Pang Hu was intensely enraged. He had originally intended to force the Emperor to step down, confine the Ma Da family within the inner city until he had completely secured the people's support, and then secretly execute the Emperor. Now, however, it seemed a coup d'état was unavoidable, though he had prepared a contingency: if the demand to abdicate failed, he would resort to force.

The Imperial Guards of the two inner cities were Pang Hu's personal troops. Subduing this force had cost him considerable effort and wealth; he’d had to part with countless diamonds and jewels. He never understood who had sourced those diamonds—they were beautiful, certainly, but obscenely expensive. The Imperial Guards of the outer city were inferior in comparison, consisting of men difficult to discipline. Yet, Pang Hu dared not move against these nearly twenty thousand soldiers, so he relegated them to key positions in the outer city, ready to be used as cannon fodder when the time came.

In the secret chamber, Pang Hu seethed. Wan Lichai, standing nearby, sought to placate him. “Godfather, anger is hardly worth the trouble. Since the Emperor refuses to comply with the method you prescribed, we have no choice but to force him to drink the bitter cup.”

Minister Bai Song of the War Department spoke from the ranks below. “Grand Tutor, we are acting only after careful deliberation. What does it matter if they spring a surprise attack? The entire Dual City is under our control. At this point, they can only occupy the advantageous ground of the Hall of Civil and Military Virtue and defend. A single organized charge from us will be enough to take them down. Afterward, we can pin the blame on Gu Qi and Lin Gu’s faction—claim they rebelled and held the Emperor hostage. In the ensuing chaos, it’s entirely plausible the Emperor could be killed by them. All blame will then absolved from us.”

Bai Song’s plan immediately garnered support. Pang Hu declared, “That is an excellent pretext. When that happens, I will be the people’s choice, compelled to take the throne of the Dual City State! Guards! Mobilize the Inner City Imperial Guard and storm the Hall of Civil and Military Virtue!”

Ma Da stood outside the Hall of Civil and Military Virtue, watching thick smoke billow up from various parts of the inner and middle cities. He looked confused. “My esteemed ministers, could it be that our reinforcements have broken through?”

Lin Gu replied, “No, Your Majesty. I suspect it’s Pang’s faction members rioting, seizing property and killing. They wouldn't serve Pang Hu without some tangible incentive; therefore, Pang Hu must have promised them the right to loot and murder those who oppose him.”

Luo Cheng and Niu Nai sighed in unison. “Alas, if Zhao Qian were here, we could surely turn this defeat into victory.”

Ma Da’s stubborn streak surfaced. “What manner of words are those, my loyal ministers? My son and daughters have been captured by them, yet you don’t despair. Are we to abandon resistance merely because Minister Zhao is absent? Treacherous rebels must be slain by all. I trust that Heaven’s mandate will never rest upon that dog Pang Hu!”

Gu Qi interjected, “Your Majesty, while Pang Hu hasn't openly admitted involvement in the disappearance of the Crown Prince and the consorts, they vanished immediately after we finalized our operational plan. The likelihood of him being the mastermind is extremely high.”

Ma Da countered, “You are all too hasty. This should have waited until Zhao Qian returned. Acting now only forces the tiger into a desperate fight, which is more loss than gain. Little Da is too young to grasp the serious consequences of this.”

Gu Qi explained, “Your Majesty, I overheard a brother in the Imperial Guard say that Pang Hu had long planned to seize power tonight, but he hastily changed his plan yesterday to confront you during the morning court session. If forcing you to abdicate failed, he intended to surround the palace tonight, confine you behind the walls, and assume control of the court himself.”

Ma Da’s face stiffened. “Pang Hu’s intent to rebel was set long ago?”

Lin Gu confirmed, “Indeed, Your Majesty. Even if we hadn't acted today, consider Pang Hu's actions just now. Do you believe any further concession on your part would hold meaning? Lord Zhao is undoubtedly detained by urgent matters, but time waits for no man. We cannot afford to wait any longer. Even so, we are a step too late; had we moved last night, the situation might be completely different.”

Ma Da gritted his teeth. “This insolent dog! This time, even if he uses the Crown Prince to threaten me, I must take his cursed life.”

Xiao Dingzi, ever straightforward, interjected, “Your Majesty, let us secure our lives first. The Imperial Guard is charging! I urge Your Majesty to immediately retreat inside the hall; we will organize our forces to repel them.”

Ma Da leaned out to peer below. Sure enough, a troop of Imperial Guards, armed with shields, was ascending the hundreds of stone steps. Through the gaps in their shields, Ma Da could see they were well-equipped, each man carrying a rifle. Ma Da knew he could offer no help now; staying here would only complicate matters further. He promptly retreated back into the Hall of Civil and Military Virtue.

Looking upon the empty grand hall, save for a group of women huddled in one corner—his wives and daughters—Ma Da felt a crushing sorrow. He had dreamed of being a wise ruler, one who avoided tyranny and unilateral decisions. But what was the result? Which of those ministers who constantly sang his praises remained to aid him? Now, his two most cherished princesses and his only Crown Prince were missing, and the nation’s power hung precariously in the balance. Who could possibly arrive now to reverse this downfall?

Though Ma Da resisted believing his son-in-law was dead, everything seemed to confirm his return was impossible. Calling it a ‘disappearance due to special circumstances’ was merely a meager comfort he offered himself. The sound of gunfire had already erupted outside. Ma Da sat coldly on his imperial throne, realizing at that moment he was a profoundly, utterly failed monarch. He did not deserve this seat; he was perhaps less capable than his twelve-year-old son, Ma Xiao Da. He was the living embodiment of the saying, ‘raising a tiger invites disaster.’

The battle outside the hall was commanded by Lin Gu, unanimously recommended by Cheng Qiang, Liu Gang, and Gu Qi after consultation. Lin Gu was talented; his previous losses stemmed only from facing overwhelmingly superior opponents. Though the tiger was now roaring and he had few soldiers to command, he managed to repel the Imperial Guard’s first wave of attack. However, this engagement consumed half of their available ammunition. If the next assault was larger, they might not be able to hold.

