The General Says She Won't Marry - Chapter 49 Part 1

Upon hearing Lin Aoxue’s words, Yun Yan did not hesitate. She turned and entered the clinic, gathering the necessary medicine, silver needles, and other medical tools into a medicine box before following Lin Aoxue to the military camp.

Beichen Long had stationed heavy guards around the tent where the Fifth Prince was recovering from his injuries. Inside and out, there were over a hundred soldiers, with five layers of checkpoints. Each checkpoint required identity verification before anyone could enter. Fortunately, with Lin Aoxue leading the way, the two of them encountered no obstacles and smoothly arrived at the Fifth Prince’s tent. Outside the tent, Lin Aoxue presented her waist token for inspection. Once cleared, she led Yun Yan inside.

Beichen Long had not left. He remained in the Fifth Prince’s tent, both to guard against any unexpected developments and to personally oversee Yun Yan’s treatment of the prince’s wounds, ensuring no complications arose.

After bringing Yun Yan inside, Beichen Long waved Lin Aoxue away. Given the severity of the prince’s injuries, the fewer people in the tent, the better. Even though Beichen Long trusted Lin Aoxue, he still had to take precautions.

Before leaving, Lin Aoxue glanced at Yun Yan, who had already begun diagnosing the Fifth Prince. Her two fingers rested lightly on Beichen Bo’s wrist over the thin fabric of his inner robe. Lin Aoxue bowed, murmured a farewell, and stepped out of the tent to stand guard outside.

Lin Aoxue was not worried about Yun Yan’s medical skills—she was highly skilled. What concerned her was that even if Yun Yan saved the Fifth Prince’s life, it would only be a temporary solution. The dark clouds looming over the northern border had not dispersed, and disaster could strike at any moment. No matter how many skilled physicians like Yun Yan there were, none of them could bring any real change to the dire situation in the north.

The Fifth Prince’s injuries were severe and critical. The military doctors had refused to intervene, leaving Yun Yan as the only person in the entire Xingbei Pass who could save him.

Yet, even Yun Yan, after taking his pulse and examining his poisoned wounds, turned to Beichen Long and said, “I only have a thirty percent chance of success.” 

If Yun Yan claimed thirty percent, the actual survival rate was likely closer to fifty percent. But even she was uncertain, which showed just how dire the prince’s condition was.

Beichen Long had no other options. Though his expression was grave, his eyes held no hesitation. He simply said, “Do your best.”

Yun Yan nodded and began the treatment. She first prescribed a remedy and instructed Beichen Long to have someone procure the necessary herbs. Lin Aoxue, who had been waiting outside, was summoned again. Beichen Long handed her the prescription, ordering her to take a senior military doctor to the pharmacy to quickly gather and prepare the medicine.

Lin Aoxue carried out the order without delay. She and the old military doctor swiftly gathered the herbs, then, following Yun Yan’s instructions, decocted the medicine. Once the hot medicinal soup was ready, she brought it back to the tent.

Beichen Long looked up when Lin Aoxue entered with the medicine and asked, “Were you overseeing the entire preparation process?”

Lin Aoxue nodded. “Yes, I never left for a moment.”

Only then did Beichen Long feel reassured. He gave a slight nod and gestured, “Take it to her.”

Lin Aoxue carried the medicine over to Yun Yan, who tested the temperature before instructing her to let it cool slightly. Then, she asked Lin Aoxue to help sit the Fifth Prince up, as she needed to apply acupuncture to expel the poison.

Lin Aoxue turned to Beichen Long for confirmation. He simply waved a hand, signaling her to follow Yun Yan’s instructions. Seeing that he had entrusted the prince’s treatment entirely to Yun Yan, Lin Aoxue no longer hesitated and carefully removed Beichen Bo’s outer robe as instructed.

Yun Yan could perform acupuncture through clothing, so there was no need to remove his inner garments. This eased Lin Aoxue’s mind slightly. Yun Yan then had Lin Aoxue apply a black medicinal paste to Beichen Bo’s forehead and both palms before prying open his lips to slowly feed him the now-cooled medicinal soup.

However, an unconscious person could not swallow on their own, making the process tedious. By the time the entire bowl was administered, much of it had dribbled down the prince’s lips, soaking into the pillow and blankets.

Yun Yan did not comment on this. Once the bowl was emptied, she retrieved her medical needle pouch and began the acupuncture treatment.

