Fang Mingda swept his gaze over the sand table and exchanged a look with Jiang Yu standing beside him, saying: “This minor official came on this journey to apologize to Wengzhu and receive the bride. I haven’t brought any generals skilled in strategy and warfare, but relying on the tens of thousands of mighty lions outside Bairen Pass, there’s nothing to fear. For now, let my accompanying attendant fight on behalf of Southern Chen!”

When these words came out, the Liang officials below all changed color, and a rustling sound of discussion arose. Li Yao also lifted his eyes to look at him. Fan Yuan even cursed under his breath: “This damn fatty clearly came prepared, yet speaks of letting an attendant fight on his behalf. If any of our minor generals with military rank steps up, it’ll look like we’re bullying them! Winning would be inglorious, but losing—damn it—would be even more disgraceful, utterly humiliating!”

Opening by having the attendant at his side step forward—no matter how you looked at it, this was clearly planned in advance.

Xiao Li stood right beside him, hearing these low curses clearly. He glanced sideways at the two people standing in the hall, his gaze falling on the attendant holding the tray.

Earlier he had briefly assessed this person’s waist and arms and already determined the other practiced martial arts. But this Southern Chen envoy coming alone to meet Wen Yu and having a martial arts expert by his side was reasonable enough. Now, however, the other party had pulled this move, making them losers regardless of victory or defeat in the sand table deduction—truly a well-played game.

Jiang Yu also noticed Xiao Li’s scrutiny. He didn’t lift his head, only stepped forward to stand beside the sand table, appearing quite humble as he said: “I wonder which general would be willing to come forward and instruct me?”

By this point, Wen Yu naturally saw it too—they had come prepared, and Southern Chen’s side had also come prepared. Only their preparation was at least focused on the battle situation, while Southern Chen resorted to such tricks.

Her expression didn’t change. She said coldly: “What does the envoy take my Great Liang for?”

Fang Mingda lifted his eyes toward the hall, only feeling this Great Liang Wengzhu’s gaze was bone-chillingly cold: “My Great Liang’s generals have no reason to cross hands with a mere attendant. Since the envoy’s delegation brought no fierce generals, that general you dispatched earlier is still in my Pingzhou prison.”

She instructed those around her: “Come, go bring him up.”

Previously, Wen Yu had ordered all the Southern Chen people imprisoned. Because that Southern Chen Minister of State fell ill every few days, and Fang Mingda repeatedly requested to visit this old minister of theirs, Wen Yu ordered Sikong Wei moved out of the prison and settled in a separate courtyard.

When Sikong Wei left, he only took two attendants who could care for his daily needs. The rest were still confined in the prison at this moment. The reason Jiang Yu could accompany him out was naturally because he was one of the “attendants” Sikong Wei had identified.

Hearing Wen Yu’s words, the Liang officials present all breathed a sigh of relief, secretly glad they hadn’t fallen into the other party’s trap.

Li Yao sat with closed eyes, a slight smile on his face, seemingly quite satisfied with Wen Yu’s counterattack.

Fang Mingda imperceptibly exchanged glances with Jiang Yu, knowing that whether in military strength or national power, they held absolute advantage. Even if that general was brought up and fought for their side, they would undoubtedly win—it was merely that they couldn’t let Great Liang suffer this setback.

Therefore, Fang Mingda’s face remained completely amiable: “Since Wengzhu is magnanimous enough to allow that foolish general to come fight on our behalf, this minor official thanks you in advance.”

In a moment, the general who had spoken disrespectfully to Wen Yu at the city gate and whose hand had been crushed by Xiao Li was escorted up by two Pingzhou soldiers.

That general’s broken hand had never been properly treated, only wrapped and bandaged by fellow prisoners using torn strips of cloth. At this moment, one hand still hung from his neck with cloth strips. His temper was considerable—seeing Southern Chen people also in the hall, he immediately shook off the Pingzhou soldiers escorting him and shouted: “Don’t touch me!”

