Chi Xue shook her head. If there were any changes, she absolutely had to see them clearly. Any changes in the army could potentially affect the Crown Princess.
Zhao San had no choice but to lead her in stealth, crossing over the trench between the auxiliary camp and the main camp, using the tents as cover, step by step approaching the main tent.
That squad of soldiers was also heading toward the main tent, their steps uniform, treading silently through the snow. Huang Ming walked at the very front, his usually smiling face rarely showing such cold severity.
The troops were continuously discovered along the way, yet continuously showed their tokens in silence, passing tent after tent, until Deputy Commander Lou silently emerged from his tent.
A hundred zhang away from the main tent, the Commander’s personal guards came forward to question them, but upon seeing the tokens, they withdrew in shock.
Just as that group was about to reach the main tent and form an encirclement around it, with a soft “crack,” a dim light suddenly flickered to life inside the main tent.
The sound was subtle, the light weak—even a candle would be brighter—but everyone stopped in their tracks.
After the snow on this winter night, all things were desolate. People’s tense breathing formed clouds of white mist that condensed and lingered in the air.
Because everyone knew that Di Yiwei had lit her opium pipe.
She hadn’t lit candles. In the darkness, the great tent held only that single spark of light from the opium pipe. Through the layer of tent fabric, no one dared even breathe heavily.
After a moment, Huang Ming coughed and said, “Commander, you’re awake?”
Di Yiwei’s voice drifted out casually, “Morning, Old Huang. Getting up so early today—is it because age has brought you urgent and frequent urination?”
Everyone’s expressions grew strange.
Eunuchs were most sensitive about being mocked for this.
Huang Ming’s cheek twitched, his smile fading somewhat. With a wave of his hand, a squad of soldiers rushed forward to surround the main tent.
Another group of troops came charging up, wielding long spears, aiming them at the tents of the Scorpion Battalion warriors who were guarding the main tent.
Some tried to lift the tent flaps to emerge but were forced back by the spear points.
“Commander, we have received secret intelligence claiming you colluded with the Western Rong to betray the country. Now His Majesty has issued an edict ordering you to immediately relinquish your position as Commander and return to the capital for investigation.”
At these words, the crowd erupted in shock.
A Vice General couldn’t help but cry out, “Where is the evidence!”
Huang Ming waved his hand, and a soldier bound with ropes was pushed forward. Most people recognized him as Di Yiwei’s personal guard.
“Speak up. What task did the Commander assign you?”
The personal guard’s face was pale, cold sweat beading on his forehead despite the winter weather. He glanced at the main tent, pain flashing in his eyes, and finally said in a low voice, “The Commander sent me to the Western Rong…”
He didn’t continue, painfully burying his head in the snow and mud on the ground.
The generals who had rushed out of their tents looked at each other, all seeing incredulous expressions in each other’s eyes.
“We found secret correspondence between the Commander and the Western Rong’s Great Prince on this person. The Western Rong has already, with Di Yiwei’s tacit permission, taken advantage of the frequent landslides at Mount Fu to carve out a passage. Di Yiwei is currently posting guards there to prevent discovery. Once they coordinate with Western Rong forces entering Yongping Pass through Mount Fu before withdrawing, the Western Rong Great Prince has promised to give Di Yiwei a position of one below, ten thousand above.”
The generals all knew about Di Yiwei stationing a battalion at Mount Fu some days ago. Rotating or reinforcing garrison troops was within the Commander’s authority and required no notification to the entire army, so no one had questioned it.
Hearing this explanation now, they couldn’t help but believe it partially.
Someone else shouted, “Nonsense! Mount Fu directly connects to the Hanli Khan Desert. Stationing troops there is routine—how does that relate to collaborating with the enemy and betraying the country?”
“Exactly! The Commander has been drilling troops rigorously recently, saying we need to guard against Liaodong and Western Rong.”
“How do you know her frequent troop movements weren’t preparation for opening a path for Western Rong?” Huang Ming countered.
Another person demanded, “Where are the secret letters!”
“They’ve already been sent by fast horse to the capital to be presented to Her Majesty the Empress Dowager.”
“You could have fabricated any—”
“Deputy Commander Lou has already examined the secret correspondence.”
A deathly silence suddenly descended.
Even the constant puffing of the opium pipe in the main tent paused.
People’s gazes turned to that pale, tall young man.
After all, everyone in the Yongping Army knew that if anyone was most loyal to the Commander, it had to be Commander Lou.
Like a silent shadow, he always followed behind Commander Di, always slightly bowing as he awaited the Commander’s orders, repeatedly saving Commander Di on the battlefield, fearless of casualties.
