Chu Zhao and Xiao Jue were talking outside. He Yan was inside the house and wanted to eavesdrop, but even if she put her ear to the door, all she could hear was the sound of the wind outside. She wanted to wait for Xiao Jue to finish talking and come back to ask what was going on, but Xiao Jue never came back. She fell asleep without realizing it, and when she woke up the next day, Chu Zhao and Ying Xiang were no longer in Liangzhou Guard.

They left early in the morning with their guards.

After Chu Zhao left, Lin Shuanghe was the happiest. He Yan didn't quite understand this. Logically, there had been no unpleasantness between Lin Shuanghe and Chu Zhao. But seeing Lin Shuanghe's happy expression, he was probably really happy for Chu Zhao's departure.

Xiao Jue finally stopped talking in such a weird way as he did in the past few days, and He Yan felt relieved. Chu Zhao left early, which might be a good thing for him and others.

Liangzhou Guards have returned to peace, and they are still training every day, but He Yan knows that the peaceful days will not last long. Just as Chu Zhao said, changes have already occurred, and the appearance of the Wutuo people will bring shock to the Wei Dynasty.

On this day, He Yan was training with the Southern Army soldiers in archery and horsemanship. It was already mid-May, and the summer in Liangzhou Guards came earlier than in other places, and the heat enveloped everyone. As the days became longer, the daily training time for both the Southern Army soldiers and the Liangzhou Guards doubled.

She climbed over the mountain and dismounted, her whole body was wet, as if she had just been pulled out of the water. She took a handkerchief and wiped her sweat. This was the last round. Tian Lang looked at He Yan and nodded slightly. The new recruits from Liangzhou Guards were able to keep up with the pace of the Southern Army, and even their archery and horsemanship were considered unique among the Southern Army. It was really good.

The martial arts arena at Liangzhouwei had already been dispersed, and the Hongshan people who were waiting to have dinner with He Yan were standing nearby watching. He Yan tied up his horse, returned the bow and arrow, and then strode towards them.

Xiao Mai stared at him with shining eyes: "Brother He, how come your archery skills are getting better and better now? I saw it clearly just now, you hit the bull's eye every time."

In just over a year, Xiao Mai has grown a lot taller. Previously, He Yan could stand on tiptoe and hook his shoulders, but now she has to look up slightly to see him. She smiled and said, "You have also become much better."

"What's the point of you two complimenting each other?" Wang Ba poured cold water on them, "Can you compliment them to produce a flower?"

Everyone knew his temper, so they didn't bother with him and just walked towards the place where they were eating. When they got there, they received steamed buns and vegetable porridge, and everyone found a place to sit down. He Yan lowered his head and took a sip of porridge, and heard Jiang Jiao say, "Do you know Rundu?"

"Rundu?" Huang Xiong spoke before He Yan could say anything. "When I was hunting down my enemies, I passed by Rundu. It's a small town. Grapes are grown there. The grapes are like purple jade, and each one is sweet and big."

"Really?" Xiao Mai licked his lips. "Is it too far? I have only eaten sour wild grapes, never sweet ones!"

Huang Xiong thought for a moment and said, "It's about a month's journey from here."

He Yan asked: "Why did Brother Jiang mention Rundu?"

Jiang Jiao sighed: "I went to see Master Shen today, and wanted him to send a letter back to Beijing for me, asking for a new spear. When I went in, I happened to hear Master Shen and Master Ma talking."

Everyone looked at Jiang Jiao, waiting for him to finish the rest of his words.

"It turns out that in the previous battle of Huayuan, the Wutuo army split into two groups, one group attacked Huayuan, and the other group attacked Rundu, which was not far from Huayuan. Huayuan was larger and more populated than Rundu, and it was guarded by General Feihong. Although the losses were heavy, it was finally held. The situation in Rundu was not so good. It was originally a small city with not many soldiers and horses. If the Wutuo army attacked the city without external help, it would be a matter of time before the city gates fell."

"Is it so serious?" Hong Shan was stunned.

