"Does Your Highness intend to lure everyone to Ningzhou?"
General Wei Yuan hesitated briefly before adding, "In that case…"
"We will indeed need to find a way to produce another batch of gunpowder," Yun Shu replied, fully understanding what General Wei Yuan was truly asking.
"The little we have left is far from sufficient for a spectacle grand enough to shake the world at Kedan. We must send people to acquire a large stockpile of the necessary raw materials."
"But doing so could risk exposing the method of making gunpowder, would it not?" the General asked instinctively. "Had you not said earlier, Your Highness, that it was not difficult to produce?"
"Who said we would only purchase materials for making gunpowder?"
Yun Shu sighed, mildly exasperated.
"First of all, we are not missing all of the necessary materials. And second, who says we cannot include a wide variety of irrelevant goods in the purchase as well? Real mixed with fake, genuine interwoven with false—let us buy dozens, even hundreds of different items. Who could possibly discern the true from the false?"
"Understood!"
The realization struck General Wei Yuan like a bell. "I shall dispatch people to handle it immediately!"
General Wei Yuan, though not always the fastest thinker, had never been lacking in efficiency. Within just two days, all the rumors meant to be leaked had been leaked, and every item—both the necessary and the misleading—had been procured without delay.
Before the spies had even found their footing, Yun Shu instructed the Dragon Shadow Guard to tighten security and oversaw the crafting of a new batch of gunpowder. Only after all was secured did she allow the guards to discreetly loosen the cordon, letting the spies slip into the mountain. Inside, they found only decoys and misdirection, left in a carefully crafted illusion by the artisans.
Yet the more the spies investigated, the more lost they became. None of them could decipher what exactly they had uncovered in the past few days.
Meanwhile, the army of Ningzhou, which had rested for several days, suddenly sprang into action once more.
Word quickly spread: negotiations with Pugan had collapsed. In a fit of fury, the Crown Princess of Tian Sheng had decided to launch a full assault on Pugan.
As soon as the news broke, spies from all directions began moving again, swiftly tailing the Ningzhou army as it advanced toward Kedan.
And while armies and agents stirred across the land, Yun Chuhuan was still tugging at Yun Shu's sleeve like a spoiled child.
"Fifth Sister, when we attack Kedan this time, can you arrange for me to have a really impressive moment?"
His eyes sparkled with anticipation.
"Like what you did last time—where I rode alone to the front lines, looking all heroic, and then raised a hand and blasted them to pieces. That sort of moment. Just one!"
"No."
Yun Shu rejected him without the slightest pretense of politeness.
"This time, we're not bothering with any of that theatrical nonsense."
The last performance had been a deliberate trap to lure the enemy in.
This time, she intended to rely on the sheer force of violence. There was no need to waste time on dramatic flair.
"Aww, come on, Fifth Sister!"
Yun Chuhuan scrambled after her as she pulled her sleeve back, his little pony trotting along hurriedly beside her.
"You could just add a little something for me! It's only a few lines of extra dialogue, it's not like it takes any real effort!"
"It's unnecessary. And it's not safe," Yun Shu said, trying to reason with him.
"This time we are the attackers, and they will be defending the city. After what happened before, they will surely remain behind their walls no matter what. Riding out to call for parley will serve no purpose. You might end up looking like a fool."
"I will not!"
Yun Chuhuan refused to be swayed.
"Fifth Sister, you're so clever. You're bound to think of something brilliant! And didn't you say that many are watching us in secret during this campaign? That this is the perfect chance to make a show of strength and intimidate every lurking enemy?"
"Then all the more reason for us to make a grand display, is it not?"
"Fifth Sister…"
His words trailed off as he began to whine and wheedle again.
Yun Shu, exasperated by his relentless pestering, finally gave in with a sigh.
"Fine, fine. I'll let you go to the front lines and make your little scene."
"You're the best, Fifth Sister!"
Yun Chuhuan practically burst with joy, his grin stretching ear to ear.
"Then what should I do?"
"Here's what you'll do..."
On the road, Yun Shu improvised a little script for him. She shot him a glare.
"Got it memorized?"
"Got it, got it!" Yun Chuhuan nodded eagerly like a pecking chick.
"Don't worry, Fifth Sister, I'll unleash all my presence and make it glorious!"
Yun Shu gave him a long look.
…She supposed that when it came to showing off, this brat would not let her down.
Still, he had such a knack for being reliably unreliable.
From Ningzhou to Kedan, the army marched from dawn till dusk.
To ensure everyone had the strength for the upcoming assault, General Wei Yuan ordered the eighty-thousand-strong force to camp less than twenty li from the city.
On the eve of the great battle, the soldiers of Pugan inside the city, the spies hidden outside, and agents from various nations tossed and turned, unable to sleep.
Only the army of Ningzhou, confident in their cache of gunpowder, slept soundly through the night.
Come morning, every soldier was alert and energized.
Yun Chuhuan wore a custom-fitted suit of golden light armor, commissioned days earlier. His excitement was barely contained as they approached the walls of Ke Dan.
Once at the city gates, he could no longer hold back. He galloped forward on his stubby-legged pony, head held high like a proud golden peacock.
"Where is the Crown Prince of Pugan? Tell him to get out here and face this Prince!"
Prince?
Was that not the famed Crown Princess of Tian Sheng who now led the army?
Where had this brat come from?
The commander of Kedan narrowed his eyes. The boy had clearly distanced himself from the main force, but he remained just beyond the range of their archers.
"Impudence!" the commander barked. "Do you think our Crown Prince can be summoned so lightly?"
"What Crown Prince?" Yun Chuhuan retorted, completely unbothered.
"Calling him a prince is generous. If we're being honest, is he not just a glorified consort?"
The commander's temper flared, but Yun Chuhuan's fire was hotter.
"Do not tell this Prince you are unaware that your Pugan King once tried to foist that worthless Crown Prince onto my imperial sister, hoping he could serve as her consort in exchange for peace between our nations!
That alone is an insult to my imperial sister, the Crown Princess of Tian Sheng!"
This Prince declares—if you do not hand over that shameless Crown Prince today, this Prince shall flatten Kedan!"
"You arrogant little—"
The Kedan commander could no longer contain himself.
"Let us see how you propose to flatten our city!"
"Since you refuse wine in favor of punishment, do not blame me for what follows."
Yun Chuhuan let out a cold laugh. He waved his light, decorative sword with exaggerated flourish.
"Charge!"
"Attack!"
At his command, the well-drilled guards at his back surged forward, shields raised as they charged swiftly toward the city gate.
From afar, the advancing troops looked like a formidable wave.
There were at least… at least a hundred of them?