bayedsolid Chapter 797 Dancer Lin Xue Returns to Camp
Chapter 797 Dancer Lin Xue Returns to Camp
The night was as dark as ink, and a cold wind swirled withered grass and fallen leaves across the open field. Lin Xue lay prone on the horse's back, her body rising and falling with the galloping of the steed. The warhorse beneath her was clearly a seasoned steed; though it may have been abandoned before, once given a clear direction and its master's encouragement, it unleashed astonishing stamina and speed. The horse's hooves struck the frozen earth, producing a dull, rapid "tap-tap" sound that carried far in the silent night, only to be quickly swallowed by the wind.
She dared not slacken her guard in the slightest. Zhao Hu was dead, and the rebel army would surely discover the anomaly soon. The defense map and attack route map were drawn with a special potion on a thin piece of sheepskin, which she tightly wrapped inside her clothes, feeling the heavy weight of that secret from the heart of the enemy. This was not just a few drawings; it represented the lives of thousands of soldiers under her sister Lin Ping's command, the key to turning the tide of the battle, and perhaps even the hope for the safety of the entire dynasty.
The image of Zhao Hu's terrified and resentful eyes flashed through Lin Xue's mind before his death, but her heart remained unmoved. From the moment she accepted this infiltration mission, her hands were prepared to be stained with blood. Faced with national and personal hatred, personal pity seemed so pale and powerless. She was a soldier, an intelligence agent; her mission was to obtain intelligence at all costs and secure victory for her side. As a core commander of the rebel army, Zhao Hu's hands were stained with the blood of innocents; his death was deserved.
The warhorse seemed to sense its master's anxiety, increasing its speed even further. The cold wind lashed at Lin Xue's face like knives, bringing a biting chill, but she paid it no heed. Her gaze, sharp as an eagle's, warily scanned the darkness ahead, her ears picking up any unusual sound in the wind. The rebel city was far behind, but the danger was far from over. Rebel patrols, mobile sentry posts, and even small enemy units that might approach from other directions could all pose a deadly threat.
She chose not the main road, but a relatively hidden wilderness path. She had carefully studied the map before setting off, combining it with the intelligence she had gathered earlier. Although the path was rugged and difficult, it would allow her to avoid the main force of the rebels as much as possible. Moonlight would occasionally shine through gaps in the clouds, illuminating a short section of her path, but most of the time, she had to rely on her judgment of the terrain and the night vision of her warhorse.
After galloping for an unknown amount of time, the horse beneath her began to breathe heavily, and its speed gradually decreased. Lin Xue knew it had reached its limit. She gently patted the horse's neck and said softly, "Good partner, hang in there a little longer, we're almost there."
She tightened the reins, slowing the horse to a trot so it could catch its breath. At the same time, she observed her surroundings more carefully. Based on the map and the time, they should be nearing the edge of their controlled territory.
Suddenly, a few faint lights flashed in the darkness ahead, accompanied by indistinct voices. Lin Xue's heart tightened. She immediately dismounted, led her warhorse behind a low thicket, and gently soothed it, signaling it to be quiet. She then crouched low, using the terrain as cover, and silently made her way towards the direction from which the lights came.
She crawled forward for about several dozen meters, and through a gap in a clump of withered grass, she could see what was ahead. It was a makeshift rebel outpost, manned by five or six rebel soldiers. They were sitting around a campfire, roasting something, talking and laughing loudly, their words filled with anticipation for the upcoming battle and disdain for the imperial army.
"...Tomorrow morning, our army will head straight for that woman Lin Ping's camp. I heard that her manpower is barely enough to fill a tooth gap!" a rough, hoarse voice said, drawing a burst of laughter.
"Haha, when the city falls, we can take whatever we want—gold, silver, treasures, women…!"
"The boss said that as long as we capture Lin Ping, we'll all be richly rewarded, and maybe even promoted to official positions!"
Lin Xue's eyes instantly turned icy. These arrogant rebels had no idea their doom was imminent. She gripped the short sword at her waist tightly, her mind racing. A direct assault was clearly out of the question. Although the enemy wasn't numerous, once the alarm was raised, there might be other patrols nearby, which would create serious trouble. She had to find a way to sneak past them.
She carefully observed the surroundings of the outpost. The outpost was situated on a main road, flanked by relatively steep earthen slopes overgrown with weeds and low trees. The slope on the left seemed higher and steeper, but also more densely vegetated—perhaps an opportunity.
She quietly retreated, making sure the warhorse was well hidden, then took a deep breath and turned to feel her way up the earthen slope to her left. The soil on the slope was loose, and she kept slipping under her feet. She could only grip the weeds and bushes around her tightly with her hands as she struggled to climb upwards. The cold dew soaked her clothes and hair, but she paid no heed.
Reaching the top of the slope, she lay prone on the ground, gazing down in the faint moonlight. Below was the outpost, about ten meters from the campfire. The rebel soldiers' attention was focused on the fire and their conversation; none of them noticed the threat overhead.
opportunity!
Without the slightest hesitation, Lin Xue, like a nimble cheetah, silently slid down the slope. Upon landing, she used a roll to dissipate the impact, making almost no sound. Then, like a black lightning bolt, she moved swiftly along the ground towards the shadows on the side of the sentry post.
