Finest Servant

Chapter 515 Traces of Fragrance

"The Turks are as rapacious as wolves, insulting and afflicting our Great Hua for years, causing our lands beyond the border and the people of the south to suffer and desolate. This is truly detestable and abhorrent," declared the spirited young Yu Zongcai, who was the deputy vanguard of the Left Army. Gripping the hilt of his war sword at his waist, he gritted his teeth and said, "I am but a humble general, but I am willing to be the vanguard for our army, to plunge deep into the grasslands and decide the outcome in a battle to the death against these nomads."

He was handsome, and his speech was full of righteousness and vigor. Li Tai, the Marshal, gave him a comforting smile, "Hold on, Zongcai. We have been clashing with the nomads for so many years, and there are still battles to be fought. To talk of a battle to the death at this time is a bit premature. But I highly appreciate your resolve."

Yu Zongcai acknowledged joyfully, stealing glances at Xu Zhiqing, the army strategist beside him, his eyes full of admiration clearly visible.

Lin Wanrong noticed and laughed inwardly. This General Yu was, in terms of age and appearance, indeed a match for Miss Xu. However, Xu Zhiqing was a strong-willed woman with high aspirations. The husband she would look for must be someone who could subdue her both mentally and physically. Lin Wanrong wondered if Yu Zongcai was capable of that.

"Brother Zuo, what is that?" Lin Wanrong, surveying the surroundings, saw a thick plume of smoke soaring into the sky in the far east, as if piercing the dark canopy of heaven. He hurriedly pulled Zuo Qiu, the Commander of the Left Wing vanguard, and asked quietly.

Zuo Qiu looked at the smoke, nodded solemnly, and said, "Is this your first time at the frontier? That is the beacon fire of the Great Wall, used to transmit warning signals when foreign enemies invade."

Lin Wanrong had an epiphany. This was the oldest method of signal transmission via beacon fires. How could he have forgotten? Feeling somewhat ashamed, he asked, "Brother Zuo, does the ignition of this beacon mean there is an emergency warning from the front? Is the border pass in a critical situation?"

Zuo Qiu chuckled, "Not necessarily an emergency. The desert is dry, and sometimes even lightning can cause a fire. Different ways of igniting the beacon convey different messages. Besides the beacon towers along the Great Wall, there are also fort towers. A real emergency is only indicated when both are ignited. A single plume of smoke like this signifies that enemy tracks have been found at the front and asks other passes to be vigilant. This identification method was devised by our army Advisor Xu, and it works very well."

This was a rudimentary form of coded communication, indeed very practical. Xu Zhiqing had certainly put a lot of thought into it, Lin Wanrong nodded approvingly.

Although he spoke softly, his words caught the attention of those nearby. Yu Zongcai, hearing that General Lin didn't even know these basic facts, couldn't help but shake his head slightly, a trace of disdain appearing on his face.

Li Tai, overhearing the conversation, looked up and sternly asked, "Zuo Qiu, have any of your scouts returned with news?"

Zuo Qiu hurriedly stepped forward, reporting loudly, "Marshal, scouts from my Left Army vanguard have just returned at sunset. According to their observations, two hundred thousand elite Turkic cavalry have already assembled at the foot of the Helan Mountains and are advancing toward Wuyuan. Their vanguard is expected to reach Wuyuan within four days. The elite force of two hundred thousand sent by the Turks this time includes more than half of their horsemen and cavalries. Led by the Turkic Prince Batur, and guided by the Turkic national adviser Lu Dongzan, their menacing force is heading directly toward our border."

Upon hearing the name of Lu Dongzan, Lin Wanrong felt a stir within him. At last, he was to meet this clever Turkic adviser on the battlefield. He wondered if the Emperor would regret the decision to let the tiger return to the mountain when he learned of the situation here.

Li Tai nodded and sighed, "The Left Prince Batur and Right Prince Tursun, known collectively as the Desert Twin Eagles, are the most renowned warriors of the Turks. They are the left and right arms of Turkic Khan Bilge, and with the ingenious and versatile adviser Lu Dongzan, the Turks are fully committed to victory this time."

