Women disguised as men went to the battlefield and the emperor bowed down in submission.

Qin Weibo, the Grand Herald of Longquan Kingdom, stepped forward, cupped his hands in greeting to Xuanyuan Yu, and said, "Greetings, King of Chu! Long live the King of Chu!"

"I am Qin Weibo, Grand Herald of Longquan Kingdom. This is Ouyang Xuri, the fifth prince of Longquan Kingdom and also our Great General."

Ouyang Xuri was the tall man standing in the very center. Ouyang Xuri and the King of Chu exchanged greetings.

Qin Weibao continued, "This is Song Ning, the Grand Minister of Works of my Longquan Kingdom."

Song Ning cupped his hands in greeting to Xuan Yuan Yu and said, "Greetings, King of Chu! Long live the King of Chu!"

"Please have a seat, everyone!" Xuan Yuan Yu said. "May I ask what brings the Fifth Prince here?"

Ouyang Xuri sat in the middle, a head taller than the other two officials. He said, "I presume Your Highness is already aware of the situation in Lanling Kingdom."

Two months ago, our country helped the eldest prince of Lanling Kingdom, Baili Yuan, ascend to the throne.

The Lanling Kingdom is currently under our control. Our visit today is to seek cooperation with the Chishui Kingdom to jointly eliminate the former Crown Prince, Baili Heng. Does Your Highness share this intention?

"Oh? The Fifth Prince said it's under control. Does he mean Lanling Kingdom is under Baili Yuan's control, or Longquan Kingdom's control?" Xuan Yuan Yu asked calmly.

“Ah~ naturally it’s under Baili Yuan’s control.” Ouyang Xuri said this, but his eyes told Xuan Yuan Yu that Lanling Kingdom had already been controlled by them, and Baili Yuan was now just a puppet.

Xuanyuan Yu raised an eyebrow, as if to tell Ouyang Xuri that he understood.

"I wonder how the Fifth Prince intends to cooperate?" Xuan Yuan Yu asked.

"I heard that Baili Heng is seriously injured and is currently hiding somewhere to recuperate."

If he were to return to the army, he would surely raise an army in rebellion. My Longquan Kingdom can send 300,000 troops and Lanling Kingdom can send 400,000 troops to jointly suppress the rebels.

If the Red Water Kingdom is willing, our three kingdoms can join forces to attack Baili Heng, leaving him with nowhere to escape.

"Fifth Prince, you may write the detailed strategic plan into the official document, which I will then send to the Emperor by express courier for his decision," Xuan Yuan Yu said.

Ouyang Xuri frowned, then smiled and said, "Alright, the official letter will be delivered to the King of Chu tonight."

The three of them stood up and took their leave.

Xuanyuan Yu escorted him to the outside of the tent, where Ouyang Xuri spoke in a voice only the two of them could hear: "With the talent of the King of Chu, it is pitiful and lamentable that he has to serve others!"

"Why do I find Baili Yuan even more pitiful and lamentable?" Xuan Yuan Yu asked, seemingly both questioning and mocking.

Ouyang Xuri forced a stiff smile, but did not reply. He then mounted his horse.

The three men clasped their hands in farewell to Xuanyuan Yu, then rode away.

"Your Highness, the Longquan Kingdom has great ambitions."

Taking advantage of the internal turmoil in Lanling, they easily seized control of the new emperor.

"Now they want to join forces with us to eliminate them completely. Once they have complete control of Lanling Kingdom, who do you think will be the next target?" Lin Ruoshui said, stroking a non-existent beard on her chin.

“If Lanling Kingdom and Longquan Kingdom were to merge, their land area would be three times that of Chishui Kingdom, and their combined military strength would be twice that of ours,” Xuanyuan Yu said.

"So, in other words, we're the most likely target they'll deal with in the future? Besides us, there are also some smaller neighboring countries," Lin Ruoshui said.

“The Longquan Kingdom is truly ambitious; perhaps they aspire to dominate the world,” Xuan Yuan Yu nodded and said.

