#433Different signals, night attack plan beginsAI Model: gemini-2.5-flashChapter 433 Different Signals, Night Attack Plan Begins"We'll move tonight. First, have a griffin drop me on a high tower," Edmund said, then took a flashlight from his bag and clicked the switch a few times in front of everyone."In the dark, this on-and-off flickering will be very noticeable. I'll use it to send signals.""Edmund will send two signals tonight." Peter held up two fingers. "The first signal flash means our army should take out the guards on the outskirts of the Castle, clearing the way forward.But be careful not to make too much noise.And I, Susan, Aaron, and Caspian will lead a small group to infiltrate.We'll split up. The mice are hard to detect and will be responsible for lowering the drawbridge…""Uh… Your Majesty." Reepicheep interrupted awkwardly. "Although I don't want to say this, but… while it's easy for us to infiltrate, we can't push those gear switches.""Once you've infiltrated, deal with as many guards as possible. Someone will help you then.""Understood, Your Majesty.""Aaron, you and Caspian are responsible for opening the city gates.The number of people griffins can carry is limited. We'll try our best to help you deal with the patrolling guards, but you need to hurry."Aaron and Caspian exchanged glances and nodded slowly."Susan and I will go deal with Miraz. Once we take care of the King, they'll be leaderless.While we complete our respective tasks, Edmund will stop signaling. But after completing our tasks, I will notify Edmund to send the second signal.Once the army outside the Castle sees the second signal, they will begin the official attack."The Centaur leader nodded seriously, "As you command, Your Majesty.""That's the plan. Now, go prepare well and wait for night to fall.""Wait, I have a tiny little question." Aaron raised his right hand, instantly attracting everyone's attention."Speak," Peter said calmly. He didn't think his plan had any flaws."First, is your flashlight's battery power sufficient?If it runs out of power at a critical moment, let alone successfully completing the plan, it'll be a question of whether we can even retreat safely.""Ah, this…" Peter looked at Edmund. "No problem, right?""The flashlight definitely won't be a problem. The batteries are all new ones I bought," Edmund affirmed."Secondly, we need a signal for retreat." Aaron continued, "It's not that I want to be a spoilsport! What if the plan goes awry…""If the second signal isn't sent before dawn, it means the operation is canceled." Peter interrupted. "Any more questions?""Uh… I think you misunderstood something. The retreat signal I'm talking about isn't just for the army, but for all of us." Aaron shrugged, saying earnestly, "You should know what an act of God is, right? That Castle is heavily guarded after all, and anything could happen.And your plan is interconnected, with no room for error."Peter pondered for a moment, "Are you being too pessimistic?""Consider defeat before victory.Staying alive, no, being cautious, is my principle of action.And it concerns life and limb, so we cannot be careless.I suggest making a retreat plan before the official operation, so even if the operation fails, we won't lose too much."Hearing this, everyone exchanged glances.These words sounded like they might disrupt morale, but upon closer thought, they seemed to make sense."I support Aaron's opinion," Susan said."Have the griffins on standby in the high sky, ready to adapt, just in case.As for the signal for a full retreat…" Peter thought for a moment, then looked at Aaron."Why are you looking at me? I'm not interested in men.""Lend me your gun." Peter said with a wry smile, "If everything goes smoothly, Edmund's flashlight will be enough, but if the situation really becomes complicated, we probably won't have time to look at his signal.Firearms haven't been invented in Narnia yet, and there's no more suitable signal than a gunshot.Three gunshots mean retreat."Hearing this, Aaron's mouth twitched violently.Good heavens, good heavens, he's already set his sights on his gun."Aren't you making things difficult for me?""This is for Narnia," Susan persuaded. "It's also for you to return home safely. Don't dwell on it so much."Aaron pretended to ponder, then took out his revolver, secretly granting Peterpermission to use it at the same time."Five bullets. You'd better use them sparingly."Peter took the gun, nodding slightly excitedly."My Lord, could you demonstrate first?" Reepicheep suggested. "We haven't heard… a gunshot.""I will only demonstrate once." Peterlooked solemnly at the representatives of various races gathered around, then pointed the gun at the sky and pulled the trigger.Bang!A muffled sound instantly rang in everyone's ears.Birds in the forest startled and flew up, and countless animals shivered unexpectedly. They felt a deadly threat from the sound."Great, now there are only four bullets left." Aaron sighed dramatically."Don't mind those details." Peterpatted his shoulder, then faced the crowd. "Remember this sound. No matter what stage our plan is tonight, as soon as you hear three gunshots, retreat immediately."