The next morning, Elliot’s caravan set out with over three thousand guards.
Perhaps the commoners of Ushi City had never seen such a long and majestic caravan before, so they crowded over in excitement to watch.
With the end of Ushi City’s civil war, the place was gradually returning to its former calm.
The departure of the City Defense Army and the wealthy noble families didn’t mean much to the commoners.
They even applauded and celebrated.
But the matter of the Imperial Princess being swapped—now that was the hottest gossip over meals.
However, the Castle Lord’s Mansion had issued a strict order forbidding anyone from discussing such matters in public.
Otherwise, if caught, you’d be eating prison food for a few days.
Discussion was forbidden, but watching the excitement was allowed.
After being cooped up for days, the commoners flooded to the North City Gate, watching the departing caravan.
“Whose caravan is this? Why are there so many people? There must be at least three thousand! You can’t even see the end of it.”
“Idiot, didn’t you see the City Defense Army of Her Highness the Princess in there? I heard it’s the caravan of the Lord and the Laval Family!”
“Where are they going?”
The endless line of cargo wagons creaked as they moved, flowing like a river.
People watched curiously, with envy in their eyes.
“I don’t know. Judging by the direction, they’re probably heading toward the Great Tunnel. You can’t do such a big business within the Empire, right?”
The crowd was noisy, and amidst it all, Willis and Sielyou stood atop the city wall, watching the caravan fade into the distance.
The morning light was warm, the breeze cool.
Willis looked up at the sky.
“It might be hot today.”
Sielyou turned to her.
“So what if it’s hot?”
“I don’t like it.”
Willis’s words almost choked her.
So the weather needs to adjust to your mood, huh?
Anne, beside them, looked tired and drowsy.
As the two spoke, she leaned directly onto Willis.
Willis caught her easily, quietly brushing her hand across Anne’s chest.
As for the sensation—she could only describe it as a tingling numbness.
The numb part referred to the pleasant jolt of electricity running through Willis’s body.
This scene made Ophelia, nearby, snort coldly.
“Tch! Vixen!”
“Hm? What did you say?”
Willis asked.
“Ah, nothing… Host, I didn’t say anything… I mean, she did it on purpose… Not…”
“I mean, it’s normal for Miss Anne to be tired after working for the caravan since yesterday.”
Ophelia kept changing her words like a stutterer.
In the end, she even made herself feel a little aggrieved.
Willis looked on, bewildered.
“Leave it to me, Your Highness. I’ll take Miss Anne back to rest,” Victoria said from behind.
“Mm, then I’ll trouble you.”
Reluctantly, Willis handed the beauty in her arms to Victoria, who hoisted her up and walked off as if carrying a colorless sack.
Willis’s eye twitched.
The moment Victoria lifted her, Anne’s eyes snapped open.
With a tired glare, she silently cursed this well-meaning soul for taking her home to sleep.
Busybody!
You have nothing better to do?!
***
After the caravan departed, Willis waited in eager anticipation for the gains to come.
Of course, that might take many days.
For now, she was introducing Sielyou, Ophelia, and others to Nidnia, Borden, and their group.
Their identities naturally belonged to the original Sielyou faction.
But now that the little Wei in Nidnia’s eyes had become the Real Imperial Princess, it was necessary to connect with and get to know the people around her royal sister.
“I suppose this counts as us officially meeting. You’ve worked hard these past few days.”
Sielyou shook hands with Nidnia.
Though her words were polite, her expression was complicated.
How does my imperial sister always gather such beautiful girls around her wherever she goes?
A dog can’t change its nature—no, she just can’t stop liking pretty girls!
“Not at all! Being able to help Her Highness the Second Princess reclaim her position is our honor!”
Nidnia and Borden hurriedly saluted.
“Since you’re all people my royal sister trusts, work in the Castle Lord’s Mansion from now on. Running outside all the time isn’t proper.”
Sielyou said.
“Otherwise, others might think my royal sister is fickle and neglects her loyal subordinates!”
The two stammered in terror, quickly denying it.
Willis, to the side, shot her royal sister a thumbs-up.
Well played, sis!
Sielyou only replied with a resolute glare: Scram!
***
In the afternoon, Willis issued formal appointments as the Lord.
She divided the remaining seventeen thousand miners into three military units.
Willis personally went to the City Defense Army Garrison, using the Real Eye to select officers at each level—from Sergeant to Instructor, then to Chief Steward and Commander.
The three armies had two units of five thousand and one of seven thousand.
Their names were the Xionghu, Youma, and Mangyin Armies.
The Xionghu Army consisted mainly of the strongest and most robust miners and would serve as Willis’s personal guard.
They were responsible for patrol, protection, and training.
The Youma Army was formed mainly of younger, more fervent miners.
