It took a lot of time and effort to mobilize an army. First, orders had to be handed down from the emperor to the general, who then handed down those orders to the lieutenant general, who then handed them further down the line and so on. Once orders were fully passed down, captains would mobilize their squads and meet up with their commanding officers.

And that was just the first step.

There were many different branches of the Shang Kingdom’s military. After informing the officers to mobilize their army, she needed to speak with the officers in charge of logistics. An army ran on its stomach. Not only was rations needed to keep the army going, but good food boosted morale.

The Shang Kingdom was very proud of its rations. Hou Jingshu had heard from a few traveling merchants that many nations only offered basic rations like nuts, berries, and dried meat. Foodstuff that was easy to store and not spoil. The Shang Kingdom had spent a good deal of money on creating rations that were nutritious and delicious.

Hou Jingshu spent a good deal of time mapping out where their army would meet the Four Great Pavilions forces, which routes their supply lines should take, and also discussing battle plans with her commanding officers.

While the Shang Kingdom’s military was controlled by the emperor, the emperor alone could not command such a large force. The fourteen--now thirteen--great clans who ruled over the provinces of the Shang Kingdom acted as the emperor’s mouth during times when the military had to be mobilized. Further, they were all under the command of Yu Chenguang, the general of their armed forces.

The area where her armies would meet the Three Great Pavilions was known as the Péngzhàng Plains. It was a fourth of the way between Shang Imperial City and Zhiong Pass--closer to the capital than the pass. Hou Jingshu wanted to stretch her enemies forces as much as possible, but she did not want to have a battle just in front of her capital--not yet, at least.

Several days had passed since she first handed down orders, and her troops had mobilized. They traveled south-west for several days before setting up camp on the plains.

At present, Hou Jingshu stood inside the commander’s hut alongside the clans currently involved in this affair. With her were Yu Chenguang, his two wives, Hua Xue, and of course, Yōuměi. The giant panther sat beside her, surprisingly silent for once. Perhaps even this cat who seemed to lack any form of spatial awareness was able to sense the tension in the room.

“Reports state the three pavilions’ army is half a day’s march from here now. They’ll arrive by tomorrow,” stated Ching Yuon. Hou Jingshu had placed him in charge of intelligence gathering. He proved surprisingly capable despite his earlier rudeness. She didn’t know if he was trying to make up for what happened, and she honestly didn’t care just so long as he did his job.

“And our forces?” asked Hou Jingshu.

“In position,” he said simply.

The current force under Hou Jingshu’s direct command was, technically, her main force. She had to give the three great pavilions a show of meeting their forces in battle. While her main force engaged theirs in combat, a detachment she had sent out ahead of time would attack their supply lines.

She had two forces that would attack the three pavilion’s supply lines. One was located halfway between the enemy army’s current position, and the other had been tasked to infiltrate Zhiong Pass with the goal of destroying the pass to prevent supplies from being able to pass through. Obviously, the forces at the halfway point were just a decoy.

“Who is in command there?” asked Hou Jingshu.

“Jing Hong.”

“That is Ding Hong’s father, if I’m not mistaken,” said Hou Jingshu.

“Indeed. He ruled one of the city’s that we have been forced to abandon. He asked me to be placed in charge of destroying the supply lines.” Ching Yuon shrugged. “I could not refuse him.”

“Ding Hong is an honorable man and a strong cultivator. I trust he can get the job done,” Yu Chenguang said.

Ding Hong was a half-step Human Limit Realm cultivator. He had been on the cusp of the Human Limit Realm for the better part of two decades, which meant he was unlikely to break through now. The longer it took to break through, the less likely it was of happening. Despite that, he was a strong cultivator. Not many people in the Shang Kingdom were as strong. Since the people guarding their enemies’ supply line were likely to be Anima Realm cultivators at the most, he should not have a problem destroying their supply lines.

“It’s a good thing low-level cultivation resources are much scarcer in the Ming Province. I shudder to think what would happen if they had the resources to bring all their cultivators up to the Human Limit Realm,” said Hou Jingshu.

“Agreed,” Yu Chenguang said as the rest of them nodded.

“We mobilize tomorrow. I want everyone to get some rest. Have our men switch out on the night watch every four hours. I don’t want any of our soldiers exhausted befoer the battle begins,” ordered Hou Jingshu.

“As Your Highness comands,” everyone said.

Everyone stepped outside of the commander’s tent, including Hou Jingshu herself. The scene of several thousands of people walking between tents, sitting or standing around campfires, and eating meals was something Hou Jingshu had never seen before. She’d only heard about military encampments like this from tales her father told her when she was a child. It felt surreal.

Several cooking stations were located sporadically across the encampment. Large cauldrons used to cook a thick stew made from meat, vegetables, and milk had steam wafting from them. The mouth-watering scent instigated her appetite. How long had it been since she last had a decent meal?

Hou Jingshu closed her eyes as a wave of dizziness swept over her. She pinched the bridge of her nose.

“Big Sister… are you okay?”

“I’m fine.” Hou Jingshu opened her eyes, smiled, and stroked between Yōuměi’s ears. “Sorry to worry you. I’m just a little tired.”

“You haven’t gotten much sleep,” said Yu Chenguang sternly. She flinched at the admonishment in his voice. “As our leader, you should be well-rested for tomorrow. I suggest you get some sleep.”

“I will,” Hou Jingshu said.

Gurgle.

Everyone stared at Hou Jingshu’s stomach. She tried to hide it by wrapping her arms around her waist, but it was no use.

“A-after I eat some food,” she said with a blush.

