Chapter 11: Bad News from the Frontline

Outside the Suhong Hall lies a small garden.

As the father and son passed through the garden gate, they happened to see two figures inside the hall.

He Chunhua tilted his head slightly, his voice low: "Are these the two people you saw in the city center the day before yesterday?"

He Lingchuan had also spotted the guests and nodded quickly: "Yes, that's them!"

At the time, these two had been galloping on horseback through the busy streets, nearly trampling a child, before leaving the city gate and heading northeast.

He Chunhua had not returned home for the past two days, and He Lingchuan had no way to report it, yet he hadn't expected his father to know about it already.

Who had informed him?

Most likely Uncle Hao.

He Lingchuan once again experienced his father’s meticulous and subtle control, whether it concerned his two sons or the city of Heishui.

It felt a bit terrifying.

Entering the hall, He Chunhua looked at the two uninvited guests: "May I ask, where do you come from?"

The white-robed youth whom He Lingchuan had seen the day before had changed into a lake-green brocade robe today, with silk embroidery adorning the shoulders and lapels. Dressing so formally was a sign of respect for the local host.

He finally saw the true face of the man in gray.

The man was nearly sixty years old, tall and thin, with graying hair and beard. However, his eyes were exceptionally bright, as if they could look straight into a person's heart and dig out their most hidden secrets.

The youth smiled: "I am Nian Songyu, the Yangwu Commandant of Yuecheng in Xunzhou, here under the orders of my father, Nian Zanli!" He then introduced his companion: "This is the Grand Preceptor of the Great Yuan, Grand Preceptor Sun Fuping!"

Even with He Chunhua’s extraordinary composure, he could not help but be shocked: "What!"

Nian Songyu was one thing; he already knew that the Xunzhou Governor Nian Zanli had sent people, though he hadn't expected it to be Nian Zanli's second son.

As for the appearance of Grand Preceptor Sun, that was truly far beyond his expectations.

A Grand Preceptor!

The Yuan Kingdom had only three Grand Preceptors, and each possessed unfathomable, god-like abilities.

In peacetime, they assisted the monarch in regulating the nation's fortune; in wartime, they were the most terrifying weapons of mass destruction. Given the right timing, they even possessed the power to turn the tide of a battle with a single strike.

As the ultimate ideal for countless sorcerers, this Grand Preceptor Sun should have been enjoying his offerings in the capital. Why had he suddenly run to this barren land?

He Chunhua ignored the breach of etiquette, focused his gaze for a long moment, and finally let out a breath: "It truly is Grand Preceptor Sun. Please forgive my rudeness!"

Sun Fuping smiled slightly: "At the Heaven-Worship Ceremony twenty years ago, I remember Minister He attending with his third grandson—that was you!"

"Times have changed." He Chunhua felt a touch of sentimentality and turned to point at his eldest son: "My son, He Lingchuan."

He had lived in the capital for over a decade and had seen this Grand Preceptor on many occasions. Twenty years had passed, and the Grand Preceptor had aged, but his features remained the same; after a few more looks, He Chunhua had recognized him.

He Lingchuan had no choice but to step forward and pay his respects.

Nian Songyu smiled at him: "We meet again so soon."

"Indeed, don't we?" Detecting the hidden meaning in his words, He Lingchuan smiled even more brightly: "It seems Commandant Nian and I are fated."

He Chunhua looked surprised: "What? You two have met?"

Before Nian Songyu could speak, He Lingchuan rushed to explain: "Father, you don't know. The day before yesterday, I was eating by the roadside and happened to encounter these two distinguished guests passing by. The street was crowded, and Commandant Nian even stepped in to save a child, preventing him from being trampled!"

Uncle Hao, who had just stepped into the back hall, felt his face twitch upon hearing this.

He Chunhua gave an "Oh": "So that’s how it is. Commandant Nian is a promising youth, and it is rare to see such a kind heart."

The four of them smiled together, playing along with the charade.

