Sudden Change

Qin Sang tapped off the ground and flew up to the treetop, meeting him on the way down.

"Old Zhou, what happened?"

"General Qin!"

The Water Monkey brightened at the sight of Qin Sang and shouted, "This subordinate has just received a message by carrier pigeon. The Commander has ordered General Qin to immediately lead everyone out of Guling Mountain and return to the main camp within three days."

Qin Sang frowned. "Why? Am I to return alone, or is everyone required to withdraw?"

The Water Monkey bounded over in several leaps and took an oilpaper-wrapped letter from his robes. "The letter says for the General to bring everyone back. It doesn't state the reason."

Qin Sang accepted the letter and read it carefully. Sure enough, it ordered him to lead all the scouts out of Guling Mountain within two days, its wording far more severe than the Water Monkey had made it sound.

Pinching the letter between his fingers, Qin Sang looked over the barren mountains around him, his heart full of doubt.

King Dongyang had already taken Xitai Prefecture. The armies were moving on every front, charging straight toward the three prefectures surrounding the Imperial Capital. The Xuanwei Camp had entered Guize Prefecture two months ago and conquered several cities in succession. Their current target was Duyakou.

Duyakou was actually a fairly sizable city. It had originally been a ferry crossing on the Lingshui River, then gradually developed over time.

The Lingshui River was the largest river in Guize Prefecture. It slanted across the entire prefecture from northwest to southeast. Though it was not as broad as the Wuling River, it flowed without cease throughout the year and had never run dry. The army relied on the Lingshui River for both marching and transporting provisions.

Because the crossing was convenient, the garrison's largest grain depot was now located in Duyakou.

If they took Duyakou and cut off the Lingshui River, the seven cities downstream would become isolated cities, their lifeblood severed. Other than surrendering, they would have no other path.

Originally, the Xuanwei Camp could not possibly have attacked Duyakou now, because a vast mountain range lay south of Duyakou—Guling Mountain.

To attack Duyakou, they had to cross Guling Mountain.

Guling Mountain was steep and perilous, its forests dense and its lands uninhabited. Legend said even birds could not fly across it.

Other than hunters who entered the mountain to hunt, ordinary people who went in would surely lose their way and die without finding a way out, much less an army.

According to the original plan, they were to advance several hundred li east, make a detour around Guling Pass, then fight their way through the seven cities downstream of the Lingshui River, one city after another.

Guling Pass was already heavily garrisoned and waiting in grim battle formation. Fighting that way would not only consume time, but would inevitably cause grievous casualties.

A few days ago, when the Xuanwei Camp took the small city before Guling Mountain, Qin Sang learned something from an old man who had once been a hunter in Guling Mountain. There had once been an ancient road within the mountain. Local legend claimed it had been carved out when the founding emperor of the previous dynasty marched his army through, but it had later fallen into disuse. Nearly a thousand years had passed, and few knew of it.

Qin Sang reported the intelligence about the ancient road, then received orders to bring scouts into Guling Mountain to investigate. They had only just entered and scattered the scouts when he was being summoned back.

The letter bore the Marshal's Seal. It was a military order.

Yet Wu Chuanzong, who remained at the main camp, had not sent word in advance. It was highly likely that the decision had been made suddenly by the upper ranks of the Xuanwei Camp.

Seeing Qin Sang's troubled expression, the Water Monkey knew that gathering all the scattered scouts would not be accomplished in a day or two. "General, what do we do now?"

After thinking for a moment, Qin Sang said, "Old Zhou, send word to Zheng Kun and Zhang Wenkui. Put all personnel under the command of the two of them. Have them remain in Guling Mountain and continue searching for the ancient road. You return to the main camp with me."

"Yes!"

Rain poured from the heavens. The two did not rest all night. After leaving Guling Mountain and mounting their horses, they finally returned to the main camp at the hour of the dragon the next day.

