The General Says She Won't Marry - Chapter 46 Part 1

Yun Yan fed Lin Aoxue the medicinal porridge and then re-examined the arrow wound on her back. As she applied medicine to Lin Aoxue’s injury, her expression grew heavy, and even her gaze darkened upon seeing the blood-soaked wound.

The arrow wound in the middle of Lin Aoxue’s back was the most severe. The arrow had pierced straight through her chest, barely grazing her heart. Fortunately, Lin Aoxue’s fate was not sealed—though the injury was grave, it had not claimed her life. Had the arrow deviated by even half an inch, not even the gods could have saved her.

To make it easier for Yun Yan to tend to her wound, Lin Aoxue, with Yun Yan’s support, slowly sat up. Yun Yan carefully applied the medicine and then wrapped layers of gauze around the wound. Her silent gaze held an emotion difficult to discern, but Lin Aoxue, facing away from her, remained unaware.

Once the fresh bandages were secured, Lin Aoxue lay back down under Yun Yan’s care. Yun Yan gently pulled up the blanket over her and coaxed her to sleep in a soft, soothing tone. Though the wound was excruciating, and the pain-relieving herbs had a limited effect, Lin Aoxue did not let the pain show on her face. She obediently turned her head to the side, closed her eyes, and remained still.

Only when Yun Yan left the tent, carrying the empty medicine bowl, did Lin Aoxue open her eyes again. Her brows furrowed slightly as she endured the waves of pain from her wound, spending the entire night sleepless.

***

Due to Lin Aoxue’s injuries, Yun Yan was permitted to temporarily stay at the military camp. However, since she no longer held the title of a military doctor and was there solely to care for Lin Aoxue, Beichen Long had a temporary tent set up near Lin Aoxue’s quarters for her, assigning two guards to keep watch.

That night, the oil lamp on Yun Yan’s table flickered dimly. The tent was sparsely furnished, and she sat at her desk, engrossed in studying medicinal prescriptions. She carefully measured and mixed herbs according to Lin Aoxue’s condition. As she meticulously ground the medicine, a shadow emerged in the dimly lit corner behind her—a figure clad in a black robe.

“Miss Yun, how do you plan to conclude the matter of the secret letter?”

The captured soldier and the intercepted letter that had yet to be delivered beyond the border had already been handed over to Beichen Long. He had taken the prisoner and begun interrogation, but how to proceed further remained Yun Yan’s decision.

Yun Yan did not pause in her movements. As she continued grinding the medicinal powder, she responded softly, “She injured my people—how could I not make her pay the price?”

“This matter…” The man in black hesitated.

Yun Yan calmly mixed the powdered medicine into a small clay pot, her expression unchanged as she stated, “Eliminate Rongwei.”

Her tone was light, but her words made the man in black sharply inhale. His brows furrowed, and hesitation flickered across his face as he anxiously advised, “This matter is deeply entangled. Acting rashly could bring disaster upon yourself, Miss Yun. You must think this through carefully.”

Yun Yan’s lips curved slightly, her naturally alluring features enhanced by the sharp glint in her eyes. There was an eerie beauty to her—a chilling elegance laced with lethal intent.

“You only need to leak the information to Beichen Long. With his suspicious nature, he will seek verification again and again. Once the time is right, we will release more information, guiding him to act against Rongwei. When she raises her forces, we will send another message beyond the border, making it clear that my target is only Rongwei. If they still wish to cooperate with me, they will understand what needs to be done.”

The man in black seemed like he wanted to say more, but Yun Yan’s mind was set. After several moments of contemplation, he found no flaw in her plan. Bowing respectfully, he silently withdrew.

Once he was gone, Yun Yan’s lips curled into a faint smile, yet there was no warmth in her eyes. A cold gleam flickered in her gaze, making her expression appear all the more severe. Her red lips parted as she murmured to herself, “A lifetime of caution, always treading carefully, gradually dulling my sharp edges… I’ve almost forgotten what it feels like to be reckless.” 

She shook the medicine pot in her hand and let out a cold chuckle.

“If one does not provoke me, I will not provoke them. But Rongwei’s people harmed Aoxue—they must pay the price. I’ve been careful my entire life. What harm is there in being reckless just this once?”

***

Early the next morning, Yun Yan arrived once again to check on Lin Aoxue’s injuries. Having spent the entire night awake, Lin Aoxue was in poor condition—she looked even weaker than the day before.

During this time, Yun Yan had practically become Lin Aoxue’s personal physician and was well aware of her condition. She was deeply worried, but the camp had a shortage of medicinal supplies, and the medicine available for Lin Aoxue was strictly regulated. After feeding Lin Aoxue a bowl of medicinal porridge, Yun Yan made a trip back to the medical hall, where she discreetly took some additional herbs, using the best wound medicine she could find on Lin Aoxue.

