Sudden Turn

Qin Sang pushed off with his toes, flew up into the treetops, and descended to meet him. "Old Zhou, what happened?" "General Qin!" Relief broke across Water Monkey's face when he saw Qin Sang, and he called out loudly, "I just received a message by carrier pigeon! The General Commander has ordered you to withdraw your men from Mount Guling immediately and return to the main camp within three days!" Qin Sang frowned at the news. "For what reason? Am I supposed to return alone, or is everyone ordered to withdraw?" Water Monkey bounded over in several leaps and pulled an oilpaper-wrapped letter from his robes. "The letter says you must bring everyone back, General. It doesn't give any reason." Qin Sang took the letter and read through it carefully. Sure enough, it commanded him to withdraw all scouts from Mount Guling within two days, and the phrasing was far sterner than Water Monkey's tone had suggested. Clutching the letter, Qin Sang looked out at the desolate mountains all around, his mind filled with doubt. Prince Dongyang had already taken Xitai Commandery, and the various rebel forces were advancing together, driving straight toward the three commanderies of the Imperial Capital. The Xuanwei Battalion had entered Guize Commandery two months ago and captured several cities in quick succession. Now, their target was Duyakou. Duyakou was actually a fair-sized city. Originally a ferry crossing on the Lingshui River, it had grown over time. The Lingshui River was the largest waterway in Guize Commandery, cutting diagonally across the entire territory from northwest to southeast. Though not as broad as the Wuling River, it flowed year-round without ever running dry, and troop movements as well as supply transports all relied on its waters. Because of the convenient ferry crossing, the defending army's largest granary was located at Duyakou. If they took Duyakou and severed the Lingshui River, the seven cities downstream would become isolated garrisons. Their lifeline cut, they would have no choice but to surrender. Originally, it should have been impossible for the Xuanwei Battalion to strike at Duyakou now, because south of the city lay a massive mountain range called Mount Guling. To attack Duyakou, one had to cross Mount Guling. The range was rugged and steep, choked with dense jungle and devoid of human tracks. Legend had it that not even birds could fly across. Except for local hunters who ventured into the wilderness, ordinary folk who entered were certain to lose their way and perish inside, to say nothing of a full army. According to the original plan, they were supposed to march hundreds of li eastward, bypass the range through Guling Pass, and then conquer the seven downstream cities along the Lingshui River one by one. Yet heavy troops were already stationed at Guling Pass, waiting in full battle readiness. Taking that route would not only consume immense time, but also inflict catastrophic casualties. A few days ago, when the Xuanwei Battalion took the small city before Mount Guling, Qin Sang had learned a piece of intelligence from an old man who had once hunted in the range: an ancient road wound through Mount Guling, which local legend claimed had been carved out during a military campaign by the founding emperor of the previous dynasty. Later abandoned, it had fallen into obscurity for nearly a thousand years and was known to almost no one. Qin Sang had reported the information about this ancient road and was subsequently ordered to lead the scouts into Mount Guling to reconnoiter. Yet they had only just entered and fanned out when the recall arrived. The letter bore the commander's seal at the bottom; it was an official military order. Wu Chuanzong, who remained behind in the main camp, had sent no advance word, which meant this was very likely a sudden decision made by the Xuanwei Battalion's high command. Seeing Qin Sang's troubled look, Water Monkey knew that gathering all the dispersed scouts was not something that could be done in a day or two. "General, what do we do now?" Qin Sang pondered for a moment before speaking. "Old Zhou, send word to Zheng Kun and Zhang Wenkui at once. Hand all the men over to their command to remain in Mount Guling and continue searching for the ancient road. You return with me to the main camp." "Understood!" *** Rain poured in torrents. The two did not rest the entire night. Once out of Mount Guling, they mounted horses and pushed through until the hour of the dragon the next morning, when they finally reached the main camp. Even before entering, Qin Sang sensed that something was amiss. The camp carried an unusually somber, tense atmosphere, and patrols were far tighter than ordinary. Covered in dust and grime from travel, Qin Sang changed into his armor and was about to head into the barracks to find Wu Chuanzong, only to spot Wu waiting for him outside. "Mister! Vice General Feng came in person to find me, instructing that as soon as you returned to the camp, you must go see him immediately!" Qin Sang nodded and asked, "Have you found out what happened?" Wu Chuanzong said in shame, "I am useless. Late the night before last, the central command camp was suddenly sealed off, heavily guarded around the clock. No one is permitted near without orders on pain of death. I asked all around, but I couldn't get any reliable word." Qin Sang noticed Wu Chuanzong's haggard face and dark circles under his eyes, knowing the man had done his best. If some crisis had occurred in the central command, it was beyond someone of Wu Chuanzong's standing to uncover anyway. He patted his shoulder and reassured him, "It's not your fault. Go rest first. I'll go see Vice General Feng." Walking through the camp, Qin Sang watched squad after squad of soldiers march past, secretly bewildered and somewhat hesitant. He had received no communication from the princess, so the trouble likely did not stem from the rear. Even so, if a mutiny had broken out in the central command, serious danger remained. Qin Sang knew he was no longer an ordinary mortal, but if faced with hundreds of powerful crossbows, he could only shut his eyes and accept a gruesome death. As he neared the central command camp, Qin Sang hesitated for a moment, then discreetly summoned Yanwang. Shrouding a strand of spiritual sense over the spirit, he sent it gliding into the camp. Yanwang swept quietly through the grounds. It was not the ambush-ridden scene of slaughter he had imagined. He guided Yanwang toward Vice General Feng's military tent. Vice General Feng was inside, and there were no hidden axemen lying in wait. Only then did Qin Sang relax. By now, he had reached the gates of the central camp. He produced his waist tablet. Even with his status as an assistant general, he had to wait for word to be sent to Vice General Feng before being granted entry. "This subordinate greets General Feng!" Qin Sang saluted immediately upon seeing Vice General Feng approaching from a distance. "Brother Qin!" Vice General Feng hurried forward a few paces and caught Qin Sang by the arm, his expression urgent. "You're finally back! Quick, come with me!" The two strode arm in arm into Vice General Feng's tent. Feng peered outside with great caution before lowering his voice to deliver a shocking piece of news. "The General Commander suddenly fell gravely ill and unconscious! He is at death's door now—I fear he won't last more than a few days!" Qin Sang let out a gasp of surprise. Between the Xuanwei Battalion's two commanders, Wang Liu was merely the Right General Commander; the Left General Commander was the true commanding general, a man well-versed in military strategy, adept at marching troops, and strict in discipline. The Left General Commander was Prince Dongyang's trusted confidant, loyal only to the prince himself. Before him, one was permitted only to discuss matters of grand military strategy; toward the rivalry between the heir apparent and the princess, he maintained a strictly neutral stance. It was only because of his suppression that Wang Liu had not dared to act recklessly or plot openly against Qin Sang. Qin Sang drew out the military order. "I only received this letter yesterday. Who is using the commander's seal?" Vice General Feng's face twisted with anger. "Before the General Commander lost consciousness, he entrusted the affairs of the army to Wang Liu—including the commander's seal and the tiger tally... he gave them all to him!" Qin Sang fell silent. The current situation was already plain to see: Prince Dongyang ascending the imperial throne was only a matter of time, and within the provisional court, people were already debating who would be crowned crown prince. Aside from the heir apparent, only the princess possessed the standing to contend for the position. Yet ever since the founding of Great Sui, there had never been a precedent of a hen crowing at dawn. It was easy to guess which side those officials would support. Back in Hening County, Daoist Master Black Crane had already formed a covert alliance with the heir apparent. With his life slipping away, it was only natural for the Left General Commander to hand military power to Wang Liu, currying favor with the heir apparent to leave a shred of goodwill for his own descendants.