Anomalous Change

Qin Sang tiptoed and flew to the treetops, meeting them.

"Old Zhou, what happened?"

"General Qin!"

Upon seeing Qin Sang, Water Monkey's face lit up with joy. He shouted, "This humble subordinate just received a carrier pigeon dispatch. The Commander has ordered General Qin to immediately lead his men to withdraw from Guling Mountain within three days and return to the main camp."

Qin Sang frowned upon hearing this. "For what reason? Am I to return alone, or is everyone required to evacuate?"

Water Monkey leaped over a few times and took out a letter wrapped in oil paper from his embrace. "The letter states that the General is to lead everyone back, without mentioning any reason."

Qin Sang took the letter and read it carefully. It was indeed an order for him to withdraw all scouts from Guling Mountain within two days, and the wording was much harsher than Water Monkey's tone.

Clutching the letter, Qin Sang looked at the surrounding barren mountains, his heart filled with confusion.

King Dongyang had now captured Xitai Prefecture, and all armies were in motion, heading straight for the three prefectures of the Imperial Capital. The Xuanwei Camp had entered Guize Prefecture two months ago and had already conquered several cities. Their current target was Duyakou.

Duyakou was actually a not-so-small city, originally a ferry crossing on the Lingshui River, which had gradually developed over time.

The Lingshui River was the largest river in Guize Prefecture, flowing diagonally across the entire prefecture from northwest to southeast. Although not as wide as the Wuling River, it flowed year-round and never dried up, serving as a vital artery for troop movements and grain transport.

Due to its convenient ferry crossing, Duyakou was now the location of the largest granary for the defending forces.

If Duyakou was captured, and the Lingshui River was cut off, the seven cities downstream of the Lingshui River would become isolated, effectively severed from their lifeline. Surrender would be their only option.

Originally, the Xuanwei Camp would not have been able to attack Duyakou at this time because south of Duyakou lay a vast mountain range called Guling Mountain.

To attack Duyakou, one had to cross Guling Mountain.

Guling Mountain was precipitous, with dense forests and no human habitation. Legends said that even birds could not fly over it.

Aside from hunters who ventured into the mountains, ordinary people who entered would surely get lost and never find their way out, let alone an entire army.

According to the original plan, they were to advance hundreds of miles eastward, take a detour through Guling Pass, and then attack the seven cities downstream of the Lingshui River one by one.

At this time, Guling Pass was heavily fortified and on high alert. Attacking in this manner would not only consume time but also inevitably result in heavy casualties.

A few days prior, when the Xuanwei Camp captured a small town before Guling Mountain, Qin Sang learned from an old man who used to be a hunter in Guling Mountain that there was an ancient path within the mountain. Local legends said it was carved by the founding emperor of the previous dynasty during his military campaigns. It had since fallen into disuse and was now nearly a thousand years old, little known to anyone.

Qin Sang reported the intelligence about the ancient path and was then ordered to lead scouts into Guling Mountain to investigate. He had just entered and dispersed the scouts when he was called back.

The letter was signed with the Marshal's Seal, making it a military order.

Wu Chuanzong, who remained at the main camp, had not sent any prior notification. It was likely that the decision was made suddenly by the higher command of the Xuanwei Camp.

Seeing the troubled look on Qin Sang's face, Water Monkey knew that gathering all the dispersed scouts would not be a matter of a day or two. "General, what do we do now?"

Qin Sang pondered for a moment and said, "Old Zhou, you now send word to Zheng Kun and Zhang Wenkui. Hand over all personnel to them to manage. They are to remain in Guling Mountain and continue searching for the ancient path. You and I will return to the main camp together."

"Yes!"

Under the pouring rain, the two did not rest all night. They left Guling Mountain, mounted their horses, and returned to the main camp the next day at Chen Shi (7-9 AM).

Outside the main camp, Qin Sang sensed that something was amiss. The military camp had an unusual atmosphere of killing intent, and patrols were much stricter than usual.

