"Hahaha! Good… very good… You saved us from a disaster this time." Emperor Tai Zhao was overjoyed.
The monks he had sent Wang Yan to hunt down were the remnants of a small hundred-man force that had caught everyone off guard. They struck at the weakest part of the formation, broke through, and made their way toward the mountain. If they had been allowed to ascend Mount Hua, the time, date, and strategy for the attack would have been communicated to Shi Ming.
So it wasn't surprising that Emperor Tai Zhao was pleased with Wang Yan's success.
Following the emperor's signal, a military official approached Sol and handed him the note recovered from one of the monks he had killed. It was then passed to Emperor Tai Zhao, who read its contents under the watchful eyes of many, his brows knitting tighter with every passing second.
Hewwww!
Emperor Tai exhaled loudly, worry written clearly on his face. But it wasn't just him—everyone in the room wore heavy expressions. It seemed Sol's arrival had only brought temporary solace, which faded as quickly as it came.
As soon as the emperor set the letter aside, his mood plummeted and his troubled gaze fell upon the map. While everyone was moping, Sol stepped forward and stared at it. The figurines surrounding Mount Hua were encircled by several smaller figures representing monk forces. Slowly, his pupils dilated as realization dawned on him.
"The five-thousand-man force from the east is not the only army we have to worry about?" Sol asked, his voice oddly calm.
Yao Gao shook his head, brows furrowed, before responding. "The monks of Mount Hua have earned a reputation for keeping us here for three months. Because of that, our spies believe rebels are banding together with them to form an even larger army. If this deadlock does not break, we expect to be besieged from all sides soon."
What?!
Sol blinked in confusion, wondering if his memories were incomplete. Wang Yan knew nothing of this.
"We only received this news recently," Gao added, noticing his confusion.
Sol nodded and gently stroked his goatee. He finally understood why everyone was so grim despite his success.
"How long before their arrival?" he asked after a moment of contemplation.
"We estimate three weeks," Gao replied sharply.
Yao Gao briefed Sol on everything they had learned while he was away. While the Yao and Wang families were rivals, Yan and Gao had managed to maintain an amicable relationship filled with respect and admiration for each other's achievements. This was completely different from the life-and-death rivalry between their parents.
In this war, they were both serving as temporary generals due to a shortage of military officials, caused by the large-scale campaigns the empire was fighting on its borders. If everything went well, they would be officially promoted to generals and given command of ten thousand troops by the end of the campaign.
So why should they fight each other?
In fact, if it weren't for their long-standing family feud, they likely wouldn't mind becoming sworn brothers.
"I see," Sol murmured, nodding slowly.
Instinctively, his gaze shifted to his father. The old monster stood silent, staring ahead with an intensity that made it seem as if he were devising a plan—but Sol knew better. There was nothing going on in this man's head.
Wang Chong was an instinctive general, one who flowed with the wind and appeared wherever the flames were fiercest. He had never been the type to think ahead, leading his soldiers purely by intuition and gut feeling.
Sol then shifted his gaze to Yao Gong, who stared at the map as if it were his greatest enemy—and Sol knew why.
Retreat was not an option, especially with the emperor personally involved. Otherwise, Sol was certain this shrewd old fox would have already called for one. Yao Gong never fought battles he wasn't one hundred percent certain of winning.
"If Your Majesty would allow, this loyal subject has a plan to propose," Sol said, cupping his fists and bowing slightly. His words drew everyone's attention.
Emperor Tai Zhao, who had been lost in thought, was pulled back to reality. His surprised gaze fell on Sol, wondering when the Wang family had started using their brains instead of their fists. Still, no one else was offering a solution, so what choice did he have?
"Let's hear it," Emperor Tai Zhao said with an unenthusiastic nod, stroking his beard.
From the looks of it, he had already dismissed Sol's plan before hearing it, merely giving him face due to his position and recent contribution. In his mind, only members of the Yao family were capable of crafting a strategy to solve this crisis.
It wasn't just him. Everyone in the room gave Sol strange looks—including his father.
"A wise man once said, a fool charges the gate, while a wise man opens it," Sol began.
Emperor Tai Zhao's gaze sharpened slightly as he focused on Sol with renewed interest. He nodded, waiting for him to continue.
