Chapter 204: Walking into a Trap
The night wind outside the tent was biting and cold.
Jiang Qingning walked quickly out of Qin Xiu's tent. The cold air hit her face, calming her slightly hot cheeks and panicked mood a little.
She took a deep breath, trying to dispel the disturbing eye contact in the tent and Qin Xiu's sudden realization that she was dreaming. She walked to the medicine jar and poured out the medicine, but she was a little hesitant about whether to go back.
"General?" Two surprised voices sounded at the same time.
Jiang Qingning raised her eyes and saw Qingzhi and Qingming passing by while patrolling the camp. When they saw her standing alone in the cold wind, they both had puzzled expressions on their faces.
"Why are you standing here? My general..." Qingzhi asked in surprise.
Jiang Qingning immediately collected his thoughts and resumed his usual calm demeanor. He handed over the medicine bowl in his hand and said, "General Qin has woken up. Send this medicine inside and watch him drink it. His injuries are serious and he needs to rest. If it's not important, there's no need to disturb him."
Qingzhi hurriedly took the still warm medicine bowl with both hands, and looked at Qingming. They both saw the same surprise in each other's eyes. Miss Jiang actually brought the medicine to the general personally and gave such detailed instructions.
But they didn't dare to ask more questions and replied respectfully, "Yes, I understand."
Watching the two of them turn around and enter Qin Xiu's tent, Jiang Qingning let out a sigh of relief and turned to walk towards his own tent.
There was less calmness in his steps than usual, and more of an indescribable confusion.
Inside the tent.
Qin Xiu had already struggled to get up, even ignoring the severe pain in his abdomen. He simply wiped his body, changed into a clean set of underwear, and forced himself to sit upright on the edge of the bed, holding a military book in his hand, but his eyes drifted towards the tent door from time to time, his ears slightly hot, with a kind of expectation that even he himself found unfamiliar.
When he heard footsteps, his heart skipped a beat. He immediately sat up straight and pretended to be fully focused on the book.
The curtain was lifted.
"General, it's time to take your medicine." It was Qingzhi's voice.
Qin Xiu raised his eyes and saw that only Qingzhi and Qingming came in with medicine. The barely noticeable light in his eyes dimmed instantly.
He put down the book, his voice emotionless: "Where's she?"
Qingzhi presented the medicine bowl and replied respectfully, "General, Miss Jiang has instructed her subordinates to prepare the medicine for you. She has returned to her tent to rest."
Qin Xiu silently took the medicine bowl and looked at the dark brown medicine with a bitter smell. A huge sense of loss surged in his heart, as if the warmth and concern just now were just an illusion caused by his serious injury.
He curled the corners of his mouth in self-mockery, and without hesitation, he tilted his head back and drank the medicine in the bowl. The bitter taste spread from the tip of his tongue to the bottom of his heart.
Handing the empty bowl to Qingzhi, all his expectations vanished.
"Qingzhi, Qingming."
"I'm here!"
"You two, return to the capital immediately and secretly."
Qin Xiu's voice was low but clear. "Qingzhi, go see the Imperial Concubine and report the battle situation on the front lines, the news that Miss Jiang is leading the army to support us, and the news that General Jiang is about to arrive. Please rest assured, Her Majesty, and make sure to stabilize the situation in the palace."
"Qingming, go back to the Duke's Mansion and tell my father that I'm fine. Let him continue to be ill. No matter what rumors spread in the capital, do not act rashly. Everything will be discussed after General Jiang and I return to the capital."
"Yes! As ordered by you!" The two men took the order and without hesitation, immediately turned around and left the tent, their figures quickly disappearing into the night.
Silence returned to the tent again.
Qin Xiu sat alone for a while, but finally couldn't help it. He endured the pain in his wound and slowly walked to the tent. He gently opened a gap and looked at the tent opposite which was also lit with candles.
He just stood there quietly, as if trying to see the person inside through the thick tent cloth.
Until the candlelight in the opposite tent suddenly went out and was completely immersed in the darkness.
Qin Xiu stood in the darkness for a long time before slowly lowering the curtain and returning to the couch.
The wound in my abdomen still hurts, but deeper is an indescribable loneliness and a hope that has been rekindled but has nowhere to go.
He closed his eyes and forced himself to sleep.
The next day, the atmosphere in the central army tent was solemn.
Jiang Qingning sat beside the main seat. Qin Xiu, despite his severely injured body, sat in the main seat. His face was pale but his eyes were as sharp as before. Sitting below him were Deputy General Yu Lin and several surviving generals.
"Murong Feng has just been defeated and injured. Given his personality, he will never give up."
Qin Xiu's voice was hoarse, but it carried unquestionable authority. "Although our army has received reinforcements from Miss Jiang, we only have 50,000 at most, which is still less than half of the Beidi army. If they come in full force and fight to the death, the situation will still be dangerous."
Yu Lin frowned. "General, you are absolutely right. Although our army needs to replenish its food and fodder, we have many wounded and our combat effectiveness has been severely reduced. We need to make plans early to be prepared for any eventuality."
All the generals looked worried, and there was silence in the tent for a while.
If we go head-to-head, the chances of winning are slim.
Just when everyone was frowning.
"Report!" The guards outside the tent announced loudly.
"Enter."
The curtain was lifted, and two figures walked in one after the other.
The Night Owl in front was tall, his face hidden in the shadows, and his breath was cold. Behind him followed the tall An Yi.
The eyes of the generals in the tent instantly focused on the two men, with expressions of surprise and doubt. Yu Lin subconsciously pressed the sword at his waist.
Only Jiang Qingning and Qin Xiu remained expressionless.
Ye Xiao walked straight to Jiang Qingning, knelt on one knee, and said calmly, "Master, the spies in the Beidi camp have sent back a secret report. Murong Feng has ordered all troops to be assembled and launched a general attack at dawn the day after tomorrow. The target is directly targeting our main camp. We swear to take your head and General Qin's head."
An Yi also bowed to Jiang Qingning at the same time: "Master, the scouts along the way have confirmed that the information is highly reliable. Murong Feng killed many generals who proposed retreat. The morale of the army has been shaken, but his determination should not be underestimated."
All the generals in the tent were in an uproar and everyone's face changed drastically.
Yu Lin even lost his voice and said, "How can we arrange this the day after tomorrow?"
Amidst the panicked gazes, Jiang Qingning slowly stood up. There was no surprise or panic on his face, only a calmness and determination that showed everything was under control.
She looked at everyone in the tent, her voice clear and firm, carrying a reassuring power: "You've come just in time."
Everyone looked at her in astonishment.
Jiang Qingning turned his gaze to An Yi and ordered, "An Yi, immediately lead a squadron of light cavalry south at top speed to rendezvous with my father and brother's army. Inform them of Murong Feng's attack plan and have them change their route immediately. Sweep around to the flanks and rear of the Northern Di army and ambush them. Once Murong Feng's main force has been deployed and engages our front lines, we can encircle and surround them."
"Yes!" An Yi took the order without hesitation, turned around and left quickly.
Jiang Qingning turned around and faced everyone: "Now we can start to formulate a plan on how to lure the enemy into a trap and capture all of Murong Feng's 100,000 troops."
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