***

Morning soon arrived. Hou Jingshu woke up to the sounds of commander’s barking orders and something big, long, and wet licking her face. She grimaced as the object was dragged from her chin all the way to her forehead.

“Ugh… Yōuměi. Enough.”

She reached out, feeling the soft fur of her magical beast companion, and pushed the young panther back. After sitting up in bed, she wiped her face and opened her eyes to observe the dimly lit room. A pair of bright heterochromatic eyes were also there to greet her.

“Is it morning already?” she asked.

“Yeah. Uncle Yu asked me to wake you up,” said Yōuměi.

“I see. I guess I’ll freshen up then,” she murmured.

Hou Jingshu wiped her face with a wet rag inside of a bucket filled with water, then stripped her clothes and wiped down her body. She had only been wearing a thin nightgown. After cleaning off, she got dressed in a pink martial arts gi with gold accents, grabbed her spear, and stepped outside.

The light hitting her made Hou Jingshu squint. She needed a moment to adjust to the bright sun, but the moment she did, the vision of a bustling military encampment was presented before her. People were taking down tents, packing up supplies, and eating a quick breakfast. A pair of guards who stood outside her door saluted. She nodded back before quickly making her way to the commander’s tent.

“And I’m telling you I think this is a mistake!” shouting reached her ears second before she entered.

“Whether it is a mistake or not, it is not your job to give us our orders,” said Yu Chenguang with a mild but stern voice.

The clans leaders were all present. They silently watched a confrontation between Yu Chenguang and a red-faced Ching Yuon. She didn’t know what they were arguing about, but it was not a good sign that they were not unified mere hours before a battle.

“What is going on here?” asked Hou Jingshu.

“Your Highness,” Ching Yuon immediately turned to her and spoke before Yu Chenguang could even get a word out. “I have just recieved a report that Huo Yi of the Burning Flame Pavilion is not present within the incoming army. I believe they are aware that we plan to attack their supply line and have held him back. This battle is a mistake, and I believe we should now retreat and barricade ourselves with Shang Imperial Capital.”

“I see. I certainly understand your concerns. It is a well-established fact that an invading army’s supply line is their most important asset. It would make sense for them to hold someone strong back to protect it.”

“Then you will order a retreat?” asked a hopeful Ching Yuon.

Hou Jingshu smiled, but there was no mirth in it. “Tell me, what would happen if I were to order a retreat now?”

Ching Yuon was silent.

“You and I know what sort of ramifications we would suffer from. I would become the laughing stock for ordering our armies to mobilize, only to have us retreat.” Ching Yuon opened his mouth, but she raised a hand. “I don’t much care for my own reputation. Were that the only issue, I would not be so against retreating… but consider this. What would happen to our people if I ordered the retreat now and we were forced to fight inside of the capital? How many innocent people would die?”

Ching Yuon didn’t speak for the longest time. His expression scrunched up as he mulled over her words. Finally…

“We could activate the barrier…”

It was known as the Dragon’s Great Shield, and it was a mighty barrier capable of defending against even Realization Realm experts, but activating it required a key--and only the emperor knew where that key was. What’s more, while the barrier would prevent people from coming in, it also prevented them from going out. If they holed themselves up like a turtle, the three pavilions and Zhou Kingdom would take over the rest of their country while they risked starving to death.

“The barrier can only be activated by the current ruler, which is my father. You know this.”

Ching Yuon looked ready to argue, but then, quite suddenly, he exhaled a deep breath. “You… are correct. I retract my previous statement.”

“It is fine. You are only expressing your concern over our forces.” Hou Jingshu smiled, but then she set her face in a stern frown. She looked at the others. “Does anyone else have anything to add?” Everyone shook their heads. “Then let us head out and meet the enemy in battle.”

Hou Jingshu left with Li Hua, Liu Heifeng, and Yōuměi. She entered her room once more. Li Hua and Liu Heifeng went over to a chest located opposite the entrance and opened it, revealing stunning gold armor. It was the kind of lacquered armor used by soldiers of yore, before the era of cultivators, but it had been seen for the longest time as a symbol of authority, which is why soldiers in high positions still wore it. This armor was also high-grade spirit rank Profound Spirit Armor. It was capable of blocking at least a dozen blows from a Deva Realm cultivator.

The two women put it on as Yōuměi silently watched them.

“Big Sister, I still don’t understand what’s happening. Why are we being attacked?” she asked.

Hou Jingshu closed her eyes. “Because humans are greedy. They always want to ascend higher, to have more than they need, and some are willing to take from others what doesn’t belong to them.”

“Humans are bad,” Yōuměi said.

Hou Jingshu’s smile was mirthless. “Yes. Yes, they are.”

“But you’re good. And master is good. Elder Sister Xue is good too, thought she’s kinda scary. Uuuuuh. Yōuměi is very confused.”

Hou Jingshu smiled as the young panther pressed her head onto the ground and placed her paws over her head. It was endearing how innocent Yōuměi was, though this also made her feel guilty. Yōuměi might have been a magical beast, but she was still just a child. She did not want this pure and innocent young girl to be sullied with the horrors of war.

“Not every human is bad. Try not to think about it too much.”

“Okay!”

She shook her head. This girl really was naive.

“We’re all done, Your Highness,” said Li Hua.

“Thank you.”

She studied herself as the two woman stepped back. The armor was predominantly red, but there were golden dragons painted on the surface. It was majestic armor befitting a proud ruler. She felt it ill-fitted her. Hou Jingshu was no ruler. She was just a young woman trying to hold her nation together while her father was incapable of doing his job.