"My encounter with Yuna Ji may have been nothing more than a maneuver in the game of national power. At that time, I was under orders to aid a neighboring country and fend off foreign invaders. Carrying the mission of my family and my own nation, I knew very well that once we repelled the enemy, Yuna Ji would be married to our prince. On the surface, this alliance would further strengthen the ties between our two countries, but in truth, it was a ploy to legitimately seize another nation."
I nodded. I had heard this part of the story from The Engineer, but the specifics were likely known only to James Grant and Yuna Ji.
"Let me tell you about it. What happened back then was probably far more brutal than what you've heard."
I nodded and looked at James Grant as he began to speak.
At that time, nearly half of Yuna Ji's kingdom had already fallen into enemy hands. It was Yuna Ji herself who wrote to the neighboring nation for help, and to secure their assistance, she reluctantly agreed to the marriage alliance.
James Grant, as the Grand General of the allied nation, was ordered to march out. A few days before the expedition, James Grant was summoned; his king instructed him to hold the line and not advance, as the deployment was meant only to intimidate the enemy and deter further aggression.
All that was required was to preserve Yuna Ji's remaining territory. Later, negotiations with the enemy would begin, paving the way to carve up her kingdom.
Although James Grant found the king's plan excessively treacherous, he knew the allied nation's situation well—their king was dead, and the royal family was down to a sixteen-year-old girl. But, hardened by the brutality of war, James Grant quickly cast aside any forbidden compassion.
With an army of nearly twenty thousand, James Grant marched grandly toward the allied nation. Ten days later, he arrived. By then, the situation was dire; aside from one minister who greeted them, the border defenses were virtually nonexistent.
"General Grant, His Majesty the Emperor is fighting bravely on the front lines. Now that you are here, we hope you will proceed to the front at once."
Jiang Tianci felt helpless, but also a bit contemptuous. A sixteen-year-old girl had become the last hope of this nation—such a country was surely doomed.
Deep down, Jiang Tianci looked down on women. The idea of Ji Yuner commanding troops on the battlefield struck him as utterly laughable.
Having fought on the battlefield for over ten years, Jiang Tianci only made a token gesture—leading his three thousand men to the front lines, while most of his forces remained in Ji Yuner's homeland.
Along the way, Jiang Tianci realized that perhaps this country wasn't as fragile as he'd thought. Even with the war clearly going against them, everyone was full of fighting spirit and preparing for battle.
Jiang Tianci had heard that Ji Yuner's nation had won a few small-scale battles recently, but the losses had been devastating.
Everyone was a soldier—only the old, weak, women, and children stayed behind, providing logistical support. Jiang Tianci knew this couldn't last long.
Five days later, Jiang Tianci arrived at the front. Corpses littered the land, the soldiers were in dire straits, and the wounded received little care. If they could walk and hold a weapon the next day, they'd be sent back into battle.
In the barracks, Jiang Tianci noticed something strange—their eyes were like wild beasts, a sense of readiness to die spreading among them. He'd never seen anything like it.
"You must be General Jiang Tianci, right? Hello, I'm the emperor of this country—Ji Yuner."
Jiang Tianci stared in surprise at the girl before him—beautiful, clad in bloodstained soft armor. Out of courtesy, he exchanged pleasantries with Ji Yuner.
"Soldiers, tomorrow's battle is critical. Now we have reinforcements and food. Eat well tonight. Tomorrow, fight bravely—kill every enemy you see, leave no one alive!"
In an instant, the barracks erupted with fervor at Ji Yuner's words. Jiang Tianci's face darkened. The food that had been brought was from his own army, yet Ji Yuner, without hesitation, ordered it distributed.
"Your Majesty, this food supply is ours..."
"As long as we win tomorrow, nothing else matters. Winter is coming—we must prevail."
Jiang Tianci wanted to object, but was awed by the resolve shining from Ji Yuner's petite form. The soldiers ate and celebrated, none seeming to realize that tomorrow's battlefield would be hell.
The enemy still had at least ten thousand troops, while Ji Yuner's forces numbered less than two thousand. Even with Jiang Tianci's reinforcements, their combined force was under five thousand. This pass was the gateway to Ji Yuner's homeland, flanked by steep cliffs. Jiang Tianci quickly saw the tactical possibilities on the map, but said nothing.
