Although Shen City appeared calm on the surface, Qin Wang Shan knew peace alone could not guarantee survival.
The empire had begun to notice them.
Enemies had already sent blades once.
They would do so again.
And next time, they might not fail.
Late one night, Qin Wang Shan met with Commander Han and a few trusted officers in secret.
Maps and supply records lay spread across the table.
"No large recruitment," Qin Wang Shan ordered quietly. "No visible expansion."
Han nodded.
Too much change would attract unwanted attention from the capital.
"Instead," the prince continued, "we strengthen what we already have."
Small training camps were soon built outside the city.
Not one large military base—but several scattered locations.
Each trained a few soldiers at a time.
No one outside noticed.
Elite soldiers rotated through special night drills.
Speed, coordination, silent movement.
They were no longer simple guards.
They were becoming hunters.
Weapon improvements followed quietly.
Blacksmith workshops received increased orders for farming tools and repairs.
Hidden among them were improved spearheads, stronger arrow tips, reinforced armor plates.
To traders, it looked like normal business.
To soldiers, their weapons slowly improved.
Piece by piece.
Weeks passed.
Shen City remained peaceful.
Merchants continued trading.
Farmers harvested crops.
But beneath the calm, soldiers moved faster.
Archers shot more accurately.
Patrols reacted more quickly.
Confidence replaced hesitation.
From his residence, Lu Zheng reviewed trade and supply reports.
Everything appeared normal.
Yet something felt different.
He could sense growth.
But could not prove it.
And that uncertainty troubled him.
One evening, Commander Han spoke quietly.
"At this rate, our forces will rival provincial armies."
Qin Wangshan shook his head slightly.
"We do not seek attention," he replied.
"We seek survival."
He looked toward the sleeping city.
"Let them believe Shen City is weak."
His voice lowered.
"Until the day they regret it."