Shu Shenhui glanced at it, his expression turning grave. He took the letter, turned back inside, walked to the desk where lamps burned, broke the wax seal, and opened it.

His eyes fell upon the extracted memorial. At first, he skimmed ten lines at a glance with a calm expression.

Chi Shu wasn’t dead and had stirred up the Eight Tribes. Though sudden, this wasn’t much of a surprise.

As for Jiang Zuowang, after receiving the Great He King’s plea for help, he immediately dispatched troops to provide aid. This also met Shu Shenhui’s expectations.

The reason he had previously delegated complete military authority to Jiang Zuowang was not only to express his reciprocal gesture toward this marriage alliance, but also considering that the Beidi would very likely strike first before the Great Wei launched their expedition.

Military situations were like fires. Giving Jiang Zuowang greater military authority was to enable him to react immediately, avoiding delays in military intelligence caused by messages traveling back and forth.

But when he read further, his gaze suddenly fixed, and his heart began pounding wildly.

He almost couldn’t believe his eyes. He stared at the final section of the memorial, his eyes quickly clouding with darkness.

It was after that night’s intimate conversation with Jiang Hanyuan in bed, when they understood each other’s shared wishes, that he had sent the military seal and imperial edict in the court’s name.

Though he hadn’t stated it explicitly at the time, he believed Jiang Zuowang surely understood.

Since his daughter had already married him, even though he had let her return to the military camp, Jiang Zuowang shouldn’t send her on dangerous missions anymore.

He thought this point required no further explanation.

With Jiang Zuowang’s experience, how could he not understand?

Shu Shenhui never imagined that Jiang Zuowang would dare act this way!

Looking at the memorial’s date, it should have been shortly after she returned to Yanmen.

She had just returned, and before leaving, she had argued with him so angrily. Her mood and travel fatigue probably hadn’t recovered yet, but Jiang Zuowang immediately sent her on such a dangerous route deep into Beidi territory!

Even if she had requested it herself, wouldn’t Jiang Zuowang refuse?

He was the General. If he didn’t agree, no matter how stubborn his daughter was, she absolutely couldn’t take the military seal and set out herself.

Shu Shenhui felt a surge of rage and anxiety, hating that the mountains blocked his way and he couldn’t fly there immediately. He threw down the memorial, turned toward the door, and shouted angrily: “Liu Xiang!”

The letter had been urgently sent from Yanmen. Liu Xiang, being from there, felt some concern, so he had personally delivered it earlier. After the Regent Prince received it, he didn’t leave immediately but waited nearby. Suddenly hearing the Regent Prince’s call with anger in his voice, his heart skipped a beat. He immediately hurried over and pushed the door open.

“What are Your Highness’s orders?”

“Immediately send an eight-hundred-li urgent dispatch! Relay my command to Yanmen! Tell Jiang Zuowang—”

He suddenly stopped, freezing stiffly.

Liu Xiang waited a moment. Seeing him standing motionless, staring at the memorial on the desk that contained who-knows-what, his face very ugly, Liu Xiang couldn’t help worrying even more for Jiang Zuowang.

One must know that the so-called eight-hundred-li urgent dispatch was limited to sudden military situations or equally significant news of that magnitude.

Looking at the Regent Prince’s expression, it didn’t seem to be about military matters—Liu Xiang was certain of this. No matter how grave the military situation, even if the Beidi were now pressing against Yanmen’s borders in a surprise attack, he felt the Regent Prince wouldn’t show such an ugly expression. Liu Xiang couldn’t help suspecting whether Jiang Zuowang had sent some news that deeply offended the Regent Prince.

Liu Xiang held his breath and waited a moment, then tentatively asked again: “Your Highness, what about General Jiang?” After asking, he saw no response. Liu Xiang didn’t dare speak again. After waiting another moment, he finally saw him raise his arm and wave dismissively.

Liu Xiang understood his meaning. He could only suppress his full belly of doubt and unease, bowed his head, and withdrew.

Shu Shenhui slowly sat down, gazing at the final paragraph of the memorial with a steady stare, motionless.

After the initial surge of rage and anxiety passed, he suddenly understood.

Even if she hadn’t yet departed, no one could stop her. If she truly was the most suitable candidate, Jiang Zuowang couldn’t.

As for himself…

Publicly, he was the Regent Prince.

Privately…

What right did he have? Someone who had just recently fallen out with her to such a degree—probably in her mind, after returning to her beloved Yanmen and being in her element like a fish in water, she had long since cast him aside.

