Love Beyond the Grave

Duan Xu seemed to be missing a screw in his head.

He Simu thought to herself—the first trade condition was to pull him up, the second was to call her by her real name. This young general's train of thought was truly baffling.

However, lately, He Simu had gradually grown accustomed to Duan Xu's eccentricities. So when he made this statement, she was only briefly surprised before regaining her composure.

"You could have exchanged for much more from me—things that could help fulfill your wishes—instead of wasting it like this."

But Duan Xu shook his head, insisting firmly, "This is my wish. It's not a waste."

He Simu studied Duan Xu for a moment, as if trying to decipher some hidden meaning from his handsome, charming face. Yet he gazed back at her with utter sincerity, practically wearing the words "innocent and pure" on his forehead.

This wish of his was utterly useless and downright audacious. But since this young general wasn't one of her subordinates, and given that he would be dead and gone in a mere hundred years, indulging him with a few calls of her name wouldn't hurt.

"Fine," He Simu said. "Now you owe me twice."

"I'll repay you once I recover. I remember," Duan Xu replied with a bright smile.

But He Simu had clearly forgotten her initial intention to strip Duan Xu of his pants, and Duan Xu was more than happy to let it slide.

Two days later, Commander Qin arrived in Shuozhou's prefectural city, and the generals of the four armies occupying Shuozhou gathered there to discuss their next strategy against the enemy.

Duan Xu's injuries hadn't fully healed, and he was more sensitive to pain than most. The slightest touch from He Simu made him hiss in pain, making it impossible for him to wear heavy armor. Yet, with all the other generals arriving in full battle regalia—clad from head to toe in armor and riding tall steeds—it would seem arrogant if Duan Xu didn't show up, and weak if he appeared without armor.

From the gate tower, Duan Xu sighed with a smile as he observed the generals' imposing presence.

At that moment, Chen Ying asked worriedly, "Big Brother General, Sister Xiaoxiao said you still cry out in pain when she changes your bandages. Are you going to fight again?"

Ever since Duan Xu had taken him in as a sworn younger brother, Chen Ying had followed him around like a little shadow.

Duan Xu smiled, thinking that the only reason he cried out in pain was because "Sister Xiaoxiao" was too rough with him.

"The fighting won't start so soon, but what's happening now is also a kind of battle. I made a name for myself right out of the gate, so aside from the Treading White army, most in the military don't know me well. Naturally, half are curious, half want to put me in my place, and maybe some even hope to flatter me. But it's obvious Commander Qin and my family belong to opposing factions. Promotions in the army mostly depend on Commander Qin and Duke Pei, so flattering me won't do them any good."

Duan Xu's explanation left Chen Ying utterly bewildered, his eyes wide with confusion. Duan Xu crouched down and patted his head. "It's fine if you don't understand—just remember it. When you follow me back to the Southern Capital, the social intricacies there will be even more complicated."

After a pause, he added with a grin, "In that case, I might as well make a grand entrance."

Generals visiting Shuozhou's prefectural city were usually hosted by Wu Shengliu and Meng Wan. Wu Shengliu was well-versed in military affairs, while Meng Wan was meticulous and courteous, leaving no room for criticism.

On the morning when Commander Qin and the other generals arrived, Commander Qin demanded all generals attend the meeting to discuss future plans. That was when Duan Xu finally made his appearance.When he stepped out of his tent, he was dressed only in a casual red round-collar robe, his hair tied up in a high ponytail but not properly secured. Chen Ying followed beside him, carrying a basket that held a set of silver-white armor.

He took out his armor from the basket and began putting it on as he strolled leisurely, fastening the ties and knots with ease, meticulously adjusting each piece as he walked. He moved through the crowd, donning his armor in full view of everyone, as if trying on new clothes on the streets of the Southern Capital.

As he passed by the soldiers brought by the other generals, they watched in bewilderment, wondering what kind of show this newly arrived general was putting on.

Some whispered among themselves, both puzzled and impressed, noting how General Duan’s armor looked intricate yet lightweight, unsure how it was crafted.

