In August, a heavy downpour had just ceased in Chang’an.

On the damp Dragon Tail Path before the Hanyuan Hall, Liu Wenji, dressed in the attire of the Imperial Palace’s Chief Steward, walked with Zhao Gong following behind him, trailed by more palace eunuchs.

The Hanyuan Hall had just concluded a fierce debate between court officials and palace eunuchs, with both sides departing in discord. After Liu Xiangong’s departure to the Western Regions, the hatred between the court officials and eunuchs had become openly hostile, beyond concealment. The Emperor could not mediate and could only watch helplessly.

Zhao Gong followed behind Liu Wenji with a servile yet satisfied expression. “Your Grace can rest easy now. His Majesty has sent Yan Suchen to Jiannan. Yan Suchen is merely a civil official who knows nothing of warfare. We all saw his absurd analysis and commands regarding military affairs in his memorials… His armchair strategizing is simply laughable.”

“Sending such a person as commander will inevitably lead to peace negotiations. And for negotiations, Your Grace will still be needed.”

Liu Wenji remained silent.

For three to four months, Yan Shang had been focused on military affairs. Initially, he merely advised the court to fight, but later began freely issuing military commands and teaching others how to wage war. The Emperor was most annoyed by Yan Shang’s instructions on how to handle matters, reading his daily memorials with visible irritation.

Now, due to Liu Xiangong’s matter, the conflict between the scholar-official faction and the eunuch faction had become so intense that the Emperor, feeling guilty, dared not go against the officials’ wishes by insisting on peace negotiations. Since Yan Shang was so enthusiastic about military affairs, the Emperor had private discussions with him, and today at court, to appease the officials, he appointed Yan Shang as commander, putting him in charge of the Jiannan campaign.

This compromise prevented the officials from causing an uproar during the morning court session.

But Liu Wenji felt uneasy.

He felt that letting Yan Shang interfere wasn’t a good thing.

Of course, Yan Shang didn’t know how to wage war. He had never fought a single battle. His armchair strategizing seemed logical, but when Liu Wenji asked several generals stationed in Chang’an, they all said such methods wouldn’t work on an actual battlefield.

Liu Wenji had privately negotiated terms with the Southern Barbarians, and to keep his dealings hidden, he had been subtly assisting them. Theoretically, sending an inexperienced Yan Shang to Jiannan should have put him at ease… but Liu Wenji knew his old friend too well.

Never fight without preparation.

Never speak unnecessarily about others or their affairs.

Practice caution in words and actions.

Would such a person repeatedly issue reckless commands regarding Jiannan?

Liu Wenji sighed and said softly, “Whether sending Yan Shang to Jiannan is good or bad remains to be seen. Let’s not discuss it further. We’ve been having a difficult time lately. That son-in-law who wasn’t meant to be is watching for our weaknesses, causing us trouble daily.”

He was referring to Wei Shu.

Zhao Gong’s eyes flashed with anger.

“An impudent young fool who doesn’t know what’s good for him! He’ll suffer for it sooner or later!” Zhao Gong exclaimed.

Liu Wenji rubbed his forehead and sighed, “Enough. Since His Majesty wants Yan Shang in Jiannan, we’ll have to withdraw from Jiannan affairs. Fortunately, we still have the Western Regions battlefield… Peace negotiations are the reasonable path, yet those unyielding ministers don’t understand. They all shout about not dividing our territory, not becoming slaves of a fallen nation. But negotiations haven’t even begun, why such intensity?”

Liu Wenji paused, “Now even His Majesty is being drawn to their side.”

The Emperor, fearing the ministers’ emotional outbursts might cause major incidents, dared not speak of peace negotiations anymore.

Zhao Gong joined in the criticism.

Liu Wenji pondered that since they couldn’t interfere with the Jiannan campaign, they would have to focus on the Western Regions. His greatest fear was losing his power, and to maintain that power, even if it meant stepping into a quagmire, he had to continue—

In the Jiannan military camp, Yan Shang had become the new Military Governor of All Jiannan Circuits.

Judging by how quickly he arrived in Jiannan, he had already left Guangzhou before the imperial edict from Chang’an arrived.

Current events largely fell within Yan Shang’s expectations, with only some discrepancies—such as the previous commander’s death.

In their months of correspondence, Yan Shang and the commander had planned for Yan Shang to find a way to transfer the commander out of Jiannan so he could take over.

