All the heroes of the world are now in my grasp.

On the 30th day of the twelfth lunar month in the 24th year of the Zhengwu reign of the Song Dynasty, which was New Year's Eve.

The year-end wind, carrying fine snowflakes, swept across the mountains and plains of Bingzhou. Although the world had long since fallen apart—the Liaodong region was engulfed in war, Yunzhou was isolated and isolated, and the Central Plains were burdened by exorbitant taxes and levies that made it hard for the people to breathe—Bingzhou, located between the mountains and rivers, ultimately managed to enjoy a rare period of peace in the chaotic world thanks to the natural barrier of the Taihang Mountains and the steady management of Governor Ji Guang over the years.

The markets and wards of Jinyang City remained bustling. Street vendors, with their oilcloth tents, sold handwritten peach charms, reed ropes for warding off evil, sesame-coated sugar cakes, and freshly slaughtered beef and mutton, their calls echoing throughout the city. Every household had swept the snow away from their gates, pasted newly written Spring Festival couplets, and cypress branches hanging above the doorways swayed gently in the wind. Children in new cotton-padded jackets, clutching lucky money from their elders, chased and played in the snow-covered alleys. The rich aroma of Tusu wine wafted from the taverns, mingling with the aroma of steamed buns and stewed meat from well-off families, permeating the entire city. Even the soldiers guarding the city gates, their faces less grim than usual, carried hot dumplings just delivered from the kitchen, chatting and laughing occasionally.

This festive warmth also spread along the official road to the Jiehekou camp, a hundred miles away, at the border between Xihe County and Jinyang County.

This is a vital passage in western Bingzhou, guarding the gateway from the Jinyang Basin to the border. General Zhou Bo, known as Zihou Zhonglang, stationed his army here. Zhou Bo was renowned for his steady military discipline and strict adherence to orders. His three thousand border troops were all veterans who had fought alongside him on the frontier for many years. Even on days off, they dared not slacken their efforts. The camp was always solemn and disciplined, with little disturbance.

Today is Lunar New Year's Eve, and there has been no war in Bingzhou for a long time. There are only sporadic small groups of cavalry harassing the northern border, so it is very peaceful. In addition, Zhou Bo has been depressed lately and has been staying in his tent all day, so he has relaxed his control over his subordinates a bit. Apart from the sentries on duty and the crossbowmen in the watchtowers, the rest of the soldiers in the camp are gathered in their tents, sharing the wine and meat that have been given to them by their superiors, chatting and laughing quietly around the charcoal fire. A whole slab of mutton is stewing in a large pot in the kitchen, and the aroma fills the entire camp. Even the soldiers patrolling outside the tents walk more slowly than usual, carrying their long spears on their shoulders, and occasionally greeting their familiar comrades with smiles. In the solemn military camp, there is finally a bit of the joy of human life.

Inside the central command tent, however, the commotion outside seemed completely out of place.

The charcoal crackled in the copper stove, its warm steam carrying the scent of pine resin, filling the entire tent, yet unable to warm the chill in Zhou Bo's heart. He sat upright before the table, still wearing his worn black military uniform, the edges of his armor still stained with dust from yesterday's patrol. Around forty years old, his face was resolute and square, his jawline taut, his thick eyebrows furrowed into a deep frown. His rough fingertips tapped unconsciously on the table, the knuckles calloused from years of wielding a knife, and his eyes were filled with worry and anxiety.

Two secret letters lay open on the table. One was sent back at the risk of his life by a trusted confidant he had sent to Youzhou to gather information. The few words on the paper described the tragic massacre of the Shanggu branch of the Gao family in Bohai. The other was sent by Liu Bang, the Duke of Liao, from Pingzhou half a month ago. The handwriting was still steady and powerful, but it could not hide the anxiety about the predicament between the lines.

He felt as if two huge stones were weighing on his heart, a heavy weight that had been pressing down on him for almost twenty days, making him lose his appetite and sleep. Even on New Year's Eve, he had no joy whatsoever.

The first huge stone represents the tragic death of his close friend Gao Xiao and the complete disappearance of his friend's only orphan.

