"The capital guards will protect the imperial Domain and palace after we march at dawn, they should mobile and be alert at all times until the rebellion is quashed"
Gu Shang ordered.
A large map was then brought forth and then spread on the table.
Gu Shang observed for a while before pointing at a location.
"Tomorrow we'll meet them at this place, the sleeping serpent pass, that's were we would meet them" Gu Shang said.
The other emissary's nodded, if the Moonshade Sect wanted to get to the capital fast, their best option would be to pass the sleeping Serpent pass.
It was a pass with two long mountain on each side, it could accommodate fifty people walking side by side.
The pass was very narrow and had less space, it would be perfect for them to defend with their numbers.
Among all the simple path the Moonshade Sect could have taken to enter the domain, why was Gu Shang sure they'll take the sleeping serpent pass?
It was quite easy, the Moonshade sect wanted to arrive in the imperial Domain before sunrise to prove a point.
Gu Shang had threatened to destroy them by sunrise, so they were returning the favor back.
The fastest way to get to the domain was through the narrow pass. If it was any regular army, they wouldn't have dared to take such a risk,
But they were just a sect and were filled with arrogance, they couldn't care less about Gu Shang troops because they looked down on them.
"At the pass, we'll set up our defense line here"
Gu Shang pointed at the very edge of the pass, if their defense were to fall, then the Moonshade Sect would just stroll into the capital.
This was an unusual place to set up defense, if their defense couldn't hold up they'll be done for because they won't be able to regroup again since behind them would be an opened space area.
But they had a guess or two about why Gu Shang was placing them in such a dangerous spot which was very hard to defend.
Fourth sister, would your regiment be able to serve as the infantry today?" Gu Shang asked.
"Yes we would, though we are horsemen, we've been training in how to fight on land without our dragon horses and we've mastered that.
There's no infantry regiment in the entire empire that are better than us on the ground, except those freaks from the Dragon Claw guards" The fourth emissary boasted.
Gu Shang nodded in satisfaction.
"Then 50,000 men would serve as our infantry and hold them off at this location,
The remaining 40,000 cavalry troops would not move, untill I give my orders"
The first emissary nodded.
"Also the dwarf clan has given us some quality shields" The quasi Immortal King chipped in from the side.
"Oh, where are they?" Gu Shang asked.
The Quasi Immortal King disappeared and appeared again with a large rectangular shield about the size of a man, it has strange runes around it, shimmering in a cold purple colour.
Gu Shang took a look at it and casually threw a punch at the shield.
The results he got satisfied him greatly.
"How many of these do we have?" He asked the Quasi Immortal King.
"Your grace, we have 500 of them in total" he replied.
"Good then we'll be using this" Gu Shang said as he continued to check the shield, "it's light but strong, this will help minimize casualties on our side.
Fourth sister, give it to your men so that they can become accustomed to it, we don't have much time, but there's still sometime before sunrise" Gu Shang said.
"Second brother is the poison ready?" Gu Shang asked the second emissary.
The second emissary just gave Gu Shang a devilish smile.
"Never mind then" Gu Shang said, sometimes he really believed that this second brother of his was the god of death.
"That will be all, make preparations for our march, we will set off in the hour of the roaring bear( midnight: 12:00am- 4:00am)"
The emissaries left after receiving Gu Shang's command.
....
In the Moonshade Sect entrance, more than 300,000 disciples were gathered to set off to war.
The crowd was a mix of inner and outer disciples. The inner disciples donned their Scarlett robes with a full moon on it, whiles the outer disciples wore green robes with a half moon on their chest.
The core disciples stood in the very front along with the elders in their silver robes looking extremely arrogant.
The place was buzing as they waited for the sect leader to send them off to battle.
This was going to be an easy battle for them, the Grand General only had a measley 100,000 men, his Lion Fang troops have refused to move forward to support him.
At this point he was just a sitting duck.
On the brighter side, after tomorrow the Moonshade Sect was going to be the rulers of the lands, they were going to go down in history, but they didn't even have to do much.
As they were still feeling excited, a man in blue robes appeared above them in the sky, it was their sect master.
"Greetings, Sect master!" A loud chant was heard as they all greeted him causing the ground to tremble slightly.
"Today we march towards the empire to avenge the comrades they've taking from us.
