In early May, the northern war that had been halted due to the changes at Xiguan and the Battle of Yanmen’s defense resumed. Jiang Hanyuan received command at the battle front, taking over her father’s commander’s banner.

She did not disgrace Jiang Zuwang’s illustrious reputation. After brief adjustments, the war progressed steadily. She used one victory after another to repay the trust placed in her by that person sitting far away in the court.

On the tenth day of the fifth month, the great army recaptured Dai Commandery.

On the nineteenth day, they once again controlled the Hengshuo region, restoring the left flank situation from before the Xiguan incident.

By month’s end, they successfully marched to Guangning and met with veteran General Zhao Pu.

In early June, the latest battle report from Jiang Hanyuan was once again delivered to Shu Shenhui’s hands.

It was a tranquil evening, and he was in the study of Zhaoge Hall in the prince’s residence.

This was the place he had brought her that night during their early marriage. He remembered the occasion had arisen merely because he wanted to avoid the awkwardness of their sharing a bed, acting on a whim, but unexpectedly, after arriving, they seemed to meet as kindred spirits, conversing delightfully through the long night without noticing the passage of time.

Such moments would never come again.

Shu Shenhui stood before the maps they had once studied together and the great sand table they had once pointed at together.

In her memorial, she reported to him the latest developments on her side.

The right flank army, after bloody battles, had also advanced to the east of Lu River. From there, only a few hundred li remained to Yan Commandery. Zhou Qing was leading that allied force augmented by soldiers from eight tribes, temporarily stationed there, only awaiting battle orders to cross the river and join forces for the final battle.

After nearly half a year, they had finally reached the crucial battle that would determine the ultimate direction of this great war.

If Great Wei captured Yan Commandery, it would mean that the day of breaking through Daxing, Beidi’s new capital, was not far off.

Conversely, if Great Wei could not quickly take Yan Commandery, as an attacking force, not counting other factors, just the daily consumption of military provisions and fodder for the great army and war horses was a staggering amount. Turning this into a bottomless pit of prolonged warfare would be fatal for Great Wei—given enough time, they would likely collapse first before their opponents.

Chi Shu clearly understood this principle well.

Having failed at the crucial moment in the Battle of Xiguan, he had now completely changed from his previous counter-attacking stance, consolidating his forces and gathering almost all his elite troops around Yan Commandery, using the terrain and various passes for tight defense. It appeared that in the short term, he had no intention of engaging in another large-scale direct field battle with the Wei army, but rather wanted to wear down the Wei forces.

This battle was of great importance, so Jiang Hanyuan was naturally extremely cautious.

She did not plan to immediately join forces and directly attack Yan Commandery.

She had other thoughts.

North of Yan Commandery was Daxing, Beidi’s southern capital. The two places were connected, with the southern capital providing endless reinforcements and supplies to Yan Commandery, which was why Chi Shu had the confidence to wage a war of attrition with her.

On this north-south corridor, there were several cities, and among the towering mountains, a place called Luan Dao was strategically positioned at a chokepoint.

She planned to capture Luan Dao first, cutting off Yan Commandery’s rear supply line.

Shu Shenhui examined this against the sand table, and the more he looked, the more his heart surged with excitement.

This was indeed the best strategy to break Chi Shu’s tactics. Implementation would certainly not be easy, but compared to the prolonged war of attrition that would be even more disadvantageous to the Great Wei army, this was an opportunity.

If it were himself, he might not have been able to grasp the key points so quickly in this complex and chaotic situation and create an opportunity to defeat the enemy.

If her plan succeeded, Yan Commandery would become an isolated island. Then it wouldn’t be Chi Shu wearing her down, but her great army trapping Yan Commandery to death—catching a turtle in a jar.

How could such a woman exist in this world, combining courage and wisdom in one person? Thinking of how she had taken command in crisis shortly after her father’s death, suppressing her grief to take charge of everything, an intense emotion welled up in his heart.

If heaven could truly hear human wishes, he had one wish—that in the future, the youth who still occupied her heart could reunite with her and accompany her for life, leaving no more regrets.

He lingered in this place for a long time, repeatedly examining the terrain until it grew dark and lamps were lit before he emerged and returned to Fanzhi Courtyard.

