Early the next morning.

Ning Chen's army of a hundred and ten thousand cut straight through Wangyue City and headed for Qimu City.

Jin Dongxing stood on the city wall and watched the army go.

"Your Highness the crown prince, this subordinate doesn't understand. Whether the Great Xuan wins or loses this time, Nanyue's going to blame our Gaoli Kingdom for it.

We don't stand to gain a thing from it, so why lend Ning Chen passage?"

Jin Dongxing's trusted man couldn't make sense of it.

Jin Dongxing glanced at him and smiled. "Because we can afford to offend Nanyue, but we can't afford to offend the Great Xuan. Or to be exact, we can't afford to offend Ning Chen."

His trusted man still looked lost.

Jin Dongxing explained, "We've clashed with Nanyue over and over these past years, and we've always held out.

But if we ever clashed with the Great Xuan, holding out would be hard.

A man like Ning Chen... if you can't make him your friend, you'd better not make him your enemy.

We lend the Great Xuan passage, and if Nanyue comes after us, we can ask the Great Xuan for help... A great power has to act like one. They'll come to our aid.

So letting them through does us more good than harm.

Most important of all, after this war, I doubt Nanyue will be in any shape to make trouble for our Gaoli Kingdom."

The man nodded, only half understanding.

Ning Chen pushed on at a forced march.

Seven days later, the army made camp to rest.

Ning Chen was in his tent, going over the map.

Yuan Long was outside, asking to see him.

"Come in!"

The tent flap lifted, and Yuan Long strode in and bowed. "Greetings, my lord prince!"

"No need for ceremony. You need me for something?"

Yuan Long nodded. "Our men have spotted Nanyue scouts."

Ning Chen frowned, startled. "We're still two days out from Qimu City. Why would Nanyue send scouts this far?

Don't tell me they're onto us."

Yuan Long shook his head. "This subordinate…