I am not one to boast; this small success won't inflate my ego. I have witnessed far grander spectacles, and such minor victories barely shift my mood. Thus, in every aspect, I maintained unwavering vigilance.

Even though Huyang City was in an uproar, security at the camp was never relaxed. After all, the lives of tens of thousands depended on it, and more critically, my own life. Intelligence security remained meticulous. Moreover, I was dealing with that old bone, Lin Gu. To earn a lady’s smile, I had been courteous enough to him, but only he would attempt a surprise attack under these circumstances.

Many in the Marshal's camp were stirring groggily. A San remarked, "These enemies are too audacious. We need to teach them a harsh lesson."

Gu Qi agreed, "Naturally. But we must annihilate them entirely to demonstrate our strength. If we let any escape, it would suggest our recent training was wasted effort."

I asked A Mao, "How many are they, what weapons do they carry, and who is leading them?"

A Mao reported, "Sir, according to our spies inside the city, this contingent numbers three thousand. Their weapons are mostly short swords and bows, but every man carries flammable materials like fuel—it’s clear they intend to set fires. The brothers we infiltrated the city guards with managed to see the leader: it is Lin Gu."

It was indeed him. Good. If I catch him again, I wonder if he’ll still have the nerve to leave the Marshal's camp. Three thousand men trying to start fires—they've underestimated things severely. We must trap them like turtles in a jar and capture them all.

I announced, "Since they've arrived, let's give them a proper welcome. Each army unit will send five thousand men. Under the cover of night, we will counter-encircle them. This time, however, the Artillery Battalion will take the lead in the main engagement, testing the might and operation of the cannons. Should we need them on the battlefield tomorrow, it's good for the gunners to have some experience under their belts."

Everyone accepted the order, quickly dividing the encirclement zones and departing to make arrangements. Ma Xiaowei was awakened by the commotion in the Marshal's camp. By the time she was dressed and arrived, everyone was already gone.

"What happened? Why are we up again right after settling down to sleep?" she asked, rubbing her eyes.

I replied, "An attempted sneak attack. I've arranged for everyone to set an ambush. I heard it's that old fellow Lin Gu."

"Him again? He truly is a persistent pest. I truly regret showing him too much mercy before. If we catch him this time, you can deal with him as you see fit," she said.

Lin Gu had intended to bring more men, as every extra man meant an extra spark, but considering the danger of nighttime marching and the insecurity of a large, noisy group, he settled on three thousand. These were all elites, each skilled with the bow, young and vigorous, able to move swiftly even while burdened with incendiary materials.

Since the Imperial Army had not yet arrived to establish a full siege, they marched openly out of the city gates, then quickly moved in the dark towards the enemy camp fifty li away. In a world dependent on foot travel, fifty li was no small distance. The three thousand men marched after eating supper and finally, in the deep hours of the night, spotted the camp of the Imperial Bandit Suppression Army.

A Qianhu stepped forward. "Commander, we are three li from the enemy camp. I await your orders on how to proceed."

Lin Gu commanded, "We are not here to kill, but to burn. We need not act in concert; simply divide the areas for arson. Gentlemen, as you were chosen as warriors, you must have considered the consequences of this mission. Regardless of success or failure, each of you has been issued ten iron coins. I hope you live up to His Highness’s expectations. The three Qianhu teams will take three separate directions, avoiding enemy sentry posts, and stealthily infiltrate the enemy camp to start fires. Though their barracks are spread out, the wind tonight is strong enough. If just a few spots catch fire, the enemy's entire encampment will be in peril. Go now."

The pre-battle motivation was complete. The three Qianhu leaders prepared their troops according to their assigned sectors, but suddenly, a deafening boom echoed, followed by a sound like sand raining down, and then the pained cries of their own soldiers. Lin Gu's mind froze; the sound was too familiar. Their operation had been detected. He hadn't expected these Imperial troops to remain so composed and vigilant despite the provocation.

But no matter what, these fires must be lit. They were close enough to the enemy camp; surely some of the three thousand men would manage to break through. Once a few fires were started, what could the enemy do? With this thought, Lin Gu roared, "Soldiers, charge! Whoever successfully starts a fire will receive an additional hundred iron coins as a reward!"

Whoosh! The crowd surged forward. Suddenly, several sparks flashed before their eyes, followed by dazzling ribbons of fire that began to spread along the ground. A wall of fire erupted in front of the three thousand men raiding the camp, the fierce flames illuminating half the sky a deep crimson. Their dark uniforms were useless; the three thousand men froze, unable to conceal themselves.

After traveling half the night on a dark road, the sudden brilliance blinded them, making it hard to locate the enemy. Lin Gu’s heart seized as his soldiers halted. The enemy's attack would be immediate; if they hesitated further, before even one spark was lit, the entire army could be wiped out. He shouted and charged forward himself, setting the example.

Behind him, the three Qianhu and over a dozen Baihu were emboldened, urging their respective units forward. The mass of men began to move again, drawing closer to the line of fire. Suddenly, faces flashed out from behind the flames. It sounded as if a hundred people shouted in unison, "Halt! Advance one step further and you will be executed without mercy! Drop your weapons and surrender immediately!"

The Qianhu and Baihu captains drove their subordinates forward again, "like herding pigs and dogs." At this moment, no one dared hesitate; if the three thousand soldiers were given more time to think, they truly might surrender. The vanguard continued forward, just ten paces from the line of fire, when three massive booms sounded in succession. The strange, sand-raining sound filled the air again, and the leading hundred soldiers collapsed in heaps.

Lin Gu felt a searing pain in his left shoulder, as if a grain of sand had been deeply embedded there. Touching it, he found sticky blood already seeping out. What kind of weapon was this? How could it have such a wide area of effect? This Zhao Qian was too formidable. Was opposing him a mistake? Was Zhu Shou truly worth fighting and dying for? Zhu Shou constantly spoke of dividing land and grain, but had he actually done it? In contrast, these Imperial Army soldiers displayed disciplined formations and strict military conduct.