The commander was skilled in warfare but didn’t understand politics and couldn’t handle pressure from the central government. But Yan Shang could.

The only issue was that the transfers would take too much time. Before Yan Shang could act, the commander had taken his own life, using the fastest method to make way for Yan Shang. This outcome was particularly difficult to accept.

Standing in the previous commander’s main tent, Yan Shang reviewed their correspondence on the desk, reading how the commander repeatedly described his torment in Jiannan. A general should be on the battlefield, yet he was trapped in camp playing politics, ultimately leading to this result.

Yan Shang’s fingers resting on the desk trembled slightly as he closed his eyes.

He thought this was the first person he knew who had died in this war.

More would die in this war later.

He would try his best to protect them, but he might not be able to protect everyone.

No matter how painful it was, he had to bear it. Let true military talents fight the war with gunpowder, while he would support them, ensuring they could fight without worries, waging this smokeless war behind them. Only then could he do justice to the commander’s death and the sacrifices of many others.

To secure his transfer to Jiannan, Yan Shang negotiated many conditions with the Emperor. To prevent peace negotiations, he directly promised to end the war within a year, without requiring all military expenses and provisions from the court. The court would only provide half, and Yan Shang would procure the other half himself.

If after a year the war remained unresolved, or if Yan Shang dragged the entire Great Wei to defeat, he would accept responsibility for the war with his life.

The Emperor, only interested in wealth and pleasure, agreed to Yan Shang’s conditions, allowing him to come to Jiannan.

After contemplating in the tent for a while, Yan Shang turned and called out, “Have the generals enter, bring in the imperial eunuchs from the central government, and summon Yang Si.”

Before the generals and eunuchs, Yan Shang pleasantly arranged for these eunuchs to return to Chang’an, stating that henceforth in Jiannan’s battlefield, only his words would count, and the central government would no longer interfere.

The eunuchs were suspicious, but the arrow Yan Shang had shot earlier had weakened their resolve, and they dared not argue with this seemingly gentle but forceful new commander. One eunuch forced a smile and mentioned they hadn’t received the imperial edict.

Yan Shang said mildly, “The imperial edict is already on its way. If you gentlemen return now, you might meet it halfway. Wouldn’t that save effort, benefiting us all?”

The eunuchs were speechless.

The generals in the tent were particularly pleased watching Yan Shang dismiss the eunuchs from Jiannan with a few words, feeling that their previous frustrations had been vented. Their gaze toward the new commander was no longer as sharp and disdainful as before—this new commander was refined and elegant, like a jade gentleman discussing literature in Chang’an, not like a general who could take to the battlefield.

They had thought the central government had casually sent a weak scholar to perfunctorily handle military affairs, but now it seemed this weak scholar could drive away the eunuchs and dared to execute the executioner upon arrival, apparently not aligned with the Emperor.

Next, before the generals, Yan Shang had Yang Si unbound and casually appointed him as general.

The entire camp was in an uproar.

A general objected, “Commander…”

How could a criminal directly become a general? Even the previous commander would consider everyone’s temperament and wouldn’t be so crude! This person knows nothing about warfare, giving blind commands!

Yan Shang pleasantly interrupted, “I am the Supreme Commander of the Army, the only third-rank high official here, responsible for all military affairs in Jiannan. Victory or defeat, I take full responsibility, you need not worry. If you truly have suggestions, officials above third rank may speak directly to me, those below third rank need not open their mouths.”

The generals were speechless.

Those ranking higher than Yan Shang’s current position were probably only the current Prime Minister and the Six Ministers, right? Who else would qualify to offer suggestions to Yan Shang?

In the tent, Yan Shang looked at Yang Si.

Yang Si gave him a casual, somewhat mocking smile—after many years, Second Young Master Yan’s temperament had grown stronger—

After the soldiers withdrew, Yan Shang kept Yang Si in camp, and soon after, Zhao Lingfei rushed in.

Seeing her cousin safe, Zhao Lingfei jumped up crying and laughing, overjoyed. Seeing Yan Shang was like seeing family, filling them with a sense of security.

Zhao Lingfei was animated: “I was about to act when Han Shuxing suddenly grabbed my arm from behind to stop me. I almost fought with Han Shuxing when I saw Second Brother Yan shoot the arrow… Second Brother Yan appearing suddenly scared me to death!”

