“Everyone, here is the plan.” In a crude tent, a woman in cyan clothes slightly raised her pointed, thin chin. Her slender fingers pointed at a detailed terrain map on the desk as she spoke solemnly to the soldiers around her: “The operation will begin at the third quarter of the Chou hour (1:45 AM). Xia Zhi will lead the first squad to set an ambush at the Chichao Bridge between Chaohu Lake and Chishui River. Xi Rui and Bian Cang will each take five men to sneak under the bridge, destroy the river-crossing grass boats, and cut off the grappling hooks. Then Xia Zhi will launch the attack to eliminate the Xiao Cavalry’s defensive position on the bridge. Don’t be afraid of the battle expanding—just make sure to finish the fight within the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. Understood?”
“Understood!” Xia Zhi, Xi Rui, and Bian Cang immediately nodded and answered solemnly.
The woman’s finger followed the western line on the map as she turned her head. “A Du, take the second squad and ambush on the small path of Suohe Village, coordinating with Xia Zhi’s action to prevent the Xiao Cavalry from sending reinforcements to Chichao Bridge when Xia Zhi launches the surprise attack. Your task is to cut off the transportation line between the Xiao Cavalry and the Northern Prison, and try to hold off the main army for one hour when the action takes place in the north.”
The dark-skinned A Du nodded heavily and said, “Miss, you can count on me.”
The woman nodded, drew a circle at the top of the map with her finger, and tapped it forcefully, saying in a deep voice: “Your mission is to infiltrate the Northern Prison underground camp and rescue Master Mu and Teacher Zhu from the water prison in the northwest corner, as well as the twenty-eight brothers in the Tianyuan Tower to the south. Some of them may not be able to walk. You need to rescue them before dawn and send them to Pengding Village, fifteen li to the southwest, where the follow-up troops will pick them up with carriages. Therefore, we must take the risk of acting before dark.”
The tent was silent. Everyone focused intently on the woman’s words. The woman maintained a calm expression and continued: “Three hundred zhang outside the Northern Prison are dense forests, but within a hundred zhang, everything has been cleared to flat ground without any cover. There are eight corner towers at the four corners of the camp with people monitoring all day. You’ll need to crawl forward.”
The woman turned around and pulled out another map with a swoosh. “Look, this is a detailed map of the Northern Prison. This is the military supply warehouse, this is the food storage, this is the armory, this is the soldiers’ rest camp, and here is our target: the Tianyuan Tower and the northwest water prison. I need you to memorize this perfectly within two hours without any mistakes. The two teams need to coordinate to complete the mission. So, at the third quarter of the Chou hour when Xia Zhi launches the attack, Cheng Yang will lead the third and fourth squads to begin the assault. A Li and A Cheng will lead the crossbow team along the trench line, bypass the Northern Prison camp, and eliminate the scouts in the corner towers with crossbow arrows. It must be a single strike—no survivors can be left. After succeeding, Cheng Yang will lead the main squad to open the gate. One team will advance westward, pretending to attack the military supply warehouse and food storage, attracting patrolling soldiers to create chaos. Another team will shoot fire arrows at the soldiers’ rest camp, not to kill but to create a distraction and delay the people inside from coming out. Remember, once all the resting Northern Prison soldiers run out, the operation has failed, so your technique must be precise, and you must act according to the situation. Xiao Ting will assist you outside by letting horse herds run in the dense forest to confuse the enemy.”
Xiao Ting stood nearby. He was still a child, only sixteen or seventeen years old, but his dark muscles and numerous scars on his arms already indicated he was an experienced, excellent warrior. Xiao Ting nodded with a smile and said to Cheng Yang: “Brother Cheng Yang, don’t forget me again like last time when you came out and shot arrows at me, thinking I was the enemy.”
Everyone laughed at this, slightly easing the solemn atmosphere. Cheng Yang extended his hand and pushed the boy, saying with a smile: “You sure can hold a grudge.”
The woman coughed lightly, and everyone immediately turned to face her, their expressions becoming serious again, no longer smiling.