Wen Yu only watched all this with cold eyes.

Fang Mingda, always smooth, understood that even if Wen Yu eventually recognized reality and made concessions, once she became the Chen Prince’s consort, she would still be stepping on his head. Offending her too much would gain him nothing. He immediately rebuked: “Show some respect!”

That general had been confined in prison for many days. Because of his earlier provocation and foul temper, the jailers naturally wouldn’t give him a pleasant face. At this moment, his appearance was extremely wretched. Seeing the Southern Chen people, he still tried to get them to back him up: “Sir, this subordinate’s hand…”

Fang Mingda pointed at his nose and scolded: “You dared to be disrespectful to Wengzhu and ruin the great matter of alliance between two nations—never mind just this hand of yours, the heads of your entire clan wouldn’t be enough to chop off!”

Then he bowed again toward Wen Yu: “This youngster is uncouth. Please don’t blame him, Wengzhu.”

That general sensed Fang Mingda’s attitude was different. That last statement about chopping off his entire clan’s heads sounded more like a threat. He hastily looked toward Jiang Yu, but Jiang Yu lowered his eyes, avoiding meeting his gaze. The look Fang Mingda shot over was as vicious as if he wanted to crush him to death.

This general finally realized his situation was dire and didn’t dare make more noise, standing to the side with bowed head.

The Pingzhou soldiers escorting him saluted Wen Yu with cupped fists: “Wengzhu, the prisoner Liu Zhixian has been brought.”

Wen Yu waved her hand, signaling the two soldiers to withdraw. She stared at the general: “You’ve been disrespectful to my Great Liang multiple times. Even if this palace took your life, it would be justified.”

Liu Zhixian seemed unconvinced, his mouth corners twitching, but he ultimately made no sound.

Wen Yu’s gaze was icy: “Today your Southern Chen wants to deduce conquering my Pingzhou on this sand table. If you can win, this palace will let bygones be bygones regarding your previous disrespect. If you lose, this palace will behead you outside the gates. The envoy and the Chen Prince should have no objections to this, I presume?”

As she spoke, her gaze flicked toward Fang Mingda.

Fang Mingda hastily nodded: “Before this minor official departed, our King and Empress Dowager already instructed that this foolish general is at Wengzhu’s disposal.”

Then he turned his head and ordered Liu Zhixian: “Why don’t you quickly thank Wengzhu!”

Liu Zhixian abruptly raised his head, finally recognizing the reality that he had been abandoned by Southern Chen. He looked toward Jiang Yu as if wanting to speak, but was stopped by Jiang Yu’s glance.

Liu Zhixian’s heart suddenly turned cold. He understood that even if he exposed right now in this hall that everything was at Jiang Yu’s instruction, it would be futile. If he truly acted thus, Great Liang wouldn’t thank him, and Southern Chen would completely cease to tolerate him—it might even bring disaster to his wife, children, and clan.

In just a few breaths, Liu Zhixian was covered in cold sweat on his forehead, completely understanding that his only path to survival lay in this sand table deduction. He finally lowered his head toward Wen Yu: “This subordinate… thanks Wengzhu.”

Fang Mingda smiled ingratiatingly and asked Wen Yu: “I wonder which general Wengzhu’s side plans to send into battle?”

Wen Yu’s expression was bland: “This palace observes that your Southern Chen’s general here is not yet thirty years old. My Great Liang can also dispatch a young general to face him.”

Her gaze swept past many civil and military officials, landing on Xiao Li: “General Xiao, you go. This palace allocates you ten thousand troops. You must hold Bairen Pass.”

Xiao Li saluted Wen Yu with cupped fists: “This subordinate will certainly not fail in this mission.”

Fang Mingda didn’t know who Xiao Li was, but seeing he looked quite young and probably wasn’t any famous general, he felt no threat. However, Jiang Yu, having seen Xiao Li’s skill when he fought Liu Zhixian that day, slightly narrowed his eyes.

