"Once you're airborne, landing safely still requires a certain degree of skill."
Even though she had long confirmed the reliability of the glider, Yun Shu still let out a faint breath of relief when she saw it glide smoothly through the air.
"But your destination is the forest," she added. "That changes everything."
There was barely any room for technique when it came to landing there. Most likely, the glider would plunge straight into the treetops. What the team needed to do was simply find a way to get themselves down from the trees unharmed.
"Rest assured, Your Highness!"
Ever since witnessing the glider take flight with his own eyes, General Wei Yuan had been grinning from ear to ear.
"The members of this flying squad were all handpicked by this official. Not only do they meet the standards Your Highness previously mentioned, but more importantly, they also possess excellent night vision."
In the past, malnutrition had left many soldiers with poor eyesight, particularly at night. The lack of certain nutrients had led to a high rate of night blindness among the people.
Fortunately, in recent years, the diet had improved with the addition of animal blood and organ meats. The state treasury was also full, and both Yun Shu and Emperor Xuanwu had placed great emphasis on provisioning the military. As a result, the soldiers' ability to see in the dark had improved significantly.
So for General Wei Yuan to point out this quality in particular meant these troops were among the best. However, Yun Shu's attention drifted elsewhere when she heard his words.
"Flying squad?"
"Yes indeed!"
General Wei Yuan's excitement was barely concealed as he beamed.
"This name was not chosen lightly. This official spent a long time considering it. I guarantee that just hearing it will make people understand how extraordinary this elite squad is."
Yun Shu: "..."
It was a good name. Just one problem — it immediately reminded her of the animated show she watched as a child, with three girls sporting oversized cartoon heads.
…
With the matter of the gliders settled, the rest of the plan could now proceed in full.
Perhaps emboldened by their recent victory in Yongzhou, the Annan forces had grown bolder in their provocations. No longer content with daytime insults outside the city walls, they had begun to send men to shout challenges even at night.
The soldiers stationed in Yongzhou, General Wei Yuan among them, had long been holding in their anger.
Now that preparations were complete, they refused to wait even a single day longer. That very afternoon, the so-called "Flying Squad" took their gliders and launched into the forest the Annan forces had long considered their natural defense.
They also carried a gift from Yun Shu — a selection of colorful fireworks.
That night, within the tightly sealed city walls, ten thousand elite soldiers were already standing by, fully armed and ready to march.
Outside the city, however, the enemy remained utterly unaware.
Just as they had the previous nights, the Annan army sent men to hurl insults. More than a thousand voices roared in unison, their crude jeers echoing into the heavens.
Yun Chuhuan had been happily gnawing on a lamb leg by the campfire, entirely unbothered by the world. But the moment he caught wind of the racket outside, his mood soured. He hurled the lamb bone at a nearby vice-general.
"Impudence! How dare they speak of Great Tian Sheng in such a vile manner!"
He leapt to his feet, his eyes blazing.
"Are you all deaf? Why are you just standing there? Go out there and tear those bastards limb from limb!"
"What is all this shouting?"
Yun Shu had only stepped into the tent to fetch two light cloaks. When she came back out, she found Yun Chuhuan in a full-blown tantrum.
With a sigh, she tossed one of the cloaks over his head.
"Can you not tell this is a simple provocation? If you fall for such a shallow ploy, how do you expect to command troops? Even thirty thousand men would be wasted in your hands."
"I knew it was a provocation!" Yun Chuhuan yanked the cloak off his head with a huff. Though he dared not raise his voice at Yun Shu, his face clearly bore the words "not happy."
"But their insults are truly disgraceful. Fifth Sister, can you stomach such words?"
"Not particularly."
Yun Shu gave a small snort of laughter.
"Which is precisely why we're launching a counterattack tonight."
She fastened her cloak and slowly lifted her gaze, casting a sidelong look at him.
"If you want to watch from the city wall, then wear your cloak properly. The wind is chill at night, and it cuts even harder up there."
"Right away!"
The moment he heard there would be a counterattack, Yun Chuhuan's anger vanished, replaced with uncontainable excitement.
He hurried to put on the cloak and followed Yun Shu.
"Fifth Sister, are we going to fight them head-on?"
"No."
Yun Shu's expression remained perfectly composed.
"It's the middle of the night. Not exactly ideal conditions for a battle. For now, we'll rely on you to shout them down."
"Me? Shout?"
Yun Chuhuan stared in disbelief.
"Fifth Sister, you can't mean the counterattack is just me yelling insults back at them?"
"What else did you expect?"
Yun Shu spoke with the utmost seriousness.
"Yes, it's a bit unorthodox. But we have no other choice. The soldiers are brave but not exactly sharp-tongued. They've tried shouting back, but they always get outmatched and end up a laughingstock."
She sighed, then added meaningfully, "As for me… I've never been skilled in verbal sparring.
Now it falls to you."
Yun Chuhuan: "..."
He was speechless. Yet, despite how absurd this all sounded, there was also an odd sense of pride swelling in his chest. Was this what it felt like to be entrusted with a vital task?
Before he could make sense of it all, Yun Shu had already pulled him up to the city wall.
"Let's see, who might that be?"
In the absence of modern light pollution, the world quickly turned pitch-black after sunset.
Both sides had lit torches, but the distance between them was great. It took the Annan scouts quite some time squinting before they recognized someone.
"Well, well," one of them drawled. "Is that not Her Highness, the famed Crown Princess of Tian Sheng? And what's this, she's brought a child?"
The soldier's voice carried mockery sharp as a blade, followed by a coarse laugh.
"Don't tell me she took our advice after all—ran home to birth a whelp and play house?"
"No, no, Vice-General Zheng," another chimed in, tone laced with lewd amusement. "Use your eyes. That brat's far too big. She must've had him before she put on that golden crown. Who knows how many men it took to breed one pretty little heir?"
A third man cackled and added, "I'd wager he's a bastard from some midnight tryst. Just look at her, with the face of a courtesan. No man would send a beauty like that to the battlefield unless she already lost her virtue!"
"Maybe that's her charm," another sneered. "A royal jade vessel, passed from hand to hand before she ever set foot in court."
"Careful now," Vice-General Zheng said with mock solemnity. "One ought not speak ill of highborn women. Her Highness might get lonely tonight and invite us across the river. Best we mind our tongues, lest we spoil her appetite!"
The words, thick with foul implication, rippled across the field like filth thrown into water.
Yun Chuhuan's breath caught in his throat. He had been raised amid silken halls and strict etiquette. Never in his life had he heard such vile and indecent slander—much less directed at his elder sister, the Crown Princess.
His face flushed crimson, eyes blazing.
"You filthy curs! How dare you insult my royal sister with your gutter-born tongues?
This prince swears upon the name of Tian Sheng, you will not live to see tomorrow's sun! I'll have your heads mounted on spears and your foul mouths fed to the dogs!"
"Oh dear, how terrifying," came the mocking reply. "Did you hear that, boys? We've offended a princeling. Best we wet ourselves and beg forgiveness."
The Annan soldiers roared with laughter, louder and more raucous than before, their taunts ringing through the darkness like a drumbeat of contempt.