Zhang Bao’s mood had finally improved recently.

Since His Highness had executed Gao He, not only had court affairs gone smoothly, but even outside the palace, those various slanderous rumors about His Highness had gradually diminished.

Tomorrow, there was another important matter—he would escort his father Li Xiangchun to Qiantang for retirement. This was His Highness’s arrangement, letting his father enjoy peaceful prosperity in Jiangnan alongside Consort Zhuang in the future.

This should be the dream retirement for people of their status. Zhang Bao was very happy for his father. They would depart early tomorrow morning, and everything was already packed. Tonight, he accompanied his father to bid farewell.

After dark, when the Regent Prince returned to Fanzhi Hall, he followed his father inside, and they bowed together. His Highness smiled, rose from his seat, came over, and personally helped his father up from the ground, saying he had served beside the Sacred Martial Emperor and Consort Zhuang, naturally holding an honored position. Having followed him until now, advanced in years, with an old chronic cough and wheeze that never seemed to heal, the imperial physicians said the southern climate should be beneficial for this condition, so he should go there and peacefully retire.

His Highness spoke this way because his father had initially seemed reluctant to go. But His Highness insisted, so he had to agree.

In Zhang Bao’s view, this was a great honor.

Indeed, father said nothing more, only insisting on completing his kowtow to His Highness. His Highness allowed this. Zhang Bao watched from the side, and after his father finished kowtowing and rose from the ground, he helped him up. Then he saw His Highness turn to him, instructing that he must take good care of the man on the road and not rush the journey, but travel slowly. Zhang Bao repeatedly agreed. Afterward, he looked at him and said: “By the time you arrive there, it should be July or August, right in the heat of summer. You needn’t hurry back—stay to accompany your father or serve the consort. I have plenty of people here.”

Zhang Bao said, “This slave doesn’t fear heat. I’ll return as soon as I arrive to continue serving Your Highness.”

“The consort once praised you, saying you were clever. You should stay and accompany her.”

Since His Highness had spoken thus, Zhang Bao could only agree. His Highness then summoned Wang Ren, instructing him to select a capable team to escort them to Jiangnan.

Not only that, but when they took their final leave, the Regent Prince personally escorted Father outside.

Zhang Bao supported the man as they walked a distance, then looked back to see the Regent Prince still standing outside the courtyard gate, watching his father’s departure.

“Father, His Highness truly values you. Such honor—I’m afraid even court officials haven’t received the like.”

After speaking, he saw Li Xiangchun beside him coughing incessantly, hunched over, with drooping brows and downcast eyes, his expression gloomy as if heavily burdened with worries. Zhang Bao didn’t dare speak further and escorted him to his room. After serving him to rest, since they would travel early tomorrow, he too went to sleep early.

The next day, the men Wang Ren had selected were waiting early. There wasn’t much luggage, and it was all loaded onto the horse cart. Zhang Bao rode in the cart with the old eunuch, leaving Chang’an for Jiangnan. The driver, following Zhang Bao’s instructions and fearing to jostle the old eunuch, didn’t dare travel quickly. He drove the cart at a leisurely pace for a day before staying at a roadside post station. That night, Zhang Bao and Li Xiangchun shared a room. Zhang Bao personally brought water and helped the old eunuch sit down. He squatted on the ground, rolled up his sleeves, and was about to help him wash his feet when he suddenly heard him say in a low voice: “You needn’t follow me tomorrow morning.”

Zhang Bao started and looked up to see him no longer displaying his usual sickly appearance. He stared at him with an extremely serious expression.

“I have something here that must be delivered to the princess consort. Take it, bring the guards, and set out quietly tomorrow morning.”

Zhang Bao grew even more confused: “What is Father asking me to deliver?”

The old eunuch spoke word by word: “Something more important than your life, my life, and everyone’s lives combined!”

He paused. “The princess consort should be fighting a war now. Go directly to Bingzhou to find Prefect Chen Heng, give it to him, and have him forward it to the princess consort.”

Zhang Bao stared at him steadily for a moment, suddenly recalling the recent events, and shivered.

Though he still didn’t know exactly what was happening, it certainly concerned His Highness. He immediately knelt and kowtowed: “Your son remembers! I will certainly deliver the item!”