Song Yang saw her panicked expression and felt somewhat reluctant to continue, offering comfort: “My lord, His Majesty he…”
Who knew that Qing Xia would turn a deaf ear and continue speaking: “This desert here is close to the Wolf Fang Sand Dunes, with Lu Huayang’s army stationed there for as long as five or six years. What if they encounter them? Oh right, there’s also a band of extremely powerful horse bandits that even Guli A’shu has to respectfully avoid. They’re called… Song Yang, do you know what they’re called? I only remember it’s a woman.”
Song Yang shook his head and frowned: “This subordinate doesn’t know.”
Qing Xia paced back and forth in the great tent, saying: “It seems her surname is Hua, yes, surname Hua. Three years ago when I passed through here, I once fought with her subordinates. They frequently rob passing merchant caravans and even dare to provoke the military. Their methods are quite ruthless. Lu Huayang once sent troops three times to suppress them but failed each time. Why exactly did Chu Li enter the desert? Could it be he wants to eliminate the northern barbarians in the desert? That doesn’t make sense…”
“My lord!” Song Yang finally said in a deep voice: “His Majesty is not a rash person. Since he’s risking entering the desert, he must have a reason that compels him to go. With the Nanjiang Wolf Army accompanying His Majesty, nothing will happen.”
Qing Xia shook her head, her expression grave, her brows tightly furrowed, slowly saying: “You don’t understand him. Precisely because he’s not a rash person, once he burns his bridges and decides to do something, he’ll fight to the death to accomplish it. Although the Nanjiang Wolf Army is fierce, entering the desert in September when the weather is dry and scorching hot, the underground rivers are dried up, and they’re unfamiliar with the terrain—like blind men on blind horses—they have neither favorable timing nor advantageous terrain. How can such a battle be fought? In politics there are never permanent friends. North Qin’s attitude has always been mysterious and unpredictable. What if Lu Huayang backstabs them? How could they resist? Moreover, the horse bandits here are fierce, each band comparable to well-trained armies. What if they fall into a trap, or the horse bandits unite to attack?”
“This infuriates me!” The usually calm and composed Qing Xia suddenly said angrily: “What exactly does this person want to do? How can he be so reckless? He’s not a three-year-old child. How can he act so freely without restraint? How am I supposed to strategize and help him? What if something happens? What then?”
“My lord…”
“No need to say more. Message officer!” Qing Xia turned and sat down in the center of the great tent, addressing the message officer: “Summon all the troops immediately. This official has something to say.”
In no time, all the generals crowded into the central military tent. Qing Xia sat high in the commander’s seat, her expression calm, speaking in a deep voice: “The situation has changed. This official now has urgent business to attend to. This matter concerns the life and death of our Great Chu. Even a moment’s delay could cause great turmoil, and this official must personally handle it. However, the affairs here absolutely cannot fall short of success. General Du!”
Du Guokai stepped forward upon hearing this and said in a deep voice: “This general is here!”
“During this official’s absence, all camp affairs will be under your full responsibility. I must take ten thousand men with me on this journey, leaving you only five thousand. You must use these five thousand men to continue guarding here as if nothing has happened, while pretending we still have fifteen thousand men. The cooking fires cannot be reduced, the tents cannot be struck, the night sentries must remain the same as before—there must not be the slightest change. As for the alliance meeting with Guli A’shu, I want you to delay it as much as possible, dragging it out for at least half a month.”
Du Guokai frowned slightly upon hearing this and said with difficulty: “The alliance between both sides has already been scheduled. This general…”
“Fool.” Qing Xia said sternly: “Why don’t you put on the pedantic appearance of the Celestial Empire and demand that the Xiongnu meet with minister’s protocol, requiring three kowtows and nine prostrations plus tribute? They will certainly refuse, then both sides will begin haggling. You can take this opportunity to delay for ten days or so—isn’t that simple? If that doesn’t work, claim illness, or lecture them about protocol, send civil officials to teach them proper etiquette. In short, just act like those old men from the capital’s Council of Elders.”
The generals couldn’t help but smile upon hearing this. Du Guokai knelt on one knee and said solemnly: “This general receives your orders and will not fail in this mission!”
“Quartermaster!”
“Present!”
“Prepare provisions for ten thousand men for half a month, make them into dried rations for the soldiers to carry. Prepare plenty of fresh water. Keep the equipment simple—just bring sufficient provisions.”
The quartermaster solemnly agreed. Qing Xia continued: “Release all our scouts and reconnaissance cavalry. Before dark today, I want a complete map of everything within a hundred li of Baideng Mountain. The various factions and garrison forces must be properly marked. If there’s even the slightest error, bring me your head.”
All generals unanimously accepted the orders. Qing Xia stood up and said: “General Huang Biao will accompany me. The rest will remain behind. Remember, it doesn’t matter whether the alliance succeeds or not—what’s important is delaying time. You who remain are in the midst of wolves and tigers. You must be extremely careful in your actions. You absolutely must not draw swords against the Xiongnu people, but you cannot lose face to them either, or they’ll see through our military’s true strength.”
“Alright, everyone disperse and make preparations. We depart at nightfall.”
The crowd dispersed. Qing Xia came to the rear camp and saw Jin Shaohuang packing his belongings. When Qing Xia saw him, she couldn’t help but show an apologetic expression and said solemnly: “You already know everything.”