Xuanyuan Yu and Lin Ruoshui exchanged a smile. Lin Ruoshui said, "To dominate the world and bring peace to the world? I think that's a good ideal. Why don't we give it a try?"

Unconsciously, Xuanyuan Yu touched her small earlobe and said, "If you'd like, shall we give it a try?"

Lin Ruoshui blushed; she had somehow picked up on another meaning.

Xuanyuan Yu sighed, gently ruffled her hair, and said, "Ten more days!"

Lin Ruoshui's face turned even redder. She lightly stepped on Xuan Yuan Yu's foot and said, "What do you want to do in the remaining 10 days?"

Xuanyuan Yu said, "It takes 10 days for the 800-li express courier to travel to and from the capital. We have 10 days left to reply to Ouyang Xuri."

Lin Ruoshui's face turned from red to black. She thought that Xuan Yuan Yu meant that in ten days it would be two months, and the two of them could do *that*.

"Sigh!" Lin Ruoshui felt that these 10 days had been like an eternity. Her cute pouting expression made Xuanyuan Yu laugh heartily.

Two soldiers passing by saw this and asked, "Li Si, is this our prince? The prince is actually smiling."

Another soldier said, "Yes, this is the first time I've ever seen the prince smile. But why is the prince smiling at a pretty boy? Who is that guy?"

"I've never seen him before either; he's probably a greenhorn."

"Look at that guy, he looks like a sissy."

"Could it be that the prince is gay...?"

"Don't talk nonsense, or you'll die without even knowing how you died."

The two seemed to have discovered some earth-shattering secret, and each covered their mouths and walked away.

Lin Ruoshui pulled Xuanyuan Yu into the tent, made him sit in a chair, and said to him, "Your Highness, a war is about to break out. It's not good for me to just laze around all day. I'm going to go to the battlefield for a bit of fun."

Xuanyuan Yu frowned slightly and said directly, "No! Don't even think about it. Swords have no eyes, and I cannot let you be in danger."

Lin Ruoshui knew that Xuanyuan Yu would not agree easily, so she said, "Your Highness, I want 10,000 men to form a special forces unit."

What are special forces?

"Special forces mainly refer to a force that possesses special equipment, is highly skilled, and carries out special missions."

They often penetrate deep into the enemy's heart like nails, playing a vital role in sabotage, harassment, decapitation, attack, and even deterrence.

"The troops are the same as the army," Lin Ruoshui said eloquently, her gestures exaggerated.

"The main thing is that I have a treasure that needs someone to make. If it can be made, then the army of my Chishui Kingdom will be invincible!" Lin Ruoshui put her arm around Xuanyuan Yu's neck and patted Xuanyuan Yu's shoulder as she spoke.

Xuanyuan Yu was moved by Lin Ruoshui's words, and he felt that he should re-evaluate the woman in front of him.

This woman was once an emperor. Although she took off her dragon robe and became his woman, her dazzling brilliance should not be hidden.

"Do whatever you want, and I will have people cooperate with you," Xuanyuan Yu sighed.

Seeing that Xuan Yuan Yu had given in, Lin Ruoshui happily gave him a big kiss on the cheek.

Just as Xuanyuan Yu was having some romantic thoughts, Lin Ruoshui stood up and asked, "Whom does Your Highness want to work with me?"

Xuanyuan Yu said, "Patriotism!"

A handsome young man walked into the tent. He had bright, piercing eyes and looked to be about sixteen or seventeen years old. He was full of youthful vigor.

Lin Ruoshui looked at Aiguo with admiration, and Xuanyuan Yu immediately felt that this matter should be left to Zhongjun, but the man had already arrived...

Xuanyuan Yu's face darkened as he said, "Patriotism, in coordination with Ying Yu by my side... Ying Yu selected 10,000 people for his command."

Aiguo accepted the order, clasped his hands in a fist salute to Lin Ruoshui, and asked, "May I ask, Brother Ying, what are the selection criteria or requirements for these 10,000 people?"

