Chapter 14: Frontline Bad News

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One-touch audio narration.

Outside Suhong Hall was a small garden.

As the father and son passed through the garden gate, they happened to see two figures inside the hall.

He Chunhua tilted his head slightly, his voice low: "Are these the two we saw in the street the day before yesterday?"

He Lingchuan also saw the guests and quickly nodded: "Yes, it's them!"

That day, these two had ridden their horses recklessly through the busy market, almost trampling children, before galloping out of the city gate towards the northeast.

He Chunhua hadn't returned home for the past two days, so He Lingchuan hadn't had a chance to report it. He hadn't expected his father to already know.

Who could have informed him?

Most likely Uncle Hao.

He Lingchuan once again felt his father's meticulous control, extending to both his two sons and Blackwater City.

It seemed a bit frightening.

Stepping into the hall, He Chunhua looked at the two uninvited guests. "May I ask, where do you hail from?"

The young man in white robes, whom He Lingchuan had seen the day before yesterday, was now dressed in a lake-green brocade robe with silk embroidery on the lapels. Such formal attire was clearly meant to show respect for the local host.

He also finally saw the true face of the man in gray.

This person was nearly sixty years old, tall and thin, with graying hair and beard. His eyes, however, were remarkably bright, as if they could see directly into people's hearts and uncover their most hidden secrets.

The young man smiled. "I am Nian Songyu, Deputy Military Commissioner of Yuecheng, Xunzhou Prefecture, sent here by my father, Nian Zanli!" Then he introduced his companion, "This is Grand Imperial Tutor Sun Fudong of the Great Kite Kingdom!"

Even with He Chunhua's exceptional composure, he couldn't help but be greatly surprised and moved. "What!"

Nian Songyu's presence was one thing; He Chunhua already knew that Governor Nian Zanli of Xunzhou would send someone. He simply hadn't expected it to be Nian Zanli's second son.

As for Grand Imperial Tutor Sun appearing, that was truly far beyond his expectations.

A Grand Imperial Tutor!

The Kite Kingdom had a total of three Grand Imperial Tutors, each possessing unfathomable abilities.

Normally, they assisted the monarch in regulating the nation's destiny. In wartime, they were the most terrifying weapons, capable of deciding the outcome of a battle with a single strike if the timing was right.

As the ultimate aspiration for many mystics, Grand Imperial Tutor Sun should have been enjoying his offerings in the capital. Why would he suddenly come to such a barren land?

He Chunhua, disregarding propriety, stared intently for a long while before exhaling a breath. "It truly is Grand Imperial Tutor Sun. Please forgive my rudeness!"

Sun Fudong smiled slightly. "At the Heaven-Worshipping Ceremony twenty years ago, I remember Ritual Officer He attending with his third grandson—that would be you!"

"Things have changed, and people are different." He Chunhua said with a hint of emotion, then turned and pointed to his eldest son. "My unworthy son, He Lingchuan."

He had lived in the capital for over a decade and had seen Grand Imperial Tutor Sun on many occasions. Twenty years had passed, and Grand Imperial Tutor Sun had aged, but his features were still recognizable; He Chunhua recognized him after a second look.

He Lingchuan could only step forward and pay his respects.

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

"Indeed?" Sensing the meaningful tone, He Lingchuan immediately smiled even more brightly. "It seems Deputy Commissioner Nian and I are destined."

He Chunhua looked surprised. "What, you two have met?"

Before Nian Songyu could speak, He Lingchuan quickly interjected. "Father, you don't know, the day before yesterday, I was eating by the street when I coincidentally saw these two distinguished guests passing by. The street was bustling then, and Deputy Commissioner Nian even saved a child from being trampled!"

Uncle Hao, who had just stepped into the back hall, twitched his face upon hearing this.

He Chunhua uttered an "Oh." "So that's how it is. Deputy Commissioner Nian is talented in his youth and, moreover, genuinely benevolent."

