"Hold your hand here. Make sure your eyes are on the target. The second and third arrows will give lift to the first. Understand?"

The many eyes watched Feiyun. Each one of them filled with respect and reverence as though letting a single word of feiyun left unheard would be a great sin.

"Yes! "

"Good answer, go practice."

Feiyun finished instructing her group of starry-eyed men and dismounted from the high platform, putting her training bow and quiver down on the rack.

Wiping her sweat, Feiyun pulled the loose strand of hair behind her ear, turning to FeiXu who had arrived.

"Master, the generals will hold the meeting soon."

FeiXu reported as she took the towel from Feiyun. Raising an eyebrow when she glanced to the group of soldiers Feiyun had been training.

The group who did not like Feiyun's arrogance and made trouble for her the day before had suddenly become so obedient. Their eyes shining with admiration and respect. Training hard with all their might.

'Truly the lady that managed to win the devil's approval.'

As she followed behind Feiyun, the small slender yet strong back of the woman who is her master, FeiXu could only wonder to herself in awe at how Feiyun always manages to rally people to follow her. Her leadership and commanding spirit was like none other. A warrior like Feiyun reminded her of her home when she was young.

"Sorry to keep you waiting."

Feiyun announced as she arrived. Some of the grumpy old men inside nodded, still unable to accept that Feiyun had proven them wrong. Unable to accept that a female had beaten them.

Their thinking was still of the olden times where women should stay home and house keep while man worked and fought wars.

"According to our intelligence, the situation in the Southern Rocks aren't in our favour.

The southern Bu lords have taken control of the area and are threatening to take over the border town.

If we choose to engage them, the Army would also have to fight in the thick tropical vegetation and various cluses, narrow, steep-sided passages linking wide valleys that surround the border town."

When the young man finished his report, he stepped back as General Han spoke from the side, one hand cupped in another with respect as Tianhuo remained silent, watching the landscape in front of him.

The cold blue eyes never straying from the table as he silently listened.

"With Respect, Commanding General Tianhuo, this old men had been to many wars with the Tiger army.

This terrain is not suited for our men. The best solution to this would be a Siege. We station at the border town. Their only entry to Xing and source of commodities would be the bordering town. "

Another slightly younger general beside him added in.

"We could also set fire to the surrounding of the Rocky peaks to destroy the vegetation and smoke them out to create a open field fight which would suit our style more. "

Tianhuo's frown deepened at his useless generals. He turned to Feiyun who had been silently listening by his side not saying a word.

"What does my princess think?"

Feiyun smiled as she gently slide a slender hand near him, arranging a lose strand of hair on his shoulder. The various men around watching in silent fear.

Everyone knew that Tianhuo did not like people touching him. Who didn't remember the daughter of an official who had touched his sleeve only to have her hand sliced off.

However, the cold merciless Tianhuo didn't even move, his mood even seemed to grow better.

Feiyun let out a small chuckle as she looked at General Han and the younger men who had spoken before.

"What makes you think we can just wait out in Southern Xing hoping the Bu lords will run out of ration and return to wherever they came from?

Southern Xing depends on the lush vegetation for their businesses and daily lives. The Bu lords who are sitting on top a treasure trove would never run out of ration and we'll be waiting our whole lives there running out of ration.

And you, burn the vegetation and smoke them out? Heh! You are only dooming the entire population of Southern Xing. What kind of brains do you have?"

The younger general was stumped for words, only hanging his head down in shame, cowering to hide in the shadow of his own embarrassment.

While General Han proceeded to sigh as he questioned Feiyun and pointed out.

"Drawing out a siege battle is not and option, taking a head on fight with their archers is also not an option.

So what do you suggest we do then? not to mention, the Southern Vermilion Army is hopeless they have been the weakest army out of the four and they don't even have a commanding general to rally them."

With a sigh. Feiyun walked closer to the table. A half broken arrow in her hand.

"The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind it."

The generals looks puzzled at Feiyun however Tianhuo had a small smirk plastered on his face.

"What do you mean?"

General Han questioned mid frown unable to contain his annoyance at feiyun who spoke in rhymes.

"You worry too much. Why bother about something you cannot change? In the end, the Bu lords want to take over the Border town. There is no reason for us to fight them out in the open.

The entire world knows that their archers are the best in that landscape. The same goes for them. They know that the Tigers of the west have no experience in this area while the vermilion birds of the south are useless. Yet they know naught of my group of snipers.

While their heads are in the clouds thinking they have you in their hands, my team will hunt them. The biggest hunter in the forest, do you think they'll look up?"

General Han stroked his long beard in deep thought while the other generals discussed among themselves.

"What does snipers mean?"

The young general from the other side questioned loudly.

'well no surprised you haven't heard of this word. There's no guns here.'

Feiyun thought to herself as she replied casually.

"Hmm... It's the name of my group of archers."

Clearing his throat, General Han disrupted the conversation and brought everyone's attention back.

"Ehem! So you mean to say that we will be sending in our man as bait for your team? The risk is too high, what if you fail? If we blindly trust you, our men will be sacrificed for naught."

Feiyun slammed the half broken arrow onto the table, splitters poking into her palm while the arrow's head dug into the wooden table.

Her phoenix eyes behind the mask shining with confidence as she stared down the opposing General Han. Instilling fear that tickled the back of his spine.

'what cold and murderous eyes. Is this truly a 16 year-old princess?'

"Failure is not an option. We will open the gates of the bordering town wide open. We just need enough time to take out their archers. After that its up to you guys."

Unconvinced and confused, General Han peeked at Tianhuo who seemed deep in thought. until he finally broke his silence, Tianhuo spoke wrapping a large hand around Feiyun and pulling her back to his side while opening her palm stopping the streak of blood that seeped out slowly.

"The trees and terrain are high. Can your men move fast enough and hit such far targets?"

Slightly blushing behind her mask, Feiyun met the serious gaze of Tianhuo. He had been serious with her about many other occasions but this one felt different.

'I guess deep down he really is a great leader who cares about his men enough to not trust blindly, even someone he loves.'

The side of Feiyun's lips turned up, happy that she truly met an intelligent man who can keep up with her while respecting her as a women on equal standings.

"Most arrows would go the furthest 60 meters* My men will hit twice that distance with 3 arrows."

General Bai who silently stood behind Tianhuo the whole time, came forward with a hand across his chest.

"I can vouch for her words. I've seen our tiger warriors who are training under princess, 120 meters* is nothing to them."

The other generals around the table murmured amongst themselves. They know General Bai as the men who have stood by Tianhuo's side. A men of fair and honest judgement forging strong bonds within the army.

"I-if General Bai vouched, I , Zhang, will follow."

"Princess please share with us your strategy."

" I too will follow princess. Please share!"

As the many general slowly started agreeing to listen to her plan, a smile appeared on Feiyun's face as she smiled at General Bai in thanks for his support. With the general returning a approving nod.

Warmth flashed through Tianhuo's eyes briefly when Feiyun turned around, flashing a smiled at him as though a child that had won a game.

He knew that gaining the trust of the army's generals wouldn't be easy but Feiyun had managed it well gaining at least half the generals support in such a short amount of time.

With confident eyes that shone with charisma, Feiyun stepped up to the edge of the large table, as the many generals followed her silently with their eyes. Her hand holding onto the wooden Tiger marker.

"Here's the plan."

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