Chapter 550

As dawn light just seeped through the window lattice, Chen Wen summoned the core few to the council hall.

Shi Dun and Wang Ru, of course, Chao Gai, Lin Chong, and Wu Yong also arrived quickly.

Doors and windows shut tight, the personal guard stood watch outside.

Chen Wen took the main seat, his gaze sweeping over everyone, and got straight to the point: "I summoned you because I have an extremely ominous feeling about the future of General Yue in the south."

Everyone's expression tightened.

"'A feeling?'"

Shi Dun pressed further, he being the one who had the deepest contact with Yue Fei.

Chen Wen nodded, his expression grave: "It's not divination, but recent signs, especially after that aberrant ritual in the cave, I sensed something and caught glimpses of fragmented traces."

He paused briefly, letting that name sink in the air.

"'I saw' beneath the official hall corridors, withered shadows thick, I saw a stalwart figure in cangue and shackles being shoved into that pavilion."

I also saw turbid waves rolling, armor sinking and rising, a sigh of unwillingness piercing straight to the vitals.

Chen Wen's speech was slow, yet each word like an icepick, stabbing into everyone's ears.

"'Wind-Wave Pavilion,' 'Baseless,' 'Sunk in the River'... these words."

With General Yue's current situation and the conduct of those in the False Song court, what do you think they might refer to?

The hall fell dead silent in an instant.

Chao Gai's tiger eyes widened, his fists clenched until they cracked, squeezing out words from between his teeth: "They... they dare?!"

Lin Chong's face turned deathly pale, his breathing grew heavier.

The old events of Dongjing, before the Marshal's mansion, that icy feeling of injustice seemed to rush back instantly; he could best understand its meaning.

"'When the birds are gone, the bow is put away.'"

Wu Yong's feather fan stilled, his voice grew low.

General Yue's consecutive victories have made him a thorn in the eye of our court's peace faction, a spike in the flesh of the Jin.

If someone conspires inside and out, fabricating charges... the three words 'Baseless' are enough to topple a pillar holding up the sky.

Wang Ru said coldly: "The Iron Crow Army accelerating the timeline may indeed be pushing such a 'node'."

Eliminating Yue Fei is both to snuff out the fiercest fire of resistance against the Jin, and to warn anyone deviating from the 'script'.

Shi Dun drew a deep breath, looking at Chen Wen: "My lord, this feeling... is it true?"

"'My heart surges, as if I had witnessed it myself.'"

Chen Wen's tone was firm.

"'Even if there is deviation, the danger it points to cannot be ignored. General Yue is already at the brink of a cliff.'"

"'What should we do?' Chao Gai asked urgently, 'Can we just watch Yue brother come to harm?'"

"'This is precisely today's agenda.' Chen Wen swept his gaze over every face."

My resolve is set: no matter the cost, I will expend all effort to overturn this 'fateful calamity' of General Yue.

From now on, he will be formally enrolled in our core intervention and protection, not merely covert aid, but requiring careful planning before action to help him break the impasse.

He slightly raised his voice: "This move goes against the 'script' guarded by the Iron Crow Army; it will surely provoke their frenzied backlash, fortune uncertain. Ladies and gentlemen, are you willing to join?"

Lin Chong stepped forward, clasped his fists, a faint bloodshot in his eyes, yet his voice steady as stone: "I, the subordinate, am willing to go! Such injustice I have personally endured; how could it be allowed to befall General Yue? Even if the road ahead is blades and fire, I will not hesitate!"

"'Saving Yue brother is defending the backbone of Northward Aspiration!' Chao Gai slammed the case and rose, 'Not a soul in Black Cloud Stronghold fears trouble!'"

Shi Dun solemnly: "I am familiar with the southern situation and General Yue's character; I wish to go south again, to warn him in person and discuss countermeasures."

Wang Ru concisely: "I will monitor court and countryside, clear the joints, transmit messages."

