A System That Beats Death

After refusing another proposal, he left to continue pondering. What strategies were possible. when he could finally implement his plans, and what was eating at him. Usually, the voice in his head would be telling him to remain levelheaded. However, recently it had been constantly and incessantly urging him to take action.

Taking a step into the courtyard, he stopped to take in the conversation of two servants. Even if the servants were people of lesser status, he was not concerned as one could find wisdom even in the most unlikely of places. That was what Xin had always believed and that was how he came to be respected by the people of Zin.

"Did you hear about it?"

"Hear about what? You being punished by the old codger for sleeping on the job?"

"...Haha very funny. I meant the news about the Capital of Long"

"Oh, you mean the return of their Great General?"

"Yeah didn't that guy leave because he hated their Emperor or something?"

Xin had long since known about the Great General. He had been considering forging an alliance to overthrow his uncle with him, but it was merely a consideration. As he did not personally know the Great General, he could only rely on hearsay and hearsay from others often led to false and fabricated impressions. If he was to forge an alliance, he needed the Great Generals enmity for the Emperor to be deep-seated and also founded upon reason. After all, he would not want to liberate his own country and then have to share it with a deplorable bastard.

"He did. I mean he even brought back a decoy Crown Prince back to the palace with him"

"What!? I'm surprised that the Emperor hasn't executed the both of them for treason already"

Xin was shocked. Someone had dare impersonate him? Wouldn't that be the equivalent of a fate worse than death as it would severely threaten the Emperor's position, guarantee their own death, and maybe even a lifetime of torture? The Great General must be more ruthless and brutal than the rumors let on.

"The Emperor might not care though because the Crown Prince guards the already deposed Princess and has not interacted with any of the ministers. I would still be scared if someone so powerful was after my head though, sheesh. Being an Emperor is tough"

Xin immediately stopped eavesdropping and made his presence known.

"O-oh! Your Highness, did you require something of us?", the two immediately said after bowing.

"Tell me more about this False Prince!", Xin demanded fiercely.

After the interrogation, he immediately left to seek audience with the King of Zin.

________

When not in direct combat, the soldiers were undergoing strict physical training in the army barracks of Long. Like the average army, they ran multiple l.a.p.s, sparred with dangerous weapons and without, challenged obstacle courses, and ate what barely qualified as sustenance.

On an unsuspecting day of great weather and comforting breeze, the Black Dragon Army returned ahead of time. After finishing their daily training regimen, they sat down at the table and began to fraternize with their fellow compatriots over gruel. Before they could finish though, a fusillade of arrows rained down upon the barracks.

"ENEMY ATTACK!"

The soldiers immediately became alert but unfortunately, without equipment or any means of retaliation, they were downed like cattle in a slaughterhouse. Before the General Tong could signal for help, his vision darkened, and he fell unconscious.

Later, he awoke upon a podium with restraints around his neck and arms. Seeing the General Lin, nonchalantly yawn before him, he growled, "What is the meaning of this?!"

The General Lin glanced at his former comrade disinterestedly and muttered, "You don't know a coup when you see one?"

"Did you not swear an oath to the Emperor, you f.u.c.k.i.n.g snake!?", the loyal general growled in disdain.

"He ended the oath I had with my wife by killing her and I shall end my oath with him by toppling him", the turncoat general stated indifferently. He then swung his saber downwards towards the nape of his former comrade.

The thud of the decapitated head against the ground became known as the true beginning of the battle as the bloodshed would only intensify.

________

Standing in the Imperial Palace was Shen who had been escorted by a hostile regiment.

"Where is the Princess?", the Emperor demanded.

"Having a tea party in the Tan Palace. I see no reason why such a delicate person should attend court", Shen casually stated with complete disregard for the possible connotations behind such circ.u.mstances.

The Emperor began to fume. At this critical moment, the Princess was sent to a neighboring country!? It was also the one which they were in war with which made him even more irate. Their military was already weakened by the rule of the Great General which would allow the country of Zin to easily hold her hostage and demand a hefty ransom. Of course, he would not agree to the ransom as he had been planning to use her as a pawn for a stronger alliance. He could have also leveraged her relationship with Da Guang, the Great General's daughter to his advantage but she somehow vanished into thin air which made him suspect that Da Lan had been plotting against him for a very long time.

First, it was the return of the long-lost Crown Prince who should have been dead and rotting along with his foster parents. That could be forgiven though as the true situation behind the Imperial Family were known to less than a dozen. Then, it was the constant conquests which overshadowed his authority. That could also be forgiven though as it could be seen as beneficial in the long term. The last straw though was the atrocities pinned upon him which turned both public opinion and the majority of the military subtly against him.

"Do you know who you're truly dealing with?", the Emperor growled.

"Someone that will fall from great heights", Shen replied with a smirk.

Impassioned with rage, the Emperor stood up from his throne for the first time in years. Shen's eyes then widened. Before the Emperor could administer the punishment, the Imperial Palace exploded!