Her movements were swift as a ghost, each step precise and light. The laughter and chatter of the rebel soldiers, the crackling of burning wood, concealed her movements. She quickly circled around to the other side of the outpost, away from the light of the campfire.
Without stopping, she continued along the shadows, crossing the area where the checkpoint was located as quickly as possible, then swiftly descended to the other side of the road and disappeared back into the wilderness. Only after running a considerable distance and confirming that she was completely out of the checkpoint's sight and hearing range did she stop, lean against a large tree, and gasp for breath.
The brief few minutes of stealth and ambush had exhausted her energy and mental strength. Her back was soaked with cold sweat, and her heart was still pounding wildly.
After resting for a while, she returned to where she had hidden the horse and led it onward. Having just experienced something, she became even more cautious.
After traveling for about an hour, the sky finally began to lighten with the first hint of dawn. The morning star twinkled faintly in the distant sky, like a lighthouse in the darkness. Lin Xue's spirits lifted; she knew that dawn was approaching and they should not be far from her sister's camp.
Sure enough, after traveling a few more miles, a continuous stretch of camps appeared on the horizon. The outlines of the camps gradually became clearer in the morning light, and the flags fluttered in the morning breeze. Although she couldn't make out the specific insignia on the flags, Lin Xue recognized them at a glance—it was the camp of her sister Lin Ping!
An indescribable surge of excitement and relief welled up within her. After enduring countless hardships and narrowly escaping death, she had finally returned! She had not let her sister down, nor had she let down those who had trusted her!
She mounted her horse, no longer concealing her tracks, and spurred it on, galloping towards the camp.
"Halt! Who goes there?!" The sentry at the camp gate immediately spotted her, shouted sharply, and raised his spear, pointing it warily at her.
"I am Lin Xue! I have urgent military information to report to General Lin!" Lin Xue responded loudly, while slowing down her horse and raising her hands to indicate that she meant no harm.
The sentries looked surprised when they heard the name "Lin Xue." Most of them knew that General Lin had a younger sister who was also a member of the army and had recently accepted an extremely dangerous infiltration mission.
"You say you're Lin Xue? Do you have any proof?" The leading sergeant remained vigilant and asked in a deep voice. Military discipline is strict; one cannot be allowed to pass based on just a statement.
Lin Xue took out a small, specially made token from her bosom and held it high: "This is a token! Quickly take me to see my sister!"
The sergeant recognized the token; it was a special token reserved for core generals and trusted confidants. He dared not delay and immediately ordered his men, "Quickly! Report to the general that Miss Lin Xue has returned!" At the same time, he personally stepped forward and respectfully said to Lin Xue, "Miss Xue, the general is holding a meeting in the command tent. Please follow me!"
Lin Xue nodded, dismounted, handed the warhorse to the soldier beside her, and instructed, "Take good care of it; it has done a great service." Then she followed the sentry and walked quickly into the depths of the camp.
The camp was already bustling with activity, with soldiers methodically conducting morning exercises, cleaning weapons, and preparing breakfast. Upon seeing Lin Xue's arrival, many soldiers cast curious and admiring glances their way. Although they didn't know exactly what mission Lin Xue had accomplished, returning safely from enemy-occupied territory at this time was clearly no easy feat.
Lin Xue paid no heed to the stares around her; her mind was solely focused on the weighty intelligence and the impending battle. She walked quickly, almost jogging, to keep up with the sentry leader.
Soon, they arrived at the commander's tent in the center of the camp. The tent was heavily guarded, with soldiers standing in rows. After the sergeant reported, a soldier immediately lifted the tent flap and announced loudly, "General, Miss Xue has arrived!"
"Let her in quickly!" A clear and slightly urgent voice came from inside the tent. It was Lin Xue's older sister, Lin Ping, the commander of this army.
Lin Xue took a deep breath, straightened her slightly disheveled clothes and hair, and stepped into the commander's tent.
The tent was brightly lit, and several armored generals were sitting around a large sand table, discussing something in hushed tones. Hearing footsteps, they all looked up towards the entrance.
Seated in the main seat was a valiant female general. She wore a gleaming silver armor, her face beautiful, yet exuding the fortitude and majesty of a seasoned warrior. She was Lin Ping. Upon seeing Lin Xue, travel-worn and weary yet with resolute eyes, at the door, a flicker of excitement and concern flashed in Lin Ping's eyes, but it was quickly replaced by composure and authority.
"Xiaoxue! You're back!" Lin Ping strode forward, grabbed Lin Xue's arm, and looked her up and down. "Are you hurt?"
Feeling the warmth from her sister's hand and the undisguised concern, Lin Xue's tense nerves finally relaxed, and her eyes welled up slightly. But she knew this wasn't the time for sentimentality. She shook her head vigorously, her voice slightly hoarse but unusually firm: "Sister, I'm fine! I'm back, and... I brought back important intelligence!"
"Intelligence?" Lin Ping and the other generals in the tent all brightened up at the same time. They all knew that Lin Xue's purpose in coming here was to obtain the rebels' core secrets.
