Chongxuan Chuliang refused the surrender letter three times. Yang Jiande had no choice but to raise the army, issuing a decree for the entire state to rally to the throne.
From the perspective of public opinion, the State of Yang's decision to mobilize troops against the army locking down its borders was beyond reproach in both justice and reason.
At the same time, the State of Qi's deployment to seal off the plague and prevent its further spread could equally be justified.
Moreover, as a vassal state of Qi, Yang's territory could technically be considered Qi's domain under the rites.
Besides, Chongxuan Chuliang's military blockade of Yang was, on the surface, solely targeting the plague and had not encroached upon a single inch of Yang's land. If attacked by Yang's forces, a counterattack would be entirely reasonable.
In other words, on the level of "public opinion"—the only arena where Yang might have held an advantage—the steadiness and unshakable composure of Chongxuan Chuliang had placed both sides on equal footing.
The first round of this confrontation between the two former comrades-in-arms had already ended in Yang Jiande's defeat.
The moment he decided to raise the army, he had lost the possibility of winning public sympathy.
But this was an unavoidable choice, dictated by the circumstances and the broader situation. It did not mean that Yang Jiande was inferior to Chongxuan Chuliang.
The gap between the cards they held was simply too vast.
Moreover, while public opinion held its significance, it could rarely determine the course of war.
If Yang Jiande could defeat Chongxuan Chuliang, diplomatic room would immediately open up.
If not, then all would be lost.
...
After years of peace, war erupted suddenly.
Troops from all over the State of Yang converged on the capital. Yang Jiande was to offer sacrifices at the Imperial Ancestral Temple, then personally lead the entire state's army to battle Chongxuan Sheng at the border.
The State of Yang had three prefectures: Hengyang, Rizhao, and Chiwei.
Hengyang Prefecture, where the capital was located, needed no explanation. Nearly all its combat-ready troops rose to the call, mustering one hundred and fifty thousand soldiers in a single day. Fifty thousand were originally the royal guard of the capital, while the remaining hundred thousand came from various cities and regions.
However, in Chiwei Prefecture, the response from the various cities was far less enthusiastic. They barely scraped together fifty thousand soldiers to march toward the capital. Notably, twenty thousand of these were volunteer soldiers who brought their own weapons, armor, and provisions. At least ten thousand of these volunteers hailed from Cangfeng City.
By the time it came to Rizhao Prefecture, the enthusiasm had diminished even further.
The primary reason was, of course, the mutant plague currently ravaging the State of Yang.
The killing aura of several hundred thousand troops could disperse evil energies like a plague. The soldiers themselves were not at risk of infection, but the common people throughout Yang still lacked a proper protection strategy.
Every soldier was a flesh-and-blood human being with family and friends. While placing the state before family could be considered noble, placing family before the state was human nature.
Some families sacrificed themselves entirely for the country, while others locked their doors to avoid disaster. People were different.
The true core reason, however, was actually the long-term consequence of the Yang court's chaotic governance and disregard for the people's welfare. Yang Jiande had devoted himself entirely to cultivation, ignoring state affairs. The deceased Crown Prince, Yang Xuanji, had only cared about seizing power and suppressing his brothers, treating matters of state with similar negligence.
During the plague crisis brewed by the White Bone Dao, the Yang court's administrative inefficiency and incompetence had been laid bare in the most thorough manner. It could be said that the court had long since lost the hearts of the people.
Of course, in Rizhao Prefecture, the situation was largely due to the personal reasons of Governor Song Guang. Long before Yang Jiande issued the decree for the army to rally, he had already begun mobilizing troops and gathering grain.
Though the newly appointed city lord of Jiacheng, Shi Jing, had died an untimely death, the remaining six cities in the prefecture alone had gathered eighty thousand soldiers for Song Guang. Through his relentless exactions, money and grain were beyond counting.
Yet he only sent ten thousand old, weak, sick, anddisabled soldiers to Zhaoheng City, claiming that Rizhao's terrain was special and its proximity to Qi required preserving "the remaining strength to serve as a barrier for our king." In reality, he was hoarding military power, waiting to sell his allegiance to the highest bidder.
His memorial had made Yang Jiande laugh with anger.
On the dragon throne, the twenty-seventh ruler of the State of Yang picked up the memorial and mocked himself with some disappointment: "I never imagined that after my Yang dynasty founded the state for centuries and served Qi, in just a few generations, we would have completely lost the people's trust."
