The General Says She Won't Marry - Chapter 53 Part 1

The vast grasslands stretched endlessly, their verdant hues rippling like a sea of green, swayed by the cool wind sweeping across the plains. A light snowfall had descended along with the retreat from the front lines the day before—not enough to cover the ground, but enough to make the air even colder, as if the heavens and earth were mourning the fallen soldiers.

Beneath the boundless sky, caravans occasionally passed by, leading oxen and horses as they meandered across the plains. They carried goods unique to their respective tribes, trading the pelts of fierce beasts for cattle, sheep, food, or valuable lambs.

These traders had no fixed residence, wandering across the grasslands year-round. Every so often, they would move their entire group, rarely staying in one place for long.

This time, they had just left the Kezhan Tribe, having traded dried beef and mutton from the deep grasslands for the tribe’s abundant rabbit pelts and wolf wool.

It was said that the defeated soldiers retreating from Beichen had gathered at Kezhan to rest. They required vast amounts of food, so the caravan, upon arriving, had their entire stock of provisions counted and handed over to the soldiers, keeping only enough to barely sustain them until they reached the next tribe.

The caravan was led by a man named Bei Fan, from a mid-ranking family of the Boka Tribe. Ten years ago, he had proposed the idea of becoming a traveling merchant, only to be outright rejected by his people. The Bei clan leader had scolded him for being idle and irresponsible. Furious at being dismissed, Bei Fan quarreled with his family and left in anger—only to unexpectedly encounter Zheji, the then-fourteen-year-old princess of Boka.

The princess and Bei Fan spoke at length. When he shared his vision of a merchant caravan, Zheji listened with keen interest. Unlike the Bei clan leader, who had dismissed him outright, she did not rebuke him. Instead, she thoughtfully remarked, “The clan leader stopped you because the grasslands are full of deadly wolves, and conflicts between tribes are constant. If you recklessly venture out as a traveling merchant, you’ll likely die out there.” Her words were blunt but wise, displaying a calm intelligence far beyond her years.

At that time, Boka was merely a small and weak tribe in the grasslands, unable to contend with others. Bei Fan knew his idea was naïve, yet he was still resentful that his proposal had been rejected outright before anyone had even attempted it. He felt stifled, frustrated, and helpless.

But just as he was drowning in disappointment, Zheji suddenly spoke. “I support your idea. I can provide you with guards, livestock, and wagons—but you must agree to one condition.”

Bei Fan was stunned, unable to believe what he had just heard. It took him a long time to recover, and when he finally did, he was overjoyed. Without hesitation, he declared that he would accept any condition Zheji set.

Just having someone willing to support his ambition was already invaluable, let alone a princess who was willing to help him realize it.

Zheji smiled at him, her gaze carrying a wisdom and composure rarely seen in others.

“I want you to enter the royal court and pledge allegiance to the royal family. Half of your earnings from trade will go to the royal house and your family. If you die, the royal family will provide for your parents and raise your children. But in return, you must swear lifelong loyalty to the royal family.”

Bei Fan trembled uncontrollably—not just from excitement but from sheer awe.

He had never imagined hearing such words from Zheji. Her foresight and intelligence far surpassed those of the other tribesmen, and her boldness and vision put many so-called noble men to shame. Her terms were not harsh at all; in fact, they were astonishingly generous. Bei Fan had nothing to lose and everything to gain—there was no reason to refuse.

Taking a deep breath, he tried to recall the last time he had felt such excitement. Hurriedly, he knelt, bowing deeply before the princess, his voice filled with reverence and sincerity. “Your Highness, if Bei Fan can accomplish such a feat, I am willing to split my earnings with the royal family at a seventy-thirty ratio. The Bei family is but a small clan—without Your Highness’ grace, I would have never had the chance to attempt this. It is only right that I pledge my loyalty and offer my wealth to the royal family.”

At that moment, he realized that even though Zheji was only fourteen, her vision and wisdom would undoubtedly lead Boka to unprecedented greatness.

And time proved him right. Zheji was indeed the treasure bestowed upon Boka by the heavens.