Days passed in this manner. The arrow wound on Lin Aoxue’s back gradually scabbed over and began to heal, the pain lessening. However, she now had to endure the unbearable itchiness that came with the healing process. She was still confined to bed, unable to train, and the days spent recovering felt agonizingly slow.

Fortunately, Yun Yan was there to accompany her, which made it easier for Lin Aoxue to endure. With Yun Yan by her side, she followed the doctor’s instructions and rested obediently.

For over ten days, Lin Aoxue’s wounds improved under Yun Yan’s meticulous care. However, Yun Yan herself grew thinner by the day. Lin Aoxue noticed this and felt a deep ache in her heart, but she didn’t know how to persuade Yun Yan to rest more. Whenever she tried to bring it up, Yun Yan always seemed to anticipate her concerns, skillfully steering the conversation away until Lin Aoxue was left speechless.

After several failed attempts, Lin Aoxue eventually gave up on convincing her. Instead, she focused on recovering as quickly as possible—once her body healed, Yun Yan would no longer need to worry.

***

As Lin Aoxue’s condition improved, Beichen Long also made progress in his investigation of the secret letter. The soldier who had attempted to smuggle the letter beyond the border was captured by Beichen Long’s men. To prevent him from committing suicide by biting his tongue, Beichen Long’s secret guards had dislocated his jaw and knocked out all of his teeth. After enduring brutal torture, the soldier finally revealed some information.

He confessed the location of the informant who had been giving him orders. When Beichen Long secretly sent men to apprehend the informant, he was utterly shocked by the person’s identity.

Bringing his men, Beichen Long personally went to the dungeon. There, bound tightly to a wooden stake, was a man covered in whip marks. Despite his injuries, he clenched his teeth and refused to speak. Beichen Long’s gaze was ice-cold with fury as he barked, “Shang Wu!”

The man tied to the stake was burly, but he had been tortured to the brink of death. His head drooped weakly, but when he heard Beichen Long’s furious voice, he forced himself to lift it slightly. His eyes were devoid of emotion—lifeless, gray, and empty. There was no struggle, no defiance. It was as if he had long accepted his fate and was only waiting for death.

He remained silent, merely staring at Beichen Long with hollow eyes, utterly indifferent to the rage and hatred directed at him.

“Why did you do this?”

After uncovering the truth, Beichen Long not only captured Shang Wu but also sent his secret guards to his hometown in Yiping, where they arrested his fiancée, who had been staying there. Additionally, a search of Shang Wu’s residence had uncovered highly classified materials: the troop deployment maps of the Poyan garrison, the exact locations of the sentry posts beyond Xingbei Pass, and the schedule for troop rotations.

With such incriminating evidence in hand, there was no need for further explanation. Shang Wu was undoubtedly a traitor within Xingbei Pass.

It was highly likely that during last year’s dire situation at Xingbei Pass, Shang Wu had played a role as an informant for the enemy, contributing to the crisis.

Yet, despite the overwhelming evidence, Beichen Long found himself unable to comprehend the situation. Shang Wu had once fought bravely on the battlefield, standing side by side with Lin Aoxue, displaying unwavering patriotism. During the campaign to retake Poyan, he had been gravely injured, suffering multiple stab wounds and nearly losing his life.

Later, when the barbarian forces laid siege to the city, Shang Wu had been severely wounded once again. Several military doctors had worked tirelessly through the night to save him. Beichen Long had witnessed it all with his own eyes.

If Shang Wu had been a spy all along, why had he gone to such extreme lengths? If his goal was simply to earn their trust, why would he risk his life to this extent?

Beichen Long’s voice carried not only fury but also deep confusion and disbelief.

Shang Wu slowly opened his eyes. A fresh scar ran across his face—a mark left by the salt-soaked whip used by the prison guards.

Facing Beichen Long, Shang Wu’s gaze remained calm. He showed no intention of hiding anything. When Beichen Long questioned him, he simply replied, “General, I am a man of Beichen, but I was raised on the grasslands. The princess of the Boka Tribe showed me great kindness. I lost my parents at a young age and was left wandering, homeless. When the princess led her troops through the area, she took a liking to me and brought me to the grasslands. She taught me to read, to fight, and when I came of age, I was to serve the Boka people with my loyalty.”

There was no fluctuation in Shang Wu’s tone, as if he were recounting someone else’s story.

