The sky was neither fully dark nor fully light. Outside Baishui Pass, the watchman’s clapper at the Great Sheng military encampment had just sounded its final beat.
The morning mist mingled with the pungent odors of vegetation and forged iron, hanging low over the rows of continuous blue-felt military tents.
The fire at the vanguard camp had been completely extinguished. Dozens of charred chevaux-de-frise still lay piled outside the camp, while the air carried the acrid stench of burnt ash and scorched tung oil.
Although they had managed to protect their siege equipment and heavy trebuchets in yesterday’s fierce battle, the mud along the trenches remained sticky, saturated with blood.
Low groans occasionally drifted out of the wounded soldiers’ camp.
Military physicians, their sleeves rolled up, moved between several rows of temporary wooden beds.
Su Mucheng had just emerged from the wounded soldiers’ tent. He was operating under the identity of Shen An. Casually tossing a bloodstained cloth into a basin, he wore an expressionless look on his cool, composed face.
After washing his hands, he casually accepted the casualty register handed over by the military physician beside him.
“Military Physician Shen.”
A military physician reported in a low voice, “Yesterday, the Vanguard Camp fought off the enemy’s six-thousand-man surprise attack at great cost. The various battalions have sent over eighty-two seriously wounded soldiers, two hundred and thirty lightly wounded soldiers, and seventy-six dead. Most of the lightly wounded suffered burns from flaming arrows or cuts from stray arrows. The majority of the seriously wounded had their chests and ribs crushed by the Northern Di’s flails and heavy hammers. Fortunately, Chief Clerk Xia reacted quickly yesterday and sent reinforcements in time. Otherwise, those dozen or so newly assembled siege ladders would all have been burned to ashes last night.”
Su Mucheng’s fingertips moved across the columns in the casualty register. He said calmly, “The frontline supplies will last another three days. Go inform the logistics camp to prioritize allocating the medical supplies brought from Yanguifield to the wounded soldiers’ camp. Put the seriously wounded in separate tents. Don’t crowd them together. Those with minor injuries who can still move should return to their camps to recuperate after applying medicine. They must not carry heavy objects for the next three days.”
He looked up at the military physician and added, “Don’t assume that just because someone has been saved, they can immediately return to the battlefield. The numbers on paper are just numbers. Someone who has only recently recovered from a serious injury may not even be able to hold a shield steady. Sending such a person to the top of a siege wall would simply be throwing their life away. Do not count all wounded soldiers as combat-ready troops.”
“Understood.”
The military physician respectfully took the register and withdrew.
Su Mucheng straightened the slightly wrinkled hem of his robe and turned toward the main tent.
Inside, several lamps illuminated the military map.
Xiao Yuan was still wearing his dark iron armor with its subtle patterns, not yet having removed all of it. He stood beside the wooden table, his gaze fixed on the several mountain roads between Baishui Pass and Yanqi Ferry. Pei Yi stood beside him. His face still bore the exhaustion of the previous night’s fighting, but his eyes remained sharp.
Su Mucheng lifted the tent flap and entered, casually placing the organized casualty and military supply reports on the corner of the table.
Xiao Yuan raised his head. A trace of concern appeared in his dark eyes.
“How is Huaiyu?”
“He developed a slight fever, and his body is somewhat weak,” Su Mucheng replied indifferently. “I’ve prescribed medicine for him. Xiao is keeping watch in his tent. He needs to lie still for at least two days.”
Xiao Yuan nodded, and the heavy stone weighing on his heart eased slightly.
Xia Lanshi had personally overseen the frontline arrangements despite his frail health. If anything happened to him, even if they managed to hold the Vanguard Camp, it would be a loss that neither Xiao Yuan nor Great Sheng could afford.
Su Mucheng’s gaze swept over the bandages wrapped around Xiao Yuan’s right palm.
