Thank you, Madam!

After teasing Xu Cheng, Shan Jian sat up straight, interlacing his fingers, and asked, "How many troops do we have in the city?"

"Twenty-four thousand Yan Prefecture troops, plus sixteen hundred brought by General Xu from Shouxian, minus tonight's casualties, about twenty-five thousand," Baili Zan replied, "Any ideas?"

Shan Jian stroked his chin, smiling, "Twenty-five thousand, double it to fifty thousand."

Everyone stared at him in shock. Shouchong asked, "How?"

Shan Jian grinned, "Illusion magic, leave five thousand to guard the pass. General Cao leads the rest south, circling behind the Northern Di. When they attack, strike from hiding. Raise a Ganzhou army banner, big and conspicuous, shout that Ganzhou Marshal sent two divisions to aid us. In the chaos, who counts? That makes fifty thousand in Hu Ben Pass."

"Faking strength to scare the Northern Di?" Baili Zan doubted, "Fifty thousand will scare them? Unlikely. And this trick works once. They'll suspect something after seeing the true numbers. Plus, the spy in the city will reveal our movements. If exposed, two divisions trapped in enemy lines will doom us all."

Shan Jian shook his head slowly, "Once they see the 'Ganzhou army,' they won't dare act rashly. Not out of fear, but because they coordinated with Cui Jie, using information from Xie Yong to attack during Prince's absence. Ganzhou aid means deception. It tells them the Emperor betrayed them, intending to annihilate them outside Hu Ben Pass."

"Exactly," Shan Jian nodded, "Even if it doesn't deter them, it will sow doubt. Next step—"

"What's next?"

Shan Jian smiled confidently, "Send a squad of elite soldiers south again—"

Baili Zan interrupted, "Burn supplies? No, deliver supplies?"

Cao Qian realized, sitting up straight, "Let the soldiers carry rice, pretending to be emissaries from Ganzhou Marshal rewarding them. Good idea! Mix in and burn their supplies!"

"Good, but pity the soldiers and rice," Shouchong felt sad, recalling past hunger.

Shan Jian looked at her, "War is brutal. Too much compassion weakens leadership."

Shouchong nodded apologetically. Baili Zan smiled, "Let's proceed. Time is of the essence. General Cao, prepare to march. I'll handle the emissary arrangements."

Cao Qian left immediately. Xu Cheng, still stunned, muttered, "This can work?"

"Battles thrive on deceit," Shan Jian left for home.

Seven days remained until Cui Yi returned. Within those seven days, they needed to deceive the Northern Di, burning their supplies if possible. If not, instilling doubt would suffice, delaying them until Cui Yi's return.

At dawn, the Northern Di resumed their attack. Xu Cheng took command, directing arrows and stones from the city wall.

After last night's probe, the Northern Di confirmed Cui Yi's absence, doubling their forces. The plains outside the pass teemed with soldiers, battering rams smashing the city gates, shaking the earth.

Arrows filled the sky. Shouchong, startled by an arrow embedded in a wooden post, retreated.

Xu Cheng hurried over, shouting, "The Northern Di are overwhelming! Please move to safety, Madam!"

Covering her ears, Shouchong shouted back, "I brought replacements for arrows. Once delivered, I'll leave!"

Replacements? Xu Cheng saw civilians carrying large vats filled with liquid—not water.

"I gathered oil from the entire city! Also, iron pots and charcoal stoves! Pour boiling oil on anyone climbing the ladders!"

Xu Cheng chuckled, remembering Shan Jian's comment about her compassion. "Understood! Thank you, Madam!"

Boiling oil caused severe burns, faster than swords. As someone climbed the ladder, soldiers poured scalding oil, making the man scream and fall.

Soon, Baili Zan arrived, surprised by the rows of oil pots, then delighted, "Is there more oil? Use barrels to pour on siege vehicles, then throw torches!"

Soldiers followed orders, pouring oil from the city walls, scalding the Northern Di soldiers operating the siege engines.

Xu Cheng gave the order, countless torches and flaming arrows soared into the oil-soaked vehicles.

Wooden catapults easily caught fire, spreading rapidly. Hu Ben Pass became a sea of flames. Soldiers doused in oil burned alive, unable to escape. Many rolled on the ground, or fled to the river, but the ground was also slick with oil. Armor deformed from heat, trapping them in agony.

Many died on the battlefield, others abandoned the attack, rolling on the ground or fleeing to the river, engulfed in flames.

