Generals of the Great Song Dynasty.

Summary

Ye Lu Hua Ge criticizes Mu Sa Wei for attacking the Song Dynasty's capital under pressure from Ye Lu Hong Ji, opting instead to target Xiao Guan Yin's estate. As Zhao Zhen's health declines, the stability of the empire becomes uncertain. Zhao Shu, cautious of the situation, expands the imperial guards by 80,000, consisting of young scholars trained in martial arts, to protect the capital against threats, particularly from Khitan assassins. An assassination attempt on Xiao Guan Yin's estate is thwarted by the imperial guards, led by Gou Ya Er, who quickly respond to the attack. Wang Ning An and Hei Hu A Fu arrive to investigate the aftermath, discovering that many attackers were not Khitan warriors, but rather eunuchs turned into suicide soldiers, whose existence raises questions about their motivations and training. Wang Ning An and Xiao Guan Yin discuss the strange nature of the assassins, suspecting they were under the influence of a madness-inducing drug. They hypothesize about the involvement of Huo Shan, known as the Elder in the Mountains, who leads a sect notorious for assassination. They speculate that Huo Shan's followers may be masquerading as Seljuk envoys to provoke conflict with the Song Dynasty for their own benefit. As news arrives of the capture of the Liao envoy Ye Lu Hua Ge and the Seljuk envoy, Wang Ning An feels a sense of relief, knowing that uncovering the truth will be easier. The chapter ends with the arrival of Yang Xi and Su Ba Niang, who bring news of unrest in the capital.

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