The Huan King's Heart

Shouchun City was a royal city, and atop its hundred-zhang walls...

The Huan King Jian Shang, Zhangchu envoy Lü Chen, Huan Kingdom general Tian Dan, Long Ju, and the others had gathered on the wall, gazing across the surging Huai River.

The Huai River alone stretched more than ten li across, too wide for an ordinary person to see the far bank clearly. Add the open ground outside Shouchun Royal City and Han Xin's army camp, and even Jian Shang, Long Ju, Li Tong, and the Loose Immortal Hua Qiandai could not make out what was happening in the distance.

Yet from dozens, perhaps hundreds, of li away, they could still infer something of the distant situation—the battle—from changes in the Ironblood Killing Cloud.

"Your Majesty! Deng Zong's army has engaged Han Xin's forces!"

Watching the Heaven-Shrouding Sun-Obscuring Ironblood Killing Cloud begin to gather and merge in the distance, Lü Chen reported to Jian Shang, anxiety written across his face.

"Mm."

Jian Shang nodded and answered calmly.

Anyone could see the Ironblood Killing Cloud and make a guess about the battlefield. Reading its finer changes depended on each person's grasp of warfare. If Lü Chen could work out what was happening, Jian Shang certainly could.

But to Lü Chen's dismay, Jian Shang showed no reaction at all. There was no sign that he intended to send troops across the river.

After brooding anxiously for a moment, Lü Chen steeled himself, looked at Jian Shang, and urged him:

"Deng Zong's army is now fully engaged with Han Xin's and has drawn nearly all its attention. This is our best chance to cross! Once the battle ends, if Han Xin wins, crossing safely will become far more difficult!"

"Heh..." Jian Shang smiled and remained silent.

Tian Dan pondered for a moment, stole