Chapter 314 Only Private Messages, No Secret Order
At the end of the second month of the mission's northward journey, the terrain began to rise and fall, and the official road meandered among the hills.
The view opened up, the sky appeared exceptionally high and distant, and lead-gray clouds pressed low over the continuous mountain ranges.
"We're almost at Zhenbei Pass," Zhao Jingxing said to Jiang Ling, who was riding alongside him, as he looked at the faint outline of the city wall visible through the mountain pass ahead.
Jiang Ling followed his gaze. Zhenbei Pass was the last formidable pass in the northern border of the Great Yu Dynasty. It was built against the perilous terrain between two mountains, with the city walls coiled like a giant gray python on the mountain ridge, and the beacon towers standing silently under the leaden sky.
Beyond the pass lies a 50-mile-long "buffer zone," and further north lies the territory actually controlled by the Great Sheng Dynasty.
The mission's pace unconsciously slowed down.
Not only did the terrain become steeper, but the atmosphere within the delegation also gradually tightened.
The soldiers in the escort team stood up straighter, their eyes more alert, and their hands gripping the reins or weapons tighter.
Even the horses pulling the carriage seemed to sense something, their snorting carrying a hint of unease.
Cheng Jiaojiao rarely lifted the car curtain to look outside anymore.
Most of the time, she sat quietly in the car, sometimes flipping through the travelogues and miscellaneous books Jiang Ling had brought her, but more often just staring blankly at a corner of the carriage.
Once she crossed Zhenbei Pass, she would no longer be the legitimate daughter of the Marquis of Wu'an. The name "Cheng Jiaojiao" would be buried in foreign soil along with that planned "accident."
If all goes well, she might be able to live out the rest of her life in anonymity.
If things don't go smoothly...
Three days later, the mission arrived at Zhenbeiguan.
The fortress appears even more majestic and imposing than it does from a distance.
The city wall, built of massive stones, is five zhang high, its surface covered with dark mottled marks and arrowhead chisel marks, telling the story of the cruelty of war.
The massive iron gates of the city were tightly shut, and the banners on the city towers fluttered in the dry, fierce north wind.
The guards stood in gleaming armor, spears in hand, their sharp eyes scrutinizing the massive delegation below the city.
The atmosphere was solemn and tense, a stark contrast to the boisterous welcoming ceremonies of inland state governments.
This is the true gateway to the country, and every inch of this land is imbued with the vigilance and solemnity unique to border areas.
Guan Shou was a military officer surnamed Lei, about thirty years old, with dark skin and deep lines etched on his face from the hardships of the frontier.
He led his personal guards out of the pass to greet them, with impeccable manners, but his words were concise and his actions efficient, exuding the toughness and pragmatism of a soldier.
"This humble general, Lei Zhen, respectfully welcomes Your Highness and General Zhao." General Lei clasped his hands in a salute, his voice booming.
"A post station has been prepared inside the pass. Please rest for the time being, Your Highness and the General."
Zhao Jingxing returned the greeting: "Thank you for your trouble, General Lei. The delegation has a large number of people and we need to replenish some clean water and fodder. Please make the arrangements."
“It’s my duty.” Lieutenant General Lei stepped aside to lead the way. “General Zhao, please.”
The delegation slowly entered this strategically important border pass.
The door slammed shut behind us with a heavy thud, as if separating the inside from the outside into two worlds.
The area inside the pass is not as desolate and bleak as one might imagine.
Along the main street, shops, taverns, and inns line the streets. Although the buildings are simple and sturdy and not as exquisite as those in the inland areas, they are full of life.
The streets were bustling with people, including peddlers, border residents, merchants, and military families, speaking a mix of accents and wearing diverse clothing.
This is a unique border town that prospered because of military power, yet is full of vibrant local life.
However, upon closer inspection, differences can still be detected.
The shop signs were mostly made of thick canvas, and the window frames were exceptionally sturdy; the proportion of young and middle-aged men among the pedestrians was extremely high, and most of them walked steadily with alert eyes.
On every street corner and alleyway, there are always soldiers in leather armor patrolling with their hands on their swords.
Even the children playing there had a certain order to their playfulness, lacking the innocent charm of children from inland areas.
