A woman's cold voice came from inside the tent: "Really? I just saw you talking on the dam, and none of you were doing much work."
The military officer laughed and said, "It's raining, isn't it? Everyone's soaked to the bone and a bit resentful. As their general, it's only natural that I should encourage them and help them vent their frustrations."
The magpie circled twice in the air and landed above the tent exit.
A woman dressed in a black robe and wearing a mask emerged from the tent. The general opened an umbrella and held it out to her; the woman took it and unfolded it, the round umbrella concealing her figure.
"General Xie, as long as the flood destroys the Great Jin army, you and I will be heroes who saved the country. Let them know this," the woman's voice came from under the umbrella. "But you must hurry. Once the Great Jin army enters the capital of Southern Chu and Southern Chu signs the surrender treaty, it will be too late."
The general said, "The goddess is right. We can use sandbags to block the gap. When the time is right, we can use grappling hooks to pull the sandbags open. Then we can board a ship in the harbor and sail downstream."
"Has the news leaked out?"
"No, my soldiers have already covered all the directions leading to the capital of Southern Chu and the Jin army. There is absolutely no way anyone will inform them."
Where is Jiang Wenpei?
“I have soldiers watching him. He’s very well-behaved; he just sits there blowing whistles and stuff…”
"Okay, I'll go take a look ahead."
The umbrella moved, heading towards the embankment. It left two lines of footprints of different sizes on the muddy ground.
After the magpie and the other two walked away, the magpie flew down from the tent and entered the tent. It landed on the table.
On the table lay an exquisite jade pendant, engraved with a pattern of a magical herb. The red string threaded through the pendant was broken, as if it had been forcefully torn.
The magpie opened its beak, picked up the jade pendant, and flew out of the tent.
After flying for a while, they saw a lone tent below, guarded by two soldiers. A magpie carrying a jade pendant flew in through the door.
The tent was empty except for a chair, in which sat a middle-aged scholar. Seeing the magpie fly in, the scholar raised his hand to let it land on his arm.
The middle-aged scholar opened his palm, and the magpie lowered its head and placed the jade pendant in his hand.
"Can't we get the defensive gun back?" the middle-aged scholar said. "She must have been carrying it with her at all times. It seems we'll have to think of another way."
He put the jade pendant into his pocket, waved for the magpie to fly away, and then took out a whistle and put it to his lips to blow it.
After blowing a few whistles, a short, stout soldier came in and said, "Mr. Jiang, you said you like music, that's why I let you keep these whistles. But could you please stop blowing them all the time? They're really annoying with that squeaking sound."
Jiang Wenpei said, "If you let me leave, I won't sing anymore."
The soldier said, "No, neither the goddess nor General Xie will allow you to leave. They said they're afraid you'll go and inform the Jin army..."
Just then, a loud thud came from outside the tent, followed by the sound of someone falling to the ground.
The short, stout soldier was startled and immediately turned to rush outside. Just as he reached the doorway, a massive, striped tiger turned around, its gaping maw revealing a mouthful of fangs. Caught off guard, the soldier fainted on the spot.
Jiang Wenpei got up and left the tent, muttering to himself, "Brother, I'm sorry... but I will never obey Qiu Jie's orders again."
The tiger was pawing at the short, stout soldier on the ground with its paws. Jiang Wenpei touched its wet fur and sighed.
"It's a pity you can't speak and can't do things for me. Take me to the capital; I need to warn everyone."
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