Chapter 182: Risky Military Tactics

Chapter 182: A Daring Stratagem

Emperor Wuming remained silent upon hearing this. He placed the memorial on the imperial desk and said, "I’ll shelve this memorial for now. Tell the other ministers to keep quiet."

Chief Grand Secretary Wei replied, "Understood, Your Majesty."

As Chief Grand Secretary Wei exited the Panlong Hall, he let out a sigh of relief. Fortunately, he had not speculated maliciously about Yu Zhangxing, or his image in Emperor Wuming's eyes would have suffered. Emperor Wuming trusted Yu Zhangxing far too much. At this thought, Chief Grand Secretary Wei felt a pang of regret—if only one of his own kin had been the Crown Prince’s study companion.

The Crown Prince had Zheng Shanci as his tutor. Though Chief Grand Secretary Wei also lectured the Crown Prince, their rapport wasn’t nearly as close as that between the Crown Prince and Zheng Shanci.

Suppressing his thoughts, Chief Grand Secretary Wei returned to the Grand Secretariat and relayed Emperor Wuming's orders: "You three know what to keep quiet about."

Grand Secretary Lei kept his mouth shut, and so did Second Grand Secretary Xiao. Zheng Shanci, confused but compliant, stayed silent.

His brother would never commit treason. Since the Emperor was willing to trust him, Zheng Shanci decided to act as though he had never seen the memorial.

The tides of war shifted constantly. By the time the memorial from the frontier reached the capital, two months had already passed.

Three months earlier, Yu Zhangxing had arrived at the frontier, consolidated his forces, and marched with provisions. They were locked in a stalemate with the barbarians, who stubbornly held their cities and refused to engage in open battle. Three assaults on the cities had failed.

Yu Zhangxing took a gamble: he’d split his army and go straight for the barbarian king’s seat.

"Yu Zheng, go to the quartermaster and secure two months' worth of field rations."

Yu Zheng served as Yu Zhangxing's deputy general, while another deputy—a Xie family brat—was there to keep an eye on him. Imperial nobles often showed up at the front just for glory, and Deputy General Xie raised an eyebrow, unsure what Yu Zhangxing was planning.

If not for Deputy General Xie, a eunuch would have been sent as overseer. Knowing Yu Zhangxing enjoyed the Emperor's favor, Deputy General Xie—a spoiled noble—played along. As long as Yu Zhangxing didn’t rebel against the Xie dynasty, Deputy General Xie was happy to oblige.

"General, the quartermaster has provided two months' worth of field rations," Yu Zheng reported.

Yu Zhangxing nodded. "Distribute them among the soldiers. We move out at first light."

"Yes, sir."

As Yu Zheng turned to leave, Yu Zhangxing had a junior officer relay the orders instead, keeping Yu Zheng behind.

"Cousin, I have an idea I'd like to discuss with you," Yu Zhangxing said, pointing at the map.

"I want to traverse this mountain range, cross three peaks, bypass these cities, and strike directly at the barbarian royal court."

Yu Zheng frowned. "That’s a suicide mission—reckless. Besides, these mountains aren’t connected."

Yu Zhangxing indicated a spot. "A local knows a hidden path through the cliffs."

Yu Zheng remained hesitant. "The barbarians are dug in, but if we first capture one or two of their cities, their morale will falter. We can exploit their weaknesses to crush them."

Yu Zhangxing shook his head. "The Ministry of Revenue has guaranteed ample provisions, but feeding 200,000 men is bleeding us dry. Dragging out the front lines does us no good."

He paused, then continued with conviction, "If we hit them from here, they’ll never see it coming. Moreover, if we seize their royal court and capture their ministers and nobles, they’ll break. This time, I intend to crush their spirit so thoroughly that they won’t dare stir trouble at the border for a hundred years!"

Hearing this, Yu Zheng’s blood burned at the words. Yu Zhangxing was right—no one would expect an attack from the rear.

"If you’re rolling the dice, I’m in," Yu Zheng declared firmly, taking a deep breath.

Yu Zhangxing grinned, the weight lifting. "Then, cousin, let us plan our route of advance."

Yu Zheng nodded in agreement.

They talked late into the night before going to bed excitedly.

