When Yan Chi returned to camp, the soldiers on the training ground had dispersed. Qin Wan had been waiting for him in the camp for a while and hurried to greet him when he returned.
“When did you wake up?” Yan Chi asked, taking Qin Wan’s hand.
“I’ve been up for a while. I just went to take a look—the training ground was very lively.”
Yan Chi raised an eyebrow. “Why didn’t you come to find me?”
Qin Wan smiled as she had Yan Chi sit down, chiding, “I have no interest in your drinking feasts.”
Yan Chi broke into a smile, then after a brief contemplation said, “I issued the proclamation today.”
“I know, Bai Ying told me.”
Yan Chi’s lips carried traces of wine—he had likely shared a few drinks with the military officers. He said, “Let’s retire early tonight. Tomorrow will likely be extremely busy.”
Qin Wan had meant to offer Yan Chi some words of comfort, but as they reached her lips, she suddenly felt that Yan Chi must surely know his mind, so she simply prepared for bed with him.
Early the next morning, when Qin Wan awoke, the bed beside her was empty again. Though she had caught up on sleep the day before, she had still been extremely tired and thus had slept rather long. By now it was bright outside. Qin Wan hurriedly got up to wash and change. When she emerged from the inner chamber, she saw breakfast already laid out, with Bai Ying waiting. Seeing Qin Wan emerge, she quickly came forward, “Princess Consort, would you like breakfast?”
While sitting down to drink porridge, Qin Wan asked, “Where did His Highness go?”
Bai Ying quickly replied, “To the council hall. Early this morning, soldiers preparing to leave Shuo Xi were already waiting outside the council hall. General Chu and others are settling their pay. Once they receive their silver and turn in their military tokens, they can leave Shuo Xi.”
Qin Wan paused. “How many?”
Though her expression remained calm, Qin Wan felt considerable worry in her heart.
But Bai Ying said, “Less than a thousand, all from the north—Luo Province and Yu Province areas.”
Originally, most recruitment was done locally, but because the Shuo Xi army was the Great Zhou’s finest elite force, over the years of army mergers, quite a few northern soldiers had been mixed in. With Yan Chi’s proclamation, those whose homes weren’t in Shuo Xi or the south naturally had some concerns.
Qin Wan breathed a sigh of relief. Among the more than eighty thousand troops in camp, less than a thousand were leaving—this was already very good.
Bai Ying continued, “You needn’t worry. His Highness left instructions not to wake you, which is why this servant didn’t call you. His Highness said after you wake, just stay in the room—it’s extremely cold outside right now.”
Having reached the main camp meant moving further northwest, so the weather was naturally much colder. Qin Wan nodded and stayed in the central military tent after finishing her porridge. Still, she worried about the situation outside and had Bai Ying check periodically. After checking twice, Bai Ying reported, “Half the people have already been sent off. Many people are helping in the council hall today. By noon, all the military pay will certainly be distributed.”
Qin Wan acknowledged, finally relaxing when she heard the numbers hadn’t increased.
Around noon, Yan Chi returned to the central military tent. Seeing Qin Wan indeed waiting, he said, “Everything’s been counted and settled. Each person received ten times their military pay—enough for them to return home and buy some land or start a small business. Eight hundred some people in total.”
Qin Wan’s heart finally relaxed completely. “So now, can the army be reorganized?”
Yan Chi nodded. “It will take two days to reorganize the army. The original commanders also need their positions reassigned.”
Qin Wan breathed a sigh of relief, and Yan Chi said, “Are you worried about Fu Ling? In five or six days, once things here are settled, we can go to Xi Lin City.”
Hearing they could depart in just five or six days, Qin Wan’s heart lightened slightly. “Good!”
Over the next two days, Yan Chi and Chu Fei Shen began reorganizing the troops, restoring the organization Lin Xu Gui had scrambled back to the Shuo Xi army’s original structure, then making some adjustments to that foundation. Afterward, the commanders who remained in the camp were also reassigned positions. Two days later, the wolf-pattern banners flew over the Shuo Xi main camp, showing a completely different appearance. On this day, Fang Qin, who had been guarding White Wolf Pass, returned to the main camp.
Seeing Yan Chi, Fang Qin removed his helmet and knelt. “Young Commander has returned!”
Chu Fei Shen laughed beside him, “Old Fang, now you must call him ‘Your Highness’!”
Helped up by Yan Chi, Fang Qin smacked his forehead, “Look at my memory! I forgot! Now it’s Prince Rui!”
Yan Chi smiled and welcomed Fang Qin into the tent. After some pleasantries, Yan Chi said, “Now the camp has been reorganized, and circumstances are very different from before. You must have seen it when entering camp just now. In the future, you’ll remain at White Wolf Pass—what do you think?”
