When Yan Chi returned to camp, the soldiers on the training ground had already dispersed. Qin Guan had been waiting for Yan Chi in the camp for quite some time and hurried forward upon seeing her return.
"When did you wake up?" Yan Chi asked, holding Qin Guan's hand.
"I've been up for a while. I went to take a look earlier—the training ground was quite lively."
Yan Chi raised an eyebrow. "Why didn't you come find me?"
Qin Guan smiled and urged Yan Chi to sit, chiding gently, "I have no interest in your drinking feasts."
Yan Chi laughed, then paused thoughtfully. "Today, I issued the proclamation."
"I know. Baiying told me."
A faint scent of wine clung to Yan Chi's lips—she had likely drunk a few cups with the army officers. "Rest early tonight. Tomorrow will likely be extremely busy."
Qin Guan initially wanted to offer some words of comfort but stopped herself, realizing Yan Chi must already have everything under control. They then washed up and retired for the night.
The next morning, when Qin Guan woke, the bed beside her was empty again. Although she had caught up on sleep the day before, exhaustion still weighed heavily on her, so she had slept longer than usual. By now, the sky outside was fully bright. Qin Guan quickly rose, washed, dressed, and stepped out of the inner chamber to find breakfast already set out. Baiying was waiting and hurried over upon seeing her. "Princess Consort, would you like to have breakfast?"
As Qin Guan sat down to eat porridge, she asked, "Where has His Highness gone?"
Baiying replied promptly, "To the council hall. Early this morning, soldiers preparing to leave the Northwest Frontier were already waiting outside. General Chu is leading the team to settle their pay. Once they receive their silver and surrender their military tokens, they can depart."
Qin Guan paused. "How many are there?"
Though her expression remained calm, worry churned within.
Baiying answered, "Fewer than a thousand, all from the north—around Luozhou and Yuzhou."
Recruitment typically focused on local conscripts, but because the Northwest Frontier Army was the Great Zhou's finest elite force, mergers over the years had incorporated many northern soldiers. With Yan Chi's proclamation issued, those whose homes lay neither in the northwest nor the south naturally grew concerned.
Qin Guan breathed a sigh of relief. With over eighty thousand troops in camp, losing fewer than a thousand was already quite favorable.
Baiying added, "There's no need to worry. His Highness instructed us not to wake you when he left, which is why I didn't call for you. He said you should stay indoors after waking—it's bitterly cold outside."
They had traveled further northwest to the main camp, and the weather had grown much colder. Qin Guan nodded and remained in the central command tent after finishing her porridge. Still uneasy about the situation outside, she periodically sent Baiying to check. After two trips, Baiying reported, "Half have already been sent off. Many are assisting in the council hall today. By noon, all payments will surely be distributed."
Qin Guan acknowledged this and finally relaxed upon hearing the numbers hadn't increased.
By noon, Yan Chi returned to the central command tent. Seeing Qin Guan waiting, she said, "It's all settled. Each received ten times their usual pay—enough for them to buy land or start small businesses back home. In total, over eight hundred people."
Qin Guan felt completely at ease. "So now we can reorganize the army?"
Yan Chi nodded. "It will take two days to restructure and reassign positions to the original officers."Qin Guan breathed a sigh of relief. Yan Chi said, "Are you worried about Fuling? In five or six days, once matters here are settled, we can head to Xilin City."
Hearing they could depart in just five or six days, Qin Guan felt a weight lift from her heart. "Good!"
Over the next two days, Yan Chi and Chu Fei Sheng began reorganizing the army, restoring the disrupted formations to the original Northwest Frontier Army structure, then making further adjustments. Officers remaining in camp were reassigned positions. Two days later, the Northwest Frontier Army camp flew wolf-patterned banners, presenting an entirely new appearance. On this very day, Fang Qin, stationed at White Wolf Pass, returned to the main camp.
Seeing Yan Chi, Fang Qin removed his helmet and knelt. "The young general has returned!"
Chu Fei Sheng chuckled beside him, "Old Fang, you must address him as 'Your Highness' now!"
Helped up by Yan Chi, Fang Qin slapped his forehead. "Look at my memory! I completely forgot! Now you are Prince Rui!"
Yan Chi smiled as he welcomed Fang Qin into the main tent. After exchanging pleasantries, Yan Chi said, "With the camp reorganized and the situation vastly different from before—as you likely saw upon entering—I intend for you to remain at White Wolf Pass. What do you think?"
