Legend of the Female General

Chapter 115: The Heartless One

An explanation? How could she possibly explain this?

At that time, the situation was critical. He Yan had been imprisoned in the dungeon and guessed that the enemy would most likely act during this period. So she asked Song Taotao to find paper and a brush and wrote a letter to Shen Han.

The letter contained a map of Liangzhou Guard. Having stayed at Liangzhou Guard for over half a year, He Yan drew the map in great detail. She speculated that the enemy would come across the Five Deer River. She suggested that Shen Han dispatch several hundred to a thousand crossbowmen to hide deep in the dense forest between the Five Deer River and Liangzhou Garrison. Once the enemy’s forces crossed the river and headed toward Liangzhou Guard, they would fall into the ambush.

“At that time, I was falsely accused of murder and sent to the dungeon,” He Yan thought for a moment and decided to explain. “Although others didn’t believe me, I always felt that the enemy’s ambitions were not small. With you, Commander, absent, if anything were to happen, Liangzhou Guard would be in danger. So I drew this map and asked Ms. Song to deliver it to Instructor Shen. However, at the time, I wasn’t sure whether Instructor Shen would follow my suggestion. I was just trying everything I could, even if it seemed hopeless.”

Although Shen Han adamantly refused to believe it verbally, when it came to Liangzhou Guard, he ultimately acted cautiously. He had people follow He Yan’s instructions and set up an ambush deep in the dense forest. That was why when Rida Muzi’s forces approached the Martial Arts Field, they fell into the ambush and were already at a disadvantage upon reaching the shore, their morale shattered.

Xiao Jue raised his eyes slightly. “Why the shore?”

“When facing a small enemy, trap them. To catch a thief, you must close the door—not because you fear their escape, but because you fear they might escape and be captured by others.”

He chuckled. “Your military strategy is quite good. What about the granary?”

“Behind Liangzhou Garrison is White Moon Mountain, adjacent to the Five Deer River. One path is the route you, Commander, took when you left, and further ahead is the road into the city. I speculated that the enemy’s ambitions were not small, and Liangzhou Garrison alone might not be enough. If we put ourselves in the enemy’s position, the first thing they would do is burn the granary. Without supplies, the new recruits of Liangzhou Guard wouldn’t last long. They would either be trapped to death here or forced to enter the city. Once the city gates were opened and the enemy forces entered, Liangzhou City would be lost. So in the letter, I told Instructor Shen to have people hide in the shadows and guard the granary to prevent anyone from setting it on fire.”

In fact, Rida Muzi did send people to set the granary on fire, but they were captured by the well-prepared new recruits of Liangzhou Guard.

“Your guesses were very accurate,” Xiao Jue said slowly, leaning forward and staring into her eyes. “You’ve calculated everything flawlessly, little girl.”

His pupils were deep and clear as autumn water. He Yan felt a bit uneasy under his gaze and didn’t know how to respond. The reason she could calculate everything flawlessly was that she had experienced the Qiang people’s tactic of burning granaries countless times. As long as she confirmed the enemy were Qiang people, she naturally knew what their next move would likely be.

But she couldn’t tell Xiao Jue this.

“You know quite a lot,” he said, curling his lips. “Did your father teach you military strategy at home?”

He Yan knew this man was already suspicious, so she simply made something up: “Not at all. I learned it all on my own. Don’t you think I’m a natural-born general, Commander?”

He sneered. “Is the liar lying again?”"The Commander always suspects me of being a liar, but at least you should provide evidence," He Yan grew bolder. "You suspected Lei Hou, so you placed him in the Vanguard Battalion and finally exposed his true colors. You suspected I had problems, so you kept me close by. My room is only separated from yours by a wall. Logically, if I were truly up to something, you would have noticed more easily. But so far, aside from the fact that I am a woman, nothing has happened. For you to say this now is rather unreasonable."

Xiao Jue was amused by her audacity. "I'm unreasonable?"

"You've kept me by your side for so long. Aside from discovering my loyalty, cleverness, courage, and wisdom, what else have you found? Nothing." He Yan spread her hands. "As a commander, you should reward and punish fairly. This time, I helped resolve the crisis at Liangzhou Guard and made a contribution. Shouldn't you reward me?"

"Reward?" he slowly retorted. "What reward do you want?"

