Volume One - Frontier of the Chen Kingdom, The Rebel Marquis’s Immortal Path Chapter 27: The Summons to Leave the Pass

The battles at Zhenbei Pass had grown urgent; even the people at Heifeng Pass had heard the news. Rumors spread like wildfire throughout the territory of Chen, filling the air in mere days.

“Have you heard what’s happening at Zhenbei Pass?”

“Who hasn’t? I’ve got a friend who just returned from there. He said it was devastating. The city walls are nearly smashed to pieces.”

“That can’t be! I heard they’ve withstood several sieges already.”

“Oh, your news is ancient,” someone replied with a sigh. “That was months ago.”

“So, do you think our country, Chen, will…”

“Hush…” The others quickly silenced him, warning, “This is Heifeng Pass, the fief of the Rebel Marquis. You all know what that means. It’s best not to speak too freely.”

“But, just as Brother Li suspects, perhaps it really will come to pass.”

“Then what about us… what will we do?”

“Ah, life was just looking up. Who would have thought we’d face such times? It’s hard…”

“Don’t be too pessimistic. I’ve heard His Majesty has called for reinforcements from all over. Surely, we’ll stand against the barbarity of Zheng.”

“It’s hard to say. Zheng’s power is nothing we in Chen can match.”

The crowd could only sigh in sorrow.

“Do you think Heifeng Pass will be summoned as well?” someone suddenly asked.

They were taken aback, but their first thought was that it couldn’t be.

“That’s impossible! The Rebel Marquis may have been granted land and command of troops, but Heifeng Pass has only been stable for a few years. How much strength could it possibly have? Besides, the Rebel Marquis is just a youth. Not to mention, he’s a prince. How could he be summoned to war?”

“There’s a lot of sense in that,” someone agreed.

“In any case, let’s just hope the war ends soon. Otherwise, the days ahead will be hard indeed.”

“Yes!”

Just then, as their sighs faded into the chill air, a galloping horse raced toward Heifeng Pass. From the rider’s uniform, it was clear the newcomer was a messenger.

Those still deep in conversation fell silent, apprehension rising in their hearts—was the Rebel Marquis truly being summoned? Was Zhenbei Pass truly so desperate?

Within the city, Xia You clutched the royal edict and hurried to Chen Yu’s courtyard. “My lord!”

“The imperial summons has arrived,” Chen Yu said softly. At that moment, he held a gleaming sword up to the sunlight, admiring the cold gleam of its blade. With a flick of his finger, the sword sang—a pure, clear note.

“Yes! His Majesty commands Heifeng Pass to march at once to reinforce Zhenbei Pass,” Xia You announced, nervous and excited. This day was one they had long awaited.

“Send the order: three thousand soldiers, set out with me at once to strike at Zheng,” Chen Yu replied quietly. He spoke not of reinforcement, but of attack—his resolve and intent clear in every syllable.

He also instructed Xia You to send word to Jing Zhe and Xue Han.

“Yes, my lord…”

Within a single day—apart from three hundred men left behind under Yi Ming’s command—the three thousand elite soldiers of Heifeng Pass set out with Chen Yu.

When these three thousand warriors—armored and astride fine horses—thundered along the main road, the entire city was shaken. Even after their forms had vanished into the distance, the people’s hearts still quaked with awe and fear.

“What… what was that black wind?”

“Did I see that right? Three thousand heavy cavalry? From Heifeng Pass?”

“That can’t be! Do we really have such a force?”

…

After ten days of hard riding, Chen Yu and his men were only twenty li from Zhenbei Pass.

“My lord, we’ll reach Zhenbei Pass soon,” Xia You said gravely.

“No. We’re not going to Zhenbei Pass,” Chen Yu replied, glancing toward another mountain road. “We’re heading to Rizhao Pass.”

“My lord, the situation at Zhenbei Pass is dire—it may not hold much longer against Zheng Liao. But why Rizhao Pass?” Xia You asked in confusion, as the black-armored soldiers behind him also turned their gaze to Chen Yu.

“Even if we rushed to Zhenbei Pass now, it might fall before we arrived. The only chance to relieve Zhenbei Pass now is through Rizhao Pass,” Chen Yu replied calmly. “As long as we surround Zheng Ze, Zheng Liao will surely come to his rescue.”

Though he did not fully understand Chen Yu’s reasoning, Xia You trusted him without question.

Rizhao Pass was less than ten li away. In half a day, they arrived.

But instead of entering the pass, they circled wide and exited the city from the eastern flank.

By then, dusk had fallen. The cover of night offered them a chance to rest before the coming day.

Chen Yu knew well that Rizhao Pass was also in peril and would not have lasted two days more without his arrival.

Meanwhile, outside Rizhao Pass, in the Zheng army camp, Zheng Ze laughed heartily, “Mere Rizhao Pass will fall by tomorrow. Such a first victory—how could Zheng Liao compare with me? Ha ha…”

“You’re absolutely right, Your Highness,” Xiao Liu quickly chimed in. “Once Rizhao Pass falls, Chen will be at our fingertips. His Majesty will certainly reward you.”

Zheng Ze, drunk on his prospects, had long forgotten his recent defeat before Zheng Liao and was now thoroughly elated.

In contrast to the confidence in the Zheng camp, those within Rizhao Pass were gripped by terror—even the garrisoned soldiers.

This battle had cost Rizhao Pass dearly. Of the tens of thousands who once defended its walls, barely a thousand remained. Even if they survived this siege, it was doubtful they would escape punishment.

Still, every one of them was prepared to die for their country, determined to hold the line to the last.

As dawn approached, anxiety rose among the defenders, some trembling uncontrollably—after all, who could truly claim to be unafraid of death?

“Ha ha… Listen up, you on the walls!” a Zheng general shouted. “Surrender and open the gates at once, or when we break through, you’ll learn the true terror of Zheng!”

“Zheng scum, save your bluster! If you want the city, let’s see if your neck is tougher than my blade!” retorted Li Guo, the commander defending Rizhao Pass.

“Fools courting death! Do you wish to drag the whole city down with you? Soldiers of Zheng! Prepare to storm the walls!” roared the general.

At once, ten thousand Zheng soldiers surged forward. Under a hail of arrows, thousands of Zheng warriors shouted as they charged Rizhao Pass. Their disciplined ranks and measured advance marked them as hardened, well-trained troops.

“We will live and die with Rizhao Pass! Defend Chen’s lands!” Li Guo’s voice rang out, stirring the hearts of all. “Kill them!”

“To the death! We swear to defend our homeland!” the defenders roared back. Though they knew their fate, not one took a step back.

As the battle erupted, none noticed the black tide that appeared in the first light of dawn, gliding silently across the field.