Military Advisor and Princess

Chapter 14

"I won't allow it." That'll make you furious.

"Should we let them pass or not?"

"No."

...

The two remained locked in a stalemate outside Ao Jun's tent for an entire day. Zhao Zhiyang was unable to get in, and more and more soldiers gathered around, chuckling to themselves.

"Are you going to give way or not?"

"We won't allow it."

Helpless, Zhao Zhiyang stormed off in anger, not wanting to put on a show for others.

Seeing Zhao Zhiyang's face turn red with anger, Yueying smiled victoriously and made a face at his retreating back. After her parents' passing, she had become much quieter, but unexpectedly, Zhao Zhiyang had brought back her original liveliness. In his presence, she showed her most authentic self without reservation. However, at this moment, her heart was completely occupied by Ao Jun, and she was utterly unaware of this.

The most admirable person was Ao Jun. The noisy commotion outside the tent, like a theatrical performance, had absolutely no effect on her; she continued sleeping soundly. Even the Duke of Zhou (a figure in Chinese mythology associated with dreams) was about to leave because of the noise, but Ao Jun remained oblivious, continuing to play chess with him. This was yet another of her unparalleled skills.

The Strategist and the Princess: Battlefield Chapter Thirteen - Emerging Talent

Inside the main tent of the military camp, the generals and Ouyang Jinxuan were engaged in a heated discussion of important military matters. However, two men seemed somewhat distracted, staring intently at the tent entrance, as if waiting for someone. One of these men was Wei Ziqi, and the other was the camp's commander, Ouyang Jinxuan. Just then, the tent flap was lifted, revealing a person dressed in pristine white. Their flawless face, illuminated by the sunlight, was so radiant that everyone present held their breath, as if a god had descended.

This is none other than Mo Jun, the military advisor, who has been the subject of much discussion in the army lately, the one for whom General Wei glared at General Zhao. Indeed, he is incomparably handsome, no wonder many soldiers blush and murmur speechlessly at the mere mention of his name, their eyes filled with adoration. Such a celestial being has even captivated these seasoned generals, so it's no wonder the soldiers are smitten.

"Oh, Strategist Mo has arrived. It was really hard to invite him!" Jin Xuan teased when the person he had been waiting for finally arrived.

"I am truly sorry to have kept Your Highness waiting!" Ao Jun replied calmly, walking over to sit down next to Wei Ziqi as she spoke. She didn't seem to be apologizing at all.

"Hmph, so what if she's just a strategist? What's with the attitude? Making the Prince and so many others wait for you alone, humph!" Zhao Zhiyang said disdainfully. For some reason, he just couldn't stand Mo Jun and was convinced she was a spy.

“Zhiyang, don’t say that. Advisor Mo might have been delayed by something, which is why he’s so late,” Wei Ziqi immediately defended Ao Jun.

"Something came up? What could have happened to him? I think he did it on purpose." He just doesn't like her.

"you……"

"Alright, let's begin the meeting!" Seeing that the two were about to 'fight' again, Jinxuan waved his hand to stop them.

Everyone sighed inwardly, "Alas, truly a 'femme fatale'!" Ever since Mo Jun arrived at the camp, Generals Wei and Zhao had been arguing incessantly, and the soldiers had lost their will to train. They either secretly went to watch or spent all day gossiping like busybodies. Could this person really be a spy, as General Zhao claimed, deliberately trying to disrupt the morale of his troops? If so, that would be terrifying. Everyone couldn't help but look at Ao Jun with suspicion, their hearts filled with wariness towards this handsome strategist.

“Ahem… Your Highness, look, our army is currently stationed on Cangwu Slope, while the Cangliao Kingdom’s army is stationed on Cangxia Slope, which is 500 li away from our army, right here.” General Chen spoke first, pointing out the positions of both sides on the topographic map in front of him.

"Your Highness, according to our scouts, Yelü Ying, after the battle of Luoyun City, vowed to avenge his defeat and has therefore mobilized 100,000 troops from the country, now claiming to be 200,000, and is constantly provoking our army," General Wang added.

