Chapter 118

Chapter 118: Make Plans Before Taking Action Ling Jiayue quietly slipped back to where Cheese Lord and the others were waiting. Cheese Lord asked with concern, “Master, did you hear anything?” Ling Jiayue did not hurry to answer him. Instead, she said to the people she had brought with her, “I have a general understanding of the situation. Let’s return to camp first. After I discuss it with the Seventh Prince, we’ll make a decision. Tonight, we mustn’t alert the enemy. It would be bad if they increased their defenses.” “Yes,” the soldiers replied in hushed voices. Ling Jiayue then quietly led the soldiers and Cheese Lord’s group back. On the way, she carefully observed the surrounding terrain once more, committing the roads and landscape to memory. By the time the sound marking the fifth watch rang out, they had already left the Sheyu Kingdom’s military camp. As Ling Jiayue led everyone back, Cheese Lord asked, “Master, should I return to the military camp with you, or should I remain outside? If you suddenly bring your subordinate back with you, I’m afraid it may be difficult to explain.” Ling Jiayue had already considered this. She said, “You don’t need to worry about that. Just come back with me. Once we return, say that you’re a local familiar with the surrounding roads who volunteered to help. The Seventh Prince already knows of your existence. No one will make things difficult for you.” Seeing how thoroughly Ling Jiayue had arranged everything for him, Cheese Lord stopped hesitating. He simply answered, “Yes,” and followed Ling Jiayue back to camp. Before long, the group reached the outskirts of the Dayi military camp. Mu Yuheng had been waiting there for some time. “Why are you waiting for us here? Did you not sleep all night?” Ling Jiayue asked when she saw Mu Yuheng standing at the camp entrance. “After you left, I kept studying the map of the Northwest Fortress-City. I just made an important discovery. As it happened, I noticed that dawn had broken, so I came out to meet you. As you can see, I had only been standing here for a moment when you returned.” Mu Yuheng looked at Ling Jiayue and spoke gently. Hearing that Mu Yuheng had made an important discovery, Ling Jiayue smiled as well. “I’ve also made an important discovery. Let’s return to the camp and discuss it slowly. We’ll definitely be able to find a way to completely defeat the Sheyu Kingdom’s army.” “Good. Yue’er, who are these people behind you dressed in civilian clothes?” Mu Yuheng asked deliberately when he saw the group behind Ling Jiayue. He had already realized that they were people Ling Jiayue had arranged for, but his question would give her a legitimate reason to keep them there. Ling Jiayue answered, “They’re local people who volunteered to help us. I specifically brought them back so they could lend us a hand and help us drive back the Sheyu Kingdom’s army as soon as possible.” “In that case, brave men, please come inside.” Smiling, Mu Yuheng welcomed Ling Jiayue and Cheese Lord’s group into the camp. Ling Jiayue and Mu Yuheng entered the command tent and told Cheese Lord and the soldiers to return and rest first. The two of them, meanwhile, carefully studied the layout of the Sheyu Kingdom’s military camp and the terrain surrounding the Northwest Fortress-City. After entering the command tent, Ling Jiayue first picked up a cup of tea and drank it down, then let out a long breath. Only then did she ask, “Mu Yuheng, what important discovery did you make about the Northwest Fortress-City? Hurry up and tell me. I want to hear it too.” Mu Yuheng smiled. “Didn’t you discover a river outside the Northwest Fortress-City yesterday?” “Yes. I even went there specifically to investigate yesterday, and sure enough, I made a delightful discovery. So what did you find, Mu Yuheng?” Ling Jiayue asked. Mu Yuheng pulled Ling Jiayue over to the map and pointed to it. “Look. Upstream from this river is a great river. Its water reserves exceed our imagination. If I can borrow the power of nature, that would be ideal.” Ling Jiayue fell into deep thought after hearing Mu Yuheng’s words. Suddenly, she understood and exclaimed, “You mean to drown the Sheyu Kingdom’s army!” Mu Yuheng nodded approvingly. “That’s right. I mean to drown the Sheyu Kingdom’s army. The Northwest border frontier is a bitterly cold region of Dayi, where the spring flood often arrives particularly late. Judging by the timing, it should come in the next few days. If we can make good use of this, we won’t have to worry about being unable to defeat the Sheyu Kingdom’s army.” Ling Jiayue was delighted when she heard this. “Wonderful! Combining the intelligence I discovered with your strategy makes for a perfect plan!” “Oh? What did Yue’er discover? Tell me,” Mu Yuheng said with great interest. “Last night, I took some people to investigate the Sheyu Kingdom’s army. Their military camp is well laid out, without any blind spots. I also took my people to inspect that river. I discovered a particularly exquisite military compound there, one guarded extremely heavily. I quietly went over to take a look. Can you guess what I discovered?” Ling Jiayue raised her brows as she spoke. “Oh? What did Yue’er discover?” Mu Yuheng asked with interest. “I discovered that most of the Sheyu Kingdom’s leaders are probably there. I also overheard a conversation. This war wasn’t deliberately provoked by the Sheyu Kingdom. Instead, it was jointly plotted by the Ye Kingdom and the Sheyu Kingdom. They want Dayi to fall apart so they can divide it between them in one stroke,” Ling Jiayue said seriously. “If that is as Yue’er says, then Chu Chaoci truly must be watched carefully. I’ll write a letter immediately and have the secret guards take it back to my Eldest Brother, so that he can be prepared,” Mu Yuheng said with a frown. “Mm. But now that we know the river is the weak point of the Sheyu Kingdom’s army, we should also make careful plans. That way, we can drive back the Sheyu Kingdom’s forces. Once we return to court, I’ll tear Mu Yuyang and the others apart with my own hands,” Ling Jiayue said seriously. “Good. I’ll arrange for people to use guerrilla warfare, specifically attacking the military compound by the river. We don’t need to engage in a true head-on battle. Our main purpose is to harass the enemy, draw their forces over, and gather them there. Then we’ll let them wait for the spring flood.” A sharp glint flashed through Mu Yuheng’s eyes. “That’s what I was thinking too. Mu Yuheng, let me go this time,” Ling Jiayue said. “Yue’er, even if you want to prove yourself, you don’t have to personally lead the charge in everything. It pains me to see you do this,” Mu Yuheng said. “I’m not like you. You were a general who went to war at fifteen, while I am a woman. If I don’t make good use of this opportunity, how will the soldiers ever submit to me in the future? I was the one who conducted the night reconnaissance of the enemy camp. I should be the one to go now as well. Things should be carried through from beginning to end,” Ling Jiayue insisted. “Very well. We’ll do as you say.” Mu Yuheng could not persuade Ling Jiayue otherwise, so he sighed and agreed. After the two of them finished making their plans, they returned to rest. After all, they had both been busy all night. They had to get proper rest.