"I understand your concerns, but please rest assured, General," Lu Qingwan sighed regretfully. "The Xuanjia Army will never suffer due to reasons unrelated to war again."
Upon her arrival in this world, Lu Zhenting had nearly perished due to internal court struggles. Later, during the Northern Wei invasion, their grain had been replaced with moldy rice. Now, facing another campaign, the Zhenguo Army's equipment and provisions were all changed, and their soldiers dying because of their own countrymen was an outright insult to those who led them.
Lian Yu had truly been worn out by these endless stratagems. He feared that their firearms would be depleted during the attack on Yunqiang, leaving his brothers to face the Northern Wei's weaponry with their bare flesh. Lu Qingwan's words served as both a promise and a reminder to him. She promised him, as the matriarch of the Xuanjia Army, that they would no longer suffer for non-warfare reasons. She also reminded him, as a friend, that those who could harm the Xuanjia Army were no longer present.
Slightly embarrassed that Lu Qingwan had seen through his thoughts so easily, Lian Yu was nonetheless greatly reassured by her positive answer. "If that is the case, Your Highness, then please wait and see. I will make sure everyone knows that with the Prince personally commanding, the Xuanjia Army is invincible in battle. Even with the Prince away in the rear, the Xuanjia Army will still be a formidable force, like tigers and wolves."
Lu Qingwan smiled and nodded. "This Consort awaits your good news."
Lian Yu then strode out of the command tent with such a bearing that he seemed less like he was going to command a battle and more like he was about to personally duel the Yunqiang enemy.
Soon, only Lu Qingwan and a few trusted confidantes remained in the command tent. She decisively waved her hand. "Li Su, find me a well-hidden warehouse. I need to stock up on supplies. Duan Yue, search for vantage points around the positions, ready to support the main army and capture any fish-in-troubled-waters snakes and rats. Ru Yue, take people to keep a close eye on our generals, guard against anyone trying to take advantage of the chaos and kill the Xuanjia Army's vital forces. Any troublemakers will be handed over to the General, to be dealt with by military law."
The subordinates received their orders and departed. Lu Qingwan also walked out of the command tent, looking at the busy soldiers with a frown that made her look like an old woman.
Ying Yi ventured a guess, "Does Your Highness suspect there's a spy in the Xuanjia Army?"
Lu Qingwan glared at him sharply. The latter grinned. "Your Highness, rest assured, within three feet, everyone is one of us. Others won't be able to hear."
Lu Qingwan raised an eyebrow. "On what grounds do you say that?"
"Your Highness's subordinates are a hidden talent. If you merely wanted to protect the generals, you could have sent a few people to mix among the troops to guard them. Why would you have the girls of December personally monitor them? Moreover, I noticed that the generals of the Xuanjia Army who were poisoned or attacked were all those whose opinions were highly aligned with the Prince's. Those who often disagreed with the Prince remained unharmed. This is clearly a ploy to sow discord!" Ying Yi chuckled, not forgetting to praise himself.
"Although I know General Feng and the others were just discussing matters on their own, if General Jin and the others were truly harmed, wouldn't their subordinates suspect General Feng and the others? The men in the army are mostly young and hot-blooded; they can start a fight over trivial matters when nothing is going on. If someone incites them, and then someone dies, wouldn't that make the situation even worse?" Ying Yi finished, looking expectant of praise. "Your Highness, did I guess correctly?"
Lu Qingwan looked at him with amusement. "Since you've figured it out, tell me, what should we do next?"
Ying Yi was stunned. "Hasn't Your Highness already made arrangements?" All those who could have been targets were being watched, and any attempt to act would, if not immediately stopped, at least prevent further escalation. Ying Yi couldn't figure out what else needed to be done.
Lu Qingwan beckoned him closer. Ying Yi obediently leaned in. "Our target has never been the petty troublemakers mixed in with the army. The Xuanjia Army is feared by many, but few can infiltrate it. Have them keep a close watch, don't alert the enemy. I want to see who is so impatient to dismantle the Xuanjia Army." The military discipline of the Xuanjia Army was no joke. Their strict regulations alone were enough to keep nine out of ten potential infiltrators outside the Xuanjia Army's camp. Lu Qingwan was even more curious than Ying Yi as to who had such a profound reach to extend into the Xuanjia Army.
Ying Yi retreated with understanding, no longer disturbing Lu Qingwan's precious thoughts. Before she could fully ponder it, Lian Yu's battle had already begun. On the battlements of Zhenyuan Pass, three cannons aimed at Xiayang Pass fired a barrage of shells, turning Xiayang Pass into a sea of fire. The Xuanjia Army's cavalry, treading the path cleared by the artillery, charged directly into Xiayang Pass. Their sabers were on their backs, and their firearms were in their hands. Yunqiang soldiers who had charged within a few dozen feet fell before the firearms. With firearms paving the way and artillery covering their advance, the cavalry's progress towards the Qiang capital exceeded everyone's expectations.
Meanwhile, the Northern Wei army was also stunned. After waiting anxiously for over ten days, the Xuanjia Army had abandoned them and gone to attack Yunqiang. The Northern Wei soldiers looked at each other, none understanding what Si Fengwu was planning. They wanted to send someone to investigate, but their scouts were shot down by the sharpshooters of the firearms camp before they could even get out of the encirclement. The others were so terrified that they could only huddle in place, waiting for new orders.
As for Lu Qingwan, she stood on the parapet of Beixiao Pass with a spyglass from the moment the first cannon fired at Zhenyuan Pass, observing the scene. Seeing Xiayang Pass engulfed in flames and the Xiliang defenders frantically organizing their defenses, she smiled. "Who came up with the idea of bombarding Xiayang Pass from the battery within Zhenyuan Pass?"
Beixiao Pass held the invading enemies of various countries outside the northern gate of Daqian. Zhenyuan Pass and Xiayang Pass were actually the passes of Xiliang and Yunqiang, respectively. Beyond Beixiao Pass, to the east was Yongning City of Northern Wei, and to the west was a lawless zone of only a few hundred zhang. To the west was Zhenyuan Pass of Xiliang, and in the middle was Xiayang Pass of Yunqiang. It was unclear which divine strategist had devised the plan to build a battery at Zhenyuan Pass, the gateway of Xiliang, to bombard Xiayang Pass. It looked as if Xiliang was attacking Yunqiang, yet it wasn't within Xiliang's territory. Even if Xiliang was displeased, they couldn't say anything, and it could also serve as a deterrence to Xiliang. Even for someone as cunning as Lu Qingwan, she had to admit that this move was a stroke of genius.
"That battery was specially built by my subordinates at the Prince's command before he returned to the capital," a smiling voice of Li Qing said. "This is the first time our cavalry has used firearms in battle. Does the result meet Your Highness's expectations?" Lu Qingwan's spyglass had not been put down, and at this moment, she was watching the cavalry charge into Xiayang Pass. Hearing this, the corners of her mouth curved slightly. "To be honest, the performance of the cavalry exceeded my imagination."