Walking among the horse herd meant threading every gap without spooking the mounts. Forget the Mongol Troops spotting him—he might get trampled before they even noticed.
Jiang Huoer’s target was the cave entrance. The cave wasn’t large; voices inside would echo. The sentry stood nearby but still at a distance. With vines and grass for cover, and midnight darkness, he wouldn’t be seen.
He inched forward bit by bit. The fierce wind tonight was a blessing—it drowned out the rustling sound of his movement against the ground.
Inside the cave, everyone had usually slept by this hour recently. But tonight, sleep eluded them.
“Success or failure hinges on this one move,” Suryehok said confidently. Shao Bu’s tracking skills were unmatched. Duermu was the smartest strategist. Arslan was his fiercest Warrior General. With these three, tomorrow’s battle was already won.
“As for after, Chief, we have two paths,” Duermu said. “First: use Princess Taikang as leverage. Demand an equal exchange. The Despised Emperor adores this Little Princess—he’d offer priceless treasures.”
“I say kill her outright—end it cleanly and assert our authority!” Arslan loved bloodshed. Unless Suryehok intervened, every captive he caught died by his hand.
“That’s the worst option,” Duermu countered. “Killing Princess Taikang brings no gain—only harm. The Tatar Tribe has rival factions. The Tatar Prince clashes with us. Huo Shai opposes our supreme commander. If we kill her, the Despised Emperor’s Sharp Blade will target our tribe. Then the Tatars and Huo Shai become the fishermen profiting from the clam and snipe fight—we gain nothing.”
“Hmm, Duermu makes sense,” Suryehok nodded. “I agreed to killing her before, but now it’s the worst plan. We must find her. Didn’t Shao Bu spot someone who might be the Little Princess days ago? Assign him the task—he excels in Lightness Skill. It shouldn’t be a problem.”
“Your order is received.”
“What’s the second path?” Suryehok asked.
“Marry Princess Taikang yourself, Chief—or have the supreme commander arrange it. This greatly benefits our tribe,” Duermu explained. “Kinship with the Despised Emperor means border favors and trade advantages. Naturally, this angers the Tatar Prince and Huo Shai. The Tatar Tribe and Flame Sieve Tribe will provoke the emperor—and us. But he’ll send troops to protect us, since Princess Taikang would be in our hands. His soldiers will handle border clashes. In the end, the three parties fight like clam and snipe—we become the fishermen reaping the profit.”
Duermu was truly formidable.
Outside, Jiang Huoer listened. Duermu’s reasoning was flawless. His second proposal was the best choice—the most advantageous for Suryehok’s tribe.
“But this is humiliating,” Suryehok frowned. “We keep the ‘Iron Cavalry Seal’ unchanged to uphold Great Yuan’s dignity. Marrying Princess Taikang would disgrace us.”
“Exactly! No tribesman would willingly marry her,” Arslan added.
“A gentleman’s revenge takes ten years—haven’t you heard of Han Xin’s humiliation? Clinging to pride makes restoring our nation hopeless,” Duermu said, bowing slightly. “Chief, this second path is my top strategy. The choice is yours. But as your trusted Strategist and a Yuan citizen hoping for restoration, I urge you to take it.”
His words were sharp yet measured. Duermu spoke without arrogance, his tone gentle—easy to accept.
No wonder the Capital Examination Team fell into the trap. With such a brilliant strategist in the enemy camp, mere warrior generals couldn’t counter him.
“Hmm, I’ll think it over. Duermu’s second path is indeed best. But success hinges on capturing Princess Taikang first. Shao Bu, it’s up to you.”
Among the four, Suryehok, Arslan, and Shao Bu were warrior generals; Duermu was the civil Strategist. Shao Bu was weakest in combat, but his Lightness Skill was unmatched, and his mind was quickest. Seizing Princess Taikang required someone bold, meticulous, and skilled—he was perfect.
So the Capital Interview team had a special mission: Princess Taikang. Jiang Huoer had heard tales from his father and god-uncle. His god-uncle, while serving in the Imperial Capital, had even held her. The current emperor doted on his only daughter more than his two sons.
Their intelligence was uncannily sharp. Spies must lurk within the Imperial Capital. If this crisis resolved well, he must warn them—especially that unconscious Brocade Guard Officer. “Your capital has Mongol Troops spies,” he’d say.
He’d learned the crucial news. The Imperial Capital team hadn’t arrived yet. His next task: relay everything before they got here.
His heart pounded. Who’d have thought a youth who only knew Cannon Fire would overhear news that could change a nation’s fate?
“What are you doing?”
As Jiang Huoer froze, a sharp voice cut through.
“Oh no…” He bolted to run. Exposed, fleeing was his only option.
“Get in there!”
Huoer was kicked into the cave.