He Lingchuan understood very well that Nian Songyu’s rank was higher than his own, and Nian Songyu’s father held a higher position than his own father. The minor incident from the day before had to be glossed over so they could get to the point as quickly as possible.

After all, he had a premonition that the main topic wouldn't be very pleasant.

Nian Songyu smiled and, as expected, dropped the subject: "Lord He, the Grand Preceptor and I are on an urgent mission. We traveled for three days and three nights to get here."

He Chunhua was also considerate: "You two must be exhausted from the journey. Stay at the Baishi Tower tonight; it is the best guesthouse in Heishui City." With that, he turned to call a servant over to bring fresh tea for the two guests.

Seeing that he didn't ask, Nian Songyu had to continue on his own: "I'm afraid we will need your assistance with this mission, Lord He."

He Chunhua gave a hum: "I am all ears."

Nian Songyu said solemnly: "Lord He, are you aware that Woling Pass has fallen?"

He Chunhua was shocked, nearly jumping up. He ignored the breach of etiquette: "What did you say! Woling Pass has been breached?"

Woling Pass? He Lingchuan immediately searched his memory for the name, but his original self didn't seem to pay much attention to it, knowing only that it was in the central part of the Yuan Kingdom, surrounded by rivers and mountains.

"How is that possible?" He Chunhua said in a deep voice, "I heard that the rebel armies from Buxin and Hongchuan joined forces in May and began attacking Woling Pass. But the pass occupies a natural stronghold and has been reinforced repeatedly over the last decade; it is easy to defend and hard to attack. Furthermore, Zhao Ronglüe, who guards the pass, is known as the 'Iron Barrel General,' with elite troops and ample provisions. How could it be easily breached by rebels!"

In his estimation, Woling Pass should have been able to hold out for at least a year or two, by which time the rebel threat would have resolved itself.

"Lord He, being so far away in Jinzhou, your understanding of the war in the central region far exceeds that of many powerful officials in the capital." Nian Songyu said quietly, "Unfortunately, the 'Iron Barrel General' was injured in his right eye during the chaotic fighting and died of his wounds. Once he died, the morale of the army collapsed, the generals turned on each other, and the rebel army seized the opportunity to attack the city. Half a month ago, a traitor opened the city gates and let the rebels in."

Such a vital stronghold, fallen without a fight. The Suhong Hall fell into silence, save for the heavy breathing of the Governor.

"You know the importance of Woling Pass to the heartland of Yuan," Nian Songyu stared at him. "It guards the most important Fengling Ferry on the Hongchuan River. It is currently the high-water season, and with several heavy rainstorms this summer, the river is surging. If the rebel army follows the river downstream, they can bypass the heavy checkpoints on the banks and land directly at Shihuan City downstream—"

He said, word by word: "That is only fifteen miles from the capital!"

Fifteen miles—for cavalry moving at full speed, it would take no time at all.

He explained it very clearly, and even He Lingchuan, who didn't know much about the geography of the Yuan Kingdom, felt the gravity of the situation. His family lived in this remote borderland, guarding the frontier for the Emperor. But if the capital fell, what was the point of them struggling to hold this place?

He Chunhua felt as if he were exhaling nothing but cold air: "Where is the rebel army now?"

"Still at Woling Pass."

Hm? Both father and son were stunned. The rebels had gone to such lengths to seize Woling Pass, yet they didn't take advantage of the momentum to move downstream? Speed was the essence of war.

However, He Chunhua reacted in an instant: "A problem with the waterways?"

"Zhao Ronglüe’s deputy, Xu Dayou, gathered the remnants as the city fell and burned all the ships in the docks. Even though the rebels took the pass, they have no ships to use. With the recent rainy weather, it will take at least fifty days to fell timber and build new ships."

"It is heaven's mercy that we have been bought this time. Armies from all over are rushing to Woling Pass, but the situation is not optimistic." Grand Preceptor Sun Fuping took over: "Whether the Great Yuan dynasty can continue may well depend on these fifty days."