When Xiao Yuan had arrived here last night, he had appeared to have no obvious injuries. However, after clashing with the elite troops under Tuoba Lie, the force of his sword against the enemy formation had split the web of flesh between his right thumb and index finger. The muscles and bones around his shoulder blade had also suffered contusions, and he was experiencing some chest tightness. He was not fit to fight another battle anytime soon.
“Let’s get down to business.” Xiao Yuan pointed at the military reports on the table. “Half an hour ago, the Light Network sent back the latest intelligence.”
Pei Yi placed a black wooden chess piece heavily on the mountain road between Baishui Pass and Yanqi Ferry.
“Helian Cang didn’t commit all forty thousand reinforcements to Baishui Pass. After crossing the mountain ridge, the forty thousand troops split into two groups. Approximately half were personally led by Helian Cang as he turned back to defend Yanqi Ferry. The remaining twenty thousand have already entered the Baishui Pass defense zone.”
Su Mucheng’s eyes shifted slightly.
“Splitting forty thousand troops into two groups is within expectations. Helian Cang wouldn’t dare gamble on whether we were merely staging a feint against Baishui Pass while actually targeting Yanqi Ferry. Yanqi Ferry still has a considerable force stationed there. It is by no means undefended, so we cannot afford to let our guard down. As for Baishui Pass, the arrival of these twenty thousand reinforcements has greatly increased the pressure on us.”
“Baishui Pass originally had fifteen thousand defenders. Now it has another twenty thousand reinforcements from Helian Cang.” Pei Yi snorted coldly. “Although the new reinforcements can’t all be stationed inside the city, the pass and the outer camp can support each other. The number of troops they can mobilize still far exceeds ours. If we rely solely on a frontal assault, even with our siege equipment intact, we may not be able to take the pass within the allotted time.”
Baishui Pass was different from Duanyun Fortress. It was a formidable double-barbican fortress that was difficult to breach. A frontal assault would require even more lives to be sacrificed.
Moreover, Baishui Pass was not a place where the Suwei guards could freely come and go. Its defending commander was also different, making it impossible to employ the same strategy they had used at Duanyun Fortress.
The three-month deadline was shrinking with each passing day. Baishui Pass remained unconquered, while Yanqi Ferry still lay far beyond their reach. Time was slipping away bit by bit.
“Troop strength cannot be judged by the numbers on paper alone.”
Xiao Yuan slowly spoke, breaking the oppressive silence.
“Tuoba Lie appears to command thirty-five thousand troops, but these twenty thousand new reinforcements belong to Helian Cang. They have no longstanding ties with Tuoba Lie’s original troops. Their command structure and habits are entirely different. Even if Tuoba Lie can accommodate them, he will still need time to integrate them.”
Su Mucheng spread a sheet of Xuan paper marked with ink lines beside the military map.
“I analyzed the situation around Duanyun Fortress and Baishui Pass last night. Baishui Pass is a medium-sized city. Its double barbicans make it easy to defend, and civilians already lived inside the city. Now, with the sudden increase in reinforcements and more people fleeing from outside the pass, the real problem may not be an immediate food shortage, but the need to reorganize both the people and supplies.”
“What about provisions?” Pei Yi asked.
“We captured the two granaries at Duanyun Fortress. The stored grain is sufficient to sustain us for several months, and we’ve also cut off an important Northern Di supply depot along this front.”
Su Mucheng pointed at the military map.
“As for exactly how much grain remains inside Baishui Pass, we cannot obtain an accurate figure. We must not casually assume when they will run out of food. However, one thing is certain: wounded soldiers need medicinal supplies, injured horses need fodder, and refugees and scattered defeated troops are continuously heading toward Baishui Pass. Tuoba Lie’s logistical and administrative burden is steadily accumulating.”
Su Mucheng looked at Xiao Yuan and Pei Yi.
