C23 To Gather the Generals

"That's a relief! As your mother, I don't wish for you to rise to the highest ranks; I just want you to live a safe and peaceful life," Zhao Danna sighed with relief, her heart finally at ease.

"Father will soon return from the campaign, and it's getting late. You should go rest," Chen Dutian said with a smile, noticing two Red Banner Army leaders approaching the main hall. He gently urged his mother.

Zhao Danna nodded slightly, understanding there were matters beyond a woman's involvement. She left the main hall with a few maidservants, heading towards the private quarters of the House of Protector.

After his mother and the maidservants departed, Chen Dutian's demeanor shifted. He sat firmly in the main seat and commanded coldly, "Come in!"

The two leaders of the Red Banner Army quickly approached him, bowing as they reported, "Your Grace, we've captured the assassins. However, they seemed prepared and unwilling to reveal their identities, choosing to self-destruct their Power Nodes on the way!"

As a warrior, self-destructing a Power Node leaves no chance of survival. Chen Dutian furrowed his brow deeply, sitting in silence.

The only ones daring enough to make a move against him in the capital were the Yan family. During today's martial competition, Chen Dutian had showcased his prowess, defeating both Jiang Daochen and Ling Zechuan, which had stirred Yan Chen's desire to kill.

With Chen Dou still away leading the troops and the assassins choosing to self-destruct to conceal their identities, even if suspicions pointed to Yan Chen, there would be no evidence to prove it.

"Xue Yong, Sun Jun! How many of the Red Banner Army did you bring back?" Chen Dutian called out to the two commanders, familiar with them by name.

"Your Grace, I heard someone plans to make a move against the House of Protector in the Imperial Capital, so I specifically deployed a hundred thousand Red Banner soldiers. They're now stationed just about 18 miles outside the city!"

"I also brought a hundred thousand Red Banner soldiers, ready to follow your orders at any time!"

The entire Imperial Capital's forces only totaled around two hundred thousand, and many were under the control of the Lord Protector's former troops. Chen Dutian let out a cold smile and slowly stood up, a fierce intent emanating from him. Xue Yong and Sun Jun, kneeling on the ground, were visibly shaken, their mouths agape.

Chen Dutian was once known as a useless heir without the ability to cultivate, relying solely on his status as the Lord Protector's Heir to get by. But now, at a young age, he possessed the power of the Sixth Heaven in the Spirit Convergence realm, leaving the two commanders of the Red Banner Army astonished.

"Xue Yong, Sun Jun, follow me to the Muster Point!"

Hearing this, Xue Yong and Sun Jun exchanged glances, their eyes lighting up with fervor. They flung their red cloaks behind them, exuding a chilling resolve as they followed Chen Dutian out of the main hall.

The Muster Point in the Lord Protector's courtyard was where Chen Dou would gather his commanders before each campaign. Once the large drum on the platform was sounded, any commander who had ever followed Chen Dou had to arrive within half an hour.

After a short break, Chen Dutian, dressed in a fine robe, stood on the Muster Point. Around him were a dozen Bloodshadow Guards, their expressions fierce and determined. Below, hundreds of Red Banner Army soldiers stood in perfect formation, the large courtyard filled with an intense, almost tangible sense of impending battle.

"Boom!"

Chen Dutian struck the large drum on the Muster Point, its deep, resonant sound echoing powerfully. The soldiers below seemed to envision once more the chaos of battlefields, the smoke and flames of war...

"Boom!"

The drum sounded again, its call reaching every corner of the capital. Many generals, who were at home celebrating the Harvest Festival with their families, rose solemnly, donned their armor, and strapped on their swords, ready for action.

"Boom!"

With the third drumbeat, Yan Chen, seated on the throne, showed a change in expression. Beside him, Wang Xuanyang stood up abruptly, tension evident in his demeanor. The assembled ministers exchanged puzzled glances, uncertainty in their eyes.

"It's the Lord Protector's Call to Arms!" Seven or eight generals in the Cloudwatch Palace strode out, not looking back as they rushed towards the palace gates, paying no heed to Yan Chen on the throne.

Yan Chen, filled with anger, furrowed his brow and asked Wang Xuanyang in a stern voice, "What's happening? Chen Dou isn't in the capital. Who's beating the Call to Arms?"

"Your Majesty, please calm down. I will investigate immediately!" Wang Xuanyang bowed and quickly descended the steps, leading a few palace guards as they hurried out.

At the sound of three strikes on the Call to Arms drum, Chen Dutian turned with a cold expression, setting down the drumsticks. In a commanding voice, he addressed Xue Yong and Sun Jun below, “Xue Yong, listen up. I need you to lead one hundred thousand Red Banner Army troops into the Imperial Capital within an hour. If anyone dares to block your path, eliminate them!”

“With pleasure!” Xue Yong replied with a powerful shout, catching the command token Chen Dutian tossed down. He turned and led ten Red Banner soldiers out the back of the House of Protector.

“Sun Jun, your orders are to secure all the city gates once Xue Yong’s troops are inside the Imperial Capital. No one is to enter or leave. If anyone defies this order, deal with them on the spot!”

Sun Jun didn’t hesitate. With Lord Protector Chen Dou absent, Chen Dutian’s words were as good as military orders.

The two Red Banner Army leaders left the House of Protector, but more commanders were rushing toward the muster point. In just a few minutes, over twenty military leaders stood assembled below.

They all held significant military power and roles, but most importantly, they were veterans of the Red Banner Army, loyal to Lord Protector Chen Dou.

Chen Dutian glanced at them coolly and said, “I’ve received word that foreign enemies have infiltrated the Imperial Capital. I even encountered them on my way back. Though Lord Protector is not here, ensuring the safety of the Imperial Capital is your duty!”

"At your command, Your Grace!" All the commanders shouted in unison, as if they saw the spirit of the Lord Protector who had led them into battle years ago reflected in Chen Dutian.

"Commander Gao Yutian of the Palace Guard, hear my command! Lead five thousand of your men to secure the nine gates of the capital. Withdraw the palace guard, and if anyone dares to defy, execute them!"

"Commander He Changfeng of the Ironclad Legion, hear my command! Take twenty thousand of your men to surround the camp of the Cavalry Corps. No one is to enter or leave. If anyone dares to defy, execute them!"

"Commander Kong Yunquan of the Leopard Guard, hear my command! Lead fifty thousand of your men to closely monitor the Tiger Army outside the city. If they show any signs of movement, eliminate them all!"

The nine gates of the capital were guarded by the Imperial Guards, while the leaders of the Cavalry Corps and the Tiger Army were loyal to Yan Chen. Chen Dutian's orders were a clear message to the Yan family: if you dare to touch the Lord Protector's Heir, you will pay a bloody price.

A member of the Bloodshadow Guard quickly approached the muster point, bowed, and whispered a few words to Chen Dutian. A cold smile appeared on Chen Dutian's lips as he addressed the assembled commanders with a steely voice: "The rest of you, lead five hundred soldiers each to gather at the House of Protector! Tonight, I, Chen Dutian, will cleanse the Imperial Capital with blood!"