Wu Tong and his companions could scarcely have imagined that the city of Suiyang was at that very moment besieged by more than one hundred thousand Yan troops. Suiyang had been surrounded for over three months. With his forces dwindling day by day, Zhang Xun was left with barely sixteen hundred men, and the food stores had long since been exhausted. They could not hold out much longer.
At the time, the Imperial Censor Helan Jinming served as Military Commissioner of Henan and was stationed at Linhuai, while Xu Shuyi and Shang Heng camped at Pengcheng. All three adopted a stance of passive observation and refused to relieve the siege of Suiyang. Zhang Xun dispatched Nan Jiyun to seek reinforcements from Xu Shuyi, but Xu refused; he merely sent a few thousand bolts of cloth. Nan Jiyun, outraged, cursed him from horseback and demanded a duel to the death. Xu Shuyi, ashamed, dared not respond.
Thus Zhang Xun sent Nan Jiyun once more to Linhuai to request soldiers from Helan Jinming. When night fell, Nan Jiyun led thirty horsemen and charged out of the desperate city…
That same day, the fifteenth of the eighth month, beneath the Five-Breast Peaks of Mount Song, the Great Qin Monastery was holding a grand Nestorian Oath-Taking Assembly to Declare War Against the Rebels. As Tang forces were launching a major counteroffensive, the Nestorian Church's assembly at this moment was of utmost importance.
The monastery grounds seethed with life—tens of thousands gathered, banners snapping in the wind. Branches of the Church from all corners of the empire had sent representatives. The air was thick with fervor; flags rippled like waves beneath the heavens.
When the appointed hour arrived, a voice rang out: "The auspicious time has come!"Moments later, another shouted from the center of the grounds:"The Nestorian Oath-Taking Ceremony begins! Fire the salutes!"
At once the bells and drums boomed, firecrackers burst, and thunderous applause erupted to launch the ceremony.
Clad in white, the Nestorian Patriarch Luo Ke strode to the center of the square, a scepter in hand, accompanied by the Law Kings Aluos and Jiade. The plaza before the monastery was packed shoulder to shoulder, banners blotting out the sky.
Patriarch Luo Ke spoke with fierce conviction, his voice ringing across the assembly:
"Brethren of the Church gathered from every quarter of the land—the traitor An Lushan has risen in rebellion!He is a wolf, a jackal, a beast of wickedness who has plunged the realm into peril.At this critical hour, as the front lines struggle bitterly,our Church, bearing Heaven's mandate, summons all faithful followersto this Oath-Taking Assembly to proclaim our resolve against the rebels…"
But before he could finish, a thunderous voice boomed across the square:
"Nestorian Church, you are far too full of yourselves!"
The crowd parted as a group strode arrogantly into the assembly—at their head was none other than Shi Ming, the renegade Fire-Worship Sect Law King now serving the Yan court.
Aruos Law King, however, remained composed as ever. Instead of showing the slightest panic, he said loudly and with disdain:"Who else would it be? Is this not Shi Ming, cast out by the Fire-Worship Sect's Holy Master?"
Aruos had long known Shi Ming's treacherous nature; seeing him appear was no surprise.
Shi Ming replied coldly,"Aruos, I have no wish to waste words. I am here today to accept your surrender. Do not fail to recognize the opportunity before you."
Patriarch Luo Ke stepped forth, righteous and unyielding. His voice was stern, his expression severe:
"A Law King must possess virtue and integrity.You, Shi Ming, infamous throughout the realm for your deeds—attempting to usurp the Sect, conspiring to murder its Holy Master and Law Kings—have been expelled from the Fire-Worship Sect.You hold no such title anymore and have no right to invoke it!"
The Nestorian followers erupted at his words—cheers, applause, and shouts of approval roared like thunder across the square.
Humiliated publicly before the multitudes, Shi Ming's face flushed a deep crimson. Yet in a blink he forced his anger down and spoke coldly:
"The Holy Master and Law King Zhao Ke have long controlled the Fire-Worship Sect and submitted themselves to the Tang court. They no longer represent us!"
At that moment, two figures descended swiftly—the Fire-Worship Sect's Zhao Ke Law King and the Manichaean Li Rui Law King.
Zhao Ke pointed and shouted:
"Shi Ming! You were expelled from the Sect.You have no right to act in its name, nor to tarnish its reputation with your thievery and treachery!"
His words struck like slaps; the implication was clear—Shi Ming was no more than a scoundrel parading under a stolen banner.
Shi Ming erupted:
"You are the traitors!I stand here under imperial command of the Great Yan Emperor himself!Surrender now, or your fates will be sealed!"
Aruos Law King snorted.
"The Yan court is finished. Even the Heilong Sect has abandoned them.What future do you have left?"
Shi Ming's eyes blazed."Aruos, do not be arrogant! The Yan court has gathered countless martial masters—you are no match!"
Aruos waved a hand dismissively.
"With your meager skills, you are hardly worth my time.Come—let the younger generation of our Church test this Yan dog's ability."
He raised his voice:
"Roben! Step forth and try him!"
A clear voice responded.
A young monk soared into the air, his figure rising like a bird gliding upon the wind. Several effortless leaps carried him to the center of the field. Gasps rippled through the crowd—none had imagined that the Church harbored one possessed of such astonishing lightness skill.
Landing lightly, Roben cupped his fists and called out:
"This humble monk Roben seeks instruction from the esteemed elder."
Shi Ming, with his lofty self-regard, said:
"Your skill is respectable, but humility is a virtue.Remember—there is always a higher peak, a stronger hand."
He turned and barked:
"Where is the Fiend Yüan Rong?"
A savage brute answered instantly.
Shi Ming ordered coldly:
"This insolent monk refuses to know his place.Teach him a lesson on my behalf!"