Prince Qin declared loudly, "What should we do next?"

The former Minister of War, Ming Qingfeng, had deserted to join the rebellion of King Jin, Cao Huan.

The new Minister of War was Mu Fengchun, who had served for many years under Sun Xiangzong, later resigned to live in seclusion, and had not long ago re-entered court life.

"Your Highness."

Mu Fengchun spoke slowly, "The most pressing matter is to address the situation in Liangzhou. Be it King Jin or King Yan, or even enemy states, they are using the chaos caused by the White Robes as an opportunity to invade. Whether by execution or amnesty, if Liangzhou can be pacified, the realm will naturally return to peace. I propose that General Lü maintain his defense in Liangzhou until the Immortal Master and the Central Plains Army are dispatched by the court to Chunqiu Prefecture, the gateway to the Northern Territory, to subdue the rebel army."

"Quickly!"

Prince Qin commanded, "What are you waiting for, send a message to General Lü at once. As long as he can hold Liangzhou City, I will petition the Emperor to promote him to State Duke!"

...

Liangzhou City.

The standoff between the two sides had lasted for over half a month.

Ji Lü held his ground and ordered Nie Yuan and others to spread rumors to shake the spirits of the Rebel Army.

"Brothers!"

Senior brother Nie Yuan pleaded earnestly, "I have heard that the Emperor will soon eliminate Yan the bandit and restore peace to the court. You can all return home; why continue this struggle?!"

"General Nie!"

Xu Wencai, sitting in a four-wheeled carriage, ordered his disciple Qi Cheng to push him to the foot of the city wall, "The news I received doesn't match with yours at all! Our Rebel Army is heeding the call of King Jin and King Yan, standing against the crisis to our rightful ruler, with justified cause!"

"King Jin, King Yan?"

Nie Yuan frowned, "What are you talking about?!"

"What I am talking about, General Nie will soon understand," Xu Wencai replied. "Now go back and wait for the news."

Having said his piece, Xu Wencai departed leisurely.

Nie Yuan left the city wall, confused.

When he reached the Central Army Tent, he just so happened to hear an eunuch reading a secret missive.

The Emperor remained in seclusion, King Jin and King Yan had raised troops, Prince Qin with the Yan Party had seized control of the politics, causing outrage throughout the land...

"How could this be?!"

Seizing the secret missive and reading it himself, Nie Yuan muttered, "It must be the Fourth; he's behind this clever scheme. When the court sent him to the Capital City, it was meant to take him as a hostage. No one expected him to create such turmoil, drowning everyone in the chaos.

"If this is indeed the case."

"Then my junior brothers have truly come forth with righteous cause."

"Big brother, what do we do? The city does not have much grain left; we probably cannot hold out until reinforcements from other places arrive."

Lü Ji didn't immediately respond, quietly gazing at the go board. After a long while, he began to collect the pieces, saying, "Tell them to let Old Five come in for negotiations; I am considering opening the city gates to surrender."

That night.

Fifth brother Meng Guangxin, undeterred by obstacles, stormed into the city, only to be detained. Days passed with no news.

"That bald donkey is nine out of ten dead!"

Wang Zhi erupted in anger, "Old Two, it's all your damn fault. You insisted on negotiating, and now look. Those turncoat house slaves surely refined Old Five already!"

"Ah!"

Second brother Cheng Wei stamped his foot in regret, "Didn't I have no other choice? They might be short on grain, but the walls of Liangzhou are sturdy. If we fought, we wouldn't be able to take them down in a short while. And all the brothers inside are our own men; do we really need to slaughter each other?

"Besides."

"What about the civilians inside if we pressure them too much?!"

"If you ask me, it's all Old Five's fault. He was always the one who taunted Big Brother the most. Now look where that got him. Were I the one to negotiate, I certainly wouldn't end up detained!"

"Well then, you go!"

"I won't go!"

"..."

"Brothers, enough."

Chen Sansi interrupted, "Since they're unwilling to open the gates, we'll have to take matters into our own hands. Send out the order to tighten the siege. In ten days, I will lead the charge to begin the assault."

With a definitive strike.

October.

A torrential downpour struck Beiliang.

Dark clouds hung low, seemingly on the verge of crushing the city at any moment, not a sliver of light visible in the Heavenly Dome, the atmosphere pervaded with a depressing aura. The wind carried thunder, echoing across the sky, as the rain poured down like a barrage of arrows, beating the ground with a deafening roar. Streets were instantly flooded by rainwater, which formed rivulets, and mud and gravel rolled away in the deluge, shaking the entirety of the Northern Territory.

After the harvest season was over.

The defending forces in Liangzhou City completely missed the window to receive grain shipments from various states. With their provisions exhausted, continuing to hold out meant cannibalism or plundering civilian and Sect granaries. Even then, it would only buy a few more days.

The Beiliang Rebel Army, with sixty thousand troops amassed like a tidal wave, totally encircled Liangzhou.

A man in a White Robe, riding atop a White Horse, approached the city wall alone. Without raising his voice, yet still overpowering the thunder, his voice reached every corner of Liangzhou, "Listen up, brothers inside the city!

"The Emperor neglects the state affairs, leaving treacherous officials to rule; with Prince Qin and the Yan Party causing chaos in the land!

"We, the Beiliang Rebel Army, heed the call of King Jin, standing against the crisis, purging the Emperor's side of vile forces, as an army of justice! Those of you who tolerate the foolish and deaf, are an army without justice!"