Ten years ago, Zheji assembled a caravan of cattle and horses, appointing Bei Fan as its leader. They traversed the grasslands, buying and selling goods between different tribes and earning massive profits. Though the journey was fraught with danger, Bei Fan never gave up. Over the decade, he built a merchant caravan recognized by all the tribes of the grasslands.

As the caravan grew stronger, it brought immeasurable wealth to Boka. Even with only thirty percent of the profits, the Bei family rose above countless obstacles, standing at the pinnacle of Boka’s noble houses—second only to the royal family.

Those who once opposed Bei Fan were ultimately won over by his success. And in these ten years, Bei Fan not only ascended to the position of the Bei family patriarch but also gained unparalleled prestige. Yet, he never forgot Zheji’s kindness, nor the Boka royal family to whom he had sworn allegiance. For ten years, he remained loyal, steadfast, and grateful—never once forgetting his roots.

The caravan traveled across the vast grasslands. This time, they had delivered supplies to Kezhan, successfully completing the task assigned by the princess. Now, they were preparing to pass through the ruins of the former Rongwei Tribe and continue deeper into the northwestern grasslands.

Not long after leaving Kezhan, just as they entered Rongwei’s territory, a servant on horseback suddenly rode up, pointing toward a river in the distance and shouting loudly, “Captain Bei Fan! Look over there—doesn’t that look like a person?”

Bei Fan followed the servant’s direction and indeed spotted a dark figure lying on the riverbank. He gestured for the servant to check it out. The servant galloped over, dismounted at the river’s edge, and bent down to pull the person from the water.

When he hauled the drenched, raggedly dressed figure out of the river, he was shocked. Turning back, he called out to Bei Fan, “Captain! It’s a soldier from Beichen! He’s still breathing!”

Bei Fan was also taken aback. It was rare to find a Beichen soldier still alive on the grasslands. The soldier looked terrible—on the verge of death, clearly having escaped from the battlefield.

Bei Fan glanced upstream. The river flowed from the borderlands between the grasslands and the northern frontier. The soldier must have fallen into the water somewhere along the way and had been carried here by the current.

The possibility of that happening wasn’t impossible, but it was incredibly slim—practically nonexistent. The battlefield at the border was at least thirty to forty miles from here. A man drifting in the water that long would have drowned by now.

For this one to have survived, even barely hanging on—his luck was truly extraordinary.

“See if he can be saved. If he’s still alive, bring him along.”

Although the soldier was from Beichen, Bei Fan did not believe in the notion that one life was worth more than another. The struggles of kings and nobles had little to do with ordinary people like him. Over the years, as a traveling merchant crossing the entire grassland, he had always adhered to principles of kindness and integrity. Since he happened to pass by and had the ability to save this man, he would do so. Once they reached Boka, they could decide what to do with him.

The servant acknowledged the order, hoisted the injured soldier onto his shoulder, led his horse back to the caravan, and placed the half-conscious man onto an ox cart. The rough ride jostled the soldier, pressing against his chest and stomach. Midway through, he suddenly vomited up a mouthful of water, looking utterly miserable.

Bei Fan spared him a glance before signaling for the caravan to continue forward.

***

When Lin Aoxue regained consciousness, the world around her spun violently. She felt utterly wretched—her head was heavy with dizziness, her stomach was filled with water, and her entire body was weak, as if she was just moments away from taking her final breath.

She struggled several times before finally managing to open her eyes. The first thing she saw was an endless sky, vast and gray. The ox cart beneath her jolted and shook, sending waves of pain through her skull.

She took deep breaths, forcing herself to regain control of her body. It took several attempts before she could even move her arm slightly.

Her back bore two sword wounds, another gash marred her forearm, and after being submerged in the river for so long, her injuries had swollen and festered. Her entire body was bloated with water retention. Even the smallest movement sent a wave of exhaustion through her, nearly driving her to madness.

The commotion from the ox cart caught the attention of a nearby servant. He turned and, seeing Lin Aoxue struggling to sit up, was astonished.

