Chapter 40 Establishing Authority: Your Wife Has Earned Another Military Merit
Bai Lian's first stop after joining the army was the northern frontier, where the Northern Barbarians were stirring up trouble, and the troops stationed on the frontier urgently needed an injection of fresh blood.
She had not yet gained the emperor's trust, nor did she have any military achievements, and naturally, she did not hold a military rank.
When he was assigned to a unit, he was passed around and eventually assigned to Commander Zhang's command as a night scout, responsible for leading the troops into enemy territory for reconnaissance. He was the commander-in-chief's "eyes and ears".
Bai Lian readily accepted, as the risks were high but the rewards were high, and it wasn't much different from her previous job as an "assassin."
However, Commander Zhang was somewhat unable to accept it. What was going on? They dared to send "connections" from the palace into their border troops?!
He knew little about Bai Lian; events happening far away in the capital couldn't reach his ears. Moreover, Bai Lian's martial arts prowess was far too fantastical; most people wouldn't believe it unless they witnessed it firsthand. Even the soldiers sent to the Northern Frontier couldn't explain it clearly, offering only a few keywords: "former Crown Princess," "daughter of Prime Minister Bai," "wanting to atone for her crimes," and "rumored to be quite a fighter."
Every keyword, along with the person Bai Lian, seems completely out of place in this fortress; it's utterly inexplicable.
"What the hell!" Zhang Qianzong thought speechlessly as he looked at the "weak woman" in front of him. "The higher-ups said they wanted to see her abilities, so he wouldn't be responsible if she died!"
Bai Lian's arrival brought a breath of spring to this desolate military camp. The soldiers on the border never dreamed that such a beautiful woman would appear in their place, and even train and carry out missions with them?
They usually only knew how to train and fight, getting themselves all covered in dirt and grime; they were all grown men, too lazy to groom themselves. But since Bai Lian arrived, more people were rushing to wash their faces in the mornings…
At least make sure you look presentable, so you'll dare to greet Bai Lian if you see her... The long-lost boyish thoughts deep in everyone's hearts have nowhere to hide.
The morale of the army was low! Seeing the subtle changes in his subordinates, Zhang Qianzong felt even angrier. He was eager to get rid of Bai Lian, a burden, so he assigned her the most dangerous task at hand—to go deep into the Northern Di army camp to gather intelligence.
Recently, the Northern Barbarians dispatched an elite force to set up camp very close to Commander Zhang's residence, far exceeding the agreed-upon safe distance between the two countries. This seems like a deliberate probing, revealing their wolfish ambitions.
Zhang Qian always felt that Bai Lian was incapable of completing the mission, and he only wanted her to "die" because of it. So he sent several night scouts to work together, and instructed Bai Lian to take the lead first, and the others to provide support later.
The night beyond the Great Wall was bitterly cold, the biting wind like a poisoned dagger from the northern barbarians, sweeping across the desolate Gobi Desert. A solitary moon hung in the night sky, its pale light casting a cold, pale glow that made the rolling hills resemble the tombs of colossal beasts.
Bai Lian lay silently on a precipice. Her destination was the heavily guarded cowhide tent in the Northern Di camp, where messengers constantly came and went. She needed to find out the identity of the commander and the troop deployment of this suddenly appearing elite force.
After observing for nearly half an hour, Bai Lian had roughly figured out the location of the sentry post. Taking advantage of the patrol team's shift change, she quietly slid down the cliff like a falling leaf, her figure moving quickly in the shadows, rapidly approaching the main tent.
A Northern Di patrolman seemed to sense something amiss. Just as he turned to look into the darkness, Bai Lian appeared behind him like a ghost, covering his mouth and nose with her left hand while her right hand wielded a short blade with precision, severing the sentry's throat in an instant through a gap in his armor. She gently laid the body down and dragged it into the shadows; the whole process was breathtakingly fast.
Bai Lian easily took down three or five patrolmen. She crossed the outer defense line and found that the core area was more heavily guarded, making it impossible to infiltrate from the front.
Bai Lian glanced around, climbed onto a supply wagon piled high with hay, and then with a nimble somersault, hooked one hand onto a secondary beam supporting the main tent, pressing her entire body against the tent ceiling, listening intently, and breathing very softly.
Inside the tent, the rough arguing of the Northern Di generals could be clearly heard, and just as she was intently eavesdropping, a patrol of soldiers happened to pass by the tent.
A Northern Di soldier seemed to find the shadow on the tent ceiling a bit abrupt and subconsciously looked up—"Enemy attack!" The soldier's exclamation was only halfway through when Bai Lian's two hidden weapons were accurately fired, precisely knocking over the torches on the left and right sides of the tent, and the tent was instantly set ablaze.
Bai Lian burst into the panicked crowd. With a flash of light, she slit throats, thrust into knees, and slashed at horse legs. Her moves were ruthless and cunning. In an instant, screams and the neighing of warhorses tore apart the tranquility of the night, and the Northern Di camp was thrown into chaos.
Several night watchmen who came to provide support were lying in ambush not far away. They witnessed everything and were shocked! They hurriedly ran to the camp, while Bai Lian was now in the final stages of the operation. She walked out of the firelight with a Northern Di general in her arms. When she saw her companions appear, she pushed the prisoner, who had been bound by her, to their side.
The group returned to report. The night scouts looked at each other, and finally one of them mustered up the courage to report to Commander Zhang that Bai Lian had single-handedly destroyed the camp of the Northern Di elite troops and captured the enemy general.
Zhang Qianzong looked at Bai Lian in disbelief. Bai Lian was expressionless, with traces of blood from the battle still on her face—she didn't even bother to wipe them away, as if she had long been used to it.
