Gui Yuanshu faced unprecedented pressure. Truthfully speaking, he felt that ever since he had pledged himself to Prince Ning Li Chi, his days had been quite comfortable — a comfort that left him feeling somewhat guilty.

Now this suddenly arriving pressure made him somewhat anxious, yet it also ignited his fighting spirit.

The enemy also had a vast intelligence organization, and perhaps there was someone of similar standing who commanded that organization.

So if he were to lose to his opponent — never mind that it could affect the larger situation — even if it wouldn’t, Gui Yuanshu could not accept that.

Zheng Shunshun could see what was weighing on his superior and smiled: “Chief, this time we’ve finally found a worthy opponent, haven’t we?”

The remark made Gui Yuanshu unable to suppress a laugh.

“Indeed — being undefeated for so long gets rather lonely.”

Gui Yuanshu tossed back a reply, and then everyone started laughing without a care in the world. Anxiety was anxiety — it didn’t stop them from boasting.

“Let’s get it done!”

Gui Yuanshu let out a long, slow breath.

From Lulou Town to the territory of Liangzhou, only a single mountain range separated them — the Zhumang Mountains, which stretched long from north to south and narrow from east to west. Even at its narrowest point, however, it still spanned more than a hundred li.

The Tuotuo River cut straight through the middle of the Zhumang Mountains. The stretch where it passed through was known by the local people as Eagle Soar Gorge.

Traveling downstream by boat, when you looked up as you passed through the gorge, you could see eagles circling high overhead. There were a great many mountain eagles in these peaks — which was most likely where the gorge had gotten its name.

Before Gui Yuanshu set out in person, he had already dispatched a large number of agents into Liangzhou to gather intelligence.

He was certain: the enemy was already fully aware of this. In fact, intelligence gathered by the Spy Guard Army might reach the enemy before it reached his own side.

The most difficult situation was this — unable to distinguish friend from foe.

Gui Yuanshu was no immortal. He had no way of knowing which members of the Spy Guard Army were the enemy’s operatives. He had only a rough general direction to work with.

But if the enemy had planned this far in advance, it would not be just the Cloud-Mist Map and Landscape Seal operatives — there would be others who had long since infiltrated the Spy Guard Army.

Fortunately, he still had those four indispensable companions at his side.

Zheng Shunshun and the other three had been with Gui Yuanshu from the very beginning. With those four around, at least certain matters could still be handled properly.

“Do the job well and go back to ask the lord for a reward.”

Before disembarking, Gui Yuanshu looked at the old brothers by his side: “When we came and took over, what we inherited was already a formidable Spy Guard Army. So there was never any way for us to show how capable we ourselves are. This time is our real chance to truly show our worth.”

Zheng Shunshun laughed: “Same old rule — the credit gets split between you and us, the reward money goes entirely to us.”

Everyone burst out laughing.

The place where they disembarked was called Yunlai Village. The very name spoke plainly of the most earnest hope of its common folk.

When Gui Yuanshu and his party arrived at the village entrance, the agents dispatched ahead of them were already waiting. The moment they saw Gui Yuanshu and the others, they quickly stepped forward to pay their respects.

“Have you found anything yet?”

Gui Yuanshu cut straight to the point.

The Spy Guard Army leader stationed here was a team commander named Liu Yuan. He led several dozen men and was himself a veteran of the Spy Guard Army, having served for four or five years.

“In reply to my lord — we have.”

Liu Yuan bowed: “Up ahead there is a large town called Cradle Town. Its population is four or five thousand, mostly fishermen, with some in the river transport trade as well. However, from several days ago, all vessels have been moored at the bank without moving — and boats have been arriving continuously since then. Your subordinate therefore surmises that Cradle Town is where the Yongzhou Army is assembling its fleet.”

Gui Yuanshu asked: “How far from here?”

Liu Yuan bowed: “Riding at a steady pace, roughly two and a half hours.”

Gui Yuanshu gave a brief nod, then pointed toward the grove of trees ahead: “Let’s rest over there. Tell me everything in detail.”

