Upon learning of his promotion to Commander of the Imperial Guard, Gu Qi was naturally pleased, yet mixed with his joy was a deep sense of apprehension. He understood the gravity of this position and knew that fulfilling the expectations of the Crown Prince and Lord Zhao was paramount. For the Prince, whose footing in court was still unsteady, securing control of the Imperial Guard was the crucial first step in reclaiming power, and Gu Qi was instrumental in realizing this plan.

As soon as the decree was announced in the Wencheng Wude Hall, Gu Qi faced immediate censure from several ministers. The first objection centered on his earlier bombardment of the Imperial Guard at the West Gate, branding him with a reputation for bloody ruthlessness—two cannon volleys had cost over a hundred guardsmen their lives. The second point argued his youth and incompetence made him unfit for such a weighty post.

Chancellor Niu stepped forward to defend Gu Qi: "Gentlemen, we already hold you in low regard for not accompanying His Majesty outside the city walls to maintain order, and now you slander our savior. Is it that you prefer us all dead so you can dominate? If it is incompetence you seek, I fear the entire civil and military bureaucracy is surpassed only by you few."

The faces of the accused turned pale, and they stammered, unwilling to respond. They were merely pedantic civil officials, aligned neither with Pang nor the Chancellor, yet they prided themselves on their integrity. This impulsive display of loyalty had instantly offended half the ranking officials, and they realized further argument would only lead to trouble down the line.

Ma Da spoke up: "I, too, saw the Imperial Guardsmen killed by the cannons upon entering the city, but I have my own judgment. Those guards were the leaders of a defeated army; they were the ones who precipitated the mass rout of the Imperial Guard. Therefore, they deserved to die! Furthermore, all of you experienced the situation firsthand: thousands of men surged toward the West Gate simultaneously. The gate became completely jammed; not only could we not enter, but the Southern Garrison and the Eastern Depot forces couldn't exit either. If we had relied on persuasion and direction, we likely wouldn't be sitting here discussing this now. Trading a hundred lives for the victory of everyone present and the entire battle was an act of great wisdom and courage. If Commander Gu had been constrained by your potential impeachment, the outcome of this battle might have been different."

No one dared to voice opposition because the majority owed their lives to Gu Qi’s intervention. Moreover, Gu Qi's rigorous discipline and bravery in battle had already established him as a rising star within the Imperial Guard, rendering any objection weak and futile. Especially as Ma Da’s tone indicated the matter was settled, and further discussion was pointless.

Luo Cheng stepped forward: "Your Majesty, we have absolute confidence in Commander Gu. He is not one to slaughter the innocent. On the contrary, Commander Gu cherishes his soldiers like his own children. You may entrust the command to him with peace of mind. With him leading the Imperial Guard on Your Majesty's behalf, villains like those from Wanmaguo will surely meet their end."

Ma Da replied: "I certainly have no doubt on that point. Now is not the time to discuss tangents. Everyone should consider how to deal with the horse bandits; having traveled so far, they will not simply give up."

Grand Preceptor Pang stepped forward: "Your Majesty, the safety of the Imperial City falls to the Imperial Guard. Now that the Commander is formally installed, perhaps we should seek his counsel."

Grand Preceptor Pang certainly had his own agenda; if the official Commander failed, he could legitimately remove him and install the Deputy Commander in his stead. Gu Qi stated: "Your Majesty, the battlefield outside the West Gate has been cleared. As for the bandits' whereabouts, the Eastern Depot has dispatched men to track them. The information returned suggests these horse bandits are intimately familiar with our terrain. They have retreated into the dense mountains and forests, making a deep penetration to eliminate them extremely difficult, as those areas are naturally defensible and hard to attack. Furthermore, the abundance of wild grass can sustain their warhorses, and the bandits themselves can rely on hunting for temporary provisions. This matter requires long-term planning."

Ma Da was perplexed: "Why would the horse bandits know the terrain of our Twin Cities so well? Even native-born citizens cannot manage that level of familiarity. I trust the Crown Prince and the Princess performed their duties flawlessly at the front lines. So how did these bandits bypass their defenses and strike directly at Twin Cities?"

If someone else had been leading the army at the front, these ministers would have already started impeachment proceedings. But since the primary leader was the Crown Prince, the Emperor's only son, they knew speaking out would only displease Ma Da to no avail.

Although Grand Preceptor Pang wanted to make political capital from this, he realized pushing forward too aggressively might saddle him with the entire responsibility of eradicating this bandit threat. He was not a military man and lacked the requisite skills. His supposedly talented military subordinates had been severely depleted; even the veteran Zhang Shouren had not returned from this recent battle. Many of the fallen Imperial Guardsmen were unidentifiable due to trampling, their armor shredded. Who knew if the old Garrison Commander had followed his son’s path? This might be the end of it; father and son could meet in the underworld.

Gu Qi offered: "Reporting to Your Majesty, I believe someone is supplying the horse bandits with intelligence or acting as a guide. I implore Your Majesty to investigate this matter thoroughly. Otherwise, every move our army makes will be under the bandits' surveillance, making the eradication of this cavalry force a formidable task."

Ma Da exclaimed in surprise: "How is that possible? Every official in court is loyal to me. Without evidence, we cannot suspect anyone."