They were far away in Liangzhou, almost the most remote place in Wei. It was a barren land, and they could not get any news. Had the situation outside become so bad?

"What should we do?" Xiao Mai, who is young, asked hastily, "We can't just ignore the lives of the people in the city."

"Huayuan is close to Rundu. If the Wutuo people in Huayuan retreat, General Feihong can take the remaining pacification troops to support Rundu." Shitou said seriously, "Rundu will not fall."

"That's good," Hong Shan said with relief, "With General Feihong and the Suyue Army, Rundu can be saved."

As everyone was talking, Jiang Jiao looked at He Yan: "Brother He, why don't you say anything?"

It was unknown when He Yan started to keep her head down and remained silent. She also did not touch the food in front of her. It was unknown what she was thinking. When she heard the words, she raised her head, and her eyes were startlingly bright, as if they were burning with fire, which shocked everyone who saw her.

"...Are you okay?" Wang Ba waved at her suspiciously?

He Yan took a deep breath: "It's okay."

She asked Jiang Jiao: "Do you know what the current situation is in Rundu?"

Jiang Jiao shook his head: "I only listened to half of it, and was discovered by Master Shen. Master Shen didn't want to tell me the details, probably because he was afraid that the people of Liangzhou would be uneasy." He sighed again, "But I just don't understand, we came to such a far place, training hard every day, isn't it to defend the country when foreign enemies invade. Now the people of Wei are suffering, but we are still training as usual. Isn't this just covering one's ears and stealing the bell? What is the meaning of joining the army?"

Young men are always full of anger, and they will never hold back their anger when the enemy comes to their doorstep. It is extremely difficult to ask them to pretend to be ignorant like a turtle.

"You are wrong," Hong Shan said, "If we are not needed, it means the situation is not that bad and the Wutuo people are not rampant. If we are really needed, it means the situation has reached an irreversible point. The people of Wei will suffer even more. Isn't that worse?"

Jiang Jiao thought about it and felt that what Hong Shan said made sense, so he stopped talking.

Xiao Mai asked: "Brother Ahe, do you think that after General Feihong supports Rundu, will he lose or win?"

"Need I say more?" Wang Ba answered without thinking: "150,000 troops of the Pacification Army. I heard that less than 50,000 were killed in Huayuan, so there are still nearly 100,000. Rundu is just a small city. I don't think there will be many Wutuo people entering the palace in Rundu. With the soldiers in the city, even a fool can win. General Feihong even defended Huayuan, so there is no reason why he can't defend such a small city. I think you are all worrying about nothing. You are worried about others. It is better to worry about yourself. When can we eat meat every day!"

His words were always unpleasant to the ear, and everyone was too lazy to pay attention to him. Xiao Mai looked at He Yan again: "Brother He, do you also think that General Feihong will win?"

He Yan looked down at the porridge in the bowl. The porridge was very thin and clear, reflecting her face like a mirror. She spoke slowly in a calm voice, "I don't think he will support Rundu."

…

After having dinner with Hong Shan and the others, He Yan did not talk to them as usual. He just said that he was tired from today's training and wanted to go back and rest early.

On the way back, He Yan kept thinking about what Jiang Jiao had said earlier.

The Wutu people attacked Rundu? In fact, considering the distance between Huayuan and Rundu, it was only natural for He Rufei to go to support. Everyone thought so, and for this reason, when He Yan said that He Rufei would not support Rundu, even Xiao Mai, who was usually the most vague, refused to believe it.

"Why? General Feihong has already won the battle, and Huayuan can no longer be saved. He can't just stand by and watch them die, right? General Feihong is definitely not someone who would stand by and watch them die!"

He Yan didn't know whether to be happy or sad when she heard this. She was happy that her efforts over the past years were seen by everyone, and she was doing a very good job as a general of Feihong. She was sad that others would project all their impressions of her onto He Rufei, and would be completely defenseless against He Rufei, giving that person countless opportunities to take advantage of her.

