Chapter 454: How could I have forgotten him?

But…

She would not, out of worry, suppress the children's growth, nor would she let them shrink and hide.

Their growth requires them to piece it together bit by bit.

"Yes." General Jiang nodded.

That day, news from all sides kept coming, but the Southern Barbarian troops still showed no movement.

"Are the Southern Barbarians having second thoughts?" The wizard's voice carried a cold breath, making those around feel uneasy.

Xi Lang remained silent, saying, "Don't ask me; the people contacting the various countries aren't mine."

He was forced into the position; the king neither trusted him nor had any other capable generals to choose from.

The Northern Barbarians, Southern Barbarians, and the union of the three great nations—he only learned of this after setting out, and moreover, a wizard had been sent to monitor his army.

"You…" The wizard hiding in the black robe suddenly lifted his face and gave him a fierce look.

Xi Lang waved his hand indifferently, saying, "Whoever made the contact, let them verify it."

His problem was not as careless as it seemed on the surface; who belonged to the person who burned the granary?

The Northern Barbarians' army ran into an obstruction; it was the Jiang family army, but according to General Jiang's usual style, it could not be the Jiang family army's style.

Could it be the acting general, Jiang Fengsheng?

He pondered carefully, bit by bit; this female general, whose troop handling was divine—could it really be her?

Although Jiang Fengsheng had been on the battlefield and fought before, she had only ever served as a vanguard, never as a commander.

Everyone has their own marching style; for this female general of Da Ning, Xijiang has no records, so he can only analyze through various matters.

"It's almost time." Jiang Yun Chu gazed at the moon; the full moon hung high, the ground awash in silver-white, not knowing when it had already approached the fifteenth.

"Dean, are you worried about them?" Kang Zi Wei walked to the medical tent, and from the dean's angle, looked up at the round moon.

"No."

Jiang Yun Chu shook his head, saying, "Those few people each have their own plans."

"I'm just wondering what I would be waiting for if I were Xi Lang."

Wait for the Southern Barbarian great army? Even without it, with two nations against one, victory is already assured—why let the Southern Barbarians get a share?

"Are the Southern Barbarians wary of the prince?" Kang Zi Wei thought; her thinking was simple, her logic simple, she wouldn't overthink, and besides, the daily medical texts and herb names already left her overwhelmed—where would she find time to analyze so much?

"Ning Chengyan."

Jiang Yun Chu lowered his head, saying, "How could I have forgotten him?"

Even when writing letters, she instinctively forgot him; recalling their only friendly interaction—or rather, when she unilaterally began to be friendly—it was in Xi Xiang Cheng, in the Xijiang region, in the city overseen by the Great Prince.

Afterward, it seemed she had completely forgotten that person.

"He's been gone for three years—who still remembers?"

"No, Dean, many people still remember him; as long as his death isn't confirmed, fear lingers, trembling persists, even though he hasn't appeared in three years." Kang Zi Wei answered firmly.

At home, whether father or Second Uncle would often mention him—that astonishingly talented general who, by his own strength, guarded Da Ning's southern frontier.

Jiang Yun Chu sighed, not knowing what he was feeling; back then he just hadn't thought of him…

Or perhaps it was her instinct to avoid him?

The war dragged on, and Xijiang's army probed several times, each seeming like only minor skirmishes.

"Report!"

At that moment, the sound of a horse galloping at full speed came from afar; those blocking the way pushed the road open, and the rider held aloft a letter: "Southern emergency, request to see the general."

"Southern emergency, request to see the general."

"Southern emergency, request to see the general."

This person came riding from the south, shouting all the way; when he reached the military tent, he fell straight off his horse, and only then did everyone see that an arrow had struck his shoulder from behind—no one knew how long he had endured.

"Speak." Jiang Fengsheng dropped to one knee, supporting the fallen rider, his face grave.

"The Southern Barbarians fell for the Wang Fu army's stratagem, suffering heavy casualties, and while marching they encountered ambushes and harassment—now…"

"Now…"

That person hadn't finished speaking when he collapsed unconscious.

"Send him to the medical tent, spare no expense, we must save him!" Jiang Fengsheng stood, ordered the guards to take him to the medical tent, and she clenched the letter in her hand, feeling as heavy as a thousand jin.

"What strength could let him persist even after taking an arrow?"

"What strength lets him dare to faint only after seeing the commander-in-chief?" Kang Zhi Chun looked at that person, filled with emotion.

Jiang Fengsheng glanced at her, gave no answer, and slowly opened the letter; lest it get stained with blood, he even tore a piece of his clothing to wrap it.

"The Southern Barbarians dispatched over thirty thousand troops; the Wang Fu army dug traps and carried out ambushes, now reduced to fewer than twenty thousand soldiers, and they beheaded the commanding general, the Southern Wind Chief."

The letter was brief, yet its contents exceeded what the two had anticipated.

"Who now commands the Wang Fu army?" Jiang Fengsheng didn't quite understand; the Regent Prince had been missing for years, yet the Southern Barbarians still dared not invade Da Ning.

And when the Southern Barbarians supported Xijiang, the Wang Fu army immediately took action, killing over ten thousand in pits—this could not be achieved by a simple stratagem.

The person in command is crucial.

"Regent Prince, Ning Chengyan!" At that moment, General Jiang replied.

It was time to tell Sheng Sheng; the stage now belonged to the young, and he was getting old.

"Isn't he?" Jiang Fengsheng widened his eyes, recalling Yun Chu, whom he had saved in the medical tent—did Yun Chu know that person wasn't dead, that he was still alive?

Yun Chu…

Jiang Fengsheng was somewhat worried.

"It's a plot by His Majesty and the prince; I only learned last year that he has returned."

"Sheng Sheng, some things are better known only in the heart."

"The less known, the safer the Jiang army; as a frontier general, one must not only employ troops like a god, but also guard one's original heart."

A big tree attracts wind; to the south is His Majesty's younger brother, the Regent Prince.

To the north is His Majesty's junior martial brother, General Jiang.

Our Jiang family, do not let power blind our eyes; do not let temporary benefits befoul our hearts, thereby bearing a lifetime of infamy.

General Jiang, this is the first time I've said these things to Chiang Fengsheng.

Moreover, Your Majesty is sagacious, unlike the late emperor who favored literature over martial affairs; only then can our days be easy. As for the future...

General Jiang thought of that modest boy, only a handful of people know his true identity, while others are completely unaware, and his goal...

That day, they all heard what Kang Wu said.

He also harbored suspicions; if it were that child, then Da Ning would have no worries about lacking a future.