Is Cross-dressing Also Common Sense?

When asked why they wanted to assassinate Dong Heng, Yin Yinyin changed the subject and began talking about current events:

"The lockdown will last two days at most."

Hearing Yin Yinyin's confident assessment, Le Yu couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. "You're so sure? Our Statistics Department thinks this is a prelude to war, and that the lockdown might last until either Ding Yi or Lu Zhong is defeated."

"Impossible." Yin Yinyin scoffed. "Do you think war is something they can just start whenever they feel like it? The Morning Wind District hasn't had internal strife in nearly a century. Do you think it's that easy to raise a butcher's knife against your own countrymen?"

Seeing Le Yu's bewildered expression, like that of a three-year-old, Yin Yinyin had no choice but to pull out a small notebook and educate him. "What determines whether war breaks out now has nothing to do with Ding Yi or Lu Zhong, or even the interest groups behind them. It's up to the Coastal Army."

"The Coastal Army has a history of several hundred years since its creation. It's naturally rife with internal factions and a chaotic web of interests. However, based on the three coastal defense lines, it can roughly be divided into three camps: Sun Coast, Swallow's Nest, and Sirius Lighthouse."

"In the past, the garrisons of the three defense lines would rotate, but after new extinction weapons like the Annihilation Cannon and Light Crossbow were fully installed, the cost of friction during rotations significantly increased. The rotation mechanism was completely abandoned over a decade ago, and the three garrisons have become deeply entrenched in their respective defense lines."

"Geography creates positions, positions create divisions, and divisions lead to opposition."

"Unequal distribution of supplies and friction during military exercises gradually split the Coastal Army into three groups."

"Furthermore, Ding Yi, as the Prefect of Star Engraving Prefecture, deliberately courted the Sun Coast faction of the Coastal Army, prioritizing their supplies. This further exacerbated the friction within the Coastal Army. Lu Zhong's appointment as Magistrate came later. He resolutely chose to use the entire district's power to support Swallow's Nest and Sirius Lighthouse, which resulted in the Coastal Army splitting into Lu Zhong's camp and Ding Yi's camp."

"It must be said, while both Lu Zhong and Ding Yi are trash, their political instincts are quite sharp. If they had tried to win over the entire Coastal Army, the Coastal Army would have simply taken advantage without taking sides. Only by winning over one side and suppressing the other could they gain the loyalty of a portion of the Coastal Army."

"However," Yin Yinyin closed the notebook, "humans aren't just animals driven by their positions and interests."

"Opposing positions don't mean they can act ruthlessly against those they once fought alongside. They are all Morning Wind people, all Coastal Army. Minor squabbles are fine, but if they were ordered to attack their comrades, a portion of the middle and lower-level officers would desert, and more would flee after the battle. As for attacking the city, that's wishful thinking—many Coastal Army members have families living in Star Engraving Prefecture. How could they possibly attack the city?"

"Even ignoring the threat of the Sea Barbarians, aren't Lu Zhong and Ding Yi worried that a drastic weakening of the Coastal Army's strength would invite covetousness from nearby East Sun and Azure?"

"Negotiation and compromise, or a palace coup, are the only ways for the Morning Wind District to unify. War simply cannot break out. They cannot fight, dare not fight, and do not want to fight!"

In simple terms, it was like two gang bosses in a standoff, neither wanting to waste their subordinates, but both wanting to take over the other's territory… Le Yu understood immediately, nodding. "Since they don't want to fight, why did Ding Yi impose a lockdown?"

"A sponge soaked with water needs to be squeezed to release it," Yin Yinyin said gleefully. "Do you think the lockdown affects the common people? No, the most severely affected by the lockdown are the properties of the nobles and wealthy merchants."

"The common people have only been restless for these two days, but the nobles are losing real money!"

"The lockdown, externally, is to deter Lu Zhong and prevent him from acting rashly. Internally, it's to plunder military funds, forcing the nobles, who are unwillingly tied to Ding Yi's war chariot, to contribute everything they have. It's also to let your Statistics Department clear out Lu Zhong's pawns in Star Engraving Prefecture. By locking down the city for two days, Ding Yi can achieve all his objectives, and naturally, he can lift the lockdown."