"General, tomorrow I need you to lead two thousand men through the mountains at dawn, circle around to the enemy's flank. I'll break open a gap; once their formation is disrupted, all you need to do is attack—they'll collapse for sure."
Jiang Tianci wanted to laugh at Ji Yuner's plan, but he nodded. It was nearly impossible; the enemy's numbers were overwhelming, and Ji Yuner's forces were riddled with casualties—perhaps only seven or eight hundred were truly battle-ready.
His own army was still two days away. His goal was simply to hold the line. If his troops arrived, they could defend the position easily. Once winter came, both sides would likely call a truce. Then, Ji Yuner could marry the prince, and the enemy nation might not make any more moves.
It was already night. Ji Yuner was still conferring with her generals. Jiang Tianci noticed three women among them—one wielding a pair of crimson swords, another carrying a bow, and the rest seemed hardly like soldiers at all.
Jiang Tianci panicked. If Ji Yuner died in battle, all their strategies could be for nothing.
Moreover, Ji Yuner's methods unsettled Jiang Tianci. He'd heard that captured enemy soldiers were all executed, their heads severed and thrown before the enemy prior to battle.
Jiang Tianci knew that such brutality might intimidate the enemy in the short term, but over time, it would only provoke even crueler retaliation. If they failed, those unable to flee—the old, weak, women, and children—would be slaughtered.
"Your Majesty, beheading the enemy like this, such provocation..."
"Say no more, General. We will fight for this country to our last drop of blood."
"Tell your general to cut off his own head—then maybe we can talk."
Jiang Tianci's eyes widened as Ji Yuner shouted, leading her soldiers in a charge.
"Kill them all—leave no one alive. Kill every enemy you see!"
The battle began. Jiang Tianci could hardly believe his eyes—the enemy started to retreat. On the battlefield, Ji Yuner was like a beast unleashed, her spear mercilessly taking lives. Her soldiers fought like madmen, clinging to enemy legs even as they fell, dragging foes down with them.
Yet Ji Yuner's forces were few. As enemy reinforcements arrived, they were quickly surrounded. Jiang Tianci grew restless; he'd never seen such reckless fighting, caring nothing for losses—only for slaughter.
"Send the order—attack!"
Jiang Tianci couldn't sit still any longer. He led his troops into the fray himself. With his army's arrival, the enemy broke and fled—the tide of battle had turned.
"Enough, Ji Yuner! Enough! Stop the pursuit!"
With a sharp slap, Ji Yuner's eyes turned icy as she brushed away Jiang Tianci's hand.
"Send the order—leave no survivors."
The woman before him was a beast—a mad, raging beast. For the first time, Jiang Tianci truly understood what Ji Yuner was.
Jiang Tianci wanted to argue, but was awed by the determination radiating from Ji Yuner's petite frame. The soldiers feasted and celebrated, oblivious to the hell that awaited them on the battlefield tomorrow.
"Kill them all—leave no one alive. Kill every enemy you see!"
"General, tomorrow I want you to lead two thousand men through the mountains at dawn, circle around to the enemy's flank. I'll break open a gap; once their formation is disrupted, all you need to do is attack—they'll collapse for sure."
Jiang Tianci wanted to laugh at Ji Yuner's plan, but he nodded. It was nearly impossible; the enemy's numbers were overwhelming, and Ji Yuner's forces were riddled with casualties—perhaps only seven or eight hundred were truly battle-ready.
His own army was still two days away. His goal was simply to hold the line. If his troops arrived, they could defend the position easily. Once winter came, both sides would likely call a truce. Then, Ji Yuner could marry the prince, and the enemy nation might not make any more moves.
It was already night. Ji Yuner was still conferring with her generals. Jiang Tianci noticed three women among them—one wielding a pair of crimson swords, another carrying a bow, and the rest seemed hardly like soldiers at all.
"Enough, Ji Yuner! Enough! Stop the pursuit!"
With a sharp slap, Ji Yuner's eyes turned icy as she brushed away Jiang Tianci's hand.
"Send the order—leave no survivors."
The woman before him was a beast—a mad, raging beast. For the first time, Jiang Tianci truly understood what Ji Yuner was.