Chapter 552

Thirty li north of Xiangcheng, the forward outpost camp of the Yue Family Army.

The night was as dark as ink, a cold wind swept over the bare branches, producing a mournful wail.

The torches on the ramparts flickered unsteadily in the wind, casting light on the vigilant figures of the sentries.

In a withered grove about half a li outside the ramparts.

Several silhouettes blended into the night, lying hidden without a sound.

The leader was none other than Shi Dun.

He lay concealed behind a mound, his eyes like a hawk's fixed on the distant camp lights.

At his side followed three equally skilled Northward Aspiration army scouts.

"Chief, according to the previously arranged signal and location, the rendezvous point should be nearby."

One of his subordinates spoke in a low voice.

Shi Dun gave a slight nod.

This southern expedition was not a blind venture.

Even back when the decision was made to give large-scale aid to Yue Fei, and Shi Dun first made contact with Yue Yun carrying a secret letter.

Both sides had already agreed upon a set of emergency contact methods and a general rendezvous location.

This point lay on the edge of the Yue Family Army's defensive zone, relatively concealed, guarded by a few trusted troops absolutely trusted by Yue Fei.

He produced a specially made short whistle, held it in his mouth, and exerted subtle internal energy.

He blew a series of intermittent notes that were neither bird nor insect.

The sound was extremely low yet highly penetrating, carrying toward the camp through the night wind.

The whistle faded, the forest returned to silence, only the wind remained.

After about the time it takes to finish a cup of tea, the torches in the shadow of the opposite rampart suddenly flickered briefly three times.

The signal matched!

Shi Dun's spirits lifted, he signaled his men to stay put and keep watch.

He himself, like a civet cat, slipped silently down the slope, feeling his way toward the rampart.

He did not charge straight at the gate, but instead circled to a side where an ordinary-looking fence stood.

There, two men in dark cloaks, without obvious armor, were waiting.

The two sides quickly approached each other in the darkness, both remaining vigilant.

Shi Dun produced a jade ring engraved with the Northward Aspiration insignia.

One of them also produced a piece of iron shaped like half a tiger tally—

—which was a token possessed only by a few senior officers of the Yue Family Army.

"General Shi?"

That person asked in a low voice, the tone somewhat familiar.

Shi Dun peered closely in the faint starlight and recognized the man as a trusted officer serving beside Yue Yun.

His surname was Han; they had met before at the previous secret meeting.

"Colonel Han, it's me," Shi Dun replied in a low voice.

"Follow me, the Marshal is waiting."

Colonel Han said no more, immediately turned and led the way.

The other man stayed behind, making a few gestures toward where Shi Dun had come from, signaling the hidden men in the woods to stay calm and not act rashly.

Shi Dun followed Colonel Han, not entering through the camp gate.

But slipped in through a concealed side gate, moving swiftly through the shadows of the tents.

The Yue Family Army's camp was laid out with strict order; even at night, patrols came and went without cease.

But Colonel Han was obviously very familiar with the route and passwords, encountering no obstruction along the way.

Not long after, the two arrived before an inconspicuous small tent near the commander's grand tent.

Outside the tent it appeared deserted, but Shi Dun could feel at least four pairs of eyes covertly sweeping over him from different angles.

Colonel Han stopped outside the tent and spoke in a low voice.

"General Shi, please enter; the Marshal is already inside. I will remain outside to stand guard."

Shi Dun nodded, straightened his slightly disheveled attire from the night trek, took a deep breath, lifted the tent flap, and stepped inside.

Inside the tent two oil lamps burned, giving a light that was not particularly bright.

Yue Fei stood with his back to the tent entrance, before a hanging map of Jianghuai, appearing lost in thought.

He wore no armor, only a simple green cotton robe, his stature straight as a pine.

Hearing the footsteps, Yue Fei turned around.

His face was somewhat gaunter than when Shi Dun had last seen him, with faint shadows under his eyes.

Yet his eyes remained bright and sharp, as if they could see into a person's heart.

"General Shi, thank you for braving the night to come here."

Yue Fei clasped his hands, his tone calm yet carrying an intangible pressure.

He exchanged no pleasantries, evidently knowing that Shi Dun's visit must concern something extremely urgent.

Shi Dun also returned the salute solemnly.

"Marshal Yue, sorry for the disturbance. In fact, my lord has recently sensed a grave hidden worry concerning your safety, and dared not delay, thus ordering me, Shi Dun, to rush here by night to give warning."

"Oh?"

Yue Fei's eyes narrowed slightly, he gestured for Shi Dun to sit.

"Master Chen, what is your advice? Could it be that the Jin barbarians in the north have moved again? Or perhaps the Imperial Court..."

He had not finished speaking, but when he mentioned the two words "Imperial Court", his tone sank imperceptibly for a moment.

Shi Dun did not sit down immediately, but instead took out a letter sealed tight with wax from his inner clothing and presented it with both hands.

"This is a letter personally written by my lord, containing detailed explanation."

My lord said, this matter is perilous, not comparable to weapons on the battlefield; it arises from within the walls, and disaster lurks at the time of celebration.

The key lies in the three words "Wind-Wave Pavilion", and in the charge of "baseless accusation".

"Wind-Wave Pavilion?"

Yue Fei took the letter, but did not immediately open it, his brows furrowed deeply.

Having long been in official circles, he naturally understood what "within the walls" and "baseless accusation" meant.

