Wisdom and Valor

"Since Xuan Yuan is not adept at naval warfare, we shall engage on land."

Xuan Yuan Hao turned to the figure who had stepped forward—General Qi Mo from the State of Chu. The Qi and Bai families were both long-established clans in Chu, but while the Bai family was renowned across the land, the Qi family, despite having more martial generals, remained in the shadow of their rivals. In the court and among the populace, the Bai family's reputation was unmatched, and the Qi family was scarcely recognized.

With Qi Mo's words, all eyes shifted to him. The Biro River was no ordinary stream, and the lack of bridges made a naval confrontation perilous. If they could convert naval warfare into a land battle, the prospects would change. Xuan Yuan Hao and Ji Yun Li regarded Qi Mo with keen interest, their faces alight with anticipation. "General Qi, do you have any strategic insights? Please, share freely."

Qi Mo bowed before Xuan Yuan Hao. "The soldiers of Xuan Yuan are not skilled in naval battles. In the State of Chu, the Bai family's forces excel in this regard. Should we engage on the Biro River, even if we were to emerge victorious, the casualties would be devastating. We have invested considerable resources into constructing our ships; it is illogical to abandon them now—"

"Get to the point."

Qi Mo spoke slowly, lingering without reaching his conclusion. While Xuan Yuan Hao and his companions still had patience, Zhuo Ran beside them was less inclined to indulge in such preambles. As a native of Xuan Yuan, he possessed an innate sense of superiority and held the King of Chu and his generals in disdain.

Catching Zhuo Ran's glance, Qi Mo cleared his throat awkwardly and finally fixed his gaze on Xuan Yuan Hao. "We could connect all the large ships with iron chains."

Ji Yun Li exclaimed, "Iron chains connecting the ships!"

As Xuan Yuan Hao's strategist, Ji Yun Li's mind worked far more quickly than that of the other generals. In an instant, he grasped the brilliance of the idea, his eyes brightening with admiration for Qi Mo.

"Iron chains connecting the ships?" Cen Can remarked in astonishment. "This way, the vessels could be transformed into a makeshift bridge, indeed a brilliant strategy."

Cen Can stepped forward, grasping Qi Mo's hand in excitement.

A rare smile broke across Xuan Yuan Hao's face, though he quickly regained his composure, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the table. He surveyed the eager faces around him, fixing his gaze on Qi Mo. "How did you conceive such an ingenious plan?"

Qi Mo, bowing his head, felt the weight of Xuan Yuan Hao's penetrating stare. "When I was young, I accompanied my father to a fishing village. The fishing boats were too small, so the fishermen would tie all their vessels together. When they set out to sea, they placed their catch on the various boats."

All of this was merely a fabrication by Qi Mo. While he had indeed visited a fishing village with his father, the local boats were separate. The idea came from a subordinate of his during a timber transportation, recognizing that Xuan Yuan soldiers were not adept at water combat. With the Phoenix King stationed across the river, a clever strategy was essential for crossing, and this plan was his contribution. It seemed that the Xuan Yuan heir had approved of this approach. Although Chu was still Chu, it had effectively become a vassal of Xuan Yuan. For centuries, the Qi family had been overshadowed by the Bai family, and this time, he was determined to elevate himself by aligning with Xuan Yuan, seizing the opportunity to climb this mighty tree.

Upon hearing Xuan Yuan Hao's inquiry, Ji Yun Li understood his concerns. "General Qi, being a courtier of the Bai family, now finds himself in opposition; it is truly regrettable."

Qi Mo looked up and sighed. "As a minister, Bai Ao should be loyal to his king and love his country. Yet now, driven by personal gain, he acts like a king himself, betraying the trust bestowed upon him by the King of Chu. Such treasonous scoundrels deserve to be punished. If Xuan Yuan's forces can cross the Biro River and flatten the Bai and Chu, we could present Bai Ao to the King for judgment."

Xuan Yuan Hao pressed his lips together, his demeanor becoming even more imposing as he fixed his gaze on Qi Mo. Suddenly, he laughed. "Indeed, a brilliant plan! With ships connected, we can deploy our troops to rain arrows down upon them while our soldiers pour in through the center. The Biro River, once an obstacle, shall be breached in no time."

The other generals exchanged glances, their hearts buoyed by Xuan Yuan Hao's words. Zhuo Ran approached Qi Mo, scratching his head with a sheepish grin. "General Qi, my earlier remarks may have been indiscreet; I hope you can forgive me."

Qi Mo, flustered, quickly returned the gesture. "General Zhuo speaks wisely; as a loyal subject, it is my duty to alleviate the king's burdens." It remained to be seen whether "the king" referred to the King of Chu or to the Xuan Yuan heir, Xuan Yuan Hao.

Xuan Yuan Hao rose and stepped forward, patting Qi Mo on the shoulder. "If we can successfully cross the Biro River, your contributions will be invaluable."