The procedure lasted about an hour. Beichen Bo remained motionless on the bed, his body pierced by hundreds of silver needles, densely packed across his skin. Even Lin Aoxue felt a chill at the sight.

Fortunately, after an hour, the bluish-purple hue on Beichen Bo’s face gradually faded. The dark tint on his dry, cracked lips also lightened, and his overall condition visibly improved. Yun Yan finally exhaled in relief. It seemed that, at least for now, the Fifth Prince’s life had been preserved.

She carefully removed the silver needles and discarded the ones that had turned black. Then, she turned to Beichen Long, bowed, and reported, “The Fifth Prince’s poison has begun to subside. If no complications arise, daily acupuncture for five days should completely cleanse the poison. However, whether he will regain consciousness—I cannot say.”

Beichen Long walked to the bedside and took a glance at Beichen Bo’s condition. He could tell that there was some improvement, so he nodded and said, “Mm, you’ve worked hard, Doctor Yun. Please stay in the camp for now. Once the Fifth Prince recovers, you may return to the medical hall.”

Yun Yan remained expressionless as she bowed and obediently agreed. She understood Beichen Long’s true intention.

The Fifth Prince’s assassination attempt was a grave matter. Even though Beichen Long had acted swiftly to suppress the news and prevent it from spreading, unrest still simmered within the camp. Though Yun Yan was merely a physician, Beichen Long could not afford to be careless. Keeping her in the camp was, in essence, a form of house arrest. If anything happened to the Fifth Prince, it would make it easier to hold someone accountable.

Yun Yan understood this well. Given Beichen Long’s cautious nature, this level of scrutiny was nothing unexpected. Since she had already agreed to treat the Fifth Prince, she had been prepared to stay in the camp for some time.

After making her farewell, Yun Yan left the tent. Lin Aoxue also departed and returned to her own quarters.

Lin Aoxue was somewhat dissatisfied with Beichen Long’s decision to keep Yun Yan in the camp. However, when Yun Yan told her that this arrangement meant they could see each other more often, turning misfortune into fortune, Lin Aoxue thought it over and gradually let go of her resentment. She realized that Yun Yan was right and felt much better about it.

***

That very night, however, a loud horn suddenly sounded from beyond the pass. One after another, the signals were relayed from distant outposts, announcing the arrival of enemy forces.

Beichen Long led his generals to the city walls, looking out beyond the pass. Clouds of dust filled the air as the barbarian army advanced in a tight formation, charging toward Xingbei Pass under the moonlight. Their momentum was overwhelming, the sound of galloping hooves shaking the earth. A rough estimate placed their numbers at over a hundred thousand—Beichen Long calculated around 150,000.

This figure nearly matched the garrisoned troops within Xingbei Pass. It seemed the barbarians had committed substantial forces, likely aware of the internal unrest within the pass. They were seizing the opportunity while Beichen Long was occupied, hoping to take the city in one swift strike.

Beichen Long immediately ordered three waves of archers to take positions atop the walls, preparing to repel the assault.

The barbarians did not pause outside the city for a battle cry or challenge—they charged straight for the walls, as if they had anticipated this moment all along. They moved with lightning speed, eliminating every outpost outside Xingbei Pass as they advanced. The sentries stationed there were completely wiped out, not even having time to send out a distress signal before being slaughtered on the battlefield.

On Beichen Long’s command, the archers atop the walls loosed their arrows in precise waves. Each volley rained down on the barbarian ranks, cutting down wave after wave of enemies like sacks of grain being felled.

As the barbarians drew closer, their casualties mounted. The bodies of the fallen piled up along their path, yet their comrades showed no hesitation. With chilling indifference, they stepped over the corpses and continued forward without slowing their advance.

With the dense barrage of arrows, the first row of barbarian warriors lost nearly half their numbers after a single wave of attacks. Yet, the barbarians were relentless. They swiftly reorganized, raising massive shields to protect themselves. Even as arrows riddled their ranks like a sieve, they pressed on. Taking advantage of the brief lull while the archers reloaded, they surged forward.

After sacrificing thousands of soldiers, they finally reached the base of the city walls.

The faces of the Xingbei Pass defenders paled. The barbarian onslaught was far too fierce—they fought as if they had no fear of death. No matter how many fell, new soldiers immediately filled their places, keeping the formation intact and minimizing their overall losses.

Beichen Long’s expression darkened. A massive wave of barbarian warriors had already reached the city walls. They carried barbed iron chains, throwing them over the battlements and using them to climb. At Beichen Long’s order, arrows rained down once more, sending many of them plummeting to their deaths before they could reach the top.