He Yan straightened up and leaned closer to him, her eyes gleaming as she stared at him. "Can I join the Nine Banners Battalion?"

"No."

He Yan asked, "Why not?"

"The Nine Banners Battalion doesn't accept liars who are full of deceit," he replied indifferently.

"I'm not lying!"

"Miss He," his beautiful eyes fixed on her, and he suddenly curved his lips into a faint smile. "Although I don't know what you're hiding, but," he paused before continuing, "one day, your secret will be uncovered."

He Yan's heart skipped a beat, and she forgot to respond.

He stood up and walked out. He Yan hurriedly called out, "What about Hu Yuanzhong?"

Xiao Jue didn't stop walking, tossing back a single word—"Dead"—before leaving the room.

He Yan was stunned. Dead?

...

When Xiao Jue went out, Lin Shuanghe was already gone. Only Fei Nu was waiting outside. Xiao Jue asked, "Where did Lin Shuanghe go?"

"Physician Lin said he was going to help Miss Shen with some medicine preparations," Fei Nu replied. "The fallen recruits from Liangzhou Guard have been properly settled."

The fallen recruits would be buried at the foot of White Moon Mountain. These young lives, having not yet experienced a true battle, were slaughtered by blades hidden in the shadows.

Xiao Jue pinched the bridge of his nose.

After receiving the news from Zhangtai, he had immediately set out for Zhangtai. However, midway through the journey, he sensed something was amiss. He secretly contacted the commander of the Nine Banners Battalion and learned that while Zhangtai was indeed harassed by the Wutuo People, the situation was not as severe as described in the letter. He then turned his horse around and dispatched a portion of the Southern Garrison Troops stationed in Qingnan.

The enemy was undoubtedly targeting Liangzhou Guard—or rather, targeting him.

Now that he had just taken over Liangzhou Guard, if something went wrong under his command, the Emperor would have a legitimate reason to reclaim military authority. The ministers in the court who were dissatisfied with him could seize the opportunity to kick him while he was down, and his position as commander would not last long.

"Those Western Qiang people..."

"They weren't Western Qiang people," Xiao Jue interrupted Fei Nu. "They were Wutuo People."

Fei Nu was taken aback.

"Aside from Rida Muzi and his close followers, who were Qiang, the rest were Wutuo People."

Fei Nu asked, "Using others to do their dirty work?"

"They were trying to kill me," he chuckled softly and turned around. "Have Shen Han and all the instructors come to my room."

...

After Xiao Jue left, He Yan rested for a while longer before Song Taotao, Cheng Li Su, and Shen Muxue arrived.The two children each carried a large basket of food. Since the Qiang people had just left and the Liangzhou Guard was under strict lockdown and heightened alert, they couldn't enter the city, so there were no fine dishes from restaurants. However, there was still fish soup, steamed meat, and the like. Song Taotao ran to He Yan's bedside and asked, "Are you feeling better now?"

"Quite well," He Yan replied with a smile. "Thank you for helping me ask Instructor Shen for assistance earlier."

The young girl showed a rare hint of shyness, fidgeting for a moment. "It was nothing. You were in prison at the time. Besides... you saved me once, so we're even."

"When did my big brother save you?" Cheng Li Su, unaware of the incident where Song Taotao had been abducted by Sun Ling in Liang Province, asked suspiciously.

"That's a secret. Why should I tell you?" Song Taotao had no patience for Cheng Li Su.

"He's my big brother! Of course I have the right to know. Why are you keeping it from me?"

Seeing that the two were about to start arguing again, Shen Muxue shook her head helplessly and said to He Yan, "Brother He, I was wrong to suspect you earlier."

She was referring to the matter of Hu Yuanzhong.

"It's fine," He Yan said. "They even deceived the instructors, so it's normal that you were fooled. Besides, Miss Shen was focused on saving lives at the time and couldn't have thought too much about it. By the way," she remembered something, "I heard from Commander Xiao that Hu Yuanzhong died?"

Shen Muxue nodded. "That Hu Yuanzhong tried to abduct me when Rida Muzi appeared. Later, the commander returned, and his guards fought with him. He died at the hands of the guards."

"If we knew he was going to die, why bother saving him? What a waste of medicine," Cheng Li Su muttered.

He Yan thought to herself that Hu Yuanzhong had indeed been captivated by Shen Muxue's beauty, his wicked intentions never ceasing. Even during the chaos of battle, he had tried to abduct someone—truly despicable.

