After sharing the three cups of wine toasted by the Emperor and his civil and military officials at dawn, the army set off. Filled with fervor and a slight intoxication, I rode my horse behind the carriages of the two supervising princesses, followed by a seemingly endless column of troops. Though only seventeen thousand strong, their formation stretched out so far that neither end was visible—a magnificent and imposing sight.

Ma Xiaorui poked her head out of the carriage, "Zhao Qian, your carriage design is truly excellent, like a proper bed. Honestly, I admire you more and more."

I just smiled and refrained from explaining further. This carriage wasn't my design at all. Since the Twin Cities Kingdom lacked any suitable means of transportation—only the most rudimentary pig-drawn carts existed, with nothing as sturdy as an ox—I had Cui An rush the construction of two elaborate horse-drawn carriages inside, ensuring the Ma sisters and Yun Yao, Linglong wouldn't suffer from the fatigue of long travel. Yet, these novel contraptions were being treated by the Ma sisters like prized 'sedans.'

"Hey, did you hear me talking to you?" Ma Xiaorui grew a little annoyed when I only smiled.

"I heard you, Your Highness. Please, go back inside and rest. I'll wake you when we reach Huyang."

Ma Xiaowei pulled her sister back into the carriage from behind.

"Xiaorui, we are supervisors; we must maintain propriety. Sit down properly now."

Ma Xiaorui whined, "Sister, I just wanted to talk to him. Oh, by the way, when we left this morning, I managed to get another pair of earrings from Sister Ni! Oh, Sister, you have no idea, they pierced a hole in their ears and hung these beautiful dangling beads on them. They look stunning! I’ve already begged Sister Ni to pierce a pair for me once she returns after quelling the rebellion. Sister, you should join me too! She said it doesn't hurt. Look how pretty I look wearing mine."

Inside the carriage, Ma Xiaowei watched her sister hold the earring near her earlobe. "They are very pretty, but do you think Father Emperor will mind if we pierce our ears?"

Ma Xiaorui dismissed the concern with a wave of her hand, "What are you afraid of, Sister? Elder Sister Xu Chen has them too! Besides, Father Emperor holds Zhao Qian in very high regard right now. When the time comes, we can just lay the blame on him, say he was the one who misled us. Even if Father Emperor gets angry then, he won't fault him."

Ma Xiaowei objected, "How can we do that? We can't shift the blame onto someone else. No, if we pierce them, we must say it was our own request."

Ma Xiaorui conceded cheerfully, "Fine, fine, as long as you agree to it, anything goes. Sister, I'm telling you, wearing earrings will become a fashion trend in the future. It’s strange, what are these shiny things? They are so beautiful."

Ma Xiaowei explained, "These are diamonds. We saw the Jingangshi (diamond/hard stone) in Shilei. These diamonds are cut and polished from those Jingangshi."

"Really? That's incredible. Why aren't they this pretty in Shilei?"

"It's much like people, isn't it? Even the prettiest girl will become ugly if she doesn't pay attention to her appearance."

"Sister, you're taking this chance to lecture me! Let's go over to Sister Yun Yao's carriage and play. Sister Yun Yao knows so much. Didn't you just say a girl needs to focus on her appearance? Let's go ask her about makeup techniques. Also, I heard Sister Yun Yao used to dance, and her dances are famous all over the Twin Cities! And I want to watch Xing Yuan (Star Wish) again—it's so moving! Why couldn't Onion Head be with Qiu Nan? I love the song in it: 'I must control myself, not let anyone see me cry; pretend not to care about you, unwilling to recall you, blaming myself for lacking the courage.' Sister, it’s so vivid; it’s about you," Ma Xiaorui chattered.

Ma Xiaowei murmured softly, "How is it like me? How am I as pretty as Qiu Nan in there? Their costumes are so beautiful. If I ever get the chance, I really want to follow Zhao Qian back to his hometown for a visit."

Ma Xiaorui insisted, "How is it not like you? You clearly like him, but you refuse to admit it. You are controlling your feelings, choosing to cry behind his back rather than confessing to him. You deliberately pretend not to care, but every time I mention him, your eyes widen and you listen so intently. It's just you who lacks the courage!"

Ma Xiaowei remained silent. Ma Xiaorui continued, "Watching their movies requires someone to translate on the side. If only we could learn their language! Sister, let's go over and have Sister Yun Yao teach us."

Ma Xiaowei spoke softly, almost to herself, "We have shooting stars here too. I wonder if wishing on them really works. Xiaorui, can you keep an eye out for me tonight, okay?"

