The Slender Waist-Chapter 118 - 92: Not Recognizing Your Face_2

The citizens of Xinzhou City refused to submit, which multiplied the difficulties of the Beiyong Army’s defense.

Several generals stayed in Pei Jue’s room, and did not leave until dawn after discussing the situation.

They each had their own opinions, which essentially boiled down to two options—defend or withdraw.

Giving up Xinzhou and falling back to Huaishui, securing Wanning and the five cities of Andu would still be a tremendous victory for Jin Country.

The Beiyong Army was confident that they could prevent the Qi Army from crossing Huaishui. But retreating would boost the morale of the Qi Army, as well as the prestige of the newly enthroned Emperor of Zhengchu. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

Yet, if they were to hold Xinzhou at all costs, the Jin Army would have to make tremendous sacrifices...

This was a dilemma.

As dawn broke, Zuo Zhong rushed over in high spirits.

"Report—"

His joy could be heard even through closed doors.

"Great General, Ao Qi has arrived."

Pei Jue’s eyebrows furrowed slightly, but he didn’t turn around, keeping his gaze fixed on the map.

"Let him in."

Ao Qi entered, his face beaming with sweat on his forehead, carrying a ring-pommel saber, and a large bundle over his shoulder.

"General! Ao Qi has returned to the ranks." He bowed and tossed the bundle onto Pei Jue’s desk.

"The lady entrusted me to bring this to the General."

Only then did Pei Jue shift his attention from the map and glance at Ao Qi, then at the bundle.

Ao Qi didn’t notice the change in Pei Jue’s expression, his whole being absorbed in the joy of returning to camp and "presenting a treasure."

He took out Feng Yun’s letter and the medicine in one go and laid them on the table and then, as if remembering something else, pulled out a wrinkled yellow piece of paper from his bosom.

"Great General, this is a map drawn by the lady, take a look."

The paper was very crumpled, as it had been discarded by Feng Yun and then secretly picked up by Ao Qi, who treasured it dearly.

"The lady is truly amazing; she can draw maps."

Ao Qi carefully unfolded it, fearing he might damage it, his hands caressing the yellow paper as if it were a precious gem.

Pei Jue looked at him again, "What did she say?"

Ao Qi pursed his lips, gesturing for his uncle to read the letter, "It’s all written in the letter."

Feng Yun had said she would only discuss serious matters with his uncle, and Ao Qi remembered it well.

However, when Pei Jue read the letter to the end, his expression showed a very strange change, similar to Ao Qi’s family’s big black dog when it saw a little white dog coming to scrounge for food, utterly oblivious to the world around.

"This woman..."

He seemed about to say something.

Then he swallowed his words.

Ao Qi, unaware of how the simple words from Feng Yun stirred waves in Pei Jue’s heart, couldn’t help but think back to the day he saw them lose control on horseback, and his handsome face instantly fell...

"General, what did the lady say?"

Pei Jue remained silent.

He carefully put away the letter and took a vial from the medicines brought by Feng Yun and handed it to Jiu You.

"Give this to General Wen, say it’s from ’Yao Yao’s" heart."

Ao Qi was completely baffled.

His uncle was being so generous, giving the medicine to Wen Xingsu?

One moment calling her "the woman," not "the lady."

The next, affectionately naming her "Yao Yao," these reactions didn’t seem at all like someone who had just read a bunch of "serious matters."

Ao Qi’s heart was nearly broken.

But the fervor of youth is easily ignited, and he was soon drawn away by the atmosphere of the looming battle in the camp.

At this moment, Xinzhou City was in a state of war preparation, with the Beiyong Army occasionally having to deal with sneak attacks and harassment from Qi Army soldiers hidden among the civilians.

Soldiers were visible everywhere, looking tense.

Above the city gates, the "Pei" family banner fluttered in the autumn wind...

Ao Qi had galloped around the city before receiving orders brought by Zuo Zhong.

"The Great General orders you to return to Andu immediately," Zuo Zhong conveyed.

Ao Qi turned back and reprimanded in a low voice, "I won’t."

Zuo Zhong was at a loss with him, "It’s the Great General’s command."

Ao Qi, with a stern face, insisted, "I’m going to find the General!"

—

Pei Jue was not in his own room; he had gone to see Wen Xingsu.

Upon returning to Xinzhou, he had returned to Wen Xingsu’s old home; this house was purchased by Wen Xingsu upon his arrival in Xinzhou, and Feng Jingteng had also taken refuge here for a time after fleeing Andu.

They had only recently returned to Tai City before Xiao Cheng and Feng Ying’s grand wedding.

As a result, they had escaped calamity.

Pei Jue didn’t confine Wen Xingsu too strictly; ever since Wen Xingsu had affixed his seal on the commission of the "General who Breaks the Enemy," Pei Jue had treated him with the respect a General deserved.

A residence, attendants, everything was well-prepared.

After the fall of Xinzhou City, Pei Jue even took Wen Xingsu into the POW camp, letting him pick people at will, carrying off whoever he wanted without asking for reasons or dwelling on the past...

Everyone said General Pei was magnanimous.

But Wen Xingsu knew he was being slowly raised atop a pyre by Pei Jue, falling into a situation from which there was no turning back.

Of course, he wasn’t sincerely swearing fealty to Jin Country.

He had been forced to sign the seal because the Jin Imperial Court wanted to punish his sister; if he didn’t comply, Feng Yun would have been the prime culprit for harboring and releasing an enemy General.

If Wei Zheng took him back to the Central Capital, his life would have been over.

How could Wen Xingsu implicate her?

His lifetime of reputation ruined in an instant, he couldn’t allow his sister to suffer the slightest harm.

When Pei Jue entered the room, Wen Xingsu was sitting on a soft couch, dressed in simple white clothes, appearing graceful and elegant. Not to mention his talents and abilities, Wen Xingsu’s looks were also exceptional.

There were two guards outside the room, standing silently.

A maidservant was kneeling beside Wen Xingsu, gently fanning the small stove for boiling tea.

Seeing Pei Jue, the guards saluted, "General."

Pei Jue waved his hand, indicating for them to withdraw, and sat down opposite Wen Xingsu.

The small porcelain bottle on the wooden table was the medicine he had asked Jiu You to bring over.

Pei Jue said, "This is a token of my sisters’ regard."

Wen Xingsu gave a bitter smile, "Thank you."

Pei Jue asked, "Do you find it comfortable returning to Xinzhou?"

Being so close, Wen Xingsu could clearly see the red blood vessels in Pei Jue’s eyes.

He wasn’t involved in Pei Jue’s military planning and war discussions, but he was fully aware of the current situation.

"Did the Great General seek me out because he has something to say?" he inquired.

Pei Jue asked, "Besides falling back to Andu and holding Xinzhou at all costs, does General Wen think there’s a third path for Beiyong Army to take right now?"

Wen Xingsu stared at him, "There is."

Pei Jue’s lips curved slightly, "I’d like to hear the details."

Wen Xingsu couldn’t help but laugh, "The Great General already has a plan in his heart, so why come to ask me?"

Pei Jue insisted, "I want to hear General Wen’s suggestion."