Gu Qi countered: "Your Majesty, I dare not. I merely suggest precautions against future trouble. The Second Head of the Eastern Depot has already begun investigating this matter. He will report any progress directly to Your Majesty in private."

Ma Da nodded: "Very well. If the bandits dared to do this, it is hard to imagine there isn't some conspiracy behind it. I will instruct the Eastern Depot to investigate this swiftly."

Gu Qi accepted the decree on his behalf: "As Your Majesty commands. I will convey your imperial order to Head Gou immediately. Furthermore, I still recommend a strategy of defense over offense. After all, these horse bandits traveled a great distance; they didn't just come to rule a mountain hideout. We should wait and observe their actions, meeting change with steadfastness."

Ma Da, having witnessed the might of the cavalry, knew that the hundred thousand Imperial Guards might not be a match for ten thousand bandit horsemen. Holding the city walls defensively was indeed the best course. However, enduring such bullying from the minor state of Wanmaguo was unbearable, so he stated: "My beloved Gu, I agree with your strategy, but this cannot be a long-term solution. Beyond the walls lie our vast, fertile fields, and such timid behavior is unbecoming of our great Celestial Dynasty."

Gu Qi assured him: "Your Majesty need not worry. We will only defend temporarily. The moment we find a weakness in the enemy, I will coordinate with the Imperial Stables to launch an attack and annihilate the horse bandits."

Ma Da responded: "Good. At a crucial moment, I rely on you. Lord Zhao was always my lucky star, but the front lines are strained, so we shouldn't distract him further here."

Night fell, and Zhao Manor was brightly lit. Ma Xiaorui, disguised in common clothes, quietly knocked on the gate. She complained, "Why must everything be so secretive? Everyone already knows about the airships; what if they see flying objects in the sky? It’ll be a good scare for Pang Hu."

Ma Xiaowei replied, "Do as you are told. Why so many questions for a child?"

Ma Xiaorui giggled: "Sister Fifteen, you're quite impatient lately. Have you read the letter I sent?"

Ma Xiaowei blushed: "I have read it, and I let him see it as you wished. Are you satisfied now? Must you make it public knowledge? Don't you feel shy?"

Ma Xiaorui continued to smile: "Since the deed is done, there's no need to hide it. Besides, apart from the three of us, no one else knows, so there’s no reason to be shy. But I came today with bad news: it seems your business with my brother-in-law has been exposed. The Eastern Depot has picked up rumors that the Fifteenth Princess and Inspector Zhao are having an illicit affair. Actually, it's not just a rumor, because it's true."

Ma Xiaowei forgot her shyness: "How could outsiders know? Wh-what should we do?"

Ma Xiaorui said: "I don't know what to do either, which is why I came to tell you both. I fear Father Emperor and the court officials will investigate this. You and my brother-in-law must prepare early. There is another matter: some are discussing that brother-in-law is hoarding military power for himself. If this reaches Father Emperor's ears, it could cause significant trouble."

Ma Xiaowei grew angry: "Why are there so many tiresome small-minded people? Come on, let's tell Zhao Qian."

Ma Xiaorui glanced inside the room: "Is his wife there?"

Ma Xiaowei nodded: "Yes. Are you afraid?"

Ma Xiaorui puffed out her chest: "Afraid of what? We are princesses; we naturally cannot let them outdo us. Moreover, those sisters treat us very well, so there is even less reason to be afraid."

Ma Xiaorui's news shocked everyone, including Ma Xiaoda himself, who grew visibly angry. He said, "Zhao Qian, you don't need to worry. Others may not believe you, but I won't, and I believe Father Emperor won't either. Besides, what real authority do you hold? Only the Imperial Stables and the Eastern Depot. In my opinion, your official rank is too low. If I ascend the throne, I will certainly promote you to Duke, Prince, Grand Tutor, and Grand Protector."

I responded listlessly: "Forget it, I'm not interested. I will leave this place as soon as I find Ouyang Qian."

"Don't!" Ma Xiaoda urged anxiously. "You promised to help me eliminate the Pang faction. Is there truly nothing here worth your staying for?"

Ma Xiaowei and Ma Xiaorui beside him looked on with hopeful expressions. I replied, "Of course, there are things to be nostalgic about, but this place is far too backward. There isn't even any entertainment at night."

Ma Xiaoda chuckled: "I thought you seemed quite entertained last night."

The faces of the women flushed. I changed the subject: "The Pang faction is slowly losing power. It can be said that while Pang Hu is cunning, compared to the accumulated experience of several thousand years from our Earth, supplemented by some fairly advanced weaponry, he is no match. Once Gu Qi truly controls the Imperial Guard, Pang Hu will have nothing to rely on, and you can dismiss him anytime you wish, provided you handle the aftermath with the officials properly."

Ma Xiaoda said: "At that time, all he can do is force his subordinate officials to resign, and he won't be able to think of anything else. We just need to cultivate our own officials, and then we won't fear that tactic."

Ma Xiaorui became slightly anxious: "It’s one thing to dismiss the rumors slandering Zhao Qian's intentions, as we all believe in him. But what about my sister’s matter? Moreover, Zhang Shouren is investigating Zhang Guan’s death. If that is exposed, it could be problematic."

