That thing fired granite shells—stone ones. The shells weren’t much stronger than these city bricks; even if they hit and managed to collapse some blue bricks, they’d shatter themselves in the process. This city wall wasn’t just rammed earth wrapped in bricks, but was built entirely of blue bricks. Only the adhesive used for the inner and outer layers differed due to cost considerations. Unless you kept bombarding the same spot with these shells, slowly gnawing it open over time, but with the Urban Cannon’s rate of fire—one shot every few hours—and its pitiful lifespan, it would blow itself up long before it could breach Nanjing’s walls.

Counting on the Urban Cannon to blast open Nanjing would only exhaust the attackers themselves.

And yet...

In the following centuries, this city never once truly stopped an invader.

It even suffered two massacres.

“What are you thinking about?”

Little Princess asked curiously.

“I’m wondering if such a sturdy city wall can stop people from fleeing or surrendering.”

Edward Clark said.

“Matthew Bolton, where do you think you’re going?”

A voice suddenly rang out ahead.

Little Princess’s face changed dramatically, and she instinctively hid behind Edward Clark...

Chapter 9: You Can’t Catch the Wolf Without Sacrificing the Child

The moment she heard this voice, Little Princess’s expression changed instantly, and she instinctively ducked behind Edward Clark.

Edward Clark glanced at her in confusion.

Little Princess immediately shrank behind his big bag.

Edward Clark turned his head to look at the dozen or so riders approaching from the opposite side. Leading them were two youths, both dressed in coarse mourning clothes. The one who spoke looked about fourteen or fifteen, with a rather cheerful face. The other, probably his younger brother, was taller and stared this way, likely eyeing Little Princess...

“Greetings to the imperial grandsons!”

Andrew Bolton hurriedly dismounted his little donkey, stepped forward, and bowed.

The cheerful one quickly dismounted as well, stepped forward, and returned the greeting, clearly showing respect for the learned. The younger brother, however, spurred his horse forward.

“Come out!”

he barked.

Edward Clark casually pulled Little Princess over.

“Is Her Highness referring to her?”

he said with a smile, meeting Little Princess’s fierce glare.

“T-Twelfth Aunt?”

The cheerful one looked over too, immediately exclaiming in surprise.

“Does Your Highness also think she resembles the Fourteenth Princess? I only discovered this by chance not long ago. Just yesterday, I mentioned it to the Fourteenth Princess as a joke, and she said she’d like to see for herself someday. But since she’s just a country child, I was afraid she’d offend the princess’s noble eyes.”

Andrew Bolton quickly explained.

The cheerful one frowned at him...

“Resemble? She clearly is! Fourteenth Aunt, you smeared some ash on your face and think I wouldn’t recognize you? Grandfather isn’t even buried yet, and during mourning you dare sneak out of the palace without your mourning clothes? Just wait till I tell Grandfather and have him give you a beating.”

the younger brother said triumphantly.

His gloating was written all over his face!

“Your Highness, you’re truly mistaken.”

Andrew Bolton hurriedly said.

His own expression changed a bit at this point.

Little Princess indeed hadn’t washed off the makeup on her face. Her pampered, fair face couldn’t be hidden even in a pageboy’s outfit. The dark makeup Edward Clark had applied at least made her look a bit darker, including her hands and neck, making her seem more like an ordinary person. But that only worked for passersby, so people wouldn’t notice anything at a glance. The two in front of them were her nephews, about the same age, and probably saw her often. It was really hard to fool them.

The guards following the imperial grandsons quietly moved forward. The younger brother dismounted to grab Little Princess, while his older brother silently watched Andrew Bolton.

This kid was cunning.

Edward Clark quietly took out a grenade.

“Second Brother, you’re mistaken!”

the older brother suddenly said.

The younger brother turned in surprise...

“But it’s obvious—”

he protested.

“There’s nothing obvious. You’re mistaken. Matthew Bolton, Gaochi has been reading lately and has some questions. Please come to the residence to instruct him.”

the older brother said.

Well, so this was Theodore Roosevelt.

Which meant the other was Franklin Pierce.

They were in mourning for their uncle, the Crown Prince Benjamin Franklin. Their father certainly couldn’t come, but the brothers could.

And apparently, Little Princess also had to mourn for this brother, who was about one-fortieth related to her by blood.

Franklin Pierce, clearly not as cunning as his brother, still couldn’t figure it out. He looked at Little Princess, who was obviously his Fourteenth Aunt, but in the end, he had to listen to his brother. So, looking confused, he remounted his horse, while his brother kept his eyes on Andrew Bolton. The latter, though unwilling, knew he couldn’t refuse. He finally shot Edward Clark a look, then got back on his little donkey, while the guards watched Edward Clark, and Little Princess clung to his arm, glaring at him fiercely...

Edward Clark thought for a moment, then calmly followed along.

After all, this was a main street, in a city with hundreds of thousands of battle-hardened veterans. For all he knew, even a street sweeper here might have chopped off a dozen heads twenty years ago.

Little Princess nodded in satisfaction, like an empress dowager who had just been well attended to.