Yang Si thought of the arrow Yan Shang and Mu Wanyao had jointly shot at Meng Zai Shi on Mount Zhong years ago.

Yang Si clicked his tongue: “Second Yan has always been skilled at archery. You should learn this skill properly, if you studied it well, perhaps today you’d also be a master archer, able to take to the battlefield…”

Zhao Lingfei’s eyes were full of admiration for Yan Shang as she countered Yang Si: “Wouldn’t it be a waste for someone like Second Brother Yan to go to the battlefield? Second Brother Yan not going to the battlefield is what makes him most formidable! Second Brother Yan, didn’t the Princess come with you? Tell us, how did you suddenly arrive? We hadn’t heard any news at all. Second Brother Yan, you’re too amazing…”

“Could you be an immortal? Did you divine that we were in trouble?”

Yan Shang smiled helplessly; after many years, Fifth Miss Zhao was still chattering and lively as ever, not letting him get a word in. However, neither he nor Yang Si stopped Zhao Lingfei; she had been suppressed for so long because of Zhao Gong, it was rare for her to be so happy and talkative, how precious it was.

Then a soldier reported outside that new visitors had come to pay respects. The tent flap lifted, and Yan Xiazhou and Han Shuxing entered one after another.

Yan Xiazhou saw that her beloved young lord was indeed with her brother, just as her brother had said through Han Shuxing’s message… Her brother had said he would save Third Young Master Yang, and he hadn’t lied!

Yan Xiazhou rushed over and hugged Yan Shang, overjoyed: “Second Brother! You came… Second Brother, you look much better than when you were in Chang’an, are you and Second Sister-in-law living well in Lingnan? Why didn’t Second Sister-in-law come? I thought you two went everywhere together.”

Yan Shang caught his little sister who had thrown herself into his arms, surprised that she too had become so talkative, making him smile. Hearing both Yan Xiazhou and Zhao Lingfei ask about Mu Wanyao, he felt embarrassed.

He thought everyone seemed to think he and Her Highness were always together.

He said sheepishly: “The journey is tiring, and we each have our tasks to accomplish, we’re not always together.”

Seeing her second brother blush, Yan Xiazhou politely dropped the subject.

Zhao Lingfei teased: “I thought with Her Highness’s possessiveness over Second Brother Yan, she wouldn’t let him be away from her sight for long. Her Highness only feels at ease when Second Brother Yan is under her constant watch.”

Yang Si observed Yan Er, remembering Mu Wanyao’s temperament, and also showed an ambiguous smile, staring at Yan Shang. With Yao Yao’s domineering personality, only someone with Yan Er’s good temper could handle it.

Yan Shang coughed once, unwilling to discuss his personal feelings further. He said: “Third Yang, for this war, I strongly advocate for you to be the main general. If you lead this war, are you confident you can win?”

Seeing that he didn’t want to satisfy the girls’ gossip, Yang Si followed Yan Shang in changing the topic. Yang Si said slowly: “If the backup is strong and supplies are sufficient, I can certainly ensure the Southern Barbarians won’t return from whence they came.”

Yan Shang nodded: “One year is the deadline.”

Yang Si’s eyes flickered, and after pondering for a moment, he slowly nodded.

Yan Shang: “In that case, you go fight the war, I’ll figure out the military provisions.”

Zhao Lingfei and Yan Xiazhou, one sensitive to court affairs and one quick-witted, both looked at Yan Shang with slight surprise at his words. Yang Si reacted more slowly than the two women: “The court won’t provide provisions?”

Yan Shang said: “Only half. No matter, I can gather provisions from local gentry and various noble families. Third Brother, just focus on fighting the war, don’t worry about these things, about dealing with the central government. You just need to win the war… that will be helping me.”

Yan Xiazhou looked worried, suspecting her brother had made a highly pressured promise. She volunteered: “For gathering provisions, I’ll help Second Brother…”

Zhao Lingfei interrupted: “No, Sister Xiazhou should continue looking after the wounded. Sister Xiazhou is a delicate lady, going between the homes of noble families would be quite inappropriate. While Second Brother Yan has friends everywhere, it should be easier for him to gather provisions than for any of us.”

Yan Shang nodded with a smile.

Zhao Lingfei’s eyes brightened: “I’ll join Second Brother Yan too! I’m the daughter of the Minister of War, perfect for approaching different sources than Second Brother Yan. I’ll borrow provisions from local governments while Second Brother Yan gathers from noble families. No matter how much provisions Cousin needs, we can provide! Having this under our control is much better than letting others hold leverage over us.”