Xiao Dingzi and Liu Gang kept climbing to higher vantage points to scan the city exterior. Cheng Qiang called out to them, “Sirs, stop straining yourselves. If Generals Kong and Sun have initiated their actions, we would see it from here. The Imperial Stables are located in that direction, and there is no movement there. If Lords Ah San and Ah Si succeed, they will definitely fire a signal flare. So, we must wait patiently.”

Xiao Dingzi watched the Imperial Guards reforming their lines below. “Even if I possess patience, those fellows might not. Commander Gu, why has your work of turning them have yielded such little success?”

Gu Qi replied, “My thirty thousand loyal troops were all redeployed to the outer city. These Imperial Guards have mostly undergone Pang Hu’s purges; winning them over won't be easy. We simply ran out of time; otherwise, the situation might be much better.”

Lin Gu seized an abandoned Imperial Guard helmet from beside him and placed it on Commander Gu’s head. “Commander Gu, we are critically short on ammunition; the situation is dire. I need you to take a risk.”

Gu Qi responded firmly, “Lord Lin, command me. I will walk through fire and water to fulfill any order.”

Lin Gu instructed, “You must infiltrate the Inner City Imperial Guard secretly. Bring back as many as you can sway, or at least sow chaos among them from behind. We must hold out until Ah San, Ah Gou, Kong Wusun, and the others make their move.”

Cheng Qiang also grabbed a helmet. “Commander Gu, I’ll go with you. Many in the Imperial Guard are my former brothers. I don’t believe they truly wish to serve that dog Pang Hu with their lives.”

Gu Qi agreed. “Very well. We will take a detour to slip into their ranks. Let’s go.”

Lin Gu issued further orders. “Lord Ding, Lord Liu, have the soldiers immediately dismantle the hall doors and the stone walls. No one fires a shot without my command. Move Lord Zhao’s pistol squad to the very front line—we will meet this next wave of attack with stones and laser guns.”

Few stones were ready when the Imperial Guard’s second wave commenced. Their last failure was due to their shields not withstanding bullet impacts. Those shields were crafted from some inferior scrap iron in the early days, and some were even wooden. This time, the Imperial Guard had learned their lesson. All wooden shields were discarded, and iron shields were bound in pairs—making it impossible to pierce them with bullets, even at close range.

Thousands of Imperial Guards surged forward along three paths, quickly closing the distance to the Hall of Civil and Military Virtue. Lin Gu waved his hand, and Xiao Dingzi roared, “Throw the stones! Crush those sons of bitches!”

The area before the Hall of Civil and Military Virtue was not lacking in stones. Not only the hall entrance but the small plaza in front were paved with stone, and during quarrying, they had been intentionally cut very large to demonstrate royal grandeur—requiring three to five men to lift one. Because the Hall of Civil and Military Virtue was situated on higher ground, the slopes of the three approach paths were steep. Once released, the stones rolled like massive cannonballs, smashing through any obstacle in their path until stopped by flesh and bone. A cacophony of screams and wails erupted below. Seeing such a dramatic effect, the soldiers throwing stones redoubled their efforts. This second wave of attack was scattered completely before even the laser guns needed to be deployed.

Pang Hu, seated firmly in his command tent directing the battle, was furious upon hearing that both attacks had failed, roaring in anger. Minister Xia Jian of the Ministry of Rites suggested, “Grand Tutor, why let anger consume you? I think we should cease further direct assaults. Why not simply bring out the Crown Prince and the Princesses as human shields? The Emperor won’t dare refuse then.”

Pang Hu mused, “They are reserved for dealing with that Zhao Qian. Isn't it too soon to use them now?”

Xia Jian argued, “Grand Tutor, to prevent unforeseen complications, the sooner we neutralize that dog Emperor, the better. Although we control the high command of the Imperial Stables and the Eastern Depot, we cannot replace the common soldiers. Their former leaders were rescued; if they sneak back to cause trouble for us, this situation will become perilous.”

Minister Qi Yu of the Ministry of Works added, “Grand Tutor, Zhao Qian is not coming back. Even if he does, we can keep his wife in reserve. Threatening the Emperor with the Princesses and the Crown Prince will force his compliance. Minister Xia is right; if the Imperial Stables and Eastern Depot cause trouble behind our backs, our Imperial Guard might not hold.”

Pang Hu frowned. “Since our arranged time of action with the Jin and Wan Ma Kingdoms was set for tonight, moving ahead of schedule now might prevent us from coordinating effectively.”

Bai Song countered, “The border is a dozen days' journey from the Dual City. Are you concerned that their garrison troops could return here for reinforcements in mere moments? Once the situation here is secured, the entire realm will be ours. To achieve victory, we must be unscrupulous.”

Pang Hu nodded, agreeing with their counsel. “Very well. Bring the Crown Prince and the two Princesses to the front as shields. Let’s see if that dog Emperor dares to launch more stones.”

Ma Xiao Da was extremely vexed. He couldn't believe that success within his grasp was so easily squandered, resulting in his own imprisonment. Pang Hu was indeed a difficult foe. Their actions had been discreet, yet they had been detected, prompting the enemy to strike early.

This underground chamber was suffocatingly airtight. Everyone was held in solitary confinement, and none knew how they had been apprehended. They awoke to find themselves in these small, dark cells. Fortunately, everyone seemed unharmed, though the younger girls were especially concerned for their well-being.

A sliver of faint light pierced the darkness. Someone dragged Ma Xiao Da out of his cell. At the doorway, he unexpectedly encountered Ma Xiaowei and Ma Xiaorui. Ma Xiaorui was shouting curses, “Let me go! Let me go, you despicable cowards! What kind of heroes are you? Just wait for your deaths—I will have Zhao Qian kill every last one of you!”

Ma Xiao Da managed a wry smile. “Sixteenth Sister, stop shouting. It won't benefit us. We moved a step too late; I never expected that dog villain to strike first. How are the others?”

Ma Xiaowei reassured him, “Don't worry, everyone is fine for now. The dog villain likely plans to use us to threaten Father Emperor and Zhao Qian. He won't harm us until our usefulness is exhausted. But where did that dog Pang find the experts who managed to evade Linglong and the palace guards outside?”