Ma Xiaorui readily agreed, "Yes, yes, Sister! Let's go to the other carriage. Don't worry, even if you don't make a wish, I'll help you achieve your desire. Your little sister is determined to be the matchmaker here."

"My Lord, scouts report continuously from ahead; there is no danger within twenty li." Ah Mao spurred his horse back from the front lines.

I nodded, "Do not let down your guard. Our supply train must not face the slightest danger. Expand the scouting range further. If any enemy activity is spotted, react immediately according to the prearranged plan."

"Yes, My Lord," Ah Mao turned his horse and rode forward again. Fortunately, we had those eighty warhorses, otherwise the scouts' mobility would have been severely restricted.

The cheerful laughter of the four women occasionally drifted from the carriages. Suddenly, Linglong stuck her head out, "Master, they want you to sing something for us."

"I won't sing," I turned my head away on my horse, ignoring the girls.

"Oh, come on, Brother-in-law," Ma Xiaorui leaned over, holding Linglong's shoulder, "Sing for us! Sister Yao said you know karaoke; sing for us!"

"Who is your brother-in-law? Don't speak nonsense."

Ma Xiaorui adopted a serious air, "Yun Yao is my sister, so how is you being my brother-in-law incorrect? Are you perhaps guilty of something yourself, wanting to become my real brother-in-law?"

I was so exasperated I stopped speaking to Ma Xiaorui. The two girls seemed to have found something to occupy themselves, pestering me until I finally had no choice but to agree. Ma Xiaorui then said, "Sister Yao said there is a song from your hometown called Xiao Wei. We want to hear that one. Sing it."

"There is a beautiful little girl, her name is Xiao Wei, she has a pair of gentle eyes, she secretly stole my heart. Xiao Wei, do you know how much I love you? I want to take you flying up to the heavens, to see how beautiful the stars are, to pluck one and give it to you personally..."

Ma Xiaorui leaned close to Ma Xiaowei's ear and whispered, "Sister, look how bold he is! He’s confessing to you! You have to work hard on this. It’s so cheesy! He said, 'I love you,' and wants to take you to the sky and pluck a star for you. Oh, I feel so happy for you."

A squad of personal guards listened to the incomprehensible song, covering their mouths to stifle their laughter. I flicked my whip and rode away. How could I sing that song in front of Ma Xiaowei? A complete miscalculation. Why did Yun Yao tell them that song? What was she planning?

The four women seemed completely unfazed by the prospect of war; rather, setting up camp and seeing the wilderness stirred up their high spirits, making it feel like a spring outing. This cheerful journey continued until the evening of the third day when a scout reported from ahead: the army had reached the river and encountered the vanguard of the East King's forces across the water.

Ma Xiaowei, aware of her status as a supervising official, was naturally anxious about the military situation. She quickly spurred her horse to my side.

"Zhao Qian, what should we do? Should we avoid their main strength first? We are too weak in numbers, and we cannot afford any mishap before reaching Huyang."

After hearing the scout's report, I told Ma Xiaowei, "Your Highness, there is no need to worry. This rebel force is not large, numbering fewer than seven thousand men. Even if we fought them head-on, they wouldn't be our match. Moreover, the river here has a swift current and is quite deep. It serves not only to block us but also to block the rebels. As long as they don't flee, we can secure an easy opening victory."

Ma Xiaowei didn't seem truly focused on the military intelligence, because she immediately followed up with, "Zhao Qian, could you stop calling me Your Highness from now on? I call you Zhao Qian; could you call me Xiao Wei?"

"Li-little Wei, Your Highness. I’ll go ahead to inspect the situation," before Ma Xiaowei could react, I urged my horse forward and rode away. If I called her Xiao Wei, wouldn't it connect directly to that song?

This river was called Duanhe—meaning 'severing the banks.' The fast, wide current separated the two shores. Being behind meant being behind; this crucial passage only had a single log bridge. This was also why the East King's troops had set up camp on the opposite bank—they were searching for a way to cross so they could advance towards the Twin Cities.

General Gu Qi approached me. "My Lord, some rebels attempted to dismantle the bridge earlier, but we drove them back with arrows. However, they also have archers. It's unrealistic for us to cross using the log bridge. Even if they didn't stop us, our supply train couldn't pass over it."

I looked at the vast forest behind us. "No matter. As long as we eliminate this rebel force, we can build our own bridge to cross."

"Build a bridge?" Gu Qi sounded quite surprised. "My Lord, the current is so rapid, how could bridge supports hold? Besides, by the time we finish building, the rebels might have already infiltrated the Twin Cities."