Yan Shang sighed: “Fifth Miss has grown up so much.”

Next came the discussion of how to wage the war. Although Yan Shang said he couldn’t command, he still wanted to hear Yang Si’s thoughts.

After listening to Yang Si’s plans for surrounding and deceiving the Southern Barbarians, Yan Shang’s eyes flickered slightly as he said slowly: “Wasn’t Jiannan’s previous stance always about negotiating peace with the Southern Barbarians? Why don’t we notify them to come negotiate, and have their commanders come? If we could catch them all at once…”

Yang Si raised his eyebrows.

He folded his arms and sighed: “Second Yan, you’re quite devious, acting so contrary to principles? If the world learns how you schemed against the Southern Barbarians, using peace talks to lure them in, they’ll never again call you a gentleman.”

Yan Shang: “There are no gentlemen in officialdom. Those who wish to be gentlemen can’t be officials.”

In mid-August, Great Wei began peace negotiations with the Southern Barbarians in Jiannan.

Upon receiving the message, King Ale laughed wildly three times, half his pressure lifted. He had mobilized his entire nation to war with Great Wei; if they lost, the Southern Barbarians might cease to exist as a nation. With all their forces committed to war, even their reserves were strained. Great Wei’s peace offer was like a lifeline.

Meng Zai Shi reminded King Ale: “Jiannan’s newly appointed commander is Yan Shang, and he’s not easy to deal with. Your Majesty should beware of his deceptions; he wouldn’t seek peace without fighting first.”

Meng Zai Shi said coldly: “If we want to win, we should assassinate Yan Shang. Now, while Jiannan hasn’t yet realized Yan Shang’s capabilities, if we assassinate him, we might win half the war.”

King Ale dismissed this: “You… I’ve heard about your affairs in Chang’an back then. Didn’t you just lose to Yan Shang in competing for a woman? She’s just a Great Wei princess, when we win, how many more could we have? You’re just too fixated on that princess, that’s why you’re fixated on Yan Shang.”

“The peace talks are their emperor’s idea, aren’t those Great Wei ministers supposed to be afraid to defy their emperor? And didn’t you say that Yan Shang was delicate and knew nothing of warfare? Meng Zai Shi, are you being too cautious about Great Wei because you suffered losses in Chang’an back then?”

Meng Zai Shi wanted to persuade further but thought, why bother? King Ale’s misfortune would benefit him.

So he admitted to being afraid.

King Ale laughed heartily.

But King Ale hadn’t completely lost his head to the joy of victory. On the first day of negotiations, held in Jiannan’s border commandery, King Ale didn’t appear personally but sent Meng Zai Shi and other chief commanders to negotiate at the opponent’s military camp.

In the camp, Meng Zai Shi walked at the rear of several generals. He lazily raised his eyelids, looking at the camp’s banners and at Yan Shang, who stood before the camp smiling to welcome them. When the Southern Barbarian generals saw how refined and cultured Yan Shang was in person, their last trace of worry disappeared.

Yan Shang smiled: “I’ve prepared wine and food in the camp for the generals, we can discuss while we dine.”

A Southern Barbarian general was tempted: “I’ve heard Jiannan has a particularly strong wine…”

Yan Shang understood: “Jiannan Spring Spirit? We have it.”

The Southern Barbarians grew eager; accustomed to their savage ways, just having a taste of Great Wei’s wine would make life worth living… Why shouldn’t they have Great Wei’s wealth?

Yan Shang toasted each person at the banquet, using his poor alcohol tolerance as an excuse not to drink himself. Those Southern Barbarians lost all restraint at the sight of fine wine and food, and even those with some self-control wavered now. Undoubtedly, the Southern Barbarians were too poor.

Poverty destroys willpower, makes one unable to resist temptation, and fills one with ambition for wealth and status.

Yan Shang offered wine to Meng Zai Shi, who sat cross-legged and didn’t drink. Watching the courtesans’ dance performance, Meng Zai Shi and Yan Shang sized each other up.

Meng Zai Shi smiled ambiguously, lowering his voice: “Second Young Master Yan, you’ve drugged the wine, haven’t you?”

Yan Shang’s expression remained unchanged, maintaining his smile: “General can try it and find out, can’t you?”