The next day, General Liu saw that Yu Changxing intended to take all 200,000 troops and had requested a large amount of wolf smoke (signal fires) and provisions.

"Changxing, don’t be too hasty. First, set up camp, and plan the rest step by step," General Liu advised.

Yu Changxing responded, "Don’t worry, Uncle Liu. I know my limits."

Yu Changxing led the army out of the frontier pass and disappeared from sight. After several days with no news, General Liu sent scouts to investigate, only to find no trace of the massive army near the barbarians' cities—200,000 troops had mysteriously vanished.

The scouts gaped in disbelief.

When they reported back, General Liu’s jaw dropped.

"200,000 troops disappeared?!" General Liu paced in his tent. How could an army of 200,000 just disappear?!

There was no reason for Yu Changxing to betray the country—they hadn’t even engaged the barbarians yet. Besides, the Yu family had fought the barbarians for generations, harboring deep hatred for them.

After days of silence, General Liu, unable to make a decision on such a major matter, held his position in the camp and wrote a memorial to send to the capital.

While General Liu was drafting his report, Yu Changxing and his men were crossing a cliff.

The privileged young officer screamed, "Yu Changxing, you bastard! If you wanted to climb mountains, you could’ve left me in the camp! I wouldn’t have bothered you—why’d you bring me?!"

A pebble dislodged and plummeted into the abyss. The pampered deputy general glanced at the bottomless chasm below, pressed flat against the cliffside, his legs shaking like leaves, terrified of slipping and falling.

Yu Changxing ignored him.

...

Zheng Shanci came home, his secret weighing on him but remaining composed. That night, Yu Lanyi, perusing a tale in bed, remarked, "It’s been three months since Elder Brother left. Why hasn’t there been any news from the court?"

The remark was a pointed hint.

Zheng Shanci’s pulse spiked, though he forced a look of surprise. "The frontier is far from the capital. It’s normal not to hear anything for three months. Elder Brother went with our cousin, Yu Zhangxing—they’ll be fine."

Yu Lanyi nodded. "Alright. If there’s any news, you must tell me."

"Elder Brother went to the frontier for a great cause."

To vanish with 200,000 men—Zheng Shanci admired his brother-in-law’s boldness, though he worried about the risks.

Yu Lanyi whined.

"Massage my shoulders—they ache."

Zheng Shanci obliged dutifully, only for Yu Lanyi to complain he wasn’t pressing hard enough.

He pressed harder, wary of bruising him. With no urgent matters in court, the busiest department was the Ministry of Rites, preparing for the Crown Prince’s wedding. Shi Xuan had been swamped lately.

Frontier military affairs were beyond Zheng Shanci’s purview. The petitions he reviewed were mundane, and any task became tedious over time. Still, Zheng Shanci endured the monotony, stepping out to wander the imperial gardens or bamboo courtyards.

The Grand Secretariat had no urgent matters, and the Ministry of Revenue’s canal transport systems required optimization.

"For the Crown Prince’s wedding, we must select a fitting tribute," Yu Lanyi mused.

Zheng Shanci said, "For the Crown Prince's wedding, it's best to give practical gifts. After all, His Highness has already seen too many fine things."

"Alright, we'll go together after your day off." Yu Lanyi, comfortably massaged by Zheng Shanci, grew drowsy and told him to blow out the candles so they could sleep.

When Zheng Shanci went to teach Xie Cheng, Xie Cheng asked him a few questions, which Zheng Shanci answered one by one.

"Lord Zheng, how did you feel when you got married?" Xie Cheng asked curiously.

Zheng Shanci and Yu Lanyi were known for their deep affection in the capital, earning much admiration.

Zheng Shanci answered honestly, "I was nervous back then—afraid of embarrassing myself at the wedding banquet and worried that Lan Yi might be dissatisfied with me."

Their marriage had been arranged, so Zheng Shanci couldn’t claim they married out of love.

"But you two are doing very well now," Xie Cheng said with a smile.

"Happiness depends on how you live it. Your Highness will surely find happiness with your consort as well."

Xie Cheng appreciated Zheng Shanci’s reassurance. When the palace sent over lychees, Xie Cheng had Shunzi give Zheng Shanci a box.

"Lord Zheng might not like them, but perhaps your husband does. You should take them."

