Chapter 11: Frontline Bad News

Outside Suhong Hall lay a small garden. As the father and son passed through the garden gate, they happened to see two figures inside the hall.

He Chunhua turned his head slightly, his voice low: "Are these the two we saw on the street the other day?"

He Lingchuan, recognizing the guests, quickly nodded: "Yes, it's them!"

That day, the two men had ridden their horses recklessly through the crowded market, nearly trampling a child, before galloping out of the city gate and heading northeast. He Chunhua hadn't returned home for the past two days, so He Lingchuan hadn't had a chance to report it. He was surprised his father already knew.

Who could have informed him? Most likely Uncle Hao.

He Lingchuan once again felt his father's meticulous control, both over his two sons and over Blackwater City. It seemed a little formidable.

In a flash, they entered the hall. He Chunhua looked at the two uninvited guests: "May I ask, where do you come from?"

The white-robed youth He Lingchuan had seen the other day was now clad in a formal lake-green brocade robe with embroidered shoulders. Such attire was meant to show respect to the local host. He Lingchuan also finally saw the true appearance of the gray-clad man. This man was nearing sixty, tall and thin, with white hair and beard. Yet, his eyes were remarkably bright, as if they could see directly into people's hearts and unearth their deepest secrets.

The youth smiled: "I am Nian Songyu, the Yangwu Commandant of Yuecheng, Xunzhou, sent here by my father, Nian Zanli!" Then he introduced his companion: "This is Grand Master Sun Fuping, the Grand Master of Dayuan!"

Even with He Chunhua's extraordinary composure, he couldn't help but be greatly astonished: "What!"

Nian Songyu's arrival was one thing; he already knew that Nian Zanli, the Governor of Xunzhou, would send someone, though he hadn't expected it to be Nian Zanli's second son. However, the appearance of Grand Master Sun was truly beyond his wildest expectations.

A Grand Master!

There were only three Grand Masters in Dayuan, and each possessed unfathomable powers. They typically assisted the monarch in managing the nation's fortunes, and in times of war, they were terrifying ultimate weapons, capable of deciding the outcome of a battle with a single strike if the timing was right. As the ultimate aspiration for many術士 (術師,術士 -术士,术师,術士,术师), this Grand Master Sun should have been enjoying his reverence in the capital. What was he doing suddenly showing up in such a desolate place?

He Chunhua, disregarding protocol, stared intently for a long moment before exhaling: "It truly is Grand Master Sun. This humble official apologizes for the presumption!"

Sun Fuping smiled slightly: "At the Heaven Worship Ceremony twenty years ago, I recall Libationer He attending with his three grandsons, and that was you!"

"Times have changed," He Chunhua said with a touch of emotion, then turned to point at his eldest son. "This is my dog-son, He Lingchuan." He had lived in the capital for over a decade and had seen Grand Master Sun on various occasions. Twenty years had passed, and Grand Master Sun had also aged, but his features were still recognizable, so He Chunhua recognized him after a couple of glances.

He Lingchuan stepped forward to pay his respects.

Nian Songyu smiled at him: "We meet again so soon."

"Indeed!" Hearing the underlying meaning in Nian Songyu's tone, He Lingchuan's smile became even brighter. "It seems Commandant Nian and I are destined to meet."

He Chunhua looked surprised: "What? You two have met before?"

Before Nian Songyu could speak, He Lingchuan quickly explained: "Father, you don't know, but the other day, I was eating by the street and happened to encounter these two distinguished guests passing by. The street was bustling then, and Commandant Nian even saved a child from being trampled!"

Uncle Hao, who had just entered the back hall, heard this and his face twitched.

He Chunhua said, "Oh, I see. Commandant Nian is accomplished in his youth, and it's rare to see such benevolence."

