Xi'an, Caishikou execution ground, on Zhu Cunji's private viewing platform.
Zhu Cunji was sitting comfortably in his treasured "television chair," the one specially prepared for watching the Immortal Treasure Mirror. At his side sat the Princess Consort, composed and elegant as always, and not far away stood Sun Chuanting with hands folded in his sleeves. In front of them, tied up like dumplings awaiting the steamer, were Mi Qianhu and more than twenty of his Imperial Embroidered Uniform Guard subordinates.
For the past several days, Zhu Cunji had made it a nightly ritual to have these unfortunate Jinyiwei dragged over to watch the news together.
Since the Jinyiwei were notoriously "unyielding" and "loyal only to the Emperor," they were brought in bound hand and foot every single time, ropes wound tight around their torsos, wrists, and ankles, leaving no possibility of escape. It was a curious spectacle, watching agents of imperial authority tied up beneath a provincial prince's viewing platform like confiscated contraband.
Every evening, Mi Qianhu would begin by cursing.
"Traitors!"
"Rebels!"
"Shameless villains!"
The insults were colorful and inventive, delivered with genuine fury. His voice often rang across Caishikou before the news broadcast even began.
Zhu Cunji never responded. Sun Chuanting did not bother either. They simply allowed him to bark himself hoarse.
Tonight was no different.
The Gao Family News was about to begin. The screen was still playing advertisements. Mi Qianhu was in particularly good form, his voice sharp and brimming with righteous indignation, when suddenly the screen darkened. A moment later it lit up again, revealing a young male and female anchor seated side by side in dignified attire.
Mi Qianhu immediately shut his mouth.
All of his attention snapped to the screen.
In truth, watching the news had become the greatest pleasure of his imprisonment. Through Gao Family Village's broadcast, he could glimpse strange and astonishing happenings from all corners of the realm. New machines, new tactics, new ideas. Things he would never see within the sealed walls of the capital.
Sometimes, in a weak and unguarded corner of his heart, he even thought: if I return to the capital, I will no longer be able to watch Gao Family News. That would be… regrettable.
Once that thought surfaced, it became disturbingly difficult to suppress.
The male anchor smiled gently at the camera.
"Our first report concerns the progress of bandit suppression operations. Let us turn to our correspondent on the front line."
The image shifted.
Zhou Dayi appeared on screen, as bright and pretty as ever. She gave a sweet smile that felt so natural one might forget she was standing near a battlefield.
"Hello everyone. I am currently near Yingshan County. This small county town lies within the Dabie Mountains. The unit beside me is the First Regiment of Gao Family Village, led by our respected Instructor He Jiuhe. There has long been a rumor in the liberated territories that Instructor He is in fact General He Kegang, one of the Three Heroes of Liaodong, who concealed his identity to train a powerful militia in Gao Family Village. This matter has not yet been confirmed. Let us hear from him directly…"
She was just about to move toward Cheng Xu for an interview when a scout's urgent shout cut through the air.
"The bandits' cavalry are coming! Cavalry incoming!"
Zhou Dayi turned back to the camera without losing her composure.
"Ah. A cavalry unit under Ba Da Wang is attacking. We cannot conduct the interview at the moment. Let us observe the battle first."
The camera swung away from her and toward the northeast.
On screen, Sun Kewang's cavalry appeared, charging forward with impressive momentum.
Mi Qianhu inhaled sharply.
This was no trivial force. Cavalry in full charge could shatter infantry lines like dry twigs. Even he, seasoned in imperial campaigns, felt his pulse quicken.
He thought to himself, This will not be easy to handle. Still, if the roving bandits are strong, that may not be a bad thing. Let rebels and bandits bite each other bloody. When both sides are exhausted, His Majesty can reap the fisherman's profit and sweep them all away without effort.
He was still savoring this pleasant imagination when he noticed Cheng Xu on the screen.
Calm.
Utterly calm.
Beside him, the Chu Prince's Guard Commander looked like he might collapse from anxiety, the contrast so stark it almost seemed theatrical.
"Open fire."
The command was given.
