Forty Years Forging Swords for the Nation, Now a Veteran Kneels to Plead His Case

He won countless victories and laid the foundations for Liang’s unprecedented greatness, yet chose to fake his death in the final battle. Changing his name, he became a crippled, white-haired old man in Dongli Village. Su Zhonglie had two great wishes in life. First, to leave behind the smoke of battle and the clash of steel, and spend the rest of his days quietly tending his small plot of land, like an old dog. Second, to watch Xu Qingmian, the adopted grandson left behind by his old comrade, pass the imperial examinations and become the top scholar, envied by all. But fate had other plans. The adopted grandson who should have claimed the title of top scholar inexplicably failed the exams. Xu Qingmian had no way to appeal and was instead thrown into prison, sentenced to execution after the autumn harvest. When he heard the devastating news, the fierce dragon that had lain dormant for more than twenty years finally opened its eyes! Su Zhonglie dug a rotting wooden chest out of the back courtyard. Once the dust had been wiped away, a tattered military banner lay inside, a symbol of the spirits of the 180,000 Black Dragon Army soldiers who had died in battle! From the moment Su Zhonglie walked out of Dongli Village carrying the tattered banner, the Great Liang was turned upside down!