What was all this about Batur, Tursun, the Desert Twin Eagles, and Bilge Khan? These nomadic names were awkward and hard to remember. Lin Wanrong scratched his head; his own nickname, Lin San, was much more catchy.

"Marshal, the Turkic elite are all out, and they are coming ferociously. We must take precautions early," said Xu Zhiqing. She appeared more haggard than a few days ago, dressed in light-colored armor that concealed her stunning figure. The desert winds and sands had not eroded her porcelain skin; her cheeks were as smooth as ever, and her eyebrows exuded an added touch of valor.

The Marshal nodded slightly, "Zuo Qiu, you have been fighting the Turks for over a decade. In your opinion, how should we deal with them, given that they have brought out their entire force this time?"

"Marshal," Zuo Qiu saluted, "the nomads have mobilized more than half of their forces this time, and their aggression is unparalleled in years. However, no matter their numbers, their nature hasn't changed. Our army has been fighting the nomads for many years and possesses abundant experience. As the saying goes, we'll meet force with force and water with earth. Essentially, this battle against the nomads is no different from the previous ones. We do not need to change our strategies significantly. By relying on previous experiences, we may not win big, but we certainly won't lose big either."

These were words of seasoned wisdom, and even Lin Wanrong found himself nodding in agreement. Zuo Qiu was a prudent man, and Li Tai had made the right choice appointing him as the vanguard.

After a moment of contemplation, Li Tai nodded, "To meet changes with constancy ensures an invincible position. Zuo Qiu, your words are very sensible. Lin San, what do you think?"

Lin Wanrong chuckled, "Marshal, it's my first time fighting the nomads and I've never set foot in the desert. How could I offer any constructive suggestions? Let's play it safe, fight a bit, and see how it goes."

Fight a bit and see? The room erupted in laughter. This Lin San was indeed as cunning as the rumors suggested; his suggestion was perhaps the safest and most conservative.

Li Tai nodded solemnly, "You're not wrong either. This time, our great nation is committed to a life-or-death battle with the nomads. There is no other way. The burden we bear is immense; first, we seek stability, then victory. That is the most prudent course of action. Zhiqing, what do you think?"

Xu Zhiqing gently nodded, "Marshal, you are absolutely correct. Seeking stability in the initial battle allows us to take the initiative."

"In that case, I'll make the decision," Li Tai's expression tightened, and he declared loudly, "All generals, hear my command!"

Everyone puffed out their chests, listening intently as the Marshal continued, "For today and tomorrow, the army will rest in Xingqing Prefecture. The day after at dawn, the left, center, and right divisions will advance simultaneously. We must reach the outskirts of Wuyuan by the following dawn to set up camp. All divisions will be coordinated by Military Advisor Xu. Dispatch all scouts, and report every half-hour. If you hear of enemy cavalry appearing, launch a devastating counterattack. Among the troops, those who charge bravely will be heavily rewarded! Those who cower and retreat will be executed on the spot! This is our first battle, and victory is the only option. Do you all understand?"

"Understood!" The officers shouted in unison, their battle cries echoing far and wide.

By the time all military matters were settled, the moon was already high in the sky. General Li Tai dismissed everyone, but specifically retained Lin Wanrong and Xu Zhiqing.

The howling wind carried sand as it blew past their ears, and the desert night was as tranquil as water. Li Tai, his graying hair fluttering in the wind, stared intently at Lin Wanrong's face without uttering a word.

Feeling unnerved by his gaze, Lin Wanrong hastily spoke up, "General, Marshal, did you want to see me for something?"

Li Tai chuckled, "If there was nothing, why would I ask for you? I heard from Zhiqing that you recently proposed a rather unique idea—"

"No, no," noticing Li Tai's somewhat sinister smile, Lin Wanrong wiped his sweat and hastily shook his head, "Marshal, that was just nonsense. You really can't take it seriously."

"I haven't," Li Tai patted his shoulder solemnly, "Zhiqing and I have carefully considered it. While your idea is indeed bold and enticing, the path is unfeasible."