The four of them exchanged smiles, pretending to be oblivious to what they clearly understood.

He Lingchuan, however, understood very well that Nian Songyu's official rank was higher than his own, and Nian Songyu's father's position was also higher than his own father's. The small incident from the day before yesterday needed to be glossed over, and they should get straight to the point as soon as possible.

After all, he had a premonition that the main topic would not be pleasant.

Nian Songyu smiled and, as expected, didn't bring up the matter again. "Lord He, the Grand Imperial Tutor and I are on an important mission. We traveled for three days and three nights to get here."

He Chunhua was also very considerate. "You two must be exhausted from your journey. Please stay at White Stone Tower tonight; it's the best guesthouse in Blackwater City." After speaking, he turned and called a servant to bring fresh hot tea to the two guests.

Seeing that He Chunhua didn't ask questions, Nian Songyu had to continue himself. "This mission, I'm afraid, will require Lord He's assistance."

He Chunhua hummed. "I'd like to hear the details."

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

He Chunhua was greatly shocked, almost leaping up. He disregarded propriety. "What did you say! Woling Pass has been breached?"

Woling Pass? He Lingchuan immediately searched for this place name in his mind, but his original self hadn't seemed to pay much attention to it, only knowing that it appeared to be in the central part of the Kite Kingdom, with rivers, mountains, and water nearby.

"How is this possible?" He Chunhua said gravely. "I heard that the rebel forces from Buxin and Hongchuan converged in May and began attacking Woling Pass. But Woling Pass occupies a natural stronghold; it has been repeatedly reinforced over the past decade and is easy to defend yet difficult to attack. Furthermore, the defender, Zhao Ronglue, is known as 'General Iron Barrel,' with well-trained troops and ample provisions. How could he be easily breached by mere bandits?"

In his estimation, Woling Pass should have been able to outlast the rebellion for at least one or two years, by which time the bandit problem would resolve itself.

"Lord He, living 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, 'General Iron Barrel' was wounded in his right eye during the chaotic battle and died of his injuries. With his death, the army's morale collapsed, and internal conflict erupted among the generals, allowing the rebel army to seize the opportunity to attack the city. Half a month ago, an inside agent secretly opened the city gates and let the rebel army in."

Such a crucial stronghold had fallen without being truly overcome. Suhong Hall was quiet, save for the intensifying breathing of Governor He.

"As you know, Woling Pass is vital to the central heartland of the Kite Kingdom," Nian Songyu said, staring at him. "It guards Fengling Ferry, the most important crossing on the Hongchuan River. It's now the high-water season, and after several torrential summer rains, the river is surging. If the rebel army proceeds downstream, they can bypass the numerous checkpoints along the banks and land directly at Shihuan City downstream—"

He said word by word, "From there, it's only fifteen li to the capital!"

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

He explained it very clearly, and even He Lingchuan, who didn't know much about the geography of the Kite Kingdom, felt the seriousness of the situation. His family lived far in the frontier, guarding the nation's gate for the emperor. But if the capital fell, what would be the point of them guarding here so diligently?

He Chunhua felt that all he exhaled was cold air. "Where is the rebel army now?"

"Still at Woling Pass."

Hmm? Both He Chunhua and his son were taken aback. The rebels had finally captured Woling Pass, but didn't press on? Speed is crucial in warfare.

But He Chunhua quickly realized, "Is there a problem with the waterway?"

"Zhao Ronglue's deputy, Xu Dayou, rallied the remaining troops as the city fell and burned all the boats in the dock. Even though the rebel army captured Woling Pass, they have no boats available. It has been mostly rainy recently, and felling timber and building new boats will take at least fifty days."

"Ultimately, it is heaven's mercy that has granted us this time. Now, armies from all regions are rushing to Woling Pass, but the situation is not optimistic," Grand Imperial Tutor Sun Fudong interjected. "Whether the Great Kite Kingdom's reign can continue may depend on these fifty days."

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