Chapter 12: Military Camp

 

The medicine worked its subtle magic through He Simu's borrowed flesh, restoring her command over the mortal shell. The physician's diagnosis brought relief—merely a mild cold, nothing that threatened her possession. By the following morning, she emerged from her chambers wrapped in a thick woolen cloak, ready to face the world once more.

Shuozhou's position north of the Guan River blessed it with a climate reminiscent of Liangzhou. The wealthy Lin family's courtyard showcased their refined taste—Chinese scholar trees, maple trees, and plum trees created natural poetry against gray stone tiles and walls. Plum blossoms trembled on the edge of blooming, their promise of beauty softening the winter's harsh grip.

Chen Ying bounded toward her with the enthusiasm of youth, his small hand finding hers as concern clouded his features. "Sister, are you truly well?"

"Nothing serious troubles me now."

The boy nodded, though his frown deepened with fresh worry. "Sister Xiao Xiao, you spoke with General Brother for such a long time yesterday. You wouldn't surrender me to him, would you?"

He Simu shook her head with gentle certainty. She settled onto the corridor bench, her voice carrying the weight of harsh reality. "Given our current circumstances, Duan Xu walks a precipice of danger. I would never thrust you into such flames."

"What does the young lady mean by such words?"

The inquiry came from behind them. He Simu turned to discover a young man in pale robes standing in the courtyard, his attention fixed upon their exchange with unsettling intensity.

Perhaps the garment wasn't truly white—her peculiar vision rendered most light colors as pristine ivory. His clothing bore intricate embroidered patterns of pine, cypress, and mountainous landscapes, while his hair cascaded over his shoulders in elegant waves. Tall and possessed of resolute features, he cut an undeniably handsome figure.

He Simu's gaze traced the contours of his skull with professional assessment. Fine bone structure, though naturally inferior to Duan Xu's exceptional architecture.

The young man offered a respectful bow. "Greetings, Miss He. I am Lin Jun, master of this residence."

Ah, so this was the unfortunate owner of the carriage she had helped destroy.

Master Lin represented one of Shuozhou's most prominent Han merchant families. Since Duan Xu's conquest of the Prefecture City, the Lin household had provided unwavering support and substantial supplies to the Tabai forces. When He Simu fell ill, Lin Jun had voluntarily offered sanctuary for her recovery.

One could only imagine the humiliations the Lin family had endured under Danzhi rule to welcome the Great Liang army with such fervent enthusiasm.

He Simu returned his courtesy before Lin Jun pressed forward with his earlier question. "Miss He spoke of General Duan facing great danger. Please elaborate on this assessment."

He Simu studied Lin Jun for a long moment, settling her arm against the bench's rest as she smiled with calculated honesty. "Master Lin maintains such close ties with the Tabai forces—surely you understand our situation better than most. How many soldiers does Tabai command in total? They must simultaneously protect Liangzhou and maintain their hold on Shuozhou. Even if General Duan possessed three heads and six arms, he cannot conjure additional warriors from thin air."

She paused, allowing her words to settle before continuing with clinical precision. "Tabai captured Shuozhou's five cities through surprise and audacity. But why did Danzhi remain unprepared? Because Duan Xu chose a suicidal path. Tabai commands merely fifty thousand troops in Shuozhou, while Danzhi masses two hundred thousand soldiers preparing to march south. Apart from this Prefecture City—blessed with high walls, thick fortifications, and natural barriers of mountains and water that make it easily defended and difficult to assault—the other four cities possess no meaningful defenses. Soon, those settlements will return to Danzhi control, and we shall find ourselves trapped within these walls."

The strategic reality painted itself in stark colors. "Shuozhou Prefecture City commands the essential route for Danzhi reinforcements to Yuzhou. They will certainly attack with overwhelming force. Duan Xu may choose retreat or elect to defend unto death. Should he select the latter course, rivers of blood will flow. Assuming Shuozhou returns to Danzhi control swiftly, Master Lin, what fate awaits your family?"

The lengthy analysis triggered a slight cough. Chen Ying's complexion drained of color as he rushed to her side, offering gentle assistance while whispering with trembling voice, "Then Sister Xiao Xiao, why... why did you agree to journey to Shuozhou? Such terrible danger surrounds us..."

Why indeed? Of course, it was for Duan Xu's compelling invitation and her constant hunger for sustenance.

He Simu displayed no trace of concern, merely smiled while tapping Chen Ying's forehead affectionately. "Now fear finds you. I mentioned earlier that reading winds for the Danzhi forces would serve equally well, but you refused to believe such wisdom."

Lin Jun's eyes flickered with complex emotions as he regarded He Simu in profound silence.

An elderly steward hurried into the courtyard, offering respectful bows to both Lin Jun and He Simu. "Master, Miss He, General Duan has arrived and awaits your presence in the front hall."

Lin Jun acknowledged the message with a curt nod. He moved to depart but halted after a single step, turning back to fix He Simu with an intense stare.