Of course, He Rufei will not go to support Rundu, because Li Kuang, the general of Rundu, once worked with General Feihong for some time. Li Kuang knows "General Feihong", and He Rufei, the fake, will be exposed as soon as he comes into contact with Li Kuang. He Rufei knows this, so he will definitely try every means to delay, and will probably not show up until Li Kuang dies and Rundu falls.

In order to avoid having his identity exposed, He Rufei was willing to sacrifice the lives of the entire city's inhabitants.

She had also stayed in Rundu for a short time in those days, but it was not the Wutuo Kingdom that harassed the people of Rundu at that time, but the Western Qiang people. She had fought in Rundu and had formed a friendship with the people there. Now, when she heard the news about Rundu again, she could not remain indifferent, both for public and private reasons.

The house was in sight, and looking through the window, Xiao Jue's house was lit. He Yan walked to his door, hesitated for a moment, and knocked gently.

"Come in."

He Yan pushed the door open and walked in. Fei Nu stood aside. Xiao Jue held a letter in his hand. After He Yan came in, he put the letter down. The door closed behind him. He Yan walked over and said, "Commander-in-chief."

He glanced at He Yan and saw that He Yan looked worried, so he asked, "What's the matter?"

"...The governor already knows about Rundu's affairs?"

Xiao Jue raised his eyebrows: "You are also well-informed."

"I found out by chance when I overheard Master Shen talking to someone." He Yan stepped forward and said, "Commander-in-chief, will Rundu be conquered by the Wutuo people?"

Xiao Jue curled his lips and said, "No, He Rufei is in Huayuan. The distance between Huayuan and Rundu is only three or four days."

He looked relieved.

He Yan gritted his teeth and said, "So, what if General Fei Hong refuses to support Rundu? Or what if something happens and he's delayed along the way?"

After saying this, Xiao Jue raised his eyes and looked at her. His expression was calm, but his eyes were sharp, as if he wanted to see through her. He only said, "Do you think so?"

He Yan knew that he was suspicious, but the lives of tens of thousands of people in Rundu could not be sacrificed in vain. She said perfunctorily: "I have never seen General Feihong. Although everyone says that he is powerful, it is not certain that he is just a boast. He led 150,000 troops to attack the Wutuo people a few days ago, and he actually lost tens of thousands of people. The victory was so difficult. It is not as powerful as you and I in Jiyang City. Maybe he is actually not very capable... He is just a coward. After hearing about the situation in Rundu, he backed down temporarily and refused to go to support. He is a coward!"

The one being scolded was He Rufei, but He Yan felt no burden at all. Hearing this, Fei Nu at the side couldn't help but twitch his face and couldn't help but say, "No, during the Western Qiang Rebellion in the past, General Fei Hong also provided support everywhere. He also served in Rundu before, and he was an old acquaintance of the city's general. As long as Rundu asked him for help, General Fei Hong would never stand by and watch them die."

He Yan thought to herself that it was precisely because Li Kuang and she were old acquaintances that Rundu was in such a disaster!

But he couldn't say this to anyone else. He Yan was anxious and angry. He didn't expect that his good reputation over the past years had spread so far. Now that he wanted to discredit it, no one would believe him.

Xiao Jue looked at her thoughtfully, "What are your plans?"

Is this to listen to her opinion? He Yan considered his tone, "Commander-in-chief, we have been training in Liangzhou Guard for more than a year. The Liangzhou Guard and the Southern Palace soldiers together have quite a few. Not to mention the Southern Palace soldiers, the new recruits of Liangzhou Guard have been eager to see the real battlefield. We might as well take this opportunity to hone them. How about we go to support Rundu?"

She stared at Xiao Jue expectantly, hoping that Xiao Jue would agree to her request, although the hope was extremely slim.

Sure enough, Xiao Jue sneered when he heard this: "It takes more than a month to walk from Liangzhouwei to Rundu, and only three or four days to walk from Huayuan to Rundu. Without asking for support from Huayuan, the soldiers of Liangzhouwei traveled across mountains and rivers to support them. He Yan, are you crazy?"