“When A Li’s crossbow team eliminates the people on the watchtowers and corner towers, the operation officially begins. Cheng Yang will lead the main squad to quickly advance into the camp, setting up an archer every five zhang to cover the main force’s advance. Your mission is rescue—you don’t need to care about any other place. A Li’s men will cover you after eliminating their targets. Go to the northwest water prison first to rescue Teacher Zhu and Master Mu, then to the Tianyuan Tower. The guards there include our people. By the time you arrive, the other guards should have been eliminated. After rescuing the targets, quickly retreat through the trench in the southwest. A Li will lead people to attack the enemy’s right flank, and A Cheng will lead people to attack from behind as cover. After Cheng Yang confirms that no one has been left behind, he will send a green signal. The battle ends at the Yin hour (3:00 AM), and you should arrive at the designated location by the third quarter of the Yin hour (3:45 AM). Xiao Jiu will arrange for your safe retreat.”
The woman’s eyes were as clear as snow. She raised her face, her gaze passing over everyone, and said solemnly: “Does anyone still not understand?”
No one answered. The woman nodded: “Good, now go prepare weapons and equipment, and memorize the march map. In half an hour, I will check with each of you about the operation procedures. If there are no problems, we will set out in one hour.”
“Yes.” The men responded in unison, standing up with a rustle. The small tent immediately seemed a bit crowded.
The cyan-clothed woman rose with them. Her figure was somewhat thin, and her complexion had a sickly paleness. Her narrow, long eyes emitted a slight gleam. The woman extended her right hand, formed a fist, placed it against her heart, and said solemnly, word by word: “Da Tong will not perish.”
“Will not perish.”
The unified voices rang out together. The woman nodded, and everyone filed out in succession.
The tent suddenly became quiet. The wind outside was strong. Today, there had been another heavy snowfall. Auspicious snow foretells a good harvest year. Perhaps next year, the common people’s lives will be a little better.
Just after taking a sip of tea, a youth in gray-brown short work clothes suddenly entered the tent and said to the woman: “Miss, Master Wu has arrived.”
The woman’s eyebrows rose, and the hand holding the teacup trembled slightly. Then, with a steady voice, she said: “Let him in.”
The fresh wind immediately came in from outside. The man took off his bamboo hat. He wore a long blue cloth robe, with handsome and clear features. He was around twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, but already had fine wrinkles at the corners of his eyes, which did not diminish the grace and dignity of his bearing at all. The man put down what he was carrying and smiled gently: “A Yu.”
The woman naturally took Wu Daoye’s outer robe and smiled faintly: “When did you arrive? Weren’t you back in Yan Bei?”
“Something urgent came up, and I must return to the imperial capital immediately.”
Sitting on a small stool, he took off his boots and gently emptied them—they were full of ice chips. Miss Yu raised an eyebrow and said: “Did you come from the Ice Plain?”
“What else could I do?” Wu Daoye looked up: “That person in Sheng Jin Palace is holding a grand birthday celebration, inviting three nations. The checkpoints are too tight. Now it’s a time of extreme caution, so it’s better to be careful.”
“Caution ensures safety for thousands of years. You’re right.”
“By the way,” Wu Daoye frowned: “West Hua sent a message saying that two more of our spots in the imperial capital were uncovered. Is that true?”
“Just a diversion,” Miss Yu smiled faintly, poured a cup of tea, handed it to Wu Daoye, and said: “Recently, the imperial city’s checkpoints have been too tight. After the New Year, the atmosphere has become tense. Mu He Xi Feng, newly appointed, is making a splash like a new official lighting three fires, jumping up and down restlessly. I deliberately leaked two abandoned locations to let him establish some merit and calm down a bit. There was nothing substantial inside, and the intelligence was a mix of truth and falsehood, difficult to discern. Our people suffered no casualties.”
“I guessed as much.” Wu Daoye smiled: “The Wei Clan lost the position this time. Wei Shu, You returned from the south in a miserable state, letting the position of Imperial Capital Prefecture Governor go to the Mu He Clan for nothing. It seems that in the Elder Council, there will be another round of bloody storms.”
“Wei Guang is old and cunning. I suspect this was deliberately arranged by him.”
Wu Daoye raised an eyebrow and said solemnly: “What do you mean?”
