Chapter 83: Breakfast

All through the night, these soldiers endured Qi Mo’s grueling training regimen. Sweat soaked every one of them, yet not a single man was willing to give up; even when their strength was spent, they clenched their teeth and pressed on with sheer willpower.

As dawn approached, Shen Hezhi entered the training grounds. “Everyone, stop for a moment. I’m giving you two hours to rest. Make the most of it, and afterward, we’ll assemble and set out.”

“Yes, sir!”

After what transpired the previous night, not a soul among these soldiers harbored doubts about the Ninth Prince any longer. Although he was not their direct superior, they now found themselves inexplicably convinced by him.

Heeding his words, the soldiers hurried off to rest. Though they hadn’t complained aloud and had stubbornly persisted through the night, they were utterly exhausted, body and soul. Without rest, they would have been in no condition to fight.

Shen Hezhi’s command to rest inspired a surge of gratitude in their hearts.

Once the soldiers had departed, Qi Mo approached Shen Hezhi and saluted.

“Your Highness, these soldiers show great potential. I worry, however, about whether they’ll be able to prevail against Nanyang’s troops today.” Qi Mo’s face was clouded with concern.

Shen Hezhi merely shook his head with indifference. “Since I’ve already told these men they will win today, then win they shall.”

This time, not only Dongfang Qing, but even Qi Mo was puzzled. Where did the Ninth Prince’s confidence come from, that he believed his men could surely defeat Nanyang’s forces?

Dongfang Qing recalled that the previous night, the Ninth Prince had said something quite different: that they should do their utmost to win, and that even in defeat, there was no shame. Yet come morning, Shen Hezhi was full of certainty. How could he be so confident his men would triumph?

Rather than doubting, Dongfang Qing found himself eager to see how the Ninth Prince would lead these soldiers—idle for so long—to overcome the elite troops of Nanyang.

The two hours of rest passed swiftly. Without needing to be summoned, the soldiers assembled of their own accord at the training grounds.

Qi Mo had been waiting for them for some time.

When the soldiers emerged, they had assumed they would be the first to gather, expecting Shen Hezhi and the others to arrive later. Only then did they realize they were, in fact, the last to arrive.

Even this small detail sparked fresh admiration for the Ninth Prince among the men.

Once the soldiers were assembled, Qi Mo approached Shen Hezhi and offered a crisp salute. “Your Highness, the Northern Bastion Army is fully assembled and awaits your orders.”

“No need to rush. I suspect none of you have eaten breakfast yet? I’ve had it prepared for you, but you won’t be eating here.” Shen Hezhi smiled mysteriously.

The soldiers below looked at each other in confusion.

Breakfast? At a time like this? And if there was to be breakfast, why not in the barracks? Did he mean for them to eat outside the city walls, in full view of Nanyang’s troops?

As it turned out, some of them guessed correctly. Shen Hezhi led the entire force outside the city walls.

Nanyang’s army had not yet arrived.

Once his men were assembled outside, Shen Hezhi ordered the pre-prepared food to be distributed.

Each soldier received a steaming meal, bewildered. They looked at the breakfast in their hands, then up at the Ninth Prince atop the city wall, uncertain whether they were truly meant to eat or if this was some ruse to ambush the enemy.

Seeing that not a single man was eating, Shen Hezhi was surprised. He descended from the wall and called out in a loud voice, “Officers and brothers, go ahead and eat! I had this breakfast prepared especially for you. Once you’ve finished, we’ll start the battle. But take your time—if anyone finishes in less than an hour, he will be punished. That’s an order!”

With this final command, there was no one who dared defy him. While the breakfast was not a grand feast, it was no challenge to make it last an hour by eating slowly, chatting, and enjoying the morning.

Yet, with battle imminent, who could truly relax and eat at leisure?

At this, some of the soldiers began to grumble inwardly about the Ninth Prince, feeling their earlier beliefs had been misplaced. Perhaps he was not the wise leader they thought, but a fool—who else would have his men dawdle over breakfast on the eve of battle?

Whether they believed in the prince or began to doubt, all obeyed nonetheless, chewing slowly through their meal. Those who still trusted him had nothing to say, while those with doubts thought: If we’re told to eat, we’ll eat slowly. If we lose, it won’t be our fault. It had been ages since they’d had such a leisurely breakfast; perhaps it was not so bad.

Of course, Shen Hezhi knew their thoughts; though he could not read each mind, he could guess well enough.

Dongfang Qing stood quietly behind him, perplexed yet again by Shen Hezhi’s actions since taking charge of the camp. Still, he couldn’t help but feel a strange faith in the man.

So Dongfang Qing stood obediently at his side, saying nothing, until Shen Hezhi suddenly turned to him, causing a start.

“Master Dongfang, come and have breakfast as well.”

For a moment, Dongfang Qing was taken aback, but then he quietly sat down across from Shen Hezhi.

On the city wall, Shen Hezhi ate his breakfast with great leisure, and Dongfang Qing did the same.

When at last Nanyang’s soldiers arrived, what they saw was a remarkable scene: the entire opposing force seated outside the city wall, calmly eating breakfast. And at the top, the Ninth Prince himself, eating with equal composure.

Compared to the soldiers below, he was only more elegant; otherwise, there was no difference at all.