Wang Yan said nothing, merely looked toward Zhao Feng.
"Your original logistics camp hasn't been relocated yet, but I've arranged quarters for you at the main encampment."
"Also, tonight General Li Teng wants to see you. I'll send someone to inform you when the time comes," Wang Yan said slowly.
"Why does General Li want to meet me?" Zhao Feng asked.
"You'll know once you see him," Wang Yan replied.
"Alright." Zhao Feng nodded, asking no further questions.
"I'm leaving."
Wang Yan glanced at Zhao Feng again, and, seeing he had nothing else to say to her, felt a trace of disappointment in her heart. Without another word, she turned to leave.
But when she reached the entrance of the Wounded Soldier Camp—
Wang Yan stopped in her tracks.
"I truly entered the military to prove myself, but do you know why I must do so? Do you think this is what I want?"
With these words, carrying a deep-seated resentment, Wang Yan departed.
Zhao Feng, meanwhile, felt rather peculiar.
"How the hell should I know why you want to prove yourself? Is it necessary to direct so much resentment at me?" Zhao Feng thought inexplicably to himself; after all, he hardly knew her, but he could hear the grievance in Wang Yan's words.
Off to the side—
Master Chen was watching the departing Wang Yan with a cheerful grin, then turned to Zhao Feng.
"Kid."
"You're lucky with women, aren't you?" Master Chen chuckled.
"Lucky with women? What are you talking about?" Zhao Feng looked at Master Chen, confused.
"I know that girl—her background isn't simple. If she's taken a fancy to you, you'll be making it big soon," Master Chen teased.
"Mr. Chen, don't say nonsense. I don't really know her well."
"And what's this 'fancy or not' business." Zhao Feng retorted, not pleased.
"I heard someone rescued her during the chaos of battle. Didn't know who it was before—but now I do; turns out it was you, kid."
"A debt of life-saving!"
"That's a favor as big as Heaven itself; isn't this a stroke of fate?" Master Chen smiled.
Zhao Feng glanced at him, then went straight to treat the wounded.
Master Chen watched, his eyes glimmering with amusement: "Who could've thought! Wang Jian's beloved daughter has come to like someone; fifteen years old, just at the age to arrange marriage. The Great King intends to marry Wang Jian's daughter to Mr. Fusu."
"To escape this, she joined the army, hoping to change her fate by earning military merits."
"Wang Jian's daughter is truly an extraordinary woman."
...
Xianyang!
The solemn, majestic Great Hall of the King of Qin!
"Greedy for achievement, advancing recklessly, failing to send troops to hold Yang City, not clearing Yang City before pursuing."
"Letting Bao Yuan lead nearly ten thousand soldiers to hide in Yang City, attack our army's rear, and assault our supply routes."
"Li Teng."
"You've greatly disappointed I."
High above,
Ying Zheng's face was ashen, brimming with anger.
"Great King, please quell your anger."
All the ministers in the court raised their tablets and shouted in unison.
Bao Yuan's ambush from Yang City—
This was a setback in the campaign to destroy Han, one that could have been avoided, a definite stain on the conquest.
"Rest assured, Great King."
"Though Bao Yuan launched a surprise ambush, his forces are limited, and he faces none other than General Wang Jian."
"Even though our Qin supply route suffers some loss from this attack, it's not enough to hinder our conquest of Han." Yu Liao stepped forward and spoke loudly.
Ying Zheng nodded coldly, "Let us hope so!"
"The losses of this battle, Li Teng bears the blame."
"Let it be noted for now; the punishment will come afterward."
The war was at its most intense and critical phase to annihilate Han; Ying Zheng could not foolishly replace commanders mid-battle.
Just then—
"Report!"
A shout rang out beyond the King's Hall.
Courtiers cast anxious glances.
A Messenger holding the command flag rushed into the hall, carrying a bamboo tube, and on his back, a box.
"Urgent report from the Senior General."
"May the Great King review."
The Messenger bowed and quickly removed the bamboo tube from his back.
Ying Zheng's gaze immediately fixed upon him.
Zhao Gao stepped quickly down from the dais, took the bamboo tube, bowed deeply, then hurried up the steps.
Returning to Ying Zheng, Zhao Gao opened the bamboo tube, took out the urgent report slips inside.
"May the Great King review."
Zhao Gao knelt, holding out the report with both hands in submission.
Ying Zheng expressionlessly accepted, opened it to read.
Upon seeing the contents—
A trace of surprise appeared on Ying Zheng's face.
After finishing the reading—
Ying Zheng's formerly grim expression quietly transformed into a smile.
"Hahaha."
"Bao Yuan, Bao Yuan."
"All your plotting amounted to nothing," Ying Zheng laughed.
As he burst into laughter, the oppressive atmosphere in the hall was swept away.
The courtiers exchanged glances, understanding this urgent report must carry good news from Wang Jian.
"Great King."
"Did the Senior General annihilate Bao Yuan?" Li Si stepped forward and probed.
"Not only annihilated."
"Bao Yuan is dead as well."
"From this day forward, Han has no one left to halt the Qin army's advance," Ying Zheng laughed heartily, clearly delighted.
As the first nation to be unified by Qin's eastern campaign, Ying Zheng naturally attached great importance.
The first eastward battle could not afford defeat.
Li Teng's greed for achievement had indeed angered Ying Zheng.
"Congratulations, Great King."
"The fall of Han is close at hand."
The whole court praised in unison.
"General Wang Jian's ability to lead is unmatched by Bao Yuan."
"Bao Yuan may play risky tricks, but ultimately cannot withstand the might of our Qin Army," Yu Liao said with a smile.
"You're mistaken, Yu Qing."
"This victory was not General Wang Jian's doing," Ying Zheng said with a strange expression on his face.
"If Senior General didn't destroy Bao Yuan, who did? Was it Li Teng, realizing his mistake and returning to battle?" Yu Liao asked hurriedly.
"This battle's report will surprise all ministers."
Ying Zheng waved the urgent report in his hand and handed it to Zhao Gao: "Read it aloud!"
Zhao Gao promptly received the bamboo slip, faced the hall, and began to read aloud in a hoarse voice: "Your servant Wang Jian submits to the Great King!"
"In the battle for Yang City, Li Teng, greedy and rash, failed to leave heavy troops to garrison, thus giving Bao Yuan the opportunity to attack our army and assault Yang City."
"Bao Yuan's surprise attack caused our First Logistics Army to lose over nine thousand three hundred men out of ten thousand."
"But at the critical moment of rout, a valiant camp head from the logistics army acted, led his troops to fight the enemy, rallied all fleeing logistics soldiers to turn and face the enemy, with fewer than five thousand men, the logistics army managed to hold back over seven thousand elite Han troops, successfully supporting the arrival of the five thousand elite defenders of Yang City. Together, the forces annihilated the enemy."
"In this battle!"
"The logistics army fought bravely; though not elite, they are worthy of the name of Qin soldiers—this is a merit!"
"And the key to the logistics army's counterattack lay in one man."
...