“I do have a plan.” While everyone was arguing, Xu Nian suddenly spoke up, “Why don’t we just go with the flow? Since the enemy wants to prevent us from setting up the formation, let’s just not use it.”

As soon as she finished speaking, many generals who were not very familiar with her widened their eyes.

Liu Jun chuckled inwardly, wondering if the delicate and frail Princess Fu'an could withstand the insults from these seasoned veterans.

Others, like the left and right generals, frowned, wondering what the princess was up to. They all looked at Gu Zhan, waiting for his decision.

Before some people could even start cursing, Gu Zhan's eyes lit up. "You mean, we should outflank them from the outside, sending men to fight their way around to their rear commanders?"

"good."

Seeing that the person understood her meaning, Xu Nian's eyes crinkled with joy.

"Marshal, let's not even talk about whether this move is feasible, let's just talk about who to send?" General Chen didn't expect that Gu Zhan had actually considered the feasibility of this idea.

It's utterly absurd that even their own commander-in-chief has been blinded by women!

"Marshal, I believe this is inappropriate. This move is too risky; how can we bear the consequences if it fails?"

Strictly speaking, this battle should be considered their first battle since arriving at the border. The minor skirmishes in Cangque City in the previous days, and the antics of that old man Xun, don't count.

The first battle is usually related to the morale of the entire army and the reputation of the previous dynasty.

If they failed, who knows how the censors in the court would slander them before the emperor. Moreover, they had never even heard of such a tactic!

If you play it safe and fail, at least you can say the enemy was too strong.

If they lose using the new formation, the people of the previous dynasty will have even more reason to say that they neglected their duties and are unfit for important positions! At that time, Gu Zhan and Xu Nian will be fine.

She was a princess of the imperial court, a favorite of the emperor.

The unfortunate ones are still the lower-ranking officers, who will inevitably be accused of dereliction of duty. At best, they will be demoted; at worst, they will be dismissed.

They can't afford either of them.

Amidst a chorus of rejections, the Right General, who had remained silent until now, pondered for a long time before finally speaking. "This humble general believes that this is a feasible plan. Marshal, please allow me to lead five hundred elite troops to meet the challenge!"

"Right General, have you also become confused?!"

"Lieutenant General Li, what are you saying?" Liu Jun said with a half-smile. "Marshal, this humble general is also willing to go."

[Hmm? That's strange. He didn't cause trouble, but instead agreed with the streamer's idea?]

[They wouldn't intentionally fail to shift the blame onto the streamer and the general, would they?]

[Please stop with the conspiracy theories, okay? What if they genuinely think this plan is good and want to risk it for the country and its people?]

Xu Nian tilted her head, glancing at Liu Jun, her eyes flashing. Suddenly, she understood what he was planning; it wasn't necessarily a matter of losing this battle.

During this period, martial law was in effect in the military because of Xun Lao's matter. Unless he was stupid, he wouldn't deliberately fail to arouse suspicion.

If it weren't for this, it would probably be a case of overpraising to the point of ruin.

Her delicate features held a knowing smile, but also a hint of helplessness and recklessness; she figured she'd probably leave before the war ended anyway.

We should find an opportunity to expose this traitor first, otherwise she really won't be able to leave in peace.

The capital city, during the morning court session.

The appearance of the Third Prince Jiang Yuanlang, whom everyone had not seen for a long time, caused a huge sensation.

Jiang Mingyun sat on the dragon throne, looking at her son whom she could hardly recognize, her brows furrowing slightly. "Qingming, what do you mean by this?"

Just now, they were discussing how to convict Jiang Yuanche.

The appearance of Elder Xun has indirectly confirmed that the Fifth Prince colluded with the enemy and betrayed the country, but neither of them admits to knowing each other. The faction loyal to Jiang Yuanche sees this as an opportunity.

On the grounds of insufficient evidence and that Jiang Yuanche's crime did not warrant death, they pleaded with the emperor to release him and demote him to a commoner, far away from the capital.

Anyway, their plan is still in progress. When the emperor dies, they will still be able to launch a counterattack and make the fifth prince the emperor.

So he got into a fight with the supporters of Crown Prince Jiang Yuanqing and the neutral faction, advocating on one side to behead Jiang Yuanche and display his head to the public, and on the other side to spare his life.

With everyone holding their own opinions, the imperial court turned into a marketplace, with arguments raging.

Jiang Mingyun was getting a headache watching, while Jiang Yuanmo was so engrossed that he wanted to sit there and watch to his heart's content with a handful of melon seeds. Only Jiang Yuanqing stood there, calm and composed, without moving an inch.

After everyone had finished arguing and the noise in the hall finally subsided, he stepped forward and said, "Father, I have a witness who can prove that Jiang Yuanche and Elder Xun are acquainted."

You have someone and you're not going to show them?!

Apart from Jiang Yuanmo, who already knew the truth, everyone else, including Jiang Mingyun, looked at him with resentment.

The Second Prince, seemingly oblivious, clapped his hands, and a man dressed in plain cotton clothes strode into the hall. His gaze flickered twice when it met the head of the table before quickly looking away.

Amidst the scrutinizing and suspicious gazes of the crowd, he walked to the front of the main hall and said, "This humble subject, Jiang Yuanlang, greets Your Majesty. May Your Majesty be well."

These words were spoken with force and conviction. No one had expected that the once arrogant and domineering Third Prince would be like this now.

However, the truth is that although Xu Nian cured Jiang Yuanlang's illness, all of his martial arts skills and his subordinate forces were completely divided up by Jiang Yuanqing and Jiang Yuanche.

Having lost his former capital, he could only rely on one of them just to survive.

Sunlight shone on the beaded curtain of light on Jiang Mingyun's forehead, obscuring his expression. "Qingming, is this the witness you were talking about?"

Everyone could sense the displeasure in Jiang Mingyun's tone, and they were so frightened that they knelt on the ground, afraid that they would become the scapegoat if they were not careful.

Jiang Yuanqing and Jiang Yuanmo stood straight, their attitude neither humble nor arrogant. "That's right. Father, you may not know, but after Jiang Yuanlang was released from prison, he went mad for a while. When I went to recuperate at the villa, I found him on the outskirts of the capital. Since then, it was Princess Fu'an who has been treating him, which is why he is the way he is today."

“I can testify to this. I went to see my second brother a few days ago. Third, Jiang Yuanlang has been cured by Xu Nian. He has seen Jiang Yuanche and Elder Xun because they were the ones who made him stupid.”

Jiang Yuanmo raised his hand to add to the list without his father even having to say a word.

The crowd, kneeling below, listened in utter terror. The Third Prince had been driven mad by the Fifth Prince?! And the Fourth Prince was actually involved with the Second Prince?!

Upon hearing this, Jiang Mingyun felt much less resentful; after all, he was her child. Even if he was demoted to a commoner, his status would still be higher than Jiang Yuanche's.

“In that case, Yuanlang, tell me about what happened that day.”