The empire had dared to threaten us, they said they were going to destroy us by sunrise after they had arrogantly killed our people.
Are we going to let them getaway with it?"
"Nooooo!!!!" That was the large response of the crowd of people.
The sect master nodded.
"Since the empire have decided to break their oath with us and even go as far as to destroy us, then we'll have to pay them back in full.
They might have forgotten our strength because we've been quiet for too long,
It's about time we show them what it means to destroy!
What it means to feel fear!
Today the empire will die by dawn, and by sunrise, the sun will rise to see a new dawn.
A new dawn....led by the Moonshade Sect.
From this moment on, you're all founders of the new land and rule we are about to create.
Go out there and show them fear" The Sect leader roared, shaking the heavens.
"Points would be allocated to those who contribute the most, that is by killing more.
Those who would bring the heads of the enemy generals would be allocated more points and can ask anything from the sect" The right Grand elder suddenly spoke.
Causing excitement through out the disciples.
"You've all heard him, whoever would bring me the head of the Grand General would be made the lord of a region" The sect master added.
Loud gasps were heard as the crowd eyes turned red, even for the outer and inner disciples elders.
A lord in charge of a region was basically a governor. Who wouldn't want this?
Now they were all motivated to bring Gu Shang's head.
"Now march onward, my disciples!!" The sect leader gave a loud roar.
"Begin the march" the order was repeated many times before they began their march.
The sect master looked at his disciples proudly as they marched towards the domain.
"Good luck" he muttered silently.
....
Hour Of The Roaring Bear(12:00am-4:00)
Rising Phoenix Manor
Gu Shang had just finished wearing his battle robes when Liu Feifei suddenly dashed into the room in her golden armor.
Gu Shang was in a white robe, on his robes were patterns of Qilin weaved with golden threads.
"I'm coming with you?" Liu Feifei suddenly spoke.
Gu Shang was surprised, " You don't have to, just stay and guard the capital I'll be back soon"
Liu Feifei still stood there unmovingly, " you don't have enough soldiers to go up against the Sect, let the capital guards join you so that we can fight together.
Only then we'll we have a chance, if the sect defeats you, then there will be no chance of survival for us in the Domain.
Let's do it together" Liu Feifei said not willing to back down.
Gu Shang smiled, Liu Feifei really did care for him. She was willing to follow him to battlefield.
That was sweet, but Gu Shang wasn't in such a precarious state that he'll require the help of his woman to defeat a bunch of rebels.
"You don't have to worry, I have everything planned out. Nothing will happen to me, I promise to be home by sunrise so just wait for me!
She tried to argue but Gu Shang expression went cold, " If you don't listen to me, I'll have you restrained at the manor untill I return, do you want that?"
Liu Feifei tried to speak but couldn't find her voice.
She just sighed and helped Gu Shang straighten out his robes, like a loving wife.
"If by sunrise, you are not here then I'll come for you" she said softly but unyielding.
"Fine" Gu Shang said.
Gu Shang stepped out of his room to see the emissaries all suited in their full armor.
Gu Shang looked at the Quasi Immortal King, "Take care of the manor whiles I'm gone"
Yes your grace
The moment Gu Shang stepped out of his courtyard, he saw his troops lines up in two rows with a space in the middle.
Gu Shang didn't give any long fancy speech to his troops all he said was, "It's just like another day in the north"
All his soldiers burst out in laughter seemingly agreeing with his statement.
In the northern borders, this was a regular thing. They were always fighting off invaders so this was not new to them.
On the contrary, they actually missed the battlefield and couldn't wait to face the Moonshade Sect.
"What's the Purple Qilin Cavalry code?" Gu Shang shouted loudly across the manor.
"When you draw your sword to kill, you should be prepared to die by the sword"
"When you draw your sword to kill, you should be prepared to die by the sword"
"When you draw your sword to kill, you should be prepared to die by the sword"
All the soldiers took of their masks and began to chant.
Gu Shang walked through the space of the rows as the soldiers continued to recite the code in loud roars.
Liu Feifei couldn't help but feel intoxicated by the chants. This were men ready to die.
Gu Shang got to the entrance of his manor and climbed his horse.
The large silver gates of the Rising Phoenix Manor were opened.
Gu Shang came out first on his horse, with the emissaries following him, before the rest of his troops all marched out of the manor neatly.