But for every fallen barbarian, more took their place. The relentless siege continued.

Beichen Long commanded Yang Jin to lead 20,000 soldiers to form a defensive line atop the walls and hold their ground. Meanwhile, he personally led 130,000 troops out of the city to meet the enemy head-on.

Lin Aoxue was among the troops following Beichen Long. She led her own force of 5,000 soldiers, flanking the barbarian formation from the side per Beichen Long’s orders. The battlefield was chaotic, with both sides suffering heavy casualties.

Beichen Long personally led 50,000 elite troops, cutting into the barbarian ranks like a blade, splitting their formation in two. Guo Wencheng led another 50,000 troops to attack from the left, while Lin Aoxue and a fourth-rank general struck from the right. Their combined efforts shattered the once-cohesive barbarian formation, reducing it to scattered fragments.

After a brutal clash, the barbarian infantry suffered heavy losses, but Beichen’s army also had over a thousand soldiers fall on the battlefield.

The leader of the barbarian forces was a burly man. While barking orders in the barbarian tongue to reorganize the formation, he also commanded the cavalry to charge forward, aiming to cut off Beichen’s cavalry and provide cover for the infantry’s assault on the city.

Beichen Long led twenty thousand elite soldiers deep into the barbarian formation. As they advanced, soldiers continuously fell, but more stepped up to take their places, fighting fiercely against the barbarian blades. Beichen Long, highly skilled in martial arts, faced no match along the way, cutting his way straight to the enemy commander and engaging him in combat.

Lin Aoxue fought alongside the troops, slaying countless enemies with unparalleled bravery. She cut down a lower-ranked barbarian general, throwing his division of ten thousand soldiers into disarray.

The barbarian commander found himself unable to defeat Beichen Long. After dozens of fierce exchanges, Beichen Long clearly held the upper hand. Realizing that the city remained unconquered, the commander forcefully broke away from the fight and ordered a retreat.

The barbarian forces came swiftly and left just as fast. In less than half an hour, they withdrew from Xingbei Pass, leaving behind thousands of corpses.

The defenders of Xingbei Pass fared little better. The archers on the city walls had loosed dozens of volleys, their arms so exhausted they could barely lift them anymore. Yet the battlefield still needed to be cleaned, and the scattered arrows could be retrieved for reuse. Given the dire resource shortages at Xingbei Pass, nothing could afford to be wasted.

With the battle finally over, Beichen Long immediately ordered the battlefield to be cleared and the casualties counted.

Because he had anticipated that the reorganized barbarian forces would attack Xingbei Pass sooner or later—and had even estimated their troop numbers fairly accurately—the defenders had managed to respond in time despite the suddenness of the attack. The soldiers of Xingbei Pass fought with great tenacity, and though the battle cost lives, the price was not devastating. Ultimately, they successfully repelled the enemy.

Beichen Long stood atop the watchtower, his gaze sharp as a blade as he observed the barbarian army’s movements. After retreating about ten miles, the barbarians halted and began setting up camp instead of withdrawing further. Their intention was clear—they were preparing for a prolonged confrontation with Xingbei Pass.

Lin Aoxue, covered in blood and reeking of battle, had emerged from the fight unscathed despite her battered appearance. The blood on her belonged to the enemy.

Along with the rest of the troops, she quickly cleared the battlefield outside the pass, set fire to the remaining corpses, and returned with the name plaques of the fallen soldiers. The defenders of Xingbei Pass had no time to grieve—they immediately returned inside the pass, seizing the brief respite before the next attack to rest and recover.

***

Even with the battle raging at the frontier, Beichen Long did not withdraw the guards stationed outside the Fifth Prince’s tent.

When Lin Aoxue returned from the battlefield, Yun Yan found her among the bloodstained soldiers, checking her over to confirm that she was unharmed before swiftly departing.

The war within the pass was dire. Though Yun Yan worried for Lin Aoxue, she could not afford to be seen too close to her, lest it invite unwanted scrutiny.

Yun Yan was no longer the military doctor of the Northern Frontier Army, and thus she had no obligation to treat the wounded soldiers for free. When Beichen Long saw the dire state of the casualties and the overburdened medics, he was forced to lower his pride and personally request Yun Yan’s assistance, offering full compensation for her services.