Miss Yu sighed: “Daoye, it has been seven years. In less than six months, it will be the Young Master’s coming-of-age ceremony. But think about it—will that person in Sheng Jin Palace, the elders of the Elder Council, and the Ba Tu Ha family in the northwest allow the Young Master to safely return to Yan Bei to inherit the throne? Over these years, they have repeatedly schemed and attempted to harm him, with all kinds of plots and traps emerging one after another, all aiming to put the Young Master to death. If not for the other vassal kings watching, afraid of causing too much disturbance, they would have made their move long ago. This time is the final struggle, and they will be even less merciful. Additionally, with the Summer King’s birthday, the three nations gathering, and foreign minor tribes paying tribute, this imperial capital of Zhen Huang is likely to fall into chaos again. Regardless of the outcome, the imperial capital will inevitably experience bloody storms, and the Imperial Capital Prefecture Governor, as the administrator of Zhen Huang, will be implicated afterward. How could Wei Guang, being so cunning, not see the situation? The Wei Clan has only stepped aside once, presumably determined to keep out of trouble.”
Hearing this, Wu Daoye nodded and said solemnly: “You always think more thoroughly. It seems that after Mu He Yun Ting’s death, the Mu He Clan no longer has descendants capable of supporting their great house. No wonder on my way here, I heard that Zhuge Mu Qing sent Zhuge Huai to the southeast to arrange matters with Huai Song. It turns out they were also avoiding disaster.”
“It’s because you’ve been away from the capital for too long and don’t understand the relationships within. This time, except for the reckless Mu He Clan and the Ba Tu Ha family who are determined to oppose the Yan Gate, the remaining five great families have all adopted strategies of seclusion. The Mu Clan from Lingnan has even directly recalled the Young Master Mu from the capital back to Lingnan to avoid these deep waters. Your battle won’t be easy to fight.”
Wu Daoye nodded heavily and sighed: “For this day, the eighty thousand soldiers of Yan Bei have waited seven years. No matter what, we must ensure the Young Master leaves safely. The entire Yan Wang family sacrificed for Da Tong back then. We cannot abandon his only bloodline.”
Miss Yu placed her hand on Wu Daoye’s shoulder: “We’ll deal with problems as they come. Don’t worry too much. Besides, regardless of what happens, the Young Master won’t be in mortal danger—that would be a great joy.”
Hearing these words, Wu Daoye couldn’t help but smile broadly, nodding: “Yes, you also think that child is good, right?”
“Yes,” Miss Yu nodded: “At such a young age, her careful thinking is truly remarkable. Initially, to make her trust me, I put in quite some effort. Over these years, if not for her protection by the Young Master’s side, I’m afraid the Yan Bei lineage would have ended long ago. This child has great potential. I will keep an eye on her.”
“With you looking after her, I can rest assured. I won’t stay long in the imperial capital this time. The spring tax collection is about to begin, and I must return to Yan Bei to oversee it, not letting the imperial court and the Ba Tu Ha family take too much. Even if the Young Master hasn’t officially assumed the position, Yan Bei is still Yan Gate’s territory. We cannot make Yan Bei as prosperous as it was in those years, but at least we should not leave a mess for the Young Master when he ascends to the position one day.”
Miss Yu smiled softly and said: “Don’t worry, I will watch over carefully and do my utmost.”
“Miss, it’s time!” a call suddenly came from outside.
Hearing this, Wu Daoye stood up: “I just stopped by briefly. I need to go to the Yan Bei Garrison Office immediately. Last season’s winter tax has already been sent to the capital. I want to see how much the Young Master has submitted.”
Miss Yu nodded and was about to go out to see him off. Wu Daoye stopped her with his hand: “The wind is howling outside. Your health isn’t good, and you’re wearing too little. Don’t come out. I’m leaving.”
With that, he put on his bamboo hat and walked out.
Miss Yu stood in place, looking at the swaying curtain, slightly dazed. After a while, she returned to sit at the desk, picked up the operation draft, and began to examine it carefully again.
“A Yu,” a deep voice suddenly sounded. The curtain lifted, and Wu Daoye poked his head in again.
Miss Yu raised an eyebrow, looking at him questioningly. Wu Daoye thought silently for a moment and finally said solemnly: “The weather is getting colder. Take care of yourself. You don’t need to personally handle everything. Be cautious in all matters. Take care and be careful.”
With that, he turned and walked out. Though the wind howled outside, his footsteps could still be heard gradually fading away.
After a long while, a horse’s neigh suddenly sounded. Miss Yu looked at the tent’s curtain and said softly: “You too.”
Time flies swiftly like a shuttle. In the blink of an eye, seven years had passed.