Ma Xiaorui complained, “Linglong said they used knockout incense—they are nothing but beasts. In an open fight, we might not have lost to them.”

The Imperial Guard escorting the three soldiers shoved Ma Xiao Da roughly. “Move! You’re facing death and still have the audacity to—!”

Ma Xiao Da remained unperturbed, only asking, “Where are you taking us?”

The Imperial Guard snapped back, “Stop talking nonsense, you’ll know when we get there.”

Indeed, Ma Xiao Da soon understood their intention. The fighting had already erupted outside, and Pang Hu intended to use them as shields to conquer the Hall of Civil and Military Virtue. Each of the three was assigned to a different path, with the mass of Imperial Guards hiding directly behind them.

Ma Xiao Da was only twelve. Though he possessed a certain kingly air from growing up in the palace, facing imminent death, he trembled like any common youth. Cold sweat poured down his face, and he was barely holding back tears. He worried not just for himself but that Ma Da above might hesitate out of concern and surrender, which would spell doom for the entire Dual City.

Ma Xiaowei and Ma Xiaorui on either side were equally terrified. Ma Xiaowei was calmer, but Ma Xiaorui had already burst into tears. Despite their fear, the three siblings refused to shout the surrender demanded by the Imperial Guards to Ma Da. Finally, the leading Imperial Guard leader sighed in frustration, stepped halfway up the slope himself, and shouted toward the hall: “People up there, listen! The Crown Prince and the Princesses are in our hands! Surrender immediately, or the Princesses and the Crown Prince will spill blood here!”

Upon hearing this, Ma Da nearly tumbled from his imperial chair. Pang Hu had indeed captured the Prince and Princesses. Everything was within his grasp. Now, they had something to fear, and the battle was already lost before it was truly fought.

Lin Gu anxiously appealed to Ma Da, “Your Majesty, the dog Pang is indeed using the lives of the Crown Prince and Princesses as a threat. What are our orders?”

Ma Da declared, “Let me go out and negotiate with the dog Pang. I am willing to exchange my own life for the freedom of the Crown Prince and the two Princesses. Once I am dead, the dog Pang will surely release you. Protect my family, find a place in exile, and never return to the Dual City. Even living a hard life as commoners would be better than this constant anxiety of conspiracy and struggle.”

Lin Gu quickly tried to stop him. “Your Majesty cannot go! If you leave, the army’s morale will collapse. Even if we achieve ultimate victory, what good will it do?”

Ma Da insisted, “It is not as serious as you say. I wished to be a wise ruler, but things never bent to my will. The Crown Prince is a good child; protect him well.”

Ma Da’s words carried the weight of a dying man's last testament. Perhaps at this moment, he truly regretted raising Pang Hu into such a fierce tiger. Now, he would taste the bitter fruit of his own sowing, adopting a noble and righteous posture.

Xiao Dingzi rushed in. “Your Majesty, Lord Lin, I have spotted Commander Cheng mingling among the Imperial Guards ascending the steps! Perhaps there is a turning point.”

Ma Da, who had already taken a few steps out, said casually, “Go and see.”

Everyone gathered at the top of the lower steps and peered down. Ma Xiao Da and his two elder sisters were about ten meters below, shielded by the hesitant Imperial Guards behind them. Xiao Dingzi dared not point too obviously, but he warned, “Your Majesty, Commander Cheng is hidden right behind the Crown Prince. I noticed something amiss when he whispered to the Prince just now, and he signaled to me afterward—that is how I knew he was mixed in.”

Ma Da asked, “What is his purpose? Can he save the Prince?”

Lin Gu advised, “Your Majesty, what we must do now is buy Commander Cheng time. You can negotiate with them, stall for as long as possible.”

Ma Da replied, “Very well. Even at the cost of my own life, I must save Xiao Da.” At this moment, Ma Da had reverted to a benevolent father, forgetting his earlier resolve to fight Pang Hu even if it meant sacrificing the Crown Prince and Princesses.

After the leading Imperial Guard finished shouting his ultimatum, Ma Xiao Da suddenly yelled back at him, “Dog slave! Do you think you’ll prosper following Pang Hu? Zhao Qian will deal with you all sooner or later!”

The Imperial Guard leader, a Qianhu (Chiliarch), saw movement above as someone turned to report back to the Emperor. He knew he had to await the Emperor’s reply. If he rashly continued the assault, those ‘rebellious’ Imperial Guards and the Zhao family retainers would certainly not spare them. By then, forget firing guns—even a few more large stones would leave them with no place to hide. The three paths leading up to the hall were engineered like grooves; stones rolling down would leave nowhere to evade.

“Zhao Qian? You mean that womanizer Lord Ma? He can’t even save himself, so how can he save you lot? Hah! You can reminisce in the afterlife! When the Grand Tutor rewards us, maybe he’ll let us have some fun with his wife. That’ll be real pleasure!” The Imperial Guard Qianhu burst into laughter.

“Pah!” Ma Xiao Da spat directly onto the Qianhu’s face. Smack! In a fit of rage, the officer slapped Ma Xiao Da hard and viciously warned him, “Don’t blame me for being ruthless. Since we’ve committed treason today, we no longer value our lives. Tell your father to surrender immediately, or your entire family will be reunited in hell!”

Ma Xiao Da looked up and shouted toward the hall, “Father Emperor! Your unworthy son has caused you suffering. You must not listen to them and surrender! These men will not spare us. Fight! Beat them all dead!”

The Qianhu was shocked that the Prince, who had nearly wet himself and cried moments ago, had suddenly turned so defiant. He barked at the Imperial Guards behind him, “Stuff his mouth! If he shouts again, knock him out!”

Before Ma Xiao Da could resist, someone clamped a hand over his mouth, then whispered into his ear, “Your Highness, do not speak. I am Cheng Qiang. I’ve brought a few brothers among the ranks. We will find an opportunity to charge forward shortly.”