Yun Yan, always fair-minded, had no intention of exploiting the situation. She had refrained from offering aid earlier not out of reluctance, but because she knew Beichen Long would not appreciate her acting on her own. Now that he had set aside his pride to ask for her help, she saw the need within the army and chose to lend her skills as a physician. Her response left Beichen Long feeling deeply embarrassed.

Lin Aoxue supported Yun Yan’s decision without question. Though she disdained Beichen Long’s prejudices, since Yun Yan chose not to dwell on them, she had nothing more to say. With the barbarians temporarily withdrawing, she took the opportunity to recover her strength—something far more pressing at the moment.

However, the enemy returned far sooner than expected.

Before night had fully fallen, the barbarians launched a second assault. Their numbers remained vast, and every soldier seemed to possess endless stamina, striking fear into the hearts of the Xingbei Pass defenders.

Beichen Long immediately ascended the city walls, and the archers swiftly took their positions. Despite their exhaustion, they had no choice but to muster their strength and draw their bows once more.

After several volleys of arrows, Beichen Long once again led one hundred thousand Beichen troops out of the pass to face the enemy in open battle. The two armies clashed with a thunderous roar, launching into another fierce and bloody struggle.

Having emerged unscathed from the previous battle, Lin Aoxue also rode out once more. The fighting raged for two hours, yet the barbarians failed to breach the city walls. As night fell completely, they sounded the withdrawal and swiftly retreated to their encampment ten miles from Xingbei Pass.

The defenders could finally take a breath. After clearing the battlefield, many soldiers, utterly exhausted, collapsed where they stood and fell into a deep sleep.

Yet no one dared to sleep too soundly, nor could anyone truly rest. Every soldier within Xingbei Pass remained tense, knowing the barbarians could return at any moment. They had to stay alert, ready to react instantly to any sudden attack.

Instead of returning to her tent, Lin Aoxue climbed the city walls and slumped against the base of the parapet, taking a brief rest.

When dawn finally broke and the barbarians still had not launched another assault, the soldiers of Xingbei Pass could at last let out a small sigh of relief.

***

At noon the next day, the barbarians launched another attack on Xingbei Pass. The garrison responded immediately, and Beichen Long led his troops out of the city to engage them. Back and forth it went—within just ten days, the barbarians attacked Xingbei Pass more than twenty times, averaging at least two assaults per day. Several times, the fighting even reached the city walls, but each time, the Beichen soldiers managed to drive them back.

In just ten days, the barbarian attacks had thrown the Xingbei Pass garrison into turmoil. Everyone was constantly on edge, fearing the moment the city gates would be breached. Under such immense pressure, many soldiers were nearing a mental breakdown, their nerves stretched so tight that even the slightest disturbance sent them into a panic.

The only good news was that the Fifth Prince’s injuries were healing well. About five or six days after the first barbarian attack, Yun Yan reported to Beichen Long that the remaining poison in Beichen Bo’s body had been completely cleansed. Beichen Long let out a sigh of relief and ordered someone to keep a close watch over Beichen Bo.

It didn’t matter if Beichen Bo remained unconscious for the time being—so long as he was safely kept within the army, Beichen Long could suppress any minor issues that arose.

However, casualties in the army were mounting. Even though Yun Yan had assured Beichen Long that the Fifth Prince was out of danger, he still requested that she stay in the camp to continue treating the wounded soldiers. Yun Yan showed no sign of displeasure and simply agreed.

Compared to the tense atmosphere inside Xingbei Pass, the barbarians outside seemed far more at ease.

It was as if they had endless stamina. Whenever they saw an opportunity, they immediately launched an attack, resting only half a day or a few hours between assaults. Under such relentless pressure, both sides had lost over ten thousand soldiers, yet the barbarians showed no intention of giving up. They remained stationed outside Xingbei Pass, waiting for the right moment to breach the city.

Beichen Long was worn out from the constant strain. His hair was turning gray at a visibly rapid pace, but as long as the barbarians refused to retreat completely, he couldn’t afford to let his guard down.

Despite her busy schedule, Yun Yan still took time each day to check on Lin Aoxue, ensuring she wasn’t injured. Seeing that Lin Aoxue was struggling with poor rest and overexertion, Yun Yan prepared medicinal meals to strengthen her body. Under her care, Lin Aoxue was not as weakened as the other soldiers and was less likely to collapse.

Being able to see Yun Yan frequently eased Lin Aoxue’s tension. She gradually became accustomed to Yun Yan’s presence, and as the battles dragged on, she found herself more concerned about Yun Yan’s well-being than before.