Willis intended for them to become her future cavalry.
After seeing Elliot’s thousand cavalry, Willis’s heart itched as well.
She had to create one of her own.
Their combat power and mobility were just top-notch!
However, there were currently too few warhorses.
In the future, Willis would have to import them from the Xingluo Grasslands or acquire them elsewhere before the Youma Army could actually ride.
For now, their main task was training, patrolling the outskirts of Ushi City, and guarding the city walls.
The remaining seven thousand, the Mangyin Army, consisted of elderly, weak, sick, disabled, and injured miners from the recent war.
Most were wounded.
Willis naturally wouldn’t force them into hard labor anymore, so she assigned them to the surrounding mines.
Once recovered, they might rejoin other armies and continue to earn merits.
At the division ceremony, Willis gave another rousing speech.
As the emotions of the miners reached a fever pitch, she began granting them official names and imperial and lord appointments.
Borden as the Commander of the Xionghu Army—no objections there.
Terrence was unanimously accepted as Commander of the Youma Army.
The thousand bandit miners Terrence had led had already pledged their loyalty to Willis after her persuasive talks.
After all, after the fake Willis captured them, it was this Real Imperial Princess who set them free!
She not only cleared their past crimes but also gave them promotions!
And seeing all of Willis’s actions after her restoration—including personally treating the wounded—any fool would oppose her at their own peril!
As for the Commanders of the Mangyin Army, Willis chose the other ranks, but the overall Commander was difficult to determine.
After all, the Mangyin Army was more of a retirement group, mainly assigned to mine duty.
Nidnia?
No way—she had to stay close.
Otherwise, what if someone stole her?
Anne?
Impossible!
So, Willis let the miners choose.
In the end, they elected a miner named Wei Fu as Commander of the Mangyin Army.
He was an older miner.
Supposedly only forty-two, but years of mining had made him look much older.
In the battle on the night of August 7, he had bravely charged at the front.
No one hated the corrupt City Defense Army more than he did.
Thus, the matter of dividing the miners into armies was settled.
Next came the arrangement of the thousand City Defense Army soldiers sent out and the remaining four thousand.
Willis organized them into the Wolf Spider Army, with herself as Commander.
This army had a wide range of responsibilities.
Besides routine patrols and handling matters in Ushi City, they also served as a mobile unit ready to be deployed at any time.
For training, they joined with the Xionghu Army.
Willis also selected a thousand sharp soldiers from them to form the Youmen Hall.
Their main duty was to disguise themselves as various roles and gather intelligence throughout the Okam Empire.
With Willis’s connections, sending them to the Imperial Court was no problem!
Of course, Youmen Hall was just formed and nowhere near the scale or strength of Nightfall.
Willis would develop it slowly.
The leader of Youmen Hall was Anne.
At present, although Anne liked her royal sister, wasn’t her royal sister also Willis’s person?
And Willis trusted her most.
After all, Anne had promised to help Willis for ten years—the most beautiful years of a young girl.
Back at the Castle Lord’s Mansion, Willis gave Anne the task.
Anne looked excited, even hugging Willis in happiness.
That indescribable feeling made Willis realize that what you can’t have is always the best.
She almost couldn’t resist claiming her on the spot.
“Thank you for your trust, Your Highness. Anne will manage this gift well and become your most trusted Left-hand Lieutenant!”
Willis didn’t know if it was her imagination, but she felt that the youthful face seemed to lean in, seeking a kiss.
Terrified, Willis began chanting in her mind.
Amitabha!
Willis, you’re broken.
This must be an illusion.
You want her so badly you’re hallucinating.
She obviously likes your royal sister.
A person shouldn’t, at least can’t…
Amitabha…
Even after chanting for a long time, Willis found it didn’t help, so she reluctantly pushed Anne away.
Her condition improved a little.
“Ahem, enough. Ushi City has just stabilized. We still have much to do.”
With that, Willis looked at Borden, who was sitting awkwardly below.
“Commander Borden, take your men and start patrolling Ushi City.”
“If anyone’s causing trouble, stirring things up, spreading rumors, or stealing, arrest them all!”
Borden, having watched two beautiful ladies being so affectionate before him, had been dying to escape.
Hearing Willis’s words, he felt as if he’d been pardoned.
“Yes! Lord!”
“Thank you for your hard work.”
“It’s nothing! Having a part in governing Ushi City with my brothers is something I never dreamed of!”
“Don’t cross the line!”
“Understood!”
With that, Borden fled.
Leaving Nidnia, who was equally embarrassed and uncomfortable.
“Xiao Wei—no, Your Highness, come with me!”
She couldn’t take it anymore.
Nidnia didn’t even know why she felt this way.
Seeing Anne clinging to Willis made her angry.
Ignoring status, Nidnia grabbed Willis and left.