Chapter 450

Chen dynasty, northern border, Zhenbei Pass.

The wind beyond the frontier carried the gritty sand and the gamey smell of the steppe, howling as it swept over the mottled city walls.

The garrison troops braved the wind, vigilantly patrolling inside and outside the pass, their eyes sharp as hawks, daring not to slack in the slightest.

Although a superficial peace had been reached with the Khitan, small-scale friction along the border never truly ceased.

Inside the commandant's residence at the pass, Shi Dun took off the scholar's robe he usually wore in Bianjing and changed into a set of mobile leather soft armor.

He was hunched over a huge map of the northern frontier, densely marked with recent Khitan cavalry activity zones, frequency, and troop deployments.

His thick brows knotted, his rough fingers moved back and forth over several locations where harassment repeatedly occurred.

"Something's off…"

He muttered to himself, his voice like a muffled thunder.

"These few Khitan cavalry scouts come too frequently, and… their tactics are cunning, not like those earlier brutes who only knew how to charge head‑on."

He picked up a stack of battle reports sent from the frontline scouts and border troops, and flipped through them again carefully.

"Three days ago, at Black Mountain Ravine. Over thirty Khitan riders accompanied herd horses to lure my patrol squad into an ambush; had the squad leader not been alert, withdrawing in time to hold the stone wall and precisely sniping their three leaders with the 'Drive‑away Yin Crossbow,' we would have suffered heavy losses."

"Five days ago, at the Horse‑Drinking River. A small contingent of Khitan elites swam across at night, trying to destroy my newly built beacon tower; discovered by a hidden post, they fought fiercely then fled, leaving behind arrow clusters of uniform make, unusually sharp, not something ordinary tribes possess."

"Seven days ago…"

One after another, item by item.

The scale was never large, but the tactics were flexible, the purpose clear—probe, harass, gather intelligence, even with a hint of… drill practice.

Moreover, the commander of these incidents seems to have a similar style, exhibiting a shrewdness and cunning beyond his years.

"Pass the order!"

Shi Dun snapped his head up and barked at the attendant guard standing beside him.

"Have Zhao Duotou of the forward scout camp come see me immediately! Make it quick!"

"Understood!"

Not long after, a dust‑covered officer with eyes as sharp as a leopard's strode in, clasping his fists in salute:

"General! Zhao Meng reporting for orders!"

"Commander Zhao, no need for formalities."

Shi Dun pointed at those several spots on the map.

"These Khitan rascals causing frequent trouble—you've been watching them these days; have you figured out their details? Especially the leader, who is he?"

Zhao Meng obviously had prepared, and immediately replied:

"Reporting to the General! I was just about to brief you!"

"These troops are indeed uncanny—coming and going like the wind, slippery; each time we set an ambush, they sensed it in advance and slipped away."

"As for the leader…"

He paused, a hint of gravity appearing on his face.

"Our brothers have several times caught a glimpse from afar; he seems to be a half‑grown lad, about sixteen or seventeen, but his horsemanship is superb, his archery deadly accurate. Most importantly, he is always accompanied by a few silent, battle‑hardened old soldiers, like guards, or perhaps… instructors?"

"A half‑grown lad?"

A gleam flashed in Shi Dun's eyes.

"Could you make out his banner or armor features?"

"His banner was not conspicuous, and his armor was no different from that of ordinary Khitan cavalry."

Zhao Meng strained to recall.

"However… once in a close‑quarters clash, he led the charge, fearless; in the chaos I seemed to hear a Khitan soldier shout in their native tongue… 'Zhuā lá'? Or 'Xiǎo Zhuā lá'? The distance was too great, the sound unclear."

"Zhuā lá?"

Shi Dun seemed to have some impression of that Khitan term, and he frowned in thought.

In Khitan language, 'zhuā lá' seems to mean 'warrior' or 'vigorous youth,' and is sometimes used as a title for young nobles.

A sixteen‑ or seventeen‑year‑old, brave and with cunning tactics, whom the Khitan soldiers call 'zhuā lá'—a young commander?

Shi Dun's heart gave a sudden jump.

He immediately began searching his memory for information about the Khitan's new generation of aristocratic heirs.

Relatives of Empress Xiao? Or scions of the Yelü imperial clan?

Suddenly, a name flashed through his mind like lightning—Yelü Zongzhen!

According to earlier scattered intelligence, this person is the nephew of the famed Khitan general Yelü Xiuge! He has been by Yelü Xiuge's side since childhood, immersed in his influence, and is highly regarded!

His age, status, and displayed military prowess… all seem to match!

"The nephew of Yelü Xiuge…"

Shi Dun's finger pressed heavily on the map at the area where that young man was most active.