By the time he reached Commander Qin’s main tent, Duan Xu had just finished securing his wrist guards. He straightened his attire and entered. Inside, the three generals had already assembled and had been watching Duan Xu’s approach through the tent entrance.

Duan Xu smiled and saluted them. "Duan Xu of the Snow-Treading Army, paying respects to Commander Qin and all the generals present."

After the formalities, he calmly adjusted his hair crown, finally completing his attire, and took his seat.

The generals, who had intended to intimidate him, exchanged surprised glances, as baffled as their soldiers.

Chen Ying stood behind Duan Xu, silently rehearsing the words Duan Xu had taught him.

—Strategies against the enemy include deception. Strike first, feint east while attacking west, and sow confusion. Make the enemy hesitate and hold their ground.

Duan Xu, as if oblivious, smiled warmly and said, "This is my first time meeting all of you, Generals. I hope for your guidance and advice."

Commander Qin sat high at the head of the tent. The nearly fifty-year-old commander’s expression was calm, his gaze briefly resting on Duan Xu before shifting away. "General Duan, a young talent who held off 200,000 Danzhi troops for over two months at Shuozhou Prefecture, even infiltrated their camp to assassinate Awoerqi and turned the tide of battle. Such merits have been reported to the court, and rewards will surely follow soon."

His words made it seem as though he hadn’t been the one who sent Duan Xu to Shuozhou as a sacrificial pawn.

Duan Xu clasped his hands and bowed. "For the nation and its people, it was my duty. I’m grateful for your trust in entrusting me with such a task, and fortunate not to have failed."

As soon as he finished speaking, a soft scoff came from beside him.

Duan Xu glanced over to see He Simu seated next to him in her triple-layered robe, chin propped on her hand as she lazily observed the gathering. Noticing his look, she smiled faintly and said, "Go on."

What she likely meant was—keep performing.

He Simu had once again taken on her ghostly form, invisible to ordinary eyes, to watch the show.

Duan Xu seemed about to laugh but suppressed it, reverting to his earnest and righteous demeanor as he exchanged veiled pleasantries with Commander Qin and the other generals, the atmosphere thick with unspoken tension.

The recent conflict with Danzhi had also cost Great Liang dearly. The battles in Yuzhou against Fenglai’s forces had added tens of thousands of casualties, while Duan Xu’s defense of Shuozhou Prefecture had claimed over a thousand lives. Now, with Danzhi in internal turmoil, it was a rare opportunity—but given Great Liang’s current state, they could hardly afford to expand much further.The Emperor's decree ordered Commander Qin to lead troops in attacking and occupying Shuozhou, then act according to circumstances. Given Great Liang's current military strength, occupying two more prefectures at most was the limit, making the subsequent direction of attack the focal point of discussion.

There were essentially two options: attack northwest towards Luozhou and Yunzhou, or northeast towards Youzhou and Yingzhou.

After listening to the generals' discussion for a while, He Simu quickly realized the decision had already been made internally in favor of Youzhou and Yingzhou. The reasoning was sound—Youzhou and Yingzhou were strategically vital passes. Occupying them would choke Danzhi's throat, allowing plans against the Danzi Royal Court in Upper Capital. Moreover, Yingzhou was the Emperor's ancestral home, its years under enemy control a source of shame. Reclaiming it would surely delight His Majesty and count as a major achievement.

However, this predetermined direction of attack clearly hadn't been communicated to Duan Xu in advance.

Duan Xu rested his clasped hands against his lips, his smiling eyes watching the generals debate tactics after settling on the direction. His gaze held both amusement and nonchalance. When Commander Qin noticed his prolonged silence and nominally sought his opinion, Duan Xu chuckled softly and said, "While Youzhou and Yingzhou have their merits, I believe Yunzhou and Luozhou in the northwest should be our primary targets."

This statement made the assembled generals frown. Duan Xu continued with a smile, "Youzhou is indeed the throat—but it's also Danzhi's lifeline. The Hú Qì People hail from grasslands and deserts, acutely sensitive to threats. If we attack Youzhou, even amidst the Royal Court's current chaos, they'll temporarily set aside differences to regroup against us. 'Brothers quarreling at home unite against outside threats'—this wisdom isn't unique to Han people."

