Every eye turned to Xiao Yanxi. The Great Beginning Pavilion's intelligence really was something.

Ning Chen thought for a moment. "What are this woman's weaknesses?"

Xiao Yanxi smiled faintly and said softly, "She craves power and money."

Something flickered in Ning Chen's eyes. "She's only a woman, after all. Does she even have a say in military and state affairs?"

Xiao Yanxi said, "You may not know this, but Yunniang is Zhang Tianlun's great favorite right now... Holding Kang Xiao and the forty thousand Nanyue troops was her suggestion to him.

She's very clever, and she knows how to work people. If our army bears down on the city, she ought to see clearly that Zhang Tianlun is no match for you. She'll know which side to choose."

Ning Chen thought for a while. "Have your people find a way to get in touch with this Yunniang and ask if she's willing to work with us... Once it's done, she'll be offered fifty thousand taels of gold and a hundred thousand taels of silver. And if she wants to hold office, this prince can recommend her for a post at court too.

Tell her she'll be the first woman official in the Great Xuan's history."

Xiao Yanxi gave a slight nod. "All right... And what do we need her to do for us?"

Ning Chen waved a hand. "Nothing for now. First let's see if she's willing to work with us."

"Got it. I'll send someone to contact her."

Ning Chen said, "All right, everyone go get some rest... The army moves out in four hours."

"Yes, sir!"

Yuan Long and the others saluted and withdrew.

Xiao Yanxi went over to make Ning Chen's bed. There wasn't really much to make. Conditions on the march were limited, and even though Ning Chen was the commander in chief, all he had was a plank bed, with bedding a little cleaner than the soldiers'.

"Ning, dear, you're wounded. Get some rest while you can."

Ning Chen murmured an answer. He looked at Xiao Yanxi. "Little Xixi, if one day I just disappeared,…