Old General’s cute acting—Bu Liu witnessed it only once in his life.

That time was the great army’s first clash with the Tatars. Under Old General’s troop deployment and formation, the great army unexpectedly won.

This battle greatly boosted morale.

That night, Old General came to the vanguard camp, followed by four personal guards, each holding four jars of wine.

The great army won this battle because during reconnaissance, the vanguard camp discovered a gap in the enemy’s defense deployment.

Bu Liu was extremely proud. Old General had come specifically to reward them.

Sixteen jars of wine—three hundred vanguard soldiers each got a small half bowl. Old General drank a whole bowl and a half because everyone came to toast him.

When his eyes were blurred with drink, Old General hooked Bu Liu’s shoulder and sighed softly:

“You little rascal really made this old man proud. I didn’t save your life for nothing back then. My Liu-zi has accomplished something—how wonderful. When we return to the capital, we two should have a good drink together.”

Bu Liu smiled so wide his mouth wouldn’t close, saying with some pride: “With your alcohol tolerance…”

“What about my alcohol tolerance?”

Old General lightly patted his head: “Can’t you just indulge me a bit, humor me and make me happy?”

Bu Liu was so shocked his mouth hung open, his heart pounding.

“Miss Yan, you don’t know—from that day on, I actually envied the four personal guards at the General’s side. Envied that they could see the General’s many faces, while we could only see one.”

Yan Sanhe: “Who were the General’s four guards?”

“One scholar, three warriors.”

The scholar was named Ye Dong, responsible for all court and military documents, as well as the General’s daily living and meals.

This person was the General’s most trusted confidant, sleeping in the same tent as the General.

The three warriors were Tao Sheng, Tao Xun, and Tao Wei—a set of triplets.

The triplets’ mother was a camp prostitute who died in difficult childbirth bearing the three brothers. No one knew who their father was. The General took in all three and taught them martial arts.

“The three Tao brothers died in battle alongside the General, while Ye Dong committed suicide to follow his lord in death.”

Yan Sanhe didn’t understand: “Why commit suicide to follow his lord?”

Bu Liu lowered his eyes, his face carrying desolation.

“He was the General’s adopted son with deep feelings for the General. This young man was so clever, read so many books. Letters we wrote home—he wrote them for us.”

However deep the feelings, there was no need to die as a martyr.

Ye Dong’s death was suspicious.

Yan Sanhe made a mental note and asked again: “The General’s change should have appeared around the ninth month of the eighth year of Yonghe.”

Bu Liu nodded. “Miss Yan, if we weren’t looking backward from the end, I couldn’t see any change in the General at all. He hid it too well.”

“It wasn’t that he hid it well—you were too far from him.”

Yan Sanhe looked at him: “Tell me what irregularities you deduced.”

Bu Liu downed a cup of tea.

“I don’t know if my judgment is correct. Miss Yan, just listen. The first irregularity—on the first day of the ninth month in the eighth year of Yonghe, the court suddenly sent an army supervisor to the north.”

“Army supervisor?”

“As the name implies, someone to supervise and inspect the great army. Some also bring the Emperor’s edicts or oral instructions.”

“Under what circumstances would the court generally send an army supervisor down?”

“Generally when military campaigns are stalled or suffering consecutive defeats—then the court sends an army supervisor.”

“What about you all then?”

“At that time the campaign was going fairly smoothly. In a year’s time, we’d only lost three times. The General told us we’d definitely be home for New Year’s dinner before the year ended.”

Eating New Year’s dinner meant winning the battle and returning home in triumph.

In other words, Old General Zheng Yu had clear predictions about the campaign.

Yan Sanhe: “Who was the army supervisor the court sent?”

Bu Liu: “The Late Emperor’s trusted Grand Eunuch Yan Ruxian.”

Yan Ruxian?

Yan Sanhe felt not the slightest surprise hearing this name.

Many important matters for Emperor Yonghe Zhao Ji were handled through this Grand Eunuch.

Yan Sanhe: “Did Yan Ruxian bring an edict or oral instruction?”

Bu Liu laughed coldly: “The strange thing is precisely this—Supervisor Yan brought nothing. The great army immediately became unsettled. The army supervisor truly supervised the generals and commanders.

The great army’s true commanders were just two: one the Prince of Han, one Zheng Yu.

The Emperor certainly wouldn’t move against his own son, so there was only one reason—Old General Zheng.

Just when everyone thought Old General Zheng would be replaced, instead news came from the Commander-in-Chief’s tent—

The Emperor was indeed worried about the campaign, worried about the Prince of Han, which was why he sent a supervisor.

But why use an ox-cleaver to kill a chicken?

Yan Ruxian was the Emperor’s most favored person.

The Zheng Family Army watched Yan Ruhai’s every move with cold eyes. They saw he was very courteous to Old General. In the evenings, the two would often walk together at sunset.

Only then did everyone’s hearts settle down somewhat.

Yan Sanhe: “And the second irregularity?”

Bu Liu took a deep breath: “It was Old General himself.”

After Yan Ruxian arrived, though Old General still inspected each military camp as usual, his face showed only authority without smiles.

He suddenly became the lofty General, maintaining stern superior-subordinate relationships with everyone.

At the time everyone thought Old General was deliberately putting on a show for Yan Ruxian, so they didn’t take it to heart or think deeply about it.

What truly made Bu Liu notice something strange was the time he returned from surveying enemy positions and found Old General by a stream about fifteen li outside the camp, leading his horse and pacing.

Not a single person behind him.

Where were the three Tao brothers?

What if enemy troops attacked?

Bu Liu quickly ordered his subordinates to return to camp first while he galloped toward Old General.

The General looked up, saw it was him, and tensed his face: “What are you doing here?”

Bu Liu dismounted. “Came to walk with you. You being alone like this is quite dangerous.”

“Right outside our own camp—what danger could there be? Go back and rest.”

“You have something on your mind?”

“What kind of eyes do you have?”

“Never mind my eyes—you definitely have something on your mind.”

Bu Liu’s life had been saved by the General. Usually he paid extremely close attention to the General’s every word and deed. When the General had worries, his two eyebrows would squeeze into one.

“If you can talk about it, then talk. Maybe I can even give you advice.”

Old General swept him with a cold glance and said nothing.

Bu Liu cautiously probed: “Did that Yan fellow bully you?”

“How could he bully me?”

Old General pointed at him: “I’m worried about how to settle you bastards!”

Hearing this, Bu Liu couldn’t help feeling sad too.

After Old General finished this battle, he would definitely retire. Of his five sons, not one could inherit his mantle.

Which meant after this battle ended, the Zheng Family Army would cease to exist.

They would all be dispersed to other military camps. Though still training and fighting, it ultimately wouldn’t be the same.

Soulless.

Yes, the Zheng Family Army’s soul was Old General Zheng.

Old General had spent decades forging them together, creating a disciplined, battle-strong Zheng Family Army.

Once he left, everything would scatter.

Thinking of scattering, Bu Liu’s breath shortened. “General, I can’t bear it.”

“Can’t bear it? You still have to bear it. Liu-zi, in this world there’s no banquet that doesn’t end. Parents, spouses, children and grandchildren… in the end they’ll all leave you. Heaven is vast, earth is vast, in the end only you remain alone.”

The General’s voice was low and rich. Bu Liu heard it in a fog.

Why say such things out of nowhere?

He turned his head and jumped in shock.