I said: "You don't need to worry about Zhang Shouren. The Eastern Depot reports he died a heroic death. Once court affairs are slightly settled, the Emperor will likely issue an edict posthumously ennobling him. A dead man cannot speak. Further investigation into two deceased individuals seems pointless. Even if Grand Preceptor Pang insists on pursuing it, he can only fret without evidence."

Ma Xiaorui asked: "What about your situation and my sister's?"

I looked innocent: "What situation are we referring to?"

Ma Xiaorui glanced at the other women present, then at Ma Xiaowei. Ma Xiaowei said, "Yes, there is truly nothing between us." As she spoke, Ma Xiaowei subtly observed the reactions of the other women, who maintained neutral expressions.

Ma Xiaorui recalled her observations from that night and knew her sister was still a virgin. If this matter were to be brought up publicly, unless they caught the two of them 'kissing,' there would be no evidence to prove any illicit contact. How cunning, Ma Xiaorui thought to herself.

"So you're saying my well-intentioned warning was just me meddling where I shouldn't?" Ma Xiaorui asked reproachfully.

I countered: "How could that be? At the very least, the rumor that I intend to usurp the throne is quite troublesome. I know you believe in me, and perhaps even your Father Emperor still trusts me now, but relentless slander can manufacture trouble where none exists."

Hua Qingqing advised: "Relinquish power, Zhao Qian. Just like with the Imperial Guard Commander position this time, find someone trustworthy and delegate the Eastern Depot and the Imperial Stables. Otherwise, you will be drawn into endless political struggles—the scheming life is not what you enjoy."

I nodded, but the three Ma siblings became anxious: "No, no! We trust no one else, only Zhao Qian is absolutely reliable!"

I told the trio: "We have four airships and a head full of advanced knowledge. What are you afraid of? Even if the Pang faction had several hundred years to develop, they wouldn't be my match. I guarantee that."

Ma Xiaorui asked: "Then if someone bullies us, will you intervene?"

I replied: "Of course, I will."

Ma Xiaorui nodded, reassured. Ma Xiaoda asked: "Then will you intervene in the matters concerning Wanmaguo and Jin Kingdom?"

I responded: "Of course, I will. Didn't we agree on the plan to strike directly at Huanglong? Later, we will charge into the iron cavalry corps of Wanmaguo, capture their leader, and ensure they are incapable of raiding the Twin Cities border for decades."

Ma Xiaoda declared: "Later, I will instruct the Eastern Depot to investigate those spreading rumors. Whoever dares to speak falsely will be arrested."

I stopped him: "Absolutely not. Firstly, the rumors were spread by interested parties, and if we react, more people will believe them. More importantly, the Western Depot is currently monitoring the Eastern Depot’s every move. Many things are no longer secret. If we give them grounds for accusation, it will only lead to greater misunderstanding."

Ma Xiaoda slammed the table: "How could Father Emperor listen to that Pang scoundrel and establish the Western Depot? It's completely unnecessary, useless! It's like tying our own hands and feet, and it shows a lack of trust in you, Zhao Qian!"

I speculated: "I guess your father emperor has his own ideas. Historically, which famous emperor hasn't skillfully employed checks and balances? Using one force to counterbalance another, utilizing both forces for his own ends while preventing either from becoming too dominant, allowing them to supervise and restrain each other, keeping the true power of life and death firmly in the Emperor's hands. You should learn this from your father."

"Learn?" Ma Xiaoda snapped angrily: "Learn my foot! Learn how to cultivate Pang Hu into a threat?"

I countered: "Perhaps your father emperor is currently worried that my power will grow too great, and I will become the second Pang Hu."

"You wouldn't!" Ma Xiaoda insisted, while Ma Xiaowei and Ma Xiaorui quickly nodded in agreement.

I concluded: "Alright, let's stop discussing this. I have my own plans. Gu Qi has just ascended to the position of Imperial Guard Commander; I have secretly sent someone to invite him. Once everyone else arrives, we will discuss how to eliminate these horse bandits, otherwise Commander Gu's position will be precarious. Additionally, we must find out how these bandits infiltrated Twin Cities so silently. I have long suspected collusion between the bandits and officials within Twin Cities; now the signs seem clearer."

With no delay, Gu Qi and Ah Gou arrived as scheduled. Everyone skipped eating and went straight to the study for a meeting. Soon, they presented their current situations. I announced: "The airship has followed the bandits' tracks and photographed their entire marching route. I will project it onto the wall for everyone to see."

Mobile phones possess a projection function—a capability realized several generations ago. For me, it wasn't very useful, as watching adult films doesn't benefit much from a large screen and surround sound. But now, with so many people present, their heads couldn't all crowd around one small screen.

The projected marching diagram, generated by the phone, showed the bandits bypassing the reinforcing armies at the border and traveling strictly by night, accurately evading checkpoints and cities. They knew every river and forest within the Twin Cities border like the back of their hand, clearly aware of the marching direction and the safest spots for concealment and rest along the way. It was nearly equivalent to satellite reconnaissance.

Ah Gou reported: "The scouts we placed on the perimeter last night sent back urgent reports of bandit invasion. I didn't dare believe it at first, but three successive urgent dispatches confirmed the matter. Such precise infiltration into Twin Cities is impossible for us to imagine—unless..."

Ah Mao finished: "...Unless they possess maps as complete as ours!"

