C23 Dance of the Drum to Gather the Generals

"I'm relieved to hear you're all right! I don't aspire for you to be a high-ranking official; I just want you to live a safe and peaceful life," Zhao Danna said, her voice filled with relief as the worry in her heart subsided.

"Father will soon be returning to the capital, and it's getting quite late. Please, go back and get some rest," Chen Dutian gently suggested to his mother with a smile, noticing the arrival of two Red Banner Army commanders outside the main hall.

Zhao Danna gave a slight nod in agreement, aware that there were matters beyond her purview. Accompanied by a few maidservants, she departed from the main hall and made her way slowly to the back quarters of the Lord Protector's Mansion.

With his mother and the maidservants gone, Chen Dutian's demeanor shifted dramatically. He took his seat at the head of the room and commanded in a stern voice, "Enter!"

The two Red Banner Army commanders approached swiftly, bowed respectfully, and reported, "Your Highness, we've apprehended the assassins. However, they seemed to have anticipated capture and chose not to reveal their identities, opting to self-destruct their Martial Arts Space en route."

For a martial artist, self-destructing one's Martial Arts Space meant certain death. Chen Dutian's brow furrowed deeply as he sat in contemplative silence.

The only ones bold enough to target Chen Dutian in the capital were from the Yan family. During the day's martial arts contest, Chen Dutian had demonstrated his prowess, defeating both Jiang Daichen and Ling Zechuan, which had ignited Yan Chen's murderous intent.

With Chen Dou still away on campaign, and the assassins choosing death over revealing their affiliations, even if there were suspicions about Yan Chen's involvement, there was not a shred of evidence to be found.

"Xue Yong, Sun Jun! How many troops from the Red Banner Army have you brought?" Chen Dutian asked, familiar with the two commanders as he called them by name.

"Your Highness, upon learning of the threat to the Lord Protector's Mansion, we promptly dispatched 100,000 troops from the Red Banner Army. They are now stationed thirty miles outside the capital," one commander reported.

"The same here, Your Highness. I have brought another 100,000 troops, and we stand ready to follow your commands," added the other.

In the capital, the total military force amounted to a mere 200,000 soldiers, all under the command of the old Lord Protector's loyalists. Chen Dutian let out a cold, mocking laugh as he rose to his feet, a sharp killing intent emanating from him. Xue Yong and Sun Jun, the two commanders kneeling before him, shuddered and their mouths fell open in shock.

Chen Dutian was once considered useless, lacking the Martial Arts Chamber necessary for cultivation. It was common knowledge that he would never be able to cultivate in his lifetime and had to rely solely on his status as the son of the Lord Protector to get by.

Yet, now, Chen Dutian, still young, possessed the formidable power of the sixth level of the Spirit Convergence Stage, leaving the two commanders of the Red Banner Army utterly astonished.

"Xue Yong, Sun Jun, heed my command! Follow me to the Assembly Platform!" Chen Dutian ordered.

Upon hearing his command, Xue Yong and Sun Jun exchanged glances, a fervent gleam in their eyes. They cast off their blood-red cloaks and rose to their feet, filled with a fierce resolve, and followed Chen Dutian out of the main hall.

The Assembly Platform in the backyard of the Lord Protector's Mansion was where Chen Dou would marshal his generals before each campaign. The moment the drum atop the platform was struck, every general who had ever served under Chen Dou was bound to present themselves within half an hour.

A short while later, equivalent to the time it takes to sip a cup of tea, Chen Dutian stood resplendent in his brocade robe upon the platform, flanked by over a dozen Blood Shadow Guards, their faces stern with intent. Below, the ranks of the Red Banner Army stood in disciplined order, the vast backyard brimming with a palpable, wild killing intent.

"Boom!"

Chen Dutian struck the drum on the Assembly Platform, the deep reverberation stirring the souls of those present. The Red Banner Army soldiers below were instantly reminded of past battles, with visions of bloodshed and chaos.

"Boom!"

The drum's echo reached every corner of the Imperial Capital. Many generals, who had been celebrating the Golden Autumn Festival with their families, rose with solemnity, donned their armor, and grasped their swords, their aura fierce and commanding.

"Boom!"

At the third drumbeat, Yan Chen's face, seated upon the Dragon Throne within the Imperial Palace, darkened. Wang Xuan Yang, beside him, stood up in a nervous haste, while the assembly of high-ranking officials exchanged bewildered looks, uncertainty in their eyes.

"The General Assembly Drum of the Lord Protector has been sounded!" Seven or eight generals from Cloudwatch Palace strode out, sprinting towards the palace gates without looking back, showing no regard for Yan Chen seated on the dragon throne.

Yan Chen was seething with anger, his brows furrowed. He addressed Wang Xuan Yang with a stern voice, "What's going on? Chen Dou isn't in the Imperial Capital. Who struck the General Assembly Drum?"

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger. I will look into it immediately!" Wang Xuan Yang bowed and descended the jade steps, hurrying out with several Imperial Army guards in tow.

Meanwhile, Chen Dutian, who had struck the drum thrice, turned with an icy demeanor and, setting down the drumstick, commanded Xue Yong and Sun Jun, "Xue Yong, heed my order. I need you to lead a hundred thousand troops of the Red Banner Army into the capital to stand by within the hour. Kill anyone who dares to obstruct the Red Banner Army!"

"Your command shall be obeyed!" Xue Yong bellowed, taking the command token tossed by Chen Dutian, and led ten Red Banner Army soldiers out from the rear of the Lord Protector's Mansion.

"Sun Jun, your orders are to secure all the city gates of the Imperial Capital after Xue Yong's troops have entered. No one is permitted to pass in or out. Execute any who resist on the spot!"

Without a moment's hesitation, Sun Jun knew that with Lord Protector Chen Dou absent, Chen Dutian's commands were as good as military orders.

After the two Red Banner Army leaders departed the Lord Protector's Mansion, more generals from within the Imperial Capital were already en route. In less than half the time it takes an incense stick to burn, over twenty army commanders had gathered beneath the General Assembly Platform.

They all wielded significant military authority and held key positions. Most importantly, they were veterans of the Red Banner Army, loyal followers of Lord Protector Chen Dou!

Chen Dutian gave them a brief, cool glance and declared coldly, "I've been informed that a foreign enemy has infiltrated the Imperial Capital. I even clashed with them on my way back to the mansion. Though the Lord Protector is absent, the duty to safeguard the capital's security is ours, and we must fulfill it without fail!"

"At your command!" The commanders roared in unison, their voices filled with a fervor reminiscent of the Lord Protector, who had once led them through the throes of battle.

"Imperial Guard Commander Gao Yutian, heed my orders! You are to station five thousand Imperial Guards at the nine gates of the Imperial Capital, withdrawing the front-line troops. Anyone who dares to defy these orders shall be executed!"

"Iron Eagle Guard Commander He Changfeng, heed my orders! Take twenty thousand Iron Eagle Guards and encircle the Ironclad Legion's camp, allowing no one to enter or exit. Defiance will be met with death!"

"Leopard Legion Guard Commander Kong Yunquan, heed my orders! Lead fifty thousand Leopard Legion Guards to keep a vigilant watch over the Tiger Army outside the city. Should they show any sign of unrest, obliterate them without hesitation!"

The Nine Gates of the Imperial City were under the watchful eye of the Imperial Army, and the commanders of both the Ironclad Legion and the Tiger Army were trusted allies of Yan Chen. Chen Dutian's strategic moves were a clear message to the Yan Family: any threat to the Lord Protector's heir would come at a steep, bloody cost.

A Blood Shadow Guard approached Chen Dutian on the General Assembly Platform, bowing respectfully before whispering a message. A chilling smile spread across Chen Dutian's lips as he issued a command to the awaiting generals, "All remaining generals, assemble five hundred soldiers each and convene at the Lord Protector's Mansion! This very night, I, Chen Dutian, vow to cleanse the Imperial Capital in a deluge of blood!"