On the day He Jingyuan returned to Jizhou, Fan Changyu, Tang Peiyi, and a group of subordinate generals personally saw him off.
He Jingyuan’s injuries had not yet healed, so he couldn’t ride a horse. Waiting outside the camp was a green-canopied carriage.
Before He Jingyuan boarded, Tang Peiyi clasped his fists solemnly and said, “Sir, once you return to Jizhou, rest well. Peiyi will surely conquer Chongzhou and capture Sui Yuanhuai alive, living up to your high expectations!”
He Jingyuan nodded at him, patted his shoulder with satisfaction, but when his gaze swept over Fan Changyu and the subordinate generals who had once followed him, a trace of weariness flickered in his eyes.
Those gathered today were all his own people, so he spoke without much restraint. “Peiyi, this niece of mine—please look after her in the future.”
Tang Peiyi quickly replied, “Though Captain Fan is a woman, she is a fierce general admired by all in the army. It was Captain Fan who intercepted and killed those three scouts, ensuring our plans weren’t compromised. Had Lucheng fallen, this humble general would have been guilty beyond redemption. In the future, it will be I who relies on Captain Fan.”
His promotion to commander was partly due to the military achievements of the right-wing army, so his words weren’t entirely empty flattery.
He Jingyuan said, “This girl can be stubborn at times. When it comes to court matters, guide her a little.”
Tang Peiyi didn’t say more this time and simply agreed.
He Jingyuan then turned to Fan Changyu. Her heart was a tangle of emotions as she called out, “Uncle.”
He Jingyuan said, “Serve well under General Tang and make your mark.”
His eyes still held the weight of too many things from seventeen years ago, but those words could not be spoken openly.
Fan Changyu nodded firmly.
A general standing beside her, his chin shadowed with faint stubble, looked valiant but now had reddened eyes. “Sir.”
He Jingyuan only smiled at him. “I’ve kept you by my side all these years, and your temper has mellowed. Wen Chang, follow General Tang and carve out a future for yourself on the battlefield.”
This man was Zheng Wenchang, who had recently been transferred from Jizhou.
When the rebels had sought to take Jizhou and attacked Lucheng, its gateway, He Jingyuan had personally gone to oversee the defense, leaving Zheng Wenchang to manage affairs in Jizhou—in another sense, acting as his eyes to monitor Li Huaian.
Now that Li Huaian had found what he was looking for and remained in the Chongzhou battlefield, and He Jingyuan was being recalled to Jizhou, he had Zheng Wenchang transferred over, fearing Fan Changyu would lack support in the army.
In the past, both Tang Peiyi and Zheng Wenchang had been his subordinates, but Tang Peiyi was merely a junior officer, not as close as Zheng Wenchang, his student.
Now that Tang Peiyi held great authority, Zheng Wenchang would have to tread carefully.
After their farewells, He Jingyuan boarded the carriage back to Jizhou.
As Fan Changyu returned to camp, she glanced at the vast sky, a sense of melancholy rising in her heart.
On this path, it seemed those close to her were gradually leaving, but she had no choice but to press on.
Just the night before, He Jingyuan had summoned her privately.
He told her to stay patient, first accumulating military merits on the battlefield. Once the rebels were crushed and she returned to the capital to receive the emperor’s personal commendation, the matter of him forging her parents’ identities would be re-examined.
Once Wei Yan was implicated, with the emperor and the Li family presiding over the trial, the truth of what happened seventeen years ago could no longer be hidden.He also told her that Zheng Wenchang was his man, and if she encountered any difficulties, she could seek help from him.
Fan Changyu was deeply moved by He Jingyuan’s thoughtful arrangements.
Since the death of her parents, apart from Aunt Zhao’s family, she had never received such care from an elder.
Now, as a high-ranking officer, she could participate in discussions within the central military tent. However, having read little of military strategy, she mostly listened as Tang Peiyi and the others debated over the sand table, sometimes so heatedly that it seemed they might come to blows.
