Chapter 18: The Mystery from Three Years Ago

Thirty miles outside Jin Yong City.

The main military camp.

Currently, there are seventy thousand troops assembled at the foot of Jin Yong City.

Of these, forty thousand are stationed under the direct command of General Dou Yuan in the central army, with thirty thousand more in the vanguard already fully gathered.

The rear guard is expected to arrive by tonight at the latest.

Once Dou Yuan has reorganized all three armies, they will set off for the northern frontier.

Seventy thousand soldiers is no small force.

As far as the eye can see, across three hundred miles, rows of white military tents stretch endlessly, and wherever the troops march, an overwhelming aura of solemnity and deadly seriousness fills the air.

“Though our Great Yong Dynasty’s court is steeped in corruption, the army camp is alive with vigor,” came the sigh from within the carriage, spoken by Gao Changsheng.

“That is only natural,” Chu Yunyan replied.

“Our Great Yong Dynasty was founded by the sword; powerful states stand to the east, west, south, and north alike.”

“If our martial strength were to decline as well, then true sickness would have set in.”

Though she was a young woman, Chu Yunyan possessed keen insight into the political currents of the court, her perspective rivaling that of outstanding strategists.

“Your Highness,” she began earnestly.

“After leaving the Aroma Pavilion yesterday, I visited the Ministry of War to review military reports concerning General Dou Yuan’s campaign to the northern frontier three years ago.”

“I discovered many details worthy of scrutiny.”

“Before entering the camp, I thought it prudent to share them with Your Highness.”

“It might provide useful considerations when dealing with Dou Yuan.”

Chu Yunyan patiently recounted the tale.

Three years prior, the Northern Qi had also launched raids on the northern frontier.

Though the Duke of Liang was stationed there, the main forces of Northern Qi had yet to appear. If the frontier defenses were left vulnerable, the Northern Qi’s main army could exploit the gap.

Thus, the Divine Martial Emperor summoned the court’s forces, dispatching General Dou Yuan with twenty thousand troops to repel the enemy.

The second prince, Gao Changwen, and the third prince, Gao Changfei, accompanied the campaign.

The battle lasted three months and ended in a decisive victory for Dou Yuan.

They killed eight thousand enemies and took six thousand prisoners, returning triumphantly.

Up to this point, everything was clear.

But the key question was that Dou Yuan’s twenty thousand troops faced sixty thousand Northern Qi soldiers.

They fought ten battles, each with gains.

Northern Qi claimed to have lost thirteen thousand troops, even after the six thousand prisoners had been returned by Great Yong.

This meant four thousand Northern Qi soldiers had disappeared without a trace.

“Could it be that these four thousand deserted?” Gao Changsheng wondered aloud.

“That seems unlikely,” replied Chu Yunyan.

“Four thousand is no small number. Their absence would surely cause alarm in any state.”

“Moreover, Northern Qi once demanded an explanation from our dynasty, citing the families of these four thousand soldiers as proof.”

“For all four thousand to abandon their families and desert is utterly absurd.”

“Afterwards, Dou Yuan defected from the Crown Prince’s faction to the Empress’s camp.”

“Not to mention the second and third princes who accompanied Dou Yuan on the northern campaign. Isn’t that too much of a coincidence?”

Chu Yunyan shook her head.

Coincidence? In this world, such coincidences are rare, especially involving four thousand living soldiers vanishing.

For both Northern Qi and Great Yong, this was no trivial matter.

Therefore, the issue must have arisen during those three months at the northern frontier.

And many likely knew of it.

Besides Dou Yuan and Princes Gao Changwen and Gao Changfei, the troops who followed Dou Yuan into battle may have been involved.

Four thousand soldiers cannot simply vanish without a trace under the watch of a few individuals.

“This is extremely vital information!”

“If used wisely, Dou Yuan might indeed be turned to our cause.”

Gao Changsheng’s face lit up with joy as he pondered this.

“But Your Highness has no proof. Are you so confident relying solely on speculation?” Chu Yunyan asked anxiously.

“Heh,” Gao Changsheng chuckled.

“My encounters with Dou Yuan are not on the battlefield with swords and spears.”

“When the game is one of psychological warfare, all guesses depend on how much Dou Yuan cares about this matter.”

“Besides, I hold another bargaining chip which Dou Yuan cannot ignore!”

Gao Changsheng smiled confidently, as if inspired by a mysterious power.

Only now did he truly grasp the wisdom of the strategist Miao Fa: timing is the key to victory.

He was certain his timing was impeccable.

“Drive on!”

The carriage suddenly sped up, racing toward the central army camp.

Within moments, it stopped before the camp gate.

A dozen soldiers armed with long spears rushed over and flanked the carriage.

“Who goes there?!” a captain demanded as he stepped forward.

Before he finished, Chu Yunyan, supported by her attendant Zhu’er, stepped down from the carriage.

At once, the soldiers’ eyes widened as if beholding a celestial maiden.

Following her, Gao Changsheng frowned slightly, regretting having asked Chu Yunyan for this favor.

“I am the daughter of Chu Jiangnian, Minister of War,” she declared.

“By my father’s order, I bring official documents to General Dou Yuan.”

“This is the Ministry of War’s token.”

She handed a plaque engraved with the character “Military” to the captain.

“It is indeed the official token.”

“Miss, please wait here. I will inform the general.”

The captain showed tact and did not cause trouble, but protocol required a short wait.

After another moment, the gate opened again to reveal a familiar middle-aged man.

“I have long heard of the greatest female talent in Jin Yong City, yet I never expected Minister Chu to entrust his precious eldest daughter to this noisy military camp,” Dou Yuan said with a chuckle.

“My brothers here rarely see women; Miss Chu, please forgive them.”

Dou Yuan laughed heartily but shot a stern glance at his soldiers, who immediately appeared uneasy.

Clearly, Dou Yuan held great prestige within the camp.

Even Gao Changsheng began to doubt himself.

Did he truly have the ability to wrest control of the army from Dou Yuan?

“Little brother, you seem somewhat familiar!” Dou Yuan’s gaze settled on Gao Changsheng.

Of course—it was only yesterday they had met at court.

In front of the Crown Prince and two princes, Gao Changsheng had stolen the spotlight, causing quite a stir throughout Jin Yong City.

If Dou Yuan had already forgotten him, he must be suffering from advanced senility.

“I have had the honor to meet General Dou Yuan,” Gao Changsheng said, bowing but withholding his identity in public.

“Your Highness…” Dou Yuan began, about to reveal Gao Changsheng’s rank.

But at the crucial moment, he stopped himself.

Having spent decades navigating court intrigues as a first-rank military marquis, he knew well how to keep secrets.

Seeing Gao Changsheng’s military attire, he understood the young man wished to keep his presence in the camp discreet—more accurately, he dared not let others know.

“Miss Chu, you must be weary from your journey. Please rest in my command tent.”

“Once I have reviewed the Ministry’s documents, I will have you return them.”