Chapter 418 Lan Xiaoyu’s Method

Chapter 418 Lan Xiaoyu's Method

"Hand me the Fire Thunder!" Xiao Yuze urged his horse forward, reaching out his hand behind him.

"Fire Thunder? Your Highness, the Third Prince?" Lan Xiaoyu turned around and saw Xiao Yuze, immediately clasping his fists in salute.

"Here it is, Your Highness!" From behind, Eunuch Gao took the Fire Thunder from one of his subordinates.

"With a deafening boom!"

Xiao Yuze raised his hand and threw it out.

The Fire Thunder exploded at the city gate, but it didn't destroy the gate. The gate trembled violently, teetering on the brink of collapse.

"Damn it, I missed!" Xiao Yuze said, raising his hand to throw another Fire Thunder.

"Who the hell is shouting at the city gate?" At this moment, a group of people rushed out from the city wall, each holding black feathered arrows. One of them slowly walked forward, looked down, and was immediately stunned: "It’s... it’s the Third Prince!"

The man’s head snapped back in shock, and then the city gate opened. The man smoothly rushed out and knelt down.

"Please, Your Highness, have mercy! I didn’t know it was Your Highness, so I didn’t come out to greet you. Please punish me!" Shen Zhen, the garrison general, pleaded.

"General Lan arrived bearing the imperial military token, and you still think it's not enough? That's the military token given by His Majesty! Are you plotting treason, Shen Zhen?" Xiao Yuze said.

"Third Prince, I was wrong. I swear, I had no idea that General Lan was truly here to surrender, and that it was His Majesty who sent him. I really didn’t know!" Shen Zhen kowtowed and pleaded.

"Hmph, you’re just being mean!" The Third Prince was only ten years old, so he could throw tantrums without consequence.

So, Shen Zhen had to sweet-talk him.

As Shen Zhen put it, if he didn’t coax him, Consort Zhen from the southern city would have his hide.

Shen Zhen was Consort Zhen's cousin, having grown up together. He was quite fond of Consort Zhen, so naturally, he was also fond of the young prince Xiao Yuze.

"No, no, Third Prince, I’m innocent! We just thought that a man from Xiyue... he doesn’t strike me as a leader of men!" Shen Zhen said.

"Is Lan Xiaoyu not qualified to lead troops?" Xiao Yuze looked at Shen Zhen and said, "Isn’t his reputation alone enough?"

"Well, it's not that. It's just that when we asked him, all he did was silently raise the military token!" Shen Zhen said, then turned to Lan Xiaoyu, "I say, General Lan, you were a famous general in Xiyue. If you’d join forces with me, I’d be thrilled. If you could take down these people, I’d be even happier. But I have a doubt: how do you plan to lead them?"

As Shen Zhen spoke, he pointed behind him. Inside the city gate, a sea of soldiers stood in perfect formation, each holding stones and drilling.

"These drills are pointless. If you want to train, the best way now is to face the enemy in battle!" Lan Xiaoyu said.

"Engage the enemy? Right now?" Shen Zhen's eyes flickered with light.

"Yes, now!" Lan Xiaoyu said, then raised the military token and entered the city.

Xiao Yuze glanced at Shen Zhen and said, "Uncle, hurry up! This guy’s a hardhead!"

Indeed, Lan Xiaoyu was a rather stubborn person. Shen Zhen nodded and quickly followed.

Lan Xiaoyu arrived at the military camp. The soldiers stared at him, their faces unreadable. They looked at Shen Zhen, who was walking behind him.

As their general, Shen Zhen’s reaction was crucial.

Shen Zhen showed no expression, just followed the ten-year-old Third Prince.

The soldiers were very familiar with the Third Prince. The prince was always sneaking into their camp to mess around and was frequently found by his mother, Consort Zhen, who’d yank him back by the ear every time.

So, naturally, everyone was very familiar with His Highness the Third Prince.

He was mischievous but had excellent martial skills and a good character, so everyone liked this young prince.

"We’re training!" someone whispered.

"Bang!"

Lan Xiaoyu kicked the guy out: "Training? For what? Isn’t it to fight the enemy? Isn’t it to follow the general’s orders and march to war when needed?"

The other soldiers glanced at their general, who stood still, and immediately dropped what they were holding, standing at attention.

"This is the Three Army Command Token, bestowed by His Majesty the Emperor!" Lan Xiaoyu raised the token in his hand and said.

No one questioned it because the Third Prince stood there, silent and unopposed, confirming that His Majesty the Emperor had indeed granted the Three Army Command Token.

Especially since Eunuch Gao, the emperor’s attendant, stood beside the Third Prince, observing Lan Xiaoyu issue commands.

So, the border troops and officers knew that this time, Lan Xiaoyu meant business.

"Men!" Lan Xiaoyu said coolly.

"Yes!" all the soldiers responded immediately.

"Pack up now; we leave in fifteen minutes!" Lan Xiaoyu ordered sharply.

"Yes!" the soldiers' voices were in unison.

"His Majesty the Emperor is truly impressive, a worthy ruler of Great Wei, sending the Third Prince here for such a show of force!" Shen Zhen said.

"General Shen Zhen!" Lan Xiaoyu called out, turning.

"Here!" Shen Zhen responded immediately.

"I’ll take the lead; you cover the rear. We move out in seven minutes!" Lan Xiaoyu said.

"Yes!" Shen Zhen nodded in response.

Though he seemed rough, he was sharp and perceptive. At Lan Xiaoyu’s command, he quickly acknowledged Xiao Yuze, packed his weapons, and mounted his horse, following Lan Xiaoyu out.

"Your Highness, should we follow?" Eunuch Gao asked.

"Eunuch Gao, what’s your take?" Xiao Yuze asked, looking at him.

"In my humble opinion, Your Highness should follow. You can see Lan Xiaoyu’s skills and strength firsthand," Eunuch Gao replied.

"Alright, I’ll follow!" Xiao Yuze nodded, mounted his horse alongside Eunuch Gao, and joined the troops.

Eunuch Gao glanced at the young prince, smiled, and followed.

Xiao Yuze was well-liked, even in the palace, where he was a favorite of the Empress Dowager. He never picked on other kids and got along well with his brothers. However, Lin Rou had never taken to Consort Zhen or Xiao Yuze...

Of course, now Eunuch Gao believed Lin Rou had never cared for anyone, not even when the emperor had once poured his heart out—it likely never moved her.

Ruo Xi Baby was at the border, staying with Consort Zhen and the others.

After meeting Consort Zhen, no one else could hold her—not even Ruo Xi Baby’s own mother.