Relieved, Lin Wanrong nodded quickly, "If it's unfeasible, that's good, that's good—"

Suddenly, Li Tai let out a long sigh, pointing with his rough hand to the towering Helan Mountains in the distance. His facial expression became so stern it was frightening, "Lin San, do you know how many elite enemy cavalry are gathered there?"

Has the General lost his mind? The scouts just reported—there are 200,000 Turkic cavalry! Lin Wanrong chuckled, "Marshal, are you testing my memory? Who among our troops doesn't know? There are 200,000 Turkic soldiers over there!"

"200,000?!" Li Tai slowly shook his head, exhaling deeply with a bitter smile, "If it were really just 200,000, that would be fine!"

"What do you mean?" Lin Wanrong's face paled, his heart leapt into his throat, "Marshal, what are you saying? Is it not 200,000?!"

Xu Zhiqing bit her lower lip, her expression somber, "The 200,000 is a number we've given to boost the morale of our troops. In reality, the enemy has well over 300,000 elite cavalry."

"Three—300,000?" Lin Wanrong was stunned. The forces led by Xu Zhiqing were to march towards Wuyuan the day after tomorrow, their total numbers were just short of 300,000. On the boundless desert plains, the enemy cavalry already held a tremendous advantage. Now, they had even lost their numerical advantage—how could they possibly fight this battle?

"Miss Xu, you're not pulling my leg, are you? How did the enemy suddenly gain an extra 100,000 men?" Lin Wanrong wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, speaking cautiously.

Xu Zhiqing shot him a glance. "At a time like this, do you think I'm in the mood for jokes? The Turks have been uniting the tribes in the vast desert for years. Their territory has more than doubled, and their strength has surged. Gathering 300,000 elite soldiers is not difficult for them. We knew the news a few days ago but concealed it to not dishearten the soldiers. Only the Marshal, you, me, and Zuo Qiu are aware of this."

Lin Wanrong gasped, visibly irritated. "Marshal, Advisor Xu, why tell me this? If I die in the front line in two days, so be it! It would save you the trouble of explaining this today."

"What nonsense are you talking about!" Xu Zhiqing spat out, understanding he was venting his frustration. "Who would want to gamble with the lives of our soldiers? But we have to engage in battle. If we retreat without fighting, how will we explain to our soldiers? This battle is not something you and I can decide. If you want to blame someone, blame me; it was my suggestion to conceal this."

As Xu Zhiqing spoke, her eyes reddened and her voice rose. She turned her head away, biting her red lips as tears gathered in her eyes.

Lin Wanrong watched her, finding it impossible to scold her anymore.

Li Tai patted his shoulder solemnly. "Lin San, you should understand Zhiqing's intentions! Everything she's done is for the soldiers and for our Empire. Don't misjudge her."

At this point, what was the use of saying all this? They had to fight. Lin Wanrong could only sigh, "Since it's decided, why even ask? I may fear death, but I won't be a deserter. But I hope Advisor Xu won't do such foolish things in the future. The burden shouldn't be yours alone; it’s everyone’s responsibility."

Xu Zhiqing clenched her teeth, her tears finally falling. Each drop shimmered in the moonlight, eliciting empathy.

Lin Wanrong looked at her face and was suddenly reminded of their past encounters—their first meeting in the ruined temple, their second meeting by the lake, the tender moments in Shandong, that resolute kiss, the anger when he visited her. Everything seemed as clear as the cold moon on the desert frontier.

‘Oh God, why did I get such a terminal case of sentimentality?’ Lin Wanrong sighed deeply, handing her a handkerchief embroidered with mandarin ducks, a treasure given to him by Ning’er that he'd kept. "Don’t cry. In the desert, water is precious; it's shameful to waste it."

"You're the shameful one!" Seeing his jesting expression, Xu Zhiqing couldn’t help but want to curse him. She slapped his hand away. "Why are you giving me someone else's handkerchief? I don’t want other people's belongings!"

Xu Zhiqing shot him an annoyed glance but stopped crying altogether.

The Marshal looked at the two young people before him and chuckled, "You two have traveled together for more than a thousand miles. How many in this world can boast of such a deep connection? What grievances could possibly be left unresolved between you?"

Lin Wanrong chuckled awkwardly, "Marshal, you're being too blunt. I'm embarrassed!"

