Wen Zhong of Da Li, since the Zhou Dynasty, was the son of the old general Wen Chang of Da Li.
Wen Zhong led a five-thousand-strong army, rushing day and night, and finally saw the city of Wei Cheng in the distance. He ordered to camp outside Wei Cheng. Almost as soon as the tents were set up, a messenger arrived on a swift horse with the Emperor’s latest decree. Wen Zhong took the letter, unfurled it, and read it at a glance.
Did His Majesty intend to take Huai Cheng directly?
The letter stated that he should lead his fifty-thousand-strong army to camp outside Wei Cheng and await Pi Chongwen and the ten thousand Qing Li troops.
...
Lin Yuan.
The Imperial Study.
Almost the moment the Qing Li army was mobilized, Ji Hong and Ji Jinmo received news from the dark web.
With the incident at Chang Ming Mountain, the Liao border seemed intent on intervening. Qin Qiancheng led only ten thousand Ji Yang troops. If they were to face only Wen Zhong’s fifty-thousand-strong army, they might still have a chance to fight. But if the Qing Li army was added, even defending the city, they would be routed within a few days.
“Imperial Uncle, it seems Yuwen Yi intends to march directly on Huai Cheng and, using Huai Cheng as a center, reclaim Mo Cheng and the other six cities,” Ji Hong actually did not expect Yuwen Yi to have such courage. After all, in that battle, not only the imperial forces of Da Li were slaughtered, but also the forged military spirit and soul. In those days, most of Da Li’s generals came from the imperial forces. And that battle involved countless generals, it could be said that the Imperial Uncle had severed Da Li’s spine, almost slaughtering nearly half of Da Li’s generals, setting back Da Li’s military strength by decades.
For these past ten years, although Da Li had been accumulating troops and horses, strengthening itself, the generals available were either too old to lift a spear or lacked practical combat experience. The only generals capable of fighting were Wen Zhong and Pi Chongwen.
And Yuwen Yi this time, first ordered Wen Zhong to lead troops to the border, and then seemed to have dispatched Pi Chongwen to mobilize the Qing Li army. This posture seemed to be aimed at avenging past humiliations.
The stage was set, the momentum was building.
What Yuwen Yi might have overlooked was that as soon as news of the border unrest and impending war arrived, Lin Yuan’s dark web had already spread throughout Da Li’s various armies for real-time monitoring.
Ji Jinmo stroked his teacup, took a sip of tea, and after the aroma of the tea dissipated, he spoke slowly, “Since Da Li wants war, then let us fight!”
“It is time for the Demon Hunter Army’s blades to be bloodied.”
Ji Hong’s eyes lit up, but then he sighed, “Imperial Uncle, you must leave me some face in court.”
Ji Jinmo glanced at Ji Hong, whose scalp tingled slightly. How to describe it? It was like eating a mouthful of horseradish root, the spicy taste rushing straight to the crown of his head, causing a daze followed by numbness.
He twitched his lips and lowered his demand, “At least don’t step on my face!”
Under Ji Hong’s weak, helpless, and earnest gaze, Ji Jinmo uttered the icy words, “I will try my best!”
...
The scout reported that Wen Zhong had camped outside Wei Cheng with his fifty-thousand-strong army. Qin Qiancheng immediately ordered people to dig a secret tunnel outside the city gate of Huai Cheng and lay traps.
...
After Ji Jinmo left the Imperial Palace, he ordered Yuan Yong, another deputy general stationed at the Demon Hunter Army’s main camp, to lead thirty thousand Demon Hunter troops by water, bypass the Qinling Mountains, avoid checkpoints along the way, and disembark at Jing Guan City, where the Chang Ping Po, Zi Wu River, and Huai River met.
Upon receiving the order, Yuan Yong dispatched the First, Third, Eighth, Ninth, Eleventh, Thirteenth… a total of forty camps, and twenty thousand men. They boarded ships at the Jing River, thirty li from the main camp. Five warships concealed their banners and disappeared into the night.
Imperial Palace Sky Prison.
Nan Shiying pried open Lan Yue’er’s mouth and dropped a bright red pill into it. The pill dissolved instantly. Lan Yue’er did not taste bitterness; instead, a rich fragrance spread in her mouth. She looked up at the person before her.
The hand that held her jaw was slender, and its grip was extremely firm, causing her jaw to ache. But even with her jaw held and having been fed the medicine, Lan Yue’er’s expression remained unchanged. She merely stared wide-eyed at the person before her.
“Lan Yue’er!”
Her reaction struck Nan Shiying as rather interesting.
“Divine Physician Feng?”
Lan Yue’er moved her lips. As she spoke, Nan Shiying’s fingers moved up and down with her voice.
Lan Yue’er had never met Feng Luan, but she was familiar with her voice. The place where she was imprisoned was not far from Yin Si Lan’s. She would never forget this person’s voice.
Nan Shiying nodded, released her jaw, and then asked with a smile, “Do you know what I just fed you?”
“It’s not a tonic, is it!” Lan Yue’er’s eyes flickered, and the corners of her eyes seemed to curve in a smile. However, the joke was not very funny. Lan Yue’er restrained her smile, “Just tell me what Divine Physician Feng wants me to do.”
“I want you to go to Yu Nan Commandery!” Nan Shiying stated directly, “What I just made you eat is a slow-acting poison I developed. Here is the antidote to suppress its toxicity. Take one pill a month, a total of six months’ supply.” Nan Shiying took out a medicine bottle from her embrace and threw it to Lan Yue’er.
Da Li was the stronghold of Miao Jiang. Sending Lan Yue’er there was undoubtedly like throwing a lamb into a tiger’s den. It would be better to make use of her. Sending her to Yu Nan Commandery, she wondered how Lord Zou Cheng was doing after these months.
Lan Yue’er took the medicine bottle and nodded, “I understand!”
“Aren’t you going to ask?”
“No need!”
“Should I be grateful that I still have value to be utilized, right?” Whether she had thought things through in prison and become enlightened, or if she had other intentions in her heart, Lan Yue’er appeared very compliant. She had heard some things about the situation in Yu Nan Commandery. Sending her there was merely to use her identity as a remnant of Miao Jiang to infiltrate Miao Jiang’s internal affairs.
She had no feelings for Miao Jiang. What had sustained her all these years was only the revenge for the annihilation of her clan and family.
“Take her out!”
Nan Shiying waved her hand, signaling the jailer to escort Lan Yue’er out of the prison.
Mu Baiyu was on duty that day. He took a food box to see Lan Yue’er during the shift change, but unexpectedly saw her being led out of the prison by a jailer. They met face to face, and Lan Yue’er stopped to look at him.
Mu Baiyu also stopped.
“What is this?”
“Getting out of prison!”
Lan Yue’er said, “His Majesty has shown mercy and allowed me to atone for my crimes.”
Hearing Lan Yue’er’s words, Mu Baiyu breathed a sigh of relief. He had thought…
“Is that so!”
He smiled and gestured with the food box, “It seems you won’t be enjoying this today!”
Lan Yue’er also smiled, “If I can return, I will treat you to a meal at a restaurant.”
Mu Baiyu’s pupils contracted. So, she might never return, or she might never be able to return?
“Okay!”
Mu Baiyu hid all his thoughts in his heart. For her to be able to leave prison alive at this moment was already the best outcome.
“It’s a deal!”
“It’s a deal!”
The two passed each other. Lan Yue’er did not look back. Mu Baiyu watched her until her figure disappeared at the end of the narrow corridor.