Le Yu asked, "Then why exactly are we killing Dong Heng?"

Yin Yinyin explained, "Currently, the City Defense Department in Star Engraving Prefecture is a subordinate department of the Judicial Department. With Dong Heng dead, Ding Yi has no one else capable under him, so he has only two choices: promote an officer from the City Defense Department to be in charge of defense; let the Judicial Department continue to be in charge of defense; or let the Statistics Department be in charge of defense."

"No matter what Ding Yi chooses, our White Night will be able to control at least a portion of Star Engraving Prefecture's city defense. Moreover, killing Dong Heng now, Ding Yi will only think it's Lu Zhong's retaliation and won't link it to White Night."

Le Yu suddenly realized, "A White Night branch has been established? We have people in the Statistics Department, Judicial Department, and City Defense Department?"

Yin Yinyin said expressionlessly, "As an undercover agent who could fall into enemy hands at any time, not inquiring about other covert agents' information is common sense and professional ethics. If it happens again, I will suspect you've been bought by the enemy as a double agent, intentionally stealing our intelligence."

"Alright, alright," Le Yu shrugged. "But what's the point of us controlling the city defense? Smuggling?"

"Sort of, but the goods are quite special."

"What goods?"

"Firearms."

Le Yu blinked. Firearms?

Yin Yinyin flipped through the notebook, pondering for a moment before saying, "This much I don't need to hide from you… When the time is right, we will launch a coup, assassinate Ding Yi, and use Star Engraving Prefecture as our base to initiate reforms. The firearms, unrestrained by Radiant Certification, are prepared precisely for this."

Le Yu was shocked. "Ding Yi will be dead, but there's still Lu Zhong!"

"He will also die, but the difference is, we already have a suitable replacement for Ding Yi. According to Huiyao law, after the Prefect dies, the highest-ranking official in the remaining administrative departments can temporarily act as Prefect. However, the Magistrate is appointed by the imperial court and cannot be replaced."

"But that's enough." Yin Yinyin pulled out a map of the Morning Wind District. "Once Lu Zhong and Ding Yi are dead, the other eight prefectures in Morning Wind will certainly become disloyal and act independently. Meanwhile, our White Night can integrate Star Engraving Prefecture without interference, and then, depending on the situation, seize the opportunity to subdue the other eight prefectures and the Coastal Army."

Le Yu swallowed hard. "That's too exciting… So most of White Night's combat power will come to the Morning Wind District? But why must Star Engraving Prefecture be chosen as the base?"

"In terms of combat power, the Coastal Army ranks among the top three strongest armies in the world; in terms of economy, Morning Wind's maritime trade is developed; in terms of prosperity, Morning Wind's three harvests are the most fertile in the world. As long as our White Night can unify the Morning Wind District, it will be a solid step towards liberating the entire Huiyao."

Yin Yinyin glanced at Le Yu, seemingly too lazy to say, 'This is also common knowledge.'

Le Yu was already used to Yin Yinyin's gaze, but given Yin Yinyin's rather effeminate appearance, Le Yu had already come to view them as a tsundere. "So, when do you think this 'time is right' will be?"

"Within ten days."

Le Yu blinked. "That's too fast… Wait, if you launch it within ten days, are you confident you can control Star Engraving Prefecture?"

Yin Yinyin said nothing, simply closing the notebook.

Le Yu blinked, then nodded thoughtfully. "It seems there are far more White Night Walkers in Star Engraving Prefecture than I imagined… I thought our White Night was just some whimsical little organization."

"Why do you say that?"

"Think about it, it's about Accumulated Mistakes, pursuing fairness and justice, emphasizing the greater good while preserving the smaller picture… Humans aren't saints; most people just want to be superior, abuse their power for personal gain, and monopolize benefits. However, joining White Night not only forfeits this power, but if you make a mistake, old scores can even be brought up. For such a ridiculous organization, I thought only young students would join purely out of passion, like Qian Yuliu… which is me."