Xu Zhiqing's face flushed as if dusted with rouge. Just as she was about to speak, General Li Tai waved his hand, saying, "I won't meddle in young people's affairs. You can sort it out yourselves. But don't let it affect our mission against the enemy. Lin San, Zhiqing, I've fought the nomads for many years. Never have I felt so much pressure as I do now. If they lose, they can retreat back to their grasslands and regroup. But for us, this is all we've got. If we lose, it would be a catastrophic disaster—we can't afford to lose!"

Indeed, they couldn’t afford to lose. If they did, wars would ravage the entire land. Not only would the common people suffer, but even friends and family would be forced into exile. Defeat was beneficial to no one.

A sense of urgency surged in Lin Wanrong's heart. "General, if I may speak freely, we've been fighting these nomads for years. While many of our tactics are practical, they are not strategic. We've mostly been on the losing end using our old methods. This time they've Marshaled all their forces, clearly aiming for our heartland. We have no room for retreat. Why not try something new at the strategic level? Instead of just defending, why not counter-attack in some capacity to tie their hands?"

"Is this the strategy you spoke of before, to directly attack the Turk's royal court?" General Li Tai's eyes sparkled.

Lin Wanrong nodded slightly. "The greatest advantage of this plan is its element of surprise. If even we hadn't thought of it, the nomads certainly wouldn't see it coming."

Both Li Tai and Xu Zhiqing were military experts and understood immediately. Xu Zhiqing nodded cautiously, "But you just said this plan is fundamentally flawed—"

Lin Wanrong coughed awkwardly, "Well, Miss Xu, theoretically speaking, I'm generally honest. Legend has it that there is a magical Silk Road that stretches from east to west, passing through deserts and snowy mountains—"

"The Silk Road, stretching from east to west?!" Xu Zhiqing exclaimed, gripping his hand, "Is it true? Can we reach Kizil? Why didn't you say this sooner?!"

‘Her hand is really warm,’ Lin Wanrong thought. ‘I haven't touched them for a long time. The night is cold and I need to draw some strength.’ He stroked her hand discreetly, "Whether or not we can reach Kizil, I'm not sure. All I know is it stretches from east to west. Miss Xu, I'm an honest man; how could I speak recklessly about something unverified?"

Xu Zhiqing's cheeks flushed crimson, and her small hand tried to wriggle free, but it was gripped tight in his iron-claw-like grasp.

"What are you doing?" she gasped softly, lowering her head in embarrassment. "Don't think you can bully me—I remind you, the general is still here!"

"Is that so? Oh my, Miss Xu, you're so excited that your little hand actually has gripped both of mine," Lin San shook his head with a sigh, his face filled with admiration.

‘I guess I'm just unlucky!’ Xu Zhiqing sighed lightly, withdrawing her hand immediately. Her eyes reddened in an instant.

"Lin San, answer me honestly, how confident are you about this route?" Li Tai wore a heavy expression, pretending not to notice the two's intimate movements, and asked solemnly.

"Marshal, let me clarify first. I merely suggested this path; I can't be the one to walk it!" Lin Wanrong was taken aback and quickly waved his hands, getting the unpleasant truth out upfront.

Li Tai gave an ambiguous smile, "First, tell me how confident you are. Every soldier under me is invaluable!"

‘I have no bloody confidence,’ Lin Wanrong chuckled, "I've said it before, this route exists only in legends. As for confidence, there's absolutely none. However, compared to the massive rewards, taking this risk is worth it! The final decision is for the Marshal and the military advisor to consider carefully."

Li Tai pondered for a moment, then shook his head, "We'll discuss this matter further. Right now, the priority is the Wuyuan campaign. It's getting late; Lin San, escort Zhiqing back to camp first."

‘Why should I escort her when she has her own soldiers and guards?’ Lin Wanrong thought with frustration. But he saw that the general had already left, striding away from the tower.

Xu Zhiqing's cheeks reddened slightly as she took a few steps forward to catch up with Lin Wanrong, huffing, "Don't listen to the Marshal's nonsense. I can ride back myself; I don't need your escort."

