The supply army had long grown accustomed to the Eagle Guard’s behavior of “subordinates defying superiors,” so no one stepped forward to help either side.

Mu Chun fought four men alone and achieved a draw.

He wiped away the nosebleed, put on his hat, and said, “Well fought! Getting off the horses to exercise our muscles and bones—doesn’t that make you feel less cold?”

The four subordinates collectively rolled eight white eyes at Mu Chun.

Mu Chun remounted his horse. “We’ll reach the Zhouzhi County relay station soon—this time I’m really not lying to you. If I’m deceiving you, I’ll crawl in the snow and bark like a dog.”

Having made this solemn oath, his subordinates half-believed him and continued following. But they hadn’t walked even two steps when they heard rhythmic, melodious sounds of reading coming from the north.

In these desolate mountains and wilderness, where could reading sounds come from? Could it be ghosts in broad daylight?

Mu Chun took off his hat—this way he could hear more clearly. “Hey, do you hear anything?”

His subordinates said, “Sounds like scholars. Could there be an academy in these mountains?”

Mu Chun pulled out his sheepskin map. “Strange, it’s not marked on the map. Wait here, I’ll go closer to listen.”

Mu Chun spurred his horse to the mountainside, and the sound became clearer—it seemed like a group of people were reciting poetry:

“The gallant gentleman should be most charming, wearing armor and wielding weapons like a jade flute at Jade Gate. Conquering eight thousand li beyond the frontier, seeing smoke and removing armor to visit chrysanthemums.”

Mu Chun was stunned: The poem that Sister Shanwei gave me—how could it appear here? Could it be…

Mu Chun immediately gathered his subordinates, scratched a few lines in the snow with his finger to arrange tactics, then spurred his horse up the mountain alone.

Subordinate: “Should we really listen to him? Seems somewhat unreliable.”

Another subordinate: “Anyway, he’s doing the most dangerous work. Even if he’s a bastard, he’s a brave bastard who leads from the front. Let’s listen to him.”

The subordinate nodded: “Mm, makes sense.”

Inside Eighteen Villages Stronghold.

Hu Shanwei commanded three hundred Embroidered Uniform Guards and five hundred bandits: “Once more!”

Centurion Shi was nearly crying, “What wet poems have I ever touched in this lifetime? Today I have to memorize it ten times—I really can’t do it!”

Only Ji Gang knew what was happening: This was “Eating Crabs and Drinking Chrysanthemum Wine at a Hangzhou Wine Tower with Jingchun on the Twentieth Day of the Seventh Month” that Hu Shanwei had given to Mu Chun, written on a Sichuan gold fan. Mu Chun had once shown off with the fan in the middle of the night. He had honestly said the writing wasn’t good, and the two had even fought over it. Now when Mu Chun heard this poem, he would understand that Hu Shanwei was in the stronghold, and that there were bad people outside…

Outside Eighteen Villages Stronghold.

General Lu was dumbfounded: What was going on?

If it was just a warning call for help, the Embroidered Uniform Guards had plenty of firearms—firing one shot would be heard throughout the entire valley. Why would they collectively recite such nonsensical third-rate verses?

Could it be that everyone inside had gone mad like Prince Qin’s consort?

General Lu was completely puzzled and dared not launch an attack at this moment.

Before long, Mu Chun came riding up alone. Seeing Prince Qin’s banners, he looked upon them like seeing relatives and warmly greeted General Lu: “Old Lu, is that you? Coming up the mountain to suppress bandits?”

General Lu looked at the scruffy-bearded Mu Chun and didn’t recognize him at first. Mu Chun took off his hat and showed his official plaque: “I’m Mu Chun. We’ve met many times in the capital.”

Prince Qin was Emperor Hongwu’s second son, and Mu Chun’s father Mu Ying was Emperor Hongwu’s adopted son. Mu Chun had been raised by Empress Ma since infancy, so he was very familiar with all of the Ming Dynasty’s princes.

General Lu’s impression of Mu Chun still remained at the “demon king troublemaker” stage, and he was somewhat surprised: “How did Young Master Mu come to the northwest? Why aren’t you flying your own Mu family military banner but using the Feng family’s banner?”

Mu Chun laughed heartily: “Of course I came to deliver supplies and earn some military merit along the way, so I’ll look better when I’m enfeoffed as heir apparent in the future—to avoid people always saying I can only rely on my father. As for the banner, my father thinks I’m a disgrace and won’t give me the Mu family banner. So I stole my uncle’s banner, hoping to borrow some of my grandfather’s prestige—by the way, I heard someone reciting poetry down the mountain and was very curious. The map clearly doesn’t show any academy here.”

Still the same demon king troublemaker, not even understanding the situation yet daring to wander up alone.

Since Mu Chun had come single-handedly with a relaxed expression, General Lu didn’t suspect anything and said:

“It’s not an academy—it’s a group of bandits. These bandits are audaciously bold, actually robbing the gifts Prince Qin sent to Their Imperial Majesties and killing Liu Siyan and the others. Today I’ve come on Prince Qin’s orders to suppress the bandits and eliminate Eighteen Villages Stronghold. They’re beyond redemption, and refusing to surrender while resisting stubbornly. Driven to desperation and surrounded on all sides, they’re reciting a crooked poem, trying to imitate Zhuge Liang’s Empty Fort Strategy from the Three Kingdoms to confuse me. It’s truly laughable.”