The Bohai Gao clan was a prominent and prestigious family in the north. Gao Xiao, the head of the Shanggu branch, was his sworn brother. Years ago, when he was a minor garrison commander on the border, it was Gao Xiao, then a military commander, who recognized his bravery and steadiness and recommended him to the court. Gao Xiao also spoke highly of him to Liu Bang, the Duke of Liao, which led to Liu Bang's promotion of him from garrison commander to general, commanding a border army. Both men were favored by Liu Bang, and although one was a scholar and the other a warrior, they were kindred spirits and had been friends for over ten years, becoming sworn brothers who would entrust their wives and children to each other.

Gao Xiao was upright and could not stand Zhao Ren's harshness and cruelty. He also could not tolerate the factional infighting and chaotic atmosphere in the court. Several years ago, he became disheartened, resigned from his official post, and returned to his hometown of Shanggu with his entire clan to live in seclusion. He originally wanted to seek peace in this chaotic world and protect his family to live a peaceful life. However, he did not expect that he would not be able to escape this catastrophic disaster in the end.

More than twenty days ago, Xiang Yu, then the governor of Youzhou, led eight thousand cavalry to surround the Gao family mansion on charges of "treason and collusion with the Liaodong ruler." He slaughtered the entire Gao family, numbering over two hundred, including the elderly, women, and children, leaving no one alive. Only Gao Xiao's only son, Gao Zidan, managed to escape Shanggu City under the cover of night, thanks to the desperate protection of his trusted confidants. However, he vanished without a trace, as if he had evaporated into thin air.

Upon learning the news, he spent a sleepless night and immediately dispatched five groups of his most trusted confidants, disguised, to infiltrate Youzhou and search for Gao Zidan's whereabouts. However, Xiang Yu had already laid a trap in Youzhou; the city gates, checkpoints, and post stations of every county were plastered with notices and soldiers searching for Gao Zidan, leaving no room for movement. For over half a month, wave after wave of men were sent out, but the messages returned were always the same: no trace found, fate unknown.

Whenever Zhou Bo recalled Gao Xiao's words before leaving the capital, when he took him to a tavern outside Luoyang and drank until midnight, his eyes red with tears as he said, "I ask for nothing more than to protect my wife and children in this chaotic situation," Zhou Bo's heart ached. He was grieving for his dear friend's entire family's tragic death, with their remains possibly not even recovered, and he felt ashamed that he had received half a lifetime of care from his old friend, yet now he couldn't even protect his only bloodline, and couldn't even find out if they were alive or dead.

The second major obstacle was the predicament of Liu Bang, the Duke of Liao.

In late autumn, the Duke of Liao launched a rebellion, launching a surprise attack that cut off the supply lines of the imperial army of 600,000 men on its eastern expedition. Taking advantage of the situation, he swept through Pingzhou, capturing Liaoxi, Changli, and Jiande counties in succession. He incorporated tens of thousands of surrendered soldiers, greatly increasing his military strength. Heroes who were frustrated in their careers and people who were forced to live by the oppressive government flocked to him, and for a time, his forces were incredibly powerful.

However, at the most crucial juncture, Xiang Yu seized the initiative. On the eve of Liu Bang's attack on Beiping County, Xiang Yu personally led his elite troops on a night raid, covering 300 li in a day and night, and preemptively captured Shanhaiguan, a vital strategic location, effectively blocking Liu Bang and trapping him in Liaoxi.

Beiping County, nestled between mountains and the sea, was a crucial gateway from western Liaoning to the Central Plains. After capturing it, Xiang Yu immediately built dozens of fortresses along the Shanhaiguan Pass, deploying 30,000 heavily armed troops to create a formidable defense. Liu Bang launched three fierce attacks within half a month, all of which were repelled by Xiang Yu, resulting in heavy losses and the complete severing of his westward advance, making it impossible for him to make any further progress.

What worried him even more was that Xiang Yu, for pacifying the Gao clan and blocking Liu Bang's westward advance, was promoted by Zhao Ren to General Who Conquers the North, granted the authority to establish his own government, and appointed as the military governor of six provinces: You, Ping, Ying, Yun, Bing, and Heng. Although the military power in these six provinces was mostly nominal, Xiang Yu already held tens of thousands of elite cavalry in You Province, and now he rightfully controlled the military and political power of the northern border. With a strong army and overwhelming arrogance, he was now in a position of power.