He whispered something to Fang Mingda. Fang Mingda’s expression flickered, then he bowed to Wen Yu: “Wengzhu, this foolish general has an injured hand. He’ll likely find it inconvenient to hold the staff during the demonstration. Could this minor official’s attendant help him hold the staff?”

Wen Yu had already guessed that his attendant was probably no simple person. However, this request was reasonable. Her gaze rested on his attendant for two breaths before she nodded in agreement.

The sand table had long been set up. The officials in the room stood on both sides of the sand table, watching from a distance all around.

Xiao Li stood on the side of the sand table representing Pingzhou and saluted with cupped fists toward the opposite side: “Great Liang, Xiao Li.”

Liu Zhixian looked at that handsome face and felt the crushed bones in his hand aching again. Knowing this wasn’t the time, he still couldn’t hide the venom in his eyes. Since one hand was injured, he simply didn’t return the salute with cupped fists, biting out through clenched teeth with hatred: “Southern Chen, Liu Zhixian.”

According to sand table deduction rules, before formal engagement, both sides needed to briefly describe their own general terrain and topography, troop strength and weapon allocations, and how many days their grain supplies could last.

Xiao Li sensed the other party’s hostility. Unmoved, he held the long staff and pointed at the area on the sand table representing Pingzhou: “My Great Liang has ten thousand soldiers guarding the pass. Armor and weapons are all allocated for elite troops. Eighty catapults, over thirty crossbow beds, over one hundred thousand arrows. Grain supplies are sufficient until autumn.”

After saying this, he looked not at Liu Zhixian but at the attendant holding the staff for him. Then his long staff shifted from pointing at Pingzhou city to the blade-like towering mountain ranges outside Pingzhou: “The Great Wall outside Bairen Pass is built along the mountains, stretching for hundreds of li. The walls are over two zhang high, rising and falling with the mountain terrain. Every three li there’s a beacon tower. If enemy situation arises, messages can be transmitted to the entire army within a quarter hour. Moreover, because the mountain terrain is extremely treacherous, when enemies come, marching is difficult. Scaling ladders cannot reach, rocks cannot strike. The only route to attack the city is the narrow stone stairway path where the city gate is located. All invaders can be shot and killed with volleys of arrows.”

What he described were all the defensive key points of Bairen Pass that Southern Chen had already thoroughly researched. Jiang Yu listened without a word. Turning his head as if waiting for Liu Zhixian to give him instructions, he was actually using eye signals to hint to Liu Zhixian.

Though Liu Zhixian harbored resentment toward Southern Chen in his heart, having worked under Jiang Yu for many years, he feared this superior in his very bones, much less at such a life-or-death moment. Fortunately, at present they were only introducing basic troop allocations. Jiang Yu was reminding him it was time to speak up.

He restrained his chest full of resentment and pointed his hand in the air at the dense forest on both sides of the narrow path outside Bairen Pass on the sand table: “My Southern Chen has eighty thousand troops, all allocated as elite soldiers. Using the mountain forest for cover, we camp among the trees. We can construct siege equipment without counting the numbers. Grain supplies are delivered monthly and can last worry-free until year’s end.”

Jiang Yu then marked out an approximate range on the sand table according to his words and planted Southern Chen’s banners.

Many Liang officials had already changed color slightly when they heard Southern Chen’s attack on Bairen Pass involved eighty thousand troops. Their previous deductions assumed Southern Chen could at most deploy fifty thousand troops. Now it seemed they had underestimated Southern Chen.

Wen Yu sat in the main seat, watching the sand table with a calm expression, impossible to discern her thoughts.

Hearing the number eighty thousand, Xiao Li also lightly raised an eyebrow. Then he finally truly looked Liu Zhixian in the eye. Amid the other’s expression of half resentment and half pride, he said coldly: “Your nation is the attacking side. General Liu, please proceed first.”