He Yan also knew that normal people would think so. Li Kuang probably wouldn't dare to think so. But she still wanted to fight for the people of Rundu. He Yan insisted, "Governor, please think about it again. Rundu is just a small city. Why do the people of Xiqiang and Wutuo want to fight for this place? As long as Rundu is captured, the neighboring Jinling will suffer. All the way north, the people of Wutuo are heading for the imperial capital."

"Rundu must not be lost!"

The young man's tone was stubborn, and Fei Nu couldn't help but say, "Master He, we all know that Rundu cannot be lost. But now, even if the young master wants to go to Rundu, he has to ask His Majesty for permission. It has been two months since we went there and back. I am afraid that the war in Rundu has already ended. Besides, if General Feihong does not go to support us, the possibility of this happening is too small, and you don't need to worry at all."

Probably in their eyes, He Yan's action was just groundless worry.

Xiao Jue said: "The Southern Army has its own place. Your idea should be stopped here and there is no need to mention it again in the future."

He rejected it outright.

He Yan sighed in his heart. Fei Nu's words were not without reason. Xu Xiang was eyeing him covetously in the court. Xiao Jue came to Liangzhou Wei just to avoid his sharp edge and keep a low profile. If he acted rashly now, he would inevitably be criticized. This matter really couldn't involve Xiao Jue, but what about the people of Rundu?

She replied somewhat dejectedly, "I understand." She said goodbye to Xiao Jue and returned to her room.

After He Yan left, Xiao Jue looked at the flickering flame in the oil lamp and said, "He Yan is not right."

Fei Nu asked, "Does the young master suspect her?"

Xiao Jue shook his head, and after a moment he said, "Go check what unusual changes have occurred in Rundu recently."

…

After returning from Xiao Jue's room, He Yan washed and combed his hair with a heavy heart, then lay down on the couch. The lights had been blown out, and the moonlight from outside the window shone through, falling on the ground in front of the window, like a layer of white frost, making the summer night even colder and more desolate.

The last time she went to Rundu was several years ago. At that time, she was not yet a general of Feihong, but a deputy general, and she fought against the Western Qiang in Rundu with the Suyue Army. Rundu was a small city, and the Western Qiang killed people outside Rundu and hung their heads on flagpoles outside the city to show off their power.

The soldiers of the Yue army who went with them were filled with hatred. Although they were not outnumbered, they still defeated the Western Qiang people after a fierce battle. The wound on her shoulder was inflicted at that time. She was unable to pull out the arrow during the battle, and after the battle was over, she pulled out the arrow herself and almost fainted.

On the second day, Li Kuang's concubine came over and brought a large basket of washed, sparkling grapes. She looked at her with a smile and said, "There isn't much good stuff in Rundu. These are the best grapes. Lieutenant General He, enjoy them slowly." Behind her, people from Rundu came rushing in. Some were holding a chicken, and some were holding two eggs. They all came to express their gratitude to her.

She was promoted shortly after the battle.

He Yan has deep feelings for every place where bloody battles have taken place. She knows very well in her heart that He Rufei will not go to support Rundu, and Li Kuang is just waiting to die by defending Runcheng. Without support, the people in the city will eventually die under the swords of the Wutuo people.

She couldn't let this happen. If the Southern Army and the new Liangzhou Guards couldn't move, she would go to Rundu even if she was alone. The troops in Rundu might have a chance of survival if they fought to the death.

But how could she go to Rundu? If she ran away now...if she was caught in the future, it would be a disobedience to the military order, and she would be beheaded by the military order. He Rufei's true face has not been exposed yet. If she died now, she would have nothing in the future. That's fine. If her death can save the lives of tens of thousands of people, it's worth it. But she is in the Southern Army. If someone uses this to capture Xiao Jue and thinks it is Xiao Jue's order, what should she do if Xiao Jue is implicated?

However, she couldn't just watch tens of thousands of people in Runcheng die.

This was a dilemma. As He Yan was thinking, her fingers touched a cold object under the pillow. She subconsciously looked at it in the moonlight and found that it was an exquisite seal with a small "Wu'an" engraved on it.

