Chapter 4: General Yang Gao

    No soldier uttered a sound. In the center of the vast courtyard stood a general who, with a single command, could mobilize hundreds of thousands, now radiating dignity. Yan Shen took control on the left, Yan Shijin on the right, while Yan Sanqi flicked his neck fiercely, his palms spread like the claws of a dragon. The three Celestial Generals of Yan were all focused on a beautiful, slender woman.

    "Third Brother, you're closest to Hua'er. You should stop her."

    Yan Shen could not sit still. He was visibly restless and irritable. Yan Shijin, standing nearby with crossed arms, appeared indifferent and even bored. If it were a real battle, Chen Taohua might not be the strongest, but when it came to cunning and strategy, no one could surpass this peach blossom.

    "Big brother, do you remember the battle four years ago?"

    "The battle of Danyong City? You led merely three hundred troops to drive away ten thousand from Li. That was your great feat."

    "Yes... but you might not know who my advisor was."

    "Who was it?"

    "It was Hua'er."

    Yan Shen looked puzzled before turning to examine his sister more closely. Chen Taohua had changed into a tight-fitting combat suit, warming up in front of her giant brother, making her seem even smaller and more fragile. Yan Sanqi, though he displayed the aura of a great general to intimidate, deep down he was concerned for his sister, worried that excessive force might harm her. He chose to fight unarmed, and the delicate figure also rejected sharp spears or swords, wearing only gloves woven from gold-mixed thread.

    "You can still change your mind, Hua'er."

    "If I were afraid of failure, I would have confined myself to the palace, Second Brother. There's no need to worry. You were the one who taught me to fight. You should know my capabilities better than anyone."

    Yan Sanqi shook his head. "A student who thinks to harm their teacher. That's not acceptable."

    "Second Brother is being too harsh. I call it aspiration, a desire to excel. If I cannot get past you, how can the soldiers willingly follow my commands?"

    "It's time," Yan Shen signaled, indicating to his second brother with a look that he should knock her out but not do anything severe.

    "Begin."

    As the signal to start was given, Yan Sanqi intended to grab his sister quickly to end the duel swiftly. However, the delicate figure vanished from his sight.

    "Up there!"

    Yan Shen shouted too late. Chen Taohua is seemingly delicate and frail, but dangerous. She leaped high and swooped down to attack, her beautiful face barely concealing a smirk as she flicked pebbles at her brother's shoulders with quick, forceful strikes. The towering figure tried to capture Chen Taohua not only failed to catch her, but he was also left with injuries on his shoulders.

    "With just that much strength, after a day and night on horseback, you'd be exhausted. What could you possibly accomplish?" Yan Sanqi shook his head, indicating that her attacks meant little.

    "Real warriors don't talk much. Stop complaining."

    Chen Taohua, upon landing, stood solidly, playfully waving her hands as if summoning a kitten. The second brother then marched forward with heavy steps, aiming to grab and bind this peach blossom then sent her back to the palace. The slender figure dodged away, utilizing her agility. Her arms hardened into blades, slashing fiercely at her brother's neck and waist. Chen Taohua, graceful as if in a dance, circled him, repeatedly striking the same vulnerable spot.

    Chen Taohua intensified her attacks on her brother, but as time passed, the young woman's strength waned. Sweat dampened her hair, and her breathing became noticeably heavy.

    "War is no child's play. Stop messing around and get serious, Hua'er," Yan Sanqi, was not only unmoved but also remained stationary from the start. The girl's face turned anxious, her lips pressed tightly as she dodged her brother's powerful strikes. Yan Sanqi's arm movements seemed sloppy, but he actually timed his counterattacks precisely, landing a solid blow to the woman's abdomen.

    "Oof..."

    The tremendous force sent the slight figure reeling back several steps before she could regain her footing. Yan Sanqi did not pursue, allowing his sister to catch her breath, teaching her to realize just how fragile she was.

    "Real combat on horseback is hundreds, thousands of times more brutal. If this is all the skill you have, you might as well go back to needlework and strumming the zither as before."

    Yan Sanqi exerted the full pressure of a great general, overwhelming her, but she remained composed and suddenly lunged at her brother.

    "Hua'er is finally serious, but it's still not good enough," observed Yan Shen, who himself was a general. His sharp eyes could see through Chen Taohua’s movement. "The movements are fast but lack strength. This makes it clear she can't fight in real battles."