“But after returning to Beichen and infiltrating the army, I came to realize that war brought far more than just the pain of death. Seeing countless comrades fall, witnessing the fall of Poyan and the destruction of Yong’an—it all revived the long-dead conscience within me. Every loss reminded me of the pain I felt when I lost my parents. I began to regret my actions. I feared the cruelty of the battlefield and no longer wished to be part of it. But by then, I could no longer escape.”

His words, though spoken calmly, confirmed one thing without a doubt: the fall of Poyan had indeed been caused by him. He had secretly passed intelligence beyond the border, allowing the barbarian forces to avoid Beichen’s scouts and seize Poyan before Beichen Long could react.

Looking back, it was clear that since Shang Wu’s arrival at Xingbei Pass, the enemy’s movements had become increasingly erratic. Over time, their attacks had only grown bolder.

Beichen Long was so furious his chest felt like it might explode, but he forced himself to maintain control. His eyes widened in rage, and his glare at Shang Wu burned with barely contained fury. “How did you obtain your identity?! Your fiancée is a barbarian! How did she sneak into the pass?” Suppressing his anger, he pressed for answers. 

Shang Wu’s expression remained tranquil, his gaze slightly lowered, as he replied emotionlessly, “My identity was arranged by the Boka princess. After last year’s autumn harvest, I sent fewer and fewer messages beyond the border. The princess suspected my loyalty had wavered. To test whether I remained faithful to the Boka Tribe, she sent that woman to watch over me. As for how she entered the pass, I do not know.”

Beichen Long studied him coldly before demanding, “Aside from that woman, who else in the army is working with you?”

But this time, Shang Wu simply shook his head, insisting that he had acted alone and that no one else was involved.

Enraged, Beichen Long roared, “Do you expect me to believe that the Boka princess, from across the grasslands, could control affairs within Beichen’s northern frontier?! The troop deployment maps of Poyan, the guard rotation schedules for the sentry posts—those were found in your room! Do you truly expect me to believe that you, alone, could have obtained them? And that you alone could smuggle messages out of Xingbei Pass? Do you take our defenses for a joke?! You had better confess the truth unless you want to suffer even more!”

There were too many unanswered questions. Beichen Long wasn’t a fool—he knew Shang Wu was still hiding something. He was certain that behind Shang Wu, there was a greater, unseen force manipulating events from the shadows.

But instead of breaking under the accusations, Shang Wu let out a faint smile. He lifted his gaze to meet Beichen Long’s, his expression calm and sincere.

“General, I am telling you this because, as a man of Beichen, I recognize my past mistakes. My crimes are unforgivable, and I am willing to atone for them with my life. But the Boka princess showed me kindness, and I cannot betray her. That is all I will say. I ask only that you grant me a swift death.”

Rather than calming Beichen Long’s rage, these words only stoked the fire within him. Furious, Beichen Long pointed a finger at Shang Wu’s face and bellowed, “You spent a few years eating the barbarians’ cattle and sheep, and now you’ve grown a heart as cold and unyielding as theirs! Do you truly believe that offering your worthless traitor’s life will make up for the tens of thousands who perished in Poyan and Yong’an?! You’re nothing but a selfish fool, acting as if your so-called willingness to die is some noble sacrifice. But the only person you’re trying to move is yourself!”

The more Beichen Long spoke, the angrier he became. Meanwhile, Shang Wu had already closed his eyes, as if shutting out the world around him. He ignored Beichen Long’s words and remained silent, unmoved no matter how fiercely Beichen Long cursed him.

With no other options, Beichen Long clenched his teeth and turned his attention elsewhere. He ordered the barbarian woman captured from Shang Wu’s home to be tortured, subjecting her to brutal punishments. Unlike Shang Wu, the woman was not as resilient. After enduring repeated torment, the jailers finally forced her to speak, revealing the ambitions of the Boka princess.

The Boka princess was a fierce and formidable warrior. Several years ago, she had begun conserving her strength and making strategic preparations. In just a few short years, she had conquered the majority of the tribes across the grasslands, uniting the once scattered nomadic people into a single force. Among them, the Rongwei Tribe was her sharpest blade, positioned closest to Beichen’s northern frontier.

What the woman revealed differed slightly from the intelligence Lin Aoxue had previously obtained, but the core message remained the same. The Rongwei Tribe was not an independent faction resisting Boka’s rule, as Wu Ping had told Lin Aoxue. Instead, they had been among the first to swear allegiance to the Boka princess.

Over the past two years, the Boka princess had used the Rongwei and Kezhan Tribes to harass Beichen’s northern frontier, constantly probing Xingbei Pass for weaknesses. By now, she had gained a considerable understanding of its military strength and defensive structures, as well as those of Poyan and Mingzheng Pass. It was only a matter of time before she gathered the full power of the grasslands and launched an all-out attack on Xingbei Pass.

