The next morning at the hour of chen, Jiang Tao and the others finally received Li Mu’s summons and gathered in the front hall of the Governor’s residence.

Li Mu waited for them alone.

The tall candle at the corner of the table had burned down to just an inch, with wax tears accumulated on the candlestick. On the table surface lay an unrolled geographical map.

He bore a faint look of fatigue, but his eyes were bright and alert. Once everyone had arrived, he announced his decision.

Immediately deploy troops northward to engage the Xijin army.

As his words fell, the entire hall fell silent, with no one responding for a moment.

Everyone was stunned by his decision.

They had long prepared for the Xijin army to attack again at any moment, so immediate deployment wasn’t a major problem.

Jiang Tao was confident that within three days, everything could be arranged and the army ready to march at any time.

What surprised him was Li Mu’s strategic response to this news.

Digging channels and trenches, setting up extensive barriers, strengthening city defenses, accumulating provisions – before the Xijin army’s arrival, seizing this last precious time to continue preparations by every means, then waiting for the enemy while rested, joining with Chouci to resist together, even making final plans to use the high, solid city walls for long-term defense, waiting for opportunities to counterattack, to achieve the most favorable results – this was what everyone thought would be the most reasonable strategic response.

He hadn’t expected that facing the fierce incoming enemy, with insufficient forces compared to the opponent, instead of taking the most prudent defensive approach, Li Mu would actively engage.

Without Yicheng as a retreat route, it meant that once the army marched north, they could only win, not lose. Otherwise, all previous gains would be lost.

Jiang Tao knew Li Mu always planned thoroughly before acting.

After brief amazement and slight hesitation, he asked about the strategy.

Li Mu’s finger moved to a point on the map and stopped.

Everyone followed his indication and looked at the map.

Shunyang Commandery.

From Chang’an to Yicheng, the Xijin army would travel from north to south, passing through Weixing, Pingxing, and Shangluo commanderies along the way.

Shunyang Commandery was located between Pingxing and Shangluo, seven to eight hundred li from Yicheng. A tributary of the great river flowed majestically across the north of the commandery from west to east, joining the Luo River.

It was precisely this broad river that made Shunyang a strategic military city. Currently controlled by Xijin, it normally stationed about ten thousand troops.

“At the fastest speed, deploy troops northward, and we must capture Shunyang before the Xijin army reaches it, control the crossing, and wait for the Xijin army’s arrival in Shunyang!”

Li Mu’s tone was steady, hardly different from his usual speaking voice, with no trace of high emotion.

But his blazing eyes revealed his vigorous thunderous ambition and unchangeable determination.

Jiang Tao finally understood his intention.

If following conventional strategy and waiting for the Xijin army’s arrival in Yicheng, when both sides engaged in battle, the Xijin people absolutely couldn’t easily capture Yicheng.

But correspondingly, for the Yicheng army to achieve a quick victory and defeat the opponent would also be an unrealistic hope.

The most likely outcome would be a standoff. Even if Yicheng could ultimately win and repel the opponent, this would inevitably be a difficult prolonged war.

Prolonged warfare tested both sides’ provisions and reinforcements.

One side was a nation occupying all of Longxi territory, with dozens of cities and inexhaustible troop sources.

While Yicheng, besides this city with still shallow foundations, had only Chouci as an ally, whose strength before mighty Xijin was completely incomparable.

Chouci was assistance, not dependence.

If the battle situation truly reached a standoff, then all pressure would undoubtedly fall on Yicheng.

Now, doing the opposite.

Completely abandoning conservative defensive-counterattack strategy, actively engaging, seizing Shunyang, then using Shunyang as base, borrowing the great river to face the strong enemy.

Military power values appropriateness and suitability.

What seemed like a risky move – wasn’t it also catching them unprepared, striking unexpectedly?

This was a bold, spirited, yet well-founded battle strategy.

The dozen or so people in the hall remained silent, all staring at that point Li Mu indicated on the map, holding their breath.

After a long moment, Sun Fangzhi suddenly laughed heartily: “The Xianbei only think of attacking our Yicheng, believing we’re now strengthening city defenses. How could they expect us to go on the road to welcome them, to send them a fine gift?”

Everyone laughed along, shouting loudly: “We obey all commands! Everything follows the Governor’s orders!”

Li Mu nodded, rose with hand on sword, his gaze sweeping across the faces before him: “Notify Hou Ding. In three days, troops depart on schedule!”

The news that a strong enemy was attacking again, but this time instead of defending in place like before, the Governor would lead the army north to engage, quickly spread throughout the city.

The military camp prepared to march. Carts carrying provisions and supplies constantly traveled outside the city gates. The constant sound of commands from the camp made the entire city’s atmosphere serious and tense.

Luoshen led the city’s women, seizing these last few days to finally complete the last batch of military uniforms and shoes, distributing them.

The thirty thousand soldiers sent by Hou Ding had also rushed to arrive and joined the Yicheng army’s ranks.

Li Mu left ten thousand men to guard the city.

Tomorrow morning, he would lead the remaining seventy thousand troops, leave Yicheng, and march north to intercept the enemy.