Zheng Shanci had no choice but to take the lychees with him.

These lychees were an imperial delicacy, reserved only for the nobility in the palace. Emperor Wuming awarded some to Chief Grand Secretary Wei, and among the remaining officials, only Zheng Shanci received any.

Returning home, Zheng Shanci intended to let Yu Lanyi enjoy the lychees, but upon entering, he was surprised to hear many voices.

"My lord, the young master has invited guests over for a gathering," Deng Xue said with a bow.

Zheng Shanci handed the lychees to Deng Xue. "Have the kitchen wash them and serve them in the main hall, but save some. I’ll go say hello."

Deng Xue bowed her head in acknowledgment, surprised at the sight of the lychees.

Entering, Zheng Shanci saw Mr. Yu and several elders present and first paid his respects to Mr. Yu.

"We’re family, Shan Ci—no need to stand on ceremony. Are you off duty?" Mr. Yu asked.

"I just returned from the Eastern Palace. Since uncles and aunts are all here, please stay for dinner. It’s our turn to host you this time."

Yu Lanyi added, "We’re roasting a lamb for the occasion."

The guests happily accepted.

"I have matters to attend to, so I’ll head to the study first." Zheng Shanci needed to change out of his official robe.

After he left, someone remarked, "Shan Ci still has work after his shift?"

Mr. Yu took a sip of tea. "As a Grand Secretary, he oversees major state affairs, serves as Minister of Revenue, and tutors the Crown Prince. My son-in-law is doomed to a life of hard work."

There was a hint of bitterness in his voice.

If their own sons had just one of Zheng Shanci’s titles, their families would’ve spoiled them rotten.

Yu Lanyi had been a rowdy, unrefined child, yet he struck gold with his marriage—a luck no one else could match.

A servant brought out two plates of lychees.

The guests’ eyes widened in surprise. Lychees were a seasonal rarity—even nobles couldn’t get them—they were reserved for the palace.

Yu Lanyi's eyes sparkled when he saw the lychees. Never mind where they came from, he decided to eat them first and think later.

"Aren't these lychees from the palace?" a matron asked hesitantly.

Father Yu looked startled too. Holding a lychee, he mumbled that might be the case.

Deng Xue curtseyed and said, "The master brought these back."

That meant they were indeed imperial gifts, and the relatives were green with envy. Currently, only Chief Grand Secretary Wei had received such a reward, yet Zheng Shanci was also granted this honor.

They peeled and ate a few lychees, the sweet juice bursting in their mouths.

Though they restrained themselves from eating too much out of politeness, Yu Lanyi happily indulged in many. After peeling so many, his hands became sticky, so he got up to wash them.

After chatting with the relatives for a while, he got bored with making small talk and went to the study to find Zheng Shanci.

He knocked, and Zheng Shanci called 'Come in.'

"What are you reading?" Yu Lanyi asked curiously, leaning in.

Seeing that Zheng Shanci was reading a storybook, he folded his arms. "You have time for novels but not to entertain our guests?"

Zheng Shanci rubbed his temples, set the book aside, and pulled Yu Lanyi to sit by the tea table. "The palace wore me out and I don’t feel like talking to relatives. You and Dad have got this—I'm sitting this one out."

"You sent two plates of lychees, and everyone was impressed, saying you’re highly favored. Are there any left besides those two?" Yu Lanyi licked his lips. He loved lychees, especially ice-cold ones.

Zheng Shanci smiled. "I set some aside for you and our son. There’s still some left for you both."

Yu Lanyi bobbed his head excitedly and hugged Zheng Shanci. "Wonderful! You know me so well!"

Zheng Shanci held him and handed him some pastries. "Stay here a while longer. I’ll have the kitchen prepare a proper feast for them."

His face darkened at a thought. "I originally planned to take Father to the estate today, but the relatives showed up, so we had to delay our trip to host them. They’re nice, but they only came to ask you to find jobs for their children."

"If they’re capable, why not take the imperial exams? With family connections, why beg for posts in Revenue? Isn’t that aiming beyond their station?" Yu Lanyi was cautious about such matters.

Zheng Shanci seized the key point. "'Aiming beyond their station'—good phrase."