Once everyone had entered the grove, Gui Yuanshu sat down and said: “You have been here for several days already. Tell me everything you have found.”

Liu Yuan said: “No large-scale Yongzhou Army formations have been spotted — not even Liangzhou’s own forces have been seen. Your subordinate had men scout the surrounding area for several dozen li in every direction, and found no signs of any major troop movements.”

Gui Yuanshu nodded: “No troops in Cradle Town either?”

Liu Yuan said: “No troops — but there are large numbers of able-bodied men, dressed in ordinary commoner clothing. Your subordinate believes they are likely Liangzhou soldiers in disguise.”

Gui Yuanshu asked: “Roughly how many?”

Liu Yuan said: “Going by what can be seen on the surface, there appear to be around a thousand or so.”

Gui Yuanshu frowned slightly: “Only about a thousand. Not very many at all.”

Guarding such a large fleet of vessels with only a thousand men — by any reckoning, that was not many.

He looked at Liu Yuan and asked: “What is your assessment?”

Liu Yuan said: “Your subordinate believes that what can be seen may not all be real. If all the vessels the Yongzhou Army needs to cross the river must be assembled at Cradle Town, then it cannot possibly be guarded by only a thousand men. It is likely a deliberate show of weakness.”

Gui Yuanshu nodded: “Your meaning is that they know we will come to investigate, and so they have deliberately left this gap exposed for us to find.”

Liu Yuan said: “If we discover that the fleet is barely guarded, we may well arrange forces to launch a sneak attack. Set fire to all the ships, and the Yongzhou Army would have great difficulty crossing the river. So your subordinate suspects there must be an ambush laid at Cradle Town.”

Gui Yuanshu said: “Your reasoning makes sense. Yet if Cradle Town truly is where the fleet is located, then…”

He exhaled slowly: “Sometimes, even knowing the danger, you still have to press forward. The lord has entrusted this task to our Spy Guard Army — we cannot let him down.”

Liu Yuan still urged caution: “We could call in more reinforcements first. Your subordinate has looked carefully — the fleet is not yet very large, and clearly the vessels have not all been gathered yet. We still have time. Better to investigate thoroughly before making a move.”

Gui Yuanshu turned to Zheng Shunshun: “Send someone back to request the lord dispatch a unit of combat troops to hold position at the riverbank. The moment we send word, they can come over in our fast boats and attack Cradle Town.”

Zheng Shunshun immediately assented and instructed a trusted subordinate to carry the message.

“Move out.”

Gui Yuanshu rose to his feet: “Let’s go take a look at Cradle Town.”

That night, in a reed thicket outside Cradle Town.

They peered into the distance. A great many vessels were moored along the bank, among them several Dachu warships — not a small number. Though worn and old, they were far larger than the civilian boats and stood out prominently.

The area where the fleet was anchored blazed with lantern light. It was clear that figures were moving about on every ship.

“The ambush is hidden on the ships.”

Liu Yuan lowered his voice and said to Gui Yuanshu: “With that many ships, you could hide ten thousand men without any trouble. If we were to attack recklessly, we would certainly take a beating.”

Gui Yuanshu gave a soft nod: “All of you return to the village and wait for word. Zheng Shunshun, come with me. We are leaving for two days.”

Everyone was momentarily stunned. Gui Yuanshu taking just one person with him — how dangerous would that be, here in enemy territory?

Liu Yuan urged him strongly to reconsider, but Gui Yuanshu would not hear of it.

He brought Zheng Shunshun along, and the two of them slipped away under cover of darkness. By the time dawn broke, they were already several dozen li away.

They found a small fishing village and, rather than enter it directly, sought a secluded spot nearby and slept for a while to restore their energy.

In the afternoon, after eating some dried rations, the two watched carefully for an opportunity and then slipped into the fishing village — only to find it completely empty, not a soul in sight.

From the dust settled on the furniture in each household, it was clear the villagers had moved away at least ten to fifteen days ago.

The two searched through the village, found two sets of worn and tattered clothing to change into, and then continued on their way in search of the next village.

After another half-day’s walk, a larger village came into view ahead. Even from outside the village, there appeared to be people on patrol.

