Legend of the Female General

Chapter 162: Returning to Camp

On the journey back from Jiyang to Liang Province, the group was not as spirited as they had been on the way there. Having just experienced a fierce battle, everyone was somewhat exhausted. Lin Shuanghe had returned the deeds of sale to the two young maids, Cui Jiao and Hong Qiao, leaving a sum of silver with their parents and instructing them not to sell their children again in the future. Before leaving, to prevent the parents from feigning compliance, he invoked Cui Yuezhi’s name.

The two young maids were reluctant to part, after all, such kind masters who neither beat nor scolded their servants were not encountered every day. Sometimes, being a maid to such a benevolent lady was easier than struggling in a harsh world.

When they had left Liangzhou Guard, spring had not yet arrived. Now, after some delays on the road, it was already early summer by the time they returned.

He Yan had long since changed back into men’s clothing, as it was more convenient for traveling. Lin Shuanghe occasionally fanned himself and sighed, “My sister He Yan has such beauty, yet she insists on dressing as a man. What a waste.”

He Yan simply ignored his nonsense.

On the second day of the fifth month, Xiao Jue and He Yan arrived at Liangzhou Guard.

At the foot of White Moon Mountain, the sounds of soldiers training echoed from afar. He Yan jumped down from the carriage and looked toward Five Deer River and the Martial Arts Field, feeling a wave of familiarity wash over her. After all, she had stayed at Liangzhou Guard for at most a year in total, yet it felt as though she had completely adapted to life here. Upon arriving, she felt like a weary bird returning to the forest, filled with an indescribable sense of peace.

Shen Han, who had already received the news, hurried over to help unload the carriages. Seeing that He Yan, Xiao Jue, and the others were all safe and sound, he breathed a sigh of relief. News of the military affairs in Jiyang had reached them long after the events. Knowing that twenty thousand Jiyang City Army soldiers had faced one hundred and fifty thousand Wutuo People, they couldn’t help but feel a lingering fear. They had worried whether anyone had been injured in the fierce battle, but now it seemed everyone was alive and well, with no apparent harm.

“Commander, you must be tired from the journey. Please rest in your room for a while,” Shen Han said. “The rooms have all been cleaned.”

Xiao Jue nodded. Just as they were speaking, another carriage arrived and stopped behind them. The curtain was lifted, and Ying Xiang helped Chu Zhao step down.

Shen Han was taken aback. “This…”

“Chu Fourth Young Master will be staying at Liangzhou Guard for now,” Xiao Jue said calmly. “Find him a room.” He then glanced sideways at Chu Zhao, his tone mocking. “The conditions here are harsh. I hope Chu Fourth Young Master can bear with it.”

Chu Zhao clasped his hands in gratitude. “I dare not complain. Zi Lan is deeply grateful.”

Xiao Jue couldn’t be bothered with him and turned to leave first. He Yan quickly followed.

Cheng Li Su was no longer at Liangzhou Guard, so in principle, the room he had previously occupied should be returned to its original owner. However, Xiao Jue seemed to have forgotten about this matter, and staying here was indeed more convenient for bathing and grooming compared to sharing a bunk with everyone else. Since Xiao Jue hadn’t brought it up, He Yan pretended not to know and carried her luggage back to Cheng Li Su’s room—next door to Xiao Jue’s.

Shen Han followed them inside, holding a military ledger. “These are the daily training records from the past few days. I’ve organized them all. Please review them at your leisure after resting, Commander. Now that you’ve returned, the Southern Garrison Troops will be under your command for training again. Over the past few months, the military formations at Liangzhou Guard have begun to show results.”Xiao Jue took the military register from his hand and flipped through it casually. Shen Han turned his head to look at the room behind the middle door, where He Yan was sitting on the bed with a cloth bundle spread out in front of her, seemingly sorting through the things she had brought back from Jiyang. At a glance, there were quite a few items—food, clothing, and small trinkets—covering the entire bed.

Looking back at Xiao Jue, there was no sign of him intending to stop her. Shen Han fell into deep thought. After all, Second Young Master Xiao was known for his fastidiousness and love of cleanliness, to the extent that even after he left, his room had to be cleaned daily. The soldiers in the army were one thing, but the instructors who interacted with Xiao Jue dared not act recklessly in his presence. At the very least, they had to sit and stand properly, unlike He Yan, who was so casual.