“Jingyuan, refugees and deserters may not cause Baishui Pass to run out of food immediately, but they will create an additional burden for Tuoba Lie that he cannot accurately predict in advance. If he allows them into the pass, he will have to verify their identities, arrange treatment for the wounded, resettle civilians, and guard against spies hiding among them. If he refuses entry to everyone, those people won’t simply disappear into thin air. Duanyun Fortress has already fallen. They have insufficient food supplies, and may not have anywhere else to go.”
Pei Yi looked thoughtful.
“So they’ll head toward wherever they can find food.”
“Exactly,” Su Mucheng said. “If the city gates remain closed, they may turn toward the military camps outside the pass instead. When that happens, Tuoba Lie won’t just have to figure out how to accommodate the reinforcements. He’ll also have to decide whether to spare troops to provide relief, disperse these people, or keep them under surveillance.”
Xiao Yuan’s fingertip slowly traced the roads outside Baishui Pass.
“But we cannot pin our hopes on them. They are living people, not chess pieces we can move around at will. What impact they have depends on how Tuoba Lie handles the situation, not on how we want him to handle it.”
He raised his eyes toward Pei Yi.
“Keep a close watch on the new camp outside the pass first. I want to know how the new reinforcements arrange their patrols, how they travel between the city gates and the outer camp, and who is responsible for transporting grain carts, fodder, and wounded soldiers. Pay particular attention to any units that leave the main camp and have to operate independently.”
Pei Yi nodded.
“What if we find an isolated supply convoy or patrol?”
“Confirm their numbers and route, then choose one to strike,” Xiao Yuan replied. “Don’t touch the main force in the outer camp, and don’t attack anywhere refugees have gathered. Intercepting a batch of provisions would be good, of course. But if we can force them to readjust their escorts and patrol rotations, then the effort won’t have been wasted.”
He placed another chess piece between the outer camp and the city.
“We aren’t trying to win a spectacular battle. We want to make Tuoba Lie leave behind more troops, spend more provisions, and devote more attention to security every time he does anything.”
Pei Yi cupped his fists firmly.
“Understood! I’ll arrange for elite scouts to closely monitor any changes in the new camp outside Baishui Pass and the city gates.”
Xiao Yuan nodded.
“Continue reconnaissance in both directions. Keep a close eye on Baishui Pass, and don’t overlook Helian Cang’s movements around Yanqi Ferry.”
◇◆◇◆◇
Inside a quiet tent behind the main camp, a brazier burned with a faint charcoal fire, releasing a subtle herbal fragrance.
Xia Lanshi was leaning against a soft pillow. His face was unnaturally flushed, and a cool, damp cloth lay across his forehead.
He struggled to open his eyes and looked at Xiao, who was keeping watch beside his bed.
Several military registers and notebooks lay open across Xiao’s lap. The pages had been turned so frequently that their edges had curled slightly. Fresh ink marks had been added beside several names.
“…How\… is the frontline… situation?” Xia Lanshi asked, his voice hoarse.
Xiao raised his head. The coldness in his eyes softened slightly when he saw Xia Lanshi awake. He picked up a bowl of freshly prepared fever-reducing medicine and brought it over.
“Drink your medicine.”
Xiao’s tone was brief and cold, leaving no room for negotiation.
Xia Lanshi smiled bitterly.
“I asked about the military situation…”
“His Highness, General Pei, and Mu An are discussing it in the main tent,” Xiao interrupted coldly. “Tuoba Lie has received his reinforcements and is dividing his troops for reorganization. His Highness already has arrangements in place. You, a man running a fever, don’t need to worry about it.”
Xia Lanshi took the medicine bowl and sipped the bitter liquid. He sighed softly.
“With the reinforcements arriving… Baishui Pass’s defenses have become even stronger. If we launch a frontal assault, we’ll be fighting a prolonged war of attrition and reconnaissance…”
Although Xia Lanshi was lying in bed and his breathing still carried the faint heat of a fever, he remained restless. He reached out toward Xiao’s notebook.
Xiao furrowed his brows and gently pressed his hand down.