"Miss He, do you believe my Lin family enjoys wealth and prominence, living in glory even under Danzhi dominion? You have not witnessed how my father's generation and I have swallowed endless humiliation while still being forced to court favor with those Hu Qi nobles. We Han people serve as mere servants in their eyes—perhaps worth less than their hunting dogs."

He straightened his spine as if propelled by inner fire, each word carved from granite determination. "We of the Lin family are human beings. We refuse to remain servants, much less dogs."

With that declaration, he strode away, his sleeves billowing behind him like battle banners. He Simu held Chen Ying close, her eyes narrowing slightly as she watched Lin Jun's departing figure.

Here stands a master possessed of genuine spirit.

Following the steward's guidance, she accompanied Lin Jun to the front hall where Duan Xu and Han Ling Qiu waited in full battle armor. Lin Jun approached swiftly, offering formal bows before turning to Han Ling Qiu with evident concern.

"Commandant Han, how fares your health?"

Han Ling Qiu's left arm remained partially immobilized. He returned the bow stiffly. "Recovery progresses steadily. No major concerns remain."

"I heard from our physician that you once employed a life-threatening medicine with endless complications. Do you recall the specific remedy? Perhaps our doctor could assist in treating any lingering effects," Lin Jun offered with earnest sincerity.

Han Ling Qiu's expression hardened, his head shaking with rigid finality. "I understand my own constitution. Master Lin need not concern himself with such matters."

The rebuff of Lin Jun's goodwill created an awkward silence. He could only offer generic wishes for Han Ling Qiu's continued health without pursuing the subject further. He Simu observed these social currents carefully, her gaze moving between all present before meeting Duan Xu's knowing eyes. The latter's expression curved into a subtle smile of acknowledgment.

Duan Xu smoothly entered the conversation, stating with direct authority that he was departing for the military encampment and had come to escort He Simu for important strategic discussions.

He Simu offered no resistance to the invitation.

Upon reaching the main camp, He Simu alighted from the carriage with practiced grace. Duan Xu dismounted and approached her side with casual intimacy.

"Would you care to guess the nature of our impending discussion?"

"Commandant Han's condition?"

Duan Xu leaned close, his whisper carrying playful mischief. "No—you have a runny nose. You should address it quickly."

The inconveniences of mortal flesh proved truly tiresome.

He Simu frowned and instinctively reached for her nose, but Duan Xu intercepted her wrist with gentle firmness.

"No, no," he chided with rising intonation, producing a handkerchief from within his robes. "A meritorious contributor to Tabai cannot attend military conferences with such... undignified symptoms."

This marked the second of Duan Xu's handkerchiefs she had commandeered for practical purposes.

He Simu accepted the cloth with grace, pressing it to her nose while smiling with self-deprecating humor. "You represent the true meritorious contributor to Tabai. What am I? Likely no one will spare me a glance during these deliberations."

Events would prove her assessment remarkably prescient.

As they entered the command tent, before Duan Xu could complete introductions, Wu Sheng Liu erupted from his seated position. His bronze armor clanked with the violence of his movement as the burly, bearded veteran shouted with unmistakable fury, "General, what meaning lies behind sending Xia Qing Sheng back to Liangzhou?"

Several days had passed since their last encounter, when Wu Sheng Liu had stood rigid with defensive pride. Today, though his posture remained characteristically stiff, he had grown increasingly comfortable addressing Duan Xu with proper military respect.

Recognizing her irrelevance to these martial discussions, He Simu hesitated briefly before drawing her cloak closer and retiring to what appeared to be her designated observation post. She settled gracefully and reached for a cup of tea, preparing to witness the unfolding drama.

"Exercise caution with your tongue—the tea burns quite hot."

Duan Xu tapped He Simu's table twice with his knuckles, offering a meaningful warning. Then he pivoted to face Wu Sheng Liu, his smile never wavering.

"Indeed, I dispatched Lang General Xia to Liangzhou to command our remaining forces there and await reinforcements. Does Lang General Wu harbor objections to this decision?"

He Simu, observing from her advantageous position, raised an eyebrow and wisely returned the steaming cup to its saucer to avoid potential injury.

By this time, all Lang Generals and Commandants save Xia Qing Sheng had assembled within the tent. Each wore gleaming armor that seemed to lower the temperature by several degrees. Beyond the familiar faces of Meng Wan and Han Ling Qiu, several unknown commandants watched the brewing confrontation between Wu Sheng Liu and Duan Xu with visible nervousness.

The discord between Lang General Wu and Duan Xu was legendary throughout the ranks. One possessed senior rank, the other commanded superior status; one embraced straightforward honesty, the other maintained perpetual diplomatic smiles. During battles, they achieved grudging cooperation, but peace invariably spawned heated arguments.

That they continued winning campaigns despite such internal friction represented something approaching military miracle.

"What objections could I possibly harbor? General, I have fought these battles alongside you, and though victory crowns our efforts, I remain utterly bewildered by your methods. You have scarcely spoken truth to me throughout this entire campaign!"

Wu Sheng Liu's anger intensified as he recalled their shared frustrations. Originally, Duan Xu had declared their intention to assault Yuzhou, but shortly after beginning that offensive, he suddenly pivoted to cross the river and attack Shuozhou instead. The assault on the Prefecture City had proven even more dramatically unexpected—before battle commenced, Wu had argued vehemently with Duan Xu, absolutely certain that terrain and enemy numbers guaranteed their doom. Who could have predicted that countless red birds would materialize from nowhere, frightening the Hu Qi defenders into abandoning their stronghold?

Duan Xu never shared these plans and stratagems beforehand, clearly demonstrating profound disrespect for his senior officer!

In this moment, Wu Sheng Liu failed to grasp how greatly he misjudged Duan Xu's character. The young general's secrecy stemmed not from disrespect—even when facing supreme authority, Duan Xu would never abandon his independent command philosophy.

Duan Xu gestured for Wu Sheng Liu to resume his seat, settling behind the strategy table with composed authority. "Lang General Wu wears his emotions openly and has spent years defending our borders, making him well-known to enemy intelligence. Had I revealed our deception, I feared exposure of our true intentions. Moreover, the Lang General understands our numerical disadvantage against enemy forces. As ancient wisdom teaches, 'In desperate situations, warriors will fight with ultimate determination.' Without facing our enemies with genuine do-or-die resolve, what value would any contingency plan possess?"

He paused, allowing military logic to settle before continuing with matter-of-fact explanation. "Regarding those red birds—they were merely pigeons covered in crimson dye. I instructed Meng Wan to requisition every messenger station in the region, acquiring over a thousand carrier pigeons, all painted with red flame patterns for battlefield release. The Hu Qi people maintain unwavering faith in the Azure God and revere the Azure Sutra as their supreme religious text. The Azure Sutra explicitly states that when the Azure God punishes believers, red birds bearing flame patterns descend from heaven, and those they touch can never achieve salvation."

As Wu Sheng Liu absorbed Duan Xu's methodical explanation, his expression gradually softened with grudging respect.

Duan Xu smiled with quiet satisfaction, speaking slowly for maximum effect. "Know yourself and know your enemy, and you need not fear a hundred battles. This principle has always guided my actions."

He Simu traced her teacup's rim absently, her fingertip reddening from the heat without withdrawal.

From her understanding of Hu Qi culture, they permitted only tribal members to worship the Azure God, and exclusively priests possessed authority to read from the Azure Sutra. The Hu Qi phrase Duan Xu had spoken on the battlefield matched the original scriptural text precisely.

—The Azure God brings calamity, burning all living things to ashes.

How could he demonstrate such intimate familiarity with the Azure Sutra's contents?

Her gaze drifted to the Powangjian resting at his waist. She reflected that this sword, forged by her uncle's masterful hands, possessed notoriously selective preferences, choosing such an enigmatic owner for itself.

Could it be that after a century of existence, the blade had grown bored with simple conquest and developed an appetite for unraveling mysteries?

Wu Sheng Liu and his fellow officers possessed no knowledge of the Azure Sutra or Azure God, understanding only vaguely that these represented something equivalent to the Jade Emperor or supreme deity for the Hu Qi people. He finally grunted acceptance and resumed his seat, folding his arms as he spoke with grudging admiration. "General Duan possesses knowledge and experience far beyond a rough soldier's comprehension. Now that Danzhi's Awuerqi approaches with his army—arriving within days—I assume the General must have devised a perfect strategy. Would you honor us with sharing these plans?"

"Awuerqi..." Duan Xu interlaced his fingers, rubbing them together in his characteristic gesture of deep contemplation.

Every eye focused upon Duan Xu with expectant attention. By now, they had grown accustomed to brief periods of his strategic meditation producing various ingenious solutions to impossible problems.

This time, after his customary moment of reflection, Duan Xu delivered an unexpectedly sobering response. "To speak with complete honesty, I possess no perfect strategy for our current dilemma."

Wu Sheng Liu nearly erupted again from his seat. "No strategy? They command two hundred thousand troops!"

The harsh mathematics were inescapable. The four outlying cities of Shuozhou could not be defended indefinitely. If they failed to retreat through the official road connecting those settlements back to Liangzhou, once Danzhi's massive army reclaimed those positions, the Prefecture City would become an isolated island under assault from multiple directions.

"Does Miss Xiaoxiao offer any insights regarding our predicament?" Duan Xu suddenly called upon her participation.

Every eye in the tent turned toward He Simu, who had been casually cooling her tea with gentle breath. Her blowing motion halted abruptly.

He Simu raised her gaze, surveying the assembled military leadership staring at her with varying degrees of skepticism and curiosity, before placing her teacup down with elegant precision and offering a gracious smile.

Duan Xu seized the moment for proper introduction. "This is our Tabai wind diviner, Miss He, journeying from Liangzhou. For our successful assault on Shuozhou, she provided crucial predictions regarding optimal timing."

He Simu smiled with enigmatic confidence, turning to address Duan Xu directly. "Does the General truly desire to halt Danzhi's reinforcements?"

"Yes."

Her response came with devastating simplicity. "Well then, why not destroy the Guan River?"