Feng Jiu’er gave a small nod, picked up her teacup, and drained it in one go, then lifted her gaze to meet Huo Baixue’s eyes.
“By now, Baixue and General Dugu should have some understanding of the situation across Ninth Prince’s cities, correct?”
“Miss Jiu’er, if you don’t mind, you’re welcome to call me Yuezhou, just as Miss Baixue does.” Dugu Yuezhou said softly.
“Mm.” Feng Jiu’er looked at him and nodded. “From now on, we are all brothers. There’s no need to be so formal.”
“Yes, Miss Jiu’er.” Dugu Yuezhou cupped his hands toward her in a respectful salute.
“The Emperor intends to move against Ninth Prince and has separately dispatched troops to attack several of his cities. My father has already received word of this.” Huo Baixue’s voice rang out.
“Jiu’er came to reinforce our Mo City, but because Mo City was nearly surrounded by Yamu City, Jiu’er first had to take Yamu City.”
“I also heard that Jiu’er swiftly cut down the Lord of Nangmen, forcing Yamu City’s people to submit. As for why the battle that followed broke out, I have no way of knowing.”
Feng Jiu’er looked at her and nodded.
“That was nothing more than a ruse. The eldest young master of the Nangmen Family in Yamu City had already reached an agreement with our side long before.”
“As expected, the Crown Prince, who led troops against Mo City, also had his attention fixed on Yamu City.”
As she spoke, Feng Jiu’er lowered her eyes and glanced at the map spread before Huo Baixue.
“Our forces and the Crown Prince’s army fought for three days and three nights without a decisive outcome, after which Jian Yi and I went to negotiate a truce with the Crown Prince.”
“The events that followed, I have already described to Lord Huo of Mo City in my letters. What matters now is that a portion of the Crown Prince’s forces have already pushed into Yamu City.”
“On top of that, the troops the Crown Prince had pre-positioned on the eastern side of Yamu City mean that the situation for the civilians inside the city is far from optimistic.”
“The Lord of Mo City has dispatched you with troops to reinforce us. My plan is for us to enter through Yamu City’s western gate and drive northeast, linking up with my main army.”
Feng Jiu’er gave a slight nod and waved her hand.
“I wonder what Baixue thinks of this?”
Huo Baixue also gave a gentle nod, picked up the map she had been studying moments before, rose from her seat, and came to stand beside Feng Jiu’er, setting the map down between them.
“Jiu’er, that is exactly my intention as well.”
She pointed to a certain spot on the map and glanced at Feng Jiu’er.
“We are currently stationed here. Continuing in the southwest direction, within two days we will reach Yamu City’s western gate.”
“According to our scouts’ reports, a few hundred soldiers are garrisoned not far outside Yamu City’s western gate. It appears they came specifically for you and Jian Yi.”
Feng Jiu’er studied the map attentively and nodded.
“The one who wishes to take my life is not the Crown Prince — it is the woman at his side. Since that is the case, this time I will no longer show any mercy.”
“I will make sure they come with their lives and leave without them!”
Feng Jiu’er gave a cold snort and let out a quiet sigh.
Jian Yi was right — there are no fathers and sons on the battlefield. The depth of her bond with the Crown Prince would be tested in this very moment.
If the Crown Prince truly trusted her, then no matter how convincingly Feng Qingyin performed her act, he should not have doubted her.
Thinking of how those people, after returning, would still raise their blades against her brothers and the people under their protection, Feng Jiu’er felt that she could no longer afford to be soft-hearted.
“Very well.” Huo Baixue gave Feng Jiu’er’s shoulder a light pat, then turned and walked back to her own seat.
Settling into her chair, she lifted her gaze to the person across from her.
“Jiu’er, take a close look at the map. I have already memorized it, so next we can work out our strategy.”
“Since the situation at Yamu City is already critical, we cannot afford any further delays.”
“Mm.” Feng Jiu’er looked at the map and nodded.
“Oh — given Jian Yi’s condition, would it be dangerous for him to set out now?”
One who recognizes a hero holds that hero in high regard. Huo Baixue could see that Jian Yi was a rare and formidable warrior, and naturally she had no wish to see him come to further harm.
“As long as we prepare a carriage, I can handle the rest.” Feng Jiu’er replied softly, her attention still fixed on the map.
Huo Baixue nodded. “We have several carriages — that shouldn’t be a problem.”
“As for medicinal supplies, if anything is lacking, Jiu’er had best send the brothers to gather them in advance. The physicians say there are quite a few medicinal herbs to be found in this area.”
“In terms of provisions, what we have prepared should last at least half a month, so there won’t be any great urgency once we reach Yamu City.”
“Mm.” Feng Jiu’er nodded. “There are indeed some medicinal herbs I need the brothers to gather. I’ll go and give everyone their instructions myself in a moment.”
“As for provisions, for now the food supply in Yamu City is sufficient. However, we must return and secure the grain stores before the Crown Prince’s people make their move.”
She drew out a specially crafted pen from her satchel and made light markings on the map.
“Baixue, did you bring five thousand elite soldiers on this expedition?” After a moment, Feng Jiu’er asked softly.
“Yes.” Huo Baixue nodded in reply.
Feng Jiu’er gave a nod and sketched a few symbols on her own sheet of paper.
Huo Baixue leaned in and studied them quite seriously for a good while, yet still could not make sense of them.
But since Feng Jiu’er said nothing, she did not interrupt.
After roughly a quarter of an hour, Feng Jiu’er picked up the map and stood, stepping to the space between Huo Baixue and Dugu Yuezhou and laying the map flat on the table.
Feng Jiu’er glanced at the two people on either side of her, then extended a slender finger to the map.
“Baixue, Yuezhou — my plan is to split our forces into two columns. We will circle around this mountain range here and wipe out the enemy troops in one decisive strike at this location.”
Furrowing her brow slightly, Feng Jiu’er continued, “The Crown Prince’s forces are likely greater than the numbers our scouts have reported — there may be additional troops along the way.”
“Beyond the Crown Prince’s men, there may even be assassins from other organizations. Everyone must exercise the utmost caution.”
How many assassins Feng Qingyin had hired to take her life, Feng Jiu’er truly could not predict.
But as things stood, the more of the Crown Prince’s forces she could draw here the better — it would at least lighten the burden on her brothers who were fighting tooth and nail at the northern gate.
“The two of you, see if you can follow my proposed route. Raise any concerns and we will deliberate together.”
“You know this terrain far better than I do. What I have laid out is only a rough outline — the specifics will need to be adjusted to the actual conditions on the ground.”
Having studied the map for some time, Huo Baixue turned her head, looking past Feng Jiu’er toward Dugu Yuezhou.
“Yuezhou, you have passed through Yamu City’s western gate many times on missions between Mo City and Yamu City. Give us your thoughts on this route.”
Feng Jiu’er glanced sideways at Dugu Yuezhou, a look of quiet satisfaction crossing her face.
He was exactly the kind of person she needed right now — someone who knew this terrain well.
“Since Yuezhou is so familiar with this stretch of road, why don’t you walk us through it — how exactly should we proceed?”
Feng Jiu’er waved her hand and stepped aside to make room.
Dugu Yuezhou inclined his head, took two steps forward, and came to stand before the table.
Feng Jiu’er stepped back to take her place on his other side.
The tall Dugu Yuezhou stood in the center, with Huo Baixue on one side and Feng Jiu’er on the other — one seated, one standing.
Inside the tent, the three of them bent their heads together, deliberating in careful detail over the route ahead.
Outside the tent, all was quiet and still.