Nangong Zeyue responded and quickly went inside.

Despite being described as a key deployment site, this is not on the frontier, and there are no important secrets inside.

In one corner of the tent, a wisp of smoke was rising from a charcoal brazier. It must have been the soldiers outside who added a few pieces of charcoal while the two commanders were out.

In the center of the room stood a rectangular wooden table. Unlike the other tables, this table was surrounded by a wooden frame nearly a foot high, and inside it was piled fine yellow sand.

The sand is piled up to form mountains and rivers, creating a very realistic landscape.

The generals and soldiers in the sand table are carved from wood, and the number of soldiers in the camp is written on wooden plaques and inserted among simple wooden figures.

Looking out, the two armies faced each other, separated only by a mountain.

Nangong Zeyue didn't bother to look around the rest of the room and went straight to the sand table.

This was the first time Nangong Zeyue had ever seen a sand table layout.

I was immediately drawn to the lineup in the sand table.

A small flag was planted on a hilltop in front of the two armies. Judging from the layout, the two armies were vying to occupy the hilltop in order to gain a favorable position.

The wooden figures in the sand table are divided into blue and red, with the blue team occupying all the key routes at the foot of the mountain.

Judging from the sand table, the two sides have the same number of soldiers, so it is unlikely that the red camp can rush in and seize a favorable position.

Moving my gaze to the right, I saw a mountain hollow in the distance.

Nangong Zeyue's eyes lit up. If the main force of the blue camp could be kept in place, and the main force of the red camp could outflank them from the mountain pass, it would be much easier to seize the hilltop.

Thinking of this, Nangong Zeyue raised her hand and moved the red camp's flag.

Just as I withdrew my hand, I heard footsteps behind me.

"Don't move!"

Nangong Zeyue turned around and saw two burly men walk in. One of them had thick eyebrows and big eyes and was about thirty years old. Judging from his clothes and demeanor, he should be the commander-in-chief, Chu Zheng.

The other man was tall, with clear, bright eyes that shone with intelligence.

His lips curled slightly upward, a smile playing on his face. He exuded a gentle yet firm aura, inspiring an instinctive sense of trust in those around him.

This man is Huo Chuan, the deputy commander. Xiang Song had met him once when he brought him to the military camp. He had heard that Huo Chuan was born into the Marquis of Zhongyong's family, a family of military generals.

"Why is it you?"

Huo Chuan looked surprised when he met Nangong Zeyue's clear and handsome eyes.

"Greetings, Commanders." Nangong Zeyue clasped her hands in a salute.

He then looked at Huo Chuan and said, "I came here to ask the deputy commander about something: how often can I go home?"

Since we're here, we must find out what he cares about most.

Nangong Zeyue asked his soldiers, and they said they would not go home unless necessary. Some said they could go home once every six months, while others said they had not been home since the day they left.

He didn't know whether it was true or false.

Before Huo Chuan could answer, Chu Zheng's gaze swept across the sand table, and the changes in the red team's formation caught his eye.

"Did you move this?" Chu Zheng looked at Nangong Zeyue and asked incredulously.

Nangong Zeyue cupped her hands and said neither humbly nor arrogantly, "That's right. Just now, seeing the two camps locked in a stalemate on the sand table, I moved the red team's flag a bit. It was just a spur-of-the-moment thing. I hope the commander-in-chief won't take offense."

Chu Zheng looked at Nangong Zeyue with admiration in her eyes, "Not bad, this move to confuse the opponent's main force and outflank them is brilliant."

He glanced at the robes Nangong Zeyue was wearing and nodded slightly, "It's a waste of a person with such great wisdom to be a mere captain."

Huo Chuan stepped forward and patted Nangong Zeyue on the shoulder, "Work hard and don't always think about going home. The day I saw you, I knew you were no ordinary person."

Nangong Zeyue: "..." I don't believe you for a second!

"Deputy Commander Huo, could you please tell me when I can go home? To be honest, I have an elderly mother at home who dreads winter. There was just a heavy snowfall, and I'm really worried about her."

Huo Chuan looked at Nangong Zeyue with disbelief, "Young Master looks to be only in his early twenties, your father should be quite young."

"My lord, you may not know this, but I am the youngest in my family. I am the last child of my parents. I beg the deputy commander to grant my request to show my filial piety."

Nangong Zeyue was so moved by her own lies that she almost burst into tears.

If Huo Chuan still doesn't agree, then that would be too unreasonable.

“This…” Huo Chuan looked at Chu Zheng.

This man was sent by the emperor's trusted confidants; they dared not demand that he not go home for a year like they would with ordinary soldiers.

"Considering that he lives not far from the military camp and there is no war now, he is allowed to go home for one night a month to fulfill his filial duty."

Chu Zheng paused and then said, "I think this person has some ability, so he can stay and work in the Military Intelligence Battalion from now on."

Nangong Zeyue originally only wanted to solve the deadlock in the sand table in exchange for the opportunity to go home more often.

Unexpectedly, there was an unexpected bonus. Suppressing his excitement, he cupped his hands and said, "Thank you very much, Commander Chu. In the future, regarding the martial arts competition..."

"No need. From now on, you will be responsible for analyzing sand table simulations and miscellaneous tasks in the main tent. You don't need to participate in the martial arts competitions in the military camp."

Chu Zheng didn't mention giving him any official position. She had only just seen the shining points of the new captain, and it was still unknown whether he was a useful person.

If a soldier is to be promoted to the rank of captain, it's a matter of a single competition; but if he wants to be promoted to a higher position, he has to write a memorial to report it to his superiors.

Chu Zheng planned to observe for a few days before making a decision.

Nangong Zeyue didn't care about official positions; as long as she didn't have to compete in martial arts and could go home, that was enough for her.

Nangong Zeyue bowed again to express her gratitude, then turned and went back to her tent to change her clothes and go home.

I hadn't gone far when I saw Xiang Song walking towards me.

He pointed to the bruise on Nangong Zeyue's forehead, "Young Master Nangong, your forehead..."

It would have been fine if he hadn't asked, but Xiang Song's question made Nangong Zeyue's anger rise up.

He slapped Xiang Song's hand away and said through gritted teeth, "The soldiers are warm and generous. It's just a brief meeting. This is a good thing that others would beg for."

Xiang Song's lips twitched violently. "Young Master, don't be angry. I'm here now, aren't I?"

"What use are you? If you come, I can leave without disobeying the imperial decree."

Mentioning this, Nangong Zeyue wanted to curse that yellow-skinned dog again.

Xiang Song looked apologetic. "No, I came here today to see the Commander-in-Chief and ask him to look after you within the scope of his responsibilities."

"No need, it was just an accidental punch, I won't die."

Without giving Xiang Song a second glance, Nangong Zeyue strode towards the camp.

Xiang Song: "..." She's really angry, the kind that can't be appeased.

Xiang Song shook his head helplessly; this job was not easy.

He silently prayed that Lord Nangong Zeyue would be magnanimous and not hold a grudge against him later.

Xiang Song glanced at the departing figure, then turned to find the commander-in-chief.

Outside the military camp, Cangyun, who had rushed over, craned his neck to look into the camp, where the deafening sounds of morning exercises were neat and loud.