Yun Chuhuan's confusion was not something Yun Shu could easily explain. After all, she herself did not fully grasp the details.
But the Great General Wei Yuan did.
"Today, after the Annan commander welcomed this official into the city, he privately discussed a matter with me."
"What matter?"
Yun Shu ventured a guess.
"Did he try to negotiate some kind of condition?"
"If it can be called a condition at all."
The Great General Wei Yuan furrowed his brows, clearly finding the Annan commander rather unorthodox.
"He merely hoped that I would help him keep his story straight. That we not reveal he surrendered from the outset. Instead, he wants it said that he led his troops in a fierce battle for a full day and night, and only when he could no longer withstand the assault, did he, for the sake of Annan's people, choose to surrender."
"What? Are you certain that was his only request?"
Was this Annan commander truly that... abstract in thought?
Then what had all her painstaking, sleepless nights of strategic preparation been for?
"You're sure this isn't a false surrender?" Yun Shu could not help but question everything.
"It shouldn't be."
The Great General Wei Yuan understood her mood entirely. When he had first heard those words from the Annan commander, he had felt even more absurd than Her Highness herself.
However—
"The Yongzhou army has already entered the border city of Annan. Fifty thousand troops are now stationed there.
Of the remaining fifty thousand Annan forces, twenty thousand have retreated to a nearby city. The remaining thirty thousand, along with the people in the border city, are effectively hostages."
After summarizing the situation at the border, the general spoke solemnly.
"Annan's border defense is far inferior to ours. That city we captured was, in fact, their most fortified military stronghold.
For them to hand it over so readily is akin to throwing open their gates.
No exaggeration—if we were to decide today to seize the whole of Annan, the imperial army could march on the royal capital by tomorrow.
If this were a ruse, then their commander would have to be completely out of his mind."
"And you think he's not already?" Yun Chuhuan, who had long been yearning to witness a proper battlefield spectacle, could not resist voicing her frustration. "What sane person would behave like this?"
General Wei Yuan fell silent.
Sixth Highness spoke reason.
But still, this was a military commander. Even if he had lost his mind, this was not the kind of absurd move a fool could make. The general shook his head and continued.
"The Annan commander said that even before our forces emerged from the forest and engaged them, he had already sent a sealed letter to the Annan king. In it, he claimed to have fought a desperate battle at the border for a day and night, and that the city was on the brink of collapse.
Annan is small. A day's time was more than enough for that letter to reach the royal capital.
How the king chooses to respond—we'll know by tomorrow."
"Very well."
Yun Shu nodded. Seeing that it was already late, she asked no further questions and returned to her tent to rest.
At that same moment, in the Annan Royal Palace—
The Annan King, blindfolded and playing a game of hide-and-seek with his favored consort in his bedchamber, was quite displeased when a servant interrupted their merriment.
He flung a temper tantrum.
"Look at the hour! What urgent message could possibly demand my attention now?
Probably just another report of how many more of those Tian Sheng soldiers our forces slaughtered. Must they clamor for praise every time?"
"Do not be angry, Your Majesty."
The favored consort giggled, peeling a banana and offering it delicately to his lips, speaking in a tender, coaxing tone.
"Did Your Majesty not rejoice upon receiving the last letter, when General You claimed to have wiped out ten thousand Tian Sheng soldiers?"
"You speak true, beloved."
The Annan King's rage melted instantly into indulgent affection.
He chuckled smugly, boasting without shame.
"Everyone speaks of Tian Sheng's might. At one point, even I believed the rumors and feared we could not defeat them.
Turns out they were nothing but empty bluster. If I had known sooner, why would I have needed anyone's help?
I could have sent troops to crush Tian Sheng myself!"
"Your Majesty is valiant beyond compare. If you wish to destroy Tian Sheng, it is but a matter of your will."
"Only you have such vision, beloved." Buoyed by her flattery, the Annan King grew giddy, nearly losing himself in his delusions.
"Enough. Bring in the messenger who delivered the sealed letter!"
"Yes, Your Majesty." The royal attendant, who had been waiting patiently by the side, immediately ushered in the soldier who had come from the front lines.
The Annan King did not bother to dismiss his consort. Reclining lazily, he took the letter and glanced at it.
In the next instant, his leisurely expression twisted into fury and disbelief.
"What? Our Annan is about to fall?"
"Your Majesty?"
The consort cried out in pain as she was shoved unceremoniously off his lap and sent crashing to the floor.
But the Annan King had no time for her.
He devoured the rest of the letter with frantic eyes, then began pacing in agitation.
"This is a disaster! How did Tian Sheng's army manage to push through?
Weren't we blessed by the heavens? Wasn't that forest supposed to be an impassable barrier?
If the border city has fallen, the capital cannot be far behind...
No, no... Someone, fetch the Prime Minister at once!"
It was fine. It would all be fine.
He had already discussed contingency plans with the Prime Minister in case such a situation arose. As long as he could remain in the palace, indulging in pleasure, everything would be manageable...
The candles in the king's bedchamber burned through the night.
No one knew what was discussed between the king and the Prime Minister.
Only one thing was certain—by the following afternoon, Yun Shu, still waiting patiently for news in the military camp, received a formal letter of surrender penned by the Annan King himself.
Annan had surrendered.
And this was no mere token surrender.
The Annan King, perhaps realizing that his alliance with several nations to wage war against Tian Sheng had thoroughly provoked the empire's wrath, offered more than just reparations or a diplomatic marriage.
With Tian Sheng's forces already occupying the border and poised to take the capital, he knew better than to bargain.
Instead, he went all in.
He petitioned to have Annan fully annexed into Tian Sheng as a province—Annan Prefecture—and begged Emperor Xuanwu to allow him to remain as the governor of the region under Tian Sheng's rule.
A man of little talent, yet bold in his delusions.
"You said the surrender letter was personally delivered by that same Annan commander?"
Yun Shu tossed the letter aside without much care, lifting her gaze.
"He should still be outside, yes? Bring him in. This Princess wishes to meet him."
"Your Highness wishes to see him?"
That madman?
What was there to see?
Though General Wei Yuan had his doubts, he still stepped to the door and ordered the guards to bring the Annan commander forward.