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

Baili Heng said to Lin Ruoshui, "Yingying, after dinner we'll go to the council hall to discuss important matters."

Lin Ruoshui picked up the orange juice, took a sip, and said, "Let's go now."

Xiuyi said, "You can leave after you finish the food in your bowl."

Lin Ruoshui looked down at the mountain of vegetables, her lips twitched, and she said, "Ouyang Xuri, eat this."

Ouyang Xuri looked Lin Ruoshui up and down, signaling her to speak more politely, and then obediently picked up her bowl and began to eat.

Lin Ruoshui pulled Baili Heng up and said, "Let's go, isn't it important? How can we delay?"

Baili Heng was delighted by Lin Ruoshui's approach, and with her help, he followed her with light steps.

"Brother Baili, shall we go get some steamed buns and porridge?" Lin Ruoshui put his arm around Baili Heng's shoulder, just like a good brother.

Two suspicious red clouds appeared on Baili Heng's face as he said, "Great, that suits me just fine."

He stiffly raised his arm and put it on Lin Ruoshui's shoulder. The two of them left the city lord's mansion arm in arm, completely disregarding their image.

Xiu Yi looked at the table full of dishes but didn't touch them. Xuan Yuan Yu didn't touch them either. Ouyang Xuri had an astonishing appetite, and he elegantly ate the entire meal by himself.

Xiu Yi stood up, patted Ouyang Xuri on the back, and said, "I'll prepare more for you next time."

Ouyang Xuri gratefully clasped his hands in a fist salute.

At noon, inside the council chamber.

Xuanyuan Yu, Lin Ruoshui, and their generals sat on the left, while Baili Heng and his generals sat on the right.

Baili Heng spoke first, saying, "Currently, our three forces total 2.1 million men. Each general and soldier serves their own master, so it may be difficult to form a united force."

I propose that we elect a military commander today, from whom all major military decisions will be made.

Xuanyuan Yu smiled and said, "I think this suggestion is excellent!"

Guo Bohan said, "If we are talking about someone who is brave, resourceful, virtuous, and highly respected, then our Crown Prince should be chosen."

Xue Tingfeng said, "Our War God King Chu has been fighting on the battlefield for many years and has never been defeated in the past six years. His reputation is so great that it makes the enemy tremble with fear. If we were to choose a military leader, none other than our King Chu would be the best choice."

Thus, the generals of the Xuanyuan Army supported Xuanyuan Yu, while the soldiers of Baili Heng's army supported Baili Heng. The two sides engaged in heated debates and arguments.

This perfectly illustrates what Baili Heng said at the beginning: the generals are each serving their own masters, and it will be difficult for them to form a united force.

Lin Ruoshui felt it was indeed necessary to elect a leader; otherwise, they might start fighting amongst themselves before even reaching Wuling, the capital of Lanling Kingdom.

Baili Heng gestured for the soldiers to be quiet. He said, "I would like to recommend someone who is more suitable than me and the King of Chu. This person is Commander Ying Yu. What do you all think?"

There was much discussion among the crowd, with the majority expressing their disapproval.

Xuanyuan Yu stood up, and everyone fell silent. He said, "I also recommend Commander Ying Yu."

To everyone's surprise, the two men had the same idea: Ying Yu should become the commander of the three armies.

Lin Ruoshui whispered to Xuan Yuanyu, "You want me to be the military leader? What are you thinking?!"

Xuanyuan Yu did not look at Lin Ruoshui, but said: "Ying Yu is the master of Xuanyuan Army and a close friend of the Crown Prince of Lanling Kingdom. Wang Xian, the Grand General of Longquan Kingdom, has also submitted to Ying Yu. All three forces have come to this side, so I believe that Ying Yu is worthy of the title."

Baili Heng said, "If Ying Yu is the commander, I am willing to obey his orders."

Lin Ruoshui remained silent, watching Baili Heng and Xuanyuan Yu working in unison, wondering what they were up to.