I smiled, "General Gu, first, set up camp using the methods I taught you. Protect the supplies and the princesses. I will arrange for the accompanying carpenters to handle the bridge construction."

"Yes, My Lord." Gu Qi was part of the younger generation; being young, he naturally prioritized fame and career over the elders. The sights he had witnessed these past few days had instilled in him a growing sense of admiration for me. He never questioned my orders.

Both sides stationed troops along the banks of the river to guard the log bridge. Although the rebels couldn't cross, they were confident that the imperial officers on the other side couldn't cross either. Thus, everyone settled down to make camp and prepare dinner. Darkness had fallen; not only was marching impossible, but fighting was also out of the question, as darkness would cause incalculable losses for both sides.

Inside the Marshal's Camp, everyone sat upright, attentive. Shi Shan entered to report.

"My Lord, the forty catapults are positioned and should be ready for assembly shortly after dinner." Catapults had to be disassembled for transport, meaning they required time to set up before use—a necessary inconvenience.

"How are the incendiary bombs coming along?" I inquired. Tonight was their main performance.

Shi Shan understood that the incendiary bombs I mentioned were the 'Combustion Thunder' he had spoken of. "Reporting, My Lord, the logistics department has delivered five hundred rounds. Additionally, we have five hundred Zhentianlei (Earth-Shaking Thunder). I have already instructed men to find a cliff face by the river where they are being guarded."

I stood up and walked to the entrance of the Marshal's Tent. From here, I could clearly see the scattered starlight across the river—the encampment of the seven thousand rebels. The two sides faced each other across the river, separated by about an arrow's flight, but this distance was too short for the catapults. Tonight, I planned to burn their continuous camps.

Gu Qi was assigned the duty of guarding the camp perimeter against covert attacks. Ah San led a thousand horse guards to station themselves around the Marshal's Tent to protect key personnel. Shi Shan was in charge of the night's combat operations. Since the two princesses were safe and sound, he was highly motivated. As soon as they were settled at the camp site, he began searching everywhere for stones to carve out the Thunder devices. Future warfare would be very costly, and the Jingangshi brought from the Imperial Stables would not be enough.

I briefed the supervising official, Ma Xiaowei, "Your Highness, your subordinate intends to launch a surprise attack on the enemy camp tonight in this manner..."

Ma Xiaowei nodded after hearing my report. "Marshal Zhao's plan is excellent. Proceed with it. I will truthfully report the merits of everyone involved to Father Emperor in the future. Everyone, thank you for your hard work."

With the supervising official's agreement secured, everyone dispersed to make final preparations. Once outsiders had left the Marshal's Tent, Ma Xiaowei suddenly asked, "Zhao Qian, do you not consider me a friend?"

I paused, "No, of course not. Haven't we always been good friends?"

Ma Xiaowei looked displeased. "Then why do you still call me Your Highness? I stopped calling you Marshal Zhao."

It seemed I couldn't avoid changing my address. "Xiao Wei, there were too many people just now. How could you call me that haphazardly?"

The single word, 'Xiao Wei,' made Ma Xiaowei blush deeply. She lowered her head, fiddling with the hem of her clothes. "Yes, I didn't consider the situation properly. You—you be careful when you act later. Don't get too close to the riverbank in case the enemy fires a stray arrow. And stay away from those Thunder devices too—don't hurt yourself..."

I was deeply touched. Being cared for by a beautiful princess was an honor.

"Thank you, Xiao Wei. I have Linglong and Yun Yao by my side protecting me; nothing will happen," I assured her.

Ma Xiaowei looked somewhat uneasy. "It's a pity I can't do anything useful. I'm sorry."

I countered, "How could that be? You are helping me by guarding the main camp. If anyone dares to act improperly, execute them immediately!" Ma Xiaowei nodded firmly. "Mm, don't worry."

At dinner time, a commotion suddenly erupted by the river. I sent my personal guard, Gu Fei, to check the situation. Shortly after, the large man returned with a report. "My Lord, the East King's army across the river is urinating and shouting insults at us. General Gu Qi has arranged for our men to shout back. Both sides are crouched behind river stones, so arrows are useless, and everyone is quite secure in their cursing."

I laughed, "Let them curse. It will conveniently dull the enemy's vigilance. Have the scouts who crossed the river returned yet?"

Personal guard Sun Chang reported, "My Lord, they have returned and are currently changing into dry clothes. They will report the situation to you shortly."

