"Yes, I will."
Old Li prepared everything, and the two of them began writing. Recently, four formations had emerged, and they each wrote two. Occasionally, they would glance outside warily. All was quiet; the entire village was asleep, with only the occasional bark of a dog.
After they finished writing, they wrapped the letter in a bamboo tube, sealed it with clay, and requested to use two carrier pigeons to avoid any mishaps during the journey.
Old Li took the letter tube, tied it to the pigeon's leg, and the two men watched him to prevent him from tampering with it.
As they watched as Old Li was about to release the pigeons, their hearts, which had been hanging in suspense, began to relax.
However, Old Li simply held the two pigeons, stroking their backs with his hand, looking thoughtful.
"Old Li, what are you doing? Release it!" A soldier sensed something was wrong and quickly walked over to snatch the pigeon from Old Li's hand.
Old Li smiled, and what he said made their hearts tremble.
"Oh dear, how can we release them? If the pigeons fly to enemy territory, wouldn't that reveal the camp's secrets?"
"This is evidence of your crimes."
The two were taken aback and instinctively looked around in alarm. Old Li, a peasant, dared to say such a thing, which meant he wasn't alone here.
Sure enough, a hurried commotion came from all around. In the darkness, under the dim light of a single lamp in the courtyard, more than a dozen figures rushed out from all sides and arrived in front of them in the blink of an eye, pinning down the two people who had no time to react.
Old Li chuckled and handed the two carrier pigeons to the soldier.
“You’ve been hiding here with me every night, and I’ve finally caught you.”
That's right. Every household that raises pigeons is registered. This time, not only is the camp under lockdown for training and soldiers are prohibited from leaving, but these pigeon-raising households have also sent people to guard the area, waiting for the pigeons to come to them.
"Thank you for your trouble, Old Li." The soldier tossed Old Li a piece of silver.
Old Li held the broken silver coins and bowed deeply: "This is what I should do. Catching spies is also good for us ordinary people. These thieves have betrayed the enemy and sold military information. If the enemy invades one day and uses the Great Swamp Formation, we ordinary people will suffer even more."
A figure draped in a black cloak entered from outside the courtyard, the night adding a layer of mystery to her.
The soldiers quickly made way for them, respectfully clasping their hands in salute.
"Princess."
Qiao Lian'er removed her cloak and hood, revealing her fair and aloof face. Her eyes were like icy pools, revealing no emotion, yet they sent chills down one's spine.
The soldier handed the letter he had taken from the pigeon's leg to Qiao Lian'er, and then shone a torch over. Qiao Lian'er glanced at the contents.
"They're exactly the same. As expected of my subordinates, it seems they haven't slacked off in their regular training."
The two soldiers were pale and trembling. They knew very well that it was over, completely over.
All wealth and glory are empty; they can't even save your life.
"Take her to the military camp for interrogation." With those words, Qiao Lian'er walked out of the courtyard and disappeared into the night.
The two soldiers were immediately taken back to the camp and thrown into the front yard of the central army camp.
These past few days, none of the men from the Qiao family have gone home; they've been sleeping in the camp, finally waiting for the spies to be brought back.
They suspected that the one who dared to do something so audacious must be a general.
Little did they expect that they were just two ordinary soldiers whose faces they couldn't remember at all.
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