The main tent fell into silence after Pei Ying spoke. At first, she was only slightly nervous, but having voiced her question, she gradually steadied herself.
However, this composure did not last long. As the silence stretched on, her heart sank further with each passing moment.
He had been watching her intently, his dark, abyssal eyes churning with sudden turbulence—waves rising violently, as if threatening to drown her within them.
Pei Ying stiffly lowered her gaze.
Then, she heard him say, "Women are forbidden during wartime. We’ll discuss this matter later."
His voice was calm, betraying no emotion.
Though the Youzhou army had no camp followers, Pei Ying knew not all armies adhered to such discipline.
History had witnessed such incidents before.
Once, during a retreat after a crushing defeat against the Xiongnu, a Han general, noticing the soldiers' low morale, blamed it on the presence of camp followers. He ordered them all executed to reinvigorate his troops.
From that general’s stance, it was clear that some commanders believed women sapped soldiers' vigor.
Thus, when Huo Tingshan declared, "Women are forbidden during war," Pei Ying wasn’t surprised.
The beautiful matriarch nodded. "That is just as well."
This answer was satisfactory—at least it meant she wouldn’t have to worry about him causing trouble for her once the war began.
The sword of Damocles hanging over her head had been temporarily lifted. In a way, wasn’t this a shortcut to the end?
Pei Ying was pleased. That morning, she ate more than usual, finishing a flatbread and two pieces of dried meat.
Huo Tingshan watched her slightly puffed cheeks expressionlessly.
After the meal, Pei Ying took her leave. The man merely acknowledged her departure without another word.
And so, she left the main tent.
Moments later, a soldier from the kitchen detail arrived to clear the dishes. As he gathered the cups and jade chopsticks into a basket, preparing to wash them by the water source, one of the chopsticks suddenly split from the middle.
Under the stunned gaze of the soldier, it shattered into several pieces, the fragments clattering against the porcelain cups with sharp, crisp sounds.
The noise wasn’t loud, but it was certainly noticeable. The soldier tensely glanced at Huo Tingshan.
"It’s nothing. You may go." His tone held no displeasure.
The soldier exhaled quietly and hastily retreated with the items, puzzled. How could a perfectly good pair of jade chopsticks just break like that?
---
In the following days, Huo Tingshan remained stationed at the rear supply depot, leaving the frontlines entirely to Xiong Mao.
Though Xiong Mao was often mocked by other officers as slow-witted when it came to schemes, when given a battlefield where brute force ruled, he fought more ferociously than most—a true beast of war.
The battle remained deadlocked, the frontlines gradually pushing toward Zhonggu Road.
Huo Tingshan stood before a map, studying the marked locations. "The fifth day."
"My lord, has the scout sent to Bingzhou returned with any news?" Chen Shichang asked.
Huo Tingshan replied, "No."
Bingzhou showed no signs of movement yet. They were likely waiting for Youzhou and Sizhou to exhaust each other before making their move.
"Bring Ke Zuo here," Huo Tingshan suddenly ordered a guard.
"My lord?"
"My lord, are you planning to use him? Ke Zuo is clever, but his loyalty wavers. What if he leads us into a trap?"
Huo Tingshan said, "I know what I’m doing."
On the third day of Huo Tingshan’s absence from the frontlines, Ke Zuo was also brought to the rear. Previously stationed with Xiong Mao, he now shared quarters with Chen Yuan.
According to Chen Yuan, Ke Zuo had initially tried to engage him in conversation, casually probing for military intelligence. But after repeated rebuffs, he eventually fell silent.
Ke Zuo soon arrived.
Under the weight of numerous gazes, he bowed respectfully. "Greetings, Grand General."
Huo Tingshan smiled warmly. "The camp is humble. Have you been comfortable these days? If you lack anything, inform the guards."
Ke Zuo bowed again. "All is well. Thank you for your concern, Grand General."
Huo Tingshan nodded. "I won’t mince words. I’ve summoned you today to seek your counsel."
Ke Zuo immediately adopted an attentive posture.
Huo Tingshan continued, "Earlier, you mentioned that Bingzhou has its eyes on Youzhou’s supply lines. In your opinion, when will Bingzhou strike?"
Ke Zuo stroked his thin beard. "Shi Bingzhou is a suspicious and cunning man. In my estimation, it will be at least two months before Bingzhou acts."
Chen Shichang and the others exchanged uneasy glances.
Ke Zuo had served under Shi Bingzhou for over a year, yet he spoke of him with such blunt disdain—was this genuine defection or an elaborate ruse?
