Chapter 801: Soon We

Early the next morning, Xiao Yuanhang issued a military order, commanding each camp to stock herbs that guard against snakes, insects, ants and beasts.

The army doctor, upon receiving the order, immediately led soldiers to the nearby mountain, gathered large amounts of mugwort, qinghao, realgar, honeysuckle and other herbs, and brought them back to the Main Camp.

Inside the camp, several large cauldrons were set up, and the medicinal broth began to be simmered.

Since the soldiers had no drills to attend, they all rushed to help brew the medicine.

The strong medicinal odor made Tuan Tuan hide in the tent, refusing to go out: "How awful it smells!"

Xiao Yuanhang, feeling tender, embraced her: "If it smells bad, stay inside; we'll assault the city tomorrow."

"After I finish this battle, I'll take you to see Uncle Ji and Dada, okay?"

Tuan Tuan covered her little nose: "Okay, then Father, fight quickly; I miss Mother."

"Alright," Xiao Yuanhang kissed her little cheek, "Today Father will stay with you in the tent and play, okay?"

"Sure," Tuan Tuan's eyes twinkled, "Father, I haven't ridden a big horse in ages."

Xiao Yuanhang smiled indulgently: "Do you want to ride Father's big horse?"

Tuan Tuan's eyes lit up: "I do!"

Xiao Yuanhang crouched down: "Come! Get on the horse!"

"Alright!" Tuan Tuan scrambled onto her father's back in a couple of jumps.

Xiao Feifei followed step‑by‑step behind Xiao Yuanhang, and the father and daughter played merrily inside the tent,

the heavy medicinal scent was carried by the wind onto the city walls.

Teng Yuan Liangxin and Anbei Taichin stood on the ramparts, exchanged a glance, and could not suppress their exhilaration,

With so many soldiers moving about, simmering all those herbs, the enemy troops were indeed poisoned!

Yuan Guangyi nodded approvingly: "It seems a considerable number of people in the Fiery Nation's Main Camp have been poisoned."

Teng Yuan Liangxin hurriedly said: "Once Prince Ning and the Immortal Envoy die, the Fiery Nation will surely withdraw its forces."

Yuan Guangyi turned and left: "You stay here and keep watch; report any movement immediately."

"This general can finally get a good night's sleep tonight."

Teng Yuan Liangxin and Anbei Taichin together saluted: "I accept the order."

Teng Yuan Liangxin watched Yuan Guangyi descend the wall, then straightened up: "Carry those ten iron cannons to the rampart; don't push them to the embrasure where the enemy can see."

The soldiers replied: "Yes!"

"Did you see any samurai approaching?"

"Not at all."

Teng Yuan Liangxin nodded, "Good."

Several samurai families from Eastland, upon receiving the Grand General's command, would inevitably rush over, but they were likely already cut down by Fiery Nation troops.

After this battle, only my Teng Yuan clan will stand alone and flourish.

Prince Ning, you can't imagine, can you? You actually helped me with such a great favor.

He smiled proudly, satisfied.

That evening, Xiao Yuanhang summoned the generals to the big tent and also invited Chu Yuan inside.

"National Preceptor," Xiao Yuanhang said with a worried expression, "Tomorrow we assault the city; our numbers are several times the enemy's, so breaching isn't hard, but what truly worries me are the onmyoji of Eastland."

"Since we arrived in Eastland, for some reason their onmyoji have never shown themselves."

He paused: "I fear they are waiting for our assault to devise some unexpected tricks."

Chu Yuan nodded: "I understand, Prince, rest assured; tomorrow Xiao and Tuan Tuan will meet their moves and counter them."

Tuan Tuan hugged her father's neck: "Right, Father, we have Master and me!"

Xiao Yuanhang patted his daughter's little head: "Good, Father knows."

He looked at Feng Zhou: "Are the shield carts finished?"

Feng Zhou clasped his fists and said: "They're ready, exactly ten, no more, no less."

He was quite proud: "I've also improved them a lot."

"Feng Zhou, you're the best at this!" Tuan Tuan gave him a thumbs‑up.

Feng Zhou rejoiced: "Thank you, Alliance Leader!"

Xiao Ningchen turned his head to him and asked: "What exactly did you change?"

Feng Zhou raised both hands, gesturing size: "I enlarged the shield cart's canopy and altered its angle so that when the enemy rolls logs onto it, they roll farther and won't block the wall base."

"I also added two cross‑beams inside the cart, making it easier for soldiers to push from within, thus faster."

"Moreover, I attached several wooden buckets to the beams to hold explosives, so each cart can carry several times more dynamite than before."