"Have you all forgotten the terror of Danzhi's elite forces? South of Guan River, with its many waterways, we can still hold our ground. But fighting Danzhi's army on plains? Every general here knows how that would end. As for Yingzhou..." Duan Xu's smile deepened, nearly spelling out—"You want this prefecture solely for the Emperor's face, it's otherwise useless."

Commander Qin sipped tea indifferently, prompting his trusted Solemn Valor Army General Wang to interject, "General Duan must recognize this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. There's indeed a gap between our forces and Danzhi's. If we don't seize Youzhou while their morale is in disarray, we may never get another chance. Youzhou offers both offensive and defensive advantages with its terrain. Once we hold it, the Hú Qì People would struggle to retake it. With the Danzi Royal Court in chaos, I doubt they'll regroup quickly—they might even seek peace talks."

Duan Xu smiled. He couldn't very well say, "Having lived in the Danzi Royal Court for years, I understand it far better than you." After a brief silence, he suddenly remarked, "I notice the generals seem quite interested in this armor of mine."

—Was this about the armor? Hardly. It was his peculiar behavior that intrigued them.Duan Xu continued without changing his expression, "This armor of mine can be carried even by an eight-year-old child like my sworn brother, yet it's incredibly tough and impervious to blades and arrows. It's forged from a mineral called 'Sky Luo.' This mineral is light yet resilient, and after refining and forging, it can be made into armor that performs just as well as heavy armor weighing dozens of pounds. However, such armor is exceedingly rare in Great Liang, with each piece costing over a hundred gold. Commander Qin should know why. Great Liang doesn’t produce this mineral—it’s abundant in Luozhou, which is named after it. When Danzhi captured Luozhou years ago, they slaughtered the city in ignorance. Now, they know nothing about the refining process for Sky Luo. Over the years, they’ve tried every means, overt and covert, to steal the refining method from Great Liang, but they’ve failed repeatedly."

At this moment, Chen Ying, standing behind Duan Xu, recalled the second half of what Duan Xu had taught him—one shouldn’t always rely on mystification. It’s best if there’s something substantial within the mystique, something that leaves a lingering impression.

"Not only that. Yunzhou has pastures suitable for raising horses, while Great Liang lacks good grazing land, making warhorses scarce and our cavalry weak. If we could occupy Yunzhou as a breeding ground for warhorses, the combat power of Great Liang’s cavalry would greatly improve, narrowing the gap between us and Danzhi’s forces. Moreover, Danzhi has vast grasslands in the north and doesn’t particularly care about Yunzhou and Luozhou. Taking these two regions would be much easier for us and wouldn’t provoke Danzhi’s ire."

Duan Xu laid out the pros and cons one by one, drawing on his deep understanding of Danzhi. The tent fell silent for a moment before Commander Qin finally spoke leisurely, "General Duan’s words are not without merit. Yunzhou’s pastures and Luozhou’s mineral veins are indeed valuable resources, but—"

He Simu uttered the word "but" almost simultaneously with Commander Qin. She knew everything before this was mere lip service—there was bound to be a "but."

"But the battlefield is ever-changing, and we must prioritize, avoiding the pitfall of chasing small gains at the expense of greater principles. Youzhou is the heartland—one decisive battle there could secure peace for years. All the generals agree that Youzhou and Yingzhou are the superior choices. General Duan…"

Commander Qin trailed off, making it clear that this decision had been made without Duan Xu’s input and wouldn’t change regardless of his objections.

Duan Xu’s gaze swept across the faces in the tent. Just as He Simu thought he might argue further, he suddenly broke into a bright smile and said, "It seems my perspective is too narrow. Since my esteemed seniors have already chosen the course, I will naturally cooperate fully and say no more."

He Simu looked at Duan Xu in surprise and remarked, "They know attacking Youzhou is perilous—they’re likely aiming to force Danzhi into peace talks. Once a treaty is signed, there’ll be no justification for further large-scale battles. Your dream of reclaiming the Seventeen Provinces probably won’t come true in this lifetime."

Duan Xu gave a faint, ambiguous smile and nodded slightly to show he understood, then murmured—there was no point in saying more.