The revelation sent a chill down Beichen Long’s spine. Without anyone noticing, the grassland tribes had orchestrated a plan that could potentially bring down Xingbei Pass, and yet, the soldiers stationed there remained completely unaware. His expression darkened. Wasting no time, he returned to his tent and immediately summoned his most trusted generals, including Yang Jin and Guo Wencheng, to discuss the matter in detail.

Upon hearing Beichen Long’s words, the gathered officers were stunned. None of them had anticipated such a drastic shift in the power dynamics of the grasslands. The barbarians were no longer content with raiding Beichen’s northern border for food and supplies each autumn. Their true ambition was to seize the fertile lands of the entire northern frontier. And for years, they had been watching Xingbei Pass like a predator stalking its prey.

Beichen Long’s fingers tapped rhythmically against the table as he surveyed the room, his voice low and sharp. “What do you all think should be done?”

Guo Wencheng furrowed his brows and cautiously asked, “General, how reliable is this information?”

Beichen Long let out a cold snort, his eyes flashing with a fierce light as he gritted his teeth. “I previously sent Lin Aoxue beyond the pass to investigate the enemy’s movements and gather intelligence. The reports he brought back align closely with this woman’s confession. I see no reason to doubt it.”

At these words, Guo Wencheng’s expression hardened. So Lin Aoxue had been injured—and later promoted—because of this mission. The realization made the gathered officers exchange uncertain glances, unsure of how to proceed.

After a brief moment of contemplation, Yang Jin spoke up. “General, perhaps we should strike first.”

A flicker of shadow passed through Beichen Long’s gaze as he raised his head and pressed further, “What exactly do you mean, Field Marshal?”

Yang Jin did not hesitate, speaking bluntly. “The barbarians plan to launch a large-scale invasion while we are unprepared. But since they have yet to act, it means their preparations are not complete. Now that we’ve gained early intelligence, if we can confirm its accuracy, why not take the initiative? We should strike first, catch them off guard, and let them taste defeat. Let them know that the army of Beichen is not something they can scheme against so easily.”

As Yang Jin’s words fell, the gathered generals nodded in agreement. More than seventy percent of them voiced their support for an immediate offensive against the grassland tribes.

“It’s true that we’ve spent years defending Xingbei Pass without taking the fight to the enemy. Perhaps that’s why the barbarians have grown bolder, thinking we’re nothing but cowards cowering behind our walls. Have they forgotten the might of the Xingbei Army in its prime?” An old general, filled with righteous indignation, took up the conversation, and soon another officer echoed his sentiments:

“Exactly! Rather than letting the barbarians control the battlefield and waiting for them to strike, we should take the initiative and catch them off guard.”

More and more voices rose in agreement, ringing in Beichen Long’s ears like a relentless hum, causing his temples to throb with pain.

He forcefully shook his head and swept a cold, sharp gaze across the tent, his expression fierce. Then, slamming his palm against the table, he waited for the clamor to die down before speaking.

“You are all right. Xingbei Pass must indeed change its approach. By remaining passive, we’ve only emboldened our enemies. Send the order immediately—mobilize one hundred thousand elite troops! Lin Aoxue will lead the way, and we will wipe out the Rongwei Tribe before the barbarians even realize what’s happening!”

The moment Beichen Long issued the command, someone immediately left to carry it out. Yang Jin and Guo Wencheng each departed to assemble their troops, and the gathered officers quickly exited the tent. 

Beichen Long remained seated at the table, his mind replaying the faces of those who had spoken earlier. After a long silence, he let out a deep sigh and asked, “Advisor, did you notice anything?”

The military advisor, who had been quietly observing the officers from the shadows, remained silent for a long while before finally uttering words that sent a chill through Beichen Long’s heart.

“No. Any one of them could be the traitor.”

Beichen Long refused to believe that Shang Wu had acquired such highly classified documents on his own. There had to be someone within the army secretly aiding him. Yet, despite his suspicions, Beichen Long could not pinpoint the spy’s identity.

All of the high-ranking officers present were men he had personally promoted. He had witnessed their military records and battlefield achievements with his own eyes. At this moment, it was impossible to determine who had leaked the information—or who had chosen to betray him at such a critical juncture.

He raised a hand to his brow, massaging it firmly before sighing deeply and saying, “Regardless, this time, I also intend to take the initiative and teach the barbarians a lesson.”

The advisor did not oppose him. Instead, he simply advised, “Proceed carefully. Do not lose your composure.”

Beichen Long nodded. “I understand.”