Without orders to retreat, the three thousand soldiers continued to charge forward. Their target was the barracks not far ahead. Just toss a firebomb, and the mission would be complete. However, they didn't realize the camp, seemingly within grasp, was still agonizingly far. Three more booms erupted. The sky-filling sand shower swept towards them like scattered beans. Those in the front were either blinded or had their faces riddled like sieves. Many struck in the abdomen collapsed instantly onto the ground.

A Qianhu threw himself in front of Lin Gu, absorbing most of the iron shot. Lin Gu felt intense distress. The Qianhu had taken dozens of hits to his back, but wouldn't die immediately. "Commander, we've walked into an ambush! Quickly, take the men and retreat!"

Lin Gu gritted his teeth. "Is there any chance of retreat now? They must have cut off our rear escape. Our only option is to fight through this with our lives. If we succeed in setting the fires, the Imperial Army's combat effectiveness will be reduced by at least half. All their supplies are in the main camp!"

Boom, boom! Two more shots rang out, felling a dozen soldiers. The Qianhu pleaded, "Their weapons are too vicious, Commander. Let's retreat! If we must, we should surrender. We cannot watch our brothers die for nothing!"

Hearing the word 'surrender,' Lin Gu felt a deep unease. He craned his neck to look around. Illuminated by the fire ahead, shadows flickered everywhere—ambushers. His seemingly flawless plan had been entirely anticipated by the enemy. He realized he was truly old, having severely underestimated his opponent’s capabilities. The enemy hadn't been blinded by the small victory of the day; their entire movement was under the opponent's control. How could this battle be fought?

One Qianzhang shouted amidst the confusion, "Fight them to the death! Archers, prepare, fire!"

This three-thousand-man force was relatively well-trained. Hearing the order, they swiftly drew their bows from their backs and unleashed a volley of arrows, a rapid succession of pangs as the arrows pierced through the wall of fire into the enemy ranks. They heard no screams, only dull thudding sounds—clearly, the arrows had been blocked. Shields, after all, were not Lin Gu’s invention.

Before the second volley of arrows could be prepared, a sharp whistling sound tore through the air from behind the fire line. Then, the foremost soldiers saw only darkness as sharp, pointed wooden spears pierced their chests. The spears were heavy wood, and their momentum fierce; some pierced through three men consecutively, like skewers on a tanghulu, creating a terrifying scene.

Struck by this volley, the archers couldn't nock more arrows, and the enemy gave them no chance to breathe. Immediately following the first volley of throwing spears came the second, and then eight cannon roars. The iron shot rained down like a deluge.

The Qianzhang dragged Lin Gu down into a small puddle. "Commander, there's no time left! Order the surrender! If we wait another moment, not one of us will survive."

Lin Gu cried out in defeat, "Surrender! Tell everyone to surrender! We were tricked by Zhao Qian again. This man is truly formidable; making an enemy of him will not end well."

The arson squad had lost nearly half its strength. They had expected to take advantage of the enemy's long journey and lax defenses, but every move had been monitored. Allowing them to surrender was already an act of mercy.

Lin Gu, covered in blood, still maintained a degree of arrogance in the Marshal's camp. Ma Xiaowei was the first to express her displeasure. "Marshal Lin, I initially suggested recruiting you because I respected your talent, which is why I spoke to Lord Zhao. If you didn't appreciate it, so be it; we let you go. But how could you rejoin Zhu Shou to act as his accomplice? Now that we've captured you again, what else is there to say?"

Lin Gu shook his head, his face ashen. "Nothing. Deal with me as you see fit."

I commanded my personal guards, "Summon the army surgeon to remove the iron shot from Commander Lin. We will discuss matters after he has rested tomorrow morning."

The surgeon left with his men to retrieve the iron shot. Ma Xiaowei accompanied me to inspect the prisoner compound. Most men were bloody messes. Since they had surrendered, we couldn't ignore their lives. The severely wounded had taken hundreds of iron pellets. While they might not die, carrying them was a long-term issue. Fortunately, the Shuāngchéng Kingdom had lodestones, though not locally sourced—they were traded in from the Jin Kingdom. Using magnets to extract the iron shot was simple, especially now that we had anesthetics.

Hearing the groans of pain, Ma Xiaowei clung to my arm, unable to watch any longer. Ma Da behind us said, "Sir, the power of the Artillery Battalion has finally been recognized. May we also participate in the fighting? We seek no fame, only to prove the capability of the Artillery Battalion."

I assured him, "Rest assured, there will be plenty of fighting ahead for you. We will give the Artillery Battalion a chance tomorrow. Don't let their thin walls fool you; these barrels are strong enough. We can increase the charge and the amount of iron shot. This black powder isn't yet enough to destroy this type of metal. But there is one thing you must note: for infantry, you must use scatter shot—the iron pellets—due to their large area of effect. For important objectives or buildings, use solid iron shot; concentrated force achieves a quicker success. Using them indiscriminately leads to waste. Our iron reserves are insufficient; refining shot and solid balls is too difficult. However, once we take Huyang Prefecture, this situation will change."

Ma Da bowed. "Your planning is divine, Sir. We shall obey your commands precisely. Please be at ease."

Walking alongside me, Ma Xiaowei remarked, "I truly hadn't realized the eight cannons were so powerful, no less impressive than those zhì máo jī [spear-throwing machines]. But they are easier to wound with than to kill with; iron shot rarely causes immediate death unless it hits a vital spot."

"Wounding is enough. Killing too many would undermine the benevolence of the Imperial Army. The number of cannons is limited, insufficient for large-scale engagements. Once we smelt enough iron, we can cast more cannons, though the barrels won't be as strong as these originals, and their increased size and weight will complicate transport, especially since this area is mountainous and roads are poor."

Ma Xiaowei countered, "After defeating Zhu Shou, the court will have no enemies, so you don't need to worry about that."