Ma Xiao Da was startled by Cheng Qiang’s audacity. He dared not speak, only shaking his head left and right. Unable to speak further, he managed to murmur two words softly: ‘Princesses.’ Cheng Qiang understood that Ma Xiao Da was concerned for his two sisters’ safety, but at this juncture, he had to sacrifice the minor pieces to save the major ones. Gu Qi had gone to the outer city to seek aid, and Cheng Qiang himself, disguised in an Imperial Guard uniform, was already taking a tremendous risk by infiltrating the enemy lines. Whether he could rescue the Prince was uncertain; how could he possibly hope to save the Princesses as well?

The Imperial Guard Qianhu, seeing Ma Xiao Da fall silent, ignored him. At this moment, he had to keep his attention fixed on the situation above. If the defenders remained silent and launched a surprise attack, his own life would be in immediate danger.

Cheng Qiang subtly maneuvered himself and the few Imperial Guards surrounding Ma Xiao Da. He then found an opportunity to subtly signal with hand gestures to his men above, hoping they could observe the situation here, as things would become complicated once the fighting resumed.

Ma Da then appeared at the very top of the stone steps and announced in a loud voice, “Imperial Guards below, listen! I am the true sovereign of the Dual City State. You were once my personal guard, yet you now defy the world by blindly following Pang Hu’s rebellion. I know this is unintentional error. As long as you lay down your weapons, I promise not to pursue responsibility for your actions; moreover, I will reward you with official positions.”

The Imperial Guard Qianhu sneered, “You dog Emperor, stop putting on airs in front of us! Following you, we will never get anywhere. It’s better to rebel and take a gamble! Get down here immediately and let us take you to Grand Tutor Pang, or we will use the Crown Prince and the Princesses as shields and charge up!”

Ma Da momentarily forgot his objective to stall for time and roared, “Who are you to speak to me in such a tone? Imperial Guards below, whoever kills him will instantly replace his position!”

Ma Da was employing a tactic he’d learned from his son-in-law: under heavy reward, there will always be brave men. However, he failed to remember that this involved killing one’s own men, which was entirely different from fighting an enemy. Unexpectedly, a knife indeed flashed out from behind the Imperial Guard Qianhu, and with a sharp crack, the man’s head was severed. Blood spurted violently from the wound, soaking the still-standing corpse, causing the surrounding Imperial Guards to recoil in terror.

The one who drew the blade to kill shouted, "Charge! Kill the dog emperor!"

Then, holding Ma Xiaoda captive, he led a group of people scrambling up the mountain path. The sudden turn of events left the Imperial Guards behind standing dumbfounded, unsure how to react. If that person had slain the leading Imperial Guard to earn a reward from the Emperor, why did he then shout for the death of the "dog emperor"?

Cheng Qiang used the confusion among the guards to hustle Ma Xiaoda upward. The commotion seemed to affect Ma Xiaowei and Ma Xiaorui on either side as well. Ma Xiaorui, the bolder of the two, took advantage of the guards watching them, delivering a hard kick to the groin of the guard holding her, before desperately running upward herself.

Ma Xiaowei was slower to react than her sister. Before she could break free from the man holding her, she was dragged back, and a sword was pressed against her throat. The guard roared, "Make them come back! Now! Or I'll kill you!"

Ma Xiaowei watched her brother and sister nearing the top of the stone steps. There was no way she would call them back. The Imperial Guard grew desperate and forced the knife downward; a spurt of fresh blood bloomed from her neck. With a sharp cry of pain, Ma Xiaowei fell, finally jolting the stunned Imperial Guards into action as they raised their guns to aim.

But a series of white beams flashed from above. Then, the foreheads of the leading dozen men grew hot, and their eyes closed forever. Those dozen laser beams were deadly accurate, taking down almost one Imperial Guard per shot. Due to the close range, the power of the lasers was so great that sometimes they pierced through two bodies before dissipating. In mere moments, the three paths were littered with a dozen corpses.

Losing too much blood, Ma Xiaowei’s vision blurred, and she collapsed. As she fell, Ma Xiaoda and Ma Xiaorui scrambled up. The soldiers above were unleashed. With a single command from Lin Gu, a burst of fire erupted, felling another swath of the already demoralized Imperial Guards. Had it not been for concern for Ma Xiaowei below, a few well-aimed stones would have routed them.

The Imperial Guards were numerous, and Lin Gu knew Ma Xiaowei lay below. Fearing the guards might use her as a shield, he ordered the immediate and ruthless elimination of this contingent, sparing no bullets. A hail of gunfire scattered the Imperial Guards in panic. They tried to shoot back, but the attackers held the high ground, and the Palace Guards had hastily erected stone barricades near the steps, rendering the fire from below useless. It was a massacre; these guards stood no chance.

As the Imperial Guards began their retreat downward, several Palace Guards rushed down to carry Ma Xiaowei up. Ma Xiaoda cried out frantically, "Sister, you can't be hurt! If Zhao Qian comes back and finds I haven't kept you safe, he'll kill me!"

Ma Xiaowei managed to crack open her eyes. "It's my fault for being useless. Never mind me; figure out how to save the others."

Lin Gu commanded, "Quickly, carry the Princess into the main hall for bandaging. Her wound isn't deep; it missed the major vessels. Once the bleeding stops, she’ll be fine."

Ma Da, stunned that his son and daughter had escaped death, grasped Cheng Qiang’s hand. "Minister Cheng, I must thank you profusely."

Cheng Qiang was overwhelmed by the praise. "Your Majesty, this is what I should do. I have failed in my duty by allowing the Fifteenth Princess to be injured; please mete out punishment."

Ma Da waved his hand dismissively. "Don't give me formalities. I am already extremely pleased with what you have accomplished."

Cheng Qiang offered, "Your Majesty, Commander Gu has gone to the Outer City. He should persuade the Outer City Imperial Guards to return and fight soon, which will lift the siege on Pang Hu."

Xiao Dingzi, who had been scrambling up and down to monitor the situation outside, rushed in. "Your Majesty, the Central City is engaged in fighting! There’s movement on the Outer City side too. Perhaps the matters concerning the Imperial Stables and the Eastern Depot have been resolved."

