Xianyang's Dragon's Fury Urges the Cavalry, Ten Thousand Miles of Thunder Heads to Suanzao

In the rear hall of the county office, the candle flame was no bigger than a bean.

A rough map of Sour Jujube County lay spread across the desk. Gongsun Manor, east of the county, had been circled with a large red cross, beside which were written the words: "Destroyed."

Meanwhile, Li Family Stockade to the west still loomed there, unchanged from before.

Wang Ji stood before the map with his hands behind his back, his round eyes narrowed slightly as his fingertips unconsciously tapped the shaft of the spear at his waist.

His voice was low, carrying a rare note of gravity. "Li Hengdao."

"Formerly a Vice General in the Wei Army. His stockade is built like a military fortress—watchtowers, moats, chevaux-de-frise, everything is in place.

"The most troublesome part is that Repeating Crossbow unit.

"More than thirty men, all former routed Wei soldiers. They are well drilled, and if they fire together, they can blanket an area thirty paces wide.

"If we force our way in, with the divine weapon in my hand, I may not fear him. But as a Thunder Wielding Envoy carrying out a pilot assignment, if I lose men—or even suffer defeat—on my very first task, how am I to answer to the Marquis, or to the King?"

Zhang Shen sat beside the desk, his lean fingers sorting a stack of newly drafted land deeds into categories.

Without raising his head, he spoke in his usual calm voice. "Brother Wang is right.

"Gongsun Du came from a family of civil officials. He cherished his life and had no armor; one blow was enough to scatter him.

"Li Hengdao, however, is a fighting man. He has turned his manor into a military camp, formed a Repeating Crossbow unit, and after what happened today, he will