Yu Lanyi’s eyes sparkled, and he lifted his chin proudly.

Zheng Shanci pondered. "If they can behave, I can recommend them, but what happens afterward is beyond my control."

Though he felt indifferent toward most relatives, he owed the Marquis some face and couldn't snub them completely.

"As long as it doesn’t affect you, do what you think is best. Your career comes first in our family," Yu Lanyi waved it off, prioritizing their immediate family above all.

If it ever harmed Zheng Shanci’s prospects, Mr. Yu would step in to stop the relatives. Their household had finally produced someone successful—they shouldn’t add trouble, let alone expect favors.

After dinner, a few relatives left satisfied with Zheng Shanci’s promises, sucking up to them both more warmly. The couple saw Mr. Yu off to his carriage.

"Shan Ci, if their requests ever burden you, don’t feel obliged to help. Put yourself first," Mr. Yu peered through the carriage window.

"I know my limits, Father," Zheng Shanci replied humbly.

Mr. Yu nodded, just giving a word to the wise.

After seeing him off, Zheng Shanci took Yu Lanyi to the night market, where they picked up some street food for the road before heading home.

Little Ping'an came scampering when he saw all the goodies Yu Lanyi was carrying.

Yu Lanyi cheerfully passed the snacks to his son. "Go rinse another plate of lychees in the kitchen."

Xiao Ping'an lit up—he hadn't eaten any lychees today.

Zheng Shanci sighed helplessly. He normally wouldn’t polish off fruit in one day, but since Yu Lanyi loved eating them, he wanted to indulge him.

The two of them took the snacks to the main hall, each with a cup of steaming fruit tea by their side. They could sip the tea later if their mouths got dry from the snacks.

When a plate of lychees was brought over, Zheng Shanci also ate a few.

Having eaten his fill at dinner, he couldn’t handle any late-night bites, so most of the treats ended up in Yu Lanyi and Xiao Ping'an’s stomachs.

Full and content, Xiao Ping'an dragged Yu Lanyi into the garden with a lantern to walk it off. Yu Lanyi lazily followed his son's footsteps.

"Dad, Brother Yu Guang will take the imperial exams in three years. He’s amazing," Xiao Ping'an whispered to Yu Lanyi.

"I almost forgot! I still need to buy you those exam champion’s notes. I’ll go to the bookstore tomorrow," Yu Lanyi chimed in.

Xiao Ping'an: "..."

Zheng Shanci had already decided that Xiao Ping'an wouldn’t take the exams until he turned eighteen—there was still plenty of time.

...

The Frontier

The army of two hundred thousand crossed the mountains, with two hundred casualties along the way. Yu Zhangxing gathered several officers and instructed them to infiltrate the cities separately, dispersing their forces and awaiting orders.

The men nodded in agreement and melted away like water into the sea.

"Deputy General Xie, are you coming with me or following the junior officers?" Yu Zhangxing asked.

"I’d have to be brain-dead to follow you," Deputy General Xie retorted irritably.

Yu Zhangxing: "..."

Yu Zhangxing assigned the deputy general to a junior officer’s unit and gave him a few more instructions. Deputy General Xie waved him off impatiently. "Don’t worry, I won’t drag you down. I’m here to gild my reputation, not cause trouble."

As a pampered aristocrat, he had a clear sense of self-awareness.

Yu Zhangxing: "...Alright, we’ll part ways here."

Leading five thousand elite soldiers deeper into enemy territory, Yu Zhangxing crouched in the grass, thinking that the Xie family was indeed clever—though the Emperor was the smartest of all.

After pushing hard day and night to the outskirts of the royal court, Yu Zhangxing allowed his troops to rest for two days while he and Yu Zheng went into the city to gather information.

"Why is the royal capital so lively?" Yu Zheng pretended to shop around, speaking in the barbarians’ tongue.

"The king is taking a new consort. This woman has won his heart—though her status is low, the king is so besotted that he’s even clashed with the queen over her. He’s preparing a grand ceremony for Hu Consort. That Hu woman has truly climbed from rags to riches," the hat-seller said enviously.

"We just arrived in the capital and didn’t know about the ceremony. Since Hu Consort is so beloved, she must be stunning. My brother and I would love to see how beautiful she is," Yu Zheng said casually, raising no suspicion.

