The Substitute Romance of the Empress

With the objective set, it was time to formulate a detailed battle plan.

But as soon as the discussions began, the generals all furrowed their brows in worry.

Although Yunji City was much simpler to conquer compared to Shanhe City, the greatest fortress in the northern frontier, it was still an incredibly daunting task for their meager force of eight hundred men.

Yunji City was surrounded by mountains on three sides and built halfway up a mountain, giving it a natural advantage of being easy to defend and hard to attack.

If they were to truly launch an assault, let alone eight hundred men, even eighty thousand would not necessarily gain the upper hand.

Furthermore... Zhan Shubai, the defending general of Yunji City, was not someone to be trifled with.

Ever since he took office, this guy had been diligent and dedicated, racking his brains to either fortify the city walls or intensify the soldiers' training, making the already formidable Yunji City even more impenetrable.

The city was also well-stocked with abundant supplies.

With a city so easily defended, governed by a shrewd commander, and rich in military provisions, how could their mere eight hundred men possibly take it down?

The crowd frowned in deep thought, but suddenly, someone seemed to realize something. He immediately shot a glance at the person next to him, who instantly understood and put on a look of sudden realization.

As a result, the atmosphere in the tent completely shifted for everyone except Ren Tianye. They were winking and exchanging knowing looks with each other, their faces full of teasing, as if they were enjoying a piece of juicy gossip.

Ren Tianye noticed this scene and could not help but ask, What are those expressions on your faces?

Did you make some important discovery?

Everyone stayed silent. Finally, Sun Xiang, who was closest to Ren Tianye privately, spoke up first, Well, Great General, the defending commander is Zhan Shubai.

What about Zhan Shubai? Ren Tianye asked, his mind naturally bringing up what he knew about the man.

He was directly dispatched by the imperial court.

He was famous among the northern frontier army for bearing hardships and working tirelessly without complaint. It was said his abilities were quite impressive as well, managing Yunji City in perfect order.

He seemed to be a fine general.

So, were the generals afraid?

But looking at their expressions, it did not seem like fear at all!

They completely looked like a bunch of gossips eating melons!

Feeling a bit annoyed, he frowned and said, What exactly is going on? Just spit it out, stop hiding things.

Great General, it is Zhan Shubai! Sun Xiang reminded him again, seemingly out of nowhere.

This made Ren Tianye even more confused.

It is Zhan Shubai, so what?

Did he sleep with the Empress Dowager?

Why do you all have that look on your faces?

He could not help but feel a surge of irritation, but just as the words of inquiry reached his lips, Ren Tianye suddenly shuddered.

He finally realized it!

This Zhan Shubai... was one of the body doubles for the Female Emperor, Xiao Mingzhao!

Damn it! He had actually forgotten about this.

Furthermore... the identity his predecessor had held was also one of the Female Emperor's body doubles. It was just that he had not won the Female Emperor's favor, so he was transferred to this bitterly cold frontier, and the Female Emperor had not spoken up for him.

Therefore...

In the minds of these generals, the reason I want to attack Yunji City first is not just because it is the most suitable place to settle down and build our foundation...

But also because I want to take revenge on Zhan Shubai?

They think this is a battle of the body doubles between me and Zhan Shubai?

At this moment, ten thousand alpacas stampeded through Ren Tianye's heart. This was just like if he had painstakingly conquered the capital, only for a woman to jump out and say with joy, Brother Ren, I love that you conquered the world for me!

Ren Tianye instantly lost his appetite.

What he wanted was the world; what did that have to do with the Female Emperor?

The Female Emperor's substitute romance tropes only disgusted him.

Even someone as calm and rational as him subconsciously wanted to open his mouth and explain, but fortunately, he held it back in the end.

Empty words were useless; he had to show them through practical actions.

It was precisely because his actions were always decisive and straightforward that these generals, despite the raging fires of gossip in their hearts, managed to restrain themselves and did not dare speak out of turn in front of him.

Then, he would use an even greater practical action to let these generals know that he, Ren Tianye, had absolutely nothing to do with the love-struck fools of this female-oriented romance world!

