The next day, at the first light of dawn, the column set out.

After traveling for the better part of the day, a fork in the road appeared ahead. Huo Baixue led three thousand elite soldiers, taking Feng Jiu’er and Jian Yi along with her, and chose the route with more level ground.

Dugu Yuezhou led the remaining two thousand elite soldiers and took the more mountainous road.

After a full day’s march, the group made camp to rest on an open plain.

After Feng Jiu’er had finished her acupuncture session on Jian Yi, he once again settled into the soaking tub for his medicinal bath.

As the winter nights grew colder and colder, Feng Jiu’er draped a small woolen blanket across Jian Yi’s shoulders.

“Jian Yi, I’m stepping out for a moment. Rest well.”

Jian Yi turned his head and glanced at her, saying softly, “It’s colder out there. Put on another layer.”

“Mm.” Feng Jiu’er gave a nod, draped her outer robe over her shoulders, fastened the ties, lifted the tent flap, and stepped outside.

The calm along this entire stretch of road had only left her own heart unsettled.

With such a large column setting out, the enemy should have received word very quickly.

And yet, true enough, the whole journey had been unnervingly quiet — not a single assassin had been seen.

As Feng Jiu’er drew near Huo Baixue’s tent, a nimble little bird chirped and trilled its way down to perch on her shoulder.

Feng Jiu’er quickly gathered it in her hands and untied the small note from its leg.

Before she had even had a chance to read the message, the little bird hopped back onto her shoulder, and she carried it with her into Huo Baixue’s tent.

“Jiu’er.” Huo Baixue rose to her feet as she entered.

Feng Jiu’er gave a nod and went to take the seat across from her.

“What is that…” Huo Baixue looked at the small creature on her shoulder and furrowed her brow slightly.

“It’s our messenger bird.” As she spoke, Feng Jiu’er unfolded the note.

Seeing the shift in her expression, Huo Baixue asked, “What has happened?”

“The Crown Prince’s forces inside Yamu City have concentrated their push westward. My people can no longer hold the line.” Feng Jiu’er let out a quiet sigh.

“What should we do?” Huo Baixue’s voice came again.

“Yamu City isn’t all that wide from east to west. I’ve told my people that if they truly cannot hold, they’re to fall back to the southern district.”

Feng Jiu’er looked up and met Huo Baixue’s gaze, then reduced the note in her palm to ash.

She then drew paper and a writing brush from her satchel.

“As the Crown Prince’s forces close in, I will have the civilians make for the south as best they can.”

“I believe the reason the Crown Prince’s eastern forces have changed direction like this is because word has reached them that we are approaching the western gate.”

“Even if those who wish to intercept us number in the thousands, they should know full well that the column we have now is not something they can handle.”

“My guess is that the unusual quiet along the route isn’t because the enemy forces are all on the road Yuezhou is taking — they must have pulled back to the western gate.”

“They want to coordinate with the forces pressing in from the east — a pincer attack?” Huo Baixue knitted her brow lightly.

“Mm.” Feng Jiu’er nodded, tucked the finished note into the small tube on the bird’s leg, and said, “If I were in their position, I would do exactly the same.”

“The eastern forces were originally pushing south. The sudden change to a westward advance fits with what I suspected.”

Feng Jiu’er stood, cradling the little bird from the table, and turned toward the tent entrance.

She lifted the flap and tossed the bird into the air, then turned back and returned to her seat.

“Jiu’er, what kind of bird is that messenger of yours? I’ve never seen anything like it — and can it truly be trusted?” Huo Baixue, now seated, looked at the person across from her.

“Have you heard of Black Gorge?” Feng Jiu’er took the map, spread it open, and laid it flat on the table before her.

“Mm.” Huo Baixue nodded. “That’s the place further south of Phoenix City. I’ve heard the terrain there is treacherous and plagued by mountain bandits.”

“That’s right.” Feng Jiu’er said with a nod. “That bird comes from Black Gorge.”

“The one currently leading troops inside Yamu City to hold the line against the Crown Prince’s forces is the young chief of the Zhao Family Stronghold in Black Gorge.”

“By a twist of fate, I came to know the young chief of the Zhao Family Stronghold, and he brought his men to support me in retaking Yamu City.”

“The bird is his — it can be trusted. If the bird were to fall into enemy hands, we simply wouldn’t receive a reply, which would tell us something had gone wrong. For now, it works very well.”

Huo Baixue gave a nod and asked nothing more.

That wasn’t what mattered right now. If it could be trusted, then it was enough.

“Baixue, we need to pick up the pace.” Feng Jiu’er’s voice came again.

“Even if we can no longer prevent the two enemy forces from joining up, we must still arrive in time to reinforce our troops when they come under their combined assault.”

“If the northern district falls, the civilian casualties in Yamu City will be catastrophic.”

“And by then, even our main grain storehouse would fall into enemy hands — which would be a serious blow to our future campaign against the Crown Prince’s main forces.”

“Very well.” Huo Baixue stood. “Jiu’er, when do we set out? I’ll go and give the order.”

“We depart at the third watch of the night. If all goes smoothly, we can reach the western city gate before nightfall tomorrow.” Feng Jiu’er said softly.

“Understood.” Huo Baixue pushed back her chair and stepped outside.

A short while later, she returned to the tent.

“Go and get some rest.” Feng Jiu’er’s voice drifted out from within.

“Jiu’er, you should rest too.” Huo Baixue didn’t refuse, and sat down on the edge of her own bed, bending to pull off her boots.

“I’ll be fine.” Feng Jiu’er rose, rolled up the map, and held it in hand.

She looked back at Huo Baixue and said softly, “Rest well. I’ll be in the carriage with Jian Yi, so I can still get some sleep on the road.”

Huo Baixue gave a nod and lay down.

Feng Jiu’er gave her one last glance, then turned and walked out.

Back in Jian Yi’s tent, Feng Jiu’er found that he had already fallen sound asleep. She settled at the writing table, carefully spread the map open, and took up her brush and paper.

After studying the map a while longer, she reached over for a military treatise and lay down quietly on the long couch, reading with the book in her arms.

From time to time she would mark passages with her brush; from time to time she would pick up her paper and sketch things out.

Whenever an important idea came to her, Feng Jiu’er would sit up and lean over the desk, making careful notes.

To look at her, she was no more than a girl of high school age — yet few would have guessed that the challenges before her were a hundred, a thousand times more severe than any examination.

Feng Jiu’er was deeply worried that a single mistake on her part would not only bring harm to her brothers, but drag the entire population of Yamu City down with her.

Even if what she was doing now was only planning on paper, she refused to let any opportunity to learn pass her by.

At some point — she could not have said when — the girl on the long couch held her military treatise close and slowly let her eyes fall shut.

She seemed to be dreaming of something, for the corners of her mouth curved up gently, and she murmured softly, “Ninth Imperial Uncle.”

Then, in a heartbeat, she sank back into sleep.

Jian Yi, who had been resting with his eyes closed, slowly opened them. He carefully lifted himself out of the soaking tub and pulled on his outer garment.

He cast a glance at the girl on the long couch — nearly hidden behind the writing desk, with only the back of her head in view — then retrieved a blanket from the bed and made his way silently to her side.

He bent down slowly and gently drew the blanket over Feng Jiu’er.