By the time Yang Qing and Bu Er followed Suotu into the Central Army Tent, Jiang Zhizhou had already slipped across the ground separating the armies of Northern Liang and Western Chu and entered Northern Liang's camp.
His figure flitted like a phantom among the military tents, without stirring so much as a whisper.
The standoff between Northern Liang and Western Chu had lasted more than a month, and murmurs of discontent had begun spreading through the Northern Liang army.
But their commander was a favorite of the Regent King, so the Northern Liang soldiers only dared discuss the matter when no one else was around.
Inside one tent, however, someone was venting his grievances without restraint.
"How long does that brat Xiao Qian intend to hole up in this world of ice and snow?"
"If we stay here much longer, I'll have frost growing all over me."
Zhong Sun De paced irritably around the tent.
"Young Master Zhong Sun, please calm down. General Xiao is only trying to capture Yan Pass..." Someone beside him tried to soothe him.
"Capture Yan Pass? Do you think I'm some toothless vegetarian?"
"With his way of surrounding them without attacking, this battle won't be over even if we fight until next spring!"
"Young Master Zhong Sun, you mustn't say such things..."
Zhong Sun De's adviser was startled by his words. After looking around, he returned to Zhong Sun De's side and whispered, "Young Master Zhong Sun, Xiao Qian currently enjoys the Regent King's favor."
"If he says something to His Highness, His Highness might well form an unfavorable opinion of you..."
"Even without this incident, that fellow Xiao finds fault with every inch of me. Let's see what tricks he pulls this time to humiliate me!"
The adviser sighed repeatedly. "Young master, as