No one had heard Qiao Mu curse in a very long time. She was truly angry now.

Everyone looked at her, but no one spoke.

Feng Jiu’er pressed her lips together and turned to look at Di Wu Ya.

“Ninth Imperial Uncle, you should already know the situation in western Yongshan City.”

“A letter asking for help has already arrived from the Longwu Army. I had planned to lead troops there in two days, but now it looks like you’ll have to go support them instead.”

“This prince isn’t going anywhere.” Di Wu Ya held her small hand.

“Twenty thousand Longwu troops will arrive within five days. Holding out for another five days won’t be a problem for them.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Di Wu Ya placed Feng Jiu’er’s small hand over his heart.

He turned to look at Yu Jingfeng and said flatly, “You’re in charge of following up on the situation on both fronts.”

“Understood!” After Yu Jingfeng’s booming reply, the corner of his mouth curved up slightly.

“With His Highness and Miss Jiu’er joining forces, there’s no battle that can’t be won.”

If possible, it was really best that His Highness and Miss Jiu’er not be separated.

Why His Highness fought so desperately—surely the whole world knew the answer to that by now.

“In that case, let’s draw up the battle plan right away.” Long Shiyi’s face was flushed, his blood boiling with excitement.

War held no fear for him—so long as His Highness and Miss Jiu’er were together, even eating grass roots would be fine by him.

Feng Jiu’er stared unblinkingly at Di Wu Ya, her heart churning like a river surging with great waves.

Ninth Imperial Uncle, thank you!

She didn’t say the words aloud, but surely he could still hear them, couldn’t he?

Di Wu Ya freed one hand to rub her small head, the corner of his mouth lifting gently.

Feng Jiu’er nodded solemnly, then turned back to look at everyone.

The battle that had just paused was about to resume, but fortunately there were nearly twelve hours in between for the brothers to rest and recover.

Twelve hours would be enough.

Half an hour later, everyone, well fed and rested, returned to the main hall.

Even Qiao Mu had eaten her fill—without a full stomach, where would the strength to fight come from?

Her expression was still grim, but at least she wasn’t making a scene demanding to leave.

In the hall, the brothers had pushed together a long table. On it sat not only maps but also a specially made wooden basin.

This so-called basin was really just a large but shallow wooden frame.

Inside the frame was piled a good amount of fine sand.

Feng Jiu’er led her man to the seat of honor and had him sit, but she herself did not sit—instead she turned and walked toward the long table in the hall.

The long table was set crosswise just three steps below the seat of honor, close enough that whoever sat above could clearly see everything on it.

The night before, Feng Jiu’er had known Di Wu Ya was back, but she had truly been exhausted and slept so deeply that nothing else had happened between them.

Just now, while washing up and eating breakfast, she had taken the time to examine Di Wu Ya’s condition.

He had no internal or external injuries, but he was somewhat malnourished, and worn out from long stretches of travel.

Feng Jiu’er knew that if Ninth Imperial Uncle hadn’t come back early the night before and rested for half the night, his condition would surely have been much worse.

No matter how anxious she felt, war was a serious matter, and a plan had to be drawn up first.

“As long as it doesn’t interfere with the discussion, if you can sit, it’s better not to stand.” Feng Jiu’er came to the long table and looked around at everyone.

This was also why she had made sure to arrange her own man’s seat first.

Those who wanted to stand took their positions, and those who wanted to sit brought over chairs, and soon everyone was gathered around the long table.

Feng Jiu’er picked up a long bamboo pole and looked over the hastily made, fairly three-dimensional map.

“Inside and outside Yongshan City, the mountains are just as numerous everywhere. What you’re seeing now, these piles of sand, represent the several tall mountains near the city gates.”

“North of Song River—further north—our brothers have tried to scout the area, and every attempt has ended in failure. For now, I don’t want to try again.”

“So we have no confirmed figures on how many more of Feng Qiongcang’s troops are approaching Song River.”

“According to news delivered from the Yue family hall three days ago, based on the information they’ve gathered, Feng Jin won’t have reinforcements arriving within half a month.”

“Counting from now, that leaves only eight days.”

“We must move quickly and accomplish what we intend to do within those eight days.”

“Next, let me lay out the plan Ninth Imperial Uncle and I roughly worked out just now.”

“Because time was short, this plan will have plenty of rough edges. If anyone spots any concerns, feel free to raise them on the spot.”

Feng Jiu’er looked at each of her people in turn, giving them all a look of firm resolve.

When her gaze reached Qiao Mu, her heart clenched painfully once more.

Her father still had value to Feng Qiongcang as long as he could be used, but what worried her most right now was still her third imperial brother.

This battle had to be won cleanly and well—Third Imperial Brother and Qiao Mu’s wedding, and Xing Zizhou and Xiao Yingtao’s wedding too, would still happen!

Past noon, common folk hauling their families along began streaming out of the city one after another.

They looked like ordinary refugees, carrying large and small bundles, nothing out of the ordinary.

When Yongshan City had originally been walled off, it hadn’t claimed the areas near the Song River basin.

The entire stretch of land along the Song River belonged to no city at all.

This arrangement not only allowed for more systematic protection of each city, but also made water transport easier for the surrounding cities.

Yongshan City in particular sat at the narrowest point of the Song River basin, where exchange with the opposite bank was most frequent, and the open land there was even more extensive.

With Yongshan City in chaos, refugees fleeing from several cities every single day had become an entirely ordinary sight.

After nightfall, a number of men and women disguised as commoners gathered together in a forested area.

Feng Jiu’er and Jian Yi were the last to arrive.

“Xiao Yingtao, is everyone here?”

“Now that you’re here, everyone’s accounted for.” Xiao Yingtao replied in a low voice.

Feng Jiu’er and Jian Yi, Qiao Mu and Yang Sheng, Xiao Yingtao and Xing Zizhou, and Long Wu, Long Shiyi along with five other brothers, each bringing a woman with them.

Twenty people in total, each carrying their own pack, gathered together in the woods.

“Is everything in order?” Even in the night’s darkness, Feng Jiu’er could clearly make out everyone around her.

“No problems!”

“All safe!”

“No problems!”

Everyone answered with certainty.

Feng Jiu’er pulled a map from her sleeve and glanced at Qiao Mu.

Qiao Mu, holding the map she herself had drawn, stepped closer.

Feng Jiu’er found a flat spot, knelt down, and spread out her own map.

Qiao Mu did the same.

The remaining eighteen people gathered around, some kneeling, some standing.

Feng Jiu’er took out a luminous pearl and placed it between the two maps.

The pearl’s glow wasn’t very bright, but it was enough for everyone to make out what was drawn on the maps.

The enemy camp was less than a mile away—lighting a fire was out of the question.

“Qiao Mu, how are things on your side? Go ahead and tell us.” Feng Jiu’er looked up at Qiao Mu.

She and Jian Yi had been responsible for scouting the other side, which took longer, so they’d returned late.

“West of the rear camp is mainly grain storage.” Qiao Mu pointed out several spots on the map.

“Here, here, and these several other spots—six tent camps in total, all grain stores. Tonight we blow them all up!”

“Cut off their food supply!”