"Damn it, we haven't even gotten our revenge yet, and he's already provoking us. Your Highness, let me, Old Zhao, lead the troops and take him down!" Zhao Zhiyang roared.

“Zhiyang, don’t be impulsive. Cangliao has an army of 200,000, while our army only has 100,000. The disparity in strength is too great. We should consider this carefully,” Wei Ziqi said gently.

"What do you mean by 'taking a long-term plan'? Even if he really has 200,000 troops, so what? The quality of an army is more important than its quantity. Besides, those 100,000 troops were already terrified in the Battle of Luoyun City, and the other 100,000 just arrived from Cangliao and haven't even settled down yet. Now is the best time to send troops; we can definitely catch him off guard." Although Zhao Zhiyang was a reckless man who acted impulsively, he always had great insight into military matters.

"But don't forget, Yelü Ying is no ordinary person. What you want, he also wants. His constant provocations against our army are clearly a trap."

"General Wei, I agree with General Zhao. Now is the perfect time to send troops. General Wei, you are right. Yelü Ying is no ordinary man. Precisely because of this, he must have anticipated that our army would launch an attack while he is still unsettled. That's why he provoked us, making us think he was prepared and thus hesitant to act rashly. Once he is in control, he will launch a fierce attack on us. If we miss this opportunity, our morale will be low. Therefore, I agree that we should send troops now," said General Li under Zhao Zhiyang, his small eyes gleaming with shrewdness.

"What do you all think?" Jin Xuan asked the other generals after hearing the three men's words. He also agreed with General Li's words. Yelü Ying was a very difficult person to understand. Moreover, he was extremely intelligent, both righteous and wicked, and never played by the rules.

"Your Highness, I agree to send troops. This place is close to the Cangliao border, and the climate is already cold. Now that winter is approaching, it will be even colder. On the other hand, our Longxuan Dynasty has a mild climate. I'm afraid our army won't be able to hold out. The longer it drags on, the more disadvantageous it will be for our army," General Bai said.

"This humble general also agrees. I have sent people to investigate. Yelü Ying insisted on sending troops despite everyone's opposition, which has already made many ministers in the Cangliao court dissatisfied. This time, he has conscripted another 100,000 troops, which has made everyone inside and outside the court resentful. The reinforcements are deliberately delayed, and the morale of the army is unstable, with deserters frequently deserting. Now is the perfect time to send troops," said another general, General Hong.

"Your Highness, please send out your troops!" Zhao Zhiyang stood up and bowed.

"Your Highness, please send out the troops," all the generals except Wei Ziqi said in unison.

"Hmm, General Wei disagrees?" Jin Xuan raised an eyebrow and looked at Wei Ziqi.

"No, this humble general also agrees to send troops." Seeing that everyone agreed to send troops, and that the prince also agreed, he had considered what the generals had just said, and now was the right time to send troops.

"Very well, if that's the case, then pass down the order: send out troops tomorrow morning to catch the Cangliao army off guard and avenge the innocent villagers of Mojia Village." Jinxuan stood up and raised his voice to give the order.

"Understood." The generals also stood up and said in unison.

"Military Advisor Mo, why aren't you saying a word? Isn't it your duty as a military advisor to offer advice and strategies? Why are you silent now?" Just as everyone turned to leave the camp, Jin Xuan suddenly asked Military Advisor Mo, who had been staring at the military map since the beginning of the discussion.

"Do I need to offer any advice? Hasn't His Highness already ordered the troops to be dispatched?" Ao Jun finally turned her gaze away from the military map and asked rhetorically. Since the start of the meeting, had this prince, the marshal, ever asked her, his strategist, a single question? He was treating her like she was invisible! If that's the case, why should she go out of her way to do something?

"Then it would be my fault. I shouldn't have neglected the strategist." His teasing tone made the general who had followed him for many years look at him in disbelief: "I've been with my prince for so many years, when have I ever heard him speak in such a tone?"

"Hmph, since Your Highness has already ordered the troops to be dispatched, there's no point in me saying anything more. I'll take my leave." Ao Jun flicked her sleeve and was about to leave. She didn't want to be toyed with by him here. If he wanted to send troops, let him send them to his heart's content.

