The General Says She Won't Marry - Chapter 56 Part 2

She knew exactly what Zheji wanted. She also knew that Zheji was intelligent and not easily deceived. That meant, under no circumstances, could she show even the slightest interest in Lin Aoxue in her responses. While Zheji had captured Lin Aoxue in hopes of extracting some benefits from her, she had no idea about the relationship between them. As such, she couldn’t—and wouldn’t—demand too much.

But if Zheji were to discover her true feelings for Lin Aoxue, to realize just how important Lin Aoxue was to her, then she would be exposing her greatest weakness. At that point, it wouldn’t just be about Zheji making excessive demands—there would be no guarantee that she would release Lin Aoxue at all.

Yun Yan understood this all too well. That was why she remained calm and composed. Her responses to Zheji were always neutral, even carrying a hint of indifference, as if saying, “Forget it. If we can’t reach an agreement, so be it.” Only by suppressing Zheji’s bold and fearless nature could she make this negotiation work.

She also knew that Lin Aoxue was not in immediate danger. Zheji, for all her ruthlessness, was not known for mistreating captives. Lin Aoxue would not suffer too much. Therefore, every time she wrote a reply, Yun Yan forced down the unease and urgency churning within her and maintained an air of nonchalance.

For the next half a month, Zheji and Yun Yan haggled back and forth over Lin Aoxue’s ransom. Yun Yan never showed excessive eagerness, which left Zheji slightly unimpressed. The latter remarked that Yun Yan couldn’t possibly fail to see Lin Aoxue’s value. But Yun Yan countered that Lin Aoxue was not under her command—regardless of her value, she did not belong to her. Using this argument, she repeatedly lowered the negotiation terms.

After exchanging over a dozen letters, they finally settled on a price.

***

That day, Beichen Long was in his military tent, discussing the emperor’s order to march against the northern territories with two of his deputies. His soldiers swore unwavering loyalty to the grand general, which reassured him. Just as they were about to delve further into their strategy, a soldier hurried in to report.

“The barbarians have returned. They’re thirty miles outside Xingbei Pass.”

Beichen Long was startled and immediately summoned his troops. Striding up to the city walls, he peered beyond the gates.

It had been two months since the last retreat of the barbarians. Beichen Long had assumed the previous battle had inflicted enough damage to keep them at bay for at least a year or two. He had not expected them to return so soon.

From his vantage point, he watched as the barbarian army advanced swiftly before halting just beyond arrow range. The commanding officer leading them was someone he had never seen before—a woman.

At that moment, he recalled the intelligence Lin Aoxue had brought back from beyond the pass. It mentioned a rising warrior princess in the heart of the barbarian lands—one who had united the vast grasslands in a mere two to three years, consolidating their forces into a formidable army.

This woman must be the princess of the Boka Tribe.

Zheji sat atop her horse, her posture relaxed and unbothered. From afar, her gaze swept toward the city walls, easily pinpointing Beichen Long among the ranks. A smirk of mockery and contempt tugged at her lips before she raised her arm slightly, signaling for her men to deliver a message to the grand general atop Xingbei Pass.

“I am Zheji, princess of Boka. I’ve come today to strike a deal with the general of Beichen.”

The officers beside Beichen Long scowled. These barbarians were utterly brazen, always finding excuses to stir up trouble at Xingbei Pass.

Yet Beichen Long, standing in the center, remained composed. He raised a hand, signaling for silence among his men. Then, looking beyond the pass, he answered, “And what kind of deal does the princess wish to make?”

It was just a negotiation. If he didn’t like it, he could tear up the agreement at any time. There was no harm in hearing her out.

At his reply, Zheji let out a hearty laugh. “The general is straightforward—I appreciate that. Very well, let’s not beat around the bush. Bring the prisoner forward!”

At her command, a group of barbarian soldiers pushed a bloodied, ragged figure onto the battlefield. Dressed in tattered armor, Lin Aoxue stumbled as she was shoved to the front lines. Zheji gestured toward her and called out to Beichen Long, “Tell me, General, do you recognize this person?”

The armor Lin Aoxue wore had been deliberately retrieved from a herdsman’s home where she had once stayed for a night. If she was to be released as promised, Zheji had to ensure there were no suspicions. On this, she remained surprisingly faithful—handling every detail with care.

Beichen Long knew Lin Aoxue well. The moment he saw her—bloody, disheveled, yet unmistakably Lin Aoxue—his pupils contracted. After a brief moment of scrutiny, he confirmed what he feared: this was indeed the missing officer from the last battle. His brows furrowed as he raised his voice. “Name your price!”

He knew exactly why Zheji was here—to negotiate the terms of Lin Aoxue’s release.

Zheji burst into laughter. She praised Beichen Long, calling him a man of great composure. Then, without further ado, she stated, “Twenty carts of grain. In exchange for this soldier’s life!”

The air on Xingbei Pass turned tense. Beichen Long’s face darkened, and the officers around him erupted into furious protests. They cursed the barbarian princess for her arrogance and greed—asking for twenty carts of grain was nothing short of extortion.