    "Her skills may indeed be decades behind Second Brother's, but I give her points for effort. How can a woman be expected to have the strength of a giant like Second Brother?"

    "Losing is losing. No matter what excuses she might have, I won't accept them."

    Yan Shen watched the duel, which clearly seemed decided. However, Yan Shijin chuckled softly and leaned to whisper, his face revealed a sly expression.

    "She doesn't need to break a sweat on the battlefield. Just planning inside the tent is enough to bring down cities."

    "Let her get past Second Brother first. Otherwise, there's no need to discuss this. Look... it's about to end."

    "Yes... it's nearly over."

    Yan Shijin was tossing a wolf-shaped piece on the war planning board. Li Xuanlong, Li Xuanlong... do you even know that a beautiful woman has been putting her heart and soul for a decade just to kick your butt?

    "Su Jian, prepare to help the princess."

    Yan Shen's face brightened as he gave orders to his sister's closest aide, while Yan Shijin, not bothering to watch anymore since he knew the outcome, took a swig of alcohol. Su Jian moved to follow the elder prince's order, but the third prince spread his arms to stop her, nodding for his older brother to watch the outcome unfold anew.

    "The verdict is in."

    Chen Taohua rolled down and then stood up valiantly, her hands clasped in a salute of gratitude. Yan Sanqi raised his eyebrows in surprise, about to ask if she was conceding when he suddenly realized a thin wire, as thin as a hair, had been wrapped around his neck at some unknown point. If she had pulled, the resilient wire could have sliced even through a horse bone.

    "Second Brother, you've lost," Yan Shijin laughed as he tossed a jar of liquor to the second brother. He had watched the fight from the start, seeing Chen Taohua cleverly flick pebbles at her brother's sturdy shoulders to mask her real intent. Next, she distracted him with continuous palm strikes, while her real goal was to wrap the wire around his neck subtly and quickly, without letting Yan Sanqi notice. She even staged a facade of struggling to deceive him, a truly cunning move.

    "I won't accept it." The towering figure threw the liquor. He unwound the wire and flung it aside, his face fierce.

    "Losing is losing. Even if you didn't retaliate, you've lost. I hope, Second Brother, you won't go back on your word," Chen Taohua slowly wound the wire back, leaving Yan Sanqi speechless and visibly annoyed. Her eyes sparkled with satisfaction that after ten years, she could finally confront her old grievance. But it was Yan Shen who would make the final decision.

    "Do you insist on going no matter what?"

    "Yes, I will follow Second Brother as a deputy general. Li Xuanlong is mine."

    "How can a lady speak like this?! Where is it acceptable for you to brazenly claim a man as yours?" The towering figure frowned deeply, his sharp-featured face as stern as Yan Sanqi's, but Chen Taohua was undeterred. Her eyes were resolute, fixed on her goal ever since that man had thrown her off his horse.

    "Big Brother has been granted military authority by our father. As for me... Princess Yong’an of Yan, I am ready to serve our region until my last breath." The slight figure took a step forward and knelt, bowing formally. This only infuriated Yan Shen more, turning his face green as his sister tied his hands. He said nothing, and Yan Sanqi could not intervene.

    "Hmph!"

    Yan Shen turned his back without a word of acknowledgment or denial. Chen Taohua did not lift her head, her eyes fixed on a pebble on the ground as if analyzing every detail. Her hope rested solely on Yan Shen; if Big Brother did not permit it, she could not defy his command. She now focused on waiting for an answer, her hands chilling to the bone.

    "Since the beginning, I have cared for you like a delicate egg, Hua'er... War is dangerous."

    The tall figure stepped in front of his sister, casting a shadow that blocked the blazing sun. As Chen Taohua looked up, Yan Shen put a helmet on her head. It was much too large, slipping down to her nose. She adjusted it and then looked up with a broad smile.

    "Thank you, Big Brother."

    "I have kept you safe, but it seems the warrior blood in you has decided to break out of its shell," the tall figure breathes in deeply. "Honestly, I'm afraid of being the one to send you to your death. So... if I do not permit it, you are forbidden to die."

    "I won't go easy on you."

