I was to be executed by Zhu Yuanzhang, and Empress Ma smashed Zhu Yuanzhang's jade seal.

"They've rebelled...they've all rebelled..."

Inside the Fengtian Hall, a storm suddenly arose.

An even bigger storm is brewing.

The generals under Zhu Muying were unaware that Zhu Muying was dead.

However, Zhu Yuanzhang's imperial edict ordering the rebels to commit suicide had already been issued.

Shanhaiguan.

The once formidable pass, known as the "Number One Pass Under Heaven," has now been transformed.

Instead of the Ming Dynasty's banners bearing the sun, moon, mountains, and rivers, the city walls now flutter with large black banners with gold trim and ferocious beast patterns.

The huge gaps in the city wall, blasted by thunderbolts, have not yet been repaired. They resemble ugly scars, silently telling the story of the earth-shattering battle that took place a few days ago.

Inside the city, the original Ming army camps had been cleared out and replaced by a group of fierce warriors dressed in ancient Qin and Han style black armor.

They were the eight thousand Jiangdong soldiers under Xiang Yu's command.

At this moment, inside the former Shanhaiguan General's Mansion, Xiang Yu, shirtless, was using a huge whetstone to sharpen his over two-zhang-long Overlord City-Breaking Spear.

Dark red bloodstains remained on the blade, left by the Ming soldiers guarding the pass a few days earlier.

Below the main hall, several generals of the Jiangdong soldiers were reporting on their southward route and the enemy situation along the way.

"Your Majesty, according to our scouts, our vanguard has reached the vicinity of Zhen Ding Prefecture. In the prefectures and counties along the way, the defending troops either fled at the first sign of trouble or surrendered directly. We encountered almost no decent resistance."

"Hmm." Xiang Yu didn't even look up, just focused on sharpening his spear, making a "shush" sound.

This small victory was nothing to him.

What are the elite troops of the Ming Dynasty, what are the fortified cities and passes? In front of Xiang Yu and his eight thousand Jiangdong soldiers, they are no different from clay chickens and earthen dogs.

"However..." the general hesitated for a moment, then continued, "Han Xin's side seems to be making even bigger moves."

"Han Xin?" Xiang Yu paused in his spear-sharpening motion, a hint of disdain flashing in his double pupils. "That guy who only knows how to hide behind the scenes and play tricks, what's he up to this time?"

Of all the generals summoned by Zhu Muying, Xiang Yu looked down on Han Xin the most.

In his view, war should be fought honorably, with thousands of troops crushing the enemy head-on.

To act like Han Xin, with his constant flanking maneuvers, roundabout tactics, spreading rumors, and sowing discord among the people, is a disgrace to military generals.

"Your Majesty, Han Xin's main force did not march south, but instead broke into smaller units and launched attacks in all directions. They controlled the grain transport, occupied the passes, and cut off the connection between Shanxi and Hebei. More importantly, they sent out a large number of scouts to spread the news that His Highness the Prince of Ying had been wronged, under the banner of 'purging the court of corrupt officials.' Now, the hearts of the people in the entire north have almost all turned to our side."

"Hmph, crooked and evil ways." Xiang Yu snorted coldly, his tone full of disdain.

But he also knew in his heart that Han Xin's combination of attacks was indeed much more effective than his own reckless charge.

At least, on Han Xin's side, the entire northern part of the Ming Dynasty was paralyzed without bloodshed.

On his side, although his advance was unstoppable, he ultimately committed too much bloodshed.

"Forget it, let him be." Xiang Yu shook his head, too lazy to think about these troublesome matters anymore. "We only have one goal, and that is Jinling! We'll march to the walls of Jinling as quickly as possible, drag that old emperor surnamed Zhu off his throne, and ask him why he dared to harm my brothers!"

"Yes!" the generals roared in response.

Just then, a soldier on guard duty scrambled in from outside.

"Report! Your Majesty! A fast horse has been spotted beyond the pass, charging towards us! Judging from the banners, they are the Embroidered Uniform Guards from Nanjing!"

"The Embroidered Uniform Guard?" Xiang Yu raised an eyebrow, stopping what he was doing. "What are they doing here? Are they here to die?"

"I don't know. There were only a dozen or so riders, carrying a banner that read 'Urgent Message,' so it seems they were there to deliver an imperial edict."

"An imperial edict?"

Xiang Yu and his generals exchanged glances, wondering if they should send His Highness the King of Ying back.

Xiang Yu wiped his hands, put his heavy black armor back on, grabbed the Overlord City-Breaking Spear, and strode outside.

"Let's go take a look."

"As soon as His Majesty the King returns, we will immediately return to the north and never set foot in Shanhaiguan again!"

Outside the Shanhaiguan pass, a dozen Imperial Guards were desperately urging their warhorses forward.

The leader was a centurion of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

His name was Qian Wu, and he was the messenger responsible for delivering the message to Xiang Yu's "rebel army".

He knew this was a mission with a slim chance of survival.

But he had no choice.

As the emperor's personal guard, loyalty to the emperor and serving the country were beliefs ingrained in their very bones.

Even if it meant death, he would deliver His Majesty's decree to the traitorous general.

In the distance, he could already see the majestic outline of Shanhaiguan.

However, the black flag fluttering in the wind atop the city wall made his heart sink.

He knew that place was a den of wolves and tigers.

"Cheer up!" Qian Wu roared at his men behind him. "Remember our mission! Even if we die, we will deliver the imperial edict!"

"Yes!" A dozen Imperial Guards responded in unison, their voices tinged with a sense of tragic heroism.

They spurred their warhorses and charged beyond the drawbridge at Shanhaiguan.

On the city wall, Xiang Yu's figure, like a demon god, slowly appeared.

He looked down at the dozen or so Imperial Guards below, who resembled ants, his eyes full of mockery.

"Who goes there?" Xiang Yu's voice, like rolling thunder, came down from the city wall.

Qian Wuqiang suppressed his fear, took a deep breath, and pulled out the imperial edict wrapped in bright yellow silk from his bosom, holding it high above his head.

"A messenger from Jinling, carrying an imperial edict, has come to deliver a message!"

"Please betray us... General Xiang, receive the imperial decree!"

He originally wanted to say "traitorous general," but when he looked at the demon-like man on the city wall, he swallowed the word "traitor."

"An imperial edict?" Xiang Yu sneered. "Bring it up and let me see."

The suspension bridge slowly lowered.

Qian Wu's heart was in his throat; he knew this was the most dangerous step.

He winked at his brothers behind him, and then, alone, he carefully walked onto the suspension bridge, carrying the imperial edict.

The city gates swung open, and a group of fierce-looking Jiangdong soldiers, wielding long halberds, stood on either side, coldly watching him.

Under immense pressure, Qian Wu walked step by step into the city and stood before Xiang Yu.

He dared not look up at Xiang Yu, but knelt on the ground and held the imperial edict high.

"By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees..."

He was about to read out the contents of the imperial edict when Xiang Yu impatiently interrupted him.

"Alright, stop reading."

The deputy general beside Xiang Yu stepped forward, snatched the rolled-up imperial edict from Qian Wu's hand, and then respectfully presented it to Xiang Yu.

Xiang Yu received the imperial edict and quickly unfolded it.

He desperately wanted to know where His Majesty the King was!