Nango.

Rats scurried through the rafters of the old warehouse, and snow drifted down from holes in the roof. The cold winter wind whistled through the cracks in the walls, stirring up a thick layer of dust everywhere.

The building was dilapidated and poorly maintained before it was abandoned, and its former owner was a former viscount who pursued business far more than his finances. Since the destruction of the state of Wu and the disappearance of the viscount, the warehouse has been abandoned and has quietly rotted by the river.

Even before the plague broke out, the homeless of Nanyu had avoided the place, looking for a less dilapidated environment to live in. Since the beginning of the Black Death, there have been so many houses and estates without tenants that no one will take a second look at the crumbling ruins.

It is because of this history that the warehouse is the perfect location for a midnight meeting. The riverfront has never received the people who gathered under the broken tiled roofs of the old warehouses as they do now.

For nearly an hour, the nobles and lords of all classes of the empire have been discussing the issues of loyalty and tyranny, honor and conscience, survival and destruction. Xu Shicheng, the Duke of Xu, maintained a cautious silence, content to listen and observe, just like he had a meeting in Xiao Guang's castle a long time ago.

The horrific execution of Xue Ju had a counterproductive effect on Xiao Guang and his scheming comrades. Instead of suppressing dissent through terror, they created a martyr who provided a rallying point for Xiao Guang and the many enemies of his greedy policies. Despite the plague and the cold winter, demonstrations against the emperor took place in every corner of the city. The walls of the Southern Imperial Palace are painted with a black dragon symbolizing the Xiao royal family, a dragon with a noose wrapped around its neck. A mob of armed thugs even broke into the home of a nobleman, forcing the minister to flee to the palace walls for protection.

As the wind looked out over the desolate warehouse, his spirit was stirred by the great men who had devoted themselves to a just cause with their own destiny. The pale-faced Count Mikhail of Sinia stood beside Count von Klaus of Strand, and in this moment of common crisis, the hatred of their two countries was cast aside.

Marquis Sosi and his daughter Princess Irena from the Land of the Rising Sun. The Marquess of Aldry and the Earl of Van Sauck, lords who had been devastated by the Emperor's political manoeuvres and opportunism. Even the dwarf Elder Aldo, representing the half-human rule of the Moa, was present. The independence of the halflings was attributed to the emperor of Zhongdu, but this did not turn a blind eye to the atrocities of the benefactor's son.

These people present were originally the kings of the maritime countries, and after the end of the troubled times, the king of these island countries had to swear allegiance to the Great Liang. The emperor of Great Liang was the supreme lord de jure to them, while Xiao Guang was their superior direct lord. Since his reign, Xiao Guang has adhered to a policy of sucking blood from foreign countries, and he greedily absorbs the resources of these countries to maintain the operation of the huge country of Nanguo.

In addition to nobles and dignitaries from distant lands, Grand Imam Hartford Vicky was also present. The Grand Imam of the Templar also brought with him several civilians, some representatives of the peasant trade guilds, and people from the procession of the Winter Revolution. Sentiment against Xiao Guang was not confined to the aristocracy, and as Hartford emphasized, any effort to overthrow the emperor would need to be a popular uprising, not something seen as imposed on the people by an ambitious aristocratic group.

"Well, we're on the same page." Prince Gallo Vecchio announced, his eyes sweeping from one face to the other. "We don't think Xiao Guang is fit for the title of emperor anymore. His downfall was crucial to the continued survival of the Southern Kingdom and the Great Liang. We have decided that action must be taken against him and his followers. ”

Count Van Shock shifted uneasily, his face growing paler. "It must be clear that we will only act if there is no way to restrain the emperor. If we can force him to agree to our demands, and at the same time force him to give up some power......"

"Tyrants cannot be trusted," one of the marchers of the Winter Revolution roared. His stern gaze stared at Van Schook's terrified eyes. "You can't appease a snake, you want its head to be crushed. If you nobles don't like this, leave the dirty work to those of us who don't have titles and status. ”

The harsh rhetoric of the leader of the marchers caused protests from several nobles. "This is unacceptable!" Count von Claus roared. "I will support any action to depose the Emperor, but I will not let my name be used to kill the Emperor!"

"It seems that you are still a traitor with a bottom line."