I told Ma Xiaorui, Linglong, and the others, "Then let's eat quickly. We'll head to the Marshal's Tent afterward to clarify the situation so we can launch our operations in the middle of the night."

Da Liwan wanted to come along, but considering the safety of Zhou Ni and Cheng Susu, I left him behind with twenty personal guards to look after the security of the Zhao Residence. Linglong would have been better suited for that task, but she refused to leave my side under any circumstances, so that option was discarded.

After a hasty meal, we reached the Marshal's Tent. The scout who had risked crossing the river using only a few strokes of the doggy paddle reported back: the enemy camp was contiguous, and most of it was made up of flammable tents and hastily felled trees. According to the captive the scout secretly apprehended, this East King army had also arrived on the opposite bank only that afternoon. Their plan was to cross the river here and then coordinate with the North King and South King to slowly encroach upon the periphery of the Twin Cities. The closest rebel force to this detachment was the South King's army, numbering fifteen thousand men. They had already crossed the Duanhe downstream and would soon attack a small county called Huacheng downstream. The South King would then use Huacheng as a base to threaten the Twin Cities, waiting for the other two armies to arrive outside the city walls, thus creating a pincer movement against the Twin Cities. Even if they couldn't truly besiege the city, they could force the Twin Cities to commit all their troops to defense, preventing any forces from being sent to Huyang.

Yun Yao said to me, "Big Brother Zhao, the South King has already crossed the river. If they get wind of our movements, could they attack us from both sides? That would put us in great danger. We are carrying too much; it hinders our maneuverability."

I nodded. "We must guard against it, but since we have already marched out, there is no reason to retreat. Even knowing the danger, we must press forward. From now on, strengthen the scout force. If the South King pursues us from behind, we will receive early warning and can prepare. This area is full of mountains; even if we are surrounded, we can easily find a mountain range and hide within."

Ma Xiaowei remarked, "I think the key is how we cross the river. If tonight's method is successful and we eliminate the rebels on the opposite bank, how do we move the main army across? As long as our method isn't exploited by the South King, he can't follow us unless he returns along the original route from Huaxian County. But then that route wouldn't align with ours."

I replied, "Your Highness speaks wisely. I have already instructed Cui An to lead the carpenters to work overnight building a pontoon bridge. We will leave a detachment here to guard it. If the South King attempts to pursue from here, the garrison can dismantle the pontoon bridge and maintain vigilance along the river to prevent the South King from building his own."

Everyone nodded. Next, they studied the upcoming movements together over the maps meticulously drawn by the scouts early that morning. Late at night, Shi Shan came in to seek instructions.

"My Lord, everything is ready. Please give the order to attack the rebels."

I stood up and exited the Marshal's Tent. Linglong and Yun Yao swiftly followed behind. Ma Xiaorui tried to come out to watch the excitement but was stopped by Gu Qi. Since this battle involved no direct contact with the enemy, Gu Qi's role was purely that of a bodyguard; he needed to ensure the absolute safety of the two princesses.

The forty catapults were lined up behind a stretch of river stones, their firing direction aimed at the enemy's contiguous camps on the far bank. The rebels had never imagined any danger from across the river. Even the best crossbows couldn't reach the camps opposite. Thus, the continuous encampment was peaceful; since neither side could hit the other, everyone was sleeping soundly.

The battle command was quickly relayed. The forty catapults were rapidly loaded and prepared. A company commander, holding a torch, lit the fire basins in front of the catapults one by one. Shi Shan looked at me; I nodded. He cleared his throat and loudly shouted, "Igniters ready!"

Each catapult had an igniter holding a torch. At Shi Shan's command, the forty igniters immediately touched their torches to the fire basins, lighting them. Shi Shan gave another command, "Ignite!"

Forty torches were brought close above the leather slings of the catapults, simultaneously igniting the mixture of oilcloth and grease within the stone basins. Using stone basins to hold these flammable materials was done to increase the weight, thereby increasing the throwing range; containers made of wood might not achieve the desired range.

Seeing that the burning material was fully alight, Shi Shan roared, "Fire!" Forty streams of fire leaped across the Duanhe, landing in the rebel camps opposite. Shi Shan stood on a large stone, visually gauging the landing spot of the first volley to adjust the trajectory for the next shot.

Since the enemy camp was a large target, these forty incendiary bombs essentially all hit their mark. Flames began to rise within the enemy camp, and sounds of panic and confusion drifted from the opposite bank—a stark contrast to the previous serenity. The rebels had no idea where the flames were falling from the sky, but once awake, they quickly organized firefighting efforts under the command of their company leaders.