“The entire army knows, how could I not know?” Jin Shaohuang smiled lightly, showing no sign of displeasure.
“I’m truly sorry. The alliance meeting must be postponed. I must break my word.”
Jin Shaohuang laughed: “Your eagerness to open trade surpasses even mine. For something to make you change your mind in such a short time, it must be a matter of great importance. How could I not understand?”
Upon hearing this, Qing Xia smiled slightly and said: “Thank you.”
Jin Shaohuang looked at Qing Xia and suddenly restrained his smile, speaking seriously: “The northern territories have divided powers, complex personnel, and harsh climate. Whatever you plan to do, you must be careful.”
Seeing him suddenly turn serious, Qing Xia couldn’t help but be startled. Jin Shaohuang saw this and chuckled, saying: “Well, the pleasantries are finished. I should be going too. Besides, that cart of vegetables was all secretly eaten by your soldiers, and I have no vegetables left to eat. I’ve long wanted to leave.”
Qing Xia nodded and for the first time showed this man a warm smile: “I’ll send people to escort you back. Take care on the road.”
Jin Shaohuang nodded.
Qing Xia turned and walked toward the great tent. Suddenly a gust of wind arose from the flat ground, blowing through her thin clothing and across her shoulders. Jin Shaohuang watched her figure in armor and suddenly felt that within this brilliantly talented, remarkably beautiful, young and accomplished first-rank official of the southeast, there was a bone-deep loneliness and coldness. He couldn’t help but stare somewhat blankly, a strange emotion rising in his heart. But in an instant, this man laughed self-mockingly—what was this about? That was a man, after all.
The long wind swept backward, all grasses swayed, and the sky gradually darkened.
In the evening, Jin Shaohuang had to leave first. He was, after all, the foremost wealthy merchant of the southeast, managing businesses spanning various industries. If something happened to him, it would surely cause great turmoil. Now that Qing Xia was entering the desert, with only five thousand men left here who still had to create a false impression to attract the attention of all grassland forces, dangers lurked everywhere. This god of wealth had to be sent back first.
“The green mountains remain unchanged, the flowing waters eternal. Young Master Jin, we shall meet again another day.”
Jin Shaohuang sat in the carriage, lifted the curtain to look at Qing Xia, and smiled lightly: “May you also take care on your journey, my lord.”
Qing Xia nodded and said to the soldiers ahead: “Let’s set off.”
“Wait!” Jin Shaohuang suddenly said, taking out a small, delicate white jade tablet and handing it to Qing Xia: “I don’t know if it will be useful—perhaps I’m being presumptuous. But the Jin family has been in commerce for years, with footprints across the world, and we have many dealings with merchants beyond the pass. This tablet might be of some use at a critical moment.”
Qing Xia took the white jade tablet and saw that it had gold inlay, with an exquisite appearance—it was a small golden ingot. Truly befitting a merchant’s style. She put it away and said: “Thank you for your kind intention, Young Master.”
Jin Shaohuang nodded: “Take care on your journey, my lord.”
“You too.”
The convoy gradually disappeared into the distance. The scouts returned with their reports, handing the terrain map to Qing Xia. Qing Xia frowned as she studied it for a while, formulated a feasible plan, then said to Song Yang: “Let’s go.”
Song Yang was just about to give the order when suddenly they heard a rider galloping from afar, not wearing Nanchu military uniform. Everyone was alarmed, fearing their movements might be exposed. Several archers immediately drew their bows and nocked arrows, ready to shoot at the approaching person.
“Wait!” Qing Xia suddenly said sternly, spurring her horse forward. She saw the newcomer wearing blue fitted clothing in a familiar style. When he drew closer, she indeed saw a small axe embroidered on his sleeve—it was someone from Penglai Valley. Her face lit up with joy as she quickly rode forward to meet him: “Is there news from Brother Yang?”
Seeing Qing Xia ride far ahead to meet him, with the other generals at some distance behind and the prairie wind being strong so they couldn’t hear their conversation, the man said solemnly: “Reporting to Young Master, it’s not news about Young Master Yang, but about Prince Xuan.”
A thunderous boom suddenly exploded in her mind. Qing Xia’s face instantly turned deathly pale, her eyes vacant, hardly believing her own ears. She nearly fell from her horse, slowly reaching out to clutch the clothing at her chest, breathing rapidly, her lips even trembling as she slowly said in a deep voice: “You… you’re certain?”
“Not certain, but we have about fifty percent confidence.”
“Heaven bless us!” Qing Xia slowly closed her eyes, raised her head to look at the pitch-black sky, and two streams of clear tears flowed down. Six years, Qin Zhiyan, I’ve searched for you for six years. Do you know how many days that is? More than two thousand days and nights. Do you know how I’ve lived through them? Thank goodness, thank goodness you’re safe. I knew it—how could anything happen to you? How could it?
“Where?”
“We didn’t actually see Prince Xuan himself, only saw that guard named Lian Zhou who serves under Prince Xuan. He appeared several times near Ruyun Tower, and later even stole the letters the young lady left in the building. We didn’t alert him but followed him all the way. Now he’s reached the vicinity of Huanchao Yi.”
“Huanchao Yi, Huanchao Yi.” Qing Xia murmured to herself. Wasn’t Huanchao Yi the place where they first met? Could it be that he was actually there? At this thought, her heart immediately came alive.