At first, Fan Changyu was utterly lost, but now she could follow their discussions. Still, the strategy for attacking Chongzhou remained undecided.
One thing was certain, though—when they returned to the battlefield, she would lead the vanguard.
A cavalry unit of two hundred men was assigned to her. Though small in number, it was enough to serve as the spearhead of the vanguard.
The leader of this cavalry unit turned out to be someone Fan Changyu had met before.
During the dam construction, when she had been forced to dig earth and stones, there was an exceptionally strong man among the detained civilians who always got a chicken leg with his meals.
Now, he was the leader of this cavalry unit.
When he saw Fan Changyu, he showed little surprise, likely having known beforehand that he would be placed under her command.
Only one of his subordinates gaped at her and exclaimed, “Good heavens! Isn’t this the lady who kicked down the women’s barracks door the day the rebels attacked the dam?”
Clearly, this soldier had also been among the refugees that day.
To ensure cohesion on the battlefield, Fan Changyu now had to find time to train with the cavalry in addition to drilling the infantry.
Fortunately, the cavalrymen seemed to hold her in high regard—whether because of her feat in slaying the Prince of Changxin or the tales of her digging earth and stones.
Fan Changyu was also busy studying current affairs and the broader political landscape with the advisors Xie Wu had found for her, leaving her no time to worry about what her subordinates gossiped about in their free time.
By the time the rumor that she could kick down a city gate with one foot had spread throughout the army, Fan Changyu was completely baffled.
She asked Xie Wu, “When did I ever kick down a city gate?”
Xie Wu replied, “They say it was when the rebels attacked the Jizhou troops building the dam.”
Fan Changyu was stunned and corrected him, “I didn’t kick down a city gate—it was the door of the women’s barracks.”
Xie Wu chuckled and said, “Let the rumor spread. It does you no harm, Commander. It might even intimidate the rebels when we face them on the battlefield.”
Having recently studied many military texts—and after reducing several advisors to half their hair—Fan Changyu had finally grasped the gist of the Thirty-Six Stratagems.
Unfortunately, despite offering several times their original pay, none of the advisors were willing to stay and continue teaching her.
Now understanding that Xie Wu was referring to a psychological tactic, she sighed and remarked, “So, the so-called art of war is really about who has the blacker heart?”
Xie Wu smiled sheepishly. “If cunning can save lives, then it’s worth it.”
Fan Changyu nodded and said, “Alright. Then find me a few more advisors.”
Xie Wu’s smile froze on his face.
One should never underestimate those scholars who refuse official posts and instead serve as honored guests in noble households—they have an uncanny network for information.He had gone to great lengths to find a few truly capable advisors for Fan Changyu. Upon hearing they would serve under a newly promoted female general, they had some reservations, but after learning of Fan Changyu’s military achievements, they were willing to offer their services.
Unfortunately, after less than half a day of teaching, they were all left with headaches and ready to resign.
Fan Changyu hadn’t even finished reading The Art of War —how could they teach her?
As for court politics, she was still completely clueless about the officials in the imperial court. Explaining who belonged to the Wei Faction, who was aligned with the Li faction, and who were neutral, loyal ministers was exhausting.
The advisors could only lament their bleak prospects. A general with only brute courage and no wisdom? Forget a prosperous official career—if she didn’t die confused on the battlefield, it would only be by the grace of heaven.
They were forced at swordpoint to gloomily teach Fan Changyu through The Art of War , eating half a bowl less at every meal, visibly losing weight from sheer distress.
Half guilty and half remorseful, Fan Changyu feared these elderly gentlemen teaching her military strategy might actually die of depression under her watch. In the end, she agreed to let them go.
After returning, the advisors drowned their sorrows in wine and vented their grievances—they’d rather starve than serve as Fan Changyu’s advisors. And so, this reputation spread among scholars.