Night fell. The front of the Governor’s residence was brightly lit, with constant sounds of horses neighing outside the gates.

These past few nights, the front hall had been busy with people coming and going. Li Mu returned only at midnight, lay down to sleep immediately, and rose before dawn.

Moreover, with troops departing tomorrow morning, Luoshen guessed he would be even busier tonight.

She only had the cook prepare sufficient food and sent it to the front for him and the generals making final preparations for deployment to have a hot meal. But unexpectedly, at only the hour of xu, she heard a maid calling for him outside.

She was sitting on the bed edge, finishing the last few stitches on a garment she’d made for him. After sewing, she shook it out, held it up, and checked the seams on the front for any loose stitches. Hearing the sound, she turned her head and saw him pushing the door open.

“Langjun, did you come back to get something?”

Luoshen thought he had come to the back to fetch something, so she put down the garment and needlework and rose to greet him. But she saw him smiling, walking quickly toward her, grasping her arms and helping her sit back down: “There’s nothing more for me in front, so I came back.”

Luoshen understood.

He must have been preparing for this battle for a long time.

Having determined the specific battle plan and arranged important personnel, other miscellaneous matters naturally didn’t require his personal supervision throughout.

“Langjun must be tired. I’ll have someone bring water for you to bathe and rest early.”

She was about to rise again, but Li Mu grasped both her hands.

He lowered his head slightly, examining her fingers, seeing several marks on her slender fingertips where needles had pricked them. He shook his head, his gaze full of tender affection as he looked at her.

“I’m not tired. You’re the one who’s worked hard. Why do it yourself and prick your hands until they’re swollen?”

He gently kissed her fingers.

Luoshen felt sweet inside, feeling that even ten more pricks would be willingly endured. She shook her head saying it wasn’t hard work, withdrew her hands, picked up the garment and said: “I just finished the clothing, and you came back. I wanted you to try it on the past few days, but you had no time. Try it quickly to see if the size fits.”

Li Mu smiled and stood up, putting on the garment his wife had personally made for him.

He looked down at his little wife arranging his lapels, tying his sash, then commanding him to spread his arms as she checked front, back, left and right, busily bustling about with the appearance of a thoroughly virtuous little wife.

The garment size was just right. Luoshen carefully inspected it all around but discovered the front and back panels were sewn slightly asymmetrically. The back piece was a bit longer than the front.

Though it was worn inside and wouldn’t be noticeable without careful observation, she still felt it wasn’t perfect.

She was somewhat annoyed, sighed, and immediately wanted him to take it off for immediate alteration.

Li Mu smiled and grasped her hands: “No need to alter it, it’s already excellent. My A’Mi’s clothing is the best, no one else can compare. I’ll wear this garment until I’m old.”

Luoshen blushed from his praise and could only watch him remove the new garment himself, carefully fold it, and put it away.

“A’Mi, are you tired?”

After putting away the garment, he suddenly asked.

Luoshen shook her head: “Not tired.”

“I’ll take you outside the city to ride horses. Teach you how to make the horse obey you, alright?”

She’d been here so long, and he always had endless tasks. This seemed like the first time he’d suggested taking her outside the city to ride horses.

Luoshen immediately hugged his arm, still somewhat disbelieving: “Really? You’re not deceiving me?”

“Didn’t you want me to teach you proper horsemanship before? I never taught you. I’m leaving tomorrow morning, so while I have time tonight, let’s go outside the city to ride horses.”

Luoshen’s eyes lit up. She sighed and immediately nodded: “Good! I’ll go right now! Wait, let me change clothes!”

Li Mu smiled, watching her rummage through boxes and chests for clothes. Finally seeming to find something satisfactory, when she was about to change, she saw him watching and wouldn’t let him look, pushing him to turn around.

He had to turn around, listening to the rustling sounds of changing clothes behind him. After a while, her voice rang out: “Langjun, look at me like this – is it alright?”

Li Mu turned around and saw her wearing a goose-yellow jacket and skirt, the skirt reaching her knees, waist and sleeves bound up, with convenient riding trousers underneath, the trouser legs tucked into small black leather boots. Her small chest thrust forward, slender waist that could be grasped in one hand, standing gracefully – both beautiful and spirited.

Li Mu stepped forward, grasped one of her hands, and led her outside.

Early spring – a crescent moon like a sickle hung over distant mountains. Brilliant starlight faintly illuminated the white peaks where snow hadn’t completely melted. But the nearby wild fields were already covered with tender new spring grass shoots.

This was a clear night with fresh air carrying a slightly invigorating chill. Wuzhui galloped freely with its male and female masters on its back across the vast plains outside Yicheng city, finally stopping on level ground.

Li Mu taught his wife horse-riding techniques.

Luoshen was very intelligent and quickly remembered them. After trying several times, the tall, robust Wuzhui indeed obediently listened. When she wanted it to stop, it stopped; when she wanted it to walk, it walked. Both novel and exciting, she asked Li Mu to raise the stirrups a bit so she could step into them.