By then, the second wave of attack was ready. At Shi Shan's next command, forty more fire dragons launched. The flames in the enemy camp grew larger and larger. After five volleys, the figures fighting the fire were no longer visible beneath the blaze; massive, raging fires burned everywhere. Everyone was focused solely on saving their own lives; who had time to put out fires?

I waved my hand, stopping the next loading sequence. "The fire is large enough; further incendiary bombs would be wasteful. Shi Shan, launch the Zhentianlei now, to inflict damage on the enemy soldiers."

"Yes, My Lord," Shi Shan acknowledged, "Load the Zhentianlei! ... Ignite! ... Fire!"

Boom! Boom! Loud noises erupted throughout the enemy camp. Hard Jingangshi fragments flew everywhere. Many enemy soldiers suffered eye injuries or had their mouths knocked askew. Nearby, there was the deadly fire; in the distance, there was the endless darkness. The rebels had nowhere to hide or escape. Countless were burned to death or trampled; coupled with wave after wave of Zhentianlei attacks, the seven thousand men instantly lost all fighting capability.

After nearly four hundred rounds of Zhentianlei strikes, I halted the reloading. The enemy formation was completely broken, and personnel were no longer concentrated. A single stone bomb now only hit one or two men; the cost wasn't worth it. Let them flee. They were originally just farmers struggling to survive; once the court's appeasement policies came down, they could live their lives well.

Kong Wu praised me, "My Lord, you are truly compassionate."

I punched him lightly. "Less flattery. Let's go back to camp and sleep."

The Ma sisters were anxiously awaiting our return at the Marshal's Camp. Seeing us come back, they immediately rushed forward.

"How was it?"

Linglong said casually, "What else could it be? Done and dusted."

Ma Xiaorui couldn't believe it. "That fast?"

Linglong replied, "They only had seven thousand men. We can handle thirty thousand in one night. Go back to sleep."

Ma Xiaowei dared not take their joking seriously. She asked me, "Zhao Qian, what happened? The fire on the opposite bank kept getting bigger."

I said, "I dare not speak to the situation now; we'll know more when we wake up tomorrow morning. In any case, they cannot cross the river, and even if one or two skilled swimmers manage to sneak across, it's useless; we have layers of defense here. Everyone go to sleep; it's too late."

Seeing me with my arm linked in Yun Yao's as we returned to the barracks, Ma Xiaowei and Linglong both sighed involuntarily. Ma Xiaorui pulled her sister along, saying, "Sis, don't envy her. One day I'll make sure you're lying beside him in his bed too."

"Ah!" Ma Xiaowei gasped in alarm. How could her younger sister dare to say such a thing? Where was the slightest resemblance to a princess?

Early the next morning, Yun Yao woke me up well before dawn. Several of us rushed to the riverbank to check the situation. Smoke still curled faintly from the opposite bank, but no standing figures were visible. Apart from corpses, the enemy soldiers had all fled during the night.

Gu Qi stepped forward to offer congratulations. "Your Excellency, congratulations on routing seven thousand enemies in a single moment! Following you, this subordinate foresees boundless prospects." Gu Qi had harbored some resentment about his demotion, but now he truly believed this was the first step toward his glorious future. Even remaining a general commanding ten thousand troops would satisfy him; upon returning triumphantly, who in the entire court would dare look down on him?

"Heh heh, this is everyone's contribution. Have the scribes record the proceedings in detail to present to the Emperor upon our return. Come, let's go see how the pontoon bridge is coming along."

Cui An’s eyes were bloodshot from staying up all night. He was currently directing carpenters to lash together the freshly cut logs. Seeing me approach, he immediately stepped forward to salute,

"Your Excellency, we have been working through the night and can erect the pontoon bridge you described by this afternoon."

My concept was to extend several long ropes across the river from the existing log bridge. Then, rafts made by lashing logs together could be secured by these ropes to span the riverbanks. This way, passage across the river via this floating bridge would be possible. Although it would be somewhat unstable, as long as we were careful with the weight distribution, passage would be feasible.

I sent men across the log bridge to the opposite bank first to clear the battlefield. After investigation, it was determined that the combined attack of fire and the Sky-Shaking Thunder bombs had killed or wounded nearly four thousand enemy troops the previous night. More than three thousand others had fled injured. Because the river blocked them and they were unfamiliar with swimming, they certainly fled backward.

