Li Changmin, former commander of the Vanguard Camp, was dismissed from his post due to a battlefield error that led to the loss of a city. Later, at the request of his subordinates, Li Changmin was only reassigned to the Bandit Suppression Camp, thus avoiding the punishment of dismissal.
"He shouldn't be in too much trouble. I'll go see him," Meng Xingbang offered.
Xia Yuan nodded, agreeing to Meng Xingbang's suggestion. He lowered his head to continue studying the current situation on the sand table.
Meng Xingbang walked out of the central army tent. "Bring him to my tent to talk," he instructed the soldier who had come to report.
"Yes!" The soldier responded and immediately went to notify Su Fan.
"Come in," the soldier said to Su Fan upon his return. Su Fan then entered the military camp with Xia Yun and was led into a tent.
Inside the tent, a middle-aged man in armor sat at the head. "Commander of the Bandit Suppression Camp?" Meng Xingbang asked Su Fan from below.
"Yes, are you Lord Pingnan?" Su Fan confirmed.
"I am General of the Vanguard Army, Meng Xingbang. Anything you say to me is the same," Meng Xingbang said, looking down at Su Fan.
"Uncle Meng, I'm Xia Yun." Before Su Fan could speak, Xia Yun, standing beside him, exclaimed upon hearing the name Meng Xingbang.
Meng Xingbang froze. "Xia Yun?" He frowned and immediately walked over from his seat to examine Xia Yun carefully. "It really is Yun'er!" Meng Xingbang exclaimed in surprise, recognizing Xia Yun. Although he hadn't seen Xia Yun for years, her blindness was a distinguishing feature, and her eyes bore a resemblance to Xia Yuan, making it impossible for Meng Xingbang to be mistaken.
"Uncle Meng," Xia Yun bowed respectfully to Meng Xingbang.
"Yun'er, why have you come all the way here? It's so dangerous on the road!" Meng Xingbang said with concern.
"I have something important to tell my father, and I had to come," Xia Yun replied truthfully, showing no suspicion towards Meng Xingbang.
Meng Xingbang's heart stirred. "What important matter?" he pressed Xia Yun.
"General Meng, could you allow Xia Yun to see her father first?" Su Fan interrupted before Xia Yun could speak. Su Fan was being cautious. He didn't know who in the military camp was colluding with Fang Shijie, and Meng Xingbang's apparent eagerness had aroused Su Fan's suspicion.
"Alright, I'll go inform the General immediately!" Meng Xingbang glanced at Su Fan again, nodded, and hurried to the central army tent to relay the news of Xia Yun's arrival.
Upon hearing that his daughter had arrived, Xia Yuan's heart pounded. "Hurry and bring me to her!" Xia Yuan felt he had wronged his daughter the most in his life. An accident in her childhood had blinded her, and he had not spent much time by her side. To be precise, he was not a qualified father. Xia Yuan rushed to Meng Xingbang's tent and immediately saw Xia Yun standing beside Su Fan.
"Yun'er!" Xia Yuan was overcome with emotion upon seeing Xia Yun, his eyes welling up with tears. A seven-foot man was moved to tears. Xia Yuan, having fought on the front lines for years, hadn't seen Xia Yun in almost a year.
"Father!" As his daughter, Xia Yun was even more emotional, tears streaming down her face.
Su Fan watched the touching scene, wanting to burst into song, "My dear father! My dearest person!" But to avoid being beaten to death, Su Fan held back.
"Yun'er, why did you travel all this way? It's so dangerous!" After their reunion, Xia Yuan said to Xia Yun with a hint of reproach.
"Father, I have something important to tell you," Xia Yun said to Xia Yuan.
Seeing this, Su Fan immediately said, "General Xia, you and your daughter should talk. We won't disturb you." Su Fan wisely withdrew, turning back to look at Meng Xingbang at the doorway. "General Meng, don't you find yourself redundant here?" Su Fan asked Meng Xingbang, who was still reluctant to leave, with a strange look.
"Oh! Your subordinate takes his leave!" Meng Xingbang seemed to have just realized and immediately bowed to Xia Yuan and excused himself.
After they left, leaving only Xia Yuan and his daughter in the tent, Xia Yun spoke again. "Father, someone in the military camp is colluding with outsiders and intends to harm you!" Xia Yun immediately told Xia Yuan. What she had told Su Fan earlier was only a superficial account; she hadn't revealed the true reason to Su Fan.
"Hmm? How do you know?" Xia Yuan became serious and asked his daughter with a frown.
"I overheard a conversation between the Minister of War and his son. They mentioned wanting you not to return from the battlefield so they could proceed with their next plan." Xia Yun only knew fragments of the information; the overheard message only concerned her father. She was unclear about the specific plan.
"The Minister of War?" Xia Yuan frowned deeply.
"Is that Su Fan really the commander of the Bandit Suppression Camp?" Xia Yuan set this matter aside for later consideration and asked Xia Yun with some doubt, recalling Su Fan.
"Yes, he is truly the commander of the Bandit Suppression Camp." Xia Yun nodded. She had stayed in the Bandit Suppression Camp for a night and was certain Su Fan hadn't lied. Xia Yuan was also surprised, as he had thought Su Fan was pretending just to meet Xia Yun.
"I understand," Xia Yuan nodded. He recognized Su Fan as a talented individual, judging by his actions. Su Fan was a perceptive and thoughtful person.
"Come in!" Xia Yuan called out. Su Fan and Meng Xingbang, who had been waiting outside, entered.
"General, what happened?" Meng Xingbang asked with concern upon seeing Xia Yuan's displeased expression. Xia Yuan looked at Meng Xingbang and shook his head. "It's nothing. It's getting late. Have the kitchen send two extra portions for dinner," Xia Yuan instructed Meng Xingbang. It was almost mealtime, and with Su Fan and Xia Yun as guests, two extra meals would be needed.
"Yes," Meng Xingbang nodded and went to make arrangements.
"Su Fan, thank you for escorting Xia Yun here," Xia Yuan said sincerely to Su Fan.
"General Xia, you are too kind. It was just a small effort," Su Fan dared not be presumptuous. This was Lord Pingnan, a great general commanding the hundred thousand strong Heavenly Dragon Army. Su Fan would not allow him to humble himself to thank him.
"Are you suspecting General Meng?" Xia Yuan had noticed from Su Fan's initial actions that Su Fan seemed to be wary of Meng Xingbang.
"No, it's just caution," Su Fan did not directly suspect Meng Xingbang. To be precise, Su Fan was suspicious of everyone in the military.
"To be frank, I was assigned to this command by the Crown Prince. Besides my overt role as commander, I have another mission: to investigate evidence of Fang Shijie colluding with the Ministry of War and plotting rebellion!"