Chu Yuning retrieved a neatly bound stack of dossiers from his robes and placed them firmly onto the table holding the map, the paper rustling softly as it settled.
"Regarding the candidates to head these nine mountain fortresses, Ying Ren has already done a preliminary screening based on the roster provided by Uncle Lei." Chu Yuning pointed at the bold, vigorous script on the cover of the dossier, his voice dropping an octave. "Most of these individuals are the cream of the crop within the Nine Fortresses, possessing premium martial arts skills and seniority."
Xiao Zhan reached out to take the file, casually flipping through a few pages. His cool gaze swept over the ink on the paper, and he nodded slightly. "Uncle Lei's work is invariably airtight. The personal histories and martial styles recorded here are indeed exceptionally thorough."
As he spoke, he naturally passed the dossier to the woman beside him, his tone carrying an imperceptible trace of trust and tenderness: "Ning'er, take a look as well. These people will all be under your command in the future; you need to get a proper handle on them."
Shen Ning accepted the file, her fingertips skimming across the thick Xuan paper. Si Jingyu, driven by curiosity, poked her head over as well, and the two of them rapidly scanned the entries.
In the eyes of modern elite operatives, although this list was highly detailed, it felt somewhat "one-dimensional."
Shen Ning closed the dossier, her index finger lightly tapping against the cover. Her cool gaze swept across the room as she spoke unhurriedly: "Judging by the records, there is certainly no major issue regarding these people's loyalty or physical prowess. However, within our system, simply being 'physically robust' or 'loyal to the Princely Estate' is far from sufficient."
She turned her head to look at her partner beside her, analyzing calmly: "The current Nine Fortresses are no longer basic bandit outposts. For instance, the 'Shang' (Commerce) echelon that Yunxuan oversees doesn't need battle-ready generals. Instead, she requires managerial talent with a sharp eye for numbers and an excellent reading of market trends. As for Jingyu's division—"
Si Jingyu cut in instantly, her tone sharp and professional: "The 'Po' (Breach) echelon under my command deals directly with gunpowder and mechanical contraptions. I can't have brainless logs who only know how to follow orders. My people must be bold yet meticulous, possessing creative intelligence far beyond the norm. If I'm saddled with a reckless brute, he might just blow up my entire laboratory one day."
Shen Ning nodded, addressing Xiao Zhan and Chu Yuning: "Therefore, the individuals on this list can only be considered to have 'passed the initial screening.' Moving forward, we need to subject them to a comprehensive evaluation and assessment. Only those who make the cut can truly claim those seats. After all, what we are building is a precision military force, not a horde of domestic servants who merely take orders."
Qi Yunxuan gently waved her ivory folding fan, the light breeze stirring a few stray locks of hair at her temples. She stared at the nine marking stones on the map, a calculating glint unique to a modern operative flashing in her eyes.
"We have to visit these nine locations in person. Reading dossiers isn't enough; we need to observe the terrain on-site and size up the personnel firsthand. Only then can we tailor subsequent training programs for them."
Qi Yunxuan snapped her fan shut, her fingernail tracing three elegant arcs across the map, her tone cool and decisive. "Zhanchuan spans a vast territory, and our time is tight. If we move as a single group, our efficiency will be abysmal. I propose we 'split into three routes' to carry this out. This aligns best with our operational efficiency."
Shen Ning nodded, fully endorsing this modernized division of labor. She lifted her head, her gaze sweeping across everyone present. "Yunxuan is right. We aren't here for a superficial look, but for deep background checks and environmental assessments. Since we are splitting paths, let's allocate according to our functional echelons."
The moment Si Jingyu heard about the field evaluation, she looked like a fuse that had just been lit, her spine straightening instantly. Her vibrant eyes flashed with an eager, restless fire as her finger slammed heavily against the most treacherous sector of the sheepskin map.
"Now that's what I'm talking about! I'll take this job," Si Jingyu stated decisively, an unmaskable excitement in her voice. "I'll lead a team to the three mountain peaks under the 'Po' classification. Those areas are ringed by sheer cliffs and perilous terrain—natural barriers that are absolutely perfect for me to map out a heavy fire testing range. If we set up shop there, I guarantee not even a bird will manage to fly in."
Hearing this, Chu Yuning stepped forward almost without a fraction of a second's hesitation. His eyes burned with intense focus as he volunteered himself: "Jingyu, I'm going with you! Don't forget, back in the Sunset Mining Zone, I didn't dare slack off for a single second on the demolition techniques and personnel management you taught me. When it comes to understanding those stubborn hard-asses on the mountains, I can help you select the prime candidates for the 'Po' echelon."
He delivered this rationale with absolute righteousness, bordering on urgency, his hands—long accustomed to gripping a blade—tightening slightly from his internal drive.
Looking at Chu Yuning's "I absolutely must go" expression, Si Jingyu blanked out for a brief moment. Then, she laughed heartily, reaching out to slap his shoulder like a solid pal. "Alright then! With General Chu here acting as my Chief HR (Human Resources), my 'Po' squad will definitely deliver precision strikes. It's a deal, our team is officially locked in!"
Saying this, she crossed her arms and arched her brows playfully at Shen Ning and Qi Yunxuan, asking lightheartedly, "My side is already locked and loaded with gunpowder. What about you two? How do you plan to allocate the 'escorts' around you?"