I affirmed: "Precisely. I was planning to start my investigation from this point. In my view, Wanmaguo is incapable of creating such maps, unless they also possess aircraft. But even with aircraft, they would need considerable mapping experience, and all intelligence suggests they shouldn't have flight capability. However, look closely at the bandits' marching route; it seems the maps we previously distributed guided them. Every location they passed through is one we detailed on our maps."

Ah San asked: "Sir, are you suspecting a spy within our ranks?"

I replied: "That possibility cannot be ruled out. But every person present here is someone I trust. Remember, our maps are not only used by the Eastern Depot and the Imperial Stables; recall that we once drafted a slightly simplified version and sent it into the palace?"

Everyone nodded. Ma Xiaoda confirmed: "I saw it. I even adored it back then and begged Father Emperor to give it to me, but he only agreed to send me a duplicate copy after reproduction."

Ah Gou added: "As far as I know, the Ministry of War also possesses a copy of that map, likely distributed by imperial decree."

Ah Mao pointed out: "Sir, looking at the bandits' infiltration route, even if they obtained our maps, the version they possess shouldn't be the one we use internally. Look here, these sections originally had more detailed breakdowns, but they were removed in the version sent to the palace. That's why the bandits bypassed a closer, more logical route when they reached this point."

I agreed: "Correct. Therefore, our target should be locked onto the Imperial Palace. Everyone who handled that map should be considered a suspect." I looked toward the three Ma siblings and added: "Excluding the Emperor; he wouldn't be plotting against himself."

Ah Gou volunteered: "I'll handle this. Brother Mao, you focus on fighting the enemy at the front."

I asked Ah Gou: "How many of the circulating rumors pose a real threat to me?"

Ah Gou looked worriedly at Ma Xiaowei before reporting: "Sir, the matter between you and the Fifteenth Princess is potentially dangerous."

These people, like Yun Yao, having spent significant time by my side, could not be unaware of my relationship with Ma Xiaowei. Seeing Ma Xiaowei shyly lower her head, I said: "I am aware of this matter. They won't find any concrete evidence. What else?"

Ah Gou continued: "Zhang Guan’s cause of death has cooled down due to Zhang Shouren's sacrifice. The Pang faction wanted to make a big issue of it, but the timing and circumstances are wrong now. It will likely be forgotten unless they manage to locate the exiled Imperial Guards. However, we have already dealt with those who knew the details, and the exiled guards only have partial understanding; they won't be able to cause major chaos. But the external talk about you harboring ill intentions toward the court is highly inappropriate; I fear..."

Ma Xiaoda exclaimed: "If one person says it, it might be false, but if ten thousand say it, it becomes true, right?"

Ah Gou argued: "Crown Prince, Lord Zhao is fiercely loyal to the court; you must not listen to the slander of petty men! This is a typical strategy of estrangement. If they succeed in driving Lord Zhao away from your side, what power will you have left? Then the Pang faction can once again plague the court and sow chaos in the world."

Ma Xiaoda replied: "How could I not know? Moreover, I have absolute faith in Zhao Qian; no one can deceive me!"

I steered back: "Let's continue with the horse bandit situation. From the airship photos, they are hiding in valleys and caves, so they won't face immediate supply shortages. However, sending troops into the mountains to suppress them will be extremely difficult, and they have secured all the advantageous terrain. The best approach is for us to find this internal traitor and use him to lure the bandits out. Then, we can gather the forces of the Imperial Stables to annihilate them in one fell swoop."

Everyone nodded in agreement. Gu Qi said: "Sir, what should be the immediate course of action? I have already persuaded the Emperor to hold steady today."

I stated: "That is exactly right. Before we understand the enemy's plan, we cannot engage them head-on. These bandits won't be without purpose. We must remain patient; otherwise, we will easily fall into a passive position."

Ma Xiaoda said, "I only fear that someone will lose patience and use this to impeach Commander Gu for poor command and for not daring to march out against the horse bandits."

I laughed, "Then let him be the commander. Everyone saw the might of the horse bandits' cavalry during the day. Whoever has the skill to drive them out of the mountains can be the commander. I doubt they have that ability."

Gu Qi’s face flushed, "Your Excellency, this humble general also lacks that ability."

Ma Xiaoda said, "What are you afraid of? Aren't we still here? Go ahead and do it boldly. The merit will be yours, and if anything happens, Zhao Qian and I will take responsibility."

Gu Qi knelt down, "Thank you, Your Highness the Crown Prince and my lord, for your nurturing. This subordinate will certainly not fail your high expectations."

I helped Gu Qi up, "Enough pleasantries. In the future, I will entrust the Imperial Stables and the Eastern Depot entirely to you. Just cooperate well."

A San, A Si, A Mao, and A Gou, who were unaware of the previous conversation, looked on with surprise, "My lord, what do you mean by this?"

I said, "Once I delegate power, those who accuse me of hoarding military strength will quiet down. Besides, I cannot remain on Gemini forever; letting you take over early for training is the right approach."

"Enough said. Look at my pile of wives; how can I have the mind for these matters? Let's focus on the urgent business. If there is nothing else, you may disperse. Hurry up and find the spy. Once found, do not alert him; set a trap to lure the snake out and resolve the horse bandits outside the twin cities in one fell swoop. If we don't take this path, I fear we'll need to mobilize hundreds of thousands of troops to wipe out those bandits deep in the mountains."

