"So much grain?"
The army cook stood before the granary, a spatula in each hand, his eyes vacant.
Seeing this, Gu Zheng hurried forward and addressed the soldier behind the cook, "What's going on? Why did you bring the cook here?"
"General, the cook didn't believe what I said. He insisted on coming to see for himself."
The cook had been like a charging goose, utterly impossible to stop.
After a full incense stick's worth of time had passed, the cook finally freed one hand to wipe his face.
That night, every soldier held a bowl of exceptionally thick white congee.
Their expressions were identically dazed.
Was this the last meal before a final, desperate mission?
"Eat up, eat up."
Song Yu also held a bowl with several chips on its rim, sitting right on the ground, embracing the local customs wholeheartedly.
Slurp—
Song Yu ate with hearty relish.
"Why aren't you eating? Is the congee too thin?"
Song Yu's words nearly made Gu Zheng and several lieutenants' eyes pop out of their heads. This congee was thicker than what their wives had when giving birth!
Even Gu Zheng was puzzled. What scheme was the Prince brewing now?
Only Song Shihuan rubbed her ears slightly. The show was about to begin.
"This food is all saved mouthful by mouthful from the rations of the common people. If you don't eat it properly, you are rejecting their goodwill."
As soon as Song Yu said this, the soldiers became even more afraid to eat.
"Song Yanzheng was killed by Dayue. When the news reached the capital, the Emperor was furious, declaring that our expedition is to uphold justice. The people, filled with righteous anger, are supporting us in this way so we have no worries on the home front."
After speaking, Song Yu gulped down another mouthful of congee. "So this congee, we must drink it."
"Drink it well, so we can win the battle."
Gulp—
The sound of drinking congee arose from all around.
Unlike the usual lively chatter during meals, this time, everyone was eerily quiet while drinking.
Their eyes held the ultimate thirst for victory.
Gu Zheng shuddered inwardly. Since when did His Highness possess such skill in swaying hearts and minds?
After finishing the congee, Li Laoba, with a sheepish look, brought a cup of wine to Song Shihuan and knelt straight down before her.
"Commandery Princess, it was I, Li Laoba, who spoke disrespectfully before. Now we all know your capabilities. Whether you wish to beat or punish me, I, Li Laoba, have no complaints."
The wine cup was offered up with both hands, but his head remained bowed low.
This fierce general, notorious for his ferocity in the military camp, was kneeling before a young maiden.
The maiden took the cup of fine wine and drank it in one go.
Placing the cup casually on the ground, Song Shihuan curved her eyes at Li Laoba:
"Stand up."
Li Laoba rose like a simpleton.
Her next words were, "Watch out."
The two actually began to fight. The expressions of the surrounding soldiers had shifted from shock to numbness.
Li Laoba, a man built like a brick, was actually trading blows evenly with the Commandery Princess.
Was this right?
"I can't beat Vice General Li anymore."
Song Shihuan smiled as she withdrew her hands, yet her composure did not suggest she was at a disadvantage in the slightest.
Li Laoba, shocked, ran ten circles on the spot right then and there.
His gaze towards Song Shihuan instantly became fervent. The Commandery Princess's strength...
He, Li Laoba, would pledge his life to support the Commandery Princess!
"Everyone's full. Since you're full, we continue the fight tomorrow." Song Shihuan deliberately raised her voice slightly. "This time, we fight all the way to Dayue's lair."
Later records stated: Commandery Princess Fu'an competed in martial arts with soldiers in the military camp. Though she claimed she could not defeat him, she matched him. From then on, no soldier in the army did not revere her.
......
Elsewhere, on a mountain in some remote, out-of-the-way corner.
"Boss."
Yu Fan's heart trembled slightly. No matter how many times he heard it, he couldn't get used to this title.
"Any unusual activity lately?"
The mountain Yu Fan had chosen was near a strategic location of Dayue, where troop movements had to pass by. His band of bandits, under the guise of going out to rob for survival, were perfectly suited for gathering intelligence.
"Prince Rui has started fleeing towards the capital. This time, Dayue is probably finished."
The speaking bandit looked mournful.
"Fleeing at this time?" Yu Fan's eyes held mockery. He then asked casually, "Any changes in troop movements recently?"
"We bandits need to keep a constant eye on army movements."
Yu Fan provided a reasonable explanation.
The bandit saw no reason to doubt him. "Speaking of troops, it's strange. With fighting at the front, most troops should be there to respond. But recently, several waves of soldiers have been heading towards the capital along with Prince Rui."
Yu Fan's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.
"And recently, a few people seem to have disappeared from the city. The common folk say we kidnapped them." Another bandit chuckled. It seemed they still held quite a fearsome reputation among the people.
"Fool."
Yu Fan's words were like poison. "You're happy even when a black pot is dumped on your head? Go find out exactly who disappeared."
It was common for people to occasionally disappear during wartime, but for some reason, Yu Fan felt something was off.
By the time the bandits brought back more news, Dayue had captured another city.
The bandits on the mountain were all like frost-bitten eggplants.
"Boss, ten strong men disappeared, all full of vigor. Probably pressed into military service. Also, a craftsman disappeared, the scholarly kind, I heard..."
A craftsman, one who designs architectural plans.
Yu Fan's brow was now tightly knitted.
For Prince Rui, the commander-in-chief, fleeing before battle was a capital offense. The only plausible explanation was that Prince Rui had devised a plan to turn the tide of war.
He had to find out what Prince Rui was planning.
"It looks like the war is about to reach us here. I won't keep you all. Everyone should seek their own fortune."
Yu Fan's words left all the bandits stunned.
"Boss, where are you planning to go?"
They were all people who should have died long ago. If not for the boss saving them, they would have been reincarnated already.
"Fleeing to the capital."
Prince Rui had returned to the capital, so he had to go investigate.
"Then we'll go with the boss."
Seeing this, Yu Fan flew into a great rage, saying every harsh word he could to drive them away. The journey ahead was fraught with danger; he couldn't let these men follow him to their deaths.
Before leaving, Yu Fan wrote two letters. One contained his speculations about Prince Rui, the other was for Gu Mingliu.
He hid both letters in the highest tree on the mountain. Yu Fan took a deep look in the direction of the Great Qi capital, disguised himself as a strong laborer, and left the mountain under cover of darkness.
......
Ever since the soldiers had eaten their fill, their momentum in battle grew fiercer.
They only stopped to rest after capturing three cities in a row.
Now, only two cities stood between them and the Dayue capital.
Following the map, Song Yu and Song Shihuan found the mountain where Yu Fan had been, but it was already deserted.
"What happened?"
A slight tremor entered Gu Zheng's voice.