"And if I wish to hasten Bingzhou’s mobilization, what would you advise?" Huo Tingshan pressed.
The question laid his intentions bare—Huo Tingshan was no longer hiding his designs on Bingzhou.
Anyone with half a brain could see his plan.
Ke Zuo showed no surprise. After a moment of contemplation, he said, "Shi Bingzhou intends to wait until Youzhou’s forces are exhausted before attacking, ensuring minimal effort for maximum gain. If you wish to provoke him into acting sooner, you could dispatch agents disguised as refugees to spread rumors in Bingzhou—claim that Youzhou and Sizhou are locked in a brutal stalemate, nearing collapse. Additionally, you could mobilize a shipment of military supplies from Youzhou to Jizhou. If Bingzhou takes the bait and attempts to seize them, you’ll have justification to retaliate."
Huo Tingshan smiled. "A brilliant strategy."
He then dismissed Ke Zuo under guard escort.
Once Ke Zuo was gone, Chen Shichang and the others voiced their concerns. "My lord, will you adopt his plan?"
Huo Tingshan nodded. "Naturally."
Chen Shichang paled. "My lord, Ke Zuo cannot be fully trusted!"
"I know." Huo Tingshan turned back to the map, a faint smirk playing on his lips. "But this Ke Zuo… is rather interesting."
Ke Zuo had proposed two tactics: spreading rumors via refugees and baiting Bingzhou into action.
Shi Lianhu, the governor of Bingzhou, was someone Huo Tingshan had crossed paths with in Chang’an years ago. Outwardly boisterous, the man was shrewd beneath the surface.
The refugee tactic sounded plausible at first glance, but Shi Lianhu was no fool. Upon hearing such rumors, he would question their timing.
The war had barely begun—how could Youzhou already be on the brink of collapse? It defied the army’s established reputation.
Moreover, Bingzhou had its own scouts. Conflicting reports would alert Shi Lianhu to foul play.
But the bait-and-trap strategy held merit. Not only would they mobilize supplies from Youzhou, but to sell the deception, movements within Jizhou would also be staged.
With such tempting "military supplies" paraded before Bingzhou, Huo Tingshan doubted Shi Lianhu could resist.
Huo Tingshan issued the military orders.
Swift horses soon departed from the rear camp.
"My lord, you seem to regard Ke Zuo with particular favor," Chen Shichang remarked quietly.
Since Ke Zuo had arrived at the military camp, his accommodations had been nothing short of lavish—no different from the other strategists, save for the restriction on leaving the camp.
Huo Tingshan did not deny it. "He has talent. That is enough."
He had always believed that the relationship between a lord and his strategists was one of mutual selection. A lord could choose his men, and strategists could likewise choose their master. It was like taming a horse—if he could subdue it, the horse would serve him; if not, he would be thrown from its back.
Perhaps Ke Zuo truly harbored some intention to pledge loyalty, and so he was observing.
With urgent haste, Huo Tingshan’s orders were swiftly delivered to each grain depot stationed within Ji Province.
"Report—the Grand General’s orders have arrived!"
The depot erupted in murmurs. Meng Wu quickly stepped forward to receive the command. Unfurling the scroll, his expression turned peculiar after reading it.
"Depot Officer Meng, what are the Grand General’s instructions?"
"Depot Officer Meng, what’s with that look? Does the Grand General urgently need all the grain from our depot?"
"Then let’s not delay—send it over at once!"
Meng Wu silenced the crowd. These were all seasoned soldiers from Youzhou, comrades who had served together for years, fiercely loyal to Huo Tingshan.
"We are to dispatch grain, but this time it’s different," Meng Wu said. "The Grand General requires a special arrangement."
"What kind?" the men asked.
Meng Wu replied, "He wants us to mix gravel with the grain—eight parts grain, two parts gravel—and transport it south."
The announcement left everyone bewildered.
Mixing gravel with grain? Wasn’t that pointless labor?
But considering their location, they soon understood.
This was bait—for the Bingzhou army.
The outer layer would be grain, serving as camouflage, while the interior would be gravel. Even if stolen, the loss would be negligible.
And if Bingzhou dared to seize it, it would provide the justification for military action.
Meng Wu barked, "This matter must remain confidential. Any leaks will be met with military punishment."
"Aye!"
Time passed day by day. Half a month slipped by, and the weather grew colder. After waiting eagerly, Pei Ying finally received a letter from Pei Huizhou.
With transportation underdeveloped, letters traveled slowly. Moreover, Pei Huizhou had gone north to Bingzhou after leaving Qiaoding County, while Pei Ying had journeyed south, widening the distance between them considerably.