Aside from a small portion of usable supplies that hadn't burned, I ordered the soldiers to pile the rebel corpses together and burn them. Failure to handle this promptly would inevitably cause an epidemic. The climate here was damp, and since there had been no war for millennia, no one knew anything about epidemic prevention. The battlefield near Huyang might not have been managed properly; perhaps we needed to prepare more traditional Chinese medicines for plague prevention.

Although the pontoon bridge was finished by the afternoon, considering the encroaching darkness, we only ferried a thousand soldiers across to guard the opposite bank. Everyone rested in place for another night. The army finally crossed the Broken River completely the next day, leaving two hundred soldiers to guard the pontoon bridge. The main force then advanced toward Pingyuan County, the first county in Huyang Prefecture.

The area around Pingyuan County had few mountains, consisting mostly of plains and swamps. This was considered the land of plenty in the Dual City Kingdom, making the county extremely important. Four-tenths of Huyang Prefecture's grain output came from here. Furthermore, the county was the throat leading from Huyang to the Dual City, giving it crucial geographical significance. Given this, we planned to capture Pingyuan County and establish it as our first major base for suppressing the rebellion, simultaneously extending the Dual City's outer defenses. In fact, not attacking was not an option; bypassing Pingyuan County would be like leaving a deadly dagger stuck in our own back.

Scouts sent ahead reported that the East King had a regular army stationed in Pingyuan County, numbering over ten thousand, and they had just absorbed the two thousand routed soldiers from the opposite bank of the Broken River. They were now on full alert, preparing to face the imperial army suppressing the rebellion.

Further intelligence indicated that a force of twenty thousand troops was moving toward Pingyuan County from the direction of Huyang. This was likely reinforcements requested by Pingyuan County from Prince Shou after receiving news of the defeat. That relief force was estimated to arrive in about seven days, putting great time pressure on our siege efforts. If we couldn't take the city before the reinforcements arrived, attacking Pingyuan would become even harder with an additional twenty thousand men defending it.

Due to recent continuous rain, the journey to Pingyuan County, originally scheduled for two days, had taken three. This left us with only four days for the siege. Moreover, the rain was intermittent. Gunpowder, stone thunder bombs, and similar munitions fear water. If the weather remained like this during the assault, the stone bombs and incendiaries might be unusable, eliminating our advantage entirely.

The army set up camp on a hill about fifty meters high, three li from the county seat. Scouts fanned out to gather intelligence, and soon, the situation in Pingyuan County was laid out on the table in the Marshal's tent. The city walls were five meters high. While this height was negligible compared to ancient city walls in the Great Dragon Kingdom, for us, lacking proper scaling equipment, these five meters felt like an impassable chasm. A direct assault was clearly impossible.

Pingyuan County had four gates, one facing each cardinal direction. The entire perimeter around the walls was flat rice paddies. With no obstructions, one could clearly see the civilian houses inside the city from our current vantage point on the hill. The walls were constructed of tightly mortared rubble—exceptionally solid. Cannons and Zhi Mao Ji (spear-throwers) could not breach them. Even a trebuchet would likely struggle to be effective because finding suitable stones nearby for Pingyuan County was extremely difficult. Transporting such large stones over terrain that was already hard to march across—let alone transport heavy objects—was nearly impossible.

The four city gates were made of wood and not particularly sturdy, but each gate was defended by two thousand soldiers. Combined with the garrison on the walls, this meant about four thousand men per gate. If my ten thousand men launched a frontal assault, it was questionable whether we could even break through, even if we lost every single soldier. Since learning of the imperial anti-rebel army's arrival, all four gates had been firmly shut, and anyone approaching would be met with a volley of arrows.

Ma Xiaorui, long past treating war like a spring outing, was exhausted. She spent her days sleeping in her carriage and no longer pestered Ma Xiaowei once they reached the camp. This gave Ma Xiaowei much more breathing room. She spent her days by my side, learning military command. As soon as the Marshal's tent was pitched, she took out maps and began studying them with Linglong and Yun Yao.

Ma Xiaowei said, "The enemy's defense is very strong, and the walls of Pingyuan County are very solid. I fear we have no opening. Yet, if we bypass the city and don't capture it, our rear will remain unstable later."

Yun Yao sighed, "Indeed. Linglong and I have worried about this for half a day. What should we do now? Suppressing rebellion is not supposed to involve bringing such a small force; it feels more like they are suppressing us."

Linglong scoffed, "Why are you rushing? Master has plenty of ideas. Do you think a mere Pingyuan County could stump him?"