"Now soldiers can retrieve them more conveniently, no longer having to carry or bear them, allowing light‑footed movement."

His face beamed with excitement: "With these improvements, even though there are only ten, they can match or exceed the performance of the original twenty."

"Wow!" Tuan Tuan clapped her little hands, "Father, listen, Feng Zhou is so great!"

Xiao Yuanhang looked at Feng Zhou, his face showing admiration: "Truly impressive; if we can use them tomorrow, Feng Zhou should claim the first merit of this battle."

"Sure, Feng Zhou," even Xiao Ningxun couldn't help but praise, "Your modification truly lives up to the name 'shield cart.'"

Xiao Er and Zhang Wu'an recalled using shield carts in Goryeo and nodded repeatedly: "Indeed, this makes them far more useful than before."

"Feng Zhou, you truly are the Ministry of Works' Shen Tong!"

"Bookworm," Xiao Ran scanned Feng Zhou up and down, "You really know what you're doing."

Chen Hao laughed: "Fortunately His Majesty sent Lord Feng."

Zheng Wucheng's eyes lit up: "Lord Feng truly is a treasure of the Fiery Nation!"

Feng Zhou, hearing each compliment, flushed, and scratched the back of his head, laughing foolishly.

Chu Yuan asked: "If we need the shield carts tomorrow, should I still use dense fog for concealment?"

"No need." Xiao Yuanhang shook his head. "First, if the siege goes smoothly, shield carts may not be needed."

"Second, even if we need them, Tengyuan Liangxin had already seen them in Goryeo; even with fog covering, he could guess it."

Chu Yuan nodded. "Prince, you speak truly."

Xiao Yuanhang, holding his daughter, stood up. "Everyone, go back and rest. Tomorrow we don't need to rise early; we can get up at the rooster hour and cook."

"At the hour of the dragon, we will form ranks and attack!"

"Yes!" the generals shouted in unison, saluted, and turned to leave.

Early the next day, Yuan Guangyi led his senior officials up onto the city wall.

Tengyuan Liangxin and Anbei Taixin could no longer hide the smiles on their faces; both were eager to see the enemy forces in chaos, to break camp and withdraw.

Yi Tiao Jianliang gazed at the curling smoke from the Main Camp outside the city, furrowing his brows. "The Fiery Nation's Main Camp is orderly; it doesn't look like they're preparing to withdraw."

Song Yong Zhenjiu snorted. "Anbei Master, you aren't mistaken again, are you?"

"The last time you falsified intelligence, General, you haven't been punished yet!"

"What, you want to try again?"

Anbei Taixin's face darkened. "Lord Song Yong, yesterday the smell of simmering medicine from the Fiery Nation's Main Camp drifted through the whole city; didn't you notice?"

"If not for the many poisoned, how could it be so?"

Tengyuan Liangxin gave a slight smile. "Lord Song Yong, do not be impatient."

"Yesterday Anbei Master and I kept watch here for a whole day and did not see Prince Ning or the Immortal Envoy; it shows they have already been poisoned."

"We will see the outcome soon; waiting a moment won't hurt."

Wuda Xinsheng sighed regretfully. "If the Fiery Nation retreats, it would be a real pity; I still wanted to charge into battle and slay the enemy!"

Yuan Guangyi laughed. "Wuda, don't spend all day thinking about charging at the front; study more under Tengyuan."

"Subduing the enemy without fighting is the best strategy."

Wuda hurriedly saluted. "General, you are right."

Tengyuan Liangxin's face brightened. "Thank you, General, for the praise."

After a while.

Wuda Xinsheng shouted, "They've mounted! The camp gate is open!"

Everyone fixed their gaze.

Sure enough, the camp gate swung wide, and the Fiery Nation's army formed ranks and emerged.

Banners filled the sky, iron armor clanged, tens of thousands of troops surged like a black tide from the Main Camp, forming several square formations neatly at the gate.

There was not a single shout, only the rustling of battle flags flapping in the wind.

Tengyuan Liangxin stared at the black mass of troops below the city, a slight smile at his lips, and turned to Yuan Guangyi, saying, "General, look, the enemy has left the camp and is preparing to withdraw."

Anbei Taixin interjected, "Prince Ning is revered as the Fiery Nation's war god, yet now he holds formation without advancing; there must be many poisoned, forcing a retreat."

"General, your strategic planning is truly a blessing for the East Sea."

Yuan Guangyi gave a slight nod, a smile at his lips.

But, the next moment.

"Wooo— wuwu—"

A long, high‑pitched horn sounded suddenly; before one note faded, another followed.

Countless warhorses whinnied, and the army moved in perfect unison toward the city wall.

Yuan Guangyi's smile at his lips froze completely.