The major affairs were mostly settled; the minor ones they could handle themselves. Linglong escorted Ma Xiaorui back to the palace, while the rest prepared to rush back to Feiyu County. Of the lost cities in the Dual-City Kingdom, only Feiyu County remained. The matter of securing the border was almost complete, but according to Ma Xiaoda’s intent, when beating a dog, one must strike hard, otherwise, it will bite again.

Therefore, our plan was to take Feiyu County and then continue advancing towards Ma’erduo, a key border town in Wanma Kingdom. Even if we couldn't capture the capital immediately, we could disrupt their troop concentration points at the border and then seize the opportunity to attack the Iron Horse Tribe. Ma’erduo currently held over thirty thousand cavalry stationed there; the ten thousand cavalry secretly infiltrating the Dual-City territory did not come from there, otherwise, our intelligence personnel would have discovered them long ago.

Everyone was fully confident about taking Feiyu County. First, both I and A Si originated from Feiyu County and were intimately familiar with the situation there. Second, the bandit forces within were not numerous; according to observations from the spacecraft, there were fewer than three thousand, perhaps one round of volley fire would send them packing.

The recent frequent rain might signal the rainy season on Gemini. Since good weather was rare, we had to seize the opportunity. Early in the morning, over twenty thousand men arrayed themselves for the siege preparations. Our plan was to use cannons to blast open the gates of Feiyu County, then use catapults and spacecraft to suppress the bandits' counterattack, covering the advance of the infantry.

What we did not expect was that this group of cavalry would not hunker down in the city for defense. Instead, as our infantry moved towards the gates, they actively opened them to meet the enemy! Even more surprisingly, they had invented war chariots. Perhaps they existed long ago, but this was the first time they appeared on the battlefield, and we had no intelligence about them during the prior reconnaissance of Feiyu County.

Many Dual-City soldiers were stunned. Four warhorses pulled a dark, large box. The left and right sides of the box were fitted with sharp long blades, and there were also six or seven long spears fixed in front of the horses’ heads. This war chariot was certainly different from the original ancient models on Earth, but its function was much the same. It was designed this way primarily for protection against gunfire; the wood of the box was solid and thick, making it difficult for bullets to penetrate. Secondly, the spears mounted in front of the horses were intended to clear away Juma spearmen and Goujian spearmen. Although the draft horses were armored, the war chariot would still be ineffective if Goujian spearmen sabotaged it from the dark.

But this batch of chariots had accounted for all the existing advantages of the Dual-City soldiers. As soon as they appeared, they charged rapidly into the infantry ranks. The Juma spearmen and Goujian spearmen were caught off guard and scrambled to evade. However, those who dodged the front spears could not escape the long blades protruding from the back of the box. Many were decapitated or dismembered after the chariots sped past.

The number of bandit chariots was small, but their impact speed was fast. They quickly evaded the barrage of siege weaponry and entered the infantry formation as if entering unoccupied territory. Furthermore, the warhorses had added protection, and the spears in front prevented the Dual-City soldiers from attacking their legs. Coupled with the protection offered by the wooden box shielding the bandits inside, they could continuously reap the Dual-City soldiers with the long blades on both sides.

Those watching the battle, who thought they had a clear grasp of its progress, had their entire plan disrupted by the sudden emergence of twenty to thirty chariots. What was worse, right behind the chariots came the bandit cavalry. They used the chariots to break up the infantry formation, slaughtering the Dual-City soldiers along with the long blades on the chariots.

Ma Xiaoda broke out in a cold sweat, "What do we do, Zhao Qian? How could they have these strange things?"

A Mao said, "But we conducted an investigation beforehand; there were no such things inside Feiyu County."

I said, "It's too simple to assemble and hide these thirty chariots. Don't blame yourselves for this; war always involves unpredictability. Our formation is broken; it's impossible to take Feiyu County today. Order the reserve team to cover the infantry’s withdrawal to the main camp. If they dare to charge the camp, bomb them with the cannons."

A Si quickly returned reporting, "My lord, the enemy chariots have formed an encirclement. Our infantry cannot retreat! We fear friendly fire, so we dare not use the heavy weapons. Yet, with only swords and firearms, we cannot damage those chariots at all."

These chariots were like tanks, possessing greater resistance to damage than warhorses. Watching groups of soldiers perish under the chariots and the cavalry following right behind, I felt an intense heat rising from my heart. This sensation was all too familiar—it was the precursor to a psychic power surge. It had been a long time since I felt this exhilaration. The psychic power was, after all, returning to me day by day. How dare a mere band of horse bandits be so arrogant? Today, I will show them what a superhuman is!

I turned, snatched a Xiuchun saber from a personal guard’s waist, let out a long cry, and charged down from the observation point in the main camp. Ma Xiaowei shouted from behind, "Don't go, it’s dangerous!"

Ma Xiaoda ordered Ma Liu and Da Liwan, "Quickly lead the personal guard unit down to protect Zhao Qian! Do not let any accident befall him!"

Ma Xiaowei suddenly froze, "No need. He... he is too powerful!"

Ma Xiaoda looked up and saw that an indistinct figure had already rushed into the battlefield about an arrow's flight ahead. A chariot facing their direction was cleanly split in half down the middle, and even the warhorse pulling it was cleaved from head to tail. The remaining three horses scattered left and right, each pulling half of the ruined vehicle.