The suffocating air in the council chamber softened slightly under Si Jingyu's teasing. Yet, the brief look exchanged between Shen Ning and Xiao Zhan still carried a subtle, unspoken tension.
Following the high-octane setup of Si Jingyu's squad, the room lapsed into a brief silence.
Xiao Zhan stood with his hands clasped behind his back. After his gaze lingered briefly over the 'Zong' (Domain/Order) sector on the map, he turned his head with an air of complete nonchalance, letting his vision rest on Shen Ning's cool face.
As if trying to mask a certain emotion, he let out a soft cough, his voice deep yet carrying an unquestionable finality:
"The three fortresses under the 'Zong' classification possess the most bizarre and treacherous terrains, and they tie directly into the intelligence nerve centers of various factions across Zhanchuan. Without absolute martial suppression, I fear they cannot be brought to heel. Therefore, this Prince must accompany the Consort on this journey."
He stated this with absolute grandeur, as though every word were spoken purely for the greater good. However, Chu Yuning, standing nearby, secretly arched an eyebrow, thinking to himself that his brother-in-law—who usually never let his joy or anger show—was making his "protective instinct" a little too glaringly obvious.
"Sure, sure, sure. The Prince protecting the Consort is only right and natural," Si Jingyu giggled, waving her hand dismissively. Then, as if struck by a monumental realization, she whipped around toward Qi Yunxuan, who was sitting to the side elegantly swaying her fan.
She extended her hand, pointing directly at the county princess who usually appeared incredibly shrewd and capable to outsiders, bellowing with exaggerated drama: "But what about Yunxuan? Don't be fooled by how her brain runs like a high-speed processor when she's balancing ledgers or analyzing market trends—she is a severe, terminal direction-blind klutz! This Zhanchuan desert is as massive as a maze. If someone doesn't keep a constant eye on her, she'll probably wander straight into the Western Yan Imperial Palace. We absolutely must allocate someone with an flawless sense of direction to her!"
Qi Yunxuan, who had been attempting to maintain the dignity of the 'Shang' echelon leader, froze mid-fanning when Si Jingyu laid her bare. A rare flush of crimson bloomed across her exquisite, pretty face.
"Si Jingyu, shut up," Qi Yunxuan hissed through gritted teeth, before casting a slightly helpless, pleading glance toward Shen Ning.
The atmosphere in the council chamber once again slipped into a temporary deadlock over the allocation of personnel.
Shen Ning rested her chin in her hand, her fingertips idly rolling a marking stone across the map. She lowered her head slightly, her gaze drifting over the rosters as she spoke with a rationale that bordered on cold-blooded: "This escort had best be someone you already recognize. Otherwise, traveling together through desolate mountains and wild ridges as an isolated man and woman will create an awkwardness heavy enough to drown a person."
She lifted her eyes to glance at Qi Yunxuan, exposing the reality without an ounce of mercy: "Furthermore, given your basic, entry-level martial arts skills, you'll be completely helpless the moment you run into any decent rogue combatants. The person protecting you must possess top-tier martial arts."
Xiao Zhan was just about to open his mouth to suggest Ying Ren, but Shen Ning seemed to read his thoughts instantly, shaking her head to veto it before he could speak: "Ying Ren won't do. Once our three routes depart from the estate, someone must remain in the manor to project the presence of 'the Prince.' Ying Ren needs to stay behind, put on the mask, and play your double. Only then can this Zhan Manor successfully pull off its empty fort strategy."
Just as everyone fell into deep thought, weighing the list of martial masters available within the estate, several rhythmic, steady knocks sounded from outside the tightly closed sandalwood doors.
"Your Highness, Yuning, Zhaoning, are you inside?"
It was Chu Fengning's voice. Compared to his rigid solemnity on the training grounds this morning, his tone right now carried a touch more crisp energy.
Shen Ning's eyes flickered slightly. She exchanged a quick look with Qi Yunxuan before projecting her voice outward: "Second Brother, come in."
The door swung open slowly, and Chu Fengning stepped into the room, bringing along a freshly groomed and highly spirited Qi Hao. Chu Fengning had shed his sweat-soaked training gear, replacing it with a sleek, dark navy long robe. Though the dust of the training grounds had been washed away, the sharp, imposing aura unique to a military lineage still radiated from him.
Qi Hao followed obediently behind. Despite his young age, under Chu Fengning's rigorous coaching, his every movement already bore the faint, steady composure of a young martial artist.
Shen Ning looked at Chu Fengning as he entered, then glanced at the "terminal direction-blind" Qi Yunxuan beside her. The corner of her lips suddenly curved into an amused, playful arc.
"Second Brother, you've arrived at the perfect moment," Shen Ning said, propping her chin in her hand with a leisurely tone. "We were just racking our brains over who to entrust with this Southern Tang county princess—someone who can neither lift with her shoulders nor carry with her hands, and is highly liable to lose herself at any given moment."
Chu Fengning blanked out, his hand tightening around the hilt of his sword as his gaze instinctively fell upon Qi Yunxuan. Meanwhile, Qi Yunxuan lightly shifted her fan, obscuring half of her face and leaving only a pair of deeply helpless eyes visible.
The air inside the council chamber, at this precise moment, seemed to quietly stir with a subtle, electric chemical reaction.