With a gloomy face, Chu Yi led a group of military officers through the Southern Chu army's formation to the front.

A general from the Southern Chu army in charge of the attack stepped forward and knelt down in fear and trepidation, saying, "Your Highness, we tried to sneak up the city wall, but we were discovered by the soldiers on the wall."

“How could such a petty trick fool Wei Jingzhuo?” Chu Yi raised his hand, signaling the general to stand up. “You wouldn’t listen and insisted on trying.”

A look of shame flashed across the general's face as he stood up and said, "Your Highness, according to the scouts, there are only three thousand soldiers left in Xiping Pass. If we concentrate our forces and launch a fierce attack tonight, we will surely be able to seize Xiping Pass before Wei Shao does."

Chu Yi stared at the figures moving on the city wall of Xiping Pass, remaining noncommittal.

Under the cover of night, Xiping Pass resembled a ferocious beast with its jaws wide open, relentlessly devouring the flesh and blood of the Southern Chu army. Ladders leaning against the city walls were ablaze, illuminating the dark walls. At the foot of the walls lay mountains of corpses, red with blood and white with snow.

"Do you know the origin of Xiping Pass?" he asked the generals around him.

A general raised his hand and said, "Of course I know. Back then, the Emperor of the Great Jin Dynasty was utterly defeated by the Western Rong army. In order to prevent the Western Rong from invading eastward and threatening the capital, this pass was built."

Chu Yi said, "You know a lot about the history of the Great Jin Dynasty. What happened next?"

The general continued, "Later, the three generals of the Great Jin Dynasty led an expedition to the west and drove back the Western Rong, which led to the formation of Youzhou. With General Zhao Xian fighting against the Western Rong in Youzhou, this city became unnecessary."

“That’s right,” Chu Yi said, pointing to the city wall of Xiping Pass. “This pass was originally built to defend against the Western Rong army coming from the west. The western city wall is much stronger than the eastern one in terms of both thickness and height. It’s not surprising that you can’t take it down even if you launch repeated attacks.”

The generals were unconvinced and said, "Your Highness, there are only three thousand men left in Xiping Pass. We don't believe we can't take it."

"Very well," Chu Yi said, crossing his arms and gesturing for them to join him. "I will be watching the battle from the front lines tonight, waiting for you gentlemen to take Xiping Pass."

The generals, who already knew that their prince was always nonchalant in his speech, rose up and led their soldiers to begin the attack on the city.

Chu Yi came to the banner, gripped the curved sword at his waist, and stood there watching.

The soldiers of the Southern Chu army shouted as they carried ladders and charged toward the city wall. Arrows rained down from the wall, and the soldiers held their shields above their heads to protect themselves from injury. Even so, men in the ranks continued to fall, struck by arrows.

As the Southern Chu army approached the city wall, burning logs began to be thrown down from above. The logs fell from the sky with tremendous force, hitting the Southern Chu soldiers. Many of them caught fire and rolled on the snow, howling in pain.

Chu Yi shook his head slightly.

Even though Wei Jingzhuo only had three thousand men left, in his eyes they seemed as powerful as thirty thousand.

As expected, the attack ended in another crushing defeat. Of the three thousand men who attacked the city, none were able to even get onto the city walls. Only six hundred men returned, and four of their lieutenants were killed.

The generals returned to him looking disheveled and knelt down to beg for forgiveness.

Chu Yi smiled and said, "Gentlemen, do you still intend to continue the offensive?"

Half of the generals immediately shook their heads, while the other half still looked unconvinced.

One of the generals said, "This humble general is ignorant, please enlighten me, Your Highness. If we do not hurry, Wei Shao will take Xiping Pass first and hold it firmly. Wouldn't we be left with nothing?"

"So I'm not in a hurry to attack, but rather I'm preparing a strategy," Chu Yi spread his hands and shrugged. "But everyone is asking me to go, so how can I go against their wishes? I have no choice but to go along with you."

The generals all said, "Could it be that Your Highness already has a plan to break through the pass?"

Chu Yi said, "Thank goodness, you finally remembered to ask me that question."

The generals were blushing with embarrassment after he spoke, but one thick-skinned general said, "Your Highness's schemes are so unpredictable that we mediocre people can't possibly understand them. We...we just want to help Your Highness take Xiping Pass as soon as possible so that Your Highness can take the goddess back to get married soon."

Chu Yi said, "You're so thoughtful. Even Father Emperor isn't this anxious."

The generals couldn't help but burst into laughter; the shame of their earlier defeat vanished in that laugh.

One of the generals, who was quite serious, stepped forward and said, "Your Highness, General Yu was right just now. Wei Shao must also know the number of troops guarding Xiping Pass. We must hurry up and launch an attack."

Chu Yi said, "No need to rush me. I'm almost ready, and I'll break through to the gates for you generals tonight."

The generals, confused, asked all at once, "How exactly does Your Highness intend to remove the pass?"

Chu Yi smiled but did not answer, turning around and saying, "You'll find out soon enough. Come on, let's call it a day."

He withdrew his troops and returned to the main camp. Halfway there, a guard with a scimitar stepped forward and said, "Your Highness, we intercepted a group of people trying to escape in the north city today. Although we failed to kill them, we forced them back into the city."

Chu Yi frowned: "When did I issue this order? Who ordered you to go to the north of the city?"

"It's me."

As the words fell, Qiu Jie emerged from the darkness.

Even after being gone for many days, she still wore the clown mask and the black robe, appearing before Chu Yi like a ghost.

Chu Yi was displeased and said in a somewhat stiff tone, "Weren't you with Wei Shaojun? Why are you back?"

He hadn't expected Qiu Jie to dare bypass him and directly give orders to the scimitar-wielding guards; this was an act that infuriated him. However, since Qiu Jie was a goddess, that is, his fiancée, he couldn't vent his anger on her.

A low chuckle came from behind the clown mask: "What's wrong? You don't like me touching your power? Fine, I won't touch it then. I've climbed a long mountain path to get here, I'm exhausted, I'll go rest first."

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