The most serious instance was when the Commander was trapped in an encirclement by several of Dayan’s elite generals, with over a thousand troops outside. It was Deputy Commander Lou who charged into the encirclement to rescue the Commander. That time he took ten blade wounds and nearly lost his life.
With such battlefield camaraderie, everyone was certain that whoever might betray them, Deputy Commander Lou never would.
Only now did everyone realize that from beginning to end, Deputy Commander Lou hadn’t spoken.
If the Commander was wrongly accused, how could he remain silent?
His silence at this moment was proof. Everyone’s faces turned deathly pale.
“With all evidence complete, we reported to the capital by carrier pigeon, and the capital also sent emergency orders by eight-hundred-li express, commanding that former Yongping Army Deputy Commander Lou Xi be promoted to Commander, and Central Army Marshal Xiao Chang immediately assume the position of Deputy Commander, assisting the Commander in managing the 150,000 garrison troops of the Yongping Defense Line. Emergency deployment of 30,000 troops from Shunning Commander’s Office and 10,000 troops under Kaiping Vice General Liu to assist in investigating this case. Because the Scorpion Battalion is suspected of involvement in this case, all members are ordered to remove their armor and submit to investigation. Those who resist, flee, or spread rumors will be killed without mercy.”
Huang Ming delivered this speech with murderous intent, and the vast military camp fell silent as death.
Huang Ming gestured to Deputy Commander Lou, “Please, Deputy Commander, temporarily take charge of the main camp and command the entire army to withdraw from the camp first.”
Deputy Commander Lou remained silent for a long moment, then stepped forward and said, “All personnel don armor and exit tents, do not take weapons, retreat from the camp.”
He had always commanded great respect in the army. Once he spoke, the other generals fell silent, and the soldiers naturally followed orders.
Soldiers continuously emerged from tents, then were herded back by the long spears of the Shunning Commander’s Office troops who had arrived in the night and forced to retreat from the camp.
The great army moved back like a dark tide, gradually distancing from the main tent.
Only the Scorpion Battalion held at spear-point and the main tent remained.
Huang Ming said gently, “Commander Di, come out. The capital is far, and we need to start early.”
From a Scorpion Battalion tent someone suddenly roared, “It’s all slander! You Xiao family people are fighting for power and slandering our border-defending general! Commander—”
Along with these words, someone violently threw open the tent flap.
“Bang.”
An explosive sound, and a cloud of black smoke burst from that tent opening.
The dark, burly head that had emerged also burst into a flower of deep red blood.
That massive body froze at the tent entrance, then after a moment crashed down, shattering into red and white fragments across the ground.
Cries of shock and pain erupted from the surrounding tents.
Deputy Commander Lou’s brow twitched.
Huang Ming smiled as he blew smoke from the muzzle of his modified compact firearm, returning the gun to his robes.
Without even glancing at the growing unrest around him, he waved his hand. A squad of gunners behind him quickly stepped forward, half-crouching on the ground, aiming at those tent openings where agitation was intensifying.
Huang Ming said coldly, “Commander, will you just watch your Scorpion Battalion die for no reason?”
“The Scorpion Battalion belongs to Great Qian,” Di Yiwei said. “Each of them is a meritorious soldier. Huang Ming, will you slaughter the court’s meritorious officers and soldiers like this?”
“The imperial edict already stated that those who resist orders shall be killed without mercy.” Huang Ming’s brow showed impatience. “Tear down the tent!”
A squad of soldiers swung their arms, throwing hooked ropes that caught the edges of the great tent.
Zhao San, who had hidden behind the great tent, quickly pulled Chi Xue back to hide behind the adjacent tent of Deputy Commander Lou.
The soldiers called out in unison, and the great tent was torn to pieces.
The moment the tent was shredded, Chi Xue saw a black shadow skim along the ground and take flight—it seemed to be a bird. The bird flew away among the fragments filling the sky.
Both the bird and the tent were gray, flitting among the floating tent fragments, unnoticed by anyone.
Everyone was watching Di Yiwei.
Di Yiwei sat on a wool carpet, leaning against a small table, never removing the opium pipe from her mouth.
Zhao San looked toward that direction and whispered to Chi Xue, “What should we do?”
But Chi Xue seemed to be pondering something, frowning as she said quietly, “The 150,000 Yongping Army is stationed along Yongping’s long border. The main camp has the most people—30,000. In terms of fighting strength and numbers, they far exceed the people Huang Ming brought. Why is he so confident, bringing only so few people?”
She had observed—Huang Ming claimed to have brought 40,000 people, but counting generously, there were at most 10,000 present.
Even with Deputy Commander Lou stepping forward to stabilize morale, given the treacherous and cowardly nature of eunuchs, it seemed he shouldn’t dare enter Di Yiwei’s main camp with the Scorpion Battalion present with so few people.
