Jiang Hanyuan didn’t know why she had sent such a battle report to Shu Shenhui. Originally, it wasn’t necessary. When generals are in the field, they need not accept even imperial commands, let alone other matters. The only thing she must do was promptly report battle results to the court after each engagement. She did not need to inform anyone about anything beyond battle results.

But she had told him anyway. Her purpose wasn’t to seek his opinion or need his approval. She knew the general direction of this strategy was sound.

She simply wanted him to know her thoughts. It was that impulse to share her thinking with him that prompted her, when she couldn’t sleep late at night, to rise and light a lamp, writing such a battle report about her pre-war thoughts and plans in the great tent.

She felt that when he received it, he should be pleased.

Since the letter’s contents weren’t suitable for public disclosure, it naturally didn’t follow the usual official document channels, but rather used an alternative message route established by Chen Heng in Bingzhou after the war began, with speed no less than urgent official dispatches.

Though the letter was filled with war-related content without a single personal word, appearing no different from a battle report, it was a private letter she had written to him.

After sending the letter, Jiang Hanyuan continued making various pre-war preparations as usual. About half a month later, she received his reply.

What surprised her slightly was that his reply came through court channels. Along with the reply, there was also a commendation decree from the court.

The great army had departed and was now stationed in wilderness on the border of Youyan. Previously she had secretly sent people to scout the Luan Dao area, gathering intelligence on defensive conditions to determine specific next steps. That day she happened to receive reports and was holding a military meeting with veteran General Zhao Pu and others.

According to reconnaissance, the person guarding Luan Dao was none other than Chi Shu’s uncle, Beidi’s Lord Zuochang, Mu Da. This man was not only extremely cunning and the mastermind behind the previous Xiguan incident, but his tribal forces were also foremost among various factions, wielding enormous influence. Chi Shu’s successful accession to the throne had largely depended on Lord Zuochang’s crucial role.

Chi Shu also recognized Luan Dao’s importance in the coming battles, which explained such troop deployment.

Lord Zuochang’s command was undoubtedly a major disadvantage. Direct assault had always been a last resort when no other options existed.

In the military meeting, generals expressed various opinions. Though none showed cowardice, they couldn’t immediately devise a reliable plan. The atmosphere was growing somewhat gloomy when court messengers arrived, publicly reading the commendation decree issued in the emperor’s name. Every general who had distinguished himself in previous battles and every soldier who had fought with exceptional valor were included without omission. Among those from Qingmu Camp, Yang Hu was granted the title of Fourth Rank General Mingwei, and Zhang Jun was made Sixth Rank Colonel Zhaowu.

The young emperor had also specially awarded Jiang Hanyuan a considerable amount of gold and silk. She ordered the entire army to hold martial competitions, with the final victors sharing the prizes.

Now that the previous battles had ended and both sides faced off, daily military training could become monotonous. Martial contests served as both training and offered prizes to win, exciting everyone. When soldiers learned the prizes were rewards the current emperor had given their general, but she kept nothing for herself, distributing them this way to the troops, their wholehearted devotion to her deepened even more.

The atmosphere throughout the camp was enthusiastic. Jiang Hanyuan avoided the crowds, deliberately leaving camp to find a secluded spot before taking out Shu Shenhui’s reply letter to read.

She had to admit that after reading his reply, her heart was filled with disappointment.

As if she had been vaguely expecting something that had suddenly come to nothing.

His reply was very simple: “Understood. Act entirely according to your intentions.”

Just these few brief words, without beginning or end, not a single extra character. The tone resembled an official reply from a superior to a subordinate.

What was wrong with him?

Jiang Hanyuan stood alone in the wilderness holding his reply, slightly dazed.

Ever since Wang Ren had delivered that betrothal blade to her at the beginning of the year, she had felt he seemed to have changed.

The scene when they parted last year remained vivid in her memory. His reluctant emotion, then, wanting to speak but stopping himself, was perhaps what had impulsively driven her to chase after him and say those words. Later, she couldn’t pinpoint exactly how he had changed. But this feeling grew increasingly strong.