“Fighting bandits?” Mu Chun clapped his hands in delight. “That sounds fun! I want to suppress bandits too! I’ll call my brothers over right now—”

“Young Master Mu!” General Lu thought this was bad. “Aren’t you in a hurry to deliver supplies to the frontier? How could we delay Young Master Mu’s future prospects? Just leave this to us.”

“I’m working for my future prospects!” Mu Chun showed a shameless dandy’s face and said, “Let’s practice on the bandits first. After all, bandits are easier to fight than Northern Yuan armies, right? When you write the victory report, make sure to include my name and record me a merit.”

He was actually here to steal credit!

Prince Qin’s府兵 looked at each other: We have never seen such a shameless person!

General Lu really wanted to strangle Mu Chun, but the supply convoy was waiting for Mu Chun’s return down the mountain. He could only endure for now—after all, Mu Chun’s father, his uncle, and his maternal great-uncle were all not to be trifled with.

Mu Chun supported himself with one hand on the cannon platform, flipped over, and rode astride the thick, long iron cannon barrel.

General Lu: “Young Master Mu, be careful! If the cannonball explodes in the barrel, you’ll be blown to pieces!”

Mu Chun paid no attention, perching on the cannon barrel like a monkey, looking left and right, even lying flat on the barrel with his body parallel to it, eyes looking straight ahead, saying:

“You need to adjust the cannon angle higher, directly bombing the cliff behind the stronghold. When the cliff rocks tumble down and flatten the stronghold, crushing half the bandits first, then we launch a frontal attack. With the bandits caught between two sides, they definitely can’t hold out and will quickly surrender, and we’ll win.”

General Lu said, “Our cannons have an effective range of only two hundred and fifty meters—just enough to hit the stronghold’s gates and walls.”

You don’t need to tell me that!

General Lu thought, might as well kill this annoying fellow, then launch the attack and pin Mu Chun’s death on Eighteen Villages Stronghold…

Mu Chun punched the cannon barrel. “You can’t do it, but I can! This supply mission mainly carries winter cotton clothing, but besides that, there are also ten cannons that the gunpowder factory made imitating Frankish cannons. Each cannon weighs over three thousand catties, with an effective range of a full two li—they’re prepared for the future northern expedition to counter Northern Yuan cavalry. Hitting the cliff behind the stronghold is more than sufficient. During this year’s grand military review, the Divine Engine Battalion demonstrated them before His Majesty—divinely brave and invincible, exploding like overturning mountains and seas, so exciting! I’ll have my brothers push them up for you to see. Fifty cannonballs will guarantee blasting the cliff in two and filling up the stronghold.”

The Northern Yuan were a nomadic people, skilled in mounted archery. Ming armies usually relied on firearms and cannons to counter their cavalry charges. For this purpose, Emperor Hongwu had specially established a gunpowder factory in the capital to research various new firearms, currently mainly imitating (copying) firearms from various Western nations.

General Lu was tempted. He had to admit that this idiot Mu Chun’s plan was quite good—it could quickly end the battle, and moreover, if anything went wrong, he could shift the blame to this credit-stealing hothead and drag him down too.

“Old Lu, wait for me. I’ll go call my brothers to push up the Frankish cannons.” Mu Chun leaped onto his horse and went down the mountain.

So when General Lu watched Mu Chun directing soldiers to push the brand-new cannons up one by one, he had no wariness at all, allowing them to come up the mountain.

Halfway up the mountain, Mu Chun’s supply army suddenly stopped. Not only that, they adjusted the angles of the cannon platforms on their carts, turning the dark cannon muzzles toward General Lu and his men.

They’d been tricked!

General Lu roared: “Turn the cannons around and fire! Damn it, fire at them!”

Boom!

The supply army’s cannonballs hit the middle of the five thousand府兵, instantly killing and wounding countless men.

Although Prince Qin’s cannonballs had the advantage of high ground, firing downward, their limited range meant most cannonballs fell in no-man’s land.

When cannons with a range of two hundred and fifty meters fought against new Frankish cannons with a range of two li, it was like a short-armed Tyrannosaurus Rex boxing against a long-armed kangaroo—the kangaroo’s punches were landing on its head, while the poor T-Rex had its arms stretched straight out but still couldn’t touch the other’s hair.

At this time, the gates of Eighteen Villages Stronghold opened wide. Five hundred bandits pushed out earth cannons to return fire, while three hundred Embroidered Uniform Guards lit their matchlock guns in a coordinated inside-outside attack.

The five thousand府兵, caught between two sides, suffered heavy losses. Those who died died, those who surrendered surrendered. In despair, General Lu drew his sword and committed suicide.

Xi’an City.

The frontier garrison commands coordinated with the Embroidered Uniform Guards to surround Prince Qin’s palace, imprisoning the steward and other servants in jail for severe interrogation.