But this "Wind-Wave Pavilion"... he vaguely recalled that somewhere in Lin'an Huangcheng there seemed to be an inconspicuous little pavilion by that name, though he could not at once recall exactly where.

"Exactly."

Shi Dun said in a low voice, presenting the fragments Chen Wen had seen in the "script review".

He transformed them into a warning based on intelligence analysis and situation deduction, and elaborated in detail.

He described the recent unusually frequent activities of the False Song Imperial Court's peace faction, and their close collusion with the Censorate officials;

pointing out that Yue Fei's continual victories have made the peace faction sit on pins and needles, further exposing their incompetence, and they must eliminate him as soon as possible;

He speculated that the opposing side's possible tactics were nothing more than fabricating charges, framing him with "overbearing", "liaising with Hebei", "holding troops to self-aggrandize", and even "harboring treacherous intent";

Finally he pointed out that all these signs and intelligence fragments pieced together vaguely pointed to a meticulously plotted frame-up scheme symbolized by the "Wind-Wave Pavilion".

The aim was not only to seize military command, but also to utterly destroy Yue Fei himself and the will to resist Jin that he represented.

Shi Dun's account was logical and tightly linked, though he did not mention any "foreknowledge" or "intuition".

Yet he perfectly embedded the fragments Chen Wen had seen into a profound analysis of the current situation.

Yue Fei listened silently, his face growing ever darker.

He opened the letter and skimmed it quickly.

Chen Wen's words in the letter were earnest, citing "sharing the heart to resist Jin" and "unwilling to see the pillar that holds up heaven destroyed by slanderers" as his reason.

He again emphasized the danger Shi Dun had spoken of, and put forward several concrete suggestions:

including strengthening his own guard, paying attention to unusual troop movements by the Imperial Court, and retaining an emergency liaison channel with the Northward Aspiration Army in the north.

even considering, if absolutely necessary, "to temporarily avoid the sharp edge and wait for the right moment", etc.

Inside the tent all was silent, except for the occasional faint crackling of the lamp wick.

After a long while, Yue Fei slowly placed the letter on the table, lifted his eyes to look at Shi Dun, his gaze complex.

"Mr. Chen's concern, I am deeply grateful."

"What is said in the letter and by General Shi, and the undercurrents I have recently felt, are largely corroborated."

His voice was low, carrying a faint fatigue and chill not easily noticed.

"Twelve imperial edicts urging 'hold steady' and 'do not greedily seek merit and advance' have arrived, three of them this month."

Censorate memorials impeaching Yue Fei for 'monopolizing power' and 'wasting grain supplies' flew to Lin'an like snowflakes.

Yue Fei only thought it was ordinary obstruction, never expecting……

"Their murderous intent has reached such a point that even my posthumous reputation must be thoroughly defiled."

He rose to his feet, walked to the edge of the tent, and gazed at the dark night outside.

"Wind-Wave Pavilion... what a Wind-Wave Pavilion."

Yue Fei murmured, his tone revealing deep irony and sorrow.

"Yue Fei wholeheartedly looks northward, hoping to avenge the Jingkang humiliation, welcome back the two sages, and recover the lost territories."

"But... but on the court of our own dynasty, the storm first arose."

Shi Dun remained silent.

He could feel the young commander's heavy sense of helplessness and resentment.

"General Shi..."

Yue Fei suddenly turned, his eyes becoming sharp and resolute once more.

"Please tell Mr. Chen that Yue Fei thanks him for his warning and kindness."

"However, as a subject of the Song, having received the state's great grace, commanding the great army and resisting Jin to defend the people is his duty."

"If the Imperial Court issues a clear decree, Yue Fei will naturally obey."

"If one day he is falsely charged……"

He paused, then spoke each word clearly.

"Yue Fei will not stretch his neck to the slaughter, nor sit idly by while the great cause of resisting Jin is destroyed by the hands of traitors!"

"Then, perhaps truly needing Mr. Chen and the righteous scholars of Northward Aspiration to extend a helping hand."

These words almost clearly expressed a willingness to cooperate in the worst-case scenario, and also meant Yue Fei's heart.

That absolute "loyalty to the ruler" principle, before the harsh reality and the Northward Aspiration Army's continual display of righteousness.

A crack has already appeared.

Shi Dun's heart was set, knowing that the most crucial purpose of this journey had already been achieved.

"Marshal Yue, rest assured, my lord and the entire Northward Aspiration Army will surely be your most reliable rear support."

"Whether supplies, intelligence, or... a retreat route when necessary, if there is need, we will spare no effort."

Afterwards, the two further discussed in depth the details of the current situation, the movements of False Qi, and the subsequent material handover of the Northward Aspiration Army, as well as safer channels.

Until the eastern sky showed a hint of fish-belly white, only then did Shi Dun, under the escort of Colonel Han, quietly leave the Yue Family Army camp, meet with his forest subordinates, and vanish into the morning mist of the southward march.

Yue Fei walked to the outside of the tent, gazed in the direction where Shi Dun had disappeared, then lowered his head to look at the sealed letter in his hand, and gripped it tightly.

The mountain rain is about to come, the wind fills the tower.

Northward Aspiration envoy brought not only a warning, but also a light that pierces the mist, letting him see clearly the sinister hidden reefs lurking deeper ahead.

The road ahead, how should we go?

He looked northward, that was the direction where his homeland had fallen, and also…… the direction where Black Cloud Stronghold is located.

In his gaze, resolve and contemplation intertwined.