Her gaze fell behind Huang Ming, where Cui Zhi wore a hooded cloak, standing inconspicuously in the shadows.
Zhao San was stunned for a moment. He wasn’t very familiar with such matters. He simply protected Chi Xue closely and warned her in a low voice, “This matter is too serious. No one can handle it. You must not act impulsively to save someone.”
“Will Commander Di surrender without resistance?”
Zhao San was silent for a while, then said, “They’re using the Scorpion Battalion and the soldiers’ lives to threaten her… she will.”
Chi Xue remained silent.
She had seen Di Yiwei glance at Deputy Commander Lou the moment the tent exploded.
That glance made her feel uncomfortable.
She had the feeling that if Di Yiwei surrendered, the reason wasn’t solely because of the threat to the soldiers’ lives…
“It’s my fault. If I hadn’t told the Commander and had her send a letter to master instead, this would have been better…”
“You’re wrong about that. Those who want to harm others can always find ways to do it. Without you, there would be someone else. Don’t overthink it.”
Zhao San pulled Chi Xue deeper into the shadows to hide.
The vast main tent now remained only as an empty space full of torn fabric. Di Yiwei sat alone in the middle, and when the wind passed, she coughed violently, making her shoulders appear even more frail.
“Commander, His Majesty said to examine Commander Di’s conduct as the situation warrants, to judge future criminal charges. If you continue to delay and resist stubbornly, or attempt to incite your subordinates, then not only will these people face execution of nine generations, but your own crimes will be clear without trial.” Huang Ming finished speaking ominously, then turned to a smiling expression. “Just relax and take a trip with us. Rest assured, you are a meritorious official, and we will certainly treat you with courtesy. After returning to the capital, you can defend yourself against any injustice. Perhaps you’ll soon receive His Majesty’s forgiveness and be restored to office.”
Di Yiwei laughed once and said, “Restore your mother.”
Huang Ming froze.
Di Yiwei laughed again, “Oh, wrong. How could your mother want a childless son like you.” She stood up, knocked ash from her pipe, and said, “Fine, I’ll go with you. I won’t tell you not to make things difficult for my subordinates. After all, worthless things like you without dicks—everything that comes out of your mouth is dog shit. I’ll just tell my sons not to act up for any reason concerning me, or I’ll die right in front of you. But if anyone really tries to bully you to death, then go ahead and fuck them up.”
“Di Yiwei, are you inciting your subordinates to rebellion!”
“If you find this old eunuch annoying, I suggest you remember his appearance. Also, his residence is in the capital outside the old front gate on Qujiang Alley, the first house on the left.”
“Di Yiwei, you’re directing your subordinates to retaliate against court officials!”
Di Yiwei took a deep drag, not even glancing at him. “What kind of court official are you?”
Huang Ming’s face turned iron-blue. With a wave of his hand, a group of armed soldiers rushed forward and cornered Di Yiwei.
Deputy Commander Lou instinctively stepped forward. Huang Ming glanced at him, and he stopped.
Di Yiwei remained motionless, allowing the Shunning Commander’s Office soldiers to load her with heavy shackles and chains. Only when they were about to take away her beloved old opium pipe did she hurriedly take three deep drags. After it was taken, she sighed wistfully.
It seemed she wouldn’t have a smoke for a very long time.
Layer after layer of heavy iron chains hung on Di Yiwei’s body. Soon she could barely lift a finger.
Huang Ming stared at Di Yiwei’s pale face, his gaze flowing stickily downward, sliding to Di Yiwei’s tightly buttoned collar.
He suddenly said, “Search the Commander to see if she’s carrying anything.”
Deputy Commander Lou’s head shot up. He stepped forward, but several gunmen silently surrounded him.
He raised his hands.
Huang Ming whispered beside him with a laugh, “Deputy Commander, a person as proud as her will never deign to look back at someone as unremarkable as you. Only when she falls into the mire with her spirit completely broken will she be willing to fold her wings and submit beneath you!”
Deputy Commander Lou’s steps faltered.
A soldier obeyed the order, flicking his long spear upward.
Rip.
Di Yiwei’s clothes tore layer by layer. The last thing to tear was a section of snow-white binding. The soldier flicked his spear upward, picking up that large piece of white cloth.
The white cloth flew away in the wind, and the soldiers looked up with dazed and amazed expressions.
Simultaneously jumping out with the torn breast-binding cloth was that snow-white, soft mound.
Before ten thousand troops.
Under the dawn that was growing brighter yet mistier.
Under Huang Ming’s lewd and venomous gaze.
In the soldiers’ utterly shocked stares.
In Deputy Commander Lou’s incredibly complex expression.