...The plan officially began at midnight, when most people were asleep and not very vigilant.A griffin carried Edmund to the Castleof Telmar, gently placing him on top of the highest tower.A vigilant soldier below heard the sound of tiles colliding and looked up in surprise.The griffin had already folded its wings, and Edmund was pressed tightly against the tiles, showing no flaws.Just as the soldier thought he had misheard, two sharp claws gripped his shoulders, and he lost consciousness without making a sound.Edmund jumped from the top of the tower, picked up the flashlight, and sent the signal.The Centaur leader outside the Castlesaw the flashing white light, slowly raised his longsword, and led the army stealthily towards the Castle.Several griffins carried Peter and the others to the signal location, and after clearing a few guards, landed steadily nearby.Reepicheep, with his two fellow mice, infiltrated the Castle through a drain. Their small size allowed them to easily reach the control room by following chains and ropes within the Castle, and the patrolling soldiers did not notice anything unusual.An orange cat was napping under the window, but the three mice didn't pay it any mind.Mice fear cats, but those are ordinary mice.The three of them were Knights of Narnia. Let alone a mere house cat, even if its owner came, they wouldn't be afraid.Exchanging glances, they still decided to deal with the cat first, otherwise, once it woke up, their mission would be harder to complete.A rope dropped from the tower, and Caspian, Peter, Susan, Aaron, and Trumpkin descended along it to a window."Where is this?""My Professor's room," Caspian said, then gently knocked on the door. "Professor."No one answered. Caspian seemed to realize something and immediately pried open the window and climbed in.The room was a mess, with books scattered everywhere, as if it had been ransacked by bandits.Caspian picked up a pair of glasses from a book, his expression full of worry. "We have to find him.""Time is limited, we should go open the gate," Aaron said somewhat anxiously. "And to put it bluntly, your Professormight not even be alive.""No, Professor must still be alive.He is the most knowledgeable person in the Kingdom of Telmar and the one who understands Narnia the most. Before erasing Narnia, Miraz wouldn't do anything to him; he must have locked him up.""No time," Peter said helplessly."You wouldn't have gotten here without him, and neither would I."Aaron patted his forehead. "Continue with the original plan, except Caspian and I will have to split up.He goes to rescue people, I go to open the gate.""Can you do it alone?" Trumpkin asked. "You don't know this Castle. It will be very difficult without Caspian's help.""Then how about we switch? I'll go deal with Miraz, and Peter and Susango open the gate.""That's even more dangerous," Susanshook her head."I'll help you after I rescue him. Opening the gate in time won't be a problem," Caspian promised.Peter and Susan exchanged glances and reluctantly agreed to the small adjustment in the plan.The group left the room and went in different directions. Caspian went to the dungeon, Trumpkin went to the control room, and Peter and Susanwent to the King's bedchamber.Aaron, after only a few steps, turned back. He closed the door and looked down through the open window.A huge, heavy iron gate clearly came into view, and the control wheel for it was placed by the Castle wall."As a mage, passing this dungeon really is… too easy." Aaron simply sighed with emotion, then pulled out his wand, which he hadn't used for several days, from his sleeve."Alohomora."The wheel quickly turned counter-clockwise, and the iron gate rose accordingly."Mission accomplished." Aaron stretched, found a chair in the room, and leisurely sat down, waiting for the signal to launch the attack.At the same time, a patrolling soldier in the control room discovered the cat under the window, but its mouth and limbs were bound with thin ropes.The soldier immediately became vigilant, his right hand gripping his sword hilt.Swish!The sound of a sword being drawn rang out behind him. He instinctively turned around.Reepicheep, hanging upside down in mid-air with a rope wrapped around his tail, met the soldier's surprised gaze. "Yes, I am a mouse."As soon as he finished speaking, the blade sliced across the soldier's throat, and he fell to the ground.Reepicheep waved his hand, and two mice immediately rushed towards the guards in front of the door.After dealing with him, one mouse stepped on the back of the other, forming a makeshift mouse ladder.Reepicheep stood on top, reached for the key on the door, and opened it.Trumpkin rushed in and shot the last guard."I thought the person coming would be a bit taller." Reepicheep's voice was somewhat helpless."I'm taller than you," Trumpkin said indifferently. Dwarves are short, but it depends on who they're compared to."Is that sarcasm?"Trumpkin ignored him, turned around, and locked the door.