"If it really is him… then the Khitan sending this lad to the frontier is certainly not mere harassment!"

He looked at Zhao Meng, his tone solemn:

"Commander Zhao, double the scouts and keep a tight watch on this 'Little Zhuā lá'!"

"Do not engage lightly; focus on tracking and observation!"

"I need to know where each of his arrows lands, where his horse hooves tread! I need to know exactly how many men are under his command, what equipment they have, and which tribes they are allied with!"

"Most importantly, ascertain his exact identity! Is he called Yelü Zongzhen!"

"Yes! General!"

Zhao Meng felt the gravity in Shi Dun's tone, solemnly accepted the order, turned and hurried away.

Shi Dun remained alone in the hall, his gaze returning once more to the map.

The situation in the northern frontier suddenly became delicate and tense because of a possible existence of a 'famous general's heir.'

Yeliu Xiuge, that Khitan hero who made the Chen dynasty's troops suffer a loss in Jizhou back then!

His nephew appearing at the border at this time is no coincidence.

Behind this, is it a probe of the Khitan internal power transition?

Is it Empress Dowager Xiao intentionally honing a new generation of star generals?

Or… is it the beginning of the Yeliu Xiuge faction trying to reestablish its prestige in the army?

Either way, for the Chen dynasty, it means a potential threat.

A few days later, the Guardians of the Villa meeting.

Shi Dun gave Chen Wen and the others a detailed report of the latest northern border findings, especially the intelligence concerning the young Khitan commander suspected to be Yeliu Zongzhen.

"……The situation is just like that."

Shi Dun concluded, his tone bearing the bluntness characteristic of soldiers.

"Although this youngster is young, his use of troops already shows cruelty and cunning; given time, he will surely become a serious threat."

"Moreover, I suspect his appearance is closely related to the movements of the Khitan internal affairs, especially the Yeliu Xiuge faction."

Zhang Cheng stroked his beard and pondered:

"Yeliu Xiuge…… this person's use of troops is indeed not to be underestimated."

"If his nephews have already begun to show promise, it shows the Khitan military tradition is not broken, and the new generation of wolf cubs have started to sharpen their teeth."

Wang Ru's concerns are more practical:

"We need to strengthen intelligence gathering on Khitan internal affairs, especially detailed information about Yeliu Zongzhen and the forces behind him."

"Know yourself and know the enemy, then you can respond."

Qian Gui nodded in agreement:

"Not bad. Peace in the northern border is hard-won; we absolutely cannot let a suddenly appearing kid break the balance."

Old Lazy Zhao muttered:

"It seems the border troops need to speed up the deployment of the You-repelling crossbow and the new scout scopes."

After hearing everyone's discussion, Chen Wen spoke slowly:

"Shi Dun's judgment is very important."

"As the descendant of a famous general, it often means a more systematic military upbringing and a firmer fighting will."

"The appearance of Yeliu Zongzhen is a signal."

"It reminds us that this Khitan enemy is not stagnant; they too are undergoing renewal and cultivating future claws."

He looked toward Shi Dun.

"The northern border defenses must therefore be adjusted."

"Strengthen surveillance and analysis of Yeliu Zongzhen's forces."

"Border defense strategy must shift from responding to ordinary harassment to guarding against organized, more strategically intentioned probing and provocation."

"When necessary, we can appropriately show weakness, lure the enemy deeper, and ascertain their true intentions and military limits."

"I understand!"

Shi Dun clasped his fists, a flash of battle intent in his eyes.

"I will not let this wolf cub run wild on our turf!"

Chen Wen's gaze turned westward, then slowly shifted northward.

"The Iron Crow Army is stirring up trouble in the False Song, using the Heavenly Scripture to confuse people's hearts."

"The Khitan are honing their new claws in the northern border, eyes gleaming like a tiger's."

"This internal and external situation is becoming ever more interesting."

His tone was calm, yet it carried a steadiness that perceived the whole situation.

"As for the False Song affair, we will respond to motion with stillness, planting seeds deep."

"As for the Khitan side, we must meet motion with motion, flex our muscles, and let this young 'descendant of a famous general' know that the Chen dynasty's border is not his hunting ground for fame and fortune."

After the meeting ended, a stream of new orders issued from the Guardians' level, flowing to the northern border's garrisons, frontier outposts, and the hidden posts lurking deep in the grasslands.

A net of surveillance and countermeasures targeting Yeliu Zongzhen and even the Khitan forces behind him silently unfurled.

The wind in the northern border seemed to blow tighter.

Everyone felt that beneath the border that had been calm for over a decade, a new undercurrent was gathering, ready to erupt.

And all of this stems from that young fledgling, like a fledgling hawk, beginning to show its talons in the northern skies—the descendant of a famous general.