"Brother He," Shen Muxue looked at her and asked earnestly, "I've always wondered, why did you suspect Hu Yuanzhong was problematic at the time?"

And her suspicion had been spot-on. After all, Hu Yuanzhong had been behaving properly in the Liangzhou Guard. Even though Xiao Mai and the others had been keeping an eye on him daily as instructed by He Yan, they hadn't noticed anything amiss.

He Yan couldn't mention that it was because of the rash on Hu Yuanzhong's hands, which would make her seem overly familiar with the Qiang people. After a moment of silence, she said, "It was the piece of paper with the love poem."

"The paper?" Shen Muxue was taken aback. "The keepsake left by his deceased wife?"

"Exactly," He Yan replied. "You were all moved by his deep affection, but a person with such deep affection would never look at you with that kind of gaze."

"What kind of gaze?" Shen Muxue asked, puzzled.

He Yan scratched her head. "The kind of gaze a man gives a woman."

She thought that Shen Muxue, after all, was a young woman with a thin skin. Saying "drooling with greed" would likely embarrass her, so it was better to phrase it more tactfully.

But Miss Shen was no ordinary young woman. Upon hearing this, she didn't blush but instead asked curiously, "How did you notice that?"

"Me?" The question put He Yan in a difficult spot. She replied, "I was always paying attention to you, Miss Shen."

Shen Muxue frowned. Seeing the situation turning awkward, Song Taotao quickly stepped forward, blocking He Yan's view of Shen Muxue, and casually picked up a cup of water nearby, handing it to He Yan. "Brother He, have some water."

He Yan: "...Thank you."As they were speaking, laughter sounded from outside. Turning to look, they saw Lin Shuanghe returning once more. In the dead of winter, he fanned himself with a folding fan as he gracefully approached, wearing a refined smile. "I wondered why it was so lively here. So you're all gathered in this place."

"Uncle Lin," Cheng Lisu called out.

Lin Shuanghe was about the same age as Xiao Jue, and the age difference between Cheng Lisu and Lin Shuanghe wasn't great either. However, because Cheng Lisu called Xiao Jue "uncle," he also followed suit by calling Lin Shuanghe "uncle." But Lin Shuanghe probably wasn't too pleased with this form of address, as his smile faltered slightly, losing its earlier smoothness.

Shen Muxue stood up. "Young Master Lin."

"Miss Shen, I've just come from the infirmary. Several new recruits have woken up and are complaining of pain from their wounds. Would you like to go and check on them?"

Shen Muxue was taken aback. "Is that so?" She then turned to look at He Yan. "Brother He, I'm going to the infirmary to have a look. Are you feeling any discomfort at the moment?"

"No, no," Song Taotao spoke up before He Yan could answer. She shot a wary glance at Shen Muxue. "If there's anything, Young Master Lin is here. He can take a look."

"But doesn't Uncle Lin only treat women?" Cheng Lisu asked curiously.

"Ahem," Lin Shuanghe snapped his fan shut. "I can make an exception occasionally."

"In that case, I'll take my leave first," Shen Muxue said, bowing slightly to everyone before turning and leaving the room.

Song Taotao breathed a sigh of relief.

He Yan: "..."

She felt a headache coming on, unsure of what to do. Lin Shuanghe was a shrewd person and likely sensed her dilemma. He turned to Song Taotao and Cheng Lisu and said, "I need to examine your Brother He's wounds again now. After that, he needs to rest. The two of you should not disturb him here."

"Rest again?" Cheng Lisu asked. "We've only just seen him, and it hasn't even been the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. I still have things I want to say to Brother He."

"You'll have to wait until your Brother He is better to say them," Lin Shuanghe said, placing a hand on his shoulder and pushing him toward the door. "Do you want to see him lingering on a sickbed, unable to recover?"

Song Taotao glanced back at He Yan, who pretended to weakly hold her forehead. Biting her lip, Song Taotao pulled Cheng Lisu along as she walked out. "In that case, let's not disturb him. Let him rest more. We'll come again tomorrow."

Cheng Lisu said, "If you have something to say, say it. Why are you pulling me?"

Song Taotao retorted, "Do you think I want to touch you?"

The two children bickered as they walked away into the distance. Lin Shuanghe closed the door.