And yet, Xiao Jue hadn’t stopped her. Could it be that their relationship had progressed further after their trip to Jiyang?

Lost in thought, Shen Han didn’t notice Xiao Jue calling his name. Seeing no response, Xiao Jue looked up and followed Shen Han’s gaze, noticing him staring thoughtfully at He Yan, who was sitting on the bed sorting through her bundle. Frowning, he called out again, “Shen Han.”

Shen Han snapped back to attention and replied, “Commander!”

“I need to draft a memorial. Find a few people to keep an eye on Chu Zilan,” Xiao Jue said. “Report any unusual movements to me immediately.”

Shen Han nodded and left.

After Shen Han left, He Yan lay down on the bed and rolled over. Xiao Jue frowned in displeasure. “Are you a dog?”

“We’ve been traveling for so long, jostling around in the carriage every day. Finally, I can get a good night’s sleep,” He Yan said, grabbing a handful of dried fruit from her bundle. “Commander, these were given to me by Madam Cui. Would you like some?”

Xiao Jue replied, “No.”

“It’s a gesture of goodwill. You don’t have to be so cold,” He Yan said, wrapping the dried fruit in a clean handkerchief. “I’ll leave it on your table later.”

Without turning his head, Xiao Jue continued flipping through the military register Shen Han had just delivered. He Yan thought to herself that being a commander had its difficulties, but being a soldier also had its perks. For instance, she could roll around on the bed while Xiao Jue still had to deal with a pile of accumulated official duties.

As she watched Xiao Jue’s back, He Yan suddenly remembered something and asked, “Commander, there’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you.”

Xiao Jue said, “Speak.”

He Yan hesitated for a moment. “Do you remember the day the Wutuo People attacked Jiyang City when we were there? I was supposed to swim to the shore with you, but I choked on water. Was it… you who dragged me ashore?”

There was something else she didn’t say. In her dazed state, it seemed as though someone had given her air. She couldn’t open her eyes underwater, but she vaguely felt it was Xiao Jue. However, saying this out loud was too unbelievable. First, was Xiao Jue the kind of person to give someone air like that? Definitely not. Second, she had actually dreamed such a thing. If she told others, they would laugh at her for thinking about such absurd things in a life-or-death situation.

Xiao Jue’s eyes flickered slightly. After a pause, he said, “Yes.”

Though it was a bit embarrassing, He Yan mustered the courage to ask, “Commander, aside from dragging me ashore, did you do anything else?”

Xiao Jue replied, “No.”

He Yan was taken aback. “Nothing else?”

He turned his head to look at her, a faint smile curling at the corner of his lips. “Then what do you wish I had done to you?”

He Yan had no response to that.She gave a light laugh and said, "No, I was just asking casually." In her heart, she thought, So it really was just a spring dream of my own. Thankfully, I didn’t say it outright—that would have been too embarrassing.

Xiao Jue turned back to the military ledger in front of him, though a slight ripple stirred in his gaze. He glanced out of the corner of his eye at the girl sitting on the bed, still tidying her bundle, before awkwardly averting his eyes a moment later.

In the end, he said nothing more.

…

After organizing all the baggage and belongings in the room, He Yan checked the sky and estimated that the day’s training at the Martial Arts Field was about to end. She headed out toward the field. Starting tomorrow, she would resume daily training, but for now, she could catch up with the brothers she hadn’t seen in a while.

Just as she reached the entrance of the Martial Arts Field, the day’s training dispersed. From afar, Xiao Mai’s voice rang out: "It’s Brother He! Brother He is back!"

In an instant, everyone swarmed around her. Whether they knew her or not, He Yan was now famous throughout Liangzhou Guard. Xiao Mai was pushed aside in the crowd, but He Yan pulled him to stand beside her. Xiao Mai said, "Brother He, when did you get back? You didn’t even say a word! I heard from the drillmasters that you and the Commander won another battle in Jiyang. Brother He, you’re amazing!"