“You can barely sit up. Why are you still looking at these things?”
Xia Lanshi’s lips curved into a faint, bitter smile.
“If I keep lying here, Helian Cang will figure out our frontline arrangements.”
“…In our previous deductions, we suspected the clerks and messengers along these routes. But this time, those people have either been transferred elsewhere or never had contact with the Vanguard Camp’s core deployment in the first place. Yet the intelligence still leaked…”
At first, they had suspected that the spies were among the Imperial Army.
However, even after they left Linbei City, incidents of military intelligence leaking continued to occur.
Judging from how accurately Helian Cang had learned of the troop shortage at Yanguifield and how quickly he had acted upon that information, it seemed highly likely that the enemy already knew the strength of the troops they had at their disposal.
“Finish your medicine first,” Xiao said coldly. “Mu An said that if your fever hasn’t gone down by today, you’ll have to undergo a blood test tomorrow. You can decide for yourself.”
Seeing how stubborn he was, Xia Lanshi had no choice but to drink the remaining medicine.
Xiao took the bowl from his hands and placed it on the nearby table.
Glancing at the notebooks, Xiao continued their earlier discussion.
“This means the information wasn’t leaked by any of the ‘familiar faces.’ I’ve checked each of them individually. At present, there’s no evidence proving that any of them have been passing information outside.”
Xia Lanshi reached for the notebook again, understanding what Xiao meant by “familiar faces.”
He was referring to those spies who had been caught in the memories of Xiao’s previous repeated lives.
The “familiar faces” might still have leaked some information, but they were not responsible for the most crucial intelligence.
Xiao had once mentioned the butterfly effect to him.
He had theorized that every time Xiao relived his life, there would be numerous subtle differences. Yet those seemingly insignificant differences could very well lead to entirely different outcomes.
Xia Lanshi’s fingertip stopped on a line in the register.
In the memories of those repeated lives, some people’s names had long since become familiar warnings to Xiao. But this time, perhaps they had never followed the same paths at all.
If it wasn’t one of those old acquaintances, then the person leaking military intelligence might be a variable that had only appeared in this lifetime.
That was what made the situation so troublesome.
They could only use the limited time available to find the real “worm” as quickly as possible.
Xia Lanshi’s gaze narrowed slightly.
“Official military orders and channels of communication are now strictly controlled. Unless the leak comes from a high-ranking civilian official, there’s only one other possibility—daily contact.”
“Daily contact?”
“The wounded soldiers’ camp, or the logistics laborers.”
Xia Lanshi spoke slowly.
“Military reports follow established procedures, and people entering and leaving the camp are inspected. Important documents aren’t casually handed to outsiders. But wounded soldiers need their dressings changed, meals served, and have conversations every day. The people caring for them can come into contact with soldiers from many different camps.”
Once the fighting began, large numbers of wounded soldiers poured in. Medical personnel sent by various battalions, civilian laborers transporting supplies, and even medical assistants constantly moving back and forth all came into contact with people from different units every day.
The mole might not necessarily be some high-ranking spy. It could simply be an inconspicuous person who had the freedom to move around the wounded soldiers’ camp or the logistics routes.
“If someone doesn’t need to know the complete military situation and only has to pass along the scattered bits of information they hear each day, that would be enough for someone outside to gradually piece together our movements.”
Xiao’s gaze turned colder.
“You suspect the wounded soldiers’ camp?”
Xia Lanshi closed the notebook.
“I suspect the flow of information there. We can’t jump to conclusions yet. First, don’t alert anyone. Check which pieces of information the enemy has recently obtained, then see whether those pieces share any common channels of contact. We’ll talk again after we’ve identified this worm.”
As he spoke, his throat suddenly grew itchy. He turned his head and coughed several times.
Seeing this, Xiao said nothing more. He simply forced him back against the pillow and said coldly, “You’ve said your piece. Close your eyes and lie still.”