Fang Qin quickly nodded. “This servant thinks it’s excellent! This servant plans to fight to the death at White Wolf Pass this lifetime, never letting the Rong people advance one step east!”
Yan Chi nodded. “Has there been any unusual movement beyond the pass these days?”
Fang Qin shook his head, then frowned suspiciously. “It’s strange actually. Though winter snow blocks the mountains, in previous years, the Rong people would always test us several times, always wanting to take advantage of our winter difficulties to find gaps. But this year, not only has White Wolf Pass had no trouble, but even other sentry camps haven’t noticed anything unusual. The Rong people seem to have become docile.”
But Yan Chi dared not relax. “The Rong people won’t remain docile. You stay there and must remain vigilant. In a few days, I’ll be going to Xi Lin City. When the news spreads, the court will certainly send troops to attack. I’ll handle the court’s troops, but White Wolf Pass—before the third month, I must leave it to you alone.”
Fang Qin’s eyes shone bright. “Good! This servant understands. Your Highness can rest assured.”
Yan Chi patted Fang Qin’s shoulder. “Since you’ve returned, stay one night and return tomorrow. Tonight we’ll drink together.”
Fang Qin was surprised. “Alcohol is forbidden in the army…”
Chu Fei Shen laughed. “Now we’re establishing independence under His Highness—these are days worth celebrating. The army soldiers all drank these past two days! Just this once—next time, even if you want to drink, His Highness probably won’t allow it!”
Everyone burst out laughing. That evening, a feast was indeed arranged, which Qin Wan attended with Yan Chi.
After wearing men’s clothes for several days, today Qin Wan changed into women’s attire. Fang Qin was also an old hand who had followed Yan Lin for many years. Seeing Yan Chi arrive with his beautiful wife, he naturally felt both gratified and moved. When everyone was seated, Fang Qin and others saw Qin Wan’s refined speech and noble bearing, naturally giving her additional respect. After the feast, as Fang Qin and Chu Fei Shen walked out, Fang Qin said, “When the old Lord was alive, he always worried about this matter. Now seeing His Highness and the Princess Consort in such harmony, he would surely be comforted.”
Chu Fei Shen also sighed, “Yes, the old Lord wasn’t good with words—only we few knew his concerns. It’s a pity the old Lord couldn’t see His Highness’s wedding day with his own eyes.”
Hearing this, Fang Qin’s brow furrowed. “Is Jiang He Ying dead?”
Chu Fei Shen nodded. “Yes, dead. His Highness made a trip to Qian Province and Jian Province this time. Going to Qian Province was to find that old traitor. That old traitor ran fast, finally fleeing into deep mountains. When found, he was nearly frozen. His Highness had ordered that upon sight, kill without question, so they finished him right there.”
Fang Qin narrowed his eyes. “I never imagined it would be him!”
Jiang He Ying came from the Shuo Xi army and was very familiar with its military preparations and Yan Lin’s habits. Because of this, he had been able to harm Yan Lin so easily. When Jiang He Ying was in the Shuo Xi army, he had been familiar with old generals like Chu Fei Shen and Fang Qin. Though contact had lessened after he went to Qian Province, they had still been comrades who fought and bled together in their youth. Learning that Jiang He Ying had followed orders to kill Yan Lin, Fang Qin was naturally especially angry!
“Who could have imagined? Perhaps only those who had followed him could have killed the old Lord so quietly.”
Fang Qin looked toward the central military tent and sighed. “His Highness’s path won’t be easy. The Emperor will certainly try to exterminate him completely.”
Chu Fei Shen gave a loud laugh. “You don’t know about the northern situation yet…”
“The north? The matter of the Empress and Crown Prince’s rebellion?”
Chu Fei Shen nodded. “The Empress and Crown Prince have now joined with Zhao You in Chang Province. A hundred thousand Northern Command troops—that’s no joke. Moreover, this time Zhao You is leading all the Northern Command troops south, not even guarding Canglong Mountain Pass. You can imagine their desperate resolve.”
Fang Qin immediately frowned. “How can they abandon Canglong Mountain Pass?!”
Chu Fei Shen sighed. “Not everyone is like our Prince. That Empress and Crown Prince are solely focused on seizing the throne, naturally staking everything on one throw. His Highness intends to settle temporarily in Xi Lin City. The Rui Prince Manor has commanded the Shuo Xi army for decades, and this land is practically Rui Prince Manor territory, so declaring kingship in Xi Lin City won’t be difficult. You focus on guarding White Wolf Pass well and needn’t worry about these matters. His Highness now only trusts you alone.”
Fang Qin nodded. “I will not fail His Highness’s expectations.”