The militia fired.
Ten breaths later, the cavalry was finished.
Mi Qianhu's jaw dropped.
"Ten breaths. Four volleys. It is real?"
Zhu Cunji turned to him with a grin.
"The iron carriages are real too."
Mi Qianhu had no reply.
He watched as the Gao Family Village militia swept through the charging cavalry like autumn wind through fallen leaves, scattering them into dust. The once imposing riders dissolved into chaos and retreat in a matter of moments.
He could not form words.
On screen, Zhou Dayi began running. The entire filming crew ran with her. The militia surged forward at high speed. There were even brief fast forwarded shots, making the pursuit seem relentless and unstoppable.
Soon they reached Yangliu Bay.
Zhou Dayi spoke breathlessly into the camera.
"Everyone, ahead is Yangliu Bay. Shi Kefa has held back one hundred fifty thousand bandits here for three days, delaying them long enough for Instructor He's main force to catch up from behind. Instructor He has advanced. He is pursuing them."
The camera shifted again.
At the edge of the Dabie Mountains, waves of bandits were scrambling up the slopes, climbing desperately.
Mi Qianhu's eyes widened.
So many fleeing men. Even an immortal could not possibly capture them all.
Cheng Xu's voice came calmly from the screen.
"Artillery Battalion. Give them a warning."
Boom.
Boom.
Boom.
Small cannon roared.
Shells screamed through the air and exploded just ahead of the fleeing bandits. Wherever they tried to run, explosions bloomed in front of them. No one dared charge directly into blasts of fire and smoke. They recoiled again and again, herded by thunder.
Within moments, tens of thousands had bunched together in a miserable cluster, no longer daring to move.
They surrendered almost collectively.
Mi Qianhu's mouth hung open.
"This… this is too…"
Zhu Cunji leaned over and patted his shoulder.
"I told you. The Tianzun's militia uses immortal methods."
Mi Qianhu fell silent.
Zhu Cunji's tone turned playful.
"Well? Are you afraid?"
Before Mi Qianhu could answer, the screen returned to the studio. The two anchors reappeared.
"That concludes the report on bandit suppression," the male anchor said with a smile.
The female anchor took over.
"Our next story comes from another frontline correspondent, reporting from the sea. Due to transmission delays, this event occurred several days ago."
The image shifted once more.
Vast ocean.
A massive black steam paddlewheel ship cut through the waves, its hull towering above the water like a floating fortress.
The reporter stood on deck, smiling into the camera.
"Hello, viewers before the Immortal Treasure Mirror. Today I bring you the latest news from the sea. The vessel beneath my feet is Master Bai's newest development, named Little Black One."
On Zhu Cunji's platform, laughter erupted.
"His naming skills remain terrible."
Even the Princess Consort allowed herself a faint smile.
Mi Qianhu did not laugh.
Though the camera did not capture the entire hull, he could judge from the visible deck length behind the reporter that the ship was no shorter than twenty five zhang.
Enormous.
Terrifyingly enormous.
He felt a chill creep up his spine.
The rebels even possess ships of this scale. How is the imperial navy supposed to contend with such a monster? This is despair.
Behind the reporter stood a strange man wearing an eye patch. He grinned broadly at the camera.
"Hello everyone. I am the pirate, Yao Xingjuan."
The reporter continued, "The great pirate Yao Xingjuan has received a privateering license personally issued by the Tianzun. He is authorized to attack specific vessels within designated waters."
Yao Xingjuan chuckled.
"My current mission is to harass the Dutch near Yizhou Island. Oh, you may not know who the Dutch are. They are the red haired foreigners."
Mi Qianhu stared at the screen.
Bandits broken in the mountains.
Foreigners harassed at sea.
Steam giants cutting through the ocean.
He suddenly realized something that made his throat dry.
The rebels were not merely fighting within the empire.
They were stepping beyond it.
He swallowed.
For the first time, the rope binding his wrists felt less humiliating than the thought forming in his mind.
If this continues, what exactly is the court fighting against?
And more disturbingly.
Is the court capable of winning?