I shook my head. "The chaos has only just begun. Do you think Zhu Shou is the end of it? The Shuāngchéng Kingdom has been peaceful for too long; it won't settle down quietly in a few months."

Ma Xiaowei happily linked her arm through mine. "With you here, I don't need to worry about Father the Emperor or my younger brother. You won't abandon them, will you? They are my family."

I glanced around. "Be careful not to let others see. Of course, I won't abandon them, my wife."

Ma Xiaowei insisted, "I want everyone to know our relationship! Otherwise, I fear you will abandon me someday. The women around you keep growing, but I am just a useless princess. I’m not as beautiful as any of them, nor as shapely as Sister Susu. I worry too much inside."

"You think too much nonsense. Am I that kind of man? Go back to sleep. Remember your status as a princess; you're starting to resemble Ma Xiaorui more and more."

Ma Xiaowei made a face and left with her maids. Having been busy half the night, dawn was approaching. It was too late to enter Hua Qingqing's body now anyway. Never mind; her memories were fully restored, and she would be my beloved wife from now on, someone I could be intimate with any time. I wouldn't miss this one night.

As the sun rose, Lin Gu appeared in the Marshal's camp, swathed like a mummy. I addressed him, "Commander Lin, given your status, I should never let you go again. However, I once told myself I would adhere to the principle of 'seven captures, seven releases.' Today, I will not pressure you. Your subordinates have surrendered. Since your bones remain so rigid, please, be my guest."

Ma Xiaowei was aghast. "Are you insane? He is now a field commander! How can you release such a figure? If he still refuses to submit, send him back to Shuāngchéng to await your father the Emperor's judgment!"

I explained, "Princess, I believe Commander Lin is a clever man. During the week we spent drinking and feasting with Zhu Shou in the city, you must have a clear idea of his character, Commander Lin. His previous words often showed concern for the common people. Right now, Commander Lin likely still harbors doubts about the Imperial Army. I am letting him go to give him another chance to understand the Imperial Army. If he truly learns who the legitimate ruler of Shuāngchéng is, and who truly speaks for the common people, he will know what to do without us persuading him."

Lin Gu stated calmly, "Zhao Qian, you are a man of character. I admire you deeply. I will no longer serve as a field commander, nor will I ever again risk my life for Zhu Shou. I will remain in Huyang Prefecture and watch you lead your army into the city. If you truly treat the common people with the utmost respect, if there is not even a speck of falsehood in your words, then these old bones of mine are yours to dispose of as you wish—may I be struck by lightning if I lie!"

I slammed the table and stood up. "Agreed! Commander Lin, it is settled. As long as you truly see who is good and who is bad, what does it matter if I release you a few more times? Guards! Select one Baihu detachment from the prisoners, issue them weapons, and have them escort Commander Lin back to Huyang City!"

Lin Gu was utterly disheartened. He had always considered himself exceptionally astute, a fact proven by his past victories, but now he had encountered his nemesis. In every engagement with this man, he had never won. Coupled with his growing disillusionment with Zhu Shou, Lin Gu had lost all his previous ambition.

The hundred-man escort traveled much faster than the Imperial Army. They could reach Huyang City before lunch. Approaching the city gates, the Baihu leader consulted Lin Gu. "Commander, I have something to say, though I don't know if I should."

Lin Gu nodded. "Speak."

The Baihu leader said, "Commander, no third party knows that we were captured and failed. If we say nothing, no one will know we were ever prisoners. You know how the King and the various other Lords are… extremely sensitive about this kind of thing."

Lin Gu knew this perfectly well. "You all rest assured. I will only say the sneak attack failed and we were forced to retreat. You can relax."

The Baihu leader knelt. "Thank you, Commander. Otherwise, if the King became enraged, he might take it out on us lower ranks. You have saved our lives today."

Lin Gu felt a deep sense of weariness. Given the suspicion the various Lords held toward him, he shuddered to think what the outcome would have been if he had told the truth. What a disgrace. He would retreat to some quiet place and stay put. He would never involve himself with Zhu Shou's affairs again.

At this moment, besides knowing he was outmatched, Lin Gu realized Zhu Shou was not the man he once was. Now, Zhu Shou only desired the throne himself, and the welfare of the common people was no longer his primary concern.

Hearing that the arson squad had failed and returned, chaos erupted again in the underground palace of Huyang City. Simultaneously, a watchman on the city wall reported that the Imperial Army's movements were visible, and they were about to clash with the garrisons of the Southern and Northern Lords.

"Gentlemen, gentlemen, Lords! Think of a way to respond!" Zhu Shou shouted frantically.

Someone below replied, "Your Highness, this was Commander Lin's responsibility. Let him lead the troops to fight—it can count as atoning for his crime."

Zhu Shou also looked toward Lin Gu. Lin Gu adopted a posture of someone about to faint. "Your Highness, your subordinate is severely wounded and unfit for this duty. I beg Your Highness to assign punishment."

Zhu Shou cursed, "Punishment my foot! Look at the timing! Whatever punishment is due can wait until the enemy is repelled."

Everyone glanced at Lin Gu, wrapped up like a rice dumpling, and shook their heads. In that state, he couldn't fight a war. The Southern Lord said, "Your Highness, let us proceed with Commander Lin's original strategy: fight them to the death! We should mobilize immediately and strike while their formation is unstable to crush the enemy."

Zhu Shou sighed. "Fine, we'll proceed according to the original plan. Everyone, put forth your efforts, and I will certainly not forget your service afterward."

The main army halted fifteen li from Huyang City. This was a floodplain formed by a river valley—a vast plain with no high ground to rely on. The enemy had already deployed eighty thousand troops outside the city. If they charged forward as one mass, the unprepared fifty thousand Imperial troops would find it almost impossible to resist. Therefore, a buffer zone had to be left between the two armies for the battlefield. The main army needed to camp and establish defenses far in advance before engaging in the decisive battle.