Wu Yong pondered: "This matter requires meticulous planning. On one side, we will strive to help General Yue avoid disaster; on the other, we may use this opportunity to further unite hearts and strengthen our Way. Within crisis also lies opportunity."

Seeing everyone without the slightest hesitation, instead showing a united hatred of the enemy, Chen Wen felt resolved.

"'Good! Since it is so, we will unite our hearts and exert our strength to carry out this undertaking against the current!'"

He immediately deployed:

"'Shi Dun, prepare at once, take a batch of urgently needed military supplies and new equipment, and secretly head south.'"

"'The primary task is to personally meet Yue Fei and give a solemn warning.'"

"'How to reveal it is up to your discretion, but the peril of the Wind-Wave Pavilion must be made known and believed.'"

"'Yes!' Shi Dun accepted the order."

"'Wang Ru, mobilize all reliable eyes in the south, focus monitoring the core of the False Song peace faction and those possibly colluding with the Iron Crow Army. At the same time, try to establish an emergency communication channel near Yue Fei.'"

Wang Ru, mobilize all reliable agents in the south, focus monitoring on the core of the False Song loyalist faction and those possibly colluding with the Iron Crow Army. Meanwhile, try to establish an emergency communication channel near Yue Fei.

"'Mr. Wu, Instructor Lin, King Chao of Northward Aspiration, the Northward Aspiration army headquarters' training, defense, and war preparations must be intensified. At the same time, prepare to receive Shi Dun and respond to sudden changes in the south, especially... the transfer and reception of personnel when necessary.'"

Mr. Wu, Instructor Lin, Chao Tianwang, the Northward Aspiration Army headquarters must intensify training, defense, and war preparations. Meanwhile, make preparations to receive Shi Dun and to respond to sudden changes in the south, especially... the reception of personnel transfers when needed.

Chen Wen added: "Furthermore, we still need one item to serve as the key for long-range support."

He took out an ancient, simple jade pendant he carried on his person and placed it on the table.

"'This is a pendant I have long nurtured with my own Fortune Momentum since early days; I have made several by this method, giving them to Lin Chong, Xiao Er, and other core brothers, so that we may remotely sense each other's Fortune Momentum fluctuations and know their safety.'"

Everyone nodded, they knew this. Lin Chong even subconsciously touched the similar pendant in his pocket.

"'Now my realm has risen, my understanding of this Way deeper.' Chen Wen continued."

"'Perhaps we can use such objects carrying Fortune Momentum imprints as a medium, at critical moments, to transmit a faint bit of aid across great distances.'"

"'Although the effect cannot compare to bestowing it in person, it might yet work wonders in a moment of crisis.'"

Chao Gai's eyes lit up: "There is actually such a marvelous use?"

"'It is still a conception, needing verification and refinement.'"

Chen Wen said.

Chen Wen said.

"I have already had Zhao Lao Nian prepare the suitable materials. He previously took great interest in the material of the jade pendants we use and how it changes after warming, and has done some research; he may have experience in identifying and preliminarily processing the materials."

But to set the core link of the 'mark', I still need to do it myself.

He looked at everyone: "If the initial verification succeeds, it will be given priority for use in the south. This item could become a crucial trump card at a critical moment."

"That's excellent!"

Wu Yong praised.

"One more preparation brings one more measure of confidence."

The discussion has reached this point; the direction is now clear.

Everyone said no more, each receiving their orders and departing in haste, all aware that time is pressing.

Chen Wen sat alone in the hall for a moment, then put the jade pendant away again.

He stepped out of the council hall; the autumn sun was high, illuminating the mountain peaks clearly, yet it could not pierce the mass of clouds gathering to the south.

"Yue Pengju…"

He gazed southward, his eyes calm and resolute.

"The tribulation of the Wind-Wave Pavilion, we will overcome it together."

The mountain wind swept over the stockade walls; amidst the howling, the resolve to move against the current had already been set like a rock.

And greater storms already loomed on the southern horizon, faintly revealing their ferocious outlines.