The ancient city walls of Xihua City stood weathered and towering in the vast, desolate land. The walls stretched endlessly, like a giant with outstretched arms embracing all the soldiers and civilians of Xihua within.

Fifty li outside the city, the Great Zhou military camp was stationed with dozens of banners fluttering in the wind. On the black banners, golden tigers embroidered with gold thread bared their fangs and claws, as if ready to pounce and tear their prey apart.

This was the military banner of the “Huben Army” led by Great Zhou’s Grand Marshal of Pingnan Forces and Prince Zhongshun, Pang Xiao.

Banner after banner with red backgrounds and black “Pang” characters also fluttered in the wild wind alongside the military flags.

Within the military camp, order prevailed, with only lively commotion coming from the training grounds.

“Excellent!”

“Marshal Pang, what skill!”

“Wang Erhu, are you just eating for nothing!”

“Four of you against the Marshal alone—if you still lose, tonight’s steamed buns go to the brothers!”

…

In the center of the training grounds, four burly northern men with broad shoulders and thick waists were stripped to the waist, their bodies steaming with hot sweat in the cold wind, covered in dust, rubbing their fists and preparing their palms as they surrounded a similarly bare-chested, robust young man in the middle.

Even though they had already been thrown down twice, the four men remained unconvinced!

They refused to believe it!

All four of them were men who could “stand on their fists and run horses on their arms.” If they couldn’t match him in martial arts, surely four of them in wrestling could beat one person?!

Looking at Marshal Pang—though his body was strong, he was still lean. People always said that size meant strength, so they didn’t believe they would lose again this time!

The four men simultaneously roared and charged forward.

Beads of sweat slid down from Pang Xiao’s temples, steaming in the cold wind, his eyes flashing with excitement as he quickly engaged them.

“The Marshal is mighty!”

“Come on, put some effort into it!”

…

The watching soldiers enjoyed the show immensely, excitedly shouting and cheering.

Huzi pulled along Zheng Pei, whose beard flowed and who had an ethereal demeanor, to watch from the side, loudly cheering for Pang Xiao.

Zheng Pei wore a thick cloak, watching Pang Xiao with just a gentle smile. The crow’s feet at the corners of his eyes and the smile lines at his lips made this sixty-something gentleman appear especially kind.

The battle quickly reached its conclusion. Facts proved that wrestling didn’t depend entirely on strength—technique was also important.

Pang Xiao extended his hand to pull up the men he had knocked down, laughing heartily: “Tonight we’ll add extra food for everyone—we’re eating meat today!”

“Excellent!” Everyone cheered, and every man looked at Pang Xiao with eyes full of fervor and worship.

Pang Xiao laughed loudly, talking with his arm around the soldiers’ shoulders for a while before wiping his sweat and walking toward Huzi.

Huzi immediately brought Pang Xiao’s clothes and a large towel, rushing forward: “Master, you were truly amazing just now.”

Zheng Pei also smiled as he helped Pang Xiao put on his clothes: “Young Prince must take care of his body. If you don’t pay attention to maintenance when young, what will you do when illnesses come calling in old age?”

Pang Xiao casually wiped his sweat with the large towel while walking toward the tent and tying his belt: “Master Zheng needn’t worry. We’re accustomed to the north, so coming to Yan Dynasty territory doesn’t feel cold at all, and even less so when exercising.”

“Indeed, Master was truly mighty just now. When will I ever train to your level? You’re so formidable that I feel embarrassed to serve as your bodyguard!” Huzi’s eyes sparkled brightly.

Entering the tent, Pang Xiao downed a large bowl of water. Only now feeling cooled down, he properly put on his dark battle robe and tied his hair securely with a band.

Properly dressed, the man appeared heroic and noble, completely different from the hearty rough man from moments before.

Zheng Pei nodded with satisfaction.

In his youth, Pang Xiao wasn’t good at hiding his emotions—happiness and unhappiness were written all over his face.

After years of experience, he could now change his aura at will. When he needed to be a rough man, he was a rough man; when he needed to be righteous and stern, he was righteous and stern; when he needed to act shamelessly, he could do so without hesitation. Only in private did he maintain his usually taciturn appearance.

“Report!” Someone called loudly from outside the tent.

“Enter.”

“Marshal, news has come from Xihua City. The Yan Dynasty emperor has urgently summoned the two Sun generals and their families back to the capital, replacing them with a general named Wang Hui.”

Upon hearing this, Pang Xiao waved his hand to dismiss the soldier.

Once there were no outsiders in the tent, Zheng Pei smiled: “It seems His Majesty’s strategy has worked—Emperor Yan is truly frightened out of his wits.”

Huzi said: “I think that dog emperor is simply an idiot—cowardly and brainless. It’s a pity about that Sun Yuanming. Though he once spoke disrespectfully, it was just due to different positions. For a weak scholar to have such integrity—he was truly an admirable hero. Master, don’t you think so?”

Pang Xiao nodded: “That he went first is perhaps a blessing.”

Huzi made a puzzled “Hm?” sound.

Zheng Pei thought for a moment, then explained: “Young Prince speaks correctly. Emperor Yan is incompetent, suspicious, and cowardly as a mouse. Seeing our Emperor’s national letter, he must be scared to death. Their Yan Dynasty lacks talent and has empty coffers—they have no one capable of fighting Young Prince. All they can do is try every means to seek peace.”

“Seek peace?” Huzi blinked, then suddenly understood, staring wide-eyed: “Master Zheng means Emperor Yan will use the Sun family as scapegoats?”