Only then did He Yan let out a sigh of relief. Lin Shuanghe was truly considerate. After all these years, his ability to read people's expressions remained top-notch. No wonder he had been so popular back at the Virtuous Prosperity Academy. Being so thoughtful and considerate, He Yan couldn't help but feel grateful to him in her heart.

"Little sister, you're truly impressive," Lin Shuanghe said, smiling as he walked over, fanning himself. "Even in this state, you can still make girls vie for your affection. Remarkable!"

He Yan replied weakly, "You flatter me."

She wasn't a fool; she could clearly see the thoughts in young Song Taotao's mind. However, a young girl's feelings were ever-changing, and she believed things would settle down after a while.

"Doctor Lin, did you come here to find me for something?"

"Nothing in particular," Lin Shuanghe sighed. "Right now, the Liangzhou Guard is filled with blood that hasn't been fully cleaned up. The corpses of those Qiang people are piled up, and it gives me a headache just looking at them. Don't think that just because I'm a doctor, I enjoy seeing bloodshed. It's extremely bothersome. I came here to hide for a while."Lin Shuanghe was also a pampered young master, likely unaccustomed to the harsh, bitter cold of Liangzhou Guard. Her room, borrowed from Cheng Li Su, was spacious and comfortable, and perhaps because she was injured, it was kept well-stoked with charcoal, making it extremely warm. Compared to the outside, it was indeed more suitable for lazing about.

"Why don't you go find Commander Xiao?" He Yan asked. "His quarters are far more comfortable than mine."

"I'd like to," Lin Shuanghe shrugged. "I ran into him when I first arrived. He was heading to the dungeon with some men, probably on business. I'll look for him when he returns."

"The dungeon?" He Yan was taken aback.

"What? Do you want to go?"

The only person in the dungeon was Lei Hou. Xiao Jue's visit was likely to interrogate him. Since she had fought Lei Hou before, perhaps she could be of some help.

He Yan replied, "I do want to go. Could you help me, Young Master Lin?"

"Normally, I wouldn't be able to," Lin Shuanghe said with an air of restraint, fanning himself. "But since it's a request from a beautiful lady, I can make an exception." He stood up. "Let's go. I'll get you a cane to lean on."

...

At the entrance of the dungeon, Xiao Jue and Shen Han, along with a group of others, were heading inside.

The guards at the entrance had been doubled, and there were more inside, all to prevent Lei Hou from taking his own life in the cell. The wind lifted the hem of Xiao Jue's cloak as he walked. "Where is Du Mao?" he asked.

"As per your orders, he's been detained," Shen Han replied hesitantly, then added, "But regarding Lei Hou's matter, he might truly be unaware."

"In my book, there is no 'might.' Rules are rules," the young man said indifferently. "Mistakes must be punished."

Shen Han dared not say another word.

The guards in the dungeon made way upon seeing Xiao Jue. He removed his cloak and handed it to Fei Nu, then turned his gaze to the prisoner in the cell.

When He Yan had fought Lei Hou, she had forced him to swallow a knockout drug and bound him with Song Taotao's belt. As a result, when Xiao Jue's men arrived, Lei Hou was still unconscious.

But now, compared to when he had fought He Yan, Lei Hou was in a far more pitiable state. His hands and feet were shackled in wooden restraints, rendering him immobile. Even his neck was fixed in place, and he was completely drained of strength, unable even to bite his tongue to end his life. Once stripped of the power to control his own fate, he was like a fish on a chopping block, utterly at the mercy of others.

"Open the door," Xiao Jue ordered.

A guard stood up and unlocked the cell door.

Even with the door open, Lei Hou could only move his mouth; the rest of his body remained immobilized. He looked at the man before him. The young man's features were astonishingly beautiful under the lamplight, yet his gaze was as cold as a deep, icy pool.

"Don't waste your effort," Lei Hou forced a smile. "I won't say anything."

A guard brought over a chair, and Xiao Jue sat down. He lowered his eyes to look at Lei Hou, his voice calm. "A few months ago, during the flag competition on White Moon Mountain, you were defeated by He Yan. Yet I still selected you for the Vanguard Battalion. Do you know why?"

Lei Hou's smile froze, and he stared at Xiao Jue in disbelief.

Xiao Jue raised an eyebrow. "Figured it out?"

"You did it on purpose?" Lei Hou's voice instantly turned hoarse.