The glint of a blade flashed again in front of them. This time, Ma Xiaoda saw clearly: after the flash of the blade, another war chariot was split in two from the middle. This wasn't a trick, was it? Not to mention the immense force required to cleave a warhorse, simply splitting a piece of wood neatly would be no easy feat.

Linglong stared wide-eyed, "Master is truly a god. I admire him so much. The martial arts he used this time must be many times superior to mine. Hmph, and he always insisted I protect him."

Yun Yao wore an expression of utter tranquility. In her memory, her man had always been like this. Now, he had truly returned, at least his psychic power could be of use at a critical moment. Who should she fear now? Perhaps from today, the rules of the game would change.

Speed determines everything! That was my viewpoint. Although the Xiuchun saber in my hand could not possibly cut through iron and steel, if given an unimaginable speed, it could still shred anything obstructing it. A flying bird can crash an airplane; that is proof enough, let alone the legendary "flying leaf injury."

With one slash splitting a chariot, the nearby soldiers, who had been unable to fight back, cheered. They swarmed forward, quickly dismembering the bandits hidden inside the chariots. The scattered bandit cavalry also met their doom. The Dual-City soldiers who had just been massacred now launched a merciless counterattack, killing everyone in that area before following my swift blade forward.

The bandits on the city walls seemed to realize something was wrong and immediately signaled a retreat. However, by then, the Dual-City soldiers had formed a counter-encirclement. All thirty chariots were subsequently split open by my blade. The thousand or so bandits who rushed out from behind the chariots were suddenly exposed to muskets and Goujian spears. They managed to kill some Dual-City soldiers in a short time, but the Juma spearmen quickly regrouped, forming defensive circles. The spearmen then calmly opened fire, while the Goujian spearmen calmly attacked the horses' legs. The thousand-plus bandits immediately began to falter.

It took only a few minutes to cleave through the last chariot. Moreover, I had been quite restrained; just as I expected, the psychic power entering dormancy must indeed have been evolving. Due to the singularity of the wormhole, the psychic power loss was severe, and since this evolution was significantly different from previous ones, the time taken was naturally much longer. As for whether the psychic power will remain permanently from now on, I cannot be certain, because suddenly I felt my entire body weaken, terribly tired.

I said to a nearby Qianhusheng (Chiliarch Captain), "Relay my order: proceed with the battle as originally planned."

That Qianhu was full of confidence, "Yes! My lord, you are too formidable! With you here, do we even need to fight? We just need to pick up the ready-made merits."

Boom! Boom! The catapults began to work, and iron arrows, like a swarm of locusts, shot towards the city walls. The bandits returning fire with crossbows were suppressed by landmines and iron arrows, unable to raise their heads. Although their equipped crossbows already surpassed the existing level of the Dual-City Kingdom, they were facing soldiers from the Imperial Stables, against whom crossbows had lost their advanced edge.

Two heavy siege cannons were pulled onto the battlefield, and two massive iron cannonballs were loaded. After adjusting the aim and igniting the fuses, everyone took cover, covering their ears. Boom! With a deafening roar, two iron spheres shot out. One missed its target, striking the stone wall with a peng, leaving a recess over half a meter deep, shaking loose gravel in torrents. The other struck the city gate dead center. The originally weak city gate was smashed to bits. With a horn blast from outside, several thousand soldiers swarmed through the gate. Two monstrous shapes suddenly appeared in the sky, continuously hurling landmines toward the battlements. The bandit soldiers defending the walls fled in panic.

Without the new weapon—the war chariots—the bandits' defeat was just as we had anticipated. Ten thousand troops charging into Feiyu County—even if there had been five thousand bandits inside, they couldn't have endured the onslaught, especially when their combat strength was less than two thousand.

I felt extremely exhausted, a condition I had never experienced after using my psychic power before. This indicated that my psychic power needed time to recover. However, this was enough; after all, there were no highly skilled individuals here. Using my psychic power to kill ordinary people was overkill; it was best not to use it unless absolutely necessary.

Ma Xiaoda and the others, under heavy guard, arrived at the recent battlefield. I was resting on a war chariot. Ma Xiaowei, Linglong, and Yun Yao gathered around, inquiring with concern, "Zhao Qian, are you alright?"

I replied, "Perhaps the psychic power still needs time to recover. I overexerted myself a bit just now and am a little weak; I should be fine after some rest."

Ma Xiaoda went over to inspect the perfectly uniform cut marks on the split chariots, as if they had been sliced by a laser. He then came to check the Xiuchun saber in my hand, "Wow, how is this possible? Even the iron nails on the chariot were split in two, yet why is this blade not bent or chipped?"

Yun Yao explained, "You wouldn't understand. Speed determines everything. If a single hair could travel at the speed of light, it could effortlessly pierce a steel plate."

Ma Xiaoda said, "I don't understand. What is the concept of the speed of light?"

Ma Xiaowei said, "Imperial Brother, let Zhao Qian teach you about these things in the future. You won't let him go until you've learned."

Ma Xiaoda quietly gave the Fifteenth Princess a thumbs-up. If he never learned, wouldn't that mean keeping his brother-in-law here to live for a lifetime? That would be too easy for those two princesses.