…
Behind the great tent, Zhao San’s hand covering Chi Xue suddenly turned back to cover his own eyes.
While covering his eyes, he discovered through his fingers that Chi Xue was about to leap up, so he quickly turned back to grab her, frantically busy.
The soldiers’ cries of shock and gasps outside rolled like waves, making Chi Xue’s eyes red with rage.
She could imagine the eunuch’s cruelty and humiliation of the Commander, but she hadn’t expected him to order her naked humiliation.
Then she understood exactly what this castrated dog intended to do.
Di Yiwei had commanded ten thousand troops as a woman. Unlike Tie Ci, for many years she had protected her true gender very well—smoking opium, wrestling, being domineering, speaking crudely without restraint.
That was because war was men’s plaything. It was very difficult for a female general to command respect.
Even getting past the court would be difficult.
Until now, only those with the highest positions in the imperial family knew. But because of Di Yiwei’s military achievements, the Empress Dowager had chosen to turn a blind eye.
But when she wanted to take away Di Yiwei’s military power, she used this weakness to humiliate and sacrifice her!
She must believe that once Di Yiwei’s gender was revealed before her own subordinates, suffering naked humiliation, her status and image would plummet, becoming a laughingstock for all nations. Enough saliva would drown her—how could she still command battles and control ten thousand soldiers? How could she still make enemies flee in terror and retreat voluntarily?
Even if her will was strong and she made a comeback, who would serve under her?
Thinking of all the hardships the Crown Princess had endured because of her female identity, Chi Xue’s teeth ground audibly.
Zhao San hadn’t expected the usually gentle Chi Xue to be so fierce, and felt alarmed while desperately holding her down.
No wonder the young master disliked eunuchs, once saying that where there are eunuchs, families will surely be destroyed and nations ruined.
Suddenly someone rushed out shouting, “She’s a woman!”
It was a Garrison Commander who usually held great respect for Di Yiwei.
His tone held complete amazement as he pointed at Di Yiwei regardless of everything.
Immediately, a Vice General gave him a heavy slap.
“Never seen a woman before? Get back.”
That Garrison Commander was first shocked senseless by Di Yiwei’s gender, then stunned by this slap. After a long moment, he lowered his head and silently returned to his unit.
Seeing his soldiers still craning their necks to stare, he backhanded them as well. “Never seen a woman before! All troops attention—”
The soldiers immediately straightened, raised spears, eyes forward.
“All turn around and block the wind for me!”
With a crisp sound, the soldiers turned in unison. The Garrison Commander also turned around, bowed his head, and said nothing more.
With this command, everyone reacted, issuing orders one after another as the troops turned around.
This turn brought them face-to-face with the Shunning Commander’s Office and Kaiping garrison troops who hadn’t turned. Everyone stared at each other.
The Vice General who had first slapped stared at the Kaiping garrison Vice General for a long moment, then spat, “Traitor!”
That Vice General’s face turned iron-blue.
He was also Di Yiwei’s subordinate, stationed outside defending the Kaiping line. When the Empress Dowager chose him, how could he dare resist?
Besides, wasn’t the evidence both testimonial and physical?
Huang Ming’s face turned iron-blue at this action.
He had thought his recent relationships with these generals were quite good, paving the way for the future new commander. He hadn’t expected these bastards to turn their faces and deny recognition.
He said in a thin voice, “You are…”
“Esteemed Companion.” A Vice General said sarcastically, “We haven’t rebelled. We’re simply not looking at what we shouldn’t see.”
Huang Ming choked, angrily saying, “You’re still protecting this traitorous rebel!”
“Whether she’s a traitor or not, wait until after the trial,” the Vice General lifted his eyelids. “If you ask me, originally sleeping in confusion, I believed these charges you threw down. Now taking a look, I don’t believe it anymore. The Commander is a woman—she’s a woman, what country would she betray? With no parents or siblings, no husband, wounded in the lower abdomen by spears in battle so she probably can’t even have children, destined for a lonely life—running off to that god-forsaken Western Rong place to gnaw on mutton every day? Heaven knows she hates mutton most of all!”
His words brought a roar of agreement from all sides.
Huang Ming stared wide-eyed, never expecting that revealing Di Yiwei’s female identity before the multitude would backfire.
He said coldly, “Your Deputy Commander Lou saw the secret correspondence with his own eyes—surely you should believe that!”
The Vice General said, “Originally we believed it too. Now seeing this, we believe it even less. The Commander is a woman! No wonder Deputy Commander Lou, who used to follow closely with incomparable loyalty, is personally accusing her today. What do you call this… what do you call this…” He rolled his eyes thinking for a long time, then suddenly understood, “If you can’t have it, destroy it?”
All the generals in unison: “Bah—”