Three

No," said Lei Bicheng softly, "it is the entire world

I immediately began to make arrangements, the black-clad servant rose, "The flames of war are about to descend upon Hanzhou and Ningzhou, something I have long anticipated"

He took a deep breath and said: "Your brother's failure at Shangyang Pass has caused us to fall behind 'Yin' and 'Ji', this is the disgrace of 'Yang', we must clear this disgrace!"

A faint cooing of doves came from outside the Hall of the Rising Sun, and in that moment, the incense suddenly became chaotic. The black-clad attendant drew his knife, and the silver cavity on the handle of his knife vibrated, producing a clear sound. A white dove swooped into the Hall of the Rising Sun, as swift as an eagle diving for its prey. It spun in the air before landing on the wrist of the black-clad attendant

In the same year, during the late autumn, at the Taiqing Palace in Tianqi City

Sword and Iron

At noon, Lei Bicheng sat in the Chuyang Hall in deep contemplation, while a black-clad attendant sat beside him, resting a hand on the hilt of a sword. In the bronze incense burner, wisps of light smoke rose straight up.

The cloaked servant removed the bamboo tube from the pigeon's leg and handed it to Lei Bicheng. With a grave expression, Lei Bicheng took out the letter from the bamboo tube. After reading it, his hand trembled, and the letter turned into a ball of flame, slowly descending.

What should we prepare? the servant asked

The Barbarians and the Winged Tribe are set to wage war on the Eastern Continent? This matter has been in planning for ten years, yet there has been no outcome. Now that the Pope has issued a decree for us to expedite our actions, it must be due to new developments

Forty-three days ago, Hua Bihai burned down the Cypress City-State of the Yun clan in Ningzhou, killing its ruler Yun Xi Legu Baimu. The monarch he served, Yi Lin Vitas Stark, sent envoys to every city-state of the Yu clan in Ningzhou, demanding their submission, or else the Yi clan's army would destroy their homes. And fifty-six days ago, Shan Bikong found a wolf in the snowfields of the far north of Hanzhou, "Lei Bicheng whispered, "White Wolf." And fifty-six days ago, Shan Bikong found a wolf in the snowfields of the far north of Hanzhou, "Lei Bicheng whispered, "White Wolf."

Now, everyone in the palace is aware that a new national master has moved in. The emperor holds this new national master in high regard, consulting him on both major and minor matters in the Chuyang Hall, and even allowing the concubines of the harem to seek his counsel without reservation. This brings to mind a few years ago when Emperor Xi was still alive, and there was also a national master residing in the Taiqing Palace, who spent his days discussing the principles of natural birth and death with Emperor Xi. Later, that national master seemed to have been assigned a secret task and never returned. The older palace servants say that the previous national master and the current one are somewhat similar: both wear black robes, are noble, and untouched by dust. However, the former national master would occasionally smile, making him approachable, while the new national master instills a sense of distance.

The Pope's will requires us to prepare more swiftly said Lei Bicheng in a low voice

Sword and Iron

"Hasten the preparation of the crossbows and armor, as the day when the barbarian army descends from the north is likely not far off. The Mulan longboats of the feathered people will also cross the sea and land in Lanzhou. A war between the different races may erupt at any moment," said Lei Bicheng. "The Great Yin needs sufficient military strength to engage in battle with the barbarian and feathered tribes. We do not wish for this war to end too quickly"