Chapter 26

After walking for a whole day, everyone was exhausted, and the horses were tired. When they returned to the courtyard, it was already close to dusk. Zhu Gaoxu looked up at the gradually darkening sky and ordered people to light torches everywhere, as if preparing for a night battle.

Seeing this, the Xu brothers quickly arranged for manpower and ordered everyone to cook dinner on the spot. Hongye and Lüzhu, despite their fatigue, excitedly led the women's army to help.

The entire training ground was in chaos, with torches everywhere and bonfires all around. Xu Hao, however, said weakly, "The sun has set. Only a sick person would travel from the capital at night just to fight. Everyone, go back and do what you were doing."

If it were the old Xu Hao, the two mischievous girls would definitely not listen, but today was different. Hongye obediently agreed and followed Xu Hao into the inner quarters.

Lüzhu tilted her head in thought, then looked at the crowd on the training ground and said to the passing Xu Wen and Xu Song, "Third Brother said they won't come. I'll go back to my room first."

The two brothers looked at each other in confusion, pondered for a moment, and then ran to tell Xu Jingqin. Xu Jingzhi nodded and said, "Third Brother is right. Li Jinglong is well-versed in military strategy. Rushing here from afar at night would be like a spent arrow. A wise person would not do that. They will likely choose to fight tomorrow."

"Why didn't you say that earlier?" Xu Jingqin looked at the busy servants and was very angry.

Xu Jingzhi smiled bitterly and said, "It's not a real battle. What if they can't stand the provocation and insist on coming to settle the score? They might show up at any moment."

"Then what should we do?" Xu Jingqin was at a loss. If he dismissed everyone and they came right after, the morale would drop significantly. If he didn't dismiss them, how long would this go on? If they didn't come all night, wouldn't he be laughed at by Third Brother and the villagers?

Xu Jingqin looked around and noticed that the most enthusiastic Zhu Gaoxu and the guards from the Yan王府 had already disappeared, probably to rest.

Despite not being a mediocre person, Xu Jingqin, feeling a headache, finally said, "Send thirty people to watch the road, with torches. If they see anyone coming, light the torches and pass the message back in intervals so we can be prepared."

"I'll lead the team," Xu Jingzhi, the strategist, volunteered immediately.

Xu Jingqin nodded in relief and instructed, "Have everyone finish their dinner and then rest. Xu Wen and Xu Song, you two will stay up and wait. Once the signal comes, immediately sound the gong to wake everyone."

Xu Wen and Xu Song, exhausted, smiled bitterly and accepted the order. They wanted to ask when they could sleep but didn't dare to. They were so depressed that they didn't even change their clothes and had food sent to them.

After sending out his three most capable brothers, Xu Jingqin looked at the remaining few, who were either weak scholars or too young to handle the responsibility. He couldn't even find someone to discuss with. He couldn't help but think of today's surprising Xu Hao, who had both courage and intelligence. However, he usually looked down on him and couldn't bring himself to call him over.

Thinking of the upcoming opponent, Li Jinglong, the most famous young man in the capital, Xu Jingqin knew he couldn't match him. If he lost, it would be a great humiliation, and the Xu family's reputation would be ruined.

After much deliberation, he decided to pass the responsibility to the Zhu brothers. Since they were the most prestigious, the role of commander would be perfect for Zhu Gaozhi.

Xu Jingqin then ran to find the Zhu brothers. In the pavilion on the green mountain, the old man and Prince Yan, Zhu Di, were having a night talk by candlelight. After the steward finished recounting the day's events, the old man's face showed disappointment, and he sighed, "Truly, each generation is worse than the last."

Zhu Di comforted him, "Xu Hao seems to have both courage and strategy. Why not test him tomorrow to see if he has real talent?"

"Xu Hao, Xu Hao, I remember his father when he was a child, just like a little fox," the old man chuckled.

"Zhu Gaozhi is steady and meticulous, good at listening to his subordinates, but lacks the drive to fight. He is better at maintaining the status quo; Zhu Gaoxu is brave and will be an invincible general in the future. His personality is most like mine, but he is too young and lacks strategy."

As Zhu Di spoke slowly, the old man nodded in agreement. Zhu Di continued, "In the past, the Emperor valued my elder brother the most, a man of both literary and military talent. It's a pity he passed away early and couldn't show his prowess on the battlefield, a regret in my life. Since fate has brought us together, let's see who's the better among the young ones tomorrow."