He suppressed the sudden, intense, bitter feeling in his heart, slowly stood up, walked to the window, tilted his head slightly back, and gazed at the night sky for a long time.

Tonight, he had returned to this place. Outside the temporary palace, the moon was like an eyebrow, flowers bloomed luxuriantly, and pleasant, peaceful songs drifted faintly across the lake.

What about her?

Where was she watering her horses? Where was she drawing her sword?

Thousands of miles away in the northern lands, among sandy hills and vast wilderness under a dark moon and high winds, Jiang Hanyuan and her two thousand light cavalry had penetrated deep into Youzhou territory. Following the path along the Great Wall, using nightfall as cover, they galloped through desolate mountains and wilderness, swift as flying.

After leaving Gaoliu Pass and crossing a vague so-called border area, the next day Jiang Hanyuan and her troops had completely entered enemy territory.

Between rolling, magnificent mountain ranges spread vast wilderness, fertile grasslands, and cities dotting the landscape like a river of stars. This had originally been the land of former Jin, but starting several decades ago, it was gradually nibbled away by the Beidi, with the border finally pushed south to the current Yanmen line.

After occupying the northern gateway to the Central Plains, that long wall that had stood in the northern lands since ancient Zhao and Yan states, witnessing countless beacon fires, had completely lost its meaning for the Beidi. Over the decades, by now, except for a few positions that still maintained passes for message or supply transmission, the remaining sections were left to wind and sand erosion, with walls collapsing.

The former beacon fire military walls had now become ruins and abandoned lands in the wilderness, but were precisely serving as Jiang Hanyuan’s marching guide and cover.

This was their eighth night since departure.

Initially, they traveled through completely wild lands where they could ride all day without seeing a single person. This gave them the opportunity for rapid marching, covering three hundred li daily. But starting two days ago, according to map indications, they were gradually approaching Yan Prefecture, where the Youzhou Southern Palace was located. Indeed, unexpected encounters on the road began increasing.

Just that evening, when Jiang Hanyuan led her people along a section of ruined wall as before, she received a warning from Zhang Jun, who was scouting ahead. Just a few li away from them, a Beidi squad of several dozen men appeared, heading directly toward them.

With two thousand elite cavalry against several dozen men, it would naturally be effortless. But this force was currently operating near the Southern Palace, and eliminating Beidi soldiers wasn’t their purpose on this journey. They would avoid direct conflict if possible.

Jiang Hanyuan made an immediate decision, ordering a halt, complete consolidation, calming the horses, and pressing against the wall base to wait quietly for that squad to pass. At their closest moment, they were only twenty or thirty zhang apart. Jiang Hanyuan could even hear voices from the other side carried by the wind over the wall.

That appeared to be a squad conducting a routine patrol, completely unaware that just beyond a section of abandoned city wall not far from them, beneath the wall base, hid an army of two thousand men.

After that encounter passed, Jiang Hanyuan immediately adjusted the operational plan, switching to daytime hiding and nighttime movement.

Just a few hundred li north of Yan Prefecture, the map showed another city. They needed to pass through the area between the two places—traveling by day carried too much risk.

Her subordinates always executed her orders. During the day, they split into several groups, maintaining distances where they could still communicate, dispersing to hide in forests, mountain hollows, grasslands, and any available hiding places they could find. They gathered at nightfall to continue forward. Thus they proceeded, hiding by day and moving by night, patiently advancing.

Though this delayed travel time, such caution was soon proven very necessary. Probably due to fighting in the Great He direction, this area began encountering increasing numbers of messengers and scouts traveling back and forth. Sometimes they encountered them even at night. Fortunately, through caution, this evening, after marching all night, at dawn, they finally left the most dangerous middle area behind them, entering wilderness territory again on the ninth day.

Continuing at this pace, if nothing unexpected happened, they would reach Anlong Pass in three days.

Anlong Pass had been built by the Jin State in the early years to defend against the Beidi, and was also the necessary route for her northern march to the Eight Tribes—the greatest uncertainty in her plan, an unavoidable obstacle, a checkpoint that must be taken. The Beidi army heading to the Eight Tribes would also likely pass through Anlong Pass, so there would certainly be garrison troops there. The estimated numbers shouldn’t be very large, but they couldn’t possibly be easily captured either.