    Yan Sanqi walked heavily over and slumped down beside her, clearly annoyed. "From now on, I am your commander. If you dare to disobey orders or break the rules, I'll discipline you just like any other officer."

    "Thank you, Big Brother. Thank you, Second Brother. Thanks for sparing me, I love you both," Chen Taohua hugged each brother in turn. Yan Sanqi then thumped her head lightly.

    "Where else would a subordinate hug their superior like this? Go, go on, go back and prepare. We march at dawn tomorrow."

    "Aren't you going to petition Father first? Hua'er needs an commission seal from Father to have the authority to lead troops." Yan Shijin's interjection caused all four siblings to exchange looks and shake their heads, especially Yan Shen, who appeared most troubled as the eldest, unable to shirk responsibility. Did not know what she was thinking, Chen Taohua seemed about to pull out a painted green pebble but was stopped by Second Brother, who seized and threw it away, glaring at her reproachfully.

    "If we tell him, we will surely be beheaded."

    "I thought so too," the three brothers grimly nodded in agreement before Yan Shijin tossed a deputy general's badge to his sister, standing with arms crossed and his trusty halberd by his side. Just imagining his little sister, small as a kitten, chasing after Prince Li Xuanlong to kick his butt, Yan Shijin made a twisted face.

    "How will you handle that man?"

    Chen Taohua had long pondered this question. She touched her red lips playfully, a gesture she rarely made. "For ten years, I've studied the war records between our region and Li. I've learned his tactics inside out. I certainly have a way to kick his butt."

    "Hua'er, don't be reckless. From now on, the only one who can help you on the battlefield is yourself. The outside world doesn't have your brothers to protect you. Li Xuanlong is a cautious commander. No matter how tempting the bait, he never gets too close. Especially if you show any signs of agitation, he'll be even more relaxed. Whatever you do, remember to be cautious. Don't chase him too far, or you might be the one ambushed... Make sure you come back alive."

    Yan Shijin tapped his sister's helmet.

    "No matter your skills or intelligence, if you act carelessly, you might as well prepare your own grave. Only a few generals are truly favored by the heavens. I hope you're one of them."

    "Thank you, I'll remember that," the slight figure reflected on her brother's words, then rolled her eyes... What exactly does a 'favored general' mean?

    While they were discussing military plans, Yan Shen remained visibly anxious, "If news spreads that Princess Yong’an is leading the troops, Hua'er will become a target. I don't want the enemy to take advantage of this, so Hua'er must disguise her identity."

    "What name should we use, Big Brother?" Yan Sanqi pondered.

    "Given her small stature, she won't intimidate anyone; at best, she'd be as annoying as a mosquito. I'll lend her an old set of armor to deceive our enemies. Let her get used to the weight."

    "That's a good idea," agreed Yan Shen, planning for Chen Taohua to serve merely as a military symbol, not to actually enter the battlefield. Yan Sanqi agreed, and they began to discuss as if they were big figures dressed up as dolls.

    "You, arrange for Hua’er to stay in a tent, guard her well. But, what about when she manages the troops? With her sweet face, she'd be easily targeted. What should we do?"

    "My men won't dare; if that little troublemaker doesn't command respect from the soldiers, I can't help."

    "I don't trust it. If those Li dogs see Hua'er's beauty and something untoward happens, what then?" Yan Shen was mostly worried about this; soldiers long on the battlefield without release are like wild animals, and he dreaded to imagine what could happen if a beautiful woman roamed freely among them.

    "Didn't Big Brother buy an old man mask from the festival last month for her? That should work. Have her wear it all the time and give her a new name too."

    "Hmm, hmm, Su Jian! Don't forget to bring that mask."

    "Yes, First Prince," Su Jian rolled her eyes, watching the two princes huddle together brainstorming a name, while Chen Taohua had walked away, picking out a horse for a long time already. Su Jian tried to interject but couldn't find the right moment.

    "How about... Lanhu, a fierce tiger that sounds formidable? Or maybe Weijing, which sounds strong."

    "First Prince, Second Prince, the Princess has already named herself this morning."

    "What is it?"

    "Deputy General Yang Gao[1], it's cute," Su Jian grinned broadly. Yan Shen heard this and exchanged a glance with his brother, both holding their foreheads in pain. Such a silly choice!

[1] 羊羔 Yanggao means lamb.