Xia Lanshi blinked and reached out to tug at Xiao’s sleeve.
“…There’s also the victory proclamation for the recapture of Duanyun Fortress that needs to be written. The announcement of victory cannot be delayed.”
Now that he was ill and Xiao Yuan had injured his right hand, Pei Yi was not good at writing victory proclamations.
Xiao tucked the quilt around him and said, “That thing is simple. I’ll write it up later and have His Highness approve it. Stop worrying about all this. If you don’t go to sleep, I’ll have Mu An come over right now.”
But Xia Lanshi didn’t let go. Instead, he tightened his grip on Xiao’s sleeve.
“When writing it, be careful how the military achievements are attributed.”
Xiao stopped what he was doing and lowered his head to look at him.
“In the battle for Duanyun Fortress, His Highness was the overall commander, but Qin Feng led the troops in the siege,” Xia Lanshi said. Although his voice was weak, his words were clear. “In the victory proclamation, the credit for storming the fortress and defeating the enemy must go to Qin Feng. His Highness’s name only needs the four words, ‘skillful command and coordination’… That’s enough.”
Xiao Yuan commanded a powerful army and was recovering lost territory. If all the military achievements were attributed to the commander-in-chief in the victory proclamation, the watchful eyes in the imperial court and the Emperor’s concerns would also have to be taken into account.
Sharing the credit with Qin Feng was both an accurate account of what had happened and a protective shield.
This was the strategy he and Xiao Yuan had discussed: to distribute the military achievements of the three recovered territories among different people.
Xiao remained silent for a moment.
“I know. There’s no need to worry.”
Only then did Xia Lanshi release his grip.
Looking at Xiao’s calm yet resolute face, he hadn’t expected Xiao to be capable of writing a victory proclamation, too. He hadn’t even wasted a single unnecessary word.
Helplessly, he obediently leaned back against the pillow and closed his eyes.
After all, he didn’t want to receive another three-page, updated edition of Su Mucheng’s patient guidelines.
Although he had finally lain down, his mind was still occupied by one question—
Who, exactly, was this lifetime’s “worm”?
◇◆◇◆◇
On the walls of Baishui Pass, the wind and sand howled fiercely.
Tuoba Lie stood atop the tallest watchtower of the double-barbican fortress, clad in heavy Iron Wolf armor. His knife-carved, rugged face was shrouded in gloom.
Below the city walls, the twenty thousand newly arrived reinforcements were being divided into separate groups under the shouts and curses of their commanders. Some armored infantrymen had been permitted to enter the barbican to rest and recuperate, while most of the cavalry and logistics troops were assigned to set up camp outside the city, along the mountains and beside the water.
Today, Tuoba Lie had far more to worry about than the weapons and soldiers outside the walls.
Two pressing problems lay before him.
The first was organizing the twenty thousand reinforcements recently dispatched by Helian Cang. The second was the flood of refugees and scattered defeated troops pouring toward the pass after the fall of Duanyun Fortress.
Not far away, a personal attendant hurried up the watchtower through the wind and sand. He knelt on one knee and reported:
“General. Several of the newly arrived commanders are raising objections below! They say they’ve traveled a thousand miles to reinforce Baishui Pass, yet the general won’t let all of them enter the city to rest. Instead, you’ve ordered most of them to set up camp outside. The soldiers below are quietly grumbling, saying the general only wants their provisions and doesn’t actually welcome them…”
Tuoba Lie shot him a cold glance, his eyes like those of a lone wolf on an icy plain.
“What nonsense! Baishui Pass is only so big. If all thirty-five thousand men squeeze into the city, there won’t even be room to turn the horses around! If Great Sheng launches a fierce assault with trebuchets and firebombs, a single projectile could crush an entire group! If we don’t establish an outer camp, are we supposed to wait for Great Sheng to surround us?!”
The attendant was so frightened that he didn’t dare speak again.