Since I was genuinely exhausted, everyone stopped talking. Yun Yao and Linglong helped me back to the main camp to rest, while the others busied themselves with recovering Feiyu County. Feiyu County was large; although the city gates had been taken, many smaller skirmishes were still ongoing inside. However, these were not things I needed to worry about; I only needed to sleep.

Although Linglong was jealous of my intimacy with Ma Xiaowei, she was quiet when Yun Yao was by my side. My weakness made Yun Yao somewhat suspicious: "You've used your psychic power a few times before; you weren't this exhausted, were you?"

I said, "Probably overused it today. After all, splitting thirty chariots with an ordinary short saber was quite difficult. I should have brought my laser sword; everything would have been simpler with it." Yun Yao laughed, "You should have brought planes and tanks instead; then we wouldn't have needed to fight at all."

I pulled Yun Yao into an embrace, "I should have brought all my wives and treated this as a family vacation to Gemini."

Linglong, watching from the side, couldn't stand it, "Master, you don't look like you've exhausted your strength; you're holding Sister Yun Yao quite tightly."

Yun Yao said, "Jealous? Why don't you come over and let Zhao Qian hold you too?"

Linglong blushed and left the room, "No way! You two can just make fun of me."

It wasn't until the next morning that my body recovered to normal. It seemed it was best to use the psychic power sparingly; otherwise, constantly being this exhausted wouldn't be good. After breakfast, A Si and A Mao came to invite me, "My lord, please enter the city. After a full day yesterday and last night of cleanup, Feiyu County has been completely restored, and we have also found Magistrate An of Feiyu County."

Magistrate An was Cheng Susu's adoptive father and owed her a life debt. I originally thought he would have either left with the refugees or been killed by the bandits, but how could I have known he was still in Feiyu County?

I asked, "Magistrate An? How did he escape the bandits?"

A Si explained, "My lord, it’s a bit embarrassing to say. During the last fall of the city, Magistrate An and his wife disguised themselves as common folk. Since the bandits intended to hold the city long-term and not leave, they didn't mistreat the civilians in the city, which is how they fortunately survived. He contacted our forces yesterday evening, but since you were resting, this humble general dared not disturb you."

I did not have a bad impression of Magistrate An. Not only had he saved Cheng Susu's life, but he had also shielded me when the Ministry of Justice and the Imperial Guard came to arrest me previously. If I could help him, I would certainly not kick him while he was down. I would just use some random excuse to reinstate him to his original post.

Ma Xiaoda was present when Lian Hai came to arrest me that day, and Magistrate An's performance was very pleasing to him. So, as soon as I proposed this idea, I immediately received Ma Xiaoda's agreement. Moreover, the imperial court was in need of personnel, and the restoration work in Feiyu County was about to begin; it truly would not do without a magistrate familiar with the business like him.

Re-entering Feiyu County and seeing Magistrate An again filled me with emotion. That day, we observed the 'egg' in the county office; Ma Da was also there. But now, things have changed. Although Ma Da still possesses the external composure of a calm ruler, while being hesitant in his actions, I am no longer the 'Bird God' who could open the Divine Egg relying on so-called secret techniques passed down from a master.

Magistrate An was very welcoming to me. Someone had already informed him of the Crown Prince's order to restore his post, and he knew my contribution was the greatest. Moreover, I was his nephew-in-law, though his adopted daughter hadn't come along. Otherwise, Madam An would surely have tried to keep us for a stay in the back courtyard.

While everyone was busy with their tasks, I began planning the expedition to Ma’erduo. There were no cities separating Ma’erduo and Feiyu County, and the two countries had no clearly defined border. For Gemini, there was plenty of vast, undeveloped land; no one cared about a few kilometers gained or lost. The area between the two cities was a stretch of over a hundred miles of uninhabited land, which served as the boundary.

Magistrate An naturally handled the affairs of Feiyu County. What surprised Magistrate An was that A San, A Si, A Mao, and A Gou, whom he had sent years ago to escort the imperial horses to the Dual Cities, had now become major figures commanding ten thousand men. The yamen runners he had summoned and employed had achieved such success by following the right master. Back then, he really should have abandoned everything and followed his adopted daughter to the Dual Cities; perhaps now he wouldn't be limited to a ministerial-level position.

According to reconnaissance intelligence, Ma’erduo was a plains-type city, which was relatively common in Wanma Kingdom. Their territory was mostly plains and plateaus, dotted with vast stretches of lush green grass, which was ideal for the growth and breeding of horses. After the fall of Feiyu County, the last city seized by the bandits, Ma’erduo’s forces increased to fifty thousand. It seemed Wanma Kingdom was not ready to drop the matter. If a method wasn't found to eliminate them, they would likely raid the border again sooner or later.

Of the forty thousand border reinforcement troops, ten thousand were later reinforcements from the Imperial Stables. Only twenty thousand men followed us to Feiyu County; the rest were dispersed among the two prefectures and five counties. Comparatively speaking, twenty thousand infantry against fifty thousand cavalry was sheer fantasy.

Despite several rounds of troop expansion, the numbers were still insufficient. However, Hu Yang had a surplus of troops. Ma Xiaoda had requested that Ma Da conscript ten thousand more soldiers from Hu Yang and other places to fill the shortage in Nan Zhao. The Cavalry Camp already had over five thousand warhorses, but experienced cavalry were desperately lacking—there wasn't even a single person who could ride a horse. They could only select suitable soldiers from the infantry and then train them to become cavalry.