Fang Qin nodded eagerly. "This humble general finds it excellent! I plan to dedicate my life to holding White Wolf Pass, never letting the Rong people advance eastward!"
Yan Chi nodded. "Have there been any unusual movements beyond the pass these days?"
Fang Qin shook his head, then frowned suspiciously. "Strangely enough, although winter snows block the mountains, in previous years the Rong would always probe multiple times, trying to exploit our winter hardships. But this year, not only has White Wolf Pass been quiet, even other outposts have reported no anomalies. The Rong seem... docile."
Yan Chi remained cautious. "The Rong won't stay docile. You must maintain high vigilance there. In a few days, I'll go to Xilin City. Once news spreads, the imperial court will surely send troops. While I'll handle the imperial forces, I'm entrusting White Wolf Pass solely to you until March."
Fang Qin's eyes gleamed sharply. "Good! This humble general understands. Your Highness can rest assured."
Yan Chi patted Fang Qin's shoulder. "Since you're back, stay overnight and return tomorrow. We'll share a drink this evening."
Fang Qin looked surprised. "But military regulations forbid alcohol..."
Chu Fei Sheng laughed. "Now that we've pledged allegiance to His Highness independently, this calls for celebration! The troops all drank two days ago! Just this once—next time you crave wine, His Highness probably won't allow it!"
Everyone laughed heartily. That evening, a banquet was indeed arranged, where Qin Guan attended alongside Yan Chi.
After several days in male attire, Qin Guan now wore women's clothing. As a veteran who had long served under Yan Lin, Fang Qin felt both moved and comforted seeing Yan Chi arrive with his graceful wife. When everyone was seated, Fang Qin and others present observed Qin Guan's elegant speech and noble bearing, naturally feeling respect for her. After the banquet concluded, as Fang Qin and Chu Fei Sheng walked out, Fang Qin remarked, "The Old Prince often spoke of this matter while he lived. Seeing His Highness and the princess consort in such harmony would have greatly comforted him."
Chu Fei Sheng sighed. "Indeed. The Old Prince wasn't one for many words, but we few knew his concerns. It's a pity he didn't live to see His Highness's wedding day."
Fang Qin frowned at this. "So Jiang Heying is dead?"Chu Fei Sheng nodded, "Yes, he's dead. His Highness made a trip to Qianzhou and Jianzhou this time. He went to Qianzhou specifically to find that old traitor. The old wretch fled quickly and ended up hiding deep in the mountains. When they found him, he was nearly frozen to death. His Highness had given orders to execute him on sight, so they dealt with him right then and there."
Fang Qin narrowed his eyes, "I never would have thought it was actually him!"
Jiang Heying came from the Northwest Frontier Army and was thoroughly familiar with its military preparations, as well as Yan Lin's habits. It was precisely because of this that he was able to harm Yan Lin so easily. Back when Jiang Heying served in the Northwest Frontier Army, he was well acquainted with veterans like Chu Fei Sheng and Fang Qin. Although they lost contact after he went to Qianzhou, they were after all old comrades who had fought side by side in their youth. Learning that Jiang Heying had been ordered to kill Yan Lin, Fang Qin was naturally especially enraged!
"Who would have thought? But only those who had followed the Old Prince could have killed him so silently."
Fang Qin glanced toward the direction of the central command tent and sighed, "His Highness's Path is not easy to tread. The Emperor is bound to try to exterminate him completely."
Chu Fei Sheng laughed heartily, "You haven't heard about what's happening in the north yet..."
"The north? You mean the Empress and Crown Prince's rebellion?"
Chu Fei Sheng nodded, "The Empress and Crown Prince have now joined forces with Zhao You in Cangzhou. One hundred thousand Northern Garrison troops are no joke. This time, Zhao You is leading the entire Northern Garrison Army south, not even guarding the Azure Dragon Mountain pass. You can imagine how desperate they are."
Fang Qin immediately frowned, "How can they abandon the Azure Dragon Mountain pass?!"
Chu Fei Sheng sighed, "Not everyone is like our His Highness. The Empress and Crown Prince are completely focused on seizing the throne, so they're going all in. His Highness's intention is to temporarily settle in Xilin City. The Prince Rui's residence has commanded the Northwest Frontier Army for decades, and this land is practically under its jurisdiction. Therefore, proclaiming himself ruler in Xilin City won't be difficult. You focus on guarding White Wolf Pass well and don't worry about these matters. His Highness currently trusts only you alone."
Fang Qin nodded, "I will certainly live up to His Highness's expectations."
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