The letter stated that Pei Huizhou had informed the family of the situation. After discussions with Pei's Father, his second brother, and others, they had decided to relocate.
The Governor of Sizhou had set his sights on the Pei family, making a move to Sizhou impossible. Though the Governor of Bingzhou remained unaware of the matter, it was only a matter of time.
Once he learned of it, fabricating charges to arrest mere merchants would be effortless. The same held true for Yongzhou. After much deliberation, Pei's Father resolved to move the entire family back to Ji Province.
They had once lived in Ji Province, and its climate was milder than Youzhou’s. Returning would be for the best.
The letter also mentioned that after years of toiling for livelihood, the family had saved enough wealth to live comfortably. They planned to take a break and enjoy the pleasures of family life.
Lastly, Pei Huizhou wrote that the boxes of soap Pei Ying had sent were beloved by all. Even his second brother, who had once despised bathing, had changed his habits—much to the delight of his sister-in-law, who now smiled often.
Pei Ying read the letter twice, her emotions complicated.
The decision to relocate was not entirely unexpected. Though there might have been initial resistance, after calm consideration, moving was the only way to ensure safety—and only to Ji or Youzhou.
But the letter mentioned that the family had chosen to halt their business ventures.
Pei Ying knew it was because of her. They did not wish to leverage Huo Tingshan’s influence, refusing the olive branch extended to them—even though accepting it would have immediately elevated the Pei family’s fortunes.
Slowly, she folded the letter, a resolve forming in her heart.
A reply was necessary. Pei Ying fetched paper and brush, grinding ink as she prepared to write. But as she lifted the brush, she hesitated after the first stroke.
She crossed out the character and set the brush down. Just then, Xin Jin hurried in. "Madam, the Grand General has arrived."
Pei Ying was surprised.
It was only mid-afternoon—not yet mealtime. What brought him here?
Glancing at the letter on the small table, she said, "Good timing. There’s something I need to discuss with him."
The tent flap lifted and fell as Huo Tingshan entered. His gaze landed on Pei Ying seated at the table, the open letter and writing tools before her.
"I heard you received correspondence from home. How is it?" He strode over and unceremoniously took a seat beside her.
Pei Ying glanced sideways. "Can’t you guess?"
The letter surely concerned relocation—a matter of life and death, leaving little choice.
Huo Tingshan’s lips curved slightly. "Where does your father plan to move—Youzhou or Ji Province?"
"Ji Province," Pei Ying replied. "The family lived there before. They’re more accustomed to it."
"Ji Province is acceptable." His eyes drifted to the letter, noting a crossed-out character.
Three strokes of ink obscured most of it, leaving only fragments visible—a character half-formed.
Huo Tingshan lifted his gaze back to Pei Ying’s face. "Once you finish the letter, I’ll have it delivered along with a verbal message to the scouts in Bingzhou. They’ll assist your father’s relocation. With war looming, the sooner this is done, the better."
Pei Ying’s eyes flickered. "I appreciate your help with the move. But the letter isn’t urgent yet. I’d like to ask Nannan if she has anything to say to her grandparents once she returns from school."
Huo Tingshan toyed with his jade ring. "Since your daughter isn’t here, her part can wait. You may write yours first."
Pei Ying remained still. "I’ll wait for Nannan."
"Could it be that you don’t know how to write?" Huo Tingshan suddenly asked.
Pei Ying froze. She nearly denied it, but if she did, he would surely press her to continue the letter.
"It’s true—I don’t know how," she admitted.
Previously, whether it was the stirrups or the terraced fields, she had only drawn diagrams for him, never writing a single character.
She thought this would deter him, but instead, he picked up her brush.
"Madam has aided me greatly in the past. If you cannot write, then dictate. I’ll transcribe it for you," Huo Tingshan said leisurely.
Pei Ying, startled, immediately refused. "There’s no need to trouble yourself, General. I’ll wait for Nannan."
A family letter was no ordinary correspondence. If he penned it, the Pei family would receive it in his hand—a situation impossible to explain later.
"It’s no trouble at all," Huo Tingshan said, already poised to write.
Pei Ying could see from his posture that he wouldn’t rest until he had written a letter. Arguing with him further was pointless—it would be better to just let him have his way. Once he left, she could hide what he had written and have her daughter draft a new one.
With this in mind, Pei Ying sat down and began "writing" this rather unusual family letter.
At the start of the letter, Pei Ying expressed her joy at receiving her elder brother’s correspondence, followed by greetings to the elders. Then she mentioned the relocation and how Huo Tingshan had dispatched scouts to assist. Finally, she concluded with words of longing.