Everyone quickly moved to a higher vantage point to look down. Indeed, smoke billowed near the Eastern Depot, accompanied by sporadic gunfire. Meanwhile, the sound of shouting rose deafeningly from the South Gate of the Outer City—it was unclear if the Imperial Stables forces were attacking or if Gu Qi was leading the Outer City Guards back. Just as they watched, plumes of signal smoke rose from the woods outside the south mountain.

"The Imperial Stables succeeded!" everyone cheered, recognizing the prearranged signal.

Lin Gu announced, "Your Majesty, I will relay this good news immediately. If we can hold out for just half a day longer, they will break through, and we can successfully suppress this rebellion."

Ma Da nodded. "Excellent. All you loyal ministers who saved my life today will certainly be richly rewarded."

Ma Xiaorui interjected, "Father, stop with the polite formalities. They are all good friends of my brother-in-law; helping us is what they should do. The priority now is finding a way to save the others! They are still locked in the dungeons of the Pang Manor in the Central City. If anything happens to them, neither my sister nor I will survive!"

Ma Da cast a pleading look at Lin Gu. Lin Gu apologized to Ma Xiaorui, "Sixteenth Princess, do you think I don't want to save the ladies? But right now, we cannot spare the troops. Even if we could, we dare not act rashly, or Pang Hu might harm Madam Zhao and the others. It is a miracle you three escaped. For now, we must hold the main hall until the outside forces arrive, then we fight Pang Hu to the death, and he will have no choice but to release them."

Though anxious, Ma Xiaorui clearly saw the strength of the few people present; sending all of them to the Pang Manor might not secure the rescue. She fell silent, realizing they could only make plans once the three outside forces—the Eastern Depot, the Imperial Stables, and the Outer City Imperial Guards—had converged.

Pang Hu’s eyes widened upon hearing the news of failure. He roared at the cluster of Imperial Guard Qianhus standing below. "How could this happen? Are you all useless trash? I've kept you for days, and you can’t even hold three prisoners? Every one of you deserves death!"

Wan Licai stepped forward to placate him. "Godfather, this is a critical time; give them a chance to redeem themselves with merit. Even though the Crown Prince and Princess escaped, we still have seven or eight delicate girls. With them in hand, the dog emperor will surely yield."

Xia Jian beside him mused, "I doubt that. Those people aren't royal kin. What if the dog emperor doesn't care if they live or die? Killing them would be such a waste..."

Pang Hu glared at them fiercely. "None of your ideas work! Keep those women untouched for now. We'll use them as leverage against Lin Gu and those military commanders at the crucial moment. They are all subordinates promoted by Zhao Maguan; he certainly won't ignore the plight of his former superior's women. However, with the Emperor supervising the battle and his own children safe, coercing them now might not be effective. Give my orders: move the siege weapons brought by the Imperial Stables beneath the Wencheng Wude Hall. Deploy all ten thousand Imperial Guards, and take the Hall even if we have to pile bodies high. The battle must end by evening, or none of you will ever see me again."

The Imperial Guard Duweizhangs received the order and departed. From their perspective, the position beneath the Wencheng Wude Hall was insignificant. The only reason they hadn't taken it was the unfavorable terrain—the slope was too steep, putting the attacking force at a severe disadvantage. But now, with heavy siege equipment, lobbing a few hundred landmines would reduce the Hall to rubble.

No sooner had the Duweizhangs left than an Imperial Guard rushed in with a report. "Grand Tutor, this is bad! The Eastern Depot has revolted!"

"What?" Pang Hu and his subordinates were stunned. They hadn't even managed a revolt yet, and others were already turning against them.

The reporting guard continued, "Those lower-ranking officers rallied a group of soldiers, stormed the armory, and seized the weapons we confiscated from them not long ago. They are now advancing on the Pang Manor."

Pang Hu slammed his fist on the table. "It must be that A'mao and A'gou causing trouble behind the scenes! I knew saving those people wouldn't be without motive. Send men to suppress them immediately! We cannot afford any slip-ups now. Most of their superior weaponry has been reassigned to the Imperial Guards, and since they've only just started, suppressing them should be simple."

The former Duweizhang, Bian Lang, stepped forward to accept the mission. "Grand Tutor, let this subordinate go. Give me ten thousand men, and I can subdue them." Pang Hu countered, "No. We only have sixty thousand usable troops within the city. After guarding the Central and Inner Cities, we have only twenty thousand mobile reserves. Ten thousand are already assigned to attack the Wencheng Wude Hall, and the other ten thousand must guard the Pang Manor. I can spare you three thousand at most."

Bian Lang looked troubled. "Grand Tutor, the Eastern Depot has three or four thousand men. How can I suppress them with only three thousand?"

Pang Hu's face darkened. "Figure it out yourself! A mere thousand men held off our repeated attacks. If you face them one-to-one, what problem could there be? Besides, your weaponry is far superior to theirs. Hurry up, or if they escalate things, it will be hard to clean up."

Bian Lang hesitated to move. If A'mao and A'gou were truly behind the Eastern Depot riot, ten thousand men would surely raze the Depot to the ground. But with only three thousand, he knew he stood no chance against those two, who were seasoned veterans, and the rioting soldiers were their old subordinates. Even if the high-ranking officers were loyal to Pang Hu, once the revolt started, the soldiers wouldn't listen to words. Going there himself would be suicide.

Wan Licai saw Bian Lang’s concern; he knew Bian Lang feared losing the fight. Since Wan Licai and Bian Lang usually got along well, he decided to intercede. Wan Licai said to Pang Hu, "Godfather, A'mao and A'gou fought alongside Zhao Maguan for a long time and are extremely experienced. Commander Bian might not be a match for them with just three thousand men. We cannot afford to be careless and let them counterattack. Godfather, perhaps..."

Bian Lang shot Wan Licai a grateful glance. Pang Hu considered the logic. Those two might not be great in individual combat—perhaps their combined strength wouldn't best Bian Lang—but in leading troops, five Bian Langs wouldn't match them. If the suppression failed and the fire spread, more troops would be needed later.