“Pass down my military order,” Tuoba Lie said, his voice low and harsh. “Anyone who secretly spreads rumors or sows discord between the old and new troops will be dealt with according to military law! I’ll personally appoint my own guards to take charge of patrols in the outer camp. The camp must be surrounded by continuous trenches to guard against Great Sheng’s nighttime raids and harassment!”
“Yes!”
The attendant hurried away to deliver the order.
Although the arrival of twenty thousand reinforcements had strengthened the defensive line, it had also brought enormous pressure in terms of command integration, provisions distribution, and friction between the old and new troops.
However, that wasn’t even the most troublesome problem.
Almost as soon as the new reinforcements began setting up camp, another crisis arrived at the city gates.
“General, several hundred more people have arrived outside the pass.”
An attendant hurried up the watchtower, followed by the commander responsible for guarding the pass gates.
“Among them are defeated soldiers who fled from Duanyun Fortress, as well as civilians and wounded people. They say Duanyun Fortress has fallen, and its granaries have also been captured by Great Sheng. They want to enter the pass to seek food and medical treatment.”
Tuoba Lie’s brows drew together.
“How many are there in total?”
“The number is still increasing. Some say there are only these few hundred, while others claim many more are on their way.”
“What are their accounts?”
The man was momentarily stunned.
“What?”
“They say Duanyun Fortress has fallen. Have they explained exactly how the city was lost? How many enemy troops were there? Were the granaries captured or burned? Who witnessed it personally, and who is merely repeating what they heard?”
The commander looked troubled.
“Their accounts differ. Some say Great Sheng has already taken control of both granaries. Others say they were too busy fleeing during the retreat to know anything about the granaries.”
Tuoba Lie’s gaze turned cold.
Among these people, there were undoubtedly genuine refugees and wounded soldiers.
But Duanyun Fortress had only just fallen, and Great Sheng had not stopped advancing. He could not open the gates simply because a few people were crying for help, allowing people of unknown origins to slip into the city.
“Do not allow anyone to enter the pass for now,” Tuoba Lie ordered sternly. “Separate the wounded from the others and question them individually about where they came from. Until their identities have been verified, no one is permitted to let them into the city without authorization. As for food and medicine, send them water first. They can seek food from the outer camp. Without my order, no one is to open the granaries.”
He wasn’t unaware that this order would provoke complaints.
But Baishui Pass could not afford to lower its guard because of a group of people whose identities were unknown. If Great Sheng really had spies mixed among them, opening the gates today could mean paying an even greater price tomorrow.
However, the situation did not settle down after the order was relayed to the outer camp.
The newly arrived reinforcements outside the pass had yet to complete their reorganization, and their provisions still needed to be redistributed. The sudden influx of refugees and scattered defeated troops left those responsible for distributing grain in a difficult position.
If they refused to provide food, people before their eyes might collapse from hunger. If they distributed food, they would have no sufficient documentation to justify their actions to their superiors.
After the order reached the outer camp, the new reinforcements, whose provisions were already tightly allocated, could not casually spare any grain. The officers in charge of provisions found themselves in a dilemma and decided to refuse to distribute food.
The refugees and scattered defeated troops accused the defenders of standing by while people died. The two sides nearly came to blows outside the camp.
By the time the news reached Tuoba Lie, his expression had become extremely grim.
He had no choice but to send additional personal guards to the outer camp to maintain order, while also guarding against anyone taking advantage of the chaos to sneak into the camp.
Meanwhile, those who had escaped from Duanyun Fortress continued spreading whatever information they knew, and rumors gradually began circulating throughout the outer camp.
Tuoba Lie turned around and once again fixed his gaze on the endless mountain ranges to the north.
The integration of the old and new reinforcements within the camp was going poorly. Outside, refugees and defeated soldiers were entangling his troops with their cries and pleas.
But what weighed most heavily on his heart was the outcome of yesterday’s attack on the Vanguard Camp.
