Shang Ruyi nodded, but as she glanced around, she found something wasn’t right.

During a march, if they stop to rest, the soldiers should immediately start setting up camp, especially the central army tent, followed by their own sleeping tents. Once those are set up, they would then light fires to cook meals. But at that moment, the soldiers around were only gathered around various lit bonfires, warming themselves and cooking, with no one setting up tents.

Even the central army tent was not set up.

Shang Ruyi couldn’t help but frown and asked, "What’s going on, are you only setting up a tent for me?"

The soldiers heard her and looked at her, then glanced at the largest bonfire not far away, where Yu Wenye was already sitting. He was quietly instructing something, and the soldier beside him immediately took out a map from his bag and spread it at his feet. He sipped water and tapped the map with his horsewhip, frowning in deep thought. No one dared to disturb him.

The soldier withdrew his gaze and replied softly, "This is the order from Prince Qin."

Shang Ruyi frowned again, "What about his tent?"

"No need to set it up."

"You all, aren’t setting up tents either?"

"Yes."

"..."

Shang Ruyi took a deep breath.

This was only her second official expedition with Yu Wenye. She lacked practical experience, but having grown up beside her father, who was the General of Cavalry, she was familiar with some unwritten rules. For instance, if the army stopped to rest and didn’t set up tents, there could be just one possibility—

The troop was ready to engage in battle at any moment.

However, Yu Wenye hadn’t ordered them to prepare for battle, so likely, the battle he was preparing for was extraordinary.

But he had someone set up a tent for her alone, could it be that she’s the only one left behind?

Thinking of this, Shang Ruyi immediately looked up and said to the soldier, "Don’t set up my tent either." 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

"Huh?"

The soldier was stunned. The other soldiers who had started hammering wooden stakes into the ground also stopped. Shang Ruyi said, "No need to panic. I’ll personally speak to Prince Qin if there are any issues. You all go rest. Tonight might be exhausting."

The soldiers looked at the Princess Qin, who had already made a name for herself in the army but still appeared frail and not like a valiant female general. They couldn’t say much, so they obeyed and withdrew.

Once they left, Wo Xue quietly asked, "Princess, what’s this about—"

Shang Ruyi calmly replied, "Don’t ask so much. First, go make me some hot soup. I’m so cold and hungry, I’m losing the strength to speak."

Wo Xue, hearing this, dared not delay and hurried off to get busy.

Soon, iron pots were set up over campfires throughout the army camp. The boiling broth emitted a rich aroma, making mouths water. Though there was no lavish food, Shang Ruyi still drank a bowl of hot soup heartily, followed by a bowl of noodle soup. Then she had Wo Xue use a silver hairpin to prick the blood blister on her palm, applied some medicine, and bandaged it lightly before she got up and walked towards Yu Wenye.

By this time, Shen Tu Tai and others had gathered around the bonfire. Everyone was staring at the horsewhip in Yu Wenye’s hand as he pointed on the map—

"Tonight, we will take this place!"

Shang Ruyi’s heart skipped a beat.

Even though she hadn’t completely walked over to him, she had been looking at the map near Taihang before and during the journey, so she was familiar with its markings. The direction Yu Wenye pointed to with his horsewhip was just ahead of them.

Qi County, Zhaoyu City.

Everyone else also focused their gaze here with deepened expressions.

They exchanged looks, all seemingly hesitant until Shen Tu Tai finally spoke quietly, "Your Highness, weren’t we going to directly attack Taiyuan?"

Once he spoke, several other deputy generals also began to speak—

"Yes, Your Highness, our target is Taiyuan."

"Why did we pass so many counties along the way without engaging, but now we’re planning to attack Qi County?"

"If we attack Qi County, it will surely alert the people of Taiyuan."

Qi County wasn’t far from Taiyuan; it wouldn’t even take a day’s hard ride. If they engaged in battle at Zhaoyu City, it would likely alert Taiyuan. Once Wang Shaoqiu and the Western Turkic people knew their forces had reached Qi County, they would be on high alert, potentially even launching a counterattack against them.

In doing so, their previous days of rapid march intending to surprise Taiyuan would be in vain?

Yu Wenye said, "I understand your concerns."

"..."

"So, what I plan is not to attack Qi County."

"..."

"But, to take Qi County."

"...?!"

Everyone was even more surprised—how was this different?

Yu Wenye said in a low voice, "To take it means—I will enter Qi County alone first, make contact with the garrison, have them open the city gates, and then coordinate from inside and outside to take Qi County!"