The two arrived dusty and travel-worn. Qin Sang changed into his armor and was about to look for Wu Chuanzong in the camp when he found Wu Chuanzong waiting for him outside.

"Sir! Deputy General Feng personally came to find me and asked you to see him immediately upon your return to the main camp."

Qin Sang nodded and asked, "Have you found out what happened?"

Wu Chuanzong said shamefully, "This humble one is incapable. Late the night before last, the central army camp was suddenly sealed off. Heavy troops guarded it for twelve hours, and no one was allowed to approach without orders, or they would be killed without mercy. This humble one tried to gather information everywhere but could not obtain any accurate news."

Qin Sang noticed Wu Chuanzong's haggard face and dark circles under his eyes, knowing he had done his best. If there had been any changes in the central army, it was not something Wu Chuanzong could have known. He patted Wu Chuanzong on the shoulder and comforted him, "It's not your fault. Go rest first, I will go see Deputy General Feng."

Walking through the camp, Qin Sang watched the successive lines of soldiers, feeling strangely puzzled and hesitant.

He had not received any communication from the County Princess, so it was unlikely that the problem was in the rear.

However, even if there was a mutiny in the central army camp, it still posed considerable danger.

Qin Sang believed he was no longer an ordinary person, but if faced with hundreds of powerful crossbows, he could only close his eyes, and his death would surely be gruesome.

As he neared the central army camp, Qin Sang hesitated for a moment. He secretly summoned Yanwang and placed a wisp of his Spiritual Sense onto Yanwang, infiltrating the camp.

Yanwang quietly swept through the camp. It was not filled with the expected scene of deadly danger. Then, he guided Yanwang to Deputy General Feng's military tent.

Deputy General Feng was in his tent, with no ambush soldiers around. Qin Sang finally felt at ease.

By this time, he had reached the entrance of the central army camp. He took out his waist token. Despite his status as a Brigadier General, he still had to report to Deputy General Feng before being granted permission to enter.

"This humble subordinate pays his respects to General Feng!"

Seeing Deputy General Feng approaching from afar, Qin Sang immediately saluted.

"Brother Qin!"

Deputy General Feng hurried a few steps forward, took Qin Sang's arm, and said with some urgency, "You're finally back! Come with me quickly!"

The two walked into Deputy General Feng's tent arm in arm. Deputy General Feng cautiously looked outside before lowering his voice and delivering astonishing news. "The Commander has suddenly fallen gravely ill and is unconscious. He is on the verge of death and may not last a few more days!"

Qin Sang exclaimed, "Ah!" with a look of surprise. Of the two Commanders of the Xuanwei Camp, Wang Liu was merely the Right Commander. The Left Commander was the true commanding general, a master of military strategy, adept at marching, and strict with military discipline.

The Left Commander was a confidant of King Dongyang and was loyal only to the Prince. In his presence, only military matters were to be discussed. He maintained a neutral stance in the secret power struggles between the Heir Apparent and the County Princess.

With his suppression, Wang Liu dared not act recklessly or resort to trickery against Qin Sang.

Qin Sang took out the military order, "I only received this letter yesterday. Who is using the Marshal's Seal?"

Deputy General Feng said with an angry expression, "Before the Governor-General fell unconscious, he entrusted the military affairs to Wang Liu, including the Marshal's Seal and the Tiger Tally... He gave it all to him!"

Qin Sang fell silent.

The situation was now quite clear: it was only a matter of time before King Dongyang ascended the throne. Discussions about the Crown Prince had already begun in the small imperial court.

Regarding the position of Crown Prince, no one could contend with the Heir Apparent, and only the forces behind the County Princess could threaten him.

However, since the founding of Great Sui, there had never been a precedent for a hen crowing at dawn. It was easy to imagine which side these people would take.

When they were in Hening County, True Man Black Crane had secretly colluded with the Heir Apparent.

It was also normal for the Left Governor-General, in his dying moments, to hand over military power to Wang Liu as a gesture of goodwill towards the Heir Apparent, helping to forge a good connection for his descendants.