Perfectly conventional.
When he heard the ending, Huo Tingshan paused. "Has my lady forgotten one matter?"
Pei Ying was puzzled. "No, I believe I’ve covered everything."
Some matters were not suitable to be put into writing, so she had kept this letter as basic as possible.
Huo Tingshan turned the wolf-hair brush around and tapped the dried character for "father" with its end. "Since my lady has no intention of remarrying anytime soon, it would be best to inform your father, lest he worry unnecessarily."
Pei Ying looked at him, meeting his gaze squarely. In his eyes, she saw her own reflection—her delicate brows furrowed, her displeasure barely concealed.
"Fine, add it in," Pei Ying said, averting her eyes.
Huo Tingshan swept his brush boldly across the paper, adding the line, then remarked, "I’ve already forgotten the last passage. Would my lady repeat it?"
Pei Ying suspected he was doing this on purpose, but his expression was so serious that she had no proof.
After a pause, she repeated the words anyway. Huo Tingshan smirked as he penned the final lines of longing.
The family letter, about a hundred characters long, should have been warm and tender. Yet the strokes were sharp and unrestrained, so much so that the words seemed to strain against the confines of the page.
Pei Ying’s eyelid twitched. She resolved to tuck this letter away later, burying it deep in a chest where it would never see the light of day.
But the next moment, a large, well-defined hand reached over, picked up the dried letter, and folded it neatly before her.
Pei Ying stretched out her hand, her fair fingers slightly parted, ready to take it—only for the letter to circle past her and disappear into Huo Tingshan’s sleeve.
Her eyes widened slightly. "You—"
Huo Tingshan replied calmly, "This letter is complete. I shall keep it for now. Once your daughter finishes hers, you may send someone to deliver it to me, and I will dispatch both along with the other correspondence."
"No," Pei Ying refused immediately.
Huo Tingshan arched a brow. "Why? Give me a reason."
Pei Ying racked her brain, her cheeks flushing, but she couldn’t think of a suitable excuse. She certainly couldn’t say his handwriting was unfit for sending and that she wanted her daughter to rewrite it.
"Since there’s no reason, then it’s settled." Huo Tingshan rose from his seat and strode leisurely toward the door.
Pei Ying watched his retreating figure, all her grievances condensed into a single muttered phrase: "That brute is insufferable."
The tall figure didn’t pause, as if he hadn’t heard.
…
Several days later, an urgent military dispatch arrived from the north.
It read: The Bingzhou army has entered Jizhou and seized the provisions.
The day the message reached Huo Tingshan’s command tent, he immediately recalled Xiong Mao from the front lines and began mobilizing his forces for a northern campaign.
When Xiong Mao received the order, he exhaled deeply. "Finally. These past few days have been damn frustrating."
The terrain of Zhonggu Valley was treacherous, but not impregnable. If they had fought in earnest, Xiong Mao was confident they could have broken through.
But the general had forbidden him from giving his all, instructing him to hold back.
Xiong Mao had been itching for a real fight, his strength pent up with nowhere to go.
Now, at last, things were moving forward.
Western Jizhou.
"Captain, this sack is also filled with gravel," a Bingzhou soldier reported in disbelief.
The captain’s temple throbbed. "A decoy? Find out which route the Youzhou army’s real provisions are taking!"
The soldier hurried off to investigate.
When the news reached Shi Lianhu, the governor of Bingzhou, now in his fifties, frowned. "All gravel?"
The guard confirmed, "Nearly all of it."
Shi Lianhu pondered for a moment, then asked, "Have we located the actual supply route?"
The guard lowered his head. "Not yet, but Captain Jiang is doing everything he can to track it down."
Shi Lianhu turned to the map.
The crisscrossing network of official roads was marked clearly. He had deployed scouts to nearly every route—if there was any irregularity, they should have noticed.
After standing before the map for the time it took to drink a cup of tea, Shi Lianhu suddenly stiffened. "What is the current state of the conflict between Youzhou and Sizhou?"
But news did not travel that swiftly. The guard replied that there were no recent updates.
Shi Lianhu ordered, "If any reports arrive from Sizhou, bring them to me immediately."
"Yes, my lord."
Unlike Shi Lianhu, who was far in Bingzhou without firsthand information, Sizhou was already aware that Huo Tingshan had withdrawn his forces.
At first, Li Kangshun was smug, believing he had repelled the Youzhou army. But then he realized their retreat was not a simple withdrawal—they had redirected north with alarming speed.