The two found another place to lie low and waited for darkness. Deep in the night, when all was still and quiet, they crept silently forward.

This village was noticeably larger than the one they had encountered earlier — but the problem was far greater.

Because the number of people inside the village was far beyond anything it could possibly hold.

Crouching in a corner, Gui Yuanshu lowered his voice: “It seems the villagers from the surrounding area have all been gathered here.”

Zheng Shunshun said: “But why would they round up all the common people here?”

Gui Yuanshu said: “Smear your face a bit dirtier. We blend in. Once we’re inside, we’ll know what they want with them.”

Zheng Shunshun nearly jumped out of his skin: “My lord — blend in? What if we can’t get back out?”

Gui Yuanshu said: “If you get back out, collect your own reward. If you don’t get back out, the brothers will collect your death payment on your behalf — and then spend it on food, drink, and revelry. Take your pick.”

Zheng Shunshun thought to himself: then whatever happens, I’ve got to get back out.

The two men slipped into the crowd when no one was looking. The common folk were all crowded together sleeping and took no notice.

Not long after daybreak, men came over, cracking their whips with sharp snapping sounds. The common people were startled and scrambled to their feet.

“Men — all of you come over. Women and children, stay where you are.”

The man with the cracking whip called out loudly: “As we promised before, we are giving out new clothing today. The men will receive theirs first.”

Upon hearing they were receiving clothing, the common folk, though frightened, followed those men along all the same. Gui Yuanshu and Zheng Shunshun blended into the crowd and went with them. They quickly arrived outside the village.

There were many Liangzhou soldiers on the open ground, along with piles of clothing that looked like mountains, clearly having been transported there overnight.

Each man received a set — and to their shock, they were Yongzhou Army uniforms.

By this point, Gui Yuanshu and Zheng Shunshun even if they wanted to leave, there was no way to leave. They queued up to receive their uniforms, then were herded to one side to change into them.

Afterward, the man with the whip called out loudly: “All of you are now heading to Cradle Town. Once you arrive, each person will be given one liang of silver. Anyone who runs away en route will be killed on the spot. Take the main road — there will be people handing out food at the roadside checkpoint: meat-filled buns, two per person.”

Zheng Shunshun lowered his voice: “They’re even giving out meat buns.”

Gui Yuanshu sighed quietly: “A last meal before the execution…”

Zheng Shunshun recoiled in shock, then understood at once — these common people were all being driven toward Cradle Town to die as cannon fodder.

“But how can they be certain we will attack Cradle Town?”

Zheng Shunshun asked in a hushed voice.

Gui Yuanshu shook his head: “Go collect the meat buns first.”

Zheng Shunshun: “Isn’t that a last meal before execution?”

Gui Yuanshu: “Are you hungry?”

Zheng Shunshun: “I am.”

Gui Yuanshu: “Then eat. Don’t overthink it.”

The two followed the queue forward. At the roadside checkpoint, Liangzhou soldiers were handing out food — and they were indeed large meat-filled buns.

Two was clearly not enough, so Gui Yuanshu went ahead and pilfered three more. When he tried to share them with Zheng Shunshun, he found that Zheng Shunshun had already swiped four for himself.

They were then brought back into Cradle Town and told to board the ships. By orders, no one was to leave the ships — anyone who did would be executed on the spot.

Gui Yuanshu and Zheng Shunshun, of course, had nothing to fear from this level of surveillance. What could it possibly do to stop the two of them from slipping away in the night?

In the night, Gui Yuanshu was preparing to head back and send a message. He and Zheng Shunshun had originally planned to steal a boat from some village and sneak into Cradle Town — they had not expected to get in this way.

He was just about to disembark when he spotted a cavalry unit entering the camp. The man at the lead vaulted down from his horse, and a group of people rushed forward to receive him.

Though it was the dead of night, the torchlight did not illuminate that man’s face from a distance clearly enough to see his features. Yet Gui Yuanshu felt an inexplicable surge of revulsion the moment he laid eyes on him — the more he looked, the more he found the man disagreeable.

Then, looking again — the man’s face was covered by a gray mask.

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