"Report!" A scout dashed into the Marshal's camp. "Sir, the Red Turban rebels are mobilizing! Large numbers of soldiers are pouring out of their barracks, charging straight toward us. The foreseeable force is over thirty thousand, with continuous reserves coming up behind them!"

Gu Qi exclaimed, "They want to take advantage while we are still setting up? They underestimate our Lord too much! Sir, we request permission to fight!"

Glancing at Princess Ma Xiaowei, who stood with perfect grace, she nodded. I announced, "Very well. In this battle, mobilize all forces; we must achieve a decisive victory. I know everyone is tired from days of marching, but after this battle, you can rest for a few days before the siege. Go and prepare according to the battle plan set last night."

Since this was to be a fight to the death, the Southern and Northern Lords were resolved. They had already deployed eighty thousand outside the city and now mobilized another twenty thousand from within. The massive army of one hundred thousand marched grandly toward the approaching Imperial Army. Such an imposing sight had never been witnessed in the history of the Shuāngchéng Kingdom. A host of generals stood on the East City Wall watching, all deeply shaken, feeling for a moment as if they could command the world.

It was impossible for one hundred thousand men to attack in just one week. The initial contact point between the two armies would involve at most ten thousand men. However, the subsequent deployment of reserves would be the key to victory. Whichever army proved more resilient, and whichever had more surviving troops at the end, would win. A fight between one hundred thousand and thirty thousand still offered a significant chance of victory.

The Red Turban Army advanced in a fan formation, their vanguard composed of archers, followed by the newly developed force of several thousand spearmen, and then the swordsmen. Behind them were mixed arms, for once the leading units exchanged a few volleys, the mêlée would begin, at which point the specific weapon became irrelevant; only getting close enough to kill mattered.

Compared to the rigid formation of the Imperial Army ahead, the Red Turban forces were hopelessly disorganized. The Imperial soldiers were arrayed in ranks upon ranks of squares, with precise spacing between soldier and soldier, and square and square. The Red Turbans, however, were packed shoulder-to-shoulder; judging by the ground they occupied, ten thousand men looked no different than three.

Because the two armies had maintained too great a distance, adjusting formation and movement had consumed over two hours. The Imperial Army had barely advanced, merely unfolding its lines to stand ready. The Red Turban Army, acting as the main assault force, had marched a full six li, meaning fatigue was entirely on their side.

The distance between the armies had shrunk to under two thousand meters. Two swift horses bolted across the Imperial formation, one to the left and one to the right, shouting, "Siege Camp! Ready the boulders!"

The squealing of winches signaled the activation of the massive catapults. As the Red Turbans had advanced, the siege engines had been successfully emplaced. Though few stones had been gathered on site, there were enough for three salvos. The stones were heavy, capable of long throws, and by visual estimation, the enemy vanguard was now within striking range.

The signalman looked up, watching the flag on the Linglong overhead. Reports confirmed that every catapult team had completed its preparations. The signalman flashed the green flag signal, and the small red flag on the Linglong waved three times. Immediately, two more swift horses galloped left and right to deliver orders to the catapult corps.

"Fire! Fire! Fire!"

A whistling gale sounded as massive stones were flung from the leather slings. After rotating once, they gained momentum and soared away. The Red Turban Army, catching sight of giant stones dancing in the sky, instinctively dropped their heads and fell to the ground. Alas, stones were not arrows; lying down offered no defense against being crushed into a bloody pulp. With the inertia of their roll, the boulders bounced rapidly through the Red Turban rear, trampling men and beasts alike. The large stones were smeared with gore, occasionally depositing a severed hand or a strip of scalp.

At this moment, the Red Turban archers had not yet entered effective range. The supervising generals and Qianhuzhang lashed their swords to drive the soldiers forward in a frantic run. After just three volleys from the catapults, nearly a fifth of the Red Turban first line had been killed or wounded. But worse was yet to come: once the stones were depleted, the enemy switched to fireballs. Where they landed, a violent burst of flame erupted. Any soldier whose clothing caught even a spark was consumed, and since the men were packed tight, one catching fire meant others were engulfed. Even if they wished to retreat, the congestion prevented any escape. Thus, the already decimated vanguard soon saw its combat effectiveness reduced by more than half.

Accompanying the fireballs came smoke—smoke so acrid it induced dizziness, causing eyes to stream and incessant coughing. The wind, moreover, blew against them. Red Turban troops in the rear, still outside the attack zone, were similarly racked by coughing fits, rendering them immobile. This was not the end; soon, objects that exploded with a deafening roar arrived. Over twenty thousand men in the front of the Red Turban lines were subjected to unilateral slaughter; they had no way to retaliate. At this point, even their arrows could not reach the Imperial Army a li away.

From the walls of Huyang City, the Northern and Southern Kings watched in astonishment. Zhu Shou, who had been celebrated onto the platform to supervise and rally the troops, now trembled uncontrollably, terrified that the giant stones might sprout wings and land on his head. "Gentlemen, what are we to do now? Our troops cannot advance!"

The Southern King gritted his teeth, attempting to soothe Zhu Shou. "Your Highness, do not panic. We shall order the subsequent troops to advance rapidly. Their weapons are only effective at a distance; once they reach close quarters, they will be useless."

Zhu Shou stammered fearfully, "Then hurry! Don't we have a hundred thousand men? We could drown them just by spitting!"

Receiving the order, the Red Turban troops, heedless of the danger, trampled their comrades’ bodies and charged forward. As the Imperial Army drew nearer, the air suddenly filled with arrows like a swarm of locusts. These were no ordinary shafts; they were sharpened javelins, and this time, they were not fired level but lobbed in an arc high into the air, vastly increasing their effective kill radius.

These spear-arrows rained down wave after wave, as if they cost nothing, until the front of the Red Turban formation was bristling with a forest of shafts. Amidst this forest lay corpses everywhere; many were skewered by multiple projectiles. The few survivors still impaled shrieked to the heavens, terrifying the Red Turban troops behind them into halting their advance.