Yin Yinyin looked at Le Yu, thought for a moment, and then said:

"Suppose, at the end of the world, there exists a magical kingdom where the people are law-abiding and polite, where the government serves the people efficiently, where laborers are neither high nor low, where students can receive the best education, where everyone has a bright future, where the old are cared for and the young are nurtured, where there is great harmony, and everyone is proud to be a part of it… Would you want to visit that kingdom?"

"Yes."

"But the journey to that kingdom is very long, not only involving storms, but even sea monster attacks. No one has ever successfully reached that kingdom before; the journey is truly a matter of nine deaths, or even ten deaths, to one life. Would you still want to go?"

"No. And you said no one has ever reached that kingdom, so how do you know such a kingdom exists?"

Yin Yinyin smiled faintly, then suddenly changed the subject. "Do you think justice is a concept created by humans, or an objectively existing law?"

Le Yu blinked, falling into thought. "This…"

"You stubborn tsundere," Yin Yinyin sighed. "Don't you ever feel like some things in your daily life aren't fair, just, or reasonable?"

Le Yu scoffed. "What kind of person do you take me for? I'm a Statistics Department agent, and my job is to create injustice, unfairness, and unreasonableness."

"Then in your mind, there must be a more just, fair, and reasonable way to handle everything, right?" Yin Yinyin asked. "Otherwise, your definition of 'injustice' is meaningless. So, is your idea of 'justice' something you created artificially, or does it exist objectively?"

Before Le Yu could answer, Yin Yinyin answered for themself. "Justice is a concept created collectively by every member of society, and therefore an objectively existing principle."

"That nation, it's like justice. When we look at Huiyao, we see a country where nobles are superior, the government treats human lives like dirt, and the powerful exploit the common people."

"So, in contrast to the current Huiyao, there must exist a nation where everyone is equal regardless of status, where the government cherishes its people like children, and where public power serves the populace."

"Even if we can't see it or touch it, it must exist in the future."

"That's why," Yin Yinyin said, "do you now understand why there are so many White Night Walkers?"

"Longing for that nation is our natural inclination. When the first person steps forward, there will be a second, a third—craftsmen to build ships, warriors to ensure safety, helmsmen to steer vessels, enforcers to maintain discipline, entertainers to lighten the mood… Ship after ship will set sail, and everyone will press forward, sailing towards that nation."

"In this process, pioneers are destined to face countless dangers: natural disasters from the outside, man-made calamities from within, suspicions from others… But we will ultimately discover a viable route, leading everyone to a new world."

Le Yu suddenly had a thought and asked, "What if… some of those high-and-mighty vested interests don't want to go to your so-called nation?"

"Those people, along with the old ship of Huiyao, with its clear hierarchy of lords and vassals, will become fuel for the new era." Yin Yinyin slammed their fist down on the map of Star Engraving Prefecture.

"Star Engraving Prefecture is our White Night's first ship."

Le Yu stared at the map for a long time before slowly asking, "When do we make our move?"

Yin Yinyin pulled out a pocket watch and checked it. "Thirteen minutes left."

"What?"

"Now there are only twelve minutes left. Change your clothes, prepare for action."

Le Yu looked shocked. "Today? So soon?!"

"Do you think an assassination is like hosting a dinner party, where you need to pick an auspicious date?" Yin Yinyin opened a box. "Killing should be done quickly, like cutting through tangled threads with a sharp knife. I've prepared your clothes."

Two sets of clothes were tossed onto the bed in the basement. One was a deep black men's silk suit, feeling high-end and elegant to the touch, and the other…

Le Yu picked up the other set of clothes, looking at Yin Yinyin with a puzzled expression.

Yin Yinyin looked at Le Yu with an expression like they were looking at an idiot. "Dong Heng lives in the rich district. We can't just cover our faces and blend in. Disguise is basic common sense when conducting espionage."

"I understand the principle," Le Yu said, holding up a shirt and a skirt. "But why did you bring out a white off-the-shoulder shirt and a light pink pleated skirt?"