The old man glanced at Zhu Di, who was increasingly showing a domineering aura, with deep concern. Since the death of the Crown Prince, Zhu Biao, last year, this son-in-law, despite suppressing his inner feelings, often revealed a hint of ambition. This year, he returned to the capital under the pretext of sending his sons to study, with ulterior motives, which was truly worrying.

"The Jingnan Campaign, the Yongle Emperor, what a name that will be remembered for generations."

Thinking of these terrifying words, the old man's mind returned to the face of the intelligent girl who claimed to have saved his life and predicted the future but ultimately died tragically before his eyes.

Sighing deeply, the old man remembered the incomprehensible wisdom of that girl who had joined him to get close to Prince Yan. Her ambition was clear: to assist Zhu Di in becoming emperor and rule the world. But she didn't know that the Prince's wife was his own daughter, a situation that was both laughable and sad. How could he possibly send a demon to his daughter?

Would the Emperor really kill all his meritorious subjects? Didn't he know that it would destroy his own defenses? Could he, who had been in seclusion for ten years, escape the disaster? Could the entire Xu family survive?

At this moment, the old man's mind was in turmoil, and he even regretted killing the girl. The once invincible Grand Marshal Xu had been worn down by time and was now old.

At the Xu family courtyard, with its white walls and blue tiles, under the gentle moonlight, Xu Hao lay in a recliner, eyes closed, pretending to sleep. Hongye's small feet hooked and kicked, causing the chair to sway gently.

Lüzhu was describing the entire battle, and with her embellishments, Xu Hao seemed like a reincarnation of Lü Bu.

The girls listening to the story sat gracefully, each exuding a noble demeanor. Zhu Gaozhi was sitting next to the eldest sister, Xu Qinglian, laughing heartily. Even the usually arrogant Zhu Gaoxu didn't try to steal the spotlight from his "good brother."

After Lüzhu finished, Zhu Gaozhi personally poured a cup of wine for his "childhood friend" and said, "Jingqin nominated me as the commander, putting me in a difficult position. The biggest taboo in leading an army is that the general doesn't know the soldiers, and the soldiers don't know the general. The other side has been training with aristocratic young men for years, like an arm and a finger. Sigh, it's really a headache."

Zhu Gaoxu dismissed it with a sneer, "It's not a real battle. No matter what formation they show, we just charge forward."

"That's not right. Bravery alone won't defeat them," Zhu Gaozhi disagreed, looking at the relaxed Xu Hao and scolding, "This is all your fault, and you're so relaxed? Get up, the one who tied the bell must untie it. How should we fight?"

Xu Hao slowly opened his eyes and said bluntly, "Asking me is pointless. They are military experts, and I haven't even finished reading one military book."

"You're even worse than me," Zhu Gaoxu laughed heartily.

Zhu Gaozhi smiled and said, "No problem. As Gaoxu said, since it's not a real battle, why not use some unconventional tactics? Even the tricks used in street fights or the little schemes in the bedroom. Let's gather ideas tonight, and everyone can speak freely."

The girls were immediately interested, giggling and nudging each other, soon laughing together.

Hongye raised her hand first and said, "I'll start. As the hosts, we should occupy the advantageous position, resting and looking down from above. Also, it's hot, so we can cut off their water supply, making them surrender before the fight even starts."

Zhu Gaozhi and Xu Hao's eyes lit up simultaneously, nodding and smiling. Zhu Gaozhi clapped and said, "Hongye, you are truly a female Zhuge Liang."

Lüzhu, not to be outdone, thought for a moment and said, "We can dig many pits on the training ground. When the enemy charges, they will all fall in. What do you think?"

"Brilliant," Zhu Gaozhi praised her, encouraging her.

The girls gradually became bolder, speaking one after another. Xu Cuiliu, who had been silent, suddenly said in a sweet voice, "Why not use the beauty trap to make those men fight among themselves, causing them to collapse without a fight."

Zhu Gaozhi clapped and laughed, "Even better!"

Xu Qinglian smiled and said, "I don't know much about war, but since the other side will set up a formal battle formation, we should use the unexpected. As the saying goes, 'Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will win a hundred battles.' Gather information about Li's young master's military strategy and character. Publicly, let the eldest brother be the commander to confuse the enemy, while secretly, the Prince will make the plans. Please don't laugh at me, Your Highnesses."

"Qinglian, your words are truly admirable," Zhu Gaozhi was deeply moved, looking at the blushing Qinglian and said loudly, "We will follow your advice, but the one who will make the plans is not me, but him."