With that thought, Pang Hu conceded, "I can add one thousand more men at most. We originally positioned two thousand of our own men within the Eastern Depot. If you coordinate with them for a pincer attack, you should win. But to be safe, I'm sending two of my personal guards with you. Pang Qi, Pang Ba, step forward."

A smoke suddenly appeared on the floor, and as if by magic, two hulking men emerged from it. They bowed to Pang Hu. Pang Hu instructed them, "You two will assist Commander Bian in suppressing the Eastern Depot riot. Best to find an opportunity to kill those two original Eastern Depot leaders. Once they are headless, the rest will listen to us."

Pang Qi and Pang Ba simply nodded without speaking and stood behind Bian Lang. Bian Lang knew Pang Hu trusted them, but this was his first time meeting the legendary Ten Great Experts of the Pang Manor. These were the men who, in a single night, had captured the women in the Imperial Palace. Their actual strength was clearly superior to legend. With their help, plus four thousand men, this battle offered a chance of victory.

As Bian Lang led his troops away, before those remaining could settle down, another urgent report arrived. "Grand Tutor, come quickly and look outside! There is signal smoke rising from the direction of the Imperial Stables. Is it a warning signal to us?"

Pang Hu frowned. "We didn't agree on a smoke signal. Didn't we station over five thousand of our own men there to monitor the Imperial Horse Guard's movements? What happened?"

No one seated could offer an explanation, but they walked out of the council hall into the courtyard to observe. Indeed, dense smoke billowed from the Imperial Stables direction, though the distance obscured any specific sounds. At this moment, the inner, central, and outer city gates were all sealed tight, meaning any news would take time to reach them.

Minister of War Bai Song suggested, "Grand Tutor, could it be that the original two officials of the Imperial Stables are stirring up trouble, just like the Eastern Depot? Are they inciting the Horse Guards to revolt against you? We should send troops to check."

Grand Tutor Pang scoffed, "Didn't we replace the Qianhu commanders there with our own men? And their weapons were confiscated. How easy could a revolt be? Five thousand supervising soldiers with a volley of fire would wipe them out."

Bai Song insisted, "The logic holds, Grand Tutor, but they still have over ten thousand Horse Guards there. If something truly goes wrong, and they manage to link up with the twenty thousand plus Imperial Guards in the Outer City, we might not be able to handle it."

Grand Tutor Pang looked troubled. "Who do I send now? If you all possessed the individual competence of Zhao Maguan's subordinates, I wouldn't be worrying like this! But which of you has the skill? When trouble arises, you all rush to me without any initiative or decision-making of your own."

The faces of the officials flushed red. Indeed, these gentlemen were accustomed to luxury; they were masters of devious schemes, but in terms of actual capability, none matched even a tenth of Zhao Maguan's subordinates. Setting aside the current troop shortage, they couldn't even find a capable commander. Sending someone who didn't understand warfare would be sending them to their deaths.

Wan Licai reassured them. "We arranged things quite securely at the Imperial Stables. Five thousand men guarding ten thousand should not pose a major issue. Furthermore, once we resolve the situation in the Inner City by securing the gates, they will naturally submit."

The Grand Tutor sighed. "That's all we can do for now. If necessary, we will divert ten thousand Imperial Guards to extinguish them, but everything must prioritize the Inner City situation. Resolving the matter with that dog emperor swiftly is the key. Once he is dead or in our hands, those others will hesitate, and then we can do as we please."

The ten thousand Imperial Guards attacking the Wencheng Wude Hall were ferocious. They dragged the siege weapons hidden within the Pang Manor from the Central City into the Inner City and successfully set them up beneath the Hall. Soon, stone mines began whistling through the air. The space above was limited; almost every square meter of the small plaza received a mine—the density was terrifying.

The defenders of Wencheng Wude Hall knew the enemy's intent while the Imperial Guards were setting up the catapults. But the distance was too great; their gunfire or arrows couldn't reach the attackers, forcing them to watch the enemy calmly assemble, load, and fire. However, knowing the danger beforehand, the defenders tried to take cover, leaving only a small force on watch to prevent a sudden rush by the Imperial Guards, while the rest retreated inside the Hall.

Those mines, sourced from the Imperial Stables, included both stone and iron types, all highly destructive. They blew apart half of the main entrance to the Wencheng Wude Hall and killed many soldiers. Finally, Lin Gu was forced to recall everyone outside. Fortunately, the Imperial Guards below knew the danger of the landmines; they did not attack while the explosions continued.

Hearing the earth-shaking blasts outside, Ma Xiaoda asked Ma Da, "Father, are there any secret tunnels here for us to retreat through? Under this bombardment, we won't last long. We must find a way to escape."

Ma Da shook his head. "The Wencheng Wude Hall is easy to defend and hard to attack, with no back exit. Excavating a secret escape tunnel through the mountain would be an enormous undertaking. Your great-grandfather and grandfather considered it, but both abandoned the plan due to limitations in excavation tools."

Ma Xiaoda pressed, "They haven't used heavy trebuchets yet! If a giant boulder is hurled, the thick roof of the Wencheng Wude Hall might even be smashed through. I’ve witnessed the power of a trebuchet, not to mention the Imperial Stables also have smoke bombs and cannons. If they deploy those one by one, we'll have nowhere to hide."

The explosions outside suddenly ceased. Lin Gu waved his hand. "Everyone, return to your posts! Do not let the rebels charge in! As soon as the reinforcements from the Eastern Depot and the Imperial Stables arrive, we win!"

The soldiers were not afraid to die. They rushed out, following Lin Gu closely. Soon, the sound of gunfire erupted outside the Hall—the rebels were likely charging after the initial barrage. The defending guards were nearly out of ammunition and couldn't quickly haul more stones. They relied only on the few personal guards from the Zhao family desperately firing their laser guns.

Ma Da lamented, "Xiaoda, it is my fault for harming you all. Pang the dog thief has harbored treasonous intent for a long time, and I only knew how to retreat, always thinking a ruler must have a broad mind, always thinking I had things under control. Now I have dragged you into this suffering."