While the main assault force was stalled, the left and right flanks pressed closer to the Imperial Army. Yet, facing the Red Turban flank attack, the Imperial formation remained utterly unchanged, calmly facing the front. The Northern and Southern Kings on the city wall rejoiced. Sacrificing so many lives, they had finally reached striking distance. Although the flanking forces had limited combat strength and numbers, disrupting the enemy's angle could allow the main force to break through the breach.

But the Kings rejoiced too soon. Tremendous cannon fire erupted from both the left and right flanks, followed by nearly ten thousand men rushing out from the rear of those camps on both sides. The vanguard of the Red Turbans, caught in the thunder of the cannons, began to fall in great swathes. Yet, more kept charging forward, for they were mere steps away from bringing their bows to bear.

Although these two flanking Imperial armies were late arrivals, their formation was impeccable. After the four cannons on the left and right had fired, volleys of archers followed. They used crossbows (nuji), which possessed a significantly greater range than the bows used by the Red Turbans. Since the heavy weaponry was deployed on the main front, this sector was equipped only with four steel cannons and crossbowmen.

The Western King called out from the city wall to the Northern and Southern Kings, "Your Excellencies, my entire force is tied up in the center. The flank attack won't accomplish much. We still need to slam into their main body head-on. Rather than waiting here to be beaten, give them the kill order to charge. Whatever remains is what remains. Even if we lose the outer battle, we can hold the city walls against the Imperial Army."

The Northern King, temporarily appointed commander by Zhu Shou, hardened his resolve and issued the ruthless command. Swiftly, the seventy thousand men in the rear surged forward recklessly, ignoring the fireballs, thunderclaps, and arrow showers erupting from the enemy lines. Relying on sheer numbers, the Red Turbans managed to push through the gaps and reach the enemy front. After an initial exchange of arrows as distances closed, Boom! The vanguard of the two great armies collided. Dust clouds erupted from the battlefield, and the sounds of slaughter could be heard for over ten li.

The Red Turban command post was quickly spotted by the Linglong, and soon the Qingqing also ascended. Powerful laser beams began to fire. Zhu Shou tumbled backward off the city wall, but luckily, his hide was thick; aside from spitting up a mouthful of blood, he was unharmed. The Kings remaining on the wall fared worse as great globs of fire rained down, making them cry out for their mothers and fathers.

More and more soldiers joined the melee. From the air, the scene was a rolling cloud of dust and flashing blades. Although the Red Turbans had received some training, they had absolutely no experience in coordinated combat; every man fought alone. The battlefield had descended into utter chaos, filled with soldiers from both sides. One careless moment and a man could be cut down by a sword slashing from behind.

Due to the initial shock of the engagement, the Imperial Army struggled momentarily to maintain their prescribed attack formation of an inner and outer circle of ten men each. However, every soldier knew to fight with his back protected by a comrade. Despite being outnumbered, each Imperial soldier killed no fewer than three or four Red Turbans, suppressing them so completely they couldn't lift their heads.

The Red Turban forces attacking the flanks of the Imperial bandit suppression army were now being counter-attacked. The ten thousand men on the flank were quickly scattered, and the Imperial forces gradually began to encircle the Red Turbans. Guided by continuous signals from the air, the Red Turbans were slowly partitioned, surrounded, and devoured. Meanwhile, the Imperial Army slowly reorganized into ten-man attack units: an outer circle of four swordsmen, and an inner circle of three spearmen. The swordsmen hacked, the spearmen stabbed, and three men inside provided support and covered weak spots.

The lone-fighting Red Turbans charged into this formation and were immediately cut down. As soon as a rebel fell, one man from the innermost circle would dart out, drag the body in, empty the pockets of valuables, and toss the corpse back out. The three support men in the inner circle had become wealth collectors, frequently shouting tactical directions: "Over there, that boy is a Baihu, go kill him... Quick, quick, there’s a Qianhu over there, don’t let Erwazi’s squad get him first... Damn it, we just killed a General! We’re rich!"

When fighting men acquired wealth, they kept it on their persons; leaving it in the camp guaranteed it would vanish instantly. These Imperial soldiers were greedy for coin. Their ten-man combat groups relied on each other, resulting in far lower casualties than the Red Turbans, and they fought with relative ease. At this point, even if ordered to stop, they would have refused. Sometimes two squads would race to pursue a single General, ending in curses exchanged between them.

If not for the stern control of the Baihuzhang and Qianhuzhang, they might have started fighting each other. Many Qianhuzhang were former ruffians. "Damn your ancestors! If anyone dares touch his own men again, I’ll lop your head off! Every squad, maintain your assigned direction! The enemy troops behind you are cowards eager for coin—kill them and loot to your heart's content! Everyone recite the Three Great Disciplines and Eight Points of Attention in your minds. If you mess around again, the Baihuzhang will bring their own heads to the Division Commander!"

The talk of beheadings and military discipline finally brought the blood-crazed soldiers under some restraint. The Imperial Army fought with increasing ferocity, and their formation grew more disciplined. Each combat circle could now withstand an attack from over thirty Red Turbans. Some soldiers, originally from the Imperial Guards, carried heavy broadswords; using the long hilts, they were slicing off Red Turban heads like watermelons. Once a head fell, the body was dragged in like a dead dog, stripped clean, and tossed back out. Furthermore, these Imperial Guards were clad in armor; sometimes the Red Turban soldiers couldn't even wound them after several strikes, eventually finding themselves neatly sliced open.

The battle had raged for an hour when the aerial signal flashed suddenly. The Imperial Army reserve troops, who had remained stationary at the rear, now charged forward. At this point, nearly fifty thousand of the bandit suppression force’s infantry were committed. Of the hundred thousand Red Turbans, nearly forty thousand had already lost combat effectiveness due to heavy weapon strikes, being burned, impaled, or trampled by their own side. The remaining sixty thousand initially held a slight advantage, but as the Imperial formation spread out, small combat squads carved them up and devoured them. The remaining sixty thousand lost over half their number again. With the arrival of the Imperial reinforcements, the final thirty thousand could no longer hold; they turned tail and fled toward the city in disarray.

