Chapter 308 Reunion

The further north you go, the more frequent the checkpoints become.

Each checkpoint was heavily guarded, with officers checking documents and questioning travelers about their origins.

If it weren't for the documents and tokens prepared by Huo Yuan beforehand, their "caravan" would probably have been unable to move an inch.

Even so, the process was quite thrilling.

At a key pass near the front lines, the convoy was stopped again.

Smoke filled the air, and archers could be vaguely seen on the watchtowers on both sides of the pass, their bowstrings half-drawn, gleaming with a cold light.

The captain guarding the pass strode forward, his face as cold and hard as iron. His armor bore several fresh scratches, and his hand remained on the hilt of his sword as he scrutinized each member of the convoy.

"Halt!" His voice was rough and hoarse. "Passport!"

Sun Zheng's heart tightened, and he stepped forward, handing over Huo Yuan's token and a document.

"My lord, my master has some connections with the Ministry of War. This time, at the request of the young master, we risked our lives to transport a batch of military supplies and medicines to the front-line camp to help our soldiers heal their wounds. This is proof of our cooperation. Please do us a favor."

The captain examined the token and documents, his brow furrowed: "Ministry of War? Why weren't you notified beforehand? You people don't look like ordinary caravan guards."

The atmosphere instantly became tense, and the guards' hands unconsciously reached for the hidden weapons.

"Wait!" A clear female voice came from inside the carriage.

The carriage curtain was lifted by a hand, and Jiang Huan leaned out.

Although she was simply dressed and her face was covered in dust, her eyes shone with an astonishing brightness, carrying the majesty of someone who had long held a high position.

She looked at the captain, her tone anxious and displeased, but not aggressive.

"Steward Sun, why is the advance stalled? This batch of medicine urgently procured by Lord Li of the Ministry of War is crucial to the lives of hundreds of wounded soldiers on the front lines. If we delay, how can we bear the consequences?"

Her words were ostensibly urging Sun Zheng on, but in reality, they were putting pressure on the captain.

Sun Zheng reacted quickly, immediately bowing and saying, "Master, please calm down. The officer is just conducting a routine inspection, and it is only right to be cautious."

The captain clearly hadn't expected that the woman in the carriage would have such an extraordinary presence, and that she would speak so directly to the heart of the matter.

He frowned, his suspicious gaze sweeping over Jiang Huan.

Jiang Huan knew it wouldn't be that easy, so she suppressed her urgency and spoke fluently: "Sir, you may not know this, but the Northern Di spies are everywhere. The medicinal herbs transported this time are exceptionally effective. It was Lord Li who specifically ordered their secret transport. If it weren't for the urgency, why would a woman like me risk coming to this war-torn land? If you don't believe me..."

She changed the subject, glancing at the token in Sun Zheng's hand: "We can carefully examine that token and send someone to verify it with the Ministry of War or the front-line camp as fast as possible. But I wonder if the soldiers at the front who are waiting for medicine to save their lives can afford to wait for this back-and-forth verification."

Her words were both soft and firm, a flawless argument that left no room for rebuttal.

In truth, she was also secretly clenching the hem of her clothes.

Fortunately, the captain's expression only changed a few times before he finally waved his hand and said curtly, "Let him pass!"

"Thank you, sir!" Sun Zheng clasped his hands in thanks, secretly relieved, and immediately signaled the convoy to quickly pass through the checkpoint.

Only after driving quite a distance did everyone finally breathe a sigh of relief.

"That was close." Jiang Huan patted her chest, still shaken.

Sun Zheng rode closer to the carriage window and whispered, "The closer we get to the core war zone, the stricter the checks will become. The road ahead will probably be even more difficult."

Sure enough, the journey became increasingly difficult afterward.

They could only choose extremely difficult paths or even wilderness to avoid the increasing number of patrols. Sometimes, in order to avoid large-scale enemy troop movements, they even had to lie in wait in hiding for most of the day.

Food and water became scarce; dry rations became as hard as rocks, and clean water was strictly rationed. Everyone looked exhausted and haggard.

Jiang Huan's hand wounds were healing slowly due to her continuous travel, and she often felt a dull ache, but she never complained. She just silently endured it and hid the precious medicines He Ling gave her even deeper.

After several more days of trekking, they finally reached the outskirts of the area where Huo Lin was trapped, as indicated in the intelligence.

The atmosphere here was completely different from the places we had passed through before; a chilling, oppressive atmosphere permeated the air.

The carriage bumped along the rough road for a long time before finally coming to a slow stop.

The carriage curtain was gently lifted a corner, and Sun Zheng's voice came through: "Madam, we have arrived at the outer edge of the designated area. Please rest in the carriage for a while and have some dry food. I will immediately send someone to scout the situation ahead."