That evening, everyone gathered to discuss the campaign against Ma’erduo. Ma Xiaoda intended to march immediately, believing in striking while the iron was hot. However, I felt a sense of unease. Ma’erduo had fifty thousand cavalry, which was not a small number. Our force of twenty thousand could not be fully deployed; we had to leave two to three thousand to defend Feiyu County, which was the town closest to Wanma Kingdom and held an extremely important strategic location. Otherwise, those bandits wouldn't have deployed their newly equipped chariots here.

"We have spacecraft, cannons, and landmines. Why fear cavalry?" Ma Xiaoda asked.

I replied, "Against fifty thousand cavalry, four spacecraft will be ineffective. The number of cannons and landmines is also limited. Furthermore, cannons are inconvenient to move during rapid warfare, and the placement of landmines is unpredictable. In short, we should delay this battle until our forces recover; this is what I’ve considered over the past few days."

Ma Xiaoda countered, "What if their fifty thousand cavalry proactively attack us?"

I said, "Then we will have no choice but to fight them to the death with our backs to the water. We are defending while they attack; those horses cannot jump over the city walls. As long as our ammunition is sufficient and we have provisions, Feiyu County can hold out for several months."

Ma Xiaoda conceded, "Fine. Although I am anxious, I won't be wrong to listen to you. We will wait until the ten thousand new recruits arrive before we march on Ma’erduo. Besides, the dispatch from my father, the Emperor, hasn't arrived yet; even if we wanted to fight, we lack the authority."

Ma Xiaowei said, "The riders sent back to the Dual Cities should be returning soon. Could it be that the bandits who infiltrated the mountains have made a move again?"

Cai Jingjing and the others hadn't called me, so the Dual Cities must be safe. The group then discussed countermeasures against the bandit chariots. Although there was no intelligence proving Ma’erduo also possessed such chariots, Ma’erduo had many horse-drawn carts, and modifying them into these war machines was very simple, so precautions were necessary.

Because the chariots were pulled by four warhorses, their movement was very fast; it was impossible to hit them with cannon fire. Furthermore, conventional weapons like guns and arrows were ineffective against them. The wood used for the chariots was the same exceptionally hard wood we used for sharpening arrows; sometimes, several cuts only resulted in a single score mark.

In any engagement I’ve ever known, dealing with a tank meant either using an anti-tank missile, or if those weren't available, an explosive pack would suffice, and if not even that, then a Molotov cocktail could work. A war machine is never a warhorse; it has numerous nooks and crannies where things can be affixed—some sticky substance to adhere a landmine or an oil jar, or perhaps even launching rockets directly with a bow might penetrate such a primitive tank.

Shi Shan, the leader whose background was in stonemasonry, was tremendously enthusiastic about this issue. He volunteered to take charge of researching this type of weapon. All the components were readily available; they just needed to find a suitable bonding agent and conduct some experiments. In an era before anti-tank missiles, human ingenuity was paramount, and Shi Shan, being dexterous and clever, was perfectly suited for the task.

“Report, Your Highness, Sir, a reply has arrived from Shuangcheng.” A messenger rushed in to report.

Ma Xiaowei smiled knowingly; this was within a few hours of the time she had predicted. But no one expected Ma Xiaoda to become furious after reading the letter, “Father Emperor is completely unreasonable!”

Ma Xiaowei, puzzled, asked, “What is it? What did Father Emperor say in the letter?”

Ma Xiaoda replied, “Father Emperor disagrees with continuing the offensive and demands we consolidate our current gains. Furthermore, he requires us to return to Shuangcheng quickly. One reason is to research the threat posed by the bandits hidden deep in the mountains; the second is that I suspect Father Emperor wants to prove something to Fifteenth Sister.”

Ma Xiaowei’s face flushed with embarrassment. “What? Are you saying Father Emperor suspects something about Zhao Qian and me?”

Ma Xiaoda nodded helplessly. “Perhaps. Coupled with the fact that I’ve repeatedly deflected Prince Dan’s marriage proposals on your behalf in front of Father Emperor, he’s finally lost patience due to the constant stirring of those court officials.”

Ma Xiaowei grew anxious. “Then what should we do?”

I replied, “What else can we do? As subjects, a Crown Prince, and a Princess, we must obey orders. Everyone returns to Shuangcheng. The conditions for directly striking the capital are clearly not ripe anyway. We will wait until the soldiers have fully recovered their strength, then figure out a countermeasure for the war chariots, and only then, when the cavalry and new recruits are all in place, will we discuss advancing again. Moreover, the spies within Shuangcheng have not been found, and that group of bandits has persisted for too long without being eliminated. Any ruler would find it intolerable to sleep soundly with such dangers lurking nearby. Therefore, securing the interior before dealing with external threats is the correct sequence.”

Ma Xiaoda worried, “Do we really have to go back? What if—what if Father Emperor uncovers something?”

I said, “Deny everything, what else can we do? If you agree with me, leave immediately with your sister, and then your Father Emperor won’t have anything more to say.”

Ma Xiaoda declared, “Of course, I won’t agree. You can’t be so disloyal; if we leave now, no one here can clean up this mess.”

I concluded, “Since we can’t leave, then we return to Shuangcheng to face it. We leave tonight.”