Jiang Hanyuan and her two thousand troops were prepared for a hard battle. Under this premise, the best method was naturally to catch them off guard with a surprise attack. Jiang Hanyuan gave herself three days. She must take it within three days. Any further delay would not only endanger Maple Leaf City, but their supplies brought on this expedition would also be exhausted.

Once they successfully passed Anlong Pass, the Maple Leaf City of the Eight Tribes would be right before them.

That evening, this light cavalry force continued following the abandoned Great Wall eastward. Around the hour of hai, the weather changed dramatically, and it began raining.

Having marched all night last night and only rested half the day today, it was already late, and everyone was tired. They should have found a place to rest, especially with the sudden rain. But nearby and as far as the eye could see, there was nothing but bare wilderness, scattered rocks, sparse trees—no suitable place to shelter from rain overnight.

The rain grew heavier. Soon, everyone was soaked from head to toe, and horse hooves began slipping, showing clear fatigue. Zhang Jun had also returned from scouting, saying he had looked around the area but found no suitable place to shelter from rain and rest.

“Forget it! General, no need to search! What’s a little rain like this! Let’s just keep going—the troops stopping here won’t make the rain any lighter!” Yang Hu wiped rainwater from his face and shouted.

The others felt the same way and voiced agreement.

As Jiang Hanyuan pondered, she suddenly remembered a location from the map. She raised her head slightly, looked at the pitch-black rainy night sky above, and said: “Southwest from here, about ten li further, there should be an old Jin military post station, built for garrison troops of nearby Great Wall beacon towers. It must be abandoned now. The rain is too heavy—the distance isn’t far, let’s still go check it out!”

Everyone was tired, but just now thinking there was nowhere to spend the night, they naturally continued forward. Now, hearing the female general say there might be a place, they couldn’t ask for more. Orders were quickly relayed, troops formed up, and followed Jiang Hanyuan toward the military post. When nearly there, Zhang Jun again led his men to scout ahead.

The rain grew heavier, everyone began feeling cold. After waiting another moment, they saw Zhang Jun galloping back, shouting: “General! There is an abandoned military post ahead—the place is quite large, everyone can squeeze in to spend the night. There’s also a forest behind, perfect for tethering horses!”

Hearing this, Jiang Hanyuan breathed a sigh of relief. Yang Hu and others were also delighted. Everyone rallied their spirits, followed Zhang Jun in a quickening pace, and soon arrived at the military post location.

Indeed, as Zhang Jun had said, this place was very large, square-shaped, and divided into front and back. There had originally been surrounding walls, but due to years of disrepair, the walls had collapsed in several places, and it was raining everywhere inside. However, it was still much better than being directly rained on outside.

The soldiers were usually well-trained. Upon reaching lodging, they were busy but orderly, first securing their mounts, feeding the horses, then attending to themselves.

Each person going to battle carried a pack made of waterproof oiled cloth containing flint, dried rations, clothing, and other necessities, tied to their horse’s back. But in tonight’s situation, where safety couldn’t be guaranteed, to enable everyone to react quickly to possible anomalies and leave promptly, Jiang Hanyuan didn’t allow bringing in such burdensome packs.

Jiang Hanyuan ordered taking only essential rations and weapons, leaving everything else on horseback. Fearing firelight might attract unwanted attention, except for brief lighting, no fires were lit. After entering, everyone wrung water from their clothes, ate some rations, then extinguished fires. They left guards in shifts while the rest lay down where they were.

Jiang Hanyuan skillfully handled her wet clothes, then sat leaning against a corner in the innermost area. Yang Hu lay sideways on the ground several steps from her feet, back toward her, using his body to create a relatively safe space for her. Beside him were comrade after comrade. Everyone was weary from travel. Now lying shoulder to shoulder, they soon all fell asleep one by one.

Jiang Hanyuan was accustomed to this way of spending nights. She also felt tired now. She sat in the darkness for a moment, hearing soldiers’ snoring around her, then also lay down to fall asleep quickly.

Uncle Fan had gone out to personally stand night watch, letting her rest.

She closed her eyes. Rain continued pattering in her ears. Perhaps this similar rainy night disturbed her mood, making her unable to fall asleep for a while.

She had to sleep. Without sleep, she wouldn’t have enough energy to continue marching tomorrow.

She slowly breathed several times.

Beside her, two thousand soldiers sleeping with weapons ready placed infinite trust in her, entrusting their lives to her.

The people in Maple Leaf City might also be fighting bloody battles at this moment, urgently awaiting Great Wei reinforcements.