Jiang Huan nodded, her voice a little hoarse: "Thank you for your trouble, Captain Sun. Please be careful."

"Yes," Sun Zheng replied. The curtain fell, and the sound of him quietly directing his men could be heard outside. The footsteps quickly faded away.

The carriage fell silent for a moment, with only her own breathing and the faint sound of the wind in the distance.

They said they were taking a rest, but they weren't really in the mood for anything.

The closer we get to the core war zone, the deeper and more severe the devastation becomes.

Almost none of the villages we passed through along the way were intact.

The walls collapsed and the house burned down to its frame; on some of the broken walls, you could still see the blackened bloodstains.

And then there were the Northern Di patrols. Yesterday alone, we saw four groups of them from afar, more than double the number from before. Each of them rode a tall horse, and their armor and weapons were polished to a gleaming shine.

The convoy had an extremely difficult journey, and in order to avoid them, they had to take an even more difficult detour.

The terrain here has become strange, sometimes it's a bare rocky mountain, sometimes it's a bottomless ditch, and the carriage is almost shaken to pieces.

She sighed, having no appetite, and simply took small sips from the water pouch, trying to quench the thirst in her throat.

About an hour later, the scouts finally returned, bringing back crucial information.

"Captain, about five miles to the southwest, behind a mountain pass, we've discovered traces of our military activity. The defenses are extremely tight; our men almost got spotted by hidden spies when they tried to approach." The guard lowered his voice, barely able to hide his excitement.

Sun Zheng's spirits lifted, and he immediately unfolded the map: "Are you sure?"

"The flags are scattered and not fully visible, but the armor and passwords confirm that they belong to our people, and the defensive formation is definitely a key location," the guard affirmed.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Huan could no longer sit still. She suddenly pushed open the car door, jumped out, and rushed to Sun Zheng.

"Captain Sun, have you found it?"

Sun Zheng nodded cautiously: "Madam, it is very likely, but the defenses there are extremely tight, and enemy troops patrol the perimeter frequently. If we approach rashly, we may be mistaken for enemy spies and attacked."

Jiang Huan forced herself to calm down and think quickly.

They came to see Huo Lin privately, so there was no way the other side knew they were coming.

So far, the only thing that can prove their identity is what Huo Yuan gave them.

"Captain Sun, is Huo Yuan's token valid against the garrison there?"

Sun Zheng pondered for a moment: "The emperor's personal guards might recognize this token, but it's hard to say about the soldiers below."

Just when everyone was at a loss, the guards who had been sent to scout in another direction returned in a hurry, with strange expressions on their faces.

"Captain, Madam, we've found a small supply depot to the east. It looks like it was secretly set up by the frontline troops. There aren't many people there, but... but we think... we see Eunuch Wang."

Jiang Huan's eyes lit up instantly, and her heart skipped a beat.

Hearing Wang Degui's name at this moment was like seeing a long-lost relative!

"Are you sure you saw it clearly?" she asked urgently.

“It’s absolutely true. Although he was dressed in the clothes of an ordinary soldier, I’ve seen that face many times when I was on duty in the palace. I would never mistake it.”

Very good!

If Wang Degui is present, then the possibility that Huo Lin is also present is extremely high.

"Let's go, to that supply point right now."

Jiang Huan gave the order without hesitation, "As long as we can see him, we can prove our identities and find the Emperor."

Sun Zheng realized this was the safest option at the moment and immediately ordered: "Maintain silence, move southeast, and take cover!"

The convoy moved silently once again, navigating the complex terrain with difficulty, dodging wave after wave of patrols, and finally arriving at its destination safely.

Sure enough, there was an extremely well-hidden campsite, built against several huge rocks and natural caves. It would be impossible to find unless one was looking for it.

The camp was surrounded by guards, and several soldiers immediately spotted them, quickly raising their crossbows and whispering, "Who goes there!"

Sun Zheng immediately signaled the convoy to stop, stepped forward, and lowered his voice.

"Don't make a move! We're on the same side. We've come from the capital and have important business to discuss with Eunuch Wang!"

The soldiers clearly didn't believe it, and their eyes became even more wary.

"Eunuch Wang? What Eunuch Wang? There's no one here. Leave immediately, or you'll be killed without mercy!"

Just as the two sides were deadlocked, a person came out of the cave after hearing the sound. It was Wang Degui.

He was wearing an ill-fitting soldier's uniform, and his face was full of anxiety.

"What's all the noise about? Didn't I say we should be quiet..."

He looked up and saw Jiang Huan halfway through his sentence, and his eyes widened instantly.

His finger trembled as he pointed at Jiang Huan, his voice distorted with shock, becoming shrill and almost cracking.

"Consort Zhuang... Consort Zhuang?"