The two of them slept until the next day before getting up. Now that they were generals, they couldn't sleep in as late as before. After getting up, they went to watch the soldiers train.
When they saw something unreasonable, they asked them to correct it. Unexpectedly, they encountered a few troublemakers. As a result, the two of them had a simple fight with the soldiers. In one day, the two of them fought against thousands of people one by one.
Although they were exhausted, the soldiers' gazes towards them changed from initial disdain to admiration, and this continued for the next three days.
The fourth day was the day to select the cavalry. Early in the morning, the two changed into their riding gear and went to the training ground. There were many participants, but some people could not participate because they did not know how to ride a horse.
Hundreds of men rode horses in an open field and shot birds that had been released from their cages. The competition was divided into ten rounds, and only those who shot nine birds were qualified to become Iron Cavalrymen. Xia Hua's thousand Iron Cavalrymen had already entered the military camp and were participating in the first competition.
The competition to select cavalrymen ended when it got dark, and the results were very satisfactory to An Shuyi and her companion. In addition to the 1,000 cavalrymen who were selected earlier, there were 1,200 more.
Two hundred more people than previously mentioned, but the fact that they managed to shoot nine birds shows they have talent. The two didn't want to let their talent go to waste, so they decided on two thousand two hundred people.
Meanwhile, Wu Quan also rushed back to the capital. He was not incapable; his family was still in the Emperor's hands. He had originally agreed with Prince Cheng and Prince Ming that as long as they brought his family out of the capital, he could cooperate with them.
He never expected that two women would disrupt his plans. He had no choice but to return to Beijing, otherwise all the elderly people and children at home would die.
Upon arriving in the capital, he rode home first, but his family was not there. Before he could even enter the palace, someone came from outside, saying, "General Wu, the Emperor requests that you enter the palace immediately."
Wu Quan nodded and rode into the palace with his guards. After entering the imperial study, he knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, I really did not collude with Prince Cheng or Prince Ming. They sent me visiting cards, but I refused them."
The Emperor put down his pen, took the handkerchief handed to him by Eunuch Deng, wiped his hands clean, and then said, "I have arranged for your family to be in a very safe place. If you tell the truth, I will spare your family's lives. If you don't, I will have to send your whole family down."
He has a lot to do every day and really doesn't have time to waste here. He naturally knows about the fight between Wu Quan and Aunt Xia at the camp, as well as their conversation.
He had previously suspected that the two aunts might have deliberately said that Wu Quan was problematic because they wanted the military tally. However, a letter came from someone he had planted in the military camp, saying that Wu Quan had already colluded with King Ming and King Cheng.
The news came a little later than his two aunts, which made him even more convinced that they were truly looking out for him.
Wu Quan wanted to explain a few more words, but seeing the emperor's impatient look, he had no choice but to explain the matter between himself and the two princes, Mingcheng and Wu Quan.
The emperor didn't speak, but waved his hand, and Wu Quan was decapitated. "Clean up his family as well and bury them together."
If you don't nip the problem in the bud, you'll only end up in a dangerous situation. Soon, the ministers learned that Wu Quan had entered the capital, been invited to the palace, and died there.
When they sent people to inquire, they learned that the Right Chancellor's mother and aunt had been appointed as second-rank generals by the Emperor. The next day at court, they all submitted memorials requesting the Emperor to rescind his decree.
Their Li Kingdom is a great and powerful nation; how could they send two women to lead an army into battle? If the barbarians and people from beyond the Great Wall knew, they would laugh at their Li Kingdom for having no one to serve them.
The Emperor glanced through the memorials and sneered, "Since you all look down on these two women so much, why don't you go and lead the troops in battle alongside General An and General Xia?"
Seeing that they remained silent, he continued, "Wu Quan, Ming Wang, and Cheng Wang colluded and have already been beheaded by me. As for General An and General Xia, you have all heard a lot about their deeds. They are women who are just as capable as men, and they are more powerful than you."
"If you don't believe me, then wait a few months. If the two generals are incompetent in leading troops into battle, I will dismiss them from their posts without you having to submit any memorials. If you have something to submit, then submit it; if you have nothing to submit, then leave the court."
Everyone nodded. After the court session ended, the Right Chancellor was surrounded by ministers who inquired about An Shuyi and Wen Liu's relationship. Wen Liu said he didn't know and quickened his pace to leave.
After selecting their cavalry, An Shuyi and Xia Hua began training every day. However, after only a few days of training, Ming Wang and Cheng Wang led their troops to attack Wucheng. They then learned that Wu Quan was dead and that the troops were now being led by two women. They wanted to take Wucheng first.
Looking at the two vassal kings in the distance from the city wall, An Shuyi said, "Huahua, how about I take some people to have some fun?"
Xia Hua nodded, "Go ahead, be careful, and take those two thousand cavalry with you." It would be a good opportunity for the soldiers and the deputy general to see the results of their training.
Although the soldiers now admire them greatly, it doesn't mean they completely trust them. It's good to use the two vassal kings to bolster their confidence.
With permission, An Shuyi carried her broadsword down the city wall, mounted her horse, and led more than two thousand cavalry out after the city gate opened, stopping a few hundred meters away from the enemy.
"It seems Emperor Xiao Zili is no good. He sent a woman to lead troops. Women should stay at home to nurse their children. It's laughable that they have to come out to fight. You are so beautiful. Why don't you become my eleventh concubine?" After the Prince of Cheng finished speaking, a burst of laughter erupted from the other side.
Unfortunately, his words did not make the two thousand-plus cavalry feel ashamed; instead, they made them even angrier.
"It's a disgrace that you've taken a liking to me. You're nothing but a useless old man who's neither good-looking nor capable. You want me to be your concubine? Aren't you afraid of dying in bed?"
After An Shuyi finished speaking, she picked up a bow and arrow from the carriage, pulled it back hard, and the arrow flew out. The Prince was pulled away by the guards, but the soldiers behind him were not so lucky and were directly pierced through the head.
"Kill this vile woman!" King Cheng shouted angrily, while King Ming watched leisurely from the side.
Seeing the enemy troops charging in, An Shuyi put down her bow, raised her broadsword, and shouted, "Kill them!" She then faced the soldiers, and with a wave of her hand, she could take the life of an enemy soldier.
The newly trained cavalry, though not as formidable as the older cavalry, were still quite capable. Soon, the ground was littered with corpses. Seeing their fierce fighting, King Cheng ordered his men to continue the charge.
But Mingwang stopped them, saying, "We're only here to test these two women, let's retreat!"
"But……"
"No buts, retreat!" At Mingtian's command, the drums of retreat sounded from behind, and then the soldiers retreated.
Seeing the enemy retreat, An Shuyi did not pursue them. Victory drums sounded from the city wall, and she led her cavalry into the city.
On the city wall, the lieutenants also witnessed her prowess. Although she was a woman, they had to admit that she was truly formidable, especially her iron cavalry, who had killed thousands of enemy soldiers while they themselves had only suffered minor injuries.
"Huahua, how did I do?" An Shuyi jumped off her horse and asked happily.
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