Hai Chi, this blatant waste of space, has no presence wherever he goes.
It’s impossible for people from the Western Xia Capital to send trivial news like ’The Crown Prince does nothing all day, loafs around, and searches for beauties to sleep with’ to the frontline.
After all, they want to live two more years in Emperor’s hands, not shorten their own lives.
Likewise.
The frontline won’t spread embarrassing rumors like ’The Crown Prince sleeps with women in the camp, gambles in groups, and fights crickets’ back to the Capital City.
Firstly, it is indeed embarrassing.
Secondly, the messengers don’t have that much free time.
The result is.
People in the Capital City think the Crown Prince is there.
The frontline believes the Crown Prince is at the front.
Neither knows about the other’s additional Crown Prince.
Of course, how long this secret will last depends on fate and luck.
But for Hai Tang, who is forced into a corner and just a step away from death.
Keeping it one more day is a gain.
...
Eighty thousand elite soldiers from Western Xia have arrived.
The Great Chu Dynasty has matched them exactly.
Grand General of the Western Expedition Yang He led a hundred thousand troops from the Capital City, a grand procession, after half a month of long journey.
Finally arrived the night before Western Xia reached the vicinity of Yinshan City, where the two armies would battle.
At this time.
Xia Tingfeng and Zhao Qichen’s ten thousand men had been in a standoff with Hai Geli’s few thousand elite soldiers for days.
The two armies met, merging their camps.
A hundred thousand troops turned into a hundred and ten thousand.
Yang He, along with his son and all other generals and deputy commanders, dismounted and headed straight for the Crown Prince’s camp.
After some formalities, the camp buzzed with activity.
Everyone knew each other; meeting in the Capital and in the camp felt different.
In the Capital, everyone was relaxed, meeting with casual banter.
In the camp.
Here, everyone was for war, the atmosphere tense, sharing a common enmity.
Trying to joke, but the words somehow became emotional.
After a few words.
Everyone’s mood inexplicably somber.
Weapons are unforgiving, and casualties are inevitable.
Even the most skilled warrior can’t guarantee no surprises on the battlefield.
Perhaps one person.
Now joking around here, but tomorrow separated by life and death.
They’re familiar with such feelings, having experienced war.
Thus...
As they spoke, heads lowered, the atmosphere growing heavier.
Yang He first protested against this inexplicable mood.
"What are you all talking about?"
"Aren’t you boosting the enemy’s morale and lowering your own?"
"Back in Guangnan, the enemy’s Navy Forces were so strong, our soldiers couldn’t even swim, but we won!"
"Now on land, who is stronger than anyone else?!"
"So many against so few, losing would be..." Too embarrassing!
Xia Tingfeng got the jest, twitching his lips.
He sternly reprimanded Tiger, Rat, and Monster with a beating.
"It’s you lot, spouting nonsense?!"
Tiger looked puzzled.
"Brother, I didn’t say a word!"
Rat whispered complaints.
"I didn’t say much either!"
Monster looked around, hey? The patterns on the tent are beautiful!
Xia Tingfeng rubbed his nose, coughing to hide the awkwardness.
"No more nonsense, unsettling the troops!"
"Yes!" The three replied in unison.
...
The Northwest army was complete, everyone actively preparing for war.
As for the Southwest army...
While Yang He led his soldiers, cleaning guns and polishing knives, armoring up.
A letter from Commander of the Southwest Shi Yang arrived.
The messenger delivered it directly to General Yang He’s tent.
At that time, Yang He was doing an inventory of military supplies.
Seeing the signature on the letter.
Knowing Shi Yang meant no good, he was too lazy to read.
Casually tossed the letter to Xia Tingfeng.
Xia Tingfeng took the letter, opened it, and read it with Yang He and others.
Before finishing the letter.
Their expressions varied.
"Hmm..."
"This guy..."
"How much does he look down on us?"
"Really underestimating people!"
In the letter, Shi Yang repeatedly emphasized.
If short on men, be sure to tell him, his soldiers are so idle they’re bored.
A few small bandits aren’t even a challenge.
They also want to deal with Western Xia’s bastards.
After all.
With him guarding the Southwest.
Those bandits can’t stir anything up, going in and out like a cat catching rats cleanly.
Thus, while Southwest and Northwest suffered.
The Southwest suffered much less, the locals barely affected.