The four of them smiled, all feigning ignorance while understanding the situation. He Lingchuan, however, understood clearly: Nian Songyu's official rank was higher than his own, and Nian Songyu's father's position was higher than his own father's. The minor incident from the other day should be glossed over quickly, and they should move on to the main topic. After all, he had a premonition that the main topic wouldn't be very pleasant either.

Nian Songyu smiled, indeed not mentioning the previous incident: "Lord He, the Grand Master and I are on an urgent mission, and we traveled for three days and three nights to get here."

He Chunhua was also considerate: "You two must be exhausted from your journey. Please stay at White Stone Tower tonight; it's the best guesthouse in Blackwater City." With that, he turned to call a servant to replace the hot tea for the two guests.

Seeing that He Chunhua wasn't asking questions, Nian Songyu had to continue on his own: "This mission will likely require your assistance, Lord He."

He Chunhua hummed: "I'm listening."

Nian Songyu said solemnly: "Lord He, do you know that Woling Pass has fallen?"

He Chunhua was startled, almost leaping up. He disregarded his impropriety: "What did you say! Woling Pass has been breached?"

Woling Pass? He Lingchuan immediately searched his mind for this place name, but his original self hadn't seemed to pay much attention to it, only knowing that it was somewhere in central Dayuan, near rivers and mountains.

"How is that possible?" He Chunhua said, his voice grave. "I heard that the rebel forces from Buxin and Hongchuan converged in May and began attacking Woling Pass. But Woling Pass occupies a strategic chokepoint, reinforced repeatedly over the past decade, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack. Furthermore, the defender of the pass, Zhao Ronglue, is known as the 'Iron Barrel General,' with well-trained troops and ample provisions. How could the rebels easily break through?" In his estimation, Woling Pass should have been able to hold out for at least a year or two, by which time the rebel threat would resolve itself.

"Lord He, residing so far away in Jinzhou, your understanding of the central battle situation surpasses that of many powerful figures in the capital," Nian Songyu said quietly. "Unfortunately, 'Iron Barrel General' Zhao Ronglue suffered a fatal eye injury during the chaotic battle. Upon his death, the morale of the army collapsed, and internal strife broke out among the generals. The rebel army seized this opportunity to attack the city. Half a month ago, an insider traitor secretly opened the city gates, letting the rebels in."

Such a crucial location, yet it fell without a proper fight. Suhong Hall was silent, only the sound of Governor He's heavier breathing.

"You know the importance of Woling Pass to the central heartland of Dayuan," Nian Songyu stared at him and said. "It controls the most important Fengling Ferry on the Hongchuan River. And now it's the high-water season; after several heavy summer rains, the river is surging. If the rebel army were to descend the river, they could bypass the many checkpoints along the banks and land directly at Shihuan City downstream—"

He articulated each word clearly: "That place is only fifteen li from the capital!"

Fifteen li, for cavalry moving at full speed, was just a moment's ride.

He explained it very clearly. Even He Lingchuan, who wasn't very familiar with the geography of Dayuan, felt the seriousness of the situation. His family lived far on the frontier, guarding the nation for the Emperor. But if the capital itself fell, what would be the point of them diligently guarding this place?

He Chunhua felt as if he was exhaling only cold air: "Where are the rebel forces now?"

"Still at Woling Pass."

Huh? Both father and son were momentarily stunned. The rebels had finally seized Woling Pass, but they hadn't pressed on? Speed was crucial in war.

However, He Chunhua reacted in an instant: "Is there a problem with the waterway?"

"Zhao Ronglue's deputy, Xu Dayou, rallied the remaining troops during the city's fall and burned all the boats in the dock. So even though the rebel army captured Woling Pass, they have no boats to use. It's been rainy recently, and it will take at least fifty days to cut timber and build new boats."

"Ultimately, Heaven has shown us mercy, granting us this precious time. Armies from various regions are now rushing to Woling Pass, but the situation is not optimistic," Grand Master Sun Fuping interjected. "Whether the Dayuan dynasty can continue might well depend on these fifty days."