Now, whenever someone tried to recruit advisors for Fan Changyu, the scholars would grab their bags and flee before the offer was even fully explained.
Xie Wu cautiously said, “Commandant, if we keep searching, I fear we won’t have enough silver…”
Fan Changyu understood Xie Wu’s implication—even offering several times the usual pay wouldn’t attract anyone now. She sighed deeply and said, “My foster father is so formidable, and he even wanted to take me as his disciple at first. Could it be that his eyesight has failed him in his old age?”
Xie Wu replied, “The Commandant possesses great wisdom. Grand Tutor Tao must have recognized this in you.”
Fan Changyu knew the phrase great wisdom often appears as foolishness —was this implying she looked particularly stupid?
For a moment, she couldn’t tell if Xie Wu was comforting her or twisting the knife further. Helpless, she said, “Alright, you may leave.”
She then wrote a letter home, instructing Xie Qi to hire a private tutor for Changning.
With the war in Chongzhou, private schools had long ceased operation, but children from wealthy families could still hire tutors for lessons.
Fan Changyu decided that Changning must not follow in her footsteps—she had to ensure her sister studied properly from a young age.
A carrier pigeon flapped its wings and landed atop the pigeon coop. Inside the wooden cage, faint movements could be seen as the other birds peeked curiously through the entrance hole.
The servant tending to the coop noticed the newly returned white pigeon and hurried forward to retrieve the letter from its tube. After releasing the bird back into the coop, he rushed toward the military tent.
“Young Master, a letter has arrived from Chongzhou City.”
The man writing at the desk paused and set down his brush, extending a hand as slender and pale as bamboo to accept the rolled-up letter from the servant.
Unlike the delicate, boneless fingers of a woman, this hand bore the sinewy strength of a man’s, though without the pronounced knuckles of a martial artist hardened by years of training. Only the faint calluses from long hours of writing marked his fingers.
Li Huaian unfolded the letter and read it, but his handsome brows remained slightly furrowed. He murmured, “Wei Yan is far too cunning—he shouldn’t have taken the bait so easily.”
The letter had been sent by Sui Yuanhuai, trapped within Chongzhou’s walls.When the Li family investigated He Jingyuan, Wei Yan, fearing the emperor would interrogate him and expose himself, attempted to assassinate He Jingyuan but failed.
Now, He Jingyuan was not only protected by his own Martial Assassins but also secretly guarded by the Li family's Martial Assassins, making it impossible for Wei Yan to strike again.
Sui Yuanhuai proposed a feigned collaboration with Wei Yan—Wei Yan would help him retain control of Chongzhou, and in return, he would assist Wei Yan in stabilizing the military power in Jizhou.
After all, if Chongzhou fell, Sui Yuanhuai, the "son of a rebel," would face execution, and the military authority of both Jizhou and Chongzhou would fall into the hands of the Li family—a scenario extremely unfavorable to Wei Yan.
At this moment, cooperation between the two sides seemed the best option.
However, Wei Yan's immediate agreement after being approached by Sui Yuanhuai made Li Huaian hesitate.
Luring Wei Yan into collaborating with Chongzhou was part of their joint scheme with Sui Yuanhuai to swiftly overthrow him.
Originally, he and his grandfather had planned to use the events of seventeen years ago as leverage, but after extensive investigation, the only lead—the letter—had dead-ended with Wei Yan. Even if brought to court, Wei Yan had countless ways to exonerate himself.
Thus, they devised another plan, leveraging the military authority of Chongzhou and Jizhou as a trap.
Once Wei Yan agreed to collaborate with Sui Yuanhuai, the evidence they obtained would be irrefutable.
Even without uncovering the truth from seventeen years ago, they could still use this to bring Wei Yan down.
Yet, the plan's smooth execution made Li Huaian suspect that Wei Yan had already seen through their scheme and was merely playing along, turning their own strategy against them.
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