Meng Zai Shi: “Such a crude method.”

Yan Shang smiled: “Crude doesn’t matter, as long as it works.”

Meng Zai Shi: “When we met in Chang’an back then, I never imagined we’d have today.”

Yan Shang tilted his head, setting down his wine cup. He lowered his eyes and smiled: “You didn’t imagine it? How strange, I imagined it back then.”

A sharp light rose in Meng Zai Shi’s eyes.

He lowered his voice: “We can still cooperate.”

Yan Shang sighed softly: “Then General should first give me some benefits, let me see the advantages of cooperation.”

As soon as the words were spoken, Meng Zai Shi suddenly felt his entire body tense, sensing unprecedented danger. Like a hunting leopard, he leaped up violently, overturning the table before him and rolling several times onto the space in the hall. Behind him came continuous bang-bang-bang sounds of pursuit, as Meng Zai Shi leaped, rolled, and dodged several times.

He lifted a long table to block the sword behind him.

Meanwhile, the entire banquet erupted into chaos, Great Wei generals each drew their swords from the tables and rose, the dancing courtesans fled in panic, and from all four corners of the hall, Great Wei soldiers surrounded them. The Southern Barbarians who had been enjoying the beauties and fine wine drew their swords and rose violently, but each lost strength, feeling dizzy and disoriented.

Meng Zai Shi watched coldly, seeing that the person holding the sword with an imposing presence was Third Young Master Yang, Yang Si. Yang Si crouched on an overturned table, eyes fixed on him.

Meng Zai Shi dared not be careless.

Other Southern Barbarians shouted: “You poisoned the wine! You’re treacherous! Poisoning during peace talks!”

Yan Shang hadn’t moved at all.

He still knelt at the table where he had just been talking with Meng Zai Shi, watching the chaos in the room. Yan Shang said flatly: “I don’t understand what these barbarians are saying.”

He ordered: “Kill them—”

Meng Zai Shi watched Yang Si, saw him stand up, and saw Great Wei soldiers surrounding them. Meng Zai Shi smiled: “Impressive. So Great Wei people can also be this unprincipled, playing such a move.”

Yang Si smiled: “We learn from each other.”

Meng Zai Shi: “Is Third Young Master Yang targeting me to kill? Among all these people, I might be the most sympathetic to your side.”

Yang Si spoke casually yet somewhat seriously: “Who told me I only know you? I think… someone as formidable as you dying would be better for our Great Wei. Don’t you agree?”

Meng Zai Shi: “What a coincidence, I also think you and Second Young Master Yan dying would be better for our Wu Man.”

Yang Si continued smiling, Meng Zai Shi watching his smile. Both men wore smiles on their faces, but the light in their eyes grew increasingly fierce. Then without warning, both leaped up simultaneously, moving like lightning and leopards, striking at each other. Sword light illuminated their eyes—

“The unfinished military exhibition battle in Chang’an that day, today we restart it—let’s see which of us will prevail!”

Great Wei’s peace talk deception inflicted heavy losses on the Southern Barbarians. Meng Zai Shi fought desperately alongside several Southern Barbarian generals to break out of the Great Wei military camp, but half the Southern Barbarian generals who came to negotiate died in the Great Wei camp. King Ale was furious and launched an attack on Jiannan that very day.

The warfare that had stopped for a month began anew.

From this point, it entered a period of intense, life-or-death struggle.

This period lasted half a year.

Yang Si grew on the battlefield like a war god, his military talent winning the respect of Jiannan’s generals, who no longer dared look down on him. Their commander Yan Shang earned even more admiration from these soldiers. Yan Shang rarely interfered with the war, generally only listening in on the generals’ strategies.

Yan Shang shielded them from various opinions and meddling from the central government.

While the Western Regions battlefield was dragged into a sticky whirlpool by the central government, the Jiannan battlefield remained completely unaffected by central control.

And provisions were abundant.

Yan Shang gathered provisions everywhere, borrowing from local noble families, wealthy merchants, and the gentry. His extensive network of friends earned endless admiration from Jiannan’s military men. Yan Shang not only borrowed provisions but could even borrow troops from neighboring provinces and circuits, such as military governors under Huainan and other commanderies.

Everything supported the battlefield.

The war started with wins and losses, but as time passed, the Southern Barbarians’ inherent problems began to show—they were too poor.