“Wow! He’s this badly injured and can still move? Are all Beichen soldiers made of iron?!”

His voice drew the attention of the caravan members. Bei Fan glanced over, motioning for the caravan to keep moving forward before riding over to the ox cart. Seeing Lin Aoxue’s eyes flutter open, he spoke in the language of the barbarian tribes, “How are you? What’s your name?”

Lin Aoxue didn’t understand him. Her mind was still muddled. She shook her head forcefully, trying to clear her thoughts.

Seeing her dazed state, Bei Fan said nothing more and simply instructed the nearby servant to bring her some water and cheese.

The servant packed the food and water into a leather pouch and handed it to Lin Aoxue. She used what little strength she had to sit up, leaning weakly against the cart. As she looked around, the scenery gradually came into focus.

The fresh scent of earth and grass filled the air, anchoring her to reality. Slowly, her muddled mind began to clear, and she started piecing together her current situation.

She was still alive—on the grasslands.

She didn’t know why she had ended up here. She only vaguely remembered that before losing consciousness, her injuries had been too severe. The horse had dragged her for some distance before she fell, getting caught on something and tumbling into a river. What happened after that was a blur.

Clutching the food and water in her hands, Lin Aoxue composed herself and nodded slightly at the servant who had handed them to her.

It wasn’t that she was unwilling to speak, but her throat was dry and raw from swallowing too much water. The discomfort was unbearable, making it impossible to utter a sound. Even eating was a struggle.

She could tell that her rescuers were a merchant caravan. She had learned a few words of the barbarian language from Tamu before, but now, in the midst of their land, she found herself unable to understand what they were saying. Since she couldn’t make sense of their words, she simply remained silent, choosing to observe.

Bei Fan didn’t concern himself with her. The caravan continued moving forward. In a few days, they would reach the lands of the Boka Tribe.

Once Lin Aoxue had fully regained her senses, she ate a bit of the cheese. She didn’t mind that it was food from the barbarians. Though the taste was unfamiliar, what mattered most to her was survival—finding a way to leave this place.

She wanted to know exactly where she was and where the caravan was headed, but with the language barrier, there was nothing she could do for now.

Despite her serious injuries, Lin Aoxue had a strong ability to recover. Once she had regained some strength, she immediately began tending to her wounds. When she coldly and unflinchingly sliced away the rotting flesh from her forearm, the servant beside her was left utterly stunned, his entire body tensed with unease.

But to Lin Aoxue, this level of pain was nothing new. After cleaning the wound on her arm, she roughly wrapped it in a bandage. However, she hesitated when it came to the two sword wounds on her back.

The servant, aware of the wounds on her back, made a few gestures to indicate that he could help her treat them. Lin Aoxue tilted her head slightly in thought. Her body was already weak from her injuries, and if she didn’t get the wounds treated and bandaged, they would take a long time to heal. But if she let this person help her, she would inevitably expose her identity.

In the end, Lin Aoxue recalled some simple phrases she had learned from Tamu and asked, “Do you have wine?”

The servant was stunned to hear Lin Aoxue suddenly speak, albeit in heavily accented barbarian tongue. But he understood her meaning and was so surprised that he burst into laughter. “Well, aren’t you something! A Beichen soldier who can speak our language!”

Unfortunately, Lin Aoxue had no idea what he was saying. She simply maintained a cold expression and didn’t respond. The servant soon realized that she likely only knew a few basic phrases. After finishing his laughter, he answered, “Yes!” Then, he turned toward Bei Fan and called out loudly, “Captain! This Beichen soldier is asking for wine!”

Hearing this, Bei Fan was visibly surprised. Then, he too laughed and said, “Well, this one is certainly different! Give it to him!”

Lin Aoxue’s situation was far from ideal. She was a soldier, and though she had not directly fought against these people, they were still from opposing sides. Yet here she was, calmly asking them for wine. Whether it was because she didn’t understand her predicament or simply had an open mind, it was hard to say.

The servant quickly brought the wine over. Lin Aoxue took several large gulps first, warming her body. Then, without hesitation, she pulled aside the outer layer of her clothing and said to the barbarian in the simplest way she knew, “Help me.”

