'I 'm telling you the truth Liu Zhao, the crown prince will get us into trouble one of these days," one sentry warned the other one as they both stood guard outside the massive golden gates of the jade palace.
"Sometimes I just don't understand you Zhang Ming," Liu Zhao calmly replied.
"The crown prince has been gone for an awfully long time," began Zhang Ming. "We don't even know where he went."
"How is that our concern ?" asked Liu Zhao.
"Haven't you noticed how each time when the crown prince goes away for a period, the emperor sends someone to come and inquire from us about his movements?" Zhang Ming pointed out.
"It is only natural," replied Liu Zhao
"But have you ever thought what might happen if the crown prince did not tell us where he was going?" pursued Zhang Ming.
"We would not be able to explain. Yet we are supposed to see everyone who goes in or out of the palace. That emperor would be furious," concluded Liu Zhao.
"It is what I am trying to explain..." Zhang Ming began but was unable to proceed. Both sentries were suddenly distracted . Their eyes falling on a mass that appeared out in the distance and was only moving towards the jade palace. Initially they could not make out it was. As the mass got closer they could make out figures of men dressed in uniform moving in synchronized formation. A banner of some sort flattering from a staff carried by one of the men at the head of the formation. It became clear as the men got closer that what they had initially taken to be a banner was in fact a regimental flag.
"Is there a military parade scheduled for today?" Zhang Ming asked anxiously. They could clearly see it was a vast army fast approaching.
"Something is not right with this picture Zhang Ming," said Liu Zhao.
"I get the same feeling," agreed Zhang Ming.
"Sound the alarm," announced Liu Zhang.
The captain of the guard was enjoying tea in the guard room when the bugle sounded. Quickly getting to his feet, he barked, "everyone arm yourselves and follow me!" He shouted the order with a sense of urgency.
Suddenly the corridors of the jade palace were alive, bustling with activity as armed imperial guards rushed to take up defensive positions.
Liu Zhao and Zhang Ming holding were joined at their post by reinforcements outside the perimeter wall. Where they maintained defencesive positions, their hands on the hilts of their weapons. As more imperial guards poured out of the jade palace.
The emperor set at the podium of the jade palace's great hall, dressed in his imperial robes. He was looking very much like the commander of the legions of jade heaven. Flanking the emperor sitting on either side were his trusted advisers, Liu Cheng and Kai Shek.
Outside the jade palace, the two armies stood facing each other across a band of land.
The commander of the vast army standing at the head of his men shouted, "Men of the imperial guard. There is no need for you to die today. Only one man needs to die!".
"You are right there, only you will die", shouted back the captain of the imperial guard standing before his men clad in armour. His practiced hand resting easily on the hilt of the sword in the sheath strapped to his side.
"Very well you have chosen to die this day for one man. So be it!", announced the commander of the attacking army.
"Kill them all!!", he ordered drawing his sword from the sheath at his side. He led the charge running at full speed towards the jade palace. Sword held in front of him in an offensive stance. . The massive body of men being him heaving and rushing forward as one screaming at the top of their voices.
"To the death, for emperor!!" called out the captain of the imperial guard at the top of his voice. Drawing his sword, he led the counter attack, rushing at the attacking army. His men taking up the war cry,"for emperor!!", following hot on his heels, the sunlight glistening off their armour.
The two forces rapidly narrowed the distance between them.
The sound of clashing metal filled the air as the two armies crashed in close combat.
The fierce charge of the attack meeting with the determined counter of the imperial guards. Despite the heroic fight put up by the imperial guards the vastly superior numbers of the attacking army were telling.
The imperial guards were swept back into the jade palace's perimeter wall by the ferocity of the initial attack.
"Your majesty if there is something that you can do, this is the time to do it," pleaded Liu Chang.
"Your majesty the fighting will soon be at the steps of the palace doors," added Kai Shek with a sense of urgency in his tone.
"We need more men. The entire imperial guard is overstretched. As though that was not bad enough, we are losing men on the battlefield," added Liu Chang.
"We don't the numbers we normally would be able to mobilise. Due to a number of nobles have joined the rebellion against the crown. The lord of the northern skies, the lord of the Western skies, the lord of the southern skies are rumoured to be standing against us in this fight," Kai Shek pointed out.
"That as it may, the most powerful of them all is field marshall Li Keng and he is on our side," the emperor pointed out.
"Once word reaches field marshall Li Keng, of the trouble here. He will set out with his men. Together with his forces we shall crush this rebellion."
"But how do we get word out to him, the jade palace is completely surrounded and cut off from the rest of the celestial realm?" asked Kai Shek.
As though in response there were dull explosions emanating from outside the great hall.
"They must be using dragon's breath", announced Liu Chang in horror.
"How long will the jade palace be able to with stand such a sustained attack?" Kai Shek asked fearfully.
"The walls of the jade palace are strong," calmly replied the emperor. Speaking with such confidence that it almost seemed as though by his very words the walls of the palace could withstand any force. The infectious confidence of his tone seeming to inspire renewed confidence in those around him.
Reminding them all to have faith in him, he was after all the dragon of jade heaven. The custodian of a most terrible force which no power could withstand. Him just being on their side was assurance in itself.
A powerful explosion suddenly blew in the double doors of the great hall as though in defiance to the emperor's claim.