The Linglong and Qingqing, besides relaying flag signals to command the battle, occasionally dove toward the three city gates to drop ordnance and harass the enemy. The Heavenly King and Earthly King, who had planned to sortie and reinforce, attacking the Imperial rear camp during the intense fighting, dared not even show their faces, terrified by the two airships. Outside Huyang City, it was a sea of fire and blood. Some who had just entered battle retched at the stench of blood. With the rout, even Zhu Shou’s desire to commit the entire city’s might to one final stand was thwarted. The three city gates were completely blocked by retreating soldiers, and over a thousand wounded were trampled to death at the entrances.

At this moment, the Imperial Army troops pursuing the routed enemy outside the city suddenly received the order to halt the chase and rest in place. Many couldn't stop their momentum and were knocked down by senior officers kicking them until they finally halted. Men blinded by battle lust sometimes disregarded everything; stopping their hands at all was a relative success.

This battle was a resounding victory with enormous enemy losses. However, the Imperial Army also paid a heavy price, suffering over ten thousand casualties. But against the enemy’s losses of sixty thousand, this ratio was cause for pride. The heavy weaponry had played the biggest role, certainly. Yet, due to the chaotic close-quarters fighting, the catapults and spear throwers were heavily damaged, greatly reducing their effectiveness. Furthermore, there were still fifty to sixty thousand enemy soldiers inside Huyang Prefecture; a deep pursuit might invite a counter-attack.

According to my plan, the city would soon run out of provisions. We still had two airships capable of harassing the interior at any moment, plus the constant bombardment from the catapults. Huyang Prefecture was essentially ours. The immediate priorities were to rest the troops, establish a tight encirclement around Huyang City, and then send men to clear the battlefield and tend to the wounded.

The generals, all covered in gore, dispersed to carry out the orders after hearing the arrangements. Those digging trenches dug trenches; those setting up siege barricades began cutting trees. Soldiers with minor injuries helped the logistical auxiliaries clear the battlefield. Tens of thousands of corpses were piled together and set alight. The fire burned until the afternoon of the next day. Many ate several meals on the battlefield, inhaling the stench of blood and burning flesh—a truly grueling experience.

However, the following days were peaceful. The Red Turban troops inside Huyang City remained locked down. The catapults continued their daily routine, lobbing Zhentianlei (Thunder Bombs) and smoke bombs into the city three times a day. To avoid setting fire to civilian houses, the incendiary bombs were no longer used.

Aerial observation revealed unrest brewing inside the city. Soldiers who had gone days without food began looting everywhere. The officers, unable to maintain control, eventually joined in. How much surplus grain did the common folk have? These men soon turned their attention to the Prince of Shou’s manor. Finally, on a dark and moonless night, towering flames erupted once more from the Prince of Shou’s compound. The Red Turbans had opened their granaries again! Only this time, they were opening their Prince's granaries. Zhu Shou, hiding in the subterranean palace, had nowhere left to conceal himself.

The next morning, before the scheduled time for the morning harassment by the siege engines, the three city gates suddenly burst open. The soldiers of the Second Army responsible for the encirclement raised their spear throwers, preparing for battle. Who could have guessed that the enemy soldiers simply walked to the gate, threw down their weapons, and lined up in orderly fashion? The Red Turbans had surrendered! Someone immediately sprinted off to report to the Qianhuzhang.

Upon learning that the garrison forces had stormed the Prince of Shou's manor the previous night and captured the rebel officers before surrendering, many soldiers felt disappointed. This meant they would receive no spoils. Rumor had it that the soldiers of the First Army, who fought in the vanguard, had become instantly rich. They had pinned their hopes on trapping those soldiers and then entering the city to claim the ready-made treasure. Now, they could only pin their hopes on the rebels of Liuyang.

No one dared lay a finger on the surrendered soldiers because everyone knew that Zhao the Decapitator meant business when he threatened to execute heads; he wouldn't hesitate to chop off a hundred Imperial Guards if necessary, and he certainly wouldn't spare these disobedient troops. Moreover, Zhao the Killing Star had promised that the Liuyang rebels would be cleaned up by the Second and Third Armies. So, they decided to pocket the small gains now and wait for the bigger payout later.

The soldiers tasked with escorting the prisoners grumbled, "Can't you have a shred of backbone? You surrendered before we even conquered the city! And you call yourselves rebels? Don't embarrass yourselves out there later with this kind of spirit."

The surrendered soldiers were drenched in cold sweat. They had actively offered up the city, yet received no praise. But they truly couldn't hold out any longer. The grain in the storehouses had been burned to ash by the fire. They were bombed daily by the gates. The wounded received no treatment, and there was no hope of relief. What choice did they have but to surrender? Moreover, just for a mouthful of food the night before, they had overthrown their own Prince. With the leadership gone, no one would foolishly fight to the death.

Besides Zhu Shou, only the Earthly King and Human King survived among the various Princes. Some Kings had been burned to death on the city wall during the great battle; others were killed during last night's uprising. Fortunately, Zhu Shou had the foresight to allow the soldiers to capture him, hoping to earn merit from the court.

Sitting in the imposing commander's camp, looking at Zhu Shou collapsed in a heap of mud on the ground, I felt no joy. Opposing such a man was simply boring. Furthermore, we had employed advanced weaponry to achieve this success, making the victory unworthy of pride.

Ma Xiaowei saw things differently. She adopted the full airs of a princess, leaving Zhu Shou dumbfounded. In the end, I merely waved my hand and ordered the guards to carry him away, to be escorted to Shuangcheng immediately.

Ma Xiaowei addressed the assembled generals. "Gentlemen, our suppression of the bandits in Huyang has resulted in a great victory. Our Ma family will certainly not forget the merits of each of you. As for the soldiers who sacrificed their lives in combat, I shall petition my Father, the Emperor, upon our return for posthumous honors and rewards. Now, Marshal Zhao will arrange the future tasks for everyone. Please listen carefully."

