Chapter 12

After nightfall, the tents resounded with the intermittent snores of soldiers.

Shen Yu couldn’t sleep, repeatedly pondering the events of her past life in her mind.

In her memory, the urgent report sent back to Shengjing was as follows:

[October 27th, Shen Zhao led troops to launch a surprise attack on the Xijue camp but became trapped. Shen Zhong’an led the remaining soldiers to rescue them. Despite advice from the supervising general, Shen Zhong’an impulsively pursued and fell into a trap, resulting in the entire army of one hundred thousand being buried outside the pass.]

The military report was very vague. No one knew exactly what happened on the front lines because out of one hundred thousand people, only a few survived.

In her past life, she had found it suspicious. She understood her father well; he was the most cautious person. The idea of him acting impulsively was simply inconceivable.

However, she was cut off from court news. She only learned some information from Jiang Lian after marrying him. In that battle, there was probably a traitor.

Those were living, breathing one hundred thousand soldiers. Someone had to bear the blame for that battle, regardless of whether there were doubts. Shen Zhong’an had become the prime suspect.

During the day, Shen Yu took the initiative to shuttle between the tents, delivering items for others. She took the opportunity to thoroughly investigate the layout of the camp. Apart from heavily guarded grain and fodder areas, she hadn’t noticed anything unusual elsewhere.

From the current situation, she couldn’t find any clues as to why the army was defeated.

The current situation at Yanliang Pass left her feeling like a headless fly, bumping around to see if she could leave a backup plan wherever she went. She sneaked out of the camp and went to the city to meet a few people.

As night fell, the temperature dropped sharply, accompanied by a northern wind that felt like knives, causing the cheeks to ache.

A swift horse approached the camp, a scout galloping wildly. As he neared the camp gate, he raised his command token, “Urgent report!”

The gate guards checked the token and let the person in without dismounting. The scout rode straight to the front of the main tent.

“General! Urgent report!”

Shen Zhong’an couldn’t sleep soundly. He got up upon hearing the sound, “Come in.”

After entering the tent, the scout knelt down on one knee, “Reporting to the general, the team sent to collect supplies has been wiped out. There is no sign of the supply train.”

Shen Zhong’an’s face darkened. He casually picked up his cloak and draped it over himself, saying, “Summon Shen Zhao to my tent.”

Shen Zhao had just crawled out of bed. No one dared to speak to him until he entered the tent and heard Shen Zhong’an talk about the matter.

Shen Zhong’an said, “There weren’t many people in the team collecting supplies, and it looks like they were killed by bandits.”

Shen Zhao shook his head, “The supply team didn’t bring anything. Bandits wouldn’t do such a thankless task. I’m afraid someone is framing us.”

The two exchanged a glance, both seeing a dangerous signal in each other’s eyes.

Shen Zhao vigorously rubbed his face to wake himself up, saying, “We must settle this quickly before our remaining provisions run out. We may have to resort to the second plan.”

Shen Zhong’an nodded and convened the generals into the tent for discussion that very night.

In the evening, Yang Bang withdrew into his tent.

“This wind feels like knives cutting into the body. It would be better if it snowed directly.”

You Dazui chimed in, “Snow won’t do. They are deploying troops over there; they’re probably planning something.”

Shen Yu had been paying attention to the movements of the military camp but hadn’t noticed any signs of mobilization. And today was only the 25th; wasn’t that two days earlier than in her past life?

She grabbed You Dazui, “What did you say? How do you know?”

You Dazui was startled, “Shh, don’t tell anyone. I have a fellow villager in the vanguard camp, and he told me when we met before.”

Shen Yu didn’t ask further questions and slipped out of the tent.

You Dazui shouted from behind, “Don’t tell anyone!”

Shen Yu stood still in the wind for a moment, feeling clearer-headed. She knew this couldn’t continue. Regardless of whether things would unfold according to the original plan, she had to warn Shen Zhao in advance.

As Shen Zhao walked out of the main tent towards his own, he was thinking about the layout of the battle. As he approached his tent, his gaze casually swept over, and after taking a couple of steps, his entire body suddenly froze, looking incredulously in one direction.

As darkness fell, the person five meters away was barely visible.

Shen Zhao grabbed a torch from the doorway and walked towards the person. The closer he got, the darker their complexion.

When he reached the person, their face was as black as a pot.

Shen Zhao’s chest heaved a few times. He lifted the hand that was resting on his knife and pointed at the person twice. “Get in!”

Shen Yu kept her head down and slinked into the tent behind Shen Zhao.

As soon as Shen Zhao entered the tent, he tossed his saber onto the table

and turned to look at Shen Yu. “You’re quite capable. You’re even wearing a military uniform. Where did you steal it from?”

“I took it from a deserter.” Shen Yu said softly.

Shen Zhao strode over, wiped the black dirt off her face with his sleeve, and reprimanded, “Look at what you’ve done to yourself?!”

Shen Yu’s cheeks stung from being wiped, and she pushed his hand away, her expression solemn. “Brother, don’t scold me in a hurry. I have something more important to say now.”

Shen Zhao knew her well. Although she had a playful nature, she never acted recklessly in important matters.

“What’s the matter?”

“Are you planning to raid the Xijue mansion tonight?”

Shen Zhao’s gaze suddenly darkened as he stared at her for a while before asking, “How did you know?”

“I don’t have time to explain now,” Shen Yu said. “But tonight is not an option.”

Shen Zhao turned back to sit on the desk and pondered for a moment before shaking his head. “Time waits for no one. We don’t have time to waste with the Xijue people anymore. It’s about to snow, and our war horses can’t endure the cold. They are more adept at fighting in the snow than us, and besides…”

He didn’t continue.

Shen Yu approached. “Is it because we can’t sustain our supplies anymore?”

Shen Zhao looked up, and Shen Yu ignored the doubt in his eyes, continuing, “I’ve been in the camp for a few days, paying attention to the movements inside. The follow-up supplies haven’t arrived.”

Shen Zhao said heavily, “Except for the first batch, all the supplies were borrowed from Ganzhou Mansion. There’s no more food left in the city.”

Shen Yu nodded and asked, “How long can the supplies last?”

“Two days.”

Shen Yu said, “There are several small cities in Ganzhou, and further south is Changdu Mansion. We can transport supplies from there.”

“You make it sound easy,” Shen Zhao added water to the pot on the stove in the tent. “Where will the supplies come from? We borrowed from Ganzhou Mansion, and they understand the principle of mutual benefit. However, the cities we haven’t borrowed from may not be as accommodating. Moreover, there are no granaries in Changdu Mansion to support such a large expenditure.”

“We won’t borrow from the government,” Shen Yu’s eyes sparkled in the firelight. “The Lu family’s business spans across Da Zhou, including grain stores. We can ask my maternal grandmother in Hezhou.”

Shen Zhao’s eyes brightened for a moment but quickly dimmed again.

He shook his head and said, “It’s too late. Even if we rush to Hezhou now without stopping, it will take at least ten days. Plus, requisitioning food will take at least another half a month. We can’t sustain ourselves for that long.”

“Five days, just hold on for five more days,” Shen Yu said. “I sent Lu Yao to Hezhou several days ago, riding my Ben Xiao. It shouldn’t take more than four or five days to arrive.”

“I’ve also made arrangements with Hong Qiao. She’s already taken my token and gone ahead to Changdu Mansion to start preparing supplies. As soon as the food from Changdu Mansion arrives, it will support us for a few more days, and the subsequent supplies from Hezhou will follow.”

Shen Zhao’s face showed a surprised expression when she mentioned sending Lu Yao to Hezhou.

“How did you find out about this in advance?”