Six thousand elite troops had launched an assault. Not only had they failed to destroy Great Sheng’s siege equipment, but they had also suffered several hundred casualties.
The scouts reported that the defenses of Great Sheng’s Vanguard Camp were exceptionally tenacious. The person directing the battle was none other than that “White Calamity Child,” Xia Lanshi.
This man not only planned the overall strategy but was also extremely methodical in directing troops during combat. His layered defensive lines and flawless deployment of reserve troops had caused the surprise attack to return empty-handed.
What made Tuoba Lie uneasy were several signs mentioned in the military report.
According to reports, during the battle at the Vanguard Camp, someone had witnessed a snowy owl circling in the sky.
Others had seen a figure dressed in red, riding the king of the northern wilderness horses, appear beside that White Calamity Child—Mr. Liuchu, the retainer of Prince Su.
Having been born into a tribal clan, Tuoba Lie knew the folk belief that the appearance of a snowy owl represented the eyes of the gods. However, as a veteran commander, he would not panic simply because a bird circled overhead.
What truly put him on alert was this newly emerged variable—Mr. Liuchu.
“King of the wilderness horses… Mr. Liuchu…”
Tuoba Lie repeated the name in a low voice, his fists quietly clenching.
That white horse was none other than the legendary king of the northern wilderness horses, known for its fierce temperament and untamable nature. Yet it had now appeared beside Prince Su.
A man capable of riding the king of the wilderness horses and standing alongside Xia Lanshi at such a crucial position in the Vanguard Camp during wartime was certainly no ordinary person.
The Cangyuan Khanate was now facing Xiao Yuan, Prince Su, whose reputation alone could intimidate the entire Northern Border; Pei Yi, a fierce general who had fought in countless battles; Xia Lanshi, a man of extraordinary strategic ability; and now this mysterious Mr. Liuchu, whose background remained unknown.
Great Sheng’s lineup was far stronger than expected.
That was the pressure he would have to face from now on.
The wind and sand roared past, making the flags atop the city walls flutter violently.
Tuoba Lie gathered his thoughts and took a deep breath.
How could he not know that the refugees were pitiful and the wounded were suffering?
But he had no room to retreat.
During this final month or so, he had to ensure that the newly arrived twenty thousand reinforcements, the original fifteen thousand defenders, the outer camp defenses, and the ever-increasing logistical burden all operated together seamlessly, right under the enemy’s watchful eyes.
He picked up the military map again, pressing his fingertip heavily against the positions of the new outer camp and the supply routes beyond the city. He began redrawing the defensive arrangements and duty rotations for the coming month.
The final month or so weighed heavily upon the shoulders of the commander of Baishui Pass like an enormous mountain.
◇◆◇◆◇
The air above Yanqi Ferry was thick with moisture, and waves beat against the heavily guarded wooden trestle bridge.
After returning to Yanqi Ferry, Helian Cang, commander-in-chief of the Cangyuan Khanate, had not even had time to remove his armor when he received the latest military report from the direction of Baishui Pass. It recorded the outcome of the battle at the Vanguard Camp, as well as the current state of Tuoba Lie’s troop division and reorganization.
By the dim light of an oil lamp, he examined the military reports that had just been delivered from outside.
Several battle reports and secret intelligence documents were spread across the table. Beside them lay two special dossiers that had just been submitted by his spies.
Helian Cang opened the files, his gaze settling on the cold, matter-of-fact words written inside.
The first dossier recorded information about the newly emerged Staff Officer Su, who had appeared beside Prince Su, Xiao Yuan—
Staff Officer Su. Real name unknown. Usually wears a white gauze hat to conceal his face.
According to reports, he was originally Physician Su, who provided the Northern Border with methods for preventing and treating the epidemic. He was later promoted by Prince Su and now oversees military logistics and medical affairs. He brought with him medicines and medicinal materials from what was known as the Guichen Medical Sect. He also established the Northern Border Military Hospital in Linbei City, where wounded soldiers and patients are treated in a centralized facility.