The steward confessed to the whereabouts of Liu Siyan and his party:

After Liu Siyan’s tongue was cut out, he and the murdered Embroidered Uniform Guards were taken to the cremation ground outside Xi’an—used for burning lepers and other infectious disease victims—and burned to ashes, their bones crushed and scattered to the wind, leaving nothing behind.

In his fury, Ji Gang ordered the steward to be subjected to death by a thousand cuts.

But involving a prince and side consort, Ji Gang didn’t dare act on his own authority. Hu Shanwei summarized Prince Qin and Side Consort Deng’s crimes in twenty-four articles, attached evidence and confessions. Ji Gang and Mu Chun both signed and sealed at the bottom to verify the matter, sending people traveling day and night to the capital to report and await Their Imperial Majesties’ judgment. Princess Qin and the eunuch Ma Sanbao served as witnesses and also went to the capital.

After handling all this, it was already nightfall, with snow falling silently.

Hu Shanwei was reviewing the case files of Liu Siyan and his party’s murder. Though everything was written in ink, to her eyes, every character was blood.

The magnificent and luxurious Prince Qin’s palace was actually hell underneath. She didn’t want to stay here for even a moment, but she had to remain here, awaiting Their Imperial Majesties’ final judgment to completely resolve this matter before she could leave this demon’s lair and return to the capital.

Knock knock knock!

Someone was knocking on the door. “Sister Shanwei, are you asleep?”

It was Mu Chun.

Since their reunion at Eighteen Villages Stronghold, she and he had coordinated with each other to turn the situation around, then had been busy non-stop handling various matters. Even when they met, they only hurriedly nodded to each other, with no opportunity to sit down alone and talk.

Hu Shanwei opened the door. Mu Chun stood in the doorway covered in snow and wind. “Sister Shanwei, I’ve come to bid farewell. Tomorrow I must continue delivering supplies and can’t stay in Xi’an any longer. After that I’ll garrison the frontier, awaiting Duke Weiguo’s deployment.”

There were only two months left until spring. From the current situation of Ming’s active war preparations, after spring began, Ming would start the fourth northern expedition.

Since ancient times, peace had always been won through fighting. Compromise, retreat, and marriage alliances could never bring lasting peace.

Hu Shanwei made a sound of acknowledgment, holding onto the door frame and standing in the doorway, seemingly having no intention of letting him in to reminisce and talk in detail, leaving him to freeze outside.

Mu Chun was in a difficult position. Today’s Sister Shanwei seemed different—perhaps because she’d recently been frightened and surrounded by various crimes of Prince Qin’s palace every day, making her mentally disturbed.

Mu Chun coughed twice as a reminder: “After this parting, our next meeting will probably have to wait until after the northern expedition ends.”

Hu Shanwei’s form swayed, finally showing some response. She raised her head but didn’t look at him, her gaze falling vacantly on the swirling snow outside. “Since you’re departing tomorrow, go back and rest well. I still need to review case files. Good night.”

Hu Shanwei closed the door, pressing her body tightly against it, making the door panels creak and groan. She closed her eyes as memories surged like a tide.

Why was it like this again?

The only person who missed her, cared for her, always thought of her, whom she considered a kindred spirit—yet one after another, they all said the same words to her:

“I’m going on the northern expedition. Our next meeting will probably have to wait until after the northern expedition ends…”

Their choices were all right. Besides supporting them, she had no other choice.

Mu Chun was rebuffed, feeling truly uncomfortable. He had been full of expectations that Sister Shanwei would bless him, encourage him, and remind him—even one glance from her could bring him warmth.

But she showed nothing.

Mu Chun was unwilling to give up. His fist was already at the door panel, ready to knock again, but he feared Sister Shanwei would be unhappy.

At this moment he didn’t know that his fist, separated by only a thin door panel, was placed against Hu Shanwei’s heart.

Mu Chun lowered his fist, turned around, and walked into the wind and snow.

Suddenly, with a creak, the door opened. He heard footsteps behind him stepping into the soft accumulated snow—quick and urgent, but ultimately stopping without approaching.

He heard the person behind him say: “I did everything I could. I gave him thousands of words of advice to take care. I took out all my savings and went to the medicine shop to buy various emergency pills and ginseng pills to give him, hoping they could help him avoid illness and pain on the battlefield.”

“I ate only vegetarian food, I went to pray to Buddha, I gave charity to the poor… I did everything that could bring peace and safety, but it was completely useless—he didn’t come back.”

“So this time I don’t want to do anything, because I don’t want to wait for the same result again.”

Mu Chun turned around and saw Hu Shanwei standing in the snow wearing only indoor single clothes, tears frozen into ice crystals on her eyelashes, sparkling and translucent.

So in Sister Shanwei’s heart, I’m already in the same important position as her fiancé. Mu Chun quickly ran over, took off the warm bright red orangutan felt from his body, wrapped it around Hu Shanwei, and said:

“You don’t need to wait for my result. You just need to do your own things well and grow a good shell to protect yourself. I’m the same—do my own things well and grow a shell that even my father can’t break. After tonight’s parting, we’ll each show respect. We’ll both be fine.”