Ma Yao already suspects that Ye Shikai might do something "unexpected," so he sent Chen Ping to seize military power. Now the Ye Mansion is empty, and if Ma Yao finds out, he will immediately know that Ye Shikai is going to rise up, so time is pressing. Maybe by tomorrow, Ma Yao will know.

But before rising up, Ye Shikai still has one important matter.

The center of the military camp.

Looking at the 20,000 brothers below the stage, Ye Shikai felt a mixture of emotions. These brothers had been through life and death with him, many of them had survived the brutal battles against the Wolf Clan with him. But this time, they didn’t die on the battlefield against external enemies, but at the hands of their own people.

"Brothers, you must be curious why I gathered you here." The audience was silent as Ye Shikai spoke, his voice not loud, but just enough for everyone to hear.

"Among you, many have fought countless battles with me, achieved great military merits, and have licked blood together with me on the knife’s edge, sharing the same pot."

"General, if you have something to say, just say it. We’ve followed you for so long, just give the order, and we’ll face any danger without hesitation." A Five Hundred Master shouted loudly from below the stage.

"Alright, time is pressing, so I’ll get straight to the point." Ye Shikai smiled with relief, turned to look at Shangguan Jian, and the two exchanged glances. At this point, there was no need for any secrets; they might as well lay their cards on the table.

"I’m sure you all know that a meteor fell here, and some have even seen the words carved on it. A few days ago, I received a secret order from His Majesty the Emperor. He wants us to kill all the civilians within a fifty-mile radius, leaving none alive."

"What, how can this be."

"Yes, isn’t this treating human lives like grass, killing them all; won’t this force the civilians to rebel."

"What do we do, my parents live nearby, along with thousands of elders in the village."

Upon hearing this, Ye Shikai’s well-disciplined troops could no longer hold back, and there was an uproar below the stage. Ye Shikai understood that many of them had families nearby, and if they followed through with the order to massacre civilians, their families would face slaughter. How could they not be anxious?

"Brothers, please quiet down and listen to me," Ye Shikai shouted loudly. After a while, the soldiers below calmed down. Their expressions were grave, showing that they were also very concerned about this matter. They likewise opposed this secret order because these soldiers and the Emperor stood on completely different grounds. One side was to maintain the empire’s rule, the other was for their families and fellow villagers.

"For soldiers, obedience is a duty, but if the orders are to massacre civilians, I cannot accept such orders. A noble man stands between heaven and earth, standing firm for the country above, and for the people below. How can he turn the blade on his own people?" Ye Shikai’s words were righteous and powerful, resonating deeply with the soldiers. Normal-thinking people would likely not accept this command. The generals who chose to execute the secret order mostly did so out of fear of defying an imperial command, resulting in such "bastard" actions.

"So I, Ye Shikai, announce in front of the army that I will rise against the Qin, and the first battle is to save these civilians."

"General Ye, I am willing to follow you."

"General Ye, since I’ve followed you, we’ve never lost a battle. I believe in you."

"The tyrant wants to kill our fellow villagers; I will resist to the end, I’m willing to follow."

Many soldiers below expressed their willingness to follow, but many others were hesitant, which was why Ye Shikai wanted to gather everyone together for this discussion.

"I welcome those who wish to follow me, but I also understand that once you rebel, your parents, wives, and children will be implicated, suffering punishment or even death, and former military merits and titles might be lost. So I won’t blame anyone. You are warriors unafraid of death, and considering your family’s safety shows responsibility. I will have no complaints." Ye Shikai knew well the consequences of rebellion, a gamble. If it failed, not only he and his subordinates but their families would also face imprisonment. Naturally, some were apprehensive, hesitant to decide.

"Now, everyone, follow my order: those willing to follow me in rising against the Qin, stand on the left; those wishing to leave, stand on the right."

"But... my parents are home. If we rebel, they will certainly be arrested." 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

"Bastard, asking me to slaughter fellow villagers, I absolutely won’t. Today, I rebel."

"My fellow villagers are nearby, even if not rebelling, it’s a dead end. Might as well fight."

The soldiers split into two groups, with clearly more on the left, roughly three-quarters. Most of these 20,000 soldiers were recruited from East County and He Nei County. Many of their families were within this "fifty-mile radius." With the emperor ordering their families’ execution, as men, how could they remain indifferent? They also deeply trusted Ye Shikai’s command ability; if they rose, they might not necessarily lose.

What most gratified Ye Shikai was that nearly all 3,000 cavalry stood to the left. When forming this cavalry unit, they commanded the Heyang County garrison at that time, so most were from villages near Heyang County. Naturally, they chose to rise against the Qin. As for those from the Wolf Clan who surrendered into the cavalry, it didn’t matter to them. Their families were on the grasslands. The cavalry was Ye Shikai’s "direct lineage," best equipped, well trained, fearless of life or death. Holding this trump card, Ye Shikai felt assured.

"Shangguan Jian, give each brother on the right twenty taels of silver and let them go home." Ye Shikai said calmly.

"Alright." Shangguan Jian had several guards move boxes of silver onto the stage.

"Brothers on the right, come up and take twenty taels of silver each."

Two hours later.

"Old Ye, there are still over 15,300 soldiers left. Most of the cavalry is still here. Right now, our camp’s provisions can only last for five days. That bastard Ma Yao cut off supplies, probably fearing you would rebel." Shangguan Jian brought the statistical data over.

"It’s fine. Once we finish our battle, we must leave immediately," Ye Shikai said calmly.

"Old Ye, once we save these civilians, where do we go afterward?"

"Looking at the current situation, once we rise, we will definitely be pursued and blocked by the Qin Army from all regions. If we want to preserve ourselves, we can only go to the Chu Territory."