A Mob

Dongfang Mao's actions at this moment caused the shame and indignation in Tsunade's heart to surge, instantly overriding her previous unease and helplessness.

She swatted away the hand that was causing trouble behind her, then glared fiercely at Dongfang Mao.

"You brat, every time you see me, you're all hands. You really have no sense of propriety! Do you even realize that, in a certain sense, I'm still your elder?"

However, Dongfang Mao merely licked his lips, as if savoring the lingering fragrance from Tsunade's lips, before replying.

"Doesn't that just prove that you have infinite charm, Sister Tsunade, making it impossible for me to hold back and keep from breaking the taboo?"

"Pah, taboo my foot. Our blood relation is distant enough as it is; otherwise, do you think I'd let you act so recklessly?"

Tsunade retorted with a hint of agitation, reaching out to pinch Dongfang Mao's cheek.

At this point, the relationship between the two was already an open secret; aside from not having taken the final step, they were practically no different from lovers.

Tsunade was particularly sensitive about this distinction, terrified that any potential misunderstanding might become an obstacle standing between them.

"Just kidding. Alright, Sister Tsunade, the Rice Field Army has almost arrived. I need to head to the city walls."

Dongfang Mao gave Tsunade another tight hug before turning to leave.

Unexpectedly, just as he turned, Tsunade suddenly grabbed his wrist.

Looking back, he saw that Tsunade's cheeks were flushed crimson. After struggling for a moment, she spoke in a voice as soft and shy as a mosquito's buzz.

"You... you must come back safely. After you return... I... I'll agree to that request of yours from before..."

Dongfang Mao was stunned at first, not immediately grasping what Tsunade was referring to.

But then, recalling something, his eyes widened, and he said in disbelief.

"Sister Tsunade, you're agreeing to use the Shadow Clone?"

However, upon hearing Dongfang Mao's shout, the shy expression on Tsunade's face vanished instantly, replaced by a dark scowl. She delivered a fierce hand-chop to his forehead and gritted her teeth.

"Just keep it to yourself! Can you not shout it so loudly!"

"Hehe..."

Dongfang Mao rubbed his head and gave a dry laugh, but then his eyes darted around. After a moment of thought, he couldn't help but confirm with Tsunade once more.

"Sister Tsunade, did you mean the Shadow Clone or the Multiple Shadow Clone? If it's just a Shadow Clone, won't it be a bit fragile? Not very durable, right?"

"Get lost!"

Tsunade's face flushed red as she let out a sudden roar. Dongfang Mao felt a biting murderous intent and was so frightened that he took to his heels and ran.

Watching Dongfang Mao's fleeing back, Tsunade felt both angry and amused.

But once his figure completely disappeared from her sight, the expression on Tsunade's face softened slightly. She stood where she was, lost in silence.

Although Dongfang Mao's antics had eased the heavy emotions in her heart, she still felt deeply troubled by her current situation.

Not needing help and being unable to help were two completely different concepts.

She had finally begun to face the hemophobia that clung to her like a maggot on a tarsal bone.

"Perhaps... that guy might be able to help?"

Tsunade murmured, a figure with a lean build, pale complexion, and heavy eyeshadow appearing in her mind.

Dongfang Mao had already stepped onto the south city wall. At this moment, all the cannons along the walkway were in position.

The soldiers of the Divine Machine Battalion stood by their artillery, ready for battle.

In addition, 500 crossbowmen stood poised and ready, each with a solemn and grave expression.

Seeing such high morale, Dongfang Mao couldn't help but nod in approval.

He then cast his gaze outside the city, watching as the Rice Field Army approached slowly in a vast, swarming mass, like a long dragon.

However, the sharp-eyed Dongfang Mao suddenly noticed something: why was this Rice Field Army marching in such a crooked, disorganized fashion?

They looked imposing in number, yet they lacked even a shred of momentum.

Anyone who didn't know better would think they were some ragtag militia.

Are they trying to bluff me? Or is this Rice Field Army just a bunch of clowns?

For a moment, a wave of confusion rose in Dongfang Mao's heart.

On the other side, the army of the Land of Rice Fields set up camp right under Dongfang Mao's puzzled gaze.

Inside the main command tent, the general Kojiro stared at the walls of Tsukimiura. The black and red "New Martial" banners stood tall, snapping in the wind, and an aura of slaughter pressed in from the distance.

A flicker of unease crossed his heart; he feared this pacification campaign would not go as smoothly as he had anticipated.

"Order the commanders of each battalion to come for a council at once!"

Kojiro issued the command immediately.

However, when the generals gathered in the tent and heard their commander asking for strategies to take the city, they all looked at one another, speechless.

It was a joke; the Land of Rice Fields hadn't fought a war in over a thousand years.

The various nations feared the Land of Fire and the Land of Lightning standing behind the Land of Rice Fields, so they dared not come to cause trouble.

Whenever they encountered those two great nations, the Land of Rice Fields would immediately throw open their gates, offer tribute, and agree to whatever was asked, maintaining an extremely submissive posture.

That was why they had remained secure until this very day.

As a result, if you asked them how to lay siege to a city now, who were they supposed to ask?

Finally, after a deathly silence fell over the assembly, someone finally gathered the courage to speak to Kojiro.

"General, didn't the Daimyo put you in command of the army this time? You should be the one directing the siege! We will do whatever you tell us to do!"

As soon as these words were spoken, they drew immediate agreement and echoes from the gathered commanders and officers.

When Kojiro heard this, his face instantly turned a shade of green.

Damn it, he had only relied on his sister's connections to get into the military camp, where he spent his days eating, drinking, and having fun; he had never read a single book on military strategy.

To this day, he hadn't even memorized the full hierarchy of ranks within the army.

He possessed a great deal of self-awareness regarding his own incompetence, so he had planned to delegate authority, letting this group of people do as they pleased while he sat back comfortably to reap the rewards!

And yet, now this group was turning around and asking him to take command?

If this group of people knew what Kojiro was thinking, they would likely be stunned as well.

It was as if they weren't all there relying on connections to slack off and wait for their paychecks; they didn't know anything either!

At this moment, looking at the familiar expressions of confusion on everyone's faces, Kojiro guessed more or less what was going on, and his entire body went numb.

After all that, it turned out this group was just like him—a bunch of useless sacks of wine and rice?

His face flushed red, but not knowing how to vent his frustration, Kojiro could only order his guards to fetch a military manual in front of everyone, frantically flipping through the pages with a flustered expression.

A moment later, he slammed the book shut with both hands, scanned the crowd, and asked.

"Scaling ladders, did you bring them?"

"Scaling ladders? What are those?"

For a moment, the people below looked at each other, then stared at Kojiro above with expressions of bewilderment.

"Siege ladders!"

Kojiro finally couldn't hold it in anymore and roared.

"This... I suppose... we have them?"

Hearing this, the crowd immediately shrank their necks and spoke cautiously, though their eyes darted about evasively.