When the imperial edict arrived in Liangzhou, Wu Anlang's seal was handed to her along with the crown and clothes. However, this official position did not have much real power, so He Yan did not take it seriously and just put it under her pillow. But now, when she suddenly saw it, a flash of inspiration suddenly occurred to her, and she sat up and held the seal in her palm.

Yes, she is not only a soldier of the Southern Army, but to be precise, she is also a Wu'an Lang appointed by His Majesty. Chu Zhao is right. She is controlled by Xiao Jue, but she is not Xiao Jue's soldier. If she goes to Rundu, as long as she has the seal, it can be said that it is her own will, and Xiao Jue does not know. Even if it is investigated in the future, Xiao Jue will not be implicated.

As for herself...

In a way, Rundu was in such a state today because of her. She led the Yue army to defend Rundu once, and she could definitely defend it a second time.

She had to go to Rundu by herself.

…

Having made up her mind at night, He Yan was no longer as troubled as she was the first time the next day. Since returning to Liangzhou Guard, she had never missed a day of daily training, so there was no need to worry about her skills. She also used the excuse of training archery and horsemanship to pick out the best horses in the stable and touch them several times, remembering the one she liked the most, intending to take it with her when she left.

Other things, such as hidden weapons, whips, and medicines, were left in her room, and He Yan packed them all. The rest were also left. The most important thing was that she had been to Rundu before, but she had never tried to go from Liangzhouwei to Rundu. The journey was long and she couldn't get lost. After all, every day in Rundu was hard to endure. If she got lost, it would not only delay her time, but also her life.

Fortunately, there is always someone in the camp who knows the way.

He Yan pretended to be very interested in Rundu. Apart from daily training, he would talk to people who had been to Rundu. He asked them what they had to pass on the way from Liangzhouwei to Rundu and where they might have gone astray. Actually, Huang Xiong had also been there, but he didn't know the way, so he had to give up.

Xiao Mai asked: "Brother Ahe, do you want to go to Rundu to eat grapes? Why are you suddenly so concerned about Rundu?"

Shitou looked at He Yan's energetic conversation and lowered his head thoughtfully.

In two days, a complete map from Liangzhouwei to Rundu was drawn. He Yan spread the map on the table. According to the shortcuts on the map, if she continued to travel without sleep, she might be able to reach Rundu in less than a month. But... Li Kuang, can he really last a month?

There is no point in thinking too much, the most urgent thing is to set off now. He Yan put the bag on her back, and before leaving, she looked at the two things at the bottom of the wooden floor. Both things were brought out from Jiyang. One was a dough figurine that Xiao Jue bought for her during the Water God Festival. Now the dough was dry and she carefully wrapped it in a handkerchief. The other was a wood carving that Mu Yi gave her. The female general on it stood with a whip in her hand, looking majestic.

He Yan looked at them and laughed. She shook her head, put the things away and put them back on the wooden bench. She couldn't take them away. If she left them here, they would probably be thrown away like the other things in the room.

All the things were packed. Before leaving, He Yan looked back at the middle door. The middle door was tightly closed. It was late at night and Xiao Jue had already gone to bed. She left quietly this time and went to the dangerous battlefield of Rundu. It was hard to be sure whether she could see Xiao Jue alive next time. But even if she was alive, she didn't know what the scene would be like when they met again.

"Goodbye." She said silently in her heart, turned around and gently pushed open the door in front of her.

Outside, the night was dark and dark, the moon was covered by dark clouds, and only a few scattered stars illuminated the distant mountains and forests. He Yan was stunned for a moment, and in an instant, it was as if she had returned to the scene many years ago when she packed her bags and left the He family for the first time. She was just like now, not knowing what the future held, not knowing whether it would be happy or sad, and just strode forward.

But now is different from many years ago. She is no longer confused or bewildered. She knows the direction she wants to go and is confident in every decision she makes.

Just like this, move forward without regrets.

——Digression——

Yanyan: I'm going to work, look at me being beautiful alone [struggle]