"If we cannot storm the mountain with an army," Sol continued, "shouldn't we send someone into the barrier and break it from within?"
Buzz!
A jolt ran through the room. Hearts trembled as everyone instinctively leaned toward Wang Yan, astonishment etched across their faces. If this young commander truly had a way to accomplish this, their predicament could take a complete turn.
"Easier said than done. Do you think I haven't entertained this thought?" Yao Gong scoffed, contempt flashing in his eyes.
If this son of a brute believed that he, Yao Gong, had not considered sneaking into Mount Hua to steal supplies or destroy the barrier, then he must be ignorant.
"Of course," Sol replied with a smile. "How could Great General Yao not consider this option?"
He acknowledged that the old fox must have thought of it and deemed it impossible.
"However," Sol continued confidently, "the situation is different now. The tragedy of the incoming holy army may be exactly what we need to step foot on Mount Hua."
Buzz!
Another wave of shock rippled through the room, all attention locked onto Sol.
"Yo—" Yao Gong began, only for Emperor Tai Zhao to raise a hand, silencing him.
The emperor stared deeply at Sol for several seconds before speaking.
"Tell me about this plan of yours."
…
Private Tent
Seated on a stool in nothing but his undergarments, Sol stared at his reflection in a glass mirror held up by a slave, while two others prepared and sterilized a razor.
Yes. A razor.
He was shaving his head.
To infiltrate Mount Hua, they would have to become monks.
Back in the war room, Sol had proposed gathering a small group of one hundred of his best soldiers, shaving their heads, dressing them in monk robes, and having them carry the same message. A few days later, the same scene would be recreated, with Jin forces striking them until they reached the foot of the mountain.
Given the situation, he predicted the monks would rescue them, and the letter warning of the incoming army would erase any suspicion.
Once inside, Sol planned to burn their supplies and assassinate Shi Ming. If they could seize the mountain before reinforcements arrived, they could use its terrain to crush the coalition of monks and rebels.
However, two conditions were necessary for this to succeed.
All hundred men accompanying him on this mission had to die to earn the monks' trust.
Sol's plan left everyone stunned—except Wang Chong, who stared at him like a man who had just received a negative DNA test result.
The Wang family was known for being upright, straightforward, and sincere. It was believed that only with a clean heart could one unleash their true potential. Watching his son devise such a ruthless, deceptive plan—one that involved sacrificing loyal soldiers—was unraveling.
He was witnessing a side of his son he had never known existed.
Of course, it didn't bother Sol. He would be leaving this world soon anyway. That was why he had volunteered to carry out the task himself.
The second condition was realism. The warrior monks were stationed atop a mountain with a clear view of the battlefield. If anything appeared staged, they would notice, and Sol would be walking into his death.
The only solution was to shift the battlefield south. The commanders stationed there were aware of the plan but ordered to keep it from their men. Sol's attempt to break through their lines had to be genuine, though they were expected to make tactical "mistakes" that would give him the opening he needed.
The problem was that the southern troops belonged to Yao Gong's detachment.
While Yao Gong had agreed to the plan, he could easily exploit this chance to eliminate the Wang clan's heir.
Killing Wang Yan would remove his son's greatest rival. It would secure his family's future—so why wouldn't he consider it?
If Wang Yan died, Yao Gong could dispose of the body, and everyone would assume he fell during the mission.
'Everyone will commit murder if given a chance free of consequences,' Sol acknowledged calmly.
Politics, intrigue, betrayal—this was a refreshing change from his old, suffocating life.
How could excitement frighten a man who had already died of boredom a thousand times?
Staring at Wang Yan's reflection, Sol gently ran his fingers through the long black hair flowing to his waist. Long hair wasn't a thing in his era, so he had never known its appeal until now. Thankfully, Wang Yan's features were soft, much like his own.
Watching the hair frame his face, Sol couldn't help but wonder what it would look like on his real body.
'Tsk, tsk. What a pity I won't get to enjoy this beyond tonight. I wonder how long it'll take mine to grow out,' he sighed inwardly.
Apart from commanding five thousand lives, his hair was the second best thing he had going for him.
"Alright," Sol said with a laugh. "Let's get to work, people. That mountain won't climb itself."
Life was about to get far more exciting.