Ma Xiaoda replied, "Father, why say such things now? I truly do not blame you; you will always be our good father. Stop thinking about it, I am going to help the soldiers bandage their wounds."

The Imperial Guards attacking the Wencheng Wude Hall were mown down; they retreated, crawling and rolling. Just then, the giant trebuchet was fully assembled, and the massive iron bolt launcher was ready. At the command of the leading Duweizhang, dense iron bolts rained down upon the Wencheng Wude Hall like a swarm of locusts. Many Palace Guards who couldn't dodge in time were struck down; even Liu Gang took an arrow to the arm. Simultaneously, the creaking and grinding of winches sounded—many who had fought bandits knew this was the sound of the trebuchet winding up. Indeed, after a brief grinding noise, it stopped, followed by a massive whoosh as a giant boulder soared up and smashed squarely onto the Hall's door, which projected slightly from the mountain wall. With a deafening crash, the door collapsed halfway.

The iron bolts continued to shoot upward, and Pang Dang’s second assault commenced under the cover of the iron rain and stone bombardment. The soldiers bravely defending the exterior of the Wencheng Wude Hall were all killed. Lin Gu was forced to pull his remaining forces back to the Hall entrance. At this point, the tactical advantage of using the terrain was completely lost. Rebels swarmed the small plaza before the Hall, suppressing those inside with firepower while beginning to haul up cannons.

Bian Lang’s troops soon clashed with the Eastern Depot forces, engaging in fierce street fighting. The Imperial Guards held the advantage in weapon superiority, while the Eastern Depot fighters were better at using the terrain. The battle quickly reached a stalemate. Not only Bian Lang but also A'mao and A'gou were increasingly anxious. They knew the Inner City urgently needed reinforcements, but Bian Lang’s four thousand men were blocking the road completely, with stray enemy soldiers launching surprise attacks from the rear.

A'gou said, "Cat Brother, let's ignore these stragglers. Let's take a detour directly to the Inner City gate! If we’re any later, Lord Lin and the Emperor will be in danger. I just saw a giant stone thrown in the direction of the Wencheng Wude Hall; they might not hold out much longer."

A'mao knew this was no time for prolonged fighting. "I'll stay here and keep this contingent of Imperial Guards occupied. You take men and detour to reinforce Lord Lin and the others."

"Heh heh heh..." A sinister chuckle echoed in the air, and suddenly, a blade materialized before A'mao's eyes, slashing towards his throat.

A'mao ducked his head, narrowly dodging the phantom blade. Before him, the air was empty, as if no one had appeared. Alarmed, he fired his gun towards the empty space. Bang! A splash of blood erupted—there was someone invisible in the air!

"Everyone, watch out! Someone can turn invisible!" A'mao shouted.

Whoosh! A blade suddenly materialized behind A'gou and swung toward his back. An Eastern Depot guard happened to be standing behind A'gou; unable to intercept in time, he leaped forward to shield A'gou, taking the full force of the strike on his chest. Puff! Blood gushed forth violently.

The surrounding Dongchang Eunuchs were all fiercely loyal personal guards. The moment the situation turned dire, they immediately surrounded Ah Mao and Ah Gou in the center. The knife that had just killed a guard suddenly vanished, and the injured man disappeared without a trace. For a moment, the guards could only fire their weapons wildly.

Swish, a blade suddenly materialized from an unexpected direction. Bang, a head was severed, spraying blood that momentarily revealed a flickering humanoid shape before everyone's eyes. One panicked guard let out a fierce roar and lunged forward, tackling the figure silhouetted by the blood. The invisible man probably hadn't anticipated such a move; in his confusion, he forgot the knife in his hand and desperately tried to kick the grappling guard. The other guards seized the opportunity; their Xiuchun Dao were drawn in unison, and in a matter of moments, the invisible man was hacked and slashed until he was a bloody mess. He could no longer maintain his invisibility and fell dead onto the ground.

Ah Mao was deeply horrified. "How is this possible? How could he evade our sight like that?"

Ah Gou warned, "Be careful. There should be one more. Guard against a sudden attack."

No sooner had Ah Gou finished speaking than a sharp pain shot through his foot—a leg had been severed! However, the attack exposed the assailant's position. The guards immediately opened fire. Amidst the hail of bullets, the man still took several hits, and the wound, unable to be concealed, further revealed his location. A more concentrated volley of vengeful bullets slammed into his body, and this fellow, too, could no longer turn invisible, meeting his end right behind his brother.

Ah Mao supported Ah Gou. "How are you? I'll bandage it immediately."

Ah Gou stifled his pain and laughed bitterly. "What else? Now I won't be able to chase any more women. Who would like a cripple?"

While bandaging Ah Gou, Ah Mao insisted, "Stop talking. Madam Hua will surely have a way to save you. I'll send someone to get a doctor right away, stop the bleeding, and save your life."

Ah Gou refused. "No, you hurry and take your men to reinforce the Inner City. I'll direct the defense here to hold off that contingent of Imperial Guards. Just tie the wound tightly with a rope. At a time like this, what do our lives count for? Go!"

Ah Mao knew there was no time to waste. With tears in his eyes, he led his men around the victorious Imperial Guards commanded by Bian Lang. However, breaking into the Inner City was far from simple. The four gates of the Inner City were sealed shut, the battlements manned by Pang's loyalists, and the Dongchang lacked any usable heavy siege equipment. Casualties mounted quickly.

Meanwhile, the Imperial Guards in the Outer City were in an uproar. These men were subordinates of Gu Qi of the Later Guards. They had long been dissatisfied with Pang Hu, and when Gu Qi persuaded them to serve the Emperor, they responded instantly. A large contingent charged towards the West Gate of the Middle City, planning to break through there to reinforce the Wencheng Wude Hall.

The horse guards from the Imperial Stables also arrived. The Imperial Guards defending the South Gate of the Outer City initially assumed they were coming to reinforce the Pang faction, and a brief skirmish erupted between the two sides. Fortunately, someone recognized Generals Ah San and Ah Si, dissolving the misunderstanding. The guards at the gate allowed them passage, and they rushed straight for the South Gate of the Middle City.