Guo Bohan stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "Your Highness, King of Chu, since you both speak highly of Commander Ying, we naturally have no objection."

However, the soldiers and officers know very little about Commander Ying. It would be better to use the Battle of Guzang to demonstrate Commander Ying's might. If the victory is resounding and convinces the army, Commander Ying can firmly retain his position as commander.

Lin Ruoshui knew that Guo Bohan, that old fox, was trying to test her. She asked, "General Guo, how many troops and how long do you think it would take to win a decisive victory in attacking Guzang City?"

Guo Bohan said, "Guzang City has 200,000 troops stationed there. The city has not been fortified for a long time. With my many years of experience in military campaigns, I only need 300,000 troops to attack the city in three days."

If Commander Ying can capture Guzang City with 200,000 troops within two days, it will be a resounding victory.

Lin Ruoshui stared at Guo Bohan with wide eyes in disbelief.

Guo Bohan felt that he might have been asking too much of him, so he changed his mind and said, "If you can take Guzang City with 300,000 troops in two days, that would be a great victory for you, wouldn't it?"

Lin Ruoshui composed herself and said calmly, "I can take Guzang City within half a day without losing a single soldier."

For a moment, the council chamber was completely silent.

After a long while, everyone burst into laughter.

Xuanyuan Yu and Baili Heng looked at the laughing crowd with expressions as if they were looking at idiots.

Xuanyuan Yu declared loudly, "Today, anyone who laughs loudly here will be punished with twenty strokes of the cane after Commander Ying achieves his victory."

Although the laughter stopped abruptly, some people continued to whisper among themselves.

Guo Bohan said, "If Commander Ying's words are indeed true, we are willing to acknowledge Ying Yu as our commander."

All the soldiers knelt on one knee and made a promise: "If Commander Ying's words are truly fulfilled, we are willing to acknowledge Ying Yu as our commander."

……

Seven days later, the three armies arrived outside Guzang City, but Lin Ruoshui still did not appear.

Baili Heng ordered that temporary tents be set up and that they could enter the city tomorrow.

The news that Commander Ying was going to capture Guzang City in half a day without losing a single soldier spread like wildfire throughout the army.

Few people thought highly of Lin Ruoshui; they all believed she was delusional and had gone mad with the desire to become the military leader.

Some soldiers secretly set up a betting pool, using steamed buns as stakes. No one bet that Lin Ruoshui could take Guzang City within half a day; everyone else bet that she couldn't.

When Baili Heng heard from his secret guards that someone was running a gambling den in the army, he did not punish them.

Firstly, because the stakes were steamed buns, and secondly, because he wanted the soldiers to genuinely admire Lin Ruoshui, he didn't stop it; the more widely the matter spread within the army, the better.

The autumn night was exceptionally cold. Ten long-snouted echidnas and ten wild dogs came to the city walls. The echidnas dug a hole, and the wild dogs covered it with soil. An hour passed silently, and no one noticed.

As people idly pass by, osmanthus blossoms fall; in the still of the autumn night, the mountains are empty.

Lin Ruoshui, dressed in a moon-white long dress, sat on the winding, intertwined vines, with a flower wreath on her head, like a fairy visiting the mortal world.

Xiu Yi stood quietly waiting for her in the distance. Xuan Yuan Yu rode over on horseback, reached out and picked up the beautiful fairy, letting her sit on the horse's back. The two of them rode off towards the moon.

Xuanyuan Yu and Lin Ruoshui sat facing each other, while galloping horses ran freely across the open field.

Xuanyuan Yu embraced Lin Ruoshui's slender waist tightly, and Lin Ruoshui wrapped her arms around Xuanyuan Yu's neck. The two kissed passionately and unrestrainedly under the moonlight…

When the horse stopped and the riders rested, Xuan Yuan Yu carried Lin Ruo Shui and landed on the vines. He felt that the two of them were in excellent condition and that they would probably break through to the seventh level today.

As expected, the two sat cross-legged on the vines, and after the time it takes to drink two cups of tea, they finally broke through to the seventh level.