Had the news already spread this fast? He Yan was still puzzled when someone else chimed in, "I heard the Jiyang City Army only had twenty thousand soldiers, while those Wutuo troops numbered a hundred and fifty thousand. Brother He, tell us, how on earth did you win?"

"Yeah, hurry up and tell us!"

He Yan felt that every time she returned to Liangzhou Guard after doing something, she turned into a storyteller, regaling everyone with tales. But now, surrounded in the middle with no way out, she had no choice but to sit on the railing of the Martial Arts Field and raise a hand, saying, "Everyone, quiet down, quiet down. It’s a long story—let me have a drink of water first."

Immediately, someone handed over a leather flask: "I have water! Drink mine!"

"Do you want something to eat too? Some dry biscuits?"

"Alright, alright, I’ll tell you. Actually, this battle wasn’t too difficult. It was all thanks to the Commander’s excellent leadership. Jiyang is a water city…"

Liang Ping watched He Yan being surrounded by the crowd from a distance and muttered in exasperation, "Has this kid become so popular in Liangzhou Guard? It’s almost like he can rally everyone with a single call. What’s going on?"

Ma Damei smiled mysteriously. "That’s a good thing."

"What’s good about it?"

"He Yan went to Jiyang with the Commander," Ma Damei stroked his beard. "When they returned, they shared the same carriage, which shows they got along quite well. Since she went to Jiyang with the Commander and fought side by side, do you think she’ll be mentioned in the report to His Majesty this time?"

"At the very least, she’ll have a share of the credit. This young one is exceptionally skilled, straightforward, and cheerful. As long as she stays with the Commander, rising through the ranks is inevitable. I believe her future won’t be confined to just our Liangzhou Guard. Brother, it’s not a bad thing for Liangzhou Guard to build a good relationship with her." Ma Damei chuckled and patted his shoulder. "You have to think long-term."

"She’s only in her teens," Liang Ping grumbled. "How can you make it sound so impressive?"

Ma Damei smiled without a word.

On the other side, the crowd listening to He Yan’s storytelling gasped in amazement.

"It was actually a fire attack!""That was far too dangerous. What if there hadn't been that gust of wind? Wouldn't we have just been sitting there waiting to die?"

He Yan smiled. "If there was no wind, then we would have fought to the end. But war is inherently complex—there's no absolute guarantee that the strong will defeat the weak. With the right timing and favorable terrain, defeating a larger force with fewer troops isn't difficult. So in every battle, you can't approach it with a mindset of certain defeat or certain victory. On the battlefield, things change in the blink of an eye. Until the very last moment, the outcome remains unknown."

The crowd nodded, though not entirely understanding.

Once the excitement died down, the crowd gradually dispersed. Those who remained were naturally Hong Shan and the others. Wang Ba stood with his arms crossed, looking at He Yan with clear disapproval. "Showing off as soon as you return—even peacocks aren't as flashy as you."

"Well, I must have the ability to show off in the first place," He Yan said, hopping down from the railing. "Long time no see, friends."

Having spent some time in the Vanguard Battalion, where daily training was much more grueling than in the ordinary battalions, Shitou, Jiang Jiao, Wang Ba, and Huang Xiong all looked a bit darker and leaner than before. Yet their spirits seemed even brighter. Jiang Jiao asked, "I never expected you to fight such a victorious battle in Jiyang. Ah Yan, you really are something."

"It wasn't me who fought it," He Yan modestly declined. "It was the Commander who directed it well."

"So, did you earn merit this time? Can you get a promotion?" Huang Xiong always considered practical matters.

"I don't know about a promotion, but the Commander promised me that he'd let me join the Southern Garrison Troops later," He Yan said. "Just that alone is enough to satisfy me."

"Really?" Hong Shan's voice trembled with excitement. "Ah Yan, you've finally achieved your wish!"

The others congratulated her one after another, but only Shitou remained calm, asking He Yan, "Brother He, why did the Wutuo People suddenly attack Jiyang? Have they come to Liang Province before?"

He Yan's smile gradually faded, and her expression turned serious. After a long pause, she finally spoke. "Great Wei... might be going to war."

Since the Wutuo People had made the first move, they wouldn't easily give up. All these years of lying low were merely preparation for this moment.