She quickly dispelled distracting thoughts from her mind, continued closing her eyes for a moment, and slowly, as wished, drowsiness came and she fell asleep.

Around midnight, suddenly, a deep and sharp whistle reached her ears.

This was a warning from outside sentries, indicating an emergency.

Jiang Hanyuan jolted awake, eyes flying open. Yang Hu at her feet also quickly woke, leaping up from the ground, shouting to companions on the ground: “Situation! Wake up!”

A night watch soldier rushed in, shouting: “General, a group of people came from behind, seeming like Beidi. It’s raining outside, they haven’t lit torches, discovered late—they’re less than two li away! Looks like a supply convoy, probably also wanting to shelter here overnight!”

The soldiers sleeping on the ground inside had all awakened, grabbing their weapons. Jiang Hanyuan went out, climbed up a half-collapsed surrounding wall, and looked toward the direction they had come from during the day.

In the dark night, through the rain curtain, indeed there was a group that looked like a convoy heading this way.

“Should we leave immediately?” Fan Jing asked her.

This group numbered about three hundred by estimation, and they were already very close.

Jiang Hanyuan stood high, surveying the surroundings.

The area was all wilderness. Except for that small forest not far away, there was no visual obstruction. For two thousand men with horses to leave undetected had little certainty.

“No.” She leaped down from the wall top.

“Everyone immediately erase your traces and withdraw to the forest. Wait for them to settle, then find an opportunity to leave.”

Fan Jing relayed the order. Soldiers quickly withdrew from the post, using night rain as cover, silently melting into that forest several zhang away, disappearing from sight.

These days, the allied forces of Beidi and the Eight Tribes rebels were attacking Maple Leaf City. The battle was deadlocked with greater losses than expected. This was a supply convoy heading there, mainly carrying arrows. Due to urgent demands, the transport troops had been traveling for several days and nights. Tonight, encountering rain, exhausted, and knowing of this nearby location, they had temporarily detoured here.

Jiang Hanyuan hid in the forest with soldiers ambushing behind her. She closely watched the area ahead.

That force approached the abandoned post. Under a captain’s command, they stopped the long convoy loaded with supplies in front, then those several hundred men poured into the post. Soon light appeared inside, with clear sounds of chaotic footsteps moving back and forth.

She waited patiently. The rain lessened. After about two quarter-hours had passed, the movement inside gradually disappeared, finally becoming completely quiet—the people inside should have all fallen asleep.

By then, the rain had also stopped.

Jiang Hanyuan waited another two quarter-hours, then looked toward Zhang Jun, hidden beside her.

Zhang Jun understood, crept over to scout, and after a moment returned, whispering: “Confirmed, only two sentries outside, one left and one right, guarding the post entrance. Everyone else is inside.”

Jiang Hanyuan summoned Yang Hu and Cui Jiu: “Go eliminate them.”

The two nodded, circling east and west around the collapsed walls, silently creeping to the left and right sides of the abandoned post that had long lost its main gate.

Torches burned at the entrance. Two burly Beidi soldiers with weapons in their arms stood at both ends of the front earthen platform, pacing back and forth.

Yang Hu and Cui Jiu hid behind broken walls on both sides, exchanged glances from afar, made a gesture to act together, agreeing on three breaths. When the time came, both immediately sprang out like fierce tigers, pouncing toward the two guards ahead.

Yang Hu held a dagger in his hand. That Beidi soldier couldn’t even react, let alone resist—his throat was sliced by the blade reaching from behind before he even noticed. Blood spurted out. Shocked, he instinctively opened his mouth to scream, but was tightly covered by a powerful hand, unable to make any sound.

This Beidi soldier was remarkably tough. Even in this state, he still struggled fiercely, trying to draw his sword. How could he manage it? During the struggle, his sword fell. Yang Hu hooked the scabbard with his foot to prevent it from hitting the ground and making noise, then gripped the head of this not-yet-dead Beidi soldier with both hands and forcefully twisted sideways.

With a muffled sound of bone cracking from within flesh, this Beidi soldier’s neck was snapped alive. He died, and his body finally went completely limp on the ground.

Once Yang Hu succeeded, he immediately dragged both man and weapon to the broken wall where he had hidden, then pushed the corpse into a dark corner. Turning to look at his comrade, he saw Cui Jiu had also succeeded. The two made a retreat gesture to each other and quickly returned.