Their poverty compelled them to fight this war, yet their poverty made them unable to sustain it.

Yang Si’s military talent put immense pressure on the Southern Barbarians; even the stalemate on the Western Regions battlefield couldn’t relieve the pressure on Jiannan. Yan Shang was like an iron bucket, impossible to penetrate; their traps and Liu Wenji’s influence in the central government couldn’t infiltrate Jiannan at all.

King Ale grew increasingly irritable, and he increasingly understood how correct Meng Zai Shi’s initial suggestion to assassinate Yan Shang had been. What use was being good at warfare? Being able to block all political attacks from the rear and let subordinate generals fight freely was what made one formidable.

Unfortunately, the Southern Barbarians now lacked the strength to send assassins after Yan Shang. Yan Shang barely left the military camp and never went to the battlefield… What could King Ale do?

As the Southern Barbarians were dragged into this war, with the weather growing colder, their inability to adapt to Great Wei’s climate began to show. The Southern Barbarians started falling ill, with more and more people collapsing in the army. They hadn’t gained much advantage on the battlefield, and as the war dragged into winter… the Southern Barbarians simply couldn’t hold on!

In October of that year, seeing the soldiers increasingly struggling, King Ale knew they couldn’t continue like this.

But how could the Southern Barbarians accept defeat?

After much consideration, killing Yang Si on the battlefield was important, and killing Yan Shang off the battlefield was important. Only with these two dead could the Jiannan battlefield situation be reversed.

King Ale discussed with Meng Zai Shi, saying: “I plan to split our forces.”

Meng Zai Shi’s face was expressionless, thinking that splitting forces now would be suicide.

But King Ale glanced at him and continued: “Split forces to attack Lingnan, to kill in Guangzhou.”

Meng Zai Shi’s eyelids twitched slightly as he looked at King Ale.

King Ale stared at him intently: “I’ve had people investigate. Before coming to Jiannan, Yan Shang was the Governor of Guangzhou, and even today, his wife remains in Guangzhou, his family all in Guangzhou. Investigating Yan Shang’s life history, I must say, that I underestimated him. But while investigating these things, I unexpectedly discovered that Yan Shang seems to have an extremely close relationship with that princess.”

Meng Zai Shi remained expressionless.

King Ale: “If something happens to that princess, we can force Yan Shang to withdraw troops from Jiannan to rescue her! His feelings for his wife can be exploited! What do you think?”

Meng Zai Shi said flatly: “Good idea.”

He lowered his eyes and seemed to smile: “Is Your Majesty sending me to kill that princess?”

King Ale laughed heartily, patting Meng Zai Shi’s shoulder: “I intend to have you stay on the Jiannan battlefield to deal with Yang Si. I will personally lead troops to kill that princess. You have past feelings with that princess; I wouldn’t dare let you kill your former lover.”

Meng Zai Shi laughed lightly: “Just youthful matters, I’ve long forgotten her. Your Majesty underestimates me.”

King Ale laughed with him, half genuine and half false, but truly dared not trust Meng Zai Shi to go to Lingnan. That night, after planning the new military strategy, King Ale led part of the army to withdraw from Jiannan, then took the water route to attack Guangzhou, determined to force Yan Shang to withdraw troops from Jiannan—

In Guangzhou city, when enemy forces came attacking by water, the Military Governor immediately sought out Mu Wanyao.

The Military Governor was slightly panicked; after half a year of military drills, he hadn’t expected there would be a day to use them. He hurriedly went to the princess’s mansion to find her. Mu Wanyao slowly fanned herself with a silk fan as she stood up.

She said calmly: “What’s there to panic about? A thousand days of training for one moment of use. This princess is prophetic and personally overseeing matters, what are you afraid of?”

“Attack—”

Clothes fluttering, lightning in the sky illuminated Mu Wanyao’s eyes. She was cold and fierce, looking directly at the Military Governor, who submitted and accompanied the princess out of the mansion to observe the battle from the main thoroughfare—

“Her Highness is present, my sons, fight for me!”

Mu Wanyao quietly watched the orderly ships and soldiers below. War drums sounded, battle flags flew in the sky, and the Military Governor accompanied the princess in watching as the soldiers’ shouts shook the heavens, making one’s blood boil with passion.

Mu Wanyao closed her eyes, hot blood surging in her heart, scalding her skin: Guangzhou’s defensive battle had finally begun.