At that moment, Xuan Yuan Hao felt a surge of excitement. Confronted by the Phoenix King leading an army of two hundred thousand, they had little chance of victory in a naval battle. Although retreat had never been on his mind, remaining at the Biro River was not a sustainable solution. Without a strategy, retreat would be inevitable. But now, a path forward had suddenly presented itself. This prospect thrilled the ambitious Xuan Yuan Hao, as it not only removed the greatest obstacle in his way but also provided an opportunity to triumph over the Phoenix King, to finally win against her.

He had lost to her at the Archery God Tournament. His retreat from the city of Ye had felt like another defeat. He yearned for a victory, perhaps driven by wounded pride. He refused to accept being her vanquished opponent. He wished to demonstrate to her that Xuan Yuan Hao was far more capable than she might believe. Her missing out on him would be her regret, just as he felt towards her. He was eager to connect all the ships with iron chains and rush across to her side, ready to face her with the poise of a conqueror.

Ji Yun Li approached Qi Mo, bowing deeply. "General Qi, your wisdom is truly admirable."

Every word was laced with sincerity. He was magnanimous by nature, sharing Xuan Yuan Hao's ambition. Now, as someone else had formulated a solution to his dilemmas, clearing the greatest hurdle from his path, how could he not feel joy?

"Since we are to attack, our actions must be swift."

Standing behind Xuan Yuan Hao, Ji Yun Li's voice brimmed with resolve, tinged with excitement. The Phoenix King had seemingly accepted their defeat and would likely remain inactive for a while, allowing the soldiers to grow complacent. If they were to launch a surprise attack, they could achieve unforeseen results. The more Ji Yun Li contemplated, the more elated he felt. After the Biro River campaign, the name of Xuan Yuan would undoubtedly resound throughout the land. With such renown, unifying the realm would be within reach.

"Cen Can, Zhuo Ran, Qi Mo, I entrust this matter to you three. Execute the strategist's orders and expedite your preparations."

Xuan Yuan Hao commanded sternly.

"Yes!" The trio responded in unison before promptly departing to attend to their tasks. The remaining attendees left the tent with smiles, relieved at the prospect of their heir overcoming obstacles. The heavens appeared to favor them; this time, they would surely defeat the Phoenix King.

"Your Highness, are you concerned about the Phoenix King?"

Everyone withdrew, leaving only Ji Yunli and Xuanyuan Hao in the tent. Noticing the lack of joy on Xuanyuan Hao's face, Ji Yunli pursed his lips and inquired.

Seated in his chair, Xuanyuan Hao looked up at Ji Yunli, his hands resting on the table. "No," he replied.

His dark brown eyes held a firm conviction, devoid of any pretense. "She will not allow herself to come to harm."

At this moment, she was burdened with too many concerns to let go. With her capabilities and the support of two hundred thousand troops, even if their Xuanyuan forces launched an assault, she could safeguard her own safety. Yet he felt an inexplicable worry—why, he could not articulate.

Cen Can and the others demonstrated remarkable efficiency, having successfully linked all the large vessels within a day. Xuanyuan forces were not skilled in naval warfare; scattered boats would sway, undermining their combat effectiveness. However, connecting all the ships created a massive thoroughfare. As long as one end could approach the opposite shore, it would be tantamount to constructing a bridge across the river—an ingenious method that elicited admiration.

Cen Can personally supervised the ships tethered by iron chains and promptly reported to Xuanyuan Hao, "Your Highness, all the vessels have been securely linked."

Xuanyuan Hao lifted the tent flap and stepped outside. Cen Can, brimming with excitement, casually remarked, "The soldiers in the army are in awe of your brilliance, Your Highness; their morale has surged dramatically."

Xuanyuan Hao acknowledged with a slight nod, though his tone revealed little elation. This clever strategy, originating from a general of the Chu state, still left him with lingering doubts. Yet, upon reflection, such spontaneous ingenuity seemed fitting. Still, he could not shake the feeling that something was amiss; yet, when weighed rationally, Qi Mo's approach was indeed commendable, especially considering their current predicament, which left little room for critique.

"What movements do we see from the enemy across the river?"

As the evening sun inclined, dusk gradually enveloped the surroundings, and mist once again shrouded the river.

"The enemy forces on the opposite bank have noticed our vessel connections and are in an uproar. Surely, the Phoenix King and Young Master Bai are currently vexed over how to counter our troops' landing," Cen Can chuckled, his voice filled with glee and pride. Though he held some admiration for Xian Yue, this admiration did not alter his loyalty and respect for Xuanyuan Hao, nor did it affect his initial resolve: they were on divergent paths. Since she was now the queen of the Lan state, she stood as their adversary.

"Is that so?" Xuanyuan Hao, gazing through the mist-laden river, looked into the distance and asked nonchalantly, his expression inscrutable as the night descended, revealing nothing of his thoughts.