At that time she had Wang Ren deliver a letter telling him she had received the precious blade and would safeguard it properly as he instructed, asking him to be at ease.

He must have received the letter, but there was no further response. Throughout the following nearly half a year, the front lines regularly received official documents from the court, but he never sent her even a single private letter. Only after her father’s death did she receive a condolence letter from him.

Though he comforted her in the letter, asking her to restrain her grief and accept what had happened, like this reply, in that condolence letter he wrote her, between the lines, she read only a regent prince’s consolation and concern for a subordinate. She felt no emotional expression from him.

When uncle died, he had still worried she was too grief-stricken, turning back to chase her to Yunluo and spending those days with her that still warmed her heart to remember. Now that Father was gone, why was he so indifferent?

In any case, at least nominally, they were still husband and wife.

What was wrong with him? What had happened? Why was he so cold toward her?

She stood there stunned, inexplicably sad, not even noticing the footsteps behind her until Zhang Jun stopped behind her and called her name, startling her to awareness.

She quickly hid the letter in her hand, composed herself, turned, and asked what the matter was.

Zhang Jun reported: “General, our men just brought news. The Jin state is going to be restored!”

Jiang Hanyuan was startled.

Zhang Jun explained this was intelligence from scouts previously sent to infiltrate Yan Commandery.

Reportedly, a group of former Jin ministers who had long ago taken refuge with the Beidi had finally found the young prince Huang Furong, who had fled for many years, and welcomed him to Yan Commandery. Not only did Chi Shu receive Huang Furong with courtesy, but Chi Shu also promised that after the war ended and the Wei army was defeated, he would return the Youyan territory that rightfully belonged to Jin, restore the Jin state, and accordingly, the people who had lived here for generations would recover their former status as Jin subjects.

Now, throughout Youzhou, the word was spreading that he was the young monk Wu Sheng from Jialan Temple in Luoyang years ago. Wu Sheng had once held teaching sessions in Luoyang, speaking like blooming lotus flowers, mesmerizing crowds who worshipped him devotedly. This story circulated widely among the people. Later, he left Jialan Temple to seek dharma in the west, and now, having returned, he was found by former ministers. The Beidi emperor Chi Shu respected him greatly and was willing to treat former Jin subjects kindly, thus making this decision. Huang Furong also pitied his former subjects, deciding to return to secular life and calling on local Youzhou people to resist the Wei army for future restoration.

This news spread like wildfire throughout Youzhou, becoming almost universally known.

If hearing about Jin’s restoration had only surprised her at first, now hearing Wu Sheng’s name from Zhang Jun’s mouth left her utterly shocked.

Wu Sheng had previously been secretly imprisoned by Shu Shenhui. To this day, she still doesn’t know where he is. How had he suddenly appeared in Yan Commandery, planning to return to secular life and restore the country?

Jiang Hanyuan recovered from her shock.

There were only two possibilities for this matter.

First, even if the person in Yan Commandery truly was Wu Sheng, he was very likely acting under coercion. She didn’t believe Wu Sheng would do such things himself. She had absolutely no doubt about this.

The other possibility was that Wu Sheng remained in Shu Shenhui’s hands. The so-called Jin prince in Yan Commandery was now an impostor.

Yan territory was already controlled by Wei forces, leaving only Youzhou. Chi Shu’s support for Youzhou’s former regime at this time had obvious purpose—to coordinate with his defensive strategy and wear down her great army.

Since this matter involved Wu Sheng, she couldn’t stand by and watch.

Jiang Hanyuan hurried back to the great tent, wrote a letter inquiring about Wu Sheng’s whereabouts, and ordered it sent to the Regent Prince at top speed.

After sending the letter, she remained restless, pacing alone in the great tent.

Chi Shu’s previous experience infiltrating Chang’an suddenly gave her inspiration.

The war had reached a standstill with no proper strategy to defeat the enemy. Now this new development had emerged.

Yan Commandery wasn’t far from here—why not personally investigate?

Besides the Wu Sheng matter, after entering the tiger’s den, perhaps there might be other gains as well.