No one could steal her credit. All the enemy's intelligence was in Bai Lian's mind, and the captured Northern Di generals trembled with fear when they saw Bai Lian... Commander Zhang had to admit that Bai Lian had brilliantly completed this impossible task.
In the days that followed, Bai Lian made many outstanding contributions in the northern frontier, and her fame spread throughout the entire military camp. Everyone's gaze toward her changed, filled with both admiration and a touch of fear.
Commander Zhang dared not delay any longer and ordered someone to send a secret letter by fast horse to General Fan Wu of the Northern Garrison.
This woman, seemingly possessed by a war goddess, is a military genius rarely seen in a millennium; she must not be buried in his camp.
-
In the East Palace late at night, the candlelight blazed brightly. Jialuolin lightly tapped the table with her knuckles. Though her face remained impassive, her heart was already churning with turmoil.
He had been secretly keeping a close eye on the movements in the northern frontier, and even though Bai Lian possessed extraordinary skills, he wanted to do everything in his power to protect her.
But when Han Luliu returned and reported to him this time, she said the same thing as before: "Your wife has earned another military merit."
"You've done it again?" His voice was low, as if confirming something, or perhaps talking to himself.
In just six months, the White Lotus appeared like a surprise force, inflicting heavy losses on the elite troops sent by the Northern Di, and finally halting their invasion of the Phoenix Kingdom.
Because of Bai Lian's outstanding military achievements, General Fan Wu of the Northern Garrison issued a transfer order to transfer him to the Northern Protectorate to serve as the Deputy Commander of the Northern Frontier, as the General's deputy, to assist in commanding the entire army.
At first, Galorin was very pleased to hear the secret report, but later his military achievements surprised him, and now he has some worries.
The candlelight flickered in his deep eyes, reflecting a complex expression. He was naturally proud of her; the girl who had once insisted on dueling with him in his manor had, like a canary escaping the royal cage, shone so brightly on the battlefield. Her talent and courage far exceeded his expectations.
However, the imperial court is far more complex than the battlefield. High achievements easily attract jealousy, and high positions draw even more attention.
The position of Deputy Commander of the Northern Frontier is coveted by countless eyes. Her leap to the position will surely attract envy and criticism. Although the Emperor currently appreciates her, the will of Heaven is unpredictable. Today's achievement may very well become tomorrow's disaster.
Moreover… his gaze narrowed slightly. Although the Northern Di had temporarily retreated, their treacherous intentions remained. Fan Wu's entrustment of this heavy responsibility to her was an appreciation, but it also pushed her into the eye of the storm.
"Green Willow" Galo Lin suddenly spoke, with an unquestionable determination, "Send several more secret guards, the best of the best, to infiltrate the Northern Protectorate. Do not disturb her, ensure her absolute safety, and report to me immediately if there is any unusual activity."
He paused, his fingertips tracing the military map on the table as he looked at the northern frontier region, then added, "Also, try to arrange for some of our men to join Fan Wu's personal guard, so they can have access to core military intelligence. The Northern Di may have a backup plan this time, and since this is her first time leading troops, we absolutely cannot allow any mistakes to happen under her nose."
Han Luliu was about to leave after receiving the order when Jialuolin called her back: "Also...find some good wound medicine and warm clothing, and send them over anonymously. The border is bitterly cold, and swords have no eyes."
“But Your Highness, Her Majesty, isn’t she…” Han Luliu was speechless. Your wife is so strong you can’t even kill her, and you’re sending her wound medicine? But he was met with a glare from Jialuolin, and he obediently shut his mouth and left.
Silence returned to the hall. Jialuolin was deep in thought, a faint smile playing on her lips, a smile that was both helpless and indulgent.
She always did things in an unconventional way, completely disrupting his planned rhythm.
However, this is for the best.
He could no longer simply stand by and watch her recklessly charge forward, as he had done before. Now that she had chosen this path fraught with danger, he would pave the way for her and eliminate any potential threats.
It seems he needs to speed up his plans so that he will have enough strength to protect her and their shared future when she returns.
-
Inside Jingyang Palace, Jia Fengtian sat high on the throne in the imperial court, listening to the Minister of War report on recent military affairs. The name Bai Lian was mentioned more than once: surprise attack on the enemy camp, defense of the isolated city, and effective troop training...
This woman truly inherited her maternal grandfather's military talent perfectly.
Jia Fengtian listened with considerable satisfaction, and he slowly said, "Minister Bai..."
"Your subject is here!" Bai Moyuan responded, stepping forward and bowing his head.
Since Bai Lian went to the border, although he was reinstated to his original position, he became increasingly taciturn, concealing his former sharpness and becoming cautious and timid, fearing that the slightest mistake would cause further trouble.
"Bai Lian has rendered meritorious service in defending the border, which greatly pleases me. I wish to bestow upon her a residence in Luoyang. What do you think?"
Jia Fengtian's gaze swept over the respectful Bai Moyuan, his mind already calculating: grant her a residence, allowing her to establish her own household and stay obediently in Luoyang, thus completely extinguishing his son's delusions; once she returned to the capital in triumph, he would give her an official position, making her legitimately serve his Feng Kingdom. A win-win situation.
Upon hearing this, Bai Moyuan immediately bowed to express his gratitude, his voice calm and composed: "Your Majesty, I thank you on behalf of my daughter!"
The art of emperors is never as simple as rewarding merit. Bai Moyuan was well aware of the balancing acts and intrigues behind these favors. However, their Lian'er had already stepped into the center of the chessboard of imperial power, and her fate was uncertain.
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