Helian Cang’s fingers tapped lightly against the tabletop.
A physician whose true identity was unknown and who concealed his face behind a white gauze hat had managed to establish a medical system within Great Sheng’s army, even directly involving himself in logistics and core military decisions?
Helian Cang’s fingers continued tapping lightly against the tabletop.
Ever since the winter famine, both Great Sheng’s army and the Cangyuan Khanate’s forces had suffered from food shortages, injuries, illness, and the cold.
However, as the battles had continued over this period, he had gradually noticed that Great Sheng’s troops were recovering their combat strength much faster than before. The losses caused by injuries and illness also did not seem to be accumulating continuously as he had expected.
At first, he had assumed that Xiao Yuan’s logistical arrangements were simply more thorough.
Now, it seemed there might be more to it than that.
“Staff Officer Su…”
Helian Cang quietly repeated the title.
Why would a physician who had originally treated illnesses conceal his real name and appearance?
And why would Xiao Yuan promote such a person to the position of staff officer, even allowing him to oversee military logistics and medical affairs?
If his only skill was medicine, it would have been enough to assign several military physicians to accompany the army. Yet this man had established a military hospital, reorganized the treatment and admission of wounded soldiers, and brought medicines that had never been heard of before.
Clearly, his role went far beyond simply treating the sick and saving lives.
Helian Cang set the first intelligence report aside and picked up the second dossier.
Prince Su’s Manor Retainer, Mr. Liuchu.
Real name unknown. Frequently wears red clothing and rides a white horse said to be the king of the wild horses of the northern wilderness. According to rumors, the horse has a fierce and untamable temperament. From ancient times until now, no one has been able to ride it, yet it obeys this man’s commands alone.
He is often seen accompanying Xia Lanshi. His identity is mysterious, and he is frequently among Xiao Yuan’s core advisers.
Beyond this, there is no further reliable information.
Helian Cang studied the two descriptions, his brows drawing together slightly.
At least there was a lead to investigate regarding Staff Officer Su.
But the intelligence on this Mr. Liuchu was unusually sparse, and they had consistently failed to uncover his true origins.
One oversaw military logistics and medical affairs. The other frequently appeared around Prince Su and the chief clerk.
Their backgrounds were different, yet neither had a clearly traceable past, and both had earned Xiao Yuan’s trust.
Helian Cang slowly leaned back against his chair, his gaze darkening.
In the past, he had always regarded Xiao Yuan as an opponent skilled in the art of warfare.
But now, it seemed the situation was no longer that simple.
After the fall of Duanyun Fortress, Xiao Yuan had not rushed to capture Baishui Pass. Instead, he had continued observing the Cangyuan Khanate’s deployments. Great Sheng’s soldiers were also recovering from their injuries and illnesses at a different rate than before. And now, two people with unknown backgrounds, each possessing their own special abilities, had appeared beside him one after another.
Helian Cang picked up his brush again and added a note beside each of the two intelligence reports.
Staff Officer Su: Investigate his past, the origins of his medicines, and the actual operation of the military hospital.
Mr. Liuchu: Investigate when he first appeared, his interactions with Xia Lanshi, and his true responsibilities within Prince Su’s Manor.
He paused for a moment, then wrote another line above the two reports—
Reassess Prince Su, Xiao Yuan.
This time, he would investigate more than just Xiao Yuan’s troop strength, deployments, and tactics.
He wanted to understand exactly how Xiao Yuan had managed to restore the combat strength of an army that had endured famine and one battle after another in such a short time.
He also wanted to find out what those people who had suddenly appeared beside him had brought to this army.
Outside the window, the river wind swept past the military tents.
Baishui Pass had yet to fall, and Yanqi Ferry remained in the hands of the Cangyuan Khanate.
But for the first time, Helian Cang clearly realized that the standards he had previously used to measure Xiao Yuan might no longer be sufficient.