I stood up, cleared my throat. "I won't waste time with pleasantries. We have crushed the rebels under Zhu Shou, achieving a decisive victory. I trust the entire army understands the scale of our success. In summary, we have wiped out nearly eighty thousand enemies, including those who suffered light wounds but were still effective forces. The success is immense."

"In this campaign to pacify Huyang City, we have incorporated over sixty thousand enemy soldiers. Including lightly wounded men, the count is close to eighty thousand. The enemy annihilated is nearly eighty thousand. The results are tremendous. After integrating them, our fighting strength will exceed one hundred thousand. Based on my thinking, the Army Group will establish two more corps: the Fourth Corps and the Fifth Corps. The Princess and I have discussed the appointments for Corps Commander: Sun Chang will lead the Fourth Corps, and Kong Wu will lead the Fifth Corps. The remaining officers will be determined by you all."

"This Army Group will maintain one hundred thousand combat personnel. The remaining ten thousand-plus men will be organized and returned with us to Shuangcheng, where they will be reassigned to their original Imperial Guard units. As for your future tasks, I imagine it will involve fighting bandits, but we will wait for the Emperor's decree before making concrete plans."

Ah San and Xiao Dingzi asked, "My Lord, aren't you planning to go to Liuyang? Without your presence, we fight with our hearts in our throats."

I retorted, "Nonsense! Do you think that ragtag rebel force in Liuyang is more ferocious than Zhu Shou? Two corps, forty thousand men, equipped with four cannons, one hundred catapults, four hundred spear throwers, and over two thousand Zhentianlei—even a fortress like Liuyang Prefecture will be shot through!"

The two lowered their heads sheepishly. "My Lord, we aren't complaining about the lack of weapons. With you here, we aren't afraid even without them, but hearing you won't be there leaves us feeling empty."

I comforted them, "You two are Corps Commanders now; stop lacking confidence. You all know how to fight a war now. It’s not worth keeping me tied down in Liuyang for a mere thirty thousand rebels. Ah San, you know that the Flying Eagle Prefecture's Feiyu County has been trampled repeatedly by horse bandits. I plan to take forty thousand men back to reinforce the border."

Ah San and Xiao Dingzi knelt down. "My Lord, rest assured. If we fail to reclaim Liuyang Prefecture, we will come to see you with our heads in our hands."

Gu Qi asked me, "My Lord, are you leaving the First Corps stationed in Huyang? I request to accompany you to reinforce the border."

I replied, "Commander Gu, you are to resume your original post. The First Corps will be led by Deputy Commander Cheng Qiang, who will be promoted to Corps Commander. The Princess and I have carefully vetted this man. He was originally an Imperial Guard Qianhuzhang who served under you. He is prudent in handling matters and is both flexible and decisive. The First Corps in Huyang will temporarily implement a self-sufficient agricultural system—the army will cultivate its own rice paddies. During the off-season, they train; if there's a threat, they march to war. In the future, the Second Corps, stationed in Liuyang, must also temporarily adopt this method, because Shuangcheng is too poor right now; the court cannot afford to feed such a large army. Once the rebellion is quelled, the First and Second Corps in Huyang and Liuyang will communicate easily. In the future, should the Jin Kingdom dare to make a move, we can beat them into dust."

The Second Corps Commander, Ah San, was aghast. "My Lord, I request to be transferred back to the Imperial Stables after suppressing the bandits. I have no desire to stay in Liuyang planting rice."

Everyone burst into laughter. I said, "Of course, I won't leave you there to farm. After the rebellion is put down, you will naturally be transferred back to the Stables."

Gu Qi spoke with a troubled heart, "My Lord, your subordinate does not wish to return to the Imperial Guards. I beg you and the Princess to petition the Emperor to allow me to accompany you to reinforce the border."

I pulled Gu Qi aside. "Commander Gu, actually, I think Shuangcheng might need you more. Heh. You have followed me for so long; you should know that the Crown Prince in Shuangcheng has no power base outside of the Eastern Depot and the Imperial Stables. You are a great general worthy of my and the Crown Prince's trust, and you are deeply familiar with Imperial Guard affairs. In the future, you may bear the heavy responsibility of assisting the Crown Prince. Leave the border reinforcement to me."

Gu Qi pondered, "My Lord, I understand your meaning. I was originally a guard in the Imperial Forest’s Rear Guard. Because of my youth, those people didn't value me, and I was excluded everywhere. That's also why they sent me to suppress the bandits. Now that you have entrusted me with this task, I certainly will not disappoint you or the Crown Prince. Many of my brothers in the Rear Guard are my close friends. This time, we can bring back over ten thousand Iron Blood Warriors, and they will be dispersed back to their original garrisons. My Lord, this subordinate is willing to follow the orders of you and His Highness the Crown Prince!"

No need to explain too much to an intelligent person; I understood that I would indeed mention this to His Highness the Crown Prince. I patted Gu Qi's shoulder: "Captain Gu, with this loyalty, we will do great things in the future to show everyone."

Basically, all aspects of the work had been arranged properly. As the meeting adjourned, I specifically cautioned everyone: "You have followed me for so long and should know my temperament. Keep your subordinates in check. The time for getting rich has passed; if you want to get rich again, you must go to Liuyang or Nanjiang. If anyone is blind enough to ruin my reputation in Huyang, watch out, or I’ll take your head off myself!"

Everyone nervously tucked their necks and scratched the backs of their heads before leaving. Zhou Ni said, "I used to listen to Sister Elena talk about how you slaughtered millions of clones in the prehistoric era, and I could never believe it. Now I realize you really dare to kill people."

I laughed, "I can’t help but scare them a little. There are over a hundred thousand people inside and outside the city now. If we’re not careful, a mutiny could occur. Without an iron-fisted policy to suppress them, it won't work. I let them plunder when they should plunder, but if they are unruly when they should be quiet, I will kill them to establish my authority."

The women nodded in agreement. The good news was that the remaining two spaceships had been fully refitted. After installing the propulsion systems for the space suits, the Xiao Wei and Xiao Rui also successfully lifted off. Now Zhou Ni, as the captain of the Aviation Brigade, is truly deserving of her title. She, along with the Siege Battalion and the Artillery Battalion, will return to Shuangcheng with me.

By evening, the security within the city had basically stabilized. I decided to take Han Wei to the backyard of the Prince Shou's Manor to find the entrance to the iron mine, as that was the top priority. Whether my spaceship could be fully repaired depended on it. Hua Qingqing’s verification showed that the escape pod's defensive capabilities were insufficient to withstand the ionization interference of the atmosphere in Gemini, so the only hope rested on my own spaceship.

Under the escort of twenty personal guards, we entered the now dilapidated Prince Shou's Manor. Thinking about the debauchery and indulgence here not long ago felt like a lifetime ago. Han Wei led the way. In the back garden, there was a huge flower bed, and in the center of the flower bed stood a rockery. Han Wei jumped onto the rockery and fiddled with something for a while. The rockery suddenly slid to the side, revealing a large hole in the ground beneath.

Fearing danger underground, ten personal guards went down first, holding laser rifles to scout the path. Then, two Baihu squads were summoned from outside to provide support. Only then did everyone light torches and begin exploring downward. The path below gradually widened, eventually leading us to the large stone chamber we had seen not long ago. It was quiet inside; the miners had all disappeared somewhere.

Han Wei said, "My Lord, besides that secret passage, there was originally no other way to proceed from here. But recently, the mine excavation reached outside Huyang City, so they opened a vertical shaft at the foot of the mountain outside the city. This way, the ore no longer needs to pass through Prince Shou's Manor. That vertical shaft was naturally difficult for people to traverse, so the miners must have been preparing for some time and widened the shaft before escaping."

After looking around, I said to Han Wei, "Brother Han, I know you are skilled in mining. I wonder if you are interested in becoming the manager of the Huyang Iron Mine?"

Han Wei replied, "My Lord, this humble person is willing to follow you wherever you go. If I stay here as the manager, will I no longer be able to travel with you everywhere?"

I said, "What's so good about running around with me? This iron mine is extremely important to me. To tell you the truth, I have been observing you these past few days, and you are completely worthy of being entrusted with this heavy responsibility. I have already instructed the soldiers who confiscated Prince Shou's Manor to hand over your ancestral treasures immediately upon finding them. I expect the work will be finished by tomorrow at the latest."

Han Wei kowtowed, "Thank you, My Lord. As long as it is what you require, this humble person is willing to stay behind in Huyang to manage this matter for you with peace of mind."

I said, "Transporting the iron ore is inconvenient. I will consider moving the Royal Iron Smelting Plant here in the future. Huyang will become an industrial hub for Shuangcheng, and since it is so close to the Jin Kingdom, we must operate with caution."

"This subordinate understands. Please rest assured, My Lord. It is just that I have no experience in these matters. If I do anything improperly, please correct me promptly, My Lord."

I assured him, "Don't worry. I will help you with the early stages. When you are capable, you can take over entirely. If we can find the original miners, that would be best; the mine factory should hire them with high wages—eight hours of work per day, holidays with pay, no deduction for time off... If we can re-establish the passage for transporting ore to the Jin Kingdom, that would be even better."

Han Wei looked confused, "My Lord, shouldn't we smelt our own ore? Are we still going to cheaply trade it to the Jin Kingdom? News of Prince Shou's suppression will surely reach the Jin people sooner or later. I fear they might not trust us anymore."

I replied, "No, we will only trade a small amount to them casually. I want to plant some spies in the Jin Kingdom, as we know too little about what is happening there."

Han Wei asked, "My Lord, please forgive my presumption, but I fear this task will not be easy to accomplish?"

I was puzzled, "Why? Our intelligence department is quite excellent; this shouldn't be difficult."

Han Wei explained, "My Lord, it’s not that our spies lack competence, but you are unaware: the Jin people have a different skin color than ours. Our people simply cannot blend into their society unless we use their own countrymen."

I was astonished, "Since coming to Shuangcheng, I have not seen a single Jin person. I have only seen the horse bandits from Wanma Kingdom, and they look no different from us."

Han Wei clarified, "My Lord, but these Jin people are dark like charcoal. They are entirely different from the people of Shuangcheng and Wanma Kingdom."

'Dark like charcoal?' I burst out laughing. Aren't these Black people? So the Jin Kingdom is populated by Black people. This world truly has a rich variety of races. That means it would be impossible for white people to infiltrate, unless it's a case of 'fighting fire with fire.'

I said resignedly, "Where can we find Black people to work in intelligence right now? Forget it, just focus on digging the mine. We should go back; we can take a look at the inventory work at Prince Shou's Manor on the way up."

After climbing out of the iron mine, I ordered the deputy captain of the personal guards, Gu Fei, to question the staff on site. It turned out that the inventory of treasures was nearly complete and all piled up in the main hall of the inner courtyard. Because the steward who originally managed the finances had been killed, and many treasures had been looted during the rebellion, it was impossible to tell from the list whether Han Wei's heirloom treasures were still there.

I comforted Han Wei, "Don't worry, we will go to the main hall to check. Perhaps the defecting rebels didn't even care about your treasures, given their unimpressive appearance, and they wouldn't know how to dig tunnels anyway."

Han Wei replied, "Thank you for your concern, My Lord. I have already come to terms with this matter. Sometimes, being without treasures is more relaxing; I lived every day in constant anxiety, and that is enough for me."

Even though he said that, finding them would still be good. Moreover, I wanted to see that machine. Such advanced technology might yield some unexpected information for me. And the television set I saw that day—if fully charged, would it show alien channels? Let's go see if we can find it.

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