Chapter 316 Jiang Ling was dumbfounded!
Zhao Jingxing frowned slightly: "Xiao Yuanshan's actions are meticulous, his etiquette is impeccable, and his attitude is respectful. But I observed that his cavalry escort, though only three hundred strong, are all elite, with strong horses and well-maintained armor and weapons, which are by no means ordinary ceremonial guards. The captain leading the troops has a murderous look in his eyes, indicating that he has been on the battlefield."
Zhao Shuo added, "Our people are secretly observing that the layout of the Sheng Dynasty's camp is also very sophisticated. It looks loose, but in fact, they are mutually supportive. If anything changes, they can quickly form a defensive formation or launch an attack."
Jiang Ling pondered, "It seems that the Great Sheng Dynasty has made ample preparations for this welcome. It won't be easy to cause trouble under the noses of such people."
Zhao Jingxing nodded. "Xiao Yuanshan is a calm and experienced man. Although he didn't say much today, every word he uttered was a test of our strengths and weaknesses."
The marriage procession sent by the Great Yu Dynasty this time was rather small. Although the bride was only the daughter of a subject, she was still the Princess Anning, appointed by the Great Sheng Dynasty and personally bestowed the title by the Emperor of the Great Yu Dynasty.
It's normal for Xiao Yuanshan to have some doubts.
However, what Xiao Yuanshan didn't know was that the original marriage procession was divided into two groups, and the other group had already disguised themselves as mountain bandits and secretly infiltrated the territory of the Great Sheng Dynasty.
They were just waiting for the marriage alliance delegation to enter the country so they could cooperate in completing this plan.
Jiang Ling pondered, "The fact that the Cheng family's daughter was chosen for a political marriage is already suspicious. The Great Sheng Dynasty probably has its own schemes that we are unaware of."
Zhao Jingxing's gaze sharpened. "Once we enter their territory tomorrow, their guards will gradually move closer. We will proceed as planned, slowly handing over the outer perimeter security, but the core guards must be firmly in the hands of our own people, without the slightest slackening."
"What about the princess..." Zhao Shuo said with some concern.
Jiang Ling said, "Everything remains the same. The more this is the case, the more we must remain calm. No matter how shrewd Xiao Yuanshan is, as long as we don't reveal any flaws, all he will see is a sorrowful and resigned princess of the Dayu Dynasty being sent to a marriage alliance."
Once the agreement was reached, they each returned quietly.
The next morning, the sound of horns broke the silence of the wilderness.
This is a bugle used exclusively by the army of the Great Sheng Dynasty. Its tone is deep and resonant, quite different from the clear and melodious bugle sound of the Great Yu Dynasty.
The two teams broke camp and set off, clearly separate yet forced to merge, beginning their journey deeper into the true northern frontier.
The three hundred cavalrymen of the Great Sheng Dynasty naturally advanced to the outer perimeter of the delegation. Their armor gleamed with a cold, hard iron gray in the thin morning light, and the rhythm of their horses' hooves was uniform and dull like drums, carrying a strong sense of takeover.
Zhao Jingxing had already given instructions to his subordinates; he would not allow them to take over so easily.
Cheng Jiaojiao's vermilion carriage, along with several supply wagons carrying important items, were surrounded by soldiers of the Dayu Dynasty, impervious to swords and spears.
Xiao Yuanshan rode at the front of the group, alongside Zhao Jingxing, but maintained a polite distance of half a horse's length.
He pointed to the faint outline of the mountains ahead and introduced in a gentle tone: "General Zhao, ahead is Qingfeng Pass. Only after passing through this pass will you truly enter the territory of Yongzhou in our Great Sheng Dynasty. The Governor of Yongzhou has already ordered people to welcome you at the pass, and all arrangements for food, lodging and hospitality along the way have been made. We will certainly not make things difficult for Her Highness the Princess and the General's party."
Zhao Jingxing nodded his thanks, but his sharp gaze swept over the surrounding terrain.
