Chapter 32: Why Not Attack

"I feel like I'm dreaming; this doesn't seem reliable at all! Is this Sixth Prince trying to trick us? Once we descend the mountain, we will be under the control of the imperial army. Won't we be at their mercy then?"

Some were skeptical that the imperial court could be so generous. After all, the imperial army had attacked them several times and had offered terms of surrender before, yet they had never provided such favorable treatment.

Lei Ying, having anticipated their suspicion, said solemnly, "To be honest, at first, I couldn't believe it either. I thought it was a lure to get us to surrender, only to have us captured or even executed. But after tasting his wine, I knew His Highness the Sixth Prince was not lying. If you tasted that wine, you would definitely believe it too."

As he spoke, Lei Ying let out a satisfied belch. The rich, savory aroma of the liquor filled his mouth, bringing him immense pleasure.

"I have never tasted such fine wine. Even in the Dayuan Dynasty, a single jar sells for a hundred taels of silver, and people scramble to buy it. It is in short supply; the production speed simply cannot keep up with the demand. If we were to transport this wine to the border and sell it to the neighboring small nations, the price could double or triple. Only the nobility can afford it. More importantly, this is just one of many commodities. There are many other goods of even greater value. Because these items are so valuable, they require a large number of guards for transport. Our stronghold is never short of people skilled in martial arts. That is exactly what the Sixth Prince saw in us, which is why he paid out of his own pocket to offer us these better terms."

After Lei Ying’s explanation, everyone suddenly understood.

"Is the Sixth Prince so well-versed in business? Would the Emperor allow that?"

"Yes, I found it strange at first too! But after it was explained to me, I realized that while His Highness's business dealings were indeed criticized, he earns so much money that he often uses it to pay the imperial army's salaries and provides disaster relief. In particular, he frequently employs large numbers of laborers, solving many urgent problems. So, even though the Emperor disapproves of him, he has tacitly allowed the Sixth Prince to continue his business."

"So that's how it is. If it's as the Sixth Prince says, working for him is truly a fantastic choice."

"Now that things have come to this, let us not hesitate. I believe the Sixth Prince would never deceive us. Besides, he already knows all the weaknesses of Bald Eagle Mountain; even if we don't surrender, he could just send a massive army to wipe us out. We wouldn't be able to resist at all. Therefore, we must keep our promise and open the mountain gates tomorrow to welcome the imperial army."

"Very well. You are our leader, and we will follow your lead. If we win this gamble, our descendants will no longer be trapped on Bald Eagle Mountain."

"Indeed! Following the Sixth Prince certainly won't lead to any losses. Once Bald Eagle Mountain is conquered, perhaps he will lead us into battle again. Couldn't we then earn glory and merit alongside him?"

"That's right. We don't have to trust the words of other imperial officials, but the Sixth Prince is trustworthy. At the very least, we can continue working as his escorts and live a decent life."

"It's decided! We've lived our whole lives on this mountain and know nothing of the vibrant world outside. What is the point of living long if it's like this? It's simply too pathetic."

Hearing Lei Ying's descriptions of the outside world filled everyone with longing. Even with the risks involved, they felt it was worth it. Thinking that they would shed their identities as bandits and start anew tomorrow made them incredibly excited. They even brought out their stored grain, wine, and meat, letting everyone in the stronghold feast. After all, they would be traveling a long distance with the army, so they needed to be well-fed and rested. They would also take all the extra grain with them, and eating more now would make the transport easier. The entire stronghold felt as festive as if it were the New Year.

Zhao Wudi led two thousand elite troops, keeping a distance behind them. He had sent scouts ahead to gather intelligence. He needed to be clear about the situation on the battlefield so that if things went wrong, he could immediately intervene. However, after the main army reached Bald Eagle Mountain, days passed without a single movement.

Hearing the report from his subordinates, Zhao Wudi frowned deeply. "What exactly is the Sixth Prince doing? They have been there for several days; why haven't they attacked?"

"Perhaps we should send someone to urge him?" someone suggested.

"No. The Emperor’s decree was only for us to provide protection from the rear. We must not let the Sixth Prince know of our presence."

"Then what do we do? If they don't fight, how long are we supposed to wait?"

"Could the Sixth Prince be trying to deceive the court?"

Zhao Wudi glanced at his deputy general. "What do you mean by that?"

"Reporting to the General! I suspect the Sixth Prince has no intention of fighting at all. He is stationing the army here for a while and then plans to return, claiming that the fortress was too difficult to capture. This way, he doesn't have to do anything, yet he can fulfill his duty to the Emperor without facing any danger."

Zhao Wudi gasped. "How did I not think of that? Given the Sixth Prince's personality, it is entirely possible he would do such a thing."

Zhao Wudi felt a mix of amusement and frustration. "Our Sixth Prince is certainly bold. Wouldn't this be the crime of deceiving the Emperor? Does he not realize there must be the Emperor's spies within the army? How could he hope to hide his actions from the Emperor?"

"Then what should we do? Should we report this to the Emperor?"

The deputy general couldn't decide. After all, the army was led by a prince. Even if he made a mistake, it wouldn't necessarily result in a court-martial. At most, he would be exposed and punished upon his return. It was difficult for them, as generals, to intervene.

"Once I've eaten, I will write a report to the Emperor detailing the situation here. I'll simply state that they have remained inactive. As for the rest, I will leave it to the Emperor to infer." Zhao Wudi felt that if he kept it a secret and the Emperor found out later, he would surely be furious. Thus, he chose the safer path of reporting only the facts without mentioning their suspicions.

"That's a good idea! Let the Emperor make his own judgment!"

Zhao Wudi quickly finished the report and sent a rider back to the palace. Having sent the army out many days ago, Li Xuantian was also anxious to know the progress of the attack. Upon receiving the report, he opened it immediately. After reading it, his brow furrowed.

The Chancellor, Shangguan Qi, was confused and asked, "Your Majesty, why that expression? Is the Sixth Prince not progressing well with his campaign?"

"The report from the front, see for yourself," Li Xuantian said, tossing it to him.

Shangguan Qi took it and read it carefully, looking just as bewildered. "What kind of game is the Sixth Prince playing?"