"Men—always the same... The ceremony is in three days. The king wants the whole city to celebrate—it’s practically a royal wedding. That Hu woman is young and pretty. She’s been married three times before, and all her previous husbands died. The king is her fourth."

The barbarians actually favored women and men who’ve remarried.

"You two could pass for Great Yan folks," the shopkeeper suddenly remarked, her gaze lingering on Yu Zhangxing and Yu Zheng. "Quite handsome."

Yu Zhangxing replied, "We have half-Great Yan heritage. We lived there as children but got bullied, so we ran here to live in peace."

The two men left the innkeeper and went to several other stores to gather information. They confirmed that in three days would be the barbarian chieftain's wedding day—a perfect opportunity for their operation.

Yu Changxing and Yu Zheng brought the news back and made further arrangements.

Three days later, the five thousand elite soldiers all changed into barbarian attire, concealing daggers in their sleeves. They had rented houses in advance to store the remaining weapons, waiting for the chaos in the royal court to seize their chance.

Yu Changxing disguised himself as a hunter, wearing furs with a bow and arrows on his back. The streets were alive with fiddle music, and the people of the royal city danced enthusiastically.

Whistling, Yu Changxing casually joined a barbarian lad in a paired dance. His handsome features stood out as he pulled off several backflips, spinning with his palms on the ground—broad shoulders, narrow waist, and explosive strength.

The crowd erupted in laughter, screams, and applause. Yu Changxing’s chest heaved, a light sheen of sweat on his face, while the women and young men around him blushed just watching him.

They huddled together, whispering and giggling excitedly about Yu Changxing.

He refused no one, dancing with anyone who approached, gradually moving forward with the procession, inching closer to the center...

Hu Consort lounged in her litter, her eyes instantly drawn to Yu Changxing—such a handsome, unrestrained young barbarian man, unlike any she had seen before. She pressed a finger to her lips, her gaze smoldering as she gazed down at him.

The crowd erupted in screams at her gesture, dancing fervently and tossing confetti, laughter filling the air like joyous birds.

Yu Changxing soon vanished into the frenzied crowd.

The barbarian king, standing atop the royal city’s high walls, watched the merrymaking with satisfaction. "See how happy they are? The people clearly rejoice in my marriage to Hu Consort. Her beauty matches the moon's—one glance is enough to drive men mad."

The ministers, seeing their king’s delight, knew better than to disagree, echoing his words instead.

"Look, my treasure draws near," the barbarian king said joyfully.

Beneath the glamour and revelry, death stalked unseen. He would never know it shadowed his every move.

The barbarian king prioritized his safety—his portly frame visible only from the high walls, too distant for any arrow to strike.

Hu Consort descended from her litter, her beauty moving with lotus-step grace as she entered the royal city and ascended the walls.

Yu Zheng grew anxious, unable to speak. Hitting the barbarian king from this distance was nearly impossible, yet this was their best chance. The elite soldiers from the Eastern Camp were scattered throughout the ceremony, awaiting Yu Changxing’s signal.

Yu Changxing clutched a hand to his chest, gripping his amulet, his heart pounding wildly.

He raised his bow.

"The principle is the same for slingshot and bow—draw the string fully, anchor at the center of force, use your back muscles to guide the elbow into position... Hebo, do you understand?"

"Changxing, as my study partner, once I ascend the throne, I'll subdue the barbarians. Then I shall appoint you as general, and together we shall usher in great prosperity for the Great Yan Dynasty."

"Brother, if you wish to modify the bow for greater range, I know a way. I’ll discuss it with Lord Du."

Yu Changxing’s heart felt ready to burst. It was as if he had passed through a narrow cave, spotting a faint glimmer—the very line he needed to strike.

"My beloved, let us go," the barbarian king said, taking Hu Consort’s hand to leave the walls.

Hu Consort’s figure overlapped with the king’s.

Yu Changxing released the string.

An arrow shot forth like lightning, piercing both Hu Consort and the barbarian king through their necks. They collapsed instantly.

A perfect hundred-pace shot.

Ignoring the panicked screams, Yu Changxing fired another whistling arrow into the sky, its shrill whistle piercing the air.