Once seated steadily and having tried a few circles, she no longer wanted his guidance. She rode the horse herself, circling around the grassland, running back and forth with great joy.

Li Mu was forcibly driven from the horse’s back. Initially still somewhat worried she might not sit steadily and fall, he followed alongside for a while. Seeing her balance very well controlled and Wuzhui very docile, completely obedient to its adorable new master, he felt at ease.

Her clear laughter constantly drifted on the night wind, that laughter like mountain spring water, crystal clear and pleasant. He reclined against a rock, smiling, watching her riding figure. After a moment, seeing her growing bolder, riding faster and farther from him, he brought his hand to his mouth and whistled.

Wuzhui heard his call, turned around by itself, and carried her back.

Luoshen was still unsatisfied and wanted to ride more. But no matter how she urged, Wuzhui wouldn’t obey anymore. It stopped before him, motionless.

She was unhappy and complained to him.

Li Mu smiled, stood up from the rock, leaped up and flew onto the horse’s back, sitting behind her. He took the reins from her hands and whispered in her ear: “Sit tight. I’ll take you.”

He didn’t need to lower the stirrups that had been raised for her. Gripping the horse’s belly with his legs, he called out low, and Wuzhui, as if sensing its master’s joyful mood, lightly galloped forward.

He rode around the city walls he had single-handedly built, galloping freely through the countryside for a circuit, finally stopping before a small hill. He dismounted, lifted her from the horse’s back, and led her to climb to the hilltop.

Tomorrow he would lead troops north to fight a battle of extremely great significance to him.

In his previous life, before everything ended with that cup of poisoned wine on his wedding night, he had held the rank of Grand Marshal, commanding battles involving hundreds of thousands of troops. Countless lives were in his hands, success and failure, honor and decline, in his single thought.

But no battle had ever been as important to him as this coming engagement.

He must win and absolutely could not lose.

Tonight should have been tense and busy.

But for some reason, he only wanted to be alone with her. So after giving instructions, he left his generals behind, brought her out like this, and climbed to this hilltop.

“A’Mi, look – these are the soldiers who will march north with me tomorrow, vowing to reclaim Chang’an from the barbarians.”

He pointed ahead and spoke to her.

Only then did Luoshen discover with surprise that at the foot of the hill he indicated, on that level ground not far away, was the large army camp that would pledge and march north tomorrow morning.

Above, the night sky was deep blue with scattered stars, celestial light and water colors, silver waves of the Milky Way.

Below were scattered campfires, stretching endlessly as far as the eye could see.

Standing between the dome and campfires, it seemed one could reach out and grasp the entire silver river for a ruler.

Luoshen gazed into the distance.

Suddenly, a deep sound of camp horns drifted faintly into her ears on the wind.

He said he had promised her father to take Chang’an as betrothal gift, and now it was time to fulfill that promise.

But she knew the difficulty and danger of this battle.

Her eyes suddenly grew hot, but not wanting him to notice, she hugged his waist and buried her face against his chest, secretly wiping away a tear of worry and reluctance from the corner of her eye. Only then did she look up, using a joyful voice to say: “Langjun, this time last year, I remember you took me to see the spring river night tide. After returning, I kept thinking how wonderful it would be to go again someday. When you return from taking Chang’an and have time, I want you to take me to see it again, alright?”

Li Mu was silent for a moment, then said: “Alright. I’ll remember.”

The next morning at the fifth watch, when it was still dark, torches lit up along the road from the Governor’s residence to the city gate in Yicheng.

Citizens braved the cold air, emerging from their homes in droves, flowing along the roads toward the city gate to see off the great army marching north.

Dawn light glimmered faintly.

Luoshen wore a hooded cloak, standing under guard of a squad of soldiers on the high city wall, gazing at the plains not far away.

On the plains, the great army had fully assembled, densely packed beyond sight.

After receiving inspection from Governor Li Mu and taking the pledge, they would depart immediately.

Li Mu wore full armor with a long sword at his waist, standing tall on the command platform.

“All you soldiers, listen well. This battle is to drive out wolves and tigers, restore Chang’an, fighting in accordance with Heaven!”

“From today, you have a name – the Heavenly Response Army! Heaven’s chosen children, fighting in accordance with Heaven, the gods will surely support us!”

His voice, deep and powerful, drifted on the wind and was immediately relayed by the herald beside him. Then from two to four, four to eight, eight to sixteen, hundreds, thousands, calling out in unison until all tens of thousands of troops shouted together: “Fighting in accordance with Heaven, the gods will surely support us!”

The thunderous shouts soared to the heavens, echoing across the wilderness outside Yicheng’s walls.

The people shouted along, sending off the gradually departing army.

Luoshen’s emotions surged as she stared unblinkingly at that man on the distant high platform who was being approached by subordinates and about to embark on his journey.

She saw him turn around, and just as he was about to descend, he suddenly turned his head and looked in her direction.

She smiled at him.

He gazed at her for a moment, then turned and quickly descended the command platform, mounted his horse, and soon the group’s figures disappeared into the dawn beyond the city gates.