Chapter 398: Enemy Shadows Reappear

The chill of early spring had not yet fully retreated from the Northern Frontier, but beneath the vast light curtain that stretched north-south, separating reality from its reflection, the atmosphere suddenly grew tense.

Several False Song scout squads, using unstable small passages, slipped through the light curtain like ghosts and appeared in the Hebei border region controlled by the Chen Dynasty.

They did not assault cities directly, but specialized in attacking patrol units, assassinating isolated low-ranking officers, and spreading panic-inducing rumors.

Their moves were precise and ruthless, bearing the distinctive cold style of the Iron Crow Army.

"Your Majesty, the False Song villains exploit the light curtain's gaps to harass us repeatedly!"

The Vice Minister of War held the battle report, his voice tinged with suppressed anger.

"Within three days, four patrol squads have been ambushed, two squad leaders died for the country! Border soldiers and civilians are filled with dread!"

Upon the Dragon Throne, Chen Hong's face sank like water.

He deeply understood the strangeness of that light curtain and the methods of the Iron Crow Army.

The False Song's Zhao Guangyi doing this is not aimed at conquering cities and seizing territory, but rather to continually bleed and strike at the already low morale of the Great Chen, weakened by natural disasters.

"How is the research on light curtain passages progressing? Can it be sealed?"

Chen Hong looked toward the Minister of Works, Zhao Ting.

Zhao Ting stepped forward to report:

"Your Majesty, the Ministry of Works can already, with the aid of the Disturbing Crystal Tower, stably open small passages for elite squads or envoys to pass. However, the method for large armies to stably traverse is still under research. As for completely sealing the light curtain… we are incapable; this is beyond human ability."

Chen Hong nodded slightly; this result was as he had expected.

He turned his gaze to the array of generals and declared resolutely:

"Issue the order! The Northern Border Defense Command shall immediately adjust the border patrol strategy!"

"Increase elite forces, expand the alert zone; all patrol units must be equipped with strong bows and powerful crossbows, as well as the Demon-Dispelling Crossbow!"

"Closely monitor the light curtain's energy fluctuations; upon detecting any sign of a passage opening, immediately interfere with the Disturbing Crystal Disk and send beacon-fire warnings!"

"Against the infiltrated enemies, annihilate them completely! I want Zhao Guangyi to know that his tricks only increase casualties and are utterly useless!"

"I will obey your command!"

The officials' spirits were lifted.

The New Emperor's response both acknowledged the objective difficulties posed by the light curtain's existence and, based on current conditions, adopted the most effective countermeasures.

Within the Hidden Mountain Villa, Chen Wen gazed at the military report describing "infiltration via temporary light curtain passages," his fingers lightly tapping the table.

"Indeed… the infiltration of small elite forces is impossible to guard against."

He whispered, the Lv. 1 (2×) thought multiplier effect let him keenly sense the anomaly.

"But Zhao Guangyi choosing to act now with great fanfare seems more like a deliberate attempt to draw our attention."

He lifted his gaze to look at Qian Gui:

"The border commotion is too great, too obvious. The Iron Crow Army must have a more concealed backup plan."

"The Bone-Corroding has been initially checked by the Malady-Dispelling Ritual; they will certainly not resign themselves to it."

Qian Gui seemed to grasp something.

"Let those below not focus their eyes solely on the border."

Chen Wen's eyes were deep.

"Within the imperial court, especially those mid-level officials whose will may waver due to natural disasters or the earlier Bone-Corroding influence, we must pay special attention to any abnormal words or deeds recently."

"Yes!"

Qian Gui received the order and departed; the agents of the Peace and Stability Bureau immediately shifted their surveillance focus.

Several days later, a piece of information concerning the Transport Bureau's Chief Clerk He was sent to Chen Wen's desk.

This official, usually careful in speech and conduct, had recently been gathering privately in taverns, his words revealing dissatisfaction with court affairs, complaining that the young emperor's harshness caused repeated natural disasters, and even vaguely alluding to the False Song's "orthodoxy."

Chen Wen keenly caught the inconsistency therein.

These remarks, the rumors under the Bone-Corroding influence, and the Iron Crow Army's habitual sowing-of-discord tactics are exactly alike.

"Investigate whom he has recently contacted, especially unfamiliar faces. Also look into the background of that tavern."

The investigation results were shocking.

A newly hired zither player at the tavern, of unknown origin, highly skilled, especially adept at playing exotic tunes that can cause listeners' thoughts to drift.

Chief Clerk He only began to complain about court affairs after several sessions of listening to the zither.

Moreover, it is suspicious that the zither player's finger movements occasionally exhibit inhuman rigidity, with extremely strong counter-surveillance awareness.

"It is 'Shadow Corrosion'!"

Qian Gui's tone was grave.

"The Iron Crow Army uses feigned attacks via the light curtain to draw attention, while covertly conducting mental infiltration of mid-level officials!"

Chen Wen pondered for a moment, then made a decision:

"Let Chief Clerk He 'unexpectedly' receive an external assignment, temporarily withdrawing from Bian Liang."

"Send capable soldiers from the army to pose as drinkers and listen to the music, recording all details of the zither player, but do not startle the snake."

His arrangement was both safe and efficient, providing isolation protection while conducting deep investigation.

Chief Clerk He was transferred to a distant location to inspect grain transport storage.

The several veteran soldiers dispatched by Shi Dun, relying on the tenacious will forged in battlefield trials, stubbornly resisted the eerie zither's erosion, noting that the player's gaze occasionally lost focus during performance, and the notes carried an almost imperceptible chilling fluctuation.

The evidence chain gradually became complete.

"Notify Zhang Cheng and Wang Ru to, within appropriate scope, remind key officials to be wary of such gatherings named after music, the 'Elegant Gathering'."

A plot of mental infiltration targeting mid-level officials was dismantled the moment it first showed signs.

The Iron Crow Army's master's attempt to plant a nail within the Chen Dynasty's ruling elite was once again thwarted.

In the secret chamber, Chen Wen slowly exhaled a mouthful of turbid air.

Although he did not personally go to the front line, through precise intelligence analysis and Commander, he defused another crisis.

The footsteps of growth, in these repeated covert contests, are steadfast and ongoing.