"That's true, it wouldn't be appropriate for a man and a woman to be alone together. Wouldn't be good for our reputations," Lin Wanrong chuckled and stopped in his tracks.

"What reputation do you have," Xu Zhiqing's eyebrows shot up, instantly furious. "I, Xu Zhiqing, have always been honorable, and have nothing to do with you. General Lin, please stop here."

Her silver teeth almost pierced her cherry lips; her steps hastened as she prepared to mount her horse. Just as she was about to spur her horse, she felt her sleeve being tugged. She turned her head and saw it was General Lin.

Lin Wanrong took out a small medicine bottle from his pocket and shook it in front of her, "I asked the Marshal today; he said he never gave me this medicine. This is quite strange, Advisor Xu, do you know who gave it to me?"

The bottle he held was the same one that Xu Zhiqing had given him through Hu Bugui, claiming it was from Li Tai.

Tears began to well up in Xu Zhiqing's eyes. She snatched the bottle from his hand and broke down, "Give it back, you ungrateful wretch. The only person I, Xu Zhiqing, misjudged in my life is you! Go—"

She flicked her whip several times against the horse's hindquarters, but the steed merely lifted its hooves without galloping away. She looked down and saw that Lin Wanrong had a grip on the horse's reins.

"What are you doing?!" The usually composed Advisor Xu was on the verge of madness. Sitting atop her horse, her eyes shimmered with tears as she screamed hysterically, "Lin San, until when do you plan to torment me, huh?

Lin Wanrong sighed softly and said, "Miss Xu, thank you for the medicine. It's truly effective."

Although his voice was gentle, Xu Zhiqing heard him clearly despite her tears. Her sobs gradually quieted as she retorted in an almost inaudible voice, "The medicine wasn't meant for you. Before I left, I broke the leg of our family's Lin San and applied the medicine to test its effects."

"Our family's Lin San?" Lin Wanrong was baffled. Realizing her words were ambiguous, Xu Zhiqing hurriedly clarified, "Not you, the Lin San that's kept in my room."

‘The nerve of her!’ Lin Wanrong was incensed. ‘So, Miss Xu gave me the medicine she used on a mongrel. Do I look like I'm in the same league as that creature? Such an insult to my dignity.’

Both fell silent. Observing his darkening face, Xu Zhiqing wanted to laugh but dared not. She blushed, sobbed quietly, and lowered her head, her voice tender, "Are your legs fully healed?"

Lin Wanrong grunted, "Hmm, thanks to your medicine, I can now run faster than your family's Lin San."

"What nonsense, he's not from our family," Miss Xu retorted, her pretty face flushing red. She hesitated, then whispered, "You'll be heading to the front lines the day after tomorrow. The desert is treacherous; the nomads are not like the White Lotus Cultists. Be cautious. Wear your armor properly, your helmet, your chest plate—don't leave anything behind. Choose a horse with light hooves; it's faster to charge and retreat—"

‘This girl does know me well,’ Lin Wanrong nodded emotionally. Miss Xu seemed to feel she had said too much, which was unlike her usual style. She abruptly stopped speaking and took the reins from him.

"You're leaving?" Lin Wanrong hastily inquired.

"Hmm," Xu Zhiqing nodded softly.

"Let me see you off!"

"No need," Miss Xu blushed, "It would be inappropriate for a man and a woman to be alone. It won't be good for either of our reputations. Go!"

As her words fell, her steed leaped into the air, charging straight toward the central military camp, leaving Lin Wanrong staring for a good while.

Returning to his own camp, Lin Wanrong hurriedly ate some cold rice and called for a meeting with Hu Bugui, Du Xiuyuan, and others to plan for the journey to Wuyuan.

Setting out from Xingqing Prefecture meant entering the vast desert beyond the Great Wall, where an encounter with nomads was always possible. This was no joke. Among them, only Hu Bugui had such experiences, so he was asked to elaborate, which everyone took to heart. As for the increasing numbers of Turkic cavalry—from two hundred thousand to three hundred thousand—that was a secret no one could disclose.

Exhausted from days of sleeping rough, Lin Wanrong dimmed the lamp in his tent, preparing to sleep. Just as he was drifting off, a faint breeze blew in, causing the candle to flicker.