The clamor grew louder, but Beichen Long merely scowled. His sharp voice cut through the noise. “Silence!” With the walls finally quiet, he turned back to the battlefield and declared, “Ten carts.”

He had to save Lin Aoxue. She was a soldier of Beichen, captured in battle. If he abandoned her now, it would shatter the trust and morale of his men. But that did not mean he would pay any price. If the demand was too outrageous, if the cost of her life outweighed her value in his eyes, he would let her go.

Xingbei Pass would not fall simply because Lin Aoxue was missing. Even the Boka princess would not be able to force him into submission.

Ten carts of grain—that was how much Lin Aoxue was worth in Beichen Long’s estimation. At least, for now, that was her price.

Seeing that Beichen Long had named his bottom line, Zheji did not push further. A smirk played at her lips as she decided to take what she could and move on.

“General, have ten of your soldiers deliver the ten carts of grain five hundred paces beyond the pass. My side will also send ten men to escort your county commandant to the carts for the exchange. What do you think?”

A nearby officer was about to protest, but Beichen Long lifted an arm, cutting him off. He then turned to Zheji and said, “Very well. We will proceed as you propose.”

Zheji waited at the front of her forces, neither impatient nor hurried. Only after Beichen Long had the ten carts of grain transported to the designated spot did she wave her hand, signaling her men to escort Lin Aoxue forward to complete the exchange.

The transaction went smoothly—no one tried to cause trouble, and no underhanded tricks were played.

Lin Aoxue was successfully returned to Xingbei Pass under the escort of ten soldiers, while Zheji obtained her ten carts of grain. A faint smile lingered on her lips the entire time. As the exchange concluded, she turned toward Beichen Long, cupped her fists, and called out loudly, “General, you are a man of great integrity and loyalty to your subordinates. I truly admire that!”

With that, she immediately gave the order to withdraw, showing no hesitation as she led her troops back toward the grasslands.

From the moment she arrived at Xingbei Pass, to the negotiations, to the final exchange and departure—everything had been executed flawlessly, without the slightest delay.

Yet, as she rode away, a hint of regret flickered in her eyes.

That old turtle of Beichen was far too stingy—he lacked the foresight of that soldier. If Lin Aoxue had even the slightest chance of joining her, she would have demanded ten times the price and still never let go of such a promising talent.

What a pity.

Then again… why not stir the flames a little?

She was curious to see what Lin Aoxue would accomplish now that she had returned.

***

Watching Zheji and her forces truly withdraw, Beichen Long finally exhaled a breath of relief.

A complex expression crossed his face before he strode down from the city walls, heading toward the gates, where the returning soldiers were escorting a staggering Lin Aoxue back inside.

She had made it back, but her mind was still clouded, and her condition was poor. She had no idea what had just happened.

One moment, she had been locked up in the dungeon without any warning of release—and the next, Zheji had abruptly handed her over, without so much as a hint of explanation.

Seeing Lin Aoxue in a dazed state, Beichen Long felt a twinge of sorrow, though more than anything, he was relieved.

He stepped forward and clapped her shoulder, saying, “You’ve got quite the luck, kid. Even in a situation like that, you still managed to survive. No wonder you caught my eye.”

As soon as Lu Sheng heard that the barbarians had returned Lin Aoxue, he came charging toward the city gates without a care. Now promoted to baihu, he had no regard for formalities—throwing his arms around Lin Aoxue in front of Beichen Long and bursting into loud sobs.

Beichen Long frowned, shaking his head helplessly.

Still, Lu Sheng’s dramatic reaction did help lighten the tense atmosphere beneath the city walls. Beichen Long ordered Lin Aoxue to clean up, change into fresh clothes, and take some time to recover.

Finally snapping out of her daze, Lin Aoxue thanked Beichen Long and, alongside Lu Sheng, started making her way back.

Along the way, Lu Sheng was overwhelmed with emotion. His pent-up tears from the past two months flowed freely once again.

***

Having Lin Aoxue safely back, Beichen Long felt as if a weight had been lifted from his heart.

Previously, when he had believed Lin Aoxue was dead, he had been left with a lingering sense of regret. But now, that regret had been completely erased.

Returning to his command tent, he prepared to resume discussions with his officers regarding the emperor’s orders to march north.

But before they could even begin, an urgent report came from outside.

A soldier burst into the tent, his face pale with urgency.

“General, we have a crisis! While you were on the city walls, we received word from Poyan—the city has been attacked by the barbarians and has already fallen!”

“What?!”

The entire tent erupted in shock.

Beichen Long slammed his hand onto the table, his whole body trembling with fury. “Say that again!”

The soldier flinched at the overwhelming pressure, his voice trembling as he repeated the report.

Enraged, Beichen Long immediately ordered troops to be dispatched to Poyan.

The war drums sounded, and the soldiers swiftly assembled. Beichen Long appointed a newly promoted deputy to lead 50,000 troops to reclaim Poyan.

However, it was as if the barbarians had anticipated this reaction. