In the study of the Liangzhou Provincial Governor’s mansion, charcoal fire warmed the entire room, with wisps of smoke permeating the air. On the heavy nanmu wood desk inlaid with gold thread lay a letter marked with the word “Confidential” and bearing the special red seal of the Ministry of War.

This letter had just been delivered to Duan Xu’s desk by express courier, and he had opened it less than an hour ago. Now he sat behind his desk with Meng Wan and Xia Qing Sheng standing before him. He made no effort to hide the letter from them; it lay open on the desk for them to see clearly.

Meng Wan’s eyes were somber as she clenched her fists and said, “This is outrageous! They’re sending you to your death!”

Duan Xu rested his arms on the desk, interlocking and then releasing his fingers—his habit when deep in thought.

After a moment of silence, Duan Xu looked up and said, “Commander Qin’s reasoning isn’t wrong. Liangzhou has been recaptured, but most of Yuzhou remains in the hands of the Danzhi army. South of Yuzhou lies open plains, and the Great Liang would have no natural defenses left. If the Hu Qi people take Yuzhou, they’ll advance directly toward the Southern Capital, so Yuzhou absolutely cannot be lost. Both Danzhi and Great Liang understand this, which is why that’s the most critical battlefield, with fighting at a stalemate.”

“The Danzhi are conducting a long-distance campaign and most fear prolonged engagements. Six cities in Yuzhou remain in the hands of Great Liang’s elite forces, and unable to take them quickly, Danzhi will inevitably send reinforcements. Having lost Liangzhou, this is the only route they can use for reinforcements.”

Duan Xu traced a line with his index finger across the map on the table, indicating the rear of Yuzhou and the Guan River line.

“But the rear of Yuzhou is heavily guarded by Danzhi troops. They’ll anticipate our attempt to cut off their reinforcement route and will be prepared for a fight to the death. The Taibai Army has only eighty thousand men and cannot withstand such losses. To save Yuzhou, we need to…”

Duan Xu moved his hand to Liangzhou on the map, pointing to the Guan River section near Liangzhou: “Cross the Guan River, circle to occupy Shuozhou, the city controlled by Danzhi, and cut off the Hu Qi people’s north-south passage along the Guan River. By spring, when the Guan River thaws, Danzhi will be powerless to change the situation.”

Meng Wan laughed bitterly in her anger and said, “Yes, Commander Qin’s thinking isn’t wrong—it’s easy to say such things. Let’s not even mention that when spring comes and the Guan River thaws, we’ll be like dead chess pieces trapped in Shuozhou. Just considering the task of crossing the Guan River to attack Danzhi—how could that be easy? When Qin Huanda faces the Danzhi army, he always maintains a defensive position rather than attacking, yet he wants us to attack Danzhi?”

“For something this important, why doesn’t he send his own Suying and Shengjie armies? Those are his troops! He’s Duke Pei’s brother-in-law, and you’re a thorn in his side. He’s sending you to your death!” As Meng Wan spoke, her eyes reddened, and she slammed her fist on the table: “Damn it! Even at a time like this, they haven’t forgotten their filthy schemes to eliminate opponents!”

Having spent years in military camps, though from an official family, she had picked up some coarse language.

Duan Xu’s eyes maintained their clear and calm demeanor. He even smiled, a departure from his previously serious expression, his manner relaxed.

“Commander Qin is, after all, the Grand Marshal of all armies in the realm, and military orders cannot be defied. If someone must die to protect Great Liang, how can we argue about who should or shouldn’t go? Commander Qin sending me to my death means he thinks highly of me, doesn’t it?”

Meng Wan stared at Duan Xu with wide eyes, feeling pity for his misfortune and anger at his lack of resistance. The Meng and Duan families had been friends for generations, and she had known Duan Xu for many years, yet she never understood how he could have such a temperament—turning bad situations into good ones, never complaining about anyone.

Duan Xu stood up. He was tall and slender, with handsome features. When he smiled, he truly deserved to be described as having “bright eyes and white teeth,” with a cheerful and open-minded aura.

He walked to the front of the desk and turned his gaze toward the silent Xia Qing Sheng. Xia Qing Sheng, like Meng Wan, had come with him from the Imperial Guard in the Southern Capital. Typically a man of few words, he now frowned with a grave expression.

“Qing Sheng, what’s wrong?”

Xia Qing Sheng bit his lip, suddenly knelt, and bowed to him, saying resolutely: “I have brought misfortune upon the General. If not for saving my sister, you wouldn’t have conflicted with Young Master Fan and been impeached by Lord Fang, leading to today’s perilous situation.”

He raised his eyes to look at Duan Xu, his gaze filled with guilt yet determined. He solemnly declared: “Whatever the General decides, I will follow you to the death!”

Duan Xu looked at the resolute Xia Qing Sheng, then at the angry Meng Wan, and couldn’t help but laugh heartily, causing both Xia Qing Sheng and Meng Wan to look astonished.

Duan Xu had always been very fond of laughing. In all the years Meng Wan had known him, she had never seen him with a worried expression. Even so, she still couldn’t adapt to his sudden smiles.

Duan Xu reached out to help Xia Qing Sheng up, then said to them: “What’s all this? Why do you both have such expressions, as if about to make noble sacrifices? Are you so certain I’ll lose?”

“I’m informing you two in advance, but don’t reveal a word of this to anyone else. Qing Sheng, tell Lieutenant General Wu to come find me at the Governor’s mansion in two hours. Meng Wan, come with me. We have a matter to attend to.”

Duan Xu patted Xia Qing Sheng’s shoulder as if to reassure him. With his smiling face, he didn’t seem to think this was a significant issue. After giving his instructions, he left the Governor’s mansion.

At the frontier, he maintained his style from the Southern Capital, not bringing guards with him. This time, he walked out of the Governor’s mansion with only Meng Wan, stood for a while on the still-desolate street with traces of blood, and then turned right toward the small residence beside the Governor’s mansion.

A young woman sat on the steps at the entrance of the residence. She wore a moon-white padded jacket with a lotus-pink cloak, showing a circle of white fur at the neck. Her appearance was sweet, her white skin tinged with a rosy blush, like a peach.

This young woman held an intricately designed sugar figurine in her hand. A boy wearing a blue jacket held a similar one, sitting beside her, nestled against her. Around them gathered a circle of seven and eight-year-old children, sitting on the ground, looking up attentively as they listened to the woman telling stories.

As soon as Meng Wan saw He Xiaoxiao, she became irritated: “General, these days you’ve assigned me to take care of her. She wanted a house, food, clothes—I gave her everything. Now she’s living like a pampered young lady. How much longer will you look after her?”

Duan Xu said casually: “Didn’t you say she might be one of Pei’s people, getting close to me with ill intentions? She’s asked for food and a house but hasn’t tried to take my life, so isn’t that good? But let’s not discuss that now. How has your interaction with her been these days?”

Meng Wan suppressed her anger and reported while holding her sword: “She claims to have no relatives. Xue Chen Ying’s father once helped her, so she takes care of Xue Chen Ying. However, I’ve inquired around, and no one in Liangzhou has seen her before, nor has anyone heard Xue Chen Ying’s father mention her.”

“These past few days, I’ve deliberately asked her about weather changes, and each time she has predicted correctly, accurately down to the hour, including wind direction and strength. But, General, I don’t think this person can be trusted.”

Duan Xu neither affirmed nor denied Meng Wan’s assessment, merely saying: “I understand.”

As they approached the small courtyard entrance where the group gathered, they heard He Xiaoxiao’s clear voice.

“The evil ghost was as beautiful as flowers and jade, but with pitch-black eyes, holding a large jar that dripped with blood. She suddenly grew fangs and sharp claws, opening her bloody mouth wide…”

He Simu raised her delicate hands, feigning ferocity as if about to pounce, causing the circle of children to cry out in fear. Her expression immediately softened as she burst into laughter, and the children who had run away came back.

A little girl with pigtails trembled and said: “Big sister, are there ghosts? Are ghosts so frightening?”

“Of course there are. Chen Ying and I were almost eaten! If you ever encounter strange people, especially those with pitch-black eyes without whites, you must run quickly.” He Simu stroked her chest, looking as if still frightened: “I’m terrified of ghosts. I couldn’t sleep well for several nights, having nightmares all night! I heard that people eaten by ghosts will have bad luck for several lifetimes, and may never eat sugar again!”

The group of children immediately showed genuine fear in their eyes.

“Isn’t there anything that evil ghosts are afraid of?” A chubby little boy, perhaps worried about not being able to run fast enough, asked anxiously.

“I suppose there is. I heard my father say they fear religious artifacts, talismans, and…” He Simu thought for a moment and said: “Their leader, the Ghost King.”

The blue-clothed boy beside her exclaimed in surprise: “Ghost King? Do ghosts have a king? Like our Emperor?”

“More or less. I only know what my father told me. Only the Ghost King can reproduce with humans. Their offspring are born as evil ghosts, much stronger than ordinary evil ghosts, and usually inherit the position of Ghost King…”

He Simu was spreading knowledge about the ghost realm—her own story—to the group of children when she looked up and saw Duan Xu standing beyond the crowd of children, smiling at her.

He still wore casual clothes: a round-collared robe with victory knot patterns, his hair bound in a topknot with gray ribbons hanging down. Today the sunshine was excellent, and he stood in the brilliant light with clear, transparent eyes that reflected her image.

He Simu recalled that Feng Yi had told her Duan Xu was just nineteen this year—truly the most radiant time of youth.

He Simu revealed a happy smile. She stood up and bowed to Duan Xu, saying: “General.”

Duan Xu likewise bowed and said: “Miss He is knowledgeable and experienced. I admire that.”

He Simu was very modest, lowering her head and saying: “It’s all hearsay.”

She dispersed Chen Ying and the other children, turned toward Duan Xu, and stood before him, looking straight into his eyes: “General, is there something you need?”

“I’ve heard that Miss He possesses an extraordinary talent for predicting the weather,” Duan Xu said, getting straight to the point.

“This humble girl merely has better vision from birth, able to read winds and clouds. It’s just a minor skill.”

“Would you be willing to serve as a wind diviner for my Taibai Army?”

Military affairs depend on timing, geographical advantage, and human harmony. A wind diviner’s role is to predict the timing based on weather.

He Simu was somewhat surprised. With Meng Wan’s suspicions between them, shouldn’t this young general be wary of her? Why suddenly trust her with such an important task?

For now, she put on an expression of being overwhelmed by the honor and said: “If I can be by the General’s side, contributing to Great Liang, I would certainly not decline. What does the General need me to do?”

Ignoring Meng Wan’s anxious expression beside him, Duan Xu said: “Do you know which night in the coming days will have an east wind? The stronger the better, preferably with snow.”

Night, east wind, snow.

He Simu paused slightly, momentarily revealing a compassionate expression, as if guessing what Duan Xu planned to do. However, that compassion disappeared instantly, and He Simu resumed her joyful expression.

“The terrain here is low with many buildings that block the wind. If the General doesn’t mind, could you take me to the city wall to observe the wind?”

Meng Wan finally lost her patience. She had originally been confused about why Duan Xu would seek help from such a person of unknown origin, and now she was furious.

“The city wall involves defensive arrangements and is a military-restricted area. Who are you to think you can go there whenever you wish?”

“Who am I? Am I not the wind diviner for the Taibai Army, Commander Meng?” He Simu revealed an innocent smile.

“You!”

Duan Xu stopped Meng Wan as she was about to step forward. He looked at He Simu for a moment, then smiled and nodded: “Very well, I’ll take you to the city wall.”