For a while, everyone fell silent. War was not something to celebrate for the people of Great Wei—nor for anyone.

...

In the dimly lit room, the young man at the desk was still reading the long scroll in his hands. Piles of military records were stacked together, and the affairs of the Liangzhou Guard were endless.

Someone knocked lightly on the door outside.

Xiao Jue didn't look up, only saying, "Enter."

It was Shen Muxue who entered. She carried a basket of food, carefully walked in, and placed it on a small side table. Softly, she said, "Commander, you've been reading for a long time. Have something to eat."

Xiao Jue acknowledged her but showed no intention of getting up. Shen Muxue let out a faint sigh.

When Xiao Jue returned, she had been staying up late in the medical clinic. During the transition between spring and summer, the soldiers of the Liangzhou Guard were most susceptible to colds and fevers. While brewing medicine, she heard that Xiao Jue had returned and wanted to see him, but she couldn't leave her unfinished tasks. Besides, this time he had traveled all the way from Jiyang back to Liang Province, a much longer journey, so she thought he needed more rest. She hadn't expected him to still be reading official documents so late at night.

But this was just Xiao Jue's nature. Even when she first truly got to know him, he was like this—unchanging."There are some local products from Jiyang on the floor. Take some back with you," Xiao Jue said while reviewing official documents. "The room is too cluttered."

Shen Muxue nodded, set down the food basket, and went to organize the bundles on the floor. Indeed, there were many bundles and wooden boxes. Opening them, she found fabrics, pastries, dried fruits, and other specialties abundant in Jiyang. These were indeed scarce in Liangzhou Guard. Some of the food items could be added to the daily meals, which would surely delight the soldiers.

The topmost box looked particularly exquisite—a round wooden box coated with lacquer. Upon closer inspection, it was carved with scenes from Jiyang’s Water God Festival. Opening it, she found grease oil inside. Bringing it to her nose, she could smell a faint floral fragrance.

This item wasn’t particularly valuable, but its charm and delicacy made it appealing, especially to women. The grease oil boxes made in Liangzhou were not as unique as those from Jiyang. The grease oil inside was for moisturizing hands, as frequent exposure to water or handling medicinal herbs could occasionally cause skin to chap. Although Shen Muxue took great care of her skin and had prepared plenty of her own grease oil, she was still delighted to see this.

She picked up the box, held it in her palm, and looked at Xiao Jue. Feeling somewhat shy, she hesitated for a moment before speaking softly, "Commander, thank you. I really like this grease oil."

Hearing this, Xiao Jue seemed not to understand what she meant. He turned his head, his gaze pausing briefly on the box in her hand before he replied indifferently, "That’s not for you."

Shen Muxue’s face flushed instantly. She quickly put the box down and stammered nervously, "I’m sorry, Commander. I... I thought it was for me."

Although Xiao Jue hadn’t said much, she felt utterly embarrassed, as if she had been presumptuous.

"Take the rest. Leave the box alone," Xiao Jue said, then turned his attention away from her.

Shen Muxue bit her lip, swiftly gathered the other bundles on the floor, and hurried out of the room with them in her arms. As she left, her eyes lingered on the box on the table for a moment.

The soldiers of Liangzhou Guard never cared whether their skin chapped or not. With daily training taking up most of their time, they wouldn’t go out of their way to find such moisturizing grease oil for their hands and feet. Even those who were particularly meticulous wouldn’t use such a pretty box that was clearly meant for women.

Xiao Jue certainly wouldn’t use it either. And since he said, "That’s not for you," it meant it was for someone else.

Who was he planning to give it to?

...

The night breeze was cool. Having experienced the liveliness of Jiyang City, the sudden return to the desolation of Liangzhou Guard felt somewhat jarring. Gone were the rivers and boats flowing through the city, replaced only by the silent White Moon Mountain, the vast Five Deer River, and the empty Martial Arts Field at night.

He Yan walked alone.

After meeting with her friends in Liangzhou Guard, distributing the local products she had brought back from Jiyang to Hong Shan and the others, and chatting with them late into the night, she finally headed back to her room. She planned to ask Xiao Jue whether she could start training with the Southern Garrison Troops from the next day. However, halfway there, she ran into Chu Zhao.