“Exactly. We demanded Sun Yuanming’s brain fluid, Sun Yuanming refused, and the Yan Dynasty emperor was not only rebuked by our Emperor but also threatened like this. This simple-minded fool will surely think of using the Sun family as scapegoats to appease our Emperor’s anger.”

“That fool.” Huzi laughed heartily: “It would be better if he killed all the capable ones! Let the people of his country hate him to death!”

Listening to Zheng Pei and Huzi’s excited conversation, Pang Xiao thought of that person related to the Sun family.

With her maternal family suffering such great calamity, her future life would probably be affected too.

Pang Xiao was somewhat worried about Qin Yining.

Even if she was the enemy’s daughter, in his heart, she was always special.

Zheng Pei was shrewd and, seeing Pang Xiao’s expression, asked with a smile: “What is Young Prince thinking about?”

Then asked jokingly: “Could Young Prince be thinking of that Miss Qin?”

Pang Xiao leaned lazily against the round-backed chair, a smile playing at his lips, his eyes sharp as he raised an eyebrow at Zheng Pei.

Zheng Pei felt as if a piece of flesh had been carved out by that glance, but because he was a strategist who had once served Pang Zhongzheng and was half a teacher to Pang Xiao, having watched him grow up, he spoke without reservation.

“Young Prince, there are many beauties in the world. With your talent, what kind of woman couldn’t you have? Why always think of Qin Meng’s daughter? Could it be that Young Prince has fallen for her?”

“When did this prince ever say I was smitten with her?”

“Then what does Your Highness mean?”

“This prince doesn’t know yet.”

“Don’t know?” Zheng Pei frowned.

Pang Xiao spoke frankly: “Precisely because this prince doesn’t know what feelings I have for her, I want to quickly conquer Yan Dynasty. Then I can keep her by my side and slowly figure it out.”

Huzi stared at Pang Xiao in shock.

You clearly fancy her! You’ve enshrined her hairpin like a treasure—what more is there to think about?!

Zheng Pei’s expression turned ugly: “Young Prince, don’t forget how the Prince died back then! If not for that dog thief Qin Meng, how would the Pang family have come to this!”

“When two armies face each other with different positions, there’s no blame in dying in battle.” Pang Xiao tapped the table with his index finger. “Though Qin Meng was detestable, shouldn’t the one most to blame be the person who already harbored suspicions about my father?”

Zheng Pei pursed his lips and said nothing.

Indeed, if the foolish ruler of that time hadn’t been suspicious, how could a flawed scheme of alienation have truly brought the Pang family to their doom?

Put bluntly, Pang Zhongzheng back then was simply too accomplished and threatening—the emperor was merely wary.

“Moreover, didn’t Master Zheng already take revenge on Qin Meng back then?” Pang Xiao added.

Zheng Pei’s voice rose: “Just stealing away a girl—I don’t think Qin Meng was very heartbroken. What kind of revenge is that? Back then we wanted revenge but lacked the capability, so we had no choice but to resort to such measures. Now that we have position and power, we can crush them whenever we want—naturally we shouldn’t spare Qin Meng.”

Fire rose in Pang Xiao’s heart, though his face still smiled: “Since you know we’ll take revenge on Qin Meng in the future, why target an innocent person?”

Zheng Pei was momentarily speechless.

Just then, a shrill, hoarse voice came from outside the tent: “Grand Marshal Pang, this servant brings His Majesty’s secret decree.”

It was Supervisor Lu!

For this expedition, Emperor Zhou had dispatched Grand Eunuch Lu Yuan as supervisor to accompany them.

Huzi smiled as he went to invite Supervisor Lu in.

Supervisor Lu was in his early thirties, of medium build with delicate features, pale and beardless. He slightly hunched as he respectfully bowed to Pang Xiao, presenting the wax-sealed secret decree from his chest with both hands, smiling obsequiously.

Pang Xiao glanced at Supervisor Lu, broke the seal, and took out the note inside.

It contained only two words—”Massacre the city.”

Pang Xiao’s expression didn’t change as he put down the note.

Huzi and Zheng Pei had been watching this direction and caught sight of the two words on the note from the corner of their eyes, both feeling their hearts skip a beat.

Pang Xiao thought for a moment and asked: “Is the messenger still here?”

“Reporting to Young Prince, he has already returned.”

“This prince understands. Thank you, Supervisor, for making this trip.”

“I dare not, I dare not.” Supervisor Lu smiled as he bowed and respectfully withdrew.

Once he left, Zheng Pei clapped his hands and laughed: “His Majesty’s brilliant plan! This way, the already aroused popular anger in Yan Dynasty will surely reach new heights!”

But Pang Xiao pointed toward Xihua City and asked with a smile: “What percentage of the city’s population consists of civilian women and children versus actual soldiers?”

This was a question with a known answer.

Great Zhou’s spies had long ago clearly investigated how many soldiers and civilians were in Xihua City, and how much provisions they had.

Hearing this, Zheng Pei immediately understood Pang Xiao’s meaning and disapproved: “Young Prince mustn’t be softhearted like a woman. Moreover, the secret decree is also an imperial edict.”

“Softhearted like a woman? Perhaps.” Pang Xiao smiled mockingly: “Yan Dynasty claims to have three hundred thousand defenders in Xihua City, but in reality, even counting boys of ten or so, Xihua City’s defenders number only thirty thousand. War is war between men—what does it have to do with the old, weak, women, and children? When the world is in chaos, it’s the common people who suffer! Were all our slogans when we raised the banner of rebellion false?! You want me to raise my blade to kill defenseless old people, women, and children—what kind of damn business is this?! This kind of inhuman behavior—whoever the hell wants to do it can do it! This lord refuses!”