When Li Xiaotian learned of Bingzhou’s ambush on Youzhou’s provisions, he fell silent for a long moment before saying, "My son, we’ve been played. Huo Tingshan’s true target was never Sizhou—he means to strike Bingzhou."
"Why?" Li Kangshun blurted.
Sizhou was right before them, and they had already engaged in battle. Why turn away now?
Li Xiaotian tapped the map. "Because Huo Tingshan wants a stable territory."
Li Kangshun’s eyes widened in realization, cursing Huo Tingshan for using them as a diversion. "Father, should we send reinforcements to Bingzhou?"
"We will mobilize, but not yet," Li Xiaotian said.
Pei Ying knew nothing of the intricate schemes brewing in the governors’ minds. She followed the Youzhou army north, eventually returning to Yuanshan County.
Emperor Zhao still sat on the throne, and Great Chu had not yet fractured completely. Huo Tingshan’s costly roundabout maneuver was, at its core, about reputation.
He would fight, but not under the stigma of rebellion—not if it meant inviting the scorn of the realm.
As she stepped into the familiar governor’s residence, Pei Ying suddenly sensed a wave of resentment beside her. She turned to see her daughter, Meng Ling’er, clenching her tiny fists, her small face taut with palpable frustration.
Meng Ling’er was fuming.
After over a month of travel—not even counting the time spent skirmishing with Sizhou—she had endured endless jostling in the carriage, only to end up right back where they started.
If they were going to return anyway, why drag her and her mother along in the first place? Wouldn’t it have been better to let them wait here from the beginning?
Infuriating!
But she didn’t dare voice it.
Pei Ying stroked her daughter’s hair soothingly. "Nannan, soak in the hot springs tonight and get some proper rest."
She had a feeling the real war was only just beginning—and this time, that man likely wouldn’t drag them along.
When Pei Ying mentioned the hot springs, Meng Ling'er's lingering resentment finally dissipated a little.
Just as Pei Ying had expected, after returning to the Governor's residence, Huo Tingshan was extremely busy. She had only seen him once in two days, and even then, it was just a hurried meal together before he disappeared again.
Pei Ying, however, found this kind of life quite comfortable. With the cold weather, staying indoors was cozy.
But her peaceful days didn’t last long. One morning, Xin Jin rushed in to report, "Madam, there is a lady at the gate who claims to be the daughter of the Grand General’s mentor."
Pei Ying’s first reaction was, "Why tell me? This is something you should bring to him."
Xin Jin replied, "The Grand General is not in the residence, and since the guest is a lady, it wouldn’t be appropriate for anyone else to receive her."
Pei Ying sighed and resigned herself to getting up from the couch. "Fine, I’ll go see her."
She figured it was only fair—after all, she had been eating his food and drinking his tea these days. Now it was time to work off the debt.
Xin Jin opened the jewelry box to help Pei Ying dress up.
Pei Ying initially wanted to wave her off but then remembered that receiving guests required some decorum, so she relented.
Once properly adorned, Pei Ying headed to the main hall with Xin Jin.
The guest was already waiting there. Pei Ying approached from the side corridor and saw a woman in her thirties seated, accompanied by two maids. A cup of tea, served earlier by the residence’s maids, sat on the table beside her.
The lady wore a flowing cloud-patterned round-collar dress, draped with a snow-fox fur coat. Her fair skin, delicate willow-leaf brows, and watery eyes gave her a fragile, pitiable charm.
"Brother Junze…"
The words seemed to catch in Cheng Chanyi’s throat as she stared at Pei Ying.
The beautiful woman before her was radiant, her face full like the moon. Her bright eyes shimmered like autumn pools, reflecting a landscape of delicate allure. Her jet-black hair was styled in an elegant serpentine bun, adorned with gold and jade ornaments. Every feature was a stroke of vivid beauty.
Pei Ying guessed that "Junze" might be Huo Tingshan’s courtesy name. The familiarity with which the lady addressed him suggested a close relationship.
This was someone she couldn’t afford to offend.
Noticing the slight stiffness in the other woman’s expression, Pei Ying was considering how to ease the tension when she heard movement from the main gate.
It seemed Huo Tingshan had returned.
Pei Ying felt a wave of relief.
His return was perfect—this lady could now be his responsibility.
Moments later, Huo Tingshan appeared at the entrance of the main hall, followed by several men—both military officers and advisors—all walking briskly.
Seeing Pei Ying in the hall, and noticing her dressed-up appearance, he said, "If you’re taking your friend out to the market, bring more guards with you. And make sure you return for dinner."
Once she went out, she often lost track of time. If he didn’t remind her, she wouldn’t come back until dark.
