Thus, fifty thousand men, assembled from God knows where, were ready to depart. The Emperor provided a perfect excuse for using only fifty thousand against the Huns' two hundred thousand: the Third Prince was renowned as a God of War, highly skilled in martial arts, and did not require a large army. Furthermore, the front lines were strained, and after such a prolonged war, there were no more troops to spare.
"Your Highness, the Emperor is pushing too hard. These men are undisciplined and untrained. How can they fight? I don't believe he hasn't tampered with the horses, carts, and provisions. It means he wants us to go and die," his confidant said, unable to hide his worry as he saw the Third Prince so calm.
"I know. I don't want the common people to suffer the ravages of war. Of course, I don't fight unprepared battles either. The Emperor calculated that I would know this was a trap, but my conscience would not allow me to refuse. However, I am not so easily bullied either," the Third Prince said with confidence.
Seeing that their master had a plan, the confidant said no more. In their hearts, their master was like a god; trusting him was always the right choice.
Meanwhile, in the imperial palace, the chief eunuch asked the Emperor with some concern, "Your Majesty, how can you entrust the Third Prince to fight alone with only fifty thousand troops? Aren't you afraid he will rebel?"
"With that rabble? You overestimate them. That was my grand gift to him, specifically chosen to include the wounded, the elderly, and troublemakers. I even hope he rebels. If he rebels, his image in the hearts of the people will be ruined, and I will have a just cause to suppress him," the Emperor said, fiddling with a glass bead. His mind raced. This was a tribute from overseas. This was the benefit of being emperor: to collect the world's most beautiful women and rare treasures. If anyone challenged his authority, he would do everything in his power to eliminate them.
On this day, under the watchful eyes of the entire city, the Third Prince led these soldiers away. Everyone knew his predicament but was powerless to help. Moreover, the situation at the front was critical; besides the Third Prince, they could not think of anyone else who could defeat these fierce foreign invaders.
The Emperor, feigning sincerity, led his civil and military officials to bid him farewell with a toast.
Many of the soldiers in the ranks were veterans of the battlefield, and a number of them had leg injuries, causing the procession to move very slowly.
After several dozen miles, a sudden noise was heard from behind. The Third Prince quickly turned back to see Wu Caiwei, dressed as a man, leading Zheng Rui and the hundreds of people she had trained over the years, galloping towards them with supplies.
"Why are you here? Didn't I tell you? It's dangerous ahead, and I heard the natural environment there is harsh and living conditions are difficult. Even if the capital is not safe, it's comfortable. If anything happens, you can escape through the secret passage immediately," the Third Prince said, looking at her with a reproachful gaze.
"Leaving me alone in the capital makes me worried. I would be restless all day. It's better to come along and see if I can help you. Besides, you know my abilities are not inferior to yours. Even if I can't make much of a difference, I can protect myself," Wu Caiwei said. She knew he cared about her, but she also cared about him. They had been together for so many years, each wanting the other to be safe and sound. Although their martial arts and medical skills were exceptional, there was always someone better, and she feared unexpected situations might arise.
"You, oh you, what can I say?" The Third Prince knew her true feelings and shook his head helplessly.
With Wu Caiwei's arrival, the journey became much livelier. They walked side by side at the front, discussing the passing scenery. The Third Prince had an illusion that they were not heading to war, but simply riding horses, shooting arrows, and enjoying a carefree life together.
Unfortunately, some unwelcome individuals always disrupted this peace. "I'm exhausted. We've been walking for so long without resting. We're humans, not oxen or horses."
The Third Prince looked at the man in the lead, who met his gaze provocatively. Behind him stood thousands of soldiers, clearly sharing his sentiment.
"This place is not suitable for setting up camp. Let's travel another twenty miles to Luofeng Pavilion. We will have a good feast there, with good wine and meat for everyone."
Hearing this, everyone was overjoyed. The leader glanced at a few men behind him and raised an eyebrow. The Third Prince was no more than that. They had only offered a little resistance, and he had compromised. It seemed they would have good days ahead. With his soft nature, he would be easily controlled, of course, they would need to unite.
"Your Highness, do you have any plans? Perhaps you could share them with me. I promise not to tell anyone," one of his advisors whispered, scratching his head as he approached the Third Prince.
He had long been annoyed by those men. Ever since they set off, they had been whispering amongst themselves and deliberately slowing down the march. Having served the Third Prince for so many years, he knew that although the Third Prince was easy to talk to, he was principled and proud, otherwise, he wouldn't have become the revered God of War.
When the Third Prince made promises to them with a smile, he knew things were not simple. Anyone who knew him understood that the happier he smiled, the more serious the situation was. Of course, there was one exception: the Third Princess. Whenever they saw her, they couldn't help but wonder if this was the Third Prince they knew.
"You want to know?" Seeing the advisor nod frantically, the Third Prince beckoned him closer and whispered in his ear, "Heaven's secrets cannot be revealed."
Watching the Third Prince walk away with a hearty laugh, the advisor was utterly bewildered. However, such a Third Prince was rare. While he was usually easygoing, he was also cold and unfeeling. Now, he seemed much more approachable.
The Third Prince kept his word. Upon reaching their destination, they began setting up tents to spend the night. Wu Caiwei looked at the sun high in the sky and approached Gao Zimu, saying calmly, "What do you need me to do?"
The Third Prince did not stand on ceremony and spoke directly, "I see you brought a lot of medicine when you came. Do you have any poison? Give them some to make them obedient."
"We are indeed a couple. When I learned who the Emperor had sent you, I had the same thought as you. I bought a lot of medicinal herbs in the capital. After all, there are tens of thousands of people, so a light dosage won't do." Wu Caiwei looked up at him, feeling they were a match made in heaven. They exchanged a smile, and everything was understood.
That night, everyone ate and drank heartily, enjoying themselves. "Brother, why do I feel uneasy? The Third Prince was a fierce general who conquered territories in his youth. Twenty years have passed, and he's a different person?"
"Look at his predicament. Everyone knows the Emperor can't stand him. What was the general's hint before he left? It's clear he wants to get rid of him."