Liu Huai stood beside him, offering comfort: "At least in Hengyang Prefecture, where the capital is located, the court still commands the people's hearts. Mustering a hundred thousand troops was mobilizing the entire force!"
Yang Jiande shook his head: "Right under my own nose, facing the sword's edge directly—they dared not refuse to come. How many truly sincere people are there who would sacrifice themselves for the country?"
"There were many righteous men who destroyed their families to relieve the nation's difficulties, all to repay the great kindness of their sovereign!"
"What great kindness have I shown them? Only their own love for their homeland." Yang Jiande tossed aside the memorial in his hand. "No need to comfort me. I can still face reality. I was just thinking..."
He sighed: "The morale of the army and the hearts of the people are so dispirited. Moreover, Qi is powerful and has always commanded great respect. Though this battle is on our own soil, our army cannot hold out long—we must seek a swift decision. If there is even a slight setback in the battle, the momentum of collapse could come in an instant."
He was a man who understood warfare, and all considerations regarding the military campaign were already in his mind.
Liu Huai bowed: "Your Majesty's wisdom is in your own hands."
"By the way." Yang Jiande suddenly remembered something and asked: "This time, when the entire state rallied to the throne, Cangfeng City not only sent out its entire city guard force but also raised ten thousand volunteer soldiers?"
"Yes..."
Yang Jiande nodded: "Cangfeng City has always been a place of abundant grain and prosperous people."
At this point, he hesitated slightly: "Why do I seem to have some... other impression of Cangfeng City?"
Liu Huai knew that cultivating the Blood Demon Art of Severing Emotion and Desire was causing Yang Jiande's human emotions to gradually fade. Being angered to laughter by Song Guang today, and sighing over state affairs, were already rare displays of emotion.
He thought for a moment, then reminded him: "The Little Prince's Under Heaven Tower was built there."
"The Under Heaven Tower?"
"That assassin organization."
"Oh, the matter I scolded him about... Is it still around?"
"The inner treasury hasn't allocated funds. The Little Prince has been covering the expenses himself."
"Then this volunteer army from Cangfeng City... Presumably, he has also joined the volunteers incognito?"
"I... I suppose so."
The hall fell silent for a moment.
"Liu Huai."
"This servant is here."
"Go find Xuance and take him away."
"This servant will arrange it immediately."
"Not arrange it." Yang Jiande looked up at him: "You must go personally."
"Your Majesty!" Liu Huai immediately knelt before Yang Jiande: "Please choose someone else! This servant truly does not wish to leave at this time!"
Yang Jiande spoke in a somber tone: "The great house is about to collapse. In these deep palace halls, who can I still trust?"
He reached out and patted Liu Huai's shoulder: "You dog of a servant. I am about to undertake a mission of certain death. You must ensure I have no worries behind me. Understand?"
Liu Huai wept: "This servant... obeys!"
"Mmm..." Yang Jiande murmured as if to himself: "I should leave something for him."
In that moment, his emotions seemed to resist the erosion of the Blood Demon Art of Severing Emotion and Desire, and a trace of barely perceptible softness appeared in his eyes.
Liu Huai knelt on the ground, only weeping.
Yang Jiande reached out, opened the imperial box, and patted and stroked the jade seal within it again and again.
In the end, he still set it aside.
He untied the Coiled Dragon Jade Pendant from his waist and placed it in Liu Huai's hand.
Compared to the imperial seal, this pendant, though exquisitely crafted, held no power or sacred significance whatsoever. It was far more ordinary.
But Liu Huai understood why Yang Jiande would only leave this jade pendant for Yang Xuance.
Because the imperial seal would bring Yang Xuance endless pursuit and assassination. This pendant, however, no one would care about.
The pendant itself held no other meaning—it was simply a memento a father left for his son.
"Does Your Majesty have any words to convey to the Little Prince?" Liu Huai asked through his tears.
Yang Jiande leaned back on the dragon throne, as if already exhausted, and waved his hand, indicating that nothing needed to be said.
Liu Huai tucked the Coiled Dragon Jade Pendant away, took nothing else, and hurried out of the great hall, leaving the palace immediately.
Yang Jiande sat alone in the great hall, silent for a very, very long time, before suddenly remembering something: "Tell Xuance... 'I'm sorry.'"
Only after saying it did he realize that Liu Huai had already gone.
"Never mind."