"Wait, did I say you could leave?" Seeing Ao Jun stop, Jin Xuan asked again, "Judging from the strategist's words, he doesn't approve of sending troops?"

"Yes." Ao Jun turned back to Jin Xuan and said. She didn't want to see so many Long Xuan soldiers die in vain on the battlefield; otherwise, she wouldn't bother with this rude man.

"Reason?" He wanted to see what he could possibly have to stop him from sending troops.

"War is a matter of vital importance to the state; a matter of life and death, a road to survival or ruin. It is imperative to examine it carefully. Therefore, it is assessed through five factors and compared with plans to understand its true nature: first, the Way; second, Heaven; third, Earth; fourth, the General; and fifth, the Law. Looking at it through these five factors, firstly, our army is going to attack the Cangliao Kingdom this time. Although this is to seek justice for Mojia Village, it is different from the last time we resisted the Cangliao invasion. The Cangliao soldiers will fight to the death to defend their homeland and will not desert. On the contrary, they will be united in purpose. The so-called instability in morale must be due to Yelü Ying." The rumors were deliberately spread. Second, as that person just said, this area is already on the border of Cangliao, with a cold climate. Our army has only just arrived, and many soldiers are suffering from acclimatization issues. At this moment, our army is completely ineffective and has not yet established a firm foothold, not the enemy. Third, I just surveyed the terrain around both armies. Cangxia Slope is easy to defend and difficult to attack, with complex terrain. Anyone unfamiliar with the terrain will inevitably get lost and have no way out. Currently, our army has absolutely no understanding of the terrain of Cangxia Slope, and any attack will be doomed to defeat. Fourth, although I have never met Yelü Ying, I have heard... General Wei said, "This man is a rare military talent. Although he possesses a sinister air, he is strict in his military discipline, decisive in his decisions, and fair in his rewards and punishments. He enjoys high prestige in the army, no less than that of Your Majesty, Prince Jin. Therefore, the soldiers of Cangliao are surely in high spirits now, eager to avenge their crown prince's humiliation at Luoyun City." Fifth, Yelü Ying is the crown prince of Cangliao, the future king, and holds real power in the kingdom. Otherwise, he wouldn't have mobilized such a large force to launch such a baseless attack on Longxuan. Moreover, rumors circulate that he is ruthless, vicious, and cold-blooded. Anyone who dares to oppose him will suffer a fate worse than death, so even if some in the court are dissatisfied with him, they dare not show it, much less speak out against injustice. Therefore, his logistical support will never be cut off, so he has no worries about the rear, and naturally, there will be no chaos in the ranks or instability in morale. This was clearly spread by Yelü Ying himself, and his provocation of our side was precisely because he knew our army would think he was bluffing, showing us his weaknesses, in order to lure our army into sending troops.”

Ao Jun, who was usually quiet, spoke so much in one breath. Seeing everyone, including Ouyang Jinxuan, looking at her as if she were an alien, Ao Jun continued, "He who wins a battle before it is fought has many calculations in his favor; he who loses a battle before it is fought has few calculations in his favor. Many calculations lead to victory, few calculations to defeat, and what about no calculations at all! By this I can see the outcome of the battle." After saying this, she didn't care about anything else, picked up the teacup on the table and drank it. Mmm, ancient tea is really delicious.

"You..." Jin Xuan was so shocked that he couldn't speak. Such insightful and thorough analysis of the situation really came from the mouth of this 'thieving strategist' who took his tea without asking.

The Strategist and the Princess: Battlefield Chapter Fourteen - The Prey

"You..." Jin Xuan was so shocked that he couldn't speak. Such insightful and thorough analysis of the situation really came from the mouth of this 'thieving strategist' who took his tea without asking.

He only made her his strategist to see who she really was and what her intentions were in infiltrating the military camp. The results of Yi Tian and Yi Han's investigation were both expected and unexpected. But he never truly intended for her to advise him or act as a real strategist. He didn't believe this heartless woman, who only knew how to abandon women, understood military affairs or warfare. He had only asked her casually, and unexpectedly…