Not a single bit!

His expression gradually turned stern, and he said coldly, I do not care if he is Zhan Shubai or Zhan Shuqian. All I know is that he is the defending commander of Yunji City, and Yunji City is something we must obtain!

Since he stands in our way, I will definitely eradicate him!

Under his chilling tone, the generals all put away their spectating attitudes and continued to seriously analyze how they could take down Yunji City.

Judging from the current situation, a frontal assault was definitely unrealistic; they could only use strategy.

But what kind of strategy should they use?

Ren Tianye pondered. They had two advantages laid out before them.

The first was that no one knew they were going to rebel yet. Therefore, they could disguise their identities and completely have the chance to catch the enemy off guard.

The second was that the news of the seventy thousand Chifeng Army soldiers being massacred was enough to shock the world. Thus, they could perfectly utilize this point to carry out some maneuvers.

Suddenly, Ren Tianye's eyes lit up.

He had a plan.

Wang Ming!

Subordinate is here! Wang Ming, who had just returned from completing his tasks, strode into the tent.

I am assigning you a mission.

Go draw a hundred brothers and two hundred warhorses right now. Quickly ride to the place where I killed that barbarian youth. There is a carriage left behind by Aunt Xiao and some scattered royal items. Go fetch them.

Remember, you must be as fast as possible.

Fetch them at the fastest speed, at all costs.

Yes! Deputy General Wang Ming received his orders and left.

Ren Tianye then asked the crowd, Do you know if there is anyone in the army who can forge an imperial edict?

This was originally just an experimental question, but he received an unexpected answer. Madam had a hobby for carving for a while, so Vice General Zhang specially invited someone over, and he is right here in the army.

Oh? Ren Tianye was pleasantly surprised. He had not expected that Su Jin, that prodigal woman, would actually help him by sheer coincidence. He ordered, Find this person and have him forge an imperial edict for me.

Right, I remember Su Jin's maiden family is from Yunji City, are they not? Perfect, we can have her disclose the situation inside Yunji City to fill in the gaps in our intelligence!

Pausing for a moment, Ren Tianye's expression turned solemn. Everyone, I have decided on the strategy. I will disguise myself as an envoy delivering an imperial edict to trick them into opening the gates of Yunji City.

You will use the cover of the night to ambush from behind.

When you hear the sound of my whistling arrow, charge out together. We will storm the city gates and engage Yunji City in street battles, bloody battles, battles to the death!

The crowd roared their agreement.

These preparations will still take some time. Once they are done, we can head straight for Yunji City. For the next two days, you must boost morale and strictly restrain any unruly behavior, so that we are ready to take down Yunji City!

The generals loudly accepted their orders and departed.

In the blink of an eye, two days passed, and everything was ready.

The army of eight hundred men was fully assembled.

Ready to depart.

Inside the tent, however, several generals could not help but feel extremely nervous.

When it truly came time for such a rebellion, no matter how heroic their words had been before, or how much they had looked death in the face, they could not stop themselves from breaking out in a sweat.

After all, once they took this step, there would be no turning back.

Moreover... they only had eight hundred men!

And they were plotting against a massive fortress like Yunji City!

The psychological pressure was simply too great!

How about... I cast a divination for this journey?

Roving General Old Zhang immediately stood up. He took out two tortoise shells he kept on him and tossed them onto the ground. As the shells tumbled, a divination reading was revealed.

He was just about to explain the result.

But a sudden flying kick sent him staggering.

What the hell are you divining?

If the omen is bad, do we just not fight?

Even with just eight hundred men, we are still going to smash Yunji City to pieces!

Sun Xiang roared in uncontrollable anger.

This left Old Zhang, who had fallen to the ground, looking thoroughly aggrieved.

In his heart, he was screaming wildly:

It is a guaranteed good omen!

I cast the divination, wouldn't I know if it is auspicious or not?

It is absolutely, undeniably auspicious!

Damn it... the credit for the first strike, just gone like that!

...