Lin Ruoshui felt the energy in her dantian grow even stronger, and Xuan Yuanyu seized this opportunity to wrap the delighted Lin Ruoshui around the vines...

The next day, at the crack of dawn, Xuanyuan Yu returned to the army to prepare for the advance on Guzang City.

Xiuyi stopped him and said, "You went too far last night."

Xuanyuan Yu cleared his throat and said, "Yeah, I'll control myself next time."

Lin Ruoshui lay on Papa Bear's back, and Xiuyi stroked Lin Ruoshui's head and asked, "Were you tired last night?" Lin Ruoshui replied, "Thanks to you!"

“We could have finished our training in seven days, but you insisted on choosing forty-nine days, and now you’re blaming me.” Xiu Yi looked aggrieved.

Lin Ruoshui pouted, wanting to devour Xiu Yi but lacking the strength to even move a finger.

She looked at her fingers, thinking about how shameful she had been on horseback and on the vines last night. Even as a modern person from the 21st century, she could hardly accept it, but Xuan Yuan Yu seemed to enjoy it immensely.

She bitterly wanted to devour Xuanyuan Yu first, then Xiuyi, so that she would never have to suffer such cruel treatment again.

Xiu Yi's eyes were filled with deep sorrow. He said, "I'll wash you up and give you some internal energy. You'll be going to the battlefield soon."

Lin Ruoshui blushed and said weakly, "Thank you, Father."

At Chen Shi (7-9 AM), Baili Heng, clad in golden armor, stood beneath the city of Guzang and challenged the enemy.

Everyone was shocked, never expecting Baili Heng to actually go into battle. Ning Yuan, the city garrison commander of Guzang City, found it hard to believe when he received the news.

The lord of Guzang asked, "General, will you stay and wait for reinforcements, or will you go into battle?"

Ning Yuan was ambitious and eager for glory. He thought that if he could capture Baili Heng in one fell swoop, he would surely be promoted and ennobled. If he could not capture him, he could quickly retreat back to the city, so he would not suffer any loss.

Ning Yuan said, "I will go and capture Baili Heng. Then we will both be promoted and ennobled in no time."

After saying that, Ning Yuan picked up his sword and left.

Baili Heng sat on his horse, while soldiers in front of him shouted insults at him. Ning Yuan, who had just arrived at the city gate, was so angry that he blew his beard and glared at them.

When Baili Heng saw Ning Yuan go into battle, he was overjoyed, knowing that his plan had succeeded.

He couldn't help but admire Lin Ruoshui's accurate understanding of people's hearts.

Baili Heng shouted loudly with his inner strength: "Ning Yuan, if you open the city gates and surrender, I will forgive and forget what happened yesterday. If you do not surrender, today will be your death day."

Ning Yuan laughed loudly, rode up on his horse, and said as he rode, "The new emperor's ascension to the throne is legitimate. You do not only refuse to submit but also raise an army in rebellion. You traitors and rebels deserve to be killed by everyone. Prepare to die!"

Ning Yuan led three thousand cavalrymen in a charge toward Bailiheng, who was riding alone.

The army behind Bailey was in turmoil, wanting to rush forward to rescue him. Unexpectedly, "Boom, boom, boom..." A thunderous explosion suddenly rang out under the city wall, as if the earth itself was trembling. Ning Yuan and three thousand cavalrymen were blown away, their limbs severed, corpses strewn across the field, and blood flowing like a river.

The bang of the bombs was like a giant hammer striking the eardrums of soldiers in the distance, making them feel dizzy.

Xuanyuan Yu led three thousand elite Xuanyuan soldiers into the city from the east and west sides, and in less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the walls of Guzang were captured.

Baili Heng waved his hand, and the army marched straight into Guzang City. The city lord and the 200,000 soldiers guarding the city were afraid that the gods would be angry and send down lightning again, so they dared not resist and all knelt down to surrender.

When Lin Ruoshui arrived at the battlefield, it was too late; the city had already fallen, and she could only share in the spoils of war.