Had Yang Xuanji summoned everyone together — did he intend to make the first move?

The thought barely formed before Master Guangshang turned and hurried back the way he had come. Halfway there, he stopped abruptly, growing more unsettled the more he thought about it.

A moment later, he turned again and made his way toward the supply depot.

Inside the central command tent, Yang Xuanji’s expression had been dark since the moment everyone began filing in, and he sat in the seat of authority watching each of his generals enter, his gaze cold.

When Du Ke — Military Governor of Liang Province — walked in, his eyes instinctively sought out Yang Xuanji’s expression first. A man with something to hide always hopes to read something in another’s face, and equally hopes that the other cannot read anything in his.

Du Ke held a position of the highest standing in Yang Xuanji’s camp, so as he entered, those who had arrived before him made way. When he reached the front, he gave a deep bow: “My liege.”

Yang Xuanji only managed something resembling a smile when his eyes landed on Du Ke — a nod and a, “Bring a seat for Lord Du.”

Du Ke quickly bowed his thanks.

After sitting, he looked across at the man standing opposite him: the great bandit chief, Zhai Li.

At that moment, Du Ke’s heart began to race — because he had not expected Zhai Li to have arrived before him.

Which meant Master Guangshang had never reached Zhai Li. Zhai Li’s forces would have no chance to prepare for anything.

“Is everyone here?”

Yang Xuanji asked.

Someone took careful stock of the tent and replied, “My liege — all commanders from every camp have arrived.”

Yang Xuanji rose from his seat, walking back and forth through the tent as he spoke: “The reason I have called you all here today is to discuss an urgent matter.”

He stopped in front of Du Ke, looking at him as he said, “Lord Du is most fully aware of our current situation — our army’s provisions are running low.”

Du Ke quickly stood: “We have approximately three months’ supply remaining.”

An army of hundreds of thousands with only three months’ provisions — they had reached the edge of safety.

If they retreated, three months of provisions would barely cover the march home.

If they continued besieging the city, they needed to replenish supplies immediately — otherwise they risked disaster.

But what options were there? Every grain depot within Jing Province that had been under their control had been seized piece by piece by Tang Pidi.

Yang Xuanji gave a sound of acknowledgment. “So the time has come to make a decision. We don’t know how much longer the city can hold out. If they can last another month or two, there is no point in continuing.”

The meaning was plain to everyone. If the city could hold for two more months before falling, taking it would serve little purpose.

The city had no provisions left. Any food the Mandate Army managed to capture after breaking in would not even be enough to divide among their own forces.

And if they entered the city and took no thought for the civilian population, how would they ever win their allegiance?

Yang Xuanji had not spelled out his intentions in full, but everyone understood.

Continuing to fight made no sense. Now it was the beginning of the third month — with no grain coming in, and Jing Province not yet in harvest season even if it had not been laid to waste, there was nothing to collect.

Yang Xuanji continued, “The reason I called you here is to discuss what we should do next.”

The assembled generals bowed: “We await our lord’s direction.”

Yang Xuanji allowed himself an inward cold smile, though he let nothing show.

He kept pacing as he spoke: “Since you say you are ready to follow my lead, let me share what I have been considering. First — to obtain provisions, we could push north and attack Yu Province, taking grain from the Ning Army… Second — we could turn southeast toward Yangzhou. The fighting there has just ended, and the Marquis of Guanting has not yet firmly established himself. That should be easier than fighting the Ning Army.”

The moment these words were out, Yang Xuanji turned sharply to look at Du Ke — and Du Ke appeared to be lost in thought, head bowed, not entirely present.

“Lord Du?”

Yang Xuanji called his name again.

Du Ke quickly rose to his feet: “Your subordinate is here.”

Yang Xuanji asked, “What do you think?”

Du Ke’s mind was racing. The orders he had received were clear: no matter what, keep Yang Xuanji pinned down outside Daxing and allow the imperial court’s forces to grind down his strength. Yang Xuanji’s role was nearly played out — the original plan called for Yang Xuanji and Prince Wu to bleed each other dry outside the walls, ideally with both sides destroyed.

But now Yang Xuanji was having second thoughts. Du Ke needed to find a way to change his mind.

After a moment’s reflection, Du Ke replied, “My liege, I believe the city’s provisions must be nearly exhausted. At most a few more days and the walls will fall. To leave now would be to throw away everything we have fought for…”

He had not finished speaking when Yang Xuanji let out a sound: “Mm… So Lord Du’s view is that we should continue the assault on Daxing?”

Du Ke bowed, “Your subordinate… does hold that view.”

Yang Xuanji said, “But our soldiers have been besieging this city for over a year. Men and horses alike are exhausted — they can fight no more…”

As he said this, Yang Xuanji seemed to suddenly recall something, turning to look at Zhai Li: “Grand General Zhai, your forces have yet to see action. Would you be willing to take the vanguard against Daxing?”

Zhai Li cursed inwardly.

He rose and said, “I dare not refuse my lord’s command. The moment my lord gives the word, my forces will go at once.”

Yang Xuanji said, “Very well then. Let Grand General Zhai’s forces lead the assault first. If the city falls within seven days, all the better. If after seven days the walls still hold, we will have no choice but to consider other plans.”

He turned and called out: “Bring out the finest wine I have been saving — I wish to drink a toast to Grand General Zhai.”

Though this minor disruption had occurred, both Du Ke and Zhai Li could not help but breathe a sigh of relief.

Attacking Daxing was still preferable to attacking the Ning Army or anywhere else — it was no more than suffering some troop losses.

What truly worried them now was Han Feibao. By rights, his Yong Province army should have reached Jing Province by now — yet somehow, for no apparent reason, the Ning King Li Chi had led the Ning Army’s main force to Jing Province, blocking Han Feibao’s advance.