"Quickly, Xiaoxue, please come in!" Lin Ping pulled Lin Xue to the sand table and said to the other generals, "Gentlemen, this is my sister Lin Xue. She has just returned from the heart of the rebel territory and must have brought us what we need most."
The generals all looked at Lin Xue with admiration and expectation. An elderly general with white hair and beard stroked his beard and said with relief, "Miss Xue, you've worked hard! It's good that you're back safe and sound!"
Lin Xue nodded slightly to the generals, then carefully took out the sheepskin map, warmed by her body heat, from her inner clothing and handed it to Lin Ping with both hands: "Sister, this is the latest detailed deployment map of the rebels, and... their attack route map for tomorrow!"
"What?!" Lin Ping and her generals were all shocked, their faces filled with unbelievable elation. An attack route map! This was intelligence they had dreamed of! With this, they could make thorough preparations in advance, even setting up ambushes to catch the rebels off guard!
Lin Ping took the sheepskin map with trembling hands and carefully unfolded it. The other generals immediately gathered around, their eyes fixed on the dense markings and lines on the map.
The map was drawn in great detail, clearly marking the rebels' troop deployment, firepower, and weaknesses in their defenses. Most importantly, it showed the attack route for tomorrow, marked with a red arrow: where to start, how many routes to advance, the main attack direction, how to provide flank cover, and even the approximate arrival time!
"That's wonderful! That's wonderful! Xiaoxue, you've done a tremendous service!" Lin Ping's voice trembled with excitement as she looked at the map. With this map, all their previous worries and uncertainties vanished instantly! Their chances of winning this battle had greatly increased!
"Zhao Hu... Zhao Hu, the commander of the rebel army, has been killed by me," Lin Xue said calmly, as if she had only done a trivial matter.
"What?! Zhao Hu is dead?!" This news shocked the generals once again. Zhao Hu was a key figure in the rebel army, possessing both wisdom and courage, and a major threat to the imperial court. Killing him was undoubtedly a heavy blow to the morale of the rebels!
Lin Ping suddenly raised her head and looked at Lin Xue, her eyes filled with shock, lingering fear, and deep heartache: "Xiao Xue...you..." She knew that killing Zhao Hu meant that Lin Xue had gone through an extremely dangerous battle.
Lin Xue smiled slightly, a hint of weariness in her smile, yet unusually bright: "Sister, don't worry, he can't hurt me. Now is not the time to talk about this. Time is of the essence; we must immediately adjust our plans based on this intelligence and prepare for tomorrow's great battle!"
Lin Ping took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down. Her sister was right; the most important thing now was the war. She immediately turned to her generals, her eyes sharp and resolute: "Gentlemen, we have obtained the intelligence! Zhao Hu is dead, the rebels are leaderless, and they will launch another attack tomorrow. This is our best opportunity to defeat them! Now, let's redeploy immediately!"
"Yes, General!" the generals responded in unison, their morale high.
Lin Ping pointed to the rebels' attack route on the map and began to issue orders in an orderly manner: "General Zhang, you shall immediately lead your troops to the left side of Black Wind Pass in concealment. It is the only way the rebels can pass through. The terrain is dangerous. You shall set up an ambush there and cut off their retreat after the rebel vanguard passes through, thus preventing them from reinforcing!"
"This subordinate obeys!" A burly general stepped forward and replied in a deep voice.
"General Li, lead your light cavalry to outflank the enemy's central army in the mountainous area on the right. Once the main battle begins, launch a surprise attack from the flank to disrupt their command!"
"The last general takes command!"
"General Wang, you are in charge of the frontal defense. The rebels' main attack direction is our south gate. You must build a strong defensive line there and withstand the enemy's first wave of attack, wearing down their morale!"
"The last general takes command!"
Lin Ping's gaze swept over each general, her voice resolute: "Although the rebels are numerous, we know their deployment and routes inside and out! Their commander is dead, and their morale is bound to be unstable! This is a battle of life and death, we can only win, we cannot afford to lose! We must use the blood of the rebels to commemorate our fallen compatriots and to defend our homeland!"
"Kill! Kill! Kill!" A deafening shout rang out from inside the tent, the soldiers were filled with fervor and high morale.
Lin Xue stood aside, quietly watching her sister calmly deploy troops and generals, watching them confidently accept their orders and depart. She felt a surge of pride and reassurance. She knew her sister would surely lead them to victory in this war.
As the morning star faded into the distance, the eastern sky was painted with a brilliant glow of dawn. Dawn had finally arrived. The wilderness was no longer silent; instead, it resounded with the booming of war drums, the shouts of soldiers, and the clanging of clashing weapons. A decisive battle, one that would determine life or death, had officially begun at the moment the sun rose, just as the intelligence Lin Xue had brought back had foreshadowed.
Lin Xue, the messenger returning from the darkness, had completed her mission, but she knew the battle had only just begun. She drew her short sword, her gaze resolute as she looked out of the camp, ready to face this bloody battle at dawn alongside her sister and all the soldiers. The hope of victory had been quietly ignited in the intelligence she had brought back, and it would burn fiercely in the battles to come!