Chu Zhao was alone, without Ying Xiang by his side. Seeing He Yan, he greeted her with a smile. "Ah He."

"Brother Chu," He Yan replied, glancing around but seeing no one else nearby. She asked curiously, "It’s so late. Are you out for a walk alone?" Even if he were, the surroundings were barren, with no trees or flowers—it seemed a rather pitiful stroll.Chu Zhao was taken aback for a moment, then shook his head with a smile. "No, I just wanted to find someone to help me with something."

"With what?"

Chu Zhao spread open his palm, revealing a stone lying in it. The stone looked as if it had been picked up from the banks of the Five Deer River, and its shape was rather peculiar. It was flat and elongated, resembling the shape of a white horse, but at the tail, there was an extra piece of black, jagged rock attached.

"Does Ah He think this stone looks like a horse?" Chu Zhao chuckled. "But right here—" he pointed at the tail, "there's an extra piece. I wanted to find someone to help me chop it off. But it's late at night now, and it seems everyone has already gone to sleep."

So he was just looking for someone to do some manual labor. He Yan sized up Chu Zhao, thinking that this man was so frail a gust of wind could knock him over—he definitely wouldn't be able to split the stone himself. Since it was just a small favor, He Yan asked Chu Zhao, "Brother Chu, do you have a knife?"

Chu Zhao took out a dagger from his sleeve. The dagger looked very slender, with its hilt crafted into the shape of a bamboo leaf. He Yan held it for a moment, speechless. Scholars were truly particular, but a dagger made like this was more for decoration than practical use. It might be fine for cutting fruit, but if it were used for self-defense, it would be laughable.

Disdainfully weighing it in her hand, He Yan said, "Give me the stone."

Chu Zhao handed it to her.

He Yan placed the stone on the ground, pressed one hand on the horse's head, and with the other, swung the knife down with a swift motion. A crisp sound rang out as the extra piece of the horse's tail broke off. At the same time, the tip of the dagger chipped.

He Yan: "..."

"Ah He has impressive skills," Chu Zhao remarked, seemingly unfazed. He added happily, "I'll just polish this part a bit, and it'll look complete."

He Yan couldn't understand Chu Zhao's behavior at all. Craftsmen did such things for a living, but Chu Zhao seemed to genuinely enjoy it. She had heard of nobles and officials who were passionate about farming on their estates—perhaps it was a similar sentiment. But staying up late at night to carve a stone? He Yan herself would never do such a thing.

After all, she was a rough person with little appreciation for refined tastes.

Chu Zhao put the dagger away, holding the stone in his hand as he smiled at He Yan. "Speaking of which, I always trouble you to help me with such things, but I have nothing to offer in return. I feel quite ashamed."

"It's just a small favor, Brother Chu. No need to take it to heart. I usually practice with stone locks, so helping you split a stone doesn't take much effort," He Yan shrugged. "Besides, I haven't really helped you with anything else."

Chu Zhao lowered his head and smiled. "Back in Jiyang, didn't Ah He also give me her clothes?" At this point, he seemed to blush slightly and whispered, "Although I didn't end up using them... still, thank you."

He Yan: "That was only natural." After all, someone as weak as him was right in front of her, and she was busy with other matters. It was just a small gesture. If it weren't Chu Zhao but someone else, she would have done the same.

"Brother Chu, what are your plans for the future?" He Yan asked. "Do you intend to stay at Liangzhou Guard permanently?"

Chu Zhao's identity was already unusual, and staying at Liangzhou Guard indefinitely didn't seem to offer him any advantages. This was something He Yan couldn't quite figure out. As for Xiao Jue, he merely watched coldly, showing no intention of intervening."No," Chu Zhao shook his head. "Once everything in Jiyang is fully settled, I will return to the capital."

"Hasn't the military conflict in Jiyang already been resolved? Which aspect are you referring to, Brother Chu?"

Chu Zhao looked at He Yan. In the night, he smiled slightly, his smile as gentle as before, yet within that gentleness, there was a hint of deeper meaning. "Ah He, you will understand in the future."

(End of Chapter)