She didn’t know how to phrase it more politely, so she kept it brief. After speaking, she pointed to the sword wounds on her back, signaling for the servant to pour the wine directly onto them.

The barbarian servant quickly understood her intention and was startled once again, almost thinking that Lin Aoxue had a death wish.

Seeing her unwavering resolve, he hesitated, confirming several times before finally giving in. Unable to communicate properly, he had no choice but to comply. With no better option, he reluctantly poured the wine over Lin Aoxue’s back.

The burning liquor seared into her torn flesh, causing her to grit her teeth in pain. She inhaled sharply, her entire body tensing up as the pain nearly knocked her unconscious.

But she endured it.

Biting down hard, tasting the faint tang of blood in her mouth, she forced herself to push through the agony. When the worst of it passed, she finally exhaled shakily and whispered a word of thanks to the servant.

Properly dressing the wounds would require removing her clothing entirely, but Lin Aoxue didn’t have the strength for that. For now, using alcohol to disinfect the injuries would have to suffice—it would help them heal faster.

After pouring the wine over her wounds, Lin Aoxue drifted into a hazy sleep once again. Fortunately, she had managed to eat something earlier. Though her condition was still poor, her body was slowly recovering.

Late at night, as the temperature dropped and the dew thickened, Lin Aoxue developed a fever due to her injuries. Her head was heavy with dizziness, and her consciousness blurred. Bei Fan had someone bring her a thick wolf-fur coat. Lin Aoxue forced herself to stay awake long enough to thank him before tightly wrapping herself in the garment.

By morning, she had survived another night. The fever had subsided. Weakly, she sat up, realizing she was drenched in sweat. The servant returned with another pot of wine, once again pouring it over her wounds, then handed her some cheese and water. Lin Aoxue found the people in this caravan to be quite kind. Like Tamu, they were warm-hearted and generous.

Days passed in this manner. Though her wounds healed slowly, they were steadily improving. By the time the caravan neared Boka territory, she was well enough to get off the cart, move around, and even help with simple tasks.

She was still in the grasslands. Though her mind was occupied with thoughts of the military camp, she had no idea what had become of Yun Yan. After the battle, she had failed to return—what would Yun Yan think of that?

Lin Aoxue let out a sigh. But her wounds were still not fully healed. If she left the caravan recklessly, not only would she be lost in the vast grasslands, unable to communicate, but if she encountered any barbarian tribes, she wouldn’t even know how she had died. Staying with Bei Fan’s caravan at least gave her a chance to gather information. Once she had recovered, she could look for an opportunity to leave.

***

Two days later, the caravan entered Boka territory. As they passed over a gentle slope outside the settlement, Lin Aoxue glanced downward. Her pupils shrank as she widened her eyes in shock.

The Boka Tribe covered an immense area, stretching beyond the horizon. At its center stood an altar for rituals, surrounded by a magnificent palace complex. The outer buildings radiated outward in circular formations. Herds of cattle and sheep roamed the outskirts, guided by shepherds engaged in lively conversation, their voices carrying a tone of simplicity and warmth.

Men and women alike worked diligently at their tasks. As Lin Aoxue scanned the bustling settlement, she estimated that this grand barbarian city was perhaps no smaller than the entire northern frontier. Beside it lay a vast lake, its surface dotted with birds—red and white—fluttering in dazzling patterns, creating a scene straight out of a paradise.

Lin Aoxue was stunned. This was the first time she had ever seen such a prosperous and majestic barbarian settlement. The people here seemed different from the brutal warriors she had encountered on the battlefield. There was no overwhelming hostility, no constant bloodshed—only a sense of harmony and peace, like an untouched utopia.

Bei Fan glanced at Lin Aoxue’s astonished expression, a faint smile flashing across his face before he quickly withdrew it. With a loud command, he signaled for the caravan to proceed into the settlement.

As they passed through the vast herds of sheep, Lin Aoxue watched the woolly creatures gather in clusters, like drifting clouds over the plains. It was unexpectedly beautiful.