Hartford stepped forward and waved his hand to quell the impending conflict. "Assassination is not discussed here, it is for the preservation of the empire, not the murder of the emperor. Xiao Guang must be forced to abdicate, but his person must not be harmed. You can count on the support of the gods, but only if you understand that the emperor's person is inviolable, and that the temple and the holy family will not be accomplices in the murder. ”

"It seems to me that you guys are doing nothing," Karid complained. You told us that once Xiao Guang abdicated, the Temple would appoint Prince Gallo Vecchio as the new Emperor of the South, but what would the Temple be willing to do for us now as we worked to make this a reality?"

Hartford shook his head sadly. "All we can do is pray," he replied. "If the temple is considered to be a disloyal person against the emperor, followers of other gods may gather to Xiao Guang."

His gaze turned to the Marquis of Sosi and his daughter. Nagam's cult has a long history of resentment against the Temple, and if the Temple is considered an instigator of the overthrow of the Emperor, this resentment may lead them to support Xiao Guang. If you are to maintain the Empire, you must be seen as liberators, not usurpers. ”

The Marquis de Sosi grimaced, but he admitted that Hartford's fears were justified. "In Yunzhou, we believe that the so-called belief in the temple is a salutary heresy at best. The people of Yunzhou have no good opinion of Xiao Guang, but if Nagam thinks that this revolt is an attempt by the Templars to impose a theocracy on the Empire, he will condemn us. This will force the city lord to join forces with Xiao Guang. ”

The participants in Yunzhou stroked their beards with their hands, their eyes half-hidden, as if they were thinking about something. "We should send a messenger to Yunzhou," he suggested. "The sooner the Yunzhou side knows about our plan, the better our chances will be."

Feng Yang stepped forward and bowed to the gathered nobles. "Your absence will be noticed," he said. "It would be more prudent to send my men on a mission, the Praetorian Army is completely trustworthy and will not let any obstacles stand in their way."

"Good advice." Prince Gallo Vecchio agreed. "If I may elaborate, I suggest that we send people not only to Yunzhou, but to every neighboring territory. Several lords have already left Nanyu and returned to their homeland. Gallo Vecchi also deliberately accentuated the word homeland.

Hartford pointed out: "As the great lord of the main city of Yangning, Yin Shixing is the most powerful and valuable of these lords, and he has his own palaces in Yangning and Chudi."

"We'll send a few knights to intercept him in two places," said Count Van Sauck. "After Xiao Guang was deposed, Yangning's support was crucial to keeping the river trade routes open to us. If Yin Master Xing intends to support Xiao Guang, then he has the ability to starve the entire Southern Regions City. His voice was full of concern.

"We can't forget the Yin Master Dao," Kalid said. "He will definitely support any action against Xiao Guang, even if the Imperial Army is targeting him."

"Why worry?" Feng Yang asked suspiciously. "Why didn't you send him a letter? He was a man worthy of respect, a general who understood the difference between just and unjust wars. If we approach him, he may be on our side. He could see the puzzled expressions on the faces of the people around him, and he defiantly returned the other's gaze. There's nothing to lose by giving it a try," he said.

"And there's a lot to gain." Prince Gallo Veitch admitted. "Very well, perhaps the first result of this conspiracy is to prevent a useless war."

"That alone, Your Highness, is enough to justify our case." Hartford said.

"Ladies and gentlemen, it seems that this meeting is very good," said the leader of the revolutionary army, "but we need more men within the Southern Imperial Palace, and we need soldiers now, not to Yunzhou and Yangning." The Imperial troops are gone, and now is the perfect time to strike!"

"How's the Winter Revolution going?" Feng Yang asked. "How many more people can you muster?"

"I'm afraid it's not enough. We have contacted most of those who escaped from the Holocaust, more than 800 people. But they have been hiding in the worst slums and shacks in Nanyu, constantly moving to hide from Han Sung's spies, many of whom are sick. He hesitated, but struggled to utter the sensitive word. Pestilence. ”

"We don't need an army," said Prince Galo Vic. "The right people in the right place are better than a thousand swords. We need someone close to the emperor, someone who can enter the palace and tell us directly about his plans. One day, it only takes a few people to arrest the emperor. ”

"Then maybe I can be that one," Princess Irena said, drawing a burst of sneer from Karid.

