Cheers surged through the entire army like a tide, and cries of joy rang down the whole long street.
The reward of over ten thousand taels of gold had utterly swept away the senses of the ordinary soldiers.
In the eyes of these low-ranking troops, there were rewards to claim and a benevolent lord to follow.
That was already a heaven-sent blessing. No one bothered to probe the oddities behind it.
Yet in a corner of the clamorous, boiling army formation,
several figures in scholars' long robes and captains' fitted uniforms quietly gathered in a secluded alley.
At their head was Wu Yong, the army strategist who had marched with the force. He had long overseen military documents, assessed situations, and planned with meticulous care. He was especially skilled at noticing the slightest clue and distinguishing the finest details.
His brows were tightly furrowed, his expression grave as he stared at the jubilant army and muttered in a low voice,
"Something is wrong. From beginning to end, this matter has been strange at every turn!"
The three captains in charge of the formations gathered around him, each wearing a puzzled expression.
One middle-aged captain said in a deep voice,
"Strategist, I also think this is absurd."
"The Great Yin imperial lineage is clearly documented. Every prince throughout history has records on file, and both court and countryside know of them. Never have we heard of some prince living in seclusion and wandering off to the borderlands!"
Another captain nodded in agreement.
"Exactly! What kind of place is Gaoye City?"
"It is a bitter land on the frontier, plagued by war, bandits without end, and unrest that never ceases!"
"A royal dragon son, an heir of the Nine-Five Throne, abandoning the splendor of the capital to hide in a border city