Liu Bang, with only the two provinces of Ying and Ping, was already at a disadvantage against Xiang Yu's massive army. Now, trapped in Liaoxi, his supplies dwindled, morale plummeted, and the situation became increasingly precarious. Meanwhile, he was far away in Bingzhou, nominally under the command of Ji Guang, the governor of Bingzhou. Ji Guang's attitude was ambiguous; he consistently ignored Liu Bang's overtures and Xiang Yu's orders. Liu Bang had no way to mobilize a large army to the east to provide support and could only watch helplessly as the Duke of Liao was trapped in a desperate situation, filled with anxiety and fear, yet utterly powerless to help.

Outside the tent, the distant sounds of soldiers laughing and talking, mingled with the occasional crackle of firecrackers, made the silence inside seem even more profound. Zhou Bo sighed deeply, picked up the cold wine on the table, and took a large gulp. The pungent liquor burned his throat, but it couldn't suppress the bewilderment and helplessness in his heart. This chaotic world was like a surging tide, and he was like a small boat adrift on it, struggling with all his might to maintain his course, but ultimately powerless to control his own destiny.

Just then, a rapid, chaotic sound of horses' hooves suddenly came from outside the tent. The hooves approached from afar, carrying a reckless momentum, heading straight for the camp gate. Immediately afterward, the panicked shouts of the guards pierced through the heavy tent flaps and crashed in: "Sir! Urgent military news! An urgent dispatch from the prefecture! It says the news comes from Luoyang!"

Zhou Bo's heart sank, instantly banishing all his worries. His aura turned icy, and he abruptly stood up. The ring-pommel sword at his waist emitted a clear, resonant ring as he moved, and he solemnly commanded, "Bring him into the tent immediately! No delay!"

The tent flap was abruptly flung open, and a biting wind rushed in. Two guards carried a messenger inside. The messenger was soaked in snow, his uniform drenched and then dried by his body heat, covered in a layer of white frost. His face and hands were covered in frostbite, oozing blood, and his lips were purple with cold. He could barely stand, and upon entering the tent, he staggered and knelt on the ground, holding aloft a sealed letter wrapped in three layers of oilcloth. His voice was so hoarse it was almost inaudible, each word seemingly squeezed from his throat: "General Zhou... Luoyang... something terrible has happened in Luoyang! This is a top-secret document personally sealed by the Governor, sent with utmost urgency, changing horses six times along the way. Please read it immediately, General!"

Zhou Bo strode forward and took the secret letter. The letter was icy cold to the touch; the outer oilcloth was worn through, but the purple clay sealing wax inside, bearing the exclusive seal of the Bingzhou Governor's Mansion, was intact—clearly a top-level secret letter. His fingertips trembled slightly as he drew the dagger from his waist, cut through the sealing wax, tore open the oilcloth, and pulled out the letter inside, quickly skimming through it.

After reading only the first three lines, his face turned deathly pale, his pupils contracted sharply, his hand holding the letter trembled violently, almost dropping the letter, and he even stopped breathing at that moment.

Every word in the letter was like a thunderclap, exploding in his mind and leaving him dizzy—

On the 24th day of the twelfth lunar month of the 24th year of Zhengwu's reign, during the New Year's Eve banquet at the Luoyang Imperial Palace, the current Emperor Zhao Ren was attacked by his harsh and tyrannical eunuchs and close ministers. They hid a poisoned dagger in a food box and assassinated him on the spot at the banquet. The emperor died suddenly at the young age of 42.

Overnight, the capital city of Luoyang was thrown into complete chaos. The imperial guards were leaderless, and the people of the court and the public were filled with fear. The situation quickly spiraled out of control.

The eldest prince, Zhao Yong, was stationed in Luoyang and held some of the imperial guards' power. Upon hearing of the palace coup, he immediately led his troops into the palace, executed all the eunuchs who had murdered the emperor, took control of the palace, and quelled the palace turmoil.

With the rebellious ministers eliminated and the throne vacant, Zhao Yong, along with the Second Prince and Zhao Kuangyin, the governor of Yongzhou, who had returned to Luoyang from Chang'an to celebrate the New Year with the emperor, turned against each other over the succession. Zhao Yong, claiming to be the eldest son, demanded to inherit the throne according to custom; Zhao Kuangyin refused to obey the edict, accusing Zhao Yong of having ties with eunuchs and plotting patricide and regicide to seize power. Both sides rallied the imperial guards and court officials in Luoyang, leading to a fierce battle that raged for a full day and night. Firelight illuminated the entire city, and corpses littered the imperial city, rivers of blood flowed, and even the stone slabs of the main street were soaked in blood.

