Lin Zixiao vs. The Seven Heroes of Chifeng

Little Vajra?

This name left the seven men of the Seven Heroes of Chifeng feeling a bit bewildered.

This name...

It was so damn unique!

Unique yet bizarre, carrying an undeniably weird vibe.

After all, who would give their child such a name?

Even a nickname wouldn't be this strange.

However, when the Seven Heroes of Chifeng turned their gazes to Bai Zixuan, they saw her beaming. She was thoroughly pleased with her newborn child, a gentle smile gracing her face. Consequently...

The seven men of the Seven Heroes of Chifeng all mirrored her smile.

"Who says the name Little Vajra isn't good? The name Little Vajra is simply fantastic."

"Indeed, only such a unique name is worthy of our unique Zixuan."

"Zixuan, you truly are my most beloved. Even the name you chose is extraordinary."

...

The Seven Heroes of Chifeng tried their hardest to flatter her.

But these words clearly backfired.

Bai Zixuan's expression changed instantly, taking on a ruthless edge as she said sternly, "I already told you, this wonderful name was chosen for my child long ago by the Grand Palace Master."

"I am a protector of the Tongxin Alliance, subordinate to the Palace Master. How dare you arbitrarily attribute the Palace Master's credit to me?"

"If the Grand Palace Master found out and grew angry, wouldn't you be driving me to my death?"

These words made the Seven Heroes of Chifeng change color.

They all looked sheepish, not daring to say another word.

Still, each of them felt that something was amiss.

Within the Tongxin Alliance, the three Palace Masters undeniably held the highest status. As a protector, it was perfectly fine for Zixuan to be second to them.

But that was within the Tongxin Alliance!

The current Zixuan was the person their two-hundred-thousand-strong army truly meant to protect!

With this army of two hundred thousand, what did a Palace Master of the Tongxin Alliance matter?

Shouldn't they obediently bow their heads?

Yet, the Seven Heroes of Chifeng did not dare to defy Bai Zixuan's wishes in the slightest. They apologized profusely, each trying to win her favor, allowing the atmosphere in the tent to warm up again. Then, as if their lives depended on it, they began showering Little Vajra with all sorts of praises.

"Generals..."

The midwife hurried into the main tent. "Generals, um... there is a soldier waiting outside. He seems quite anxious but doesn't dare to come in, so he asked me to inform you."

Only then did the Seven Heroes of Chifeng recover some composure from the joy of Bai Zixuan giving birth.

A soldier?

It must be a personal guard.

Anxious?

Could something major have happened in the army?

Shortly after, as if realizing it belatedly, the Seven Heroes of Chifeng heard the sound of drums from the camp. The drumming was earth-shattering. With their years of military experience, they quickly recognized that this was the third round of drumming.

The third round of drumming signaled a matter of the highest urgency in the military.

Regardless of who they were, everyone had to arrive at the designated location and stand in neat formation before the third round of drums finished.

But,

Lin Zixiao had gone to the capital. Right now, the seven of them held the highest authority in the army. Who would dare to lightly sound the drums?

The eldest, Xiao Lie, walked briskly to the tent entrance and indeed saw the personal guard. Upon seeing Xiao Lie, the guard looked both anxious and panicked: "General, the Commander-in-Chief has returned."

"He ordered the drums to be beaten!"

"It's already the third round of drums!"

Xiao Lie's expression shifted.

Lin Zixiao came back this quickly?

Could the situation of entering the capital have actually gone just as Lin Zixiao expected?

Xiao Lie's expression fluctuated uncertainly.

If it were before, and Lin Zixiao returned unscathed, he would have likely urged him to continue attacking the capital to secure the merit of assisting a new emperor. But now...

Xiao Lie's mindset had completely changed.

Bai Zixuan had already given birth to Little Vajra for him.

Little Vajra was the true commander of this two-hundred-thousand-strong army; Little Vajra was even the future emperor.

How could he let Lin Zixiao steal the spotlight?

This matter was of grave importance. Xiao Lie didn't make a decision on his own; he pulled the other six men out of the tent and explained the situation to them in detail.

The other six held exactly the same thoughts as Xiao Lie.

"Hmph, we've already fought our way to the capital, yet Lin Zixiao wants to retreat, treating us like a joke. So what if he's back? I will definitely kill him!"

"The Dragon Throne in the capital must be seated by Little Vajra. Lin Zixiao is not worthy!"

"Right. For Little Vajra, for Zixuan, we must eliminate Lin Zixiao."

...

The Seven Heroes of Chifeng were in high agreement on this matter.

They immediately set off, rushing toward the temporarily constructed drill ground.

Though called a drill ground, it was actually just a relatively flat piece of land. Now, as the third round of drums neared its end, all combat personnel of the two-hundred-thousand-strong army were in position.

Lin Zixiao sat atop his steed, looking as wise and martial as ever. Standing in the middle of the crowd, he shouted at the top of his lungs.

"Brothers, Her Majesty the Empress is magnanimous. She personally issued eighteen edicts of self-reproach for me, Lin Zixiao. After I entered the capital, not only did she pardon my crimes, but she also promised to grant me the title of Marquis."

"If she treats me like this, I believe she won't treat you poorly either."

"Before, we were rebels!"

"Even if we fought under the banner of justice, the fact that we were rebels couldn't be changed. But now... as long as you follow me and pledge allegiance to Her Majesty the Empress, we... will be the true loyal and brave heroes of the Great Yu Dynasty!"

"Brothers, what are you waiting for?"

"Come, stand behind me, follow me, and let us pledge our loyalty to Her Majesty together!"

Lin Zixiao's words thundered like a booming storm.

His imposing manner was extraordinary.

Coupled with his consistent prestige in the army.

It seemed quite persuasive.

However, the two hundred thousand soldiers below, including the nearly ten thousand elites that Lin Zixiao had taken into the capital and who had now returned with him, all remained dead silent.

The eyes of many even burned with hidden anger.

These men only realized at this moment that... when the Commander-in-Chief ordered them to retreat, this was what he meant?

So, they had fought their way from the south to the north, encountered countless crises along the way, lost countless brothers, tied their lives to their waistbands, and risked the execution of their nine familial generations, only for...

...the Commander to just want the Empress's edict of self-reproach?

Now that the Commander had surrendered to the Empress, he wanted to drag them into surrendering too?

What was this?

Was he treating them like a joke?

Besides, even if they truly surrendered, could the Empress really let bygones be bygones? If she could let bygones be bygones, why did she dispatch a two-hundred-thousand-strong army to the northern frontier back then to encircle and annihilate the seventy thousand fiercely loyal soldiers of the Chifeng Army?

They feared...

The moment they laid down their swords, the Empress's butcher knife would be raised.

They simply could not trust the Empress.

Thus, by extension, they could no longer trust Lin Zixiao either!

"Brothers, trust me, you must trust me!"

"Everything I said is true."

Seeing this scene, Lin Zixiao grew anxious.

No, he used to be able to command this two-hundred-thousand-strong army as easily as moving his own arm. Why... why was everyone disobeying him now?

Fortunately, Lin Zixiao's prestige was high after all, and the army was not a monolith. Under his strenuous urging, some soldiers, though hesitant, slowly began to walk and stand behind him.

Humans are herd animals; once someone takes the lead,

more people would naturally follow and walk toward Lin Zixiao.

But just as the momentum was building, the furious shouts of the Seven Heroes of Chifeng rang out.

"Brothers, do not be deceived!"

"If you dare follow Lin Zixiao into the capital, your fate... will certainly be no better than the Chifeng Army's!"

...