With no outsiders present, I dropped my formal address to Ma Xiaowei these past few days. I was sprawled ungracefully over the marshal's chair, feeling vexed. "Yes, it has genuinely stumped me. I haven't devised a siege plan yet. A direct assault is out of the question, and a siege is even more unrealistic. With only our ten thousand men, how could we possibly surround four gates? Digging tunnels is also out; the ground here is solid rock. We might not even reach the base of the walls by next year."

Linglong looked stunned. "Ah! Master, even you have no solution? That can't be! We all believe in you; please think harder. Yun Yao sister, I'll go tidy up the bedding. It accidentally got rained on this morning. If all else fails, we must start a charcoal fire to dry it, or else you and Master will suffer tonight."

Yun Yao blushed slightly. "Then let's go together. We won't disturb Brother Zhao; let him think things through properly."

Linglong and Yun Yao left for the rear quarters behind the Marshal's tent. Ma Xiaowei sat in her chair, watching me with a smile, saying nothing. Her smile made me feel a bit self-conscious, so I asked, "What are you smiling at, Xiaowei?"

Ma Xiaowei replied, "Nothing, Brother Zhao. I believe in you. We can't figure out a way, but you surely can. Don't worry yet; find something else to clear your mind. Maybe you’ll have an idea if you think about it again later."

I said, "Then I'll go outside to examine the terrain. You're right; thinking blindly inside won't yield anything."

Ma Xiaowei picked up an umbrella from the ground.

"I'll accompany you."

The Marshal's tent faced the East Gate of the county seat. Since this location was slightly elevated, standing here offered a bird's-eye view of Pingyuan County. The residences inside the walls were clearly visible, and even people walking on the main street could be seen by those with good eyesight. The rain had stopped briefly but started again. Luckily, it wasn't a downpour, or our schedule would be further delayed. Even so, the soldiers marching in the drizzle were quite fatigued.

The Marshal's tent was the first to be erected. The sun, hidden behind the dark clouds, was beginning to set. Five thousand logistics troops were setting up the other tents in the rain. Soldiers with nowhere to shelter had no choice but to stand in the drizzle, though their weapons and baggage were covered with oilcloths, suffering no loss.

Ma Xiaowei stood behind me, holding an umbrella for both of us. For a moment, I felt a surge of emotion. A noble princess personally holding an umbrella for me—was Ma Xiaowei's consideration purely because I was someone who could aid her father and brother? During this time, it was evident that Ma Xiaorui seemed intent on creating opportunities for us to be alone. Sixteen-year-old Ma Xiaowei had grown exquisitely beautiful; she was well-figured and a princess. If only I could bring her back to Earth—but was that realistic? Ma Da would likely never let her go. Proprieties here were strict; selecting a consort for a princess was rigorous, and a consort could not easily be close to a princess, much less marry another woman casually. So, I felt this prospect was slim; perhaps I shouldn't indulge in such fantasies.

Though I tried not to dwell on it, the enticing fragrance wafting from behind me constantly reached my nose. Since the umbrella offered limited coverage, Ma Xiaowei stood very close to me, almost pressed against me. She held the umbrella with her arm extended, and I was under her arm, making it look as if she were embracing me. Moreover, Ma Xiaowei wasn't short; she was about my height, so from a distance, I truly appeared to be held by her.

I stamped the wet mud off my boots. "I can't figure it out. I'll go down and see if anyone has problems or needs anything. They've been constantly soaked these past two days; it's truly taxing on them."

"Brother Zhao, I'll come with you. What if you catch a cold without an umbrella?" Ma Xiaowei followed closely behind me. In truth, a group of personal guards and palace maids followed, each holding an umbrella. However, none stepped forward. These were her closest attendants; they understood the situation perfectly but pretended to be oblivious.

Ma Xiaowei held the umbrella over me as we walked into the ranks of the soldiers.

"Everyone, you've worked hard. After marching in the rain these past two days, make sure you start a charcoal fire to ward off the cold. Also, ask the field doctor to brew plenty of cold-dispelling soup. We absolutely cannot afford any colds right now, or it will spread and lay everyone low. Tonight, I will instruct the kitchen to provide extra rations, and we will celebrate after taking Pingyuan County."

The soldiers actually had a decent impression of me. Although my discipline was strict, I often rewarded them and cared for their welfare—something absolutely unheard of in the Imperial Guard previously. The men had indeed grumbled earlier about marching in the rain, but seeing their commander personally come down to offer comfort, their complaints vanished. Being respected carried great honor.

The soldiers all recognized Ma Xiaowei and knew she was the noble princess. But to their utter astonishment, this usually aloof princess, who rarely offered a smile, was now walking behind the Marshal holding an umbrella, a barely perceptible smile gracing her face. Some bolder soldiers secretly gave me a thumbs-up and then discreetly pointed toward Ma Xiaowei.

For a moment, I felt immensely pleased. I, Zhao Qian, wasn't one to brag—wherever I went, regardless of superpowers, I could attract women. It's just that this particular woman’s status was extraordinary. I should adhere to the oath I swore to Yun Yao and avoid causing trouble.

A personal guard suddenly rushed from the Marshal's tent with a report: "Your Excellency! Scouts report a grain transport convoy from Pingyuan County, over two thousand men escorting five hundred carts of grain, heading toward the city ten li south of the East Gate."

A single cart, pushed by one man, carried over three hundred jin of grain. Five hundred carts amounted to 150,000 jin—an enormous quantity. This was likely reserve grain that the rebels in Pingyuan County had gathered from lower areas, fearing a siege. The convoy was likely delayed by the rain, arriving only half a day behind us.

I said, "Return to camp immediately! Notify Factory Director Shi, Factory Director Cui, Commander A San, Leader Mao Dang, and General Gu for a meeting."

The personal guard ran ahead to make arrangements. I hastily bid farewell to the soldiers and, with Ma Xiaowei following closely, returned to the Marshal's tent. Because the ground had been trod upon so much, this hill had a slight slope, and the Marshal's tent was set at the highest point. Halfway up the incline, my feet suddenly slipped, and I lost my balance, falling backward.

Ma Xiaowei had been following me closely. First, she had to hold the umbrella; second, it was more difficult for a young woman to walk. Thus, she didn't notice I was falling backward until I crashed into her. But it was too late; we tumbled down the hill together.

At times, Ma Xiaowei was on top of me; at others, I was pinning her down. Our clothes were instantly soaked with mud and water. Amidst the shouts of the personal guards and palace maids, we rapidly rolled down to a rice paddy at the base of the hill. The rice stalks were quite high, and momentum carried us into the water within the paddy, completely drenching our clothes. Lying within the stalks, outsiders couldn't see us clearly.

Ma Xiaowei was now straddling me. Her hair was coated in mud and water, and her silk gown clung tightly to her skin. Her full, firm chest curves were conspicuously alluring. Since the silk was soaked through, it had become transparent, vaguely revealing the hard lines of her breasts and the deep red of her nipples through the thin fabric.

Ma Xiaowei’s lips, slightly blue, were less than ten centimeters from mine. Driven by some inexplicable impulse, I closed my eyes and gently kissed her. Ma Xiaowei was clearly startled. She struggled twice, splashing water in the muddy paddy, but she soon grew quiet, pressing tightly against me, emitting low, heavy breaths. She clumsily tried to dodge my kiss.

Ma Xiaowei's mouth moved restlessly. I reached up and held the back of her head, preparing for a proper kiss, when she suddenly said urgently, "They are chasing us! You don't want others to see, do you?"

Indeed, the personal guards and maids had thrown down their umbrellas and were shouting as they scrambled down the hill. I quickly regained my composure and apologized, "Xiaowei, I'm sorry. I was too rash just now."

Ma Xiaowei wasn't angry, nor did she accept my apology.

"Let go of me first, and we can talk back at the quarters."

I suddenly realized I was still holding her head. It would be quite scandalous if those people rushed down and saw us. We clambered out of the paddy, covered in mud and water, stumbling back toward the hill. Sun Changtui was the first one down, followed by Gu Fei, who tumbled down after slipping.

"Your Excellency, are you alright? This subordinate is guilty; it is our failure in protection that caused you and the Princess distress."

I knew clearly that they had deliberately kept their distance from Ma Xiaowei and me, allowing us time alone, which is why their "rescue" was delayed. I helped Ma Xiaowei up. "I'm fine; this isn't your fault. I was careless and fell, dragging the Princess down with me."

Soon, palace maids descended to drape a garment over Ma Xiaowei. Her figure was too devastatingly attractive; it would be a huge loss if the personal guards saw too much. Aided by the maids and guards, we finally made it back to the Marshal's tent.

The cries from our fall had already alerted Linglong and Yun Yao. Yun Yao and the maids returned to the rear quarters of the Marshal's tent to look after Ma Xiaowei, while Linglong brought me a set of clean clothes. She told me to change, but there was no time. That grain convoy was only ten li from the city; time was pressing. I didn't even have time to wash my face. I threw on a robe and immediately summoned everyone for a meeting to discuss intercepting the grain carts.