As its name suggests, Qingfeng Pass is a narrow passage between two mountains that stand facing each other like swords, making it a truly formidable stronghold.
Upon reaching the pass, they indeed saw a group of soldiers dressed in the uniforms of the Sheng Dynasty standing solemnly on both sides, led by several officials dressed as civil officials, who were bowing and waiting.
The ceremony was brief yet solemn. After the customs documents were checked, the heavy, iron-clad wooden gate slowly rose, creaking with a strained sound.
The wind suddenly weakened the moment we passed through the pass, as if it were being forcefully blocked by the mountains on both sides.
The scene before us was also completely different from the desolation of the buffer zone.
A well-maintained official road extends northward. Although the terrain on both sides is still hilly, scattered fields can be seen, planted with cold-resistant millet and wheat, and farmers are already working in the fields.
Further away, wisps of smoke rise from the village houses, carrying the scent of everyday life.
However, upon closer inspection, one can still sense the ruggedness and distinctiveness of the North.
The houses are mostly built of stone and rammed earth, low and sturdy, with steep roofs, clearly designed to handle larger amounts of snow.
Farmers working in the fields, regardless of gender, are dressed mainly in dark, thick fabrics, and their movements are nimble.
Merchants or ordinary people who occasionally encountered the group would stop and make way for it, their gazes filled with curiosity, but also with a scrutinizing quality unique to border residents.
"The north is bitterly cold, and the people suffer greatly. I'm sorry to have made you laugh, General Zhao," Xiao Yuanshan said calmly, as if he had something to say about it.
"This place is blessed with outstanding people and a unique atmosphere," Zhao Jingxing replied politely, but secretly made comparisons in his heart.
The people's livelihood in the northern border of the Great Sheng Dynasty was indeed more orderly than that in the northern border of the Great Yu Dynasty, with obvious signs of management. It lacked some of the mixed vitality of the border cities of the Great Yu Dynasty, but had more of a cold and rigid sense of order.
Inside Cheng Jiaojiao's carriage, she and Jiang Ling also peered out through the cracks.
"It's not quite what I imagined," Cheng Jiaojiao said softly.
She imagined the enemy country to be either a desolate and impoverished place or a place of luxury and decadence, but she never expected it to be such a scene of quiet resilience.
Jiang Ling said softly, "The two countries have been locked in a standoff for a century. Those who have been able to establish themselves on the border are all tenacious people. The way they look at us doesn't show much hatred, but rather curiosity and... alienation."
In any country, the majority of its people do not want war; they yearn for a peaceful and stable life.
The mission continued north.
Xiao Yuanshan arranged a tight and regular itinerary, specifying how many miles to travel each day and where to rest at post stations or official residences.
The towns along the way were not large, but they were well-defended with high and thick city walls.
The reception was well-mannered and the supplies were sufficient, but the pervasive sense of surveillance became increasingly clear as the visit progressed.
Given the long-standing war between the two countries, it's understandable that they would be wary of the people of the Great Yu Dynasty.
It would be even more frightening if it were said that there was absolutely none!
On the seventh day of their journey, the delegation arrived at Yanxia Pass, a relatively large border town within Yongzhou.
This is where they're preparing to implement their plan!
As arranged, we will rest here for two days.
After entering the city, Jiang Ling chose to ride a horse in order to better observe the terrain and prepare for the next plan.
Yanxia Pass is comparable in size to Zhenbei Pass of the Dayu Dynasty, but its architectural style is more rugged, and the city lord's mansion is a small fortress.
Besides Xiao Yuanshan, they were also received by a military officer sent by the governor of Yongzhou.
The officer was dressed in the robes of a military officer from the Great Sheng Dynasty. He was very young, looking no more than twenty years old. He was very thin, and his features had a somewhat cold and hard look.
From afar, she saw him talking to Zhao Jingxing, and after he finished speaking, he walked straight towards her.
When Jiang Ling saw the person's face clearly, she was dumbfounded!
Fang Shijie!
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