News poured into the Pang Residence, drenching the occupants in cold sweat. They never expected that the key to their supposedly flawless plan would be undermined by the sudden appearance of multiple unexpected obstacles. First, the attempt to force the Emperor's hand by killing the Left and Right Chancellors failed. Then, they failed to capture the Wencheng Wude Hall where the Emperor was taking refuge. Now, the Pang faction was surrounding the Inner City Palace from the Middle City, while the imperial loyalists in the Outer City were beginning to encircle the Middle City—a tightening noose that seemed to favor their enemies.

Pang Hu glanced at his anxious confidants seated below him. "What are you afraid of? The crucial point now is to gain absolute control of the Imperial Palace. We must put the Emperor to death. I had originally planned to spare his life for a while, but now it seems only by completely killing his entire family will we erase the thoughts of those outside. Tonight, the forces of Wanma and Jin will launch their attacks. When the news arrives, those people will still have to acknowledge me as their leader. Notify the garrison commander in the Middle City: no matter what they use to attack the city, defend it until every last man falls! You must hold out until the Jin and Wanma armies break through. Furthermore, send someone to hurry the Imperial Guards attacking Wencheng Wude Hall. Give them one more hour for their meal; if they don't bring me the Emperor's head, bring me your own!"

The Minister of War, Bai Song, reported, "Grand Tutor need not worry. The Imperial Guards have already used cannon fire to collapse half of Wencheng Wude Hall. They are currently clearing the rubble. We might receive good news soon."

Pang Hu's expression finally brightened slightly upon hearing this. "In that case, let's prepare to transfer to the Inner City. Firstly, that is where we truly need to be. Secondly, if the Middle City cannot hold, we can rely on the formidable defenses of the Inner City to hold out until the Jin and Wanma armies arrive for reinforcement. We have water, provisions, and the advantage of terrain—what can they do to us?"

The current situation was indeed chaotic. Both the West and South Gates of the Middle City were under attack. However, the gates were massive and the walls deep, and the Outer City Imperial Guards and the horse guards lacked convenient weaponry. After a long siege, they had made no headway. Meanwhile, the Dongchang forces in the Middle City were attacking the West Gate of the Inner City, though they too had achieved no victory, merely sacrificing their strength against the gate.

At this moment, Wencheng Wude Hall scarcely resembled its former self. First, giant stones smashed half the main entrance down. Then, an even larger boulder was hurled, causing the collapse to extend further inward toward the mountain cliff. Later, cannons were positioned in the small plaza before the hall, and a few barrages reduced the remaining half of the entrance to rubble. Even the rebel soldiers themselves could no longer discern a path inside.

When Pang Hu issued his uncompromising order—"I want to see him, dead or alive"—the Imperial Guards had no choice but to begin digging through the ruins. While collapsing the structure was easy, clearing the debris required strenuous effort. Fortunately, since the West and South Gates of the Middle City, and the West Gate of the Inner City, were not in danger of falling, they had ample time for excavation.

Ma Da and the others were actually in no immediate danger, sheltered deep in the innermost corner. Even if the collapse extended a few meters further, they would remain unharmed. Looking at the wounded soldiers scattered everywhere, Ma Da's eyes streamed with tears. This was not his first encounter with war, but observing mangled, bloody soldiers at such close range was a first.

Every wounded warrior here was honorably marked while protecting his family, while those who perished would never wake up. At this moment, Ma Da deeply understood the difficulty of being an emperor; peace and tranquility were not achieved through mere tolerance. The sound of the Imperial Guards digging outside became distinctly audible.

Ma Xiaorui guarded Ma Xiaowei's side while her mother, Consort Yu, tended to Ma Xiaowei. Ma Xiaowei slightly opened her eyes. "Xiaorui, what's the situation outside?"

Ma Xiaorui replied, "Officer Lin commanded everyone to retreat inside the hall. Our thousand warriors are basically wiped out. Now they are digging through the rubble. From what those villains are saying, they intend to take our heads to Pang Hu for a reward."

Ma Xiaowei murmured something indistinctly, and Ma Xiaorui leaned close to hear, "He promised he would protect us. Why did he break his word?"

A large stone was moved, and a shaft of sunlight pierced the darkness. Someone peered inside, then shouted loudly. Soon, a large number of rebels would likely pour in. They might start a slaughter in their rush to claim glory and reward, and Lin Gu, Liu Gang, Xiao Dingzi, Cheng Qiang, and others were all injured to varying degrees; they probably couldn't hold out much longer.

Ma Xiaorui suddenly felt a wave of despair. "Sister, maybe what others say is true—Zhao Qian really is dead."

"Nonsense! Nonsense!" Ma Xiaowei, disoriented, perhaps from blood loss or fright, insisted, "He swore an oath. He will come to save us! He will come to save us!"

"Kill! Kill! Every head taken means another reward!" The rebellious Imperial Guards shoved aside another long stone blocking the path and charged in brandishing their blades.

Ma Xiaorui closed her eyes. She did not want to die, but the thought of perhaps being violated by these beasts resolved her to end her own life first. At this moment, she could no longer hear the shouts of her father, the Emperor, or her imperial brother. She held Ma Xiaowei tightly, raising a Xiuchun Dao she had picked up from the ground with her other hand.

The light before her suddenly intensified. Smack, the knife in Ma Xiaorui's hand was knocked away, followed by screams echoing everywhere. Boom! Boom! Boom! Several earth-shattering sounds followed. The gloomy interior of the hall was suddenly illuminated as if by daylight. The massive stones blocking the entrance flew away as if they had wings, raining down upon the ranks of the rebellious Imperial Guards like raindrops, rapidly inflicting massive casualties. In the blink of an eye, not a single rebel remained before Wencheng Wude Hall.

Ma Xiaorui didn't know what had happened. Having failed to take her own life, the outside world fell into a terrifying silence, compelling her to open her eyes and see. What she saw made her heart leap into her throat. "Brother-in-law!"