Return of the Swallow

Pass, and Skygates Pass.
Amongst them, the closest to the front lines was Skyzone Pass.
It was the same area that Ji Zeyu had once led the Dragon Riders to defend.

Although the Dragon Riders were still stationed here, their commander-in-chief had undergone quite a few changes.
They were currently led by Kang Qiong, one of Li Qitian’s men, but he wasn’t getting along with his new captains and lieutenants.

Ever since the Faithful Prince of the First Rank committed treason, things at court were as if hot oil had been ladled into hot water.
Everything was in complete chaos, and since Li Qitian knew that Pang Xiao brought his estate guards to Tatar, he arranged for a trusted general to take a hundred men to Skyzone Pass so that Pang Xiao could be arrested on sight.

The official dispatched was called Yi Binghu, a twenty-nine year old fifth-rank General of Militant Loyalty.
Although currently affiliated with the barracks of the Metropolitan Region, he had a connection to the Valiant Tigers.

As was common knowledge, Pang Xiao’s Valiant Tigers was a hundred thousand man cavalry who had all undergone stringent selection and training.
Even if they entered the troop, it wasn’t a guarantee they would forever stay.
Examinations were conducted every once in a while to determine who continued to make the cut.

Yi Binghu had once been a member of the Valiant Tigers but had only stayed for a month before failing to pass the examination.
He’d to bribe the overseeing officer, but had been caught by a passing Pang Xiao and was thoroughly reprimanded in front of the men.

Yi Binghu’s clan hailed from Northern Ji and had produced many government officials.
Since young, he’d always thought of himself as a noble son of the heavens, so being publicly humiliated by Pang Xiao had resulted in a strong grudge.

After being expelled for a string of minor offenses resulting from his scheming and plotting, he’d employed his family’s connections to snag a position in the capital’s barracks.
However, resentment seethed toward the prince afterwards.

Li Qitian knew about their history, which was why he’d arranged for Yi Binghu to guard Skyzone Pass in case Pang Xiao really returned.
It wasn’t just Yi Binghu either—the hundred men he led were all soldiers who’d been expelled from the Valiant Tigers.

The emperor was making use of their resentment and giving them a chance for revenge.
This way, he didn’t need to worry about his men helping Pang Xiao or making things easy for the prince.

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