The number one spendthrift woman in the capital actually brings glory to her entire family?

Heishan looked at Tuoba Yu with a slightly heavy expression and a hint of unease. "Your Highness, just how strong is the military of the Great Zhou? Why is even the Emperor so wary of it? Even after we joined forces with Dayong, the Emperor still can't sleep at night, fearing that the iron cavalry of the Northern Empire will march south..."

“Every wise ruler has his own trump card. Emperor Beizun has one, and so do we in Tiansheng. Father is always cautious and careful, so it’s always good to be on guard.”

Tuoba Yu thought for a moment, then gave a curt reply. A glint of light flashed in his eyes, and he suddenly changed the subject, "What do you think about the fact that the Emperor of Dayong actually sent Sikong Jin here?"

"Sikong Jin captured Tashe City of the Liao Dynasty with a mere 50,000 troops and almost annihilated Qihar's 150,000-strong army. His military might is unstoppable. The fact that Dayong sent him here is enough to demonstrate their determination to unite against the Liao army. Moreover, sending Sikong Jin, who has just won a battle, probably shows that the Emperor of Dayong is somewhat arrogant, lest we, Tiansheng, look down on Dayong. Your Highness, these are just my humble speculations. What do you think?"

Montenegro offered a very insightful perspective.

As Heishan finished speaking, a glint of light flashed in Tuoba Yu's eyes, but he smiled without saying a word.

After a long pause, Heishan asked, "Does Your Highness have a different opinion?"

Tuoba Yu raised his hand and brushed aside the tassels at his temple, smiling meaningfully. "Heishan, you must not underestimate Sikong Jin. He is definitely a very important pawn in the hands of the Emperor of Dayong."

"Oh? Does Your Highness think that Sikong Jin can still..."

"It's still too early to say for sure, but I'm really looking forward to joining forces with Sikong Jin. It's been almost two years since we last met. Sikong Jin, how have you changed? With your personality, you shouldn't be standing still, right?"

Tuoba Yu narrowed his long, narrow eyes thoughtfully, a smile curving across his handsome face. His eyes were filled with an unfathomable glint, mixed with a hint of anticipation.

"Let's go to the right and check out the border first."

After saying this, Tuoba Yu suddenly spurred his horse and galloped ahead.

"The border? Your Highness, that used to be the official road leading to Hanyang City of the Liao Dynasty. Are you going to Hanyang City?"

Heishan also spurred his horse and gave chase.

……

As the warm sun sank in the west, the last golden rays on the horizon were finally swallowed by the vast night, and the whole world fell silent.

A city near the border of Tiansheng in the Liao Dynasty, and a Liao army garrison at a pass near Hanyang City.

Cough, cough!

'Ahem! '

"Damn it, where did that thick smoke come from? It's choking me!"

"Cough cough, I can't take it anymore!"

As night fell, the military camp, which had just quieted down, was suddenly enveloped by a thick plume of white smoke. All that could be seen was billowing smoke. The soldiers, who were resting and waiting for dinner, could no longer bear it and began to curse loudly as they rushed out of their tents.

Meanwhile, outside the city gate, amidst the billowing dust, Sikong Jin's army lay in ambush on a slope not far from the city gate. Behind her, her soldiers were frantically waving their banners and fanning the high pile of damp timber in front of the column. The cool breeze from behind carried the rising smoke into Hanyang City.

"My lord, your voice was quite loud and clear the other day when you sang that bel canto style. Why don't you go over there? I've caught a cold these past two days, and my throat is sore, cough cough, I can't even speak!"

Meng Benbo inwardly groaned, but forced a smile on his face and said to Lord Sikong, who was pretending to look at the map.

“Deputy General Meng, everything you’ve done today will reach Naru’s ears. Do you really think you can’t speak?”

Lord Sikong didn't even lift his eyelids, casually uttering these words.

Upon hearing this, Meng Benbo's face stiffened, and he glared at Sikong Jin hatefully, gritting his teeth as he said, "You're ruthless!"

As he spoke, he grabbed the tin megaphone from Mei Ruhua's hand and rushed up the hillside. Shouting at the top of his lungs, he yelled into the megaphone, "Brothers of Liao upstairs, listen up! You are now completely surrounded by the 200,000-strong army of the valiant and skilled Sikong Jin of Dayong! Those who know what's good for them should lay down their weapons, walk out of the pass, and surrender. Our army's policy towards prisoners is extremely beneficial. Cherish the opportunity Lord Sikong has given you and don't make any more futile struggles, or our 200,000 iron cavalry will charge in..."

"Fan faster, fan faster! The bigger the smoke, the better. Also, have all the flags behind me wave them. Pay attention to the density, the density!"

As Meng Benbo roared from the hillside, the Minister of Works ordered his soldiers to wave their flags. In an instant, the entire world was filled with billowing dust, and it looked like the army was rushing to the city.

Upon receiving the order from the Minister of Works, the deputy general behind him was also desperately directing the soldiers to move.

"First Battalion, Second and Third Companies, you go over there, be careful!"

"Second Battalion, all of you take three steps back!"

……

"Deputy General Meng, you just ate three pieces of compressed rations, how come you only have this much strength? Speak louder, the sound will carry further if it goes with the wind. Look, the Liao army upstairs isn't reacting at all, what's going on!"

Lord Sikong held up his telescope and looked ahead. Seeing that the Liao army upstairs seemed to have no reaction, he shouted to Meng Benbo, "Tell them, count to ten, and if they don't surrender, we'll storm in!"

……

Meng Benbo's face was contorted with grief, his legs trembling. He had just counted to the third number when suddenly—

With a whoosh, several sharp arrows suddenly shot out. He trembled and cried out, "Waaah!" before tumbling down the hillside. Then, a sudden rain of arrows swept in like a storm.

"Quick! Get down!"

Lord Sikong immediately knelt down, while Meng Benbo rushed over in a panic, "My lord, they didn't fall for it, what should we do?"

The Minister of Works glared at him. "What are you afraid of? The smoke is so thick, you can't even see anything. They're just firing wildly indiscriminately. Let them fire a few more. I'm dying of thirst!"

"My lord, there's still no news from Lieutenant General Mei... Hmm? No, my lord, look, something's rising from the hillside opposite. Hmm, my lord, what do you call that? A Kongming lantern!"

Lord Sikong looked up and followed the direction Meng Benbo was pointing. In the gradually fading night, a Kongming lantern was swaying faintly in the night sky.