The grand and fierce siege finally came to a halt with the ground littered with charred human flesh and wrecked siege engines. The number of people who were completely burnt to death was not too high, but countless others suffered from burns, scalds, and severe burn injuries. Since oil fires cannot be extinguished with water, nearly half of the Northern Di army's catapults were burned down, causing them to hesitate in launching another attack.

When the news of victory reached the Prince's residence, Chi Ying was reading a letter written by Cui Yi. "Everyone has worked hard! I cannot make decisions on military matters, so we will wait for the Prince to return before rewarding those who have performed well," she said, giving some money to the soldier who brought the good news and sending him away.

A few days ago, after Cui Yi rescued Yang Qiong, he wrote a letter at a nearby post station and sent it back quickly. In the letter, he mentioned that Yang Qiong had been defeated and injured and might return later than expected. Additionally, Bo Muer had disappeared alone, and he advised her to be wary of the Boshaxian people within the pass.

Chi Ying helplessly put down the letter, sighing as she looked at the sunset outside the door. It seemed that they could no longer rely on Cui Yi to lead everyone in repelling the Northern Di army. Fortunately, she had already made plans. Shan Jian was adept at manipulating people's minds, and the appearance of the "Ganzhou reinforcements" and the "Ganzhou grain transport officer" could confuse the Northern Di, making it difficult for them to discern their true intentions. Even if they suspected it was a trick, they would never imagine that both groups were fake. To find out the truth, they would need to let the grain transport officer enter and ask questions, but once the person entered, the Northern Di army's food supplies would be doomed.

From the Northern Di capital Changyao City to Huben Pass was a journey of a thousand miles. Once their food supplies were cut off, they would have no choice but to retreat. She could only pray that everything went smoothly.

However, just as she prayed for everything to go well, something unfortunate happened. Upon hearing that the Northern Di were attacking the city last night, Chi Ying immediately ordered Xie Yong to be arrested, intending to deal with him after Cui Yi returned. If the charge of treason was confirmed, even if Xie Xiao begged forgiveness, Xie Yong would still face certain death.

Xie Yong was merely a pawn of Cui Jie in this fierce chess game, destined to be sacrificed. After dinner, Chi Ying handed Xiao Cuiyan to the nanny and planned to discuss further plans with Shan Jian. Shan Jian lived only half a street away from the Prince's residence, so Chi Ying decided to take a walk there with Xiaoqiu.

With the battle still raging outside the city, the streets became deserted as soon as the sun set. Feeling a bit lonely, Chi Ying suddenly saw two people rush out from an alleyway. Before she could react, a cloth soaked in some unknown substance was pressed against her mouth and nose, and she lost consciousness after struggling for a moment.

Xie Yong firmly covered Chi Ying's mouth and nose with one hand while holding her waist with the other, urging, "Hurry up!" Beside him, Xie Yuchan clumsily tried to cover Xiaoqiu's mouth but dropped the cloth. Without picking it up, she used her hands to cover Xiaoqiu's mouth. Xiaoqiu wasn't simple either; sensing danger, she tried to scream but was forcefully bitten by Xie Yuchan when her mouth was covered. Screaming in pain, Xie Yuchan picked up a stone from the roadside and smashed it onto Xiaoqiu's head with all her strength.

Xiaoqiu also passed out, and Xie Yuchan continued to hit her several more times in anger until Xie Yong urged her quietly, "Enough! Let's go!" They then dragged the unconscious Chi Ying and Xiaoqiu into the alley and stuffed them into a carriage. Xie Yong told his sister to hide inside while he drove the carriage towards the southern gate.

He had always been ignored in the Wu King's camp, and few soldiers recognized him. Xie Yong lied that he was taking his sister-in-law to see a doctor, and the guards at the gate didn't notice anything unusual and let him through.

By the time Baili Zan finished his work and personally went to report to the Prince's residence, he discovered that Chi Ying was missing. "Madam said she wanted to come and find me?" Shan Jian rushed over upon hearing the news, his face unusually serious. "When did this happen? I've been at home all day and haven't left, so why didn't I see her?"

A servant who delivered meals to the dungeon reported that Xie Yong had drugged the jailers and escaped. Baili Zan felt uneasy and immediately sent people to check on Xie Yuchan, who was under house arrest. The guards at the gate reported nothing unusual, but upon opening the door, they found two maidservants also drugged and Xie Yuchan gone.

Baili Zan was almost driven mad: "How could this happen!"

Shan Jian turned to order the personal guards within the residence, "Immediately seal off the city gates, and no one is allowed to enter or leave!"

Unfortunately, it was too late. By the time they learned that someone resembling Xie Yong had left the city earlier, he had already disappeared with the captives.