"Xiao Guang will only look at you as a man if he's blind," Kalid quipped.

Hearing Karid's joke, Princess Irena frowned. Before she could lose her temper, the Marquis of Sosi stepped forward and put his hand on his daughter's shoulder.

"Listen to her," he said, his words filled with remorse and shame. "Maybe there's a way for our men to sneak into the heart of the enemy camp."

Erina grabbed her father's hand tightly and took a deep breath, knowing that she didn't have the courage to repeat what she was about to say, so she hurried to say what she wanted to say. "For a while, Han Sung was trying to pursue me. He spared no effort to get my father's blessings, from the most despicable threats to the most tempting gifts. ”

"At any time, my father can pretend to be swayed by Han Sung's request. As long as I become the executioner's wife, I can be the eyes and ears of this matter. "She could see the disgust on the faces of the men who listened to her." Let me do this, let me make this sacrifice. All of you are willing to risk your lives, your reputation and your legacy, to overthrow the tyrant, and am I taking more risk than you have paid?"

"Your Highness, you can't," Feng Yang protested. "You can't just sacrifice Princess Arena's reputation."

Prince Gallo Vecchio smiled and shook his head. "No," he said slowly, "it was this terrible thought that told me that Princess Erina might be right. The enemy will never doubt her. She'll know some secrets that we shouldn't know. ”

"But to ruin a lady's reputation?" The Praetorian insisted.

"When the time comes, you can kill my husband and avenge me," Irena said to Feng Yang. "The emperor's personality may be inviolable, but a scheming guy like Han Cheng only deserves a nameless grave. Send him there, my dashing knight, and seek justice for all his victims. ”

Feng Yang's hand gripped the hilt of the sword tightly. "I will," he sweared.

The frost stuck to the stone walls of the cellar, glistening in the rush light of Han Cheng as he descended the stairs. There was an angry squeak from the shadows, reproaching him for not blocking out the light. Han Cheng listened to this harsh voice and grinned, of course he did it on purpose, he wanted these partners to remember where they were, so that they would not be too presumptuous.

"What do you see?" Han Cheng roared and stopped the man at the foot of the stairs. He didn't even like to be so close to his fellow lesser humans. They're useful, but that doesn't change how disgusting they are.

"The prince has met many traitors," a nasal voice came from the darkness. Han Cheng could only recognize the scrawny, hunched shoulders and turban-like face. Even so, he was impressed. Only once did he see the whereabouts of his accomplices, and this event had been haunting his nightmares.

The Changnan man was right to burn the mutants to death, if the horror he saw was a complicity of corrupt souls. He assures himself that once these monsters are no longer useful to him, he will hunt them down and destroy their nests.

"They spread — brought the plague," the voice said. "Let more — the sick — die. Weaken the city, then attack - kill!"

Han Cheng listened to his informant and nodded. These lurking mutants are useful spies who provide him with intel that makes him the most feared person in the South. None of them had a scandal that could drag his ears, and not a single secret that he did not uncover. Prince Gallo Vecchio is working against Xiao Guang, and the rebels are behind the plague, something Han Sung has always suspected.

"Can you bring evidence?" Han Cheng asked. In the shadows, he could see the mutant's hooded head bobbing nervously up and down. "If the prince thinks that any support he can rely on proves to be the source of the plague, he will wither and die."

"More........ More. The mutant gasped. When the guy let out a terrible laugh, Han Cheng's hair stood on end. "Humans in robes smell of traitors."

Hearing this, the smile on Han Cheng's face became even brighter. Is Grand Imam Hartford plotting a rebellion? It's too good to be true. For years, he had struggled to find a way to keep the temple under his control. The evidence about what happened in Yangning doesn't seem to be enough for Han Sung, but with the evidence of a recent scandal, it's exactly what he needs.

"Well done," Han Sung said to his spy. "Your Emperor thanks you for your service."

There was an inhuman snicker in the darkness, and then the mutant spy vanished, disappearing deep underground from which he came.

Han Cheng turned around and walked slowly up the stairs. He resisted the urge to run away, in fact, he had long wanted to escape back to that bright and clean world.

Yes, once these pests have completed their mission, he takes pleasure in exterminating them.