"A new recruit, silent and unremarkable during daily training, yet astonishingly brilliant during the flag competition. What is that—genius?" Xiao Jue mocked. "Are you that kind of genius?"

Lei Hou was left speechless.He had schemed and plotted, exhausting every means to enter Liangzhou Guard, step by step devising methods, fearing exposure. Even now, at this stage, he still clung to his fearless willingness to sacrifice himself. Yet Xiao Jue needed only a single sentence to shatter his defenses.

They had known from the very beginning.

So everything he had done was like a clown's performance, led by the nose while he remained smugly self-satisfied.

"What does it matter?" Lei Hou forced himself to say. "I'm going to die anyway. Better to die with some value. Even if it just leaves a thorn in your heart."

"When I assigned you to the Vanguard Battalion, I did one thing." Xiao Jue waved his hand casually. Fei Nu bowed and took something from his robes, handing it to Xiao Jue—a sachet and a longevity lock. Xiao Jue tossed the sachet in front of Lei Hou, then twirled the longevity lock around his finger, looking at Lei Hou with a mocking smile. "Take a look. Do you still recognize them?"

Lei Hou felt as if struck by lightning.

The embroidery on the sachet was familiar—it was his wife's handiwork. The longevity lock was one he had personally ordered a craftsman to make before his departure and placed around his son's neck.

"Xiao Huaijin," he gritted his teeth, "harm should not reach wives and children..."

"Wives and children?" Xiao Jue toyed with the longevity lock in his hand, sneering. "When you took on this task, did you still remember you had a wife and child?"

Lei Hou clenched his teeth and said nothing.

"By doing this, you tied the lives of your wife and child to your own. Succeed, and you all live. Fail—why did you think only you would pay the price?"

"Xiao Huaijin!" Lei Hou shouted. He struggled, but the wooden cuffs held him powerless. His eyes reddened, nearly splitting with rage, he cried out, "What do you want?"

The young commander looked at him, a scornful smile curling his lips. "You can tell me everything you know."

"Impossible!" Lei Hou retorted.

"What a loyal dog." Xiao Jue held the longevity lock up to his eyes, examining it closely as he spoke indifferently. "Do you think, after you die and your wife and child die, the master you serve will avenge you?"

"I acted alone," Lei Hou pleaded desperately. "They know nothing. Spare them, please spare them. Do whatever you want with me, kill me if you must, I beg you..."

"You should have considered this consequence before you came." Xiao Jue said. "A death warrior cannot afford to harbor hope. Or perhaps you should have hidden them better."

Lei Hou slumped to the ground.

This young general of Great Wei, known for his ruthlessness, had a heart as hard as iron. No amount of humble pleading could soften him. He was an emotionless monster, cruel and merciless, like a clay or wooden statue. Even toward his own parents he showed no sentiment—how could anyone expect him to feel anything?

"What do you want?" he asked weakly. But he knew he was no match for Xiao Jue's ruthlessness. He could never bring himself to disregard the lives of his wife and child.

Yet if he spoke, his master would also seek revenge. This was a path of no return—succeed and live, fail and descend to the underworld.

In that moment, Lei Hou regretted everything.

"I've already said, tell me everything you know." Xiao Jue spoke leisurely. "I have plenty of time. No rush. You can take your time and say it all."

"And if I don't?"The young man paused in his playful handling of the longevity lock. In the next moment, with a faint "crack," the lock crumbled into dust in his hand. He had actually crushed the longevity lock with sheer force.

"You can try," he said calmly, even gently, adding only: "I assure you, next time what is sent will not be merely these two lifeless objects."

Lei Hou closed his eyes.

When he opened them again, his expression was one of utter despair. He stared at Xiao Jue and sneered, enunciating each word slowly: "Truly worthy of General Feng Yun, truly worthy of the Right Army Commander. Such temperament and methods—Lei Hou has learned his lesson."

He Yan was leaning on a stick, following Lin Shuanghe toward the dungeon. Just as they reached the entrance, these were the words they heard.

"No wonder Xiao Zhongwu and his wife fought for military power before the seventh day of mourning had even passed. No wonder he remained unmoved even when sixty thousand men drowned in the Battle of Guo City Long Valley. In terms of ruthlessness, who in Great Wei could surpass Xiao Huaijin?"

(End of Chapter)