Chapter 415: Falling Apart

“Mr. Gu, when exactly did you make that move?”

“Never thought that even in such a dire situation, that Yan Wuyong would still manage to escape alive!”

Within White Jade Capital, before the Mountain and River Chessboard, Heaven Arbiter Ashen watched Yan Wuyong speeding along the desolate road and couldn’t help but sigh.

Upon hearing this, Gu Ning’an, eyes still closed, replied calmly, “Yan Wuyong once told me that he wished to create a pure land where the common people could live in peace and prosperity.”

“I found his words sincere, so I left him with those eight words.”

“Oh? Another unintended stroke that took root…”

With that, Heaven Arbiter Ashen changed his tone and said, “Sir, your arts truly are unfathomable. I imagine that if Yan Wuyong had not treated the people well, those eight words would not have aided him at all—on the contrary, once opened, they might well have spelled his doom.”

After a moment, seeing that Gu Ning’an was ignoring him again, Heaven Arbiter Ashen could only smile wryly and return his attention to the chessboard.

Opposite him, Gu Ning’an slowly opened his eyes, and a flash of sword light flickered within them. He stretched his arms slightly, then closed his eyes again and resumed his meditative posture.

…

“Useless!”

“A bunch of worthless fools!”

“Fifty thousand elite soldiers, the entire Golden Guard assembled!”

“And yet you still let that bastard Yan Wuyong escape!”

In the Golden Hall, Emperor Ye cursed as he hurled item after item from his desk at the gathered officials.

All the civil and military officials were kneeling, foreheads pressed to the ground, not daring to make a sound even as heavy objects struck them!

At this moment, the Emperor was like a barrel of gunpowder—whoever lit the fuse would be blown to pieces… no, perhaps their whole family would perish…

After a mad outburst, the panting Emperor Ye finally sat on the dragon throne. After taking a few deep breaths, he declared harshly, “From this day forth, forcibly conscript soldiers from all prefectures and counties! From sixty down to fifteen—everyone must enlist and fight for Great Wu!”

At these words, all present were shaken!

Conscription was not frightening—but forced conscription was. And the age range was far too broad. From sixty down to fifteen? That would mean stripping Great Wu of three full generations of men!

“Y-Your Majesty!”

Among the officials, an elderly minister with a stooped figure raised his head slightly and said in a trembling voice, “Great Wu has suffered disasters for years. The people are already in dire straits. If all the men are taken now, how will the elderly, women, and children survive…?”

“Oh? Minister Zhao, now that the alliance is broken, if Great Wu does not take strong measures to expand its army, how else can we stand against the demons—or the mad charge of the Yan Clan Army?”

Minister Zhao paused, then said, “Replying to Your Majesty—conscription is necessary, but it must not be excessive…”

“Offer food and wages, let the people enlist of their own accord… If that is not enough, then forcibly conscript only those between thirty and fifty. That way, Great Wu can still retain some able-bodied men.”

“I understand.” Emperor Ye laughed coldly. “So Minister Zhao means that I’ve panicked, made a rash decision in desperation, and nearly wiped out three generations of Great Wu’s men?”

“If you have something to say, say it directly. No need to twist words with me.”

“This old minister would never dare question Your Majesty’s wisdom!” Minister Zhao trembled and kowtowed repeatedly.

At that, Emperor Ye stood from the dragon throne, descended the steps, and quickly walked up to Minister Zhao, helping him up. “No need to kowtow, Minister Zhao. You are getting on in years—what if you hurt yourself doing that?”

“Thank you, Your Majesty, for your concern.”

Just as Minister Zhao lifted his head, a cold glint flashed in his cloudy eyes—

—and a crimson line appeared across his neck.

Shocked beyond words, Minister Zhao’s eyes widened. He opened his mouth, but only managed a silent gasp before collapsing heavily to the floor.

Emperor Ye, without emotion, casually tossed the bloodstained sword in his hand to the ground.

A loud clang! rang out. The gathered officials trembled like leaves in the wind, not daring even to breathe.

“Guards, drag Minister Zhao’s corpse out and execute him by dismemberment as a warning to others!” Emperor Ye said as he returned to the throne. With a sigh, he added, “I’ve reconsidered. The age range for conscription shall be adjusted.”

“From ten to sixty-five, all males must enlist. Anyone found hiding eligible men will be treated as a traitor—exterminated along with nine generations of their family! The punishment will extend to neighbors and villages!”

“That’s all. Court is dismissed.”

After these words, Emperor Ye, clad in a bloodstained dragon robe, walked expressionlessly out of the Golden Hall. The trembling officials called out:

“Farewell to His Majesty!”

“Long live the Emperor—ten thousand years!”

…

Lead-gray clouds hung low in the sky. Beneath them, on a desolate land, stood rows upon rows of freshly erected tombstones, neatly arranged, the ink on them still wet. One glance was enough to tell these graves had just been placed.

In front of the tombstones, Yan Wuyong, clad in coarse mourning clothes and a hemp hat, knelt in silence. His back was ramrod straight, yet his shoulders trembled faintly.

Behind him knelt other men in mourning attire. Some stared blankly, others shed silent tears. These were burly men, tough and rugged in daily life—yet now they seemed so… fragile.

No one knew how long had passed when Yan Wuyong finally turned his head and said hoarsely, “Everyone, go back. Let me stay here with my brothers a while.”

The men froze for a moment, clearly reluctant to leave.

But Military Advisor Liu, with his goatee, promptly stood up, bowed, and said, “As Monarch Yan wishes—we shall take our leave.”

“The dead cannot return. Please, Your Highness, do not let grief consume you. The people of Meng River, the Yan Clan Army—they still need you…”

With that, Advisor Liu gave the others a look, signaling them to rise and leave.

Yan Wuyong glanced back at them. Only when they were far away did he finally let out a heart-wrenching wail.

“Brothers… I’ve failed you!”

“I shouldn’t have led you into the firepit… I shouldn’t have trusted that damn Emperor would really change… I shouldn’t have waited till the end to remember the pouch Mr. Gu left me…”

He then crawled on his knees to a grave marked ‘Li Hao’, crying:

“Goudan! Weren’t you the greediest of all?”

“How can you stare at a table full of good food and not take a single bite… It’s all my fault—I ordered you not to eat. When you left, you hadn’t even had one last full meal…”

Meanwhile, in the distance, Military Advisor Liu and his group suddenly paused. A tall man among them spoke up, “Advisor Liu, I think I heard crying… maybe we should go back and check on Monarch Yan…”

“Nonsense!” Liu squinted and said, “Monarch Yan is a man who holds up the sky—a true hero who will lead us to build a pure land.”

“A mere defeat like this—how could it make him cry?”

The tall man still looked worried. “But…”

“But nothing!” Advisor Liu glanced around and barked, “Did any of you hear crying?”

All responded in unison, “No!”

“There, you see?” Advisor Liu grabbed the tall man and urged, “You’re just lacking in training. Hurry back and resume drills. Our brothers didn’t die for nothing—we must avenge them!”