Ultimately, Zhao Yong, who had cultivated a deep foundation in Luoyang for many years, emerged victorious, completely controlling the entire city and the main force of the Imperial Guards. On the 26th day of the twelfth lunar month, he ascended the throne in the Taiji Hall, changed the era name to Yongxi, and proclaimed it to the world.

Although the second prince, Zhao Kuangyin, suffered a defeat in the fierce battle, the imperial guards of Luoyang had already been wiped out in the previous campaign against Goguryeo due to Liu Bang's rebellion. At this time, the secondary capital of the country, Chang'an, actually had a stronger and more numerous military force. Zhao Kuangyin returned to Chang'an, and as soon as he entered Guanzhong, he gathered his troops and issued proclamations to the surrounding prefectures and counties, declaring that Zhao Yong had murdered the emperor and usurped the throne, committing treason and declaring himself the rightful heir. He also declared himself emperor in Chang'an, vowing to launch an eastward campaign to purge the court of corrupt officials, eliminate the traitors, and reclaim the throne.

Within a single dynasty, two emperors stood side by side, facing each other from east to west. The heartland of the Central Plains was completely shattered, and the Song Dynasty, which had been maintained for twenty-four years, collapsed with a deafening roar.

Zhou Bo gripped the letter tightly, his knuckles white from the force, the edges of the paper crumpled from his grip. He stood frozen in place, as if the blood in his body had frozen, the only sound the heavy pounding of his own heartbeat.

Is Zhao Ren dead?

That iron-fisted emperor who reigned for twenty-four years, seized control of the Tang Dynasty, waged endless wars, and suffocated the people, actually died in an assassination attempt at a palace banquet, at the hands of his most trusted eunuch.

He had envisioned countless possibilities for chaos in the world, foreseeing a battle between Liu Bang and Xiang Yu, foreseeing Li Longji's southward advance, and foreseeing Ji Guang's decision to close his borders and defend himself. But he never imagined that the main gate of this chaotic world would be opened so suddenly, absurdly, and tragically.

With Zhao Ren's death, two emperors stood side by side, and the Central Plains were completely divided. The already crumbling Song Dynasty became a mere shell of its former self. Xiang Yu, Liu Bang, Li Longji, Ji Guang, and all the other warlords and governors who held military power would seize this opportunity to either raise an army to vie for supremacy, close their borders to defend themselves, or fish in troubled waters.

The world is truly about to descend into complete chaos.

He was already worried about the predicament of the Duke of Liao and the whereabouts of the Gao family's orphan. Now, faced with this earth-shattering upheaval that threatened the very foundation of the state, he felt that the already unclear future had plunged into utter darkness. What choice would Ji Guang make? Would he side with Zhao Kuangyin in Chang'an or Zhao Yong in Luoyang? Would the Duke of Liao seize the opportunity to advance westward? Would Xiang Yu lead his army south to contend for control of the Central Plains? And what should he do?

Countless thoughts surged and collided in his mind. Zhou Bo felt his mind was in turmoil and stood there for a moment, bewildered and at a loss, even his breathing became labored.

The tent was deathly silent, except for the crackling of the charcoal fire in the bronze stove, and the sound of the wind and snow outside the window suddenly became exceptionally clear.

In the midst of this deathly silence, the hurried footsteps of scouts echoed outside the tent once more. Their boots crunched on the snow as they reported loudly through the tent flap, their voices piercing the stillness of the room, tinged with urgency: "General! Two men on horseback have arrived at the camp gate. They are covered in dust and say they come from the north, claiming to be old friends of the Gao family of Bohai, and have come to pay their respects to you!"

The Gao family of Bohai!

Upon hearing these words, Zhou Bo was jolted awake, as if struck by lightning. He was instantly jolted from his daze, and his eyes suddenly filled with a storm of emotions.

The entire Gao family, numbering over two hundred, was slaughtered. Their only surviving member had been missing for over half a month. Now, an old friend of the Gao family has come knocking on their door on New Year's Eve, at this critical moment of upheaval in Luoyang.

Was it a former subordinate of the Gao family? Or... Gao Zidan, the only son of his old friend whom he had been searching for for more than half a month, had finally arrived?

Zhou Bo suppressed the turmoil surging in his chest, took a deep breath, steadied himself, and abruptly raised his eyes to look at the tent entrance. He gave the order in a deep voice, a tremor he himself didn't even realize:

"Quickly! Open the camp gates! Take them to the central command tent immediately! Do not delay!"