Looking at the sunny young man, Lin Ruoshui also smiled brightly and said, "We need someone who can forge iron, do carpentry, and if they know mechanical arts, that would be even better. We need as many craftsmen as we can!"

The rest are new recruits who are strong and physically fit. Also, anyone with special skills or talents who is willing to join us can sign up.

Lin Ruoshui patted Aiguo on the shoulder and said, "Aiguo, do you think everyone will be eager to sign up?"

Aiguo cheerfully replied, "Probably!" and then turned and left the tent.

Xuanyuan Yu stood up, walked calmly to Lin Ruoshui, took the hand that had just patted Aiguo's shoulder, and wrapped it in the handkerchief in his pocket.

Lin Ruoshui asked, "I'm not injured, why are you wrapping my hand?"

Xuanyuan Yu said, "You're dirty. I'll take you to wash your hands."

After saying that, Xuanyuan Yu pulled her to the mountains outside the military camp. There was a small waterfall in the forest, and Lin Ruoshui was marveling at how fresh the air and how pleasant the scenery was.

Xuanyuan Yu pulled Lin Ruoshui to sit by the pool next to the waterfall, soaked a handkerchief, and gently wiped Lin Ruoshui's hands.

Xuanyuan Yu said expressionlessly, "I have said that no man may touch you."

"What?" Lin Ruoshui looked completely bewildered.

Xuanyuan Yu washed her hands clean, put them to his lips and sniffed them, smelling a faint fragrance.

His mind wandered, and he couldn't help but kiss Lin Ruoshui's palm, his eyes becoming hazy.

Lin Ruoshui knew she was in danger when Xuan Yuan Yu showed this expression, so she said, "Have you forgotten what Xiu Yi said? There are still ten days left until the two months are up."

Lin Ruoshui became increasingly nervous as she spoke, and eventually started to stammer.

Xuanyuan Yu said, "That means you can't, not that I can't. Don't forget that you made a mistake today and must be punished."

Where did I go wrong?

"You touched Patriot's shoulder."

"Your Highness, that...that was my mistake. I will be more careful next time," Lin Ruoshui said helplessly.

"Okay, then don't do it again next time. You must be punished this time too. Let's begin..."

Lin Ruoshui covered her mouth with her hand and kept moving backward.

……

Xiu Yi was applying medicine to Lin Ruoshui with a small bottle of ointment.

"Xiuyi, be gentle, it hurts so much." Lin Ruoshui's delicate face was contorted in pain.

Xiuyi said, "Oh! All you know is to tell me to be gentle? Why don't you tell that to the other person?"

"Xiuyi, I'm already in this state, so please don't criticize me. If it weren't for your holy medicine, I wouldn't be in this situation."

"Without that sacred medicine, you'd probably have to..."

"Master, I was wrong, let's not talk about applying the medicine anymore!" Lin Ruoshui made a gesture of kneeling down and begging for forgiveness with her fingers.

"You owe me, so you should think about when you're going to pay me back. You can't treat everyone equally, can you?" Xiu Yi's calm expression turned alluring.

"I'll return it whenever Master says I'll return it." Lin Ruoshui's eyes were filled with lust, as if she were bewitched, and she began to undress.

Seeing the remarkable results of his recent studies in charm techniques, Xiu Yi's lips curled into a smile. He snapped his fingers.

Lin Ruoshui was stunned for a moment, then came to her senses, but she didn't know what had just happened.

"You asked Xuanyuan Yu for 10,000 men. What are you planning to do with them?" Xiu Yi cleared her throat and asked.

"I want to make guns, cannons, and explosives. I want to establish a special forces unit, and within that unit, I want to set up a research team. I want to use the power of science to lead and change this society," Lin Ruoshui said, becoming more and more excited.

"Science? Society?" Xiu Yi didn't understand what Lin Ruoshui was talking about, but he seemed to see a raging fire in Lin Ruoshui's eyes.

Lin Ruoshui ignored Xiu Yi and continued, "Once science enters human society and human warfare, it will dominate human production and warfare with an unstoppable force."

"What can I do for you?" Xiu Yi asked calmly.