The inn was located in the relatively quiet inner area of the fortress. It was a spacious stone and wood courtyard, which was obviously often used to receive passing officials and envoys.
After settling in, Lieutenant General Lei invited Zhao Jingxing to the military camp for a meeting.
Inside the council chamber, the charcoal fire dispelled the chill of the autumn night at the border.
Lei Canjiang dismissed his attendants and personally poured Zhao Jingxing a bowl of coarse tea.
"General Zhao, your delegation bears a heavy responsibility on this mission..."
His directness startled Zhao Jingxing.
Logically, Cheng Jiaojiao's plan to fake her death and escape involves the possibility of war between the two countries, so the fewer people who know about it, the safer it is.
As a general guarding the border, he had to deal with people from the Great Sheng Dynasty for many years, to put it bluntly.
Throughout history, there have been many examples of generals who guarded the borders harboring rebellious intentions.
Why would His Highness the Crown Prince tell him such an important secret?
Zhao Jingxing silently put down his teacup, his tone calm: "As the chief commander of the peace delegation, maintaining the friendship between the two countries is naturally a great responsibility."
General Lei paused, thinking that he hadn't understood what he meant.
Damn it! The strategist tricked me, saying that when talking to scholars, you should only say half and leave the other half unsaid!
Left with no other choice, he lowered his voice and said, "I am aware of the plan regarding the princess's marriage. If General Zhao needs anything, please feel free to speak up, and I, Lei, will do my utmost!"
Zhao Jingxing's eyes sharpened, and his aura tightened instantly: "I don't quite understand what General Lei is saying?"
Lei Zhen began to reflect: Had he not explained things clearly enough?
He was a rough man, not understanding any of the subtleties, so he said bluntly, "Oh! It's just a fake death, right? I've already received the news that I should cooperate fully."
Zhao Jingxing met his gaze and began to scrutinize him without making a sound. Could this Lei Zhen also be one of the Crown Prince's confidants?
Otherwise, how could such a confidential matter be disclosed?
"But His Highness the Crown Prince did not tell me... Does General Lei have a secret decree that I may borrow to take a look?"
Lei Zhen panicked and laid his cards on the table: "I received a private message, not a secret decree! It was a private message from Marquis Wu'an!"
Zhao Jingxing was astonished!
Marquis Wu'an actually had such a close personal relationship with the general guarding the border!
The general guarding the border actually accepted a private letter from the Marquis of Wu'an to carry out his orders, instead of following the imperial edicts of the Crown Prince or the Emperor?!
Although the Marquis of Wu'an was the Crown Prince's maternal uncle, doing so was indeed an overreach of his authority!
If the Crown Prince finds out...
That night, the inn was brightly lit, yet unusually quiet.
Jiang Ling and Cheng Jiaojiao were in the same room.
Cheng Jiaojiao carefully wiped a short blade that Zhao Jingxing had given her for self-defense, her movements gentle and focused.
The candlelight cast flickering shadows on her face.
She suddenly spoke, her voice very soft, "Sister Jiang, once you get through this, there really is... no turning back."
"Mm." Jiang Ling sat opposite her, organizing the few packages she was carrying.
Cheng Jiaojiao admitted, "I'm a little scared. But not because I'm afraid of dying, but because I'm afraid... afraid the plan will fail, afraid of implicating you all, afraid that in the end I still won't be able to escape, and that it will only trigger an even bigger war."
Jiang Ling stopped what she was doing and looked up at her: "The plan will succeed. We've made thorough preparations. As for the war..."
Jiang Ling was also uneasy, and could only try to convince herself: "Jiaojiao, war has never been far away. What we need to do is not to run away from it, but to seize an opportunity. An opportunity that may end the long standoff at a smaller cost. Your 'death' is the beginning, not the end."
Cheng Jiaojiao took a deep breath, put the short blade into its specially made sheath, and placed it close to her body.
When I looked up again, the lingering bewilderment in my eyes had vanished, leaving only a clear and unwavering resolve.
"I understand. I will do my part, no matter what lies ahead."
Outside the window, the north wind howled across the city wall, whipping up sand and stones that rustled against the windowpanes.
I spent a sleepless night.
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