Before they even reached the main camp, Qin Sang sensed that something was wrong. An air of killing solemnity unlike anything before hung over the military camp, and patrols were far tighter than usual.

Covered in dust from the road, Qin Sang changed into armor and was about to seek Wu Chuanzong in the camp first when he discovered Wu Chuanzong waiting outside for him.

"Sir! Deputy General Feng came to find me personally and said that once you returned to the main camp, you were to see him immediately."

Qin Sang nodded and asked, "Did you find out what happened?"

Wu Chuanzong said shamefully, "Chuanzong is useless. Late the night before last, the central command camp was suddenly sealed off. Heavy troops guarded it around the clock. Without orders, no one was permitted to approach. Violators would be killed without mercy. Chuanzong made inquiries everywhere, but never obtained any reliable information."

Qin Sang noticed Wu Chuanzong's haggard face and the dark circles beneath his eyes. He knew Wu Chuanzong had done his utmost. If something had happened in central command, it was not something Wu Chuanzong could have learned about. He patted his shoulder and comforted him. "This is not your fault. Go rest first. I'll find Deputy General Feng."

As he walked through the camp, Qin Sang watched squad after squad of soldiers pass by. He found it strange, and hesitated somewhat.

He had received no message from the County Princess, so there should not have been a problem in the rear.

Still, even if a mutiny had erupted in the central command camp, the danger would be no small matter.

Qin Sang considered himself no longer an ordinary man, but if faced with several hundred powerful crossbows, he could only shut his eyes and await death. The sight of his corpse would surely be miserable.

As he neared the central command camp, Qin Sang hesitated briefly, then secretly summoned Yanwang. He laid a strand of divine sense upon Yanwang and had him infiltrate the camp.

Yanwang silently swept through the camp. There was none of the murderous, peril-filled scene Qin Sang had imagined. He then guided Yanwang toward Deputy General Feng's command tent.

Deputy General Feng was inside the tent, and there were no axe-wielding guards lying in ambush around it. Only then did Qin Sang relax.

By then, he had reached the gates of the central command camp. He presented his token, yet even with the rank of a participating general, he had to notify Deputy General Feng and receive permission before being allowed through.

"This subordinate greets General Feng!"

The moment he saw Deputy General Feng approaching from afar, Qin Sang immediately saluted.

"Brother Qin!"

Deputy General Feng hurried forward several steps and supported Qin Sang, his expression somewhat urgent. "You're finally back. Come with me, quickly!"

The two entered Deputy General Feng's command tent arm in arm. Deputy General Feng cautiously glanced outside before lowering his voice to deliver astonishing news. "The Commander suddenly fell gravely ill and lost consciousness. He is now at death's door. I fear he cannot hold on for more than a few days!"

Qin Sang gave an astonished cry. There were two Commanders in the Xuanwei Camp. Wang Liu was merely the Right Commander; the Left Commander was the true general who commanded the army. This man was well versed in military strategy, skilled at directing marches, and strict in military discipline.

The Left Commander was King Dongyang's confidant and served only the Prince. Before him, anyone was permitted to discuss only military affairs. As for the Heir Apparent and the County Princess secretly battling one another, he had always refused to take either side.

With him keeping Wang Liu in check, Wang Liu had not dared act recklessly or use schemes 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 angrily, "Before the Commander lost consciousness, he entrusted the army's affairs to Wang Liu, including the Marshal's Seal and the Tiger Tally... He gave them 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. Even now, people in the little court were discussing the matter of the Crown Prince.

Other than the Heir Apparent, no one could contend for the position of Crown Prince. Only the forces behind the County Princess could threaten him.

Yet since Great Sui was founded, there had never been a precedent of a hen crowing at dawn. It was obvious which side these people would stand on.

Back in Hening County, True Man Black Crane had secretly allied himself with the Heir Apparent.

With the Left Commander at death's door, it was perfectly natural for him to hand military authority to Wang Liu, show goodwill to the Heir Apparent, and forge a favorable bond for his descendants.