Yawning, he turned over to continue sleeping. However, he felt something soft near his feet. Kicking it a few times, he found it was a crumpled paper ball. Who could have thrown it onto the bed?

Hurriedly, he unraveled the crumpled paper to find four characters written on it—“Li Tai is in danger!”

The characters, hastily scribbled with an eyebrow pencil, bore the unmistakable handwriting of a woman. The style seemed vaguely familiar, yet he couldn't quite place it. In the city of Xingqing, apart from Xu Zhiqing, he didn't know any other women. Who could have sent this note?

"Li Tai is in danger?!" As if spring-loaded, he sprang from his bed, urgently shouting, "Hu Bugui, quickly, prepare the horses, we're heading to the Marshal’s camp!"

Hu Bugui, still groggy from sleep, dashed in from outside the tent, asking, "General, what's happened?"

With mounting anxiety, Lin Wanrong didn't pause to explain. Mounting his horse, before he even left the camp, he noticed flames soaring into the sky in the distance. The direction indicated it was coming from Li Tai’s camp.

"It's bad, the Marshal's in trouble!" Hu Bugui, so terrified it seemed he'd lost his soul, hadn't even properly put on his boots. He hastily galloped behind Lin Wanrong.

The flames in Li Tai's camp grew larger and the cries of the soldiers echoed incessantly. Lin Wanrong’s face turned pale. The left wing, center, and Li Tai's main camp were closely connected and had strict defenses. How could this have happened? If something befell Li Tai before even encountering the Turk, the upcoming battle would be meaningless.

The rhythmic sound of hoofbeats tore through the silence of the long street. Leading the charge, Lin Wanrong, accompanied by Hu Bugui and the rest, galloped with a fervency akin to blazing flames.

Suddenly, amidst the hoofbeats, several sharp whistling sounds emerged. From the side alleys, dozens of powerful arrows were shot with a buzzing that filled the air, reminiscent of locusts swarming, aiming directly at Lin Wanrong and his party.

"Ambush!" Hu Bugui yelled, standing up on his horse and drawing his saber, deftly deflecting an incoming arrow. A crisp sound resonated as the arrow's tip clashed with the blade, sending out sparks, indicating the force behind it.

Being at the forefront, Lin Wanrong heard Hu Bugui's shout. Almost immediately, two arrows, one from the left and one from the right, were aimed at his temples.

Dangerous! With a roar, Lin Wanrong bent low on his horse, narrowly dodging the wind of the arrows. Just as they seemed poised to hit, a sharp clinking sound was heard, and two flashes of silver emerged from an angle, striking the arrows and causing them to fall straight down.

"Attack!" Without the luxury of identifying his savior, the barrage had already ignited Lin Wanrong's fury. Drawing his firearm, he fired a shot into a nearby house.

With a chilling scream, the head of a nomad split in two. The elite soldiers following Hu Bugui forcefully barged into the building, firing crossbows in rapid succession. Hundreds of soldiers charged in as dozens of Turkic warriors, their sabers gleaming, descended from the rafters, engaging the Great Hua soldiers in fierce combat.

Holding the reins with one hand and his firearm in the other, Lin Wanrong, engulfed in a murderous aura, roared, "Brothers, skewer these curs for me. Leave no survivors. Hu Bugui, immediately shut all city gates. Tonight, I’m out for blood!"

Hu Bugui hastily took off to execute the orders, but Lin Wanrong’s rage was far from quelled. With a massive force of three hundred thousand in the city, they first faced the Marshal’s camp in flames and then an assassination attempt on the vanguard. Did they truly take the Great Hua Empire for soft clay to be molded at will?

He sneered coldly as he picked up the two arrows that had been aimed at him from the ground. The arrows were thicker than a thumb, made of raw iron, and felt exceedingly heavy in his hands. Embedded between these arrows was a silver needle, its metallic sheen glistening brightly.

It was precisely this silver needle that had struck down the arrows. Lin Wanrong stared in amazement for a moment before leaping up in ecstatic joy. "Fairy Sister! It must be Fairy Sister who has come!"

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