Whether it was coincidence or deliberate, no one could say — but it had produced a stalemate.

“Pour wine for all the generals.”

At Yang Xuanji’s command, his bodyguards stepped forward and filled cups for every commander in every camp. Everyone knew that Yang Xuanji was a devoted lover of fine wine — and his wines were always of the finest quality.

Yang Xuanji lifted a bowl and declared: “Let us all drink together in support of Grand General Zhai. May he triumph from the very first!”

“May Grand General Zhai triumph from the very first!”

Every man raised his cup.

They drained it in one go and each held up the empty bowl for all to see — Yang Xuanji did the same, showing his empty bowl to the room.

He settled back into his seat. “Grand General Zhai, this time, it is all up to you.”

Zhai Li quickly replied, “My lord may rest assured — your subordinate will give everything…”

The words stopped midway. His head suddenly swam with a heavy dullness. Zhai Li’s face changed at once. “This wine…”

He jerked his eyes to Yang Xuanji — only to see Yang Xuanji himself swaying in his seat, and a moment later Yang Xuanji was the first to slump forward.

Cries of alarm broke out throughout the tent. One man moved to check on Yang Xuanji and dropped to the floor after only a few steps.

At that moment, the tent’s entrance curtain was lifted aside, and an elderly man of slight build — yet whose every step carried an air of unconquerable presence — walked in.

*Half an hour later, still in that central command tent.*

Prince Wu sat beside Yang Xuanji and asked, “How are you feeling?”

Yang Xuanji shook his head slowly, a wry smile on his face. “Royal Brother’s medicine is potent — even after the antidote, my head still feels like it is splitting apart.”

Prince Wu said with a smile, “Another hour or so and there should be no further ill effect.”

Yang Xuanji murmured in acknowledgment, then said, “I am too clouded right now to give any orders. Please, Royal Brother, handle whatever needs to be decided.”

Prince Wu recognized this as genuine trust from Yang Xuanji — and nodded. “Very well. I will take care of it.”

He rose from his seat and walked toward the men who had been bound and restrained.

*Four days earlier, on the walls of Daxing.*

The Emperor looked at Prince Wu. “He… has stopped.”

Prince Wu nodded. “Yes. He’s stopped.”

After those words, both men fell into silence, and a long stretch of time passed without either of them speaking again.

Finally, the Emperor looked at Prince Wu: “I want to go and try.”

Prince Wu shook his head. “Your Majesty must not. Better that I go.”

The Emperor said, “If Royal Uncle goes, it shows insufficient sincerity… I have already made my decision. If it can preserve the Yang family’s realm, I am willing to cede the throne to him.”

Prince Wu still shook his head. “I believe, Your Majesty, that this course would be dangerous. If Your Majesty goes personally into Yang Xuanji’s camp, he may use you as a hostage to compel the city’s surrender — and there would be no way back.”

The Emperor was taken aback.

Prince Wu said, “If I go, and Yang Xuanji does something to me, it will actually stir up the soldiers and civilians inside to united fury — which is precisely why Yang Xuanji would not dare act recklessly. But if Your Majesty goes, Yang Xuanji will almost certainly make an unwise move…”

The Emperor breathed in deeply, then stepped back two paces and bowed deeply to Prince Wu: “On behalf of the Yang family’s ancestors, I thank Royal Uncle!”

That very night, Prince Wu had himself lowered from the city wall, taking only two attendants, and made his way directly toward the Mandate Army’s camp.

They were quickly spotted by the Mandate Army’s scouts. Prince Wu identified himself and told the scout to make absolutely certain to report only to the Mandate King directly, under no circumstances letting anyone else know.

The scout, learning that the old man before him was actually Prince Wu of Dachu, was so frightened his legs nearly gave out — for though this elder looked to have a full head of silver hair, the name of Prince Wu was enough to fill anyone’s heart with awe.

Before long, Prince Wu was secretly brought before Yang Xuanji in his central command tent.

That night, Prince Wu and Yang Xuanji talked through the night until dawn.

In the three days that followed, Prince Wu had not left Yang Xuanji’s camp at all — he had stayed, observing in secret.

And the scheme that had been set in motion today was also Prince Wu’s doing.

Prince Wu walked to where Du Ke lay, crouched down, and studied the man — then let out a cold laugh: “Whatever promises Han Feibao made to you, your family has served as nobles for generations — a distinction that far outstrips that uncouth bumpkin. And yet you were willing to be driven by a man like that. I do not understand it.”

Du Ke was still dazed and sluggish, but he understood well enough that his death was certain — so he merely gave a cold snort.

Prince Wu said, “I suspect there is someone behind you all, serving as the driving force. I cannot guess who it is — but they will reveal themselves in time.”

He rose, turned to the entrance, and gestured: “Bring them in.”

Shortly after, Yang Xuanji’s bodyguards filed in one by one — each man carrying several heads in his hands.

Du Ke and Zhai Li saw them and their faces changed utterly.

Because in the hands of the very first soldier to enter, they recognized the head of Master Guangshang.

*That was Master Guangshang!*

And he had been killed just like that — casually, like nothing — and his head was being carried in here by a soldier just as casually?

Prince Wu said, “My conjecture was that any inside agent would be hiding in the supply depot — it is the easiest place to blend in undetected. And indeed, this bodyguard ran straight there to make contact… Du Ke, all of your inside agents are dead now. I imagine you have nothing left to say.”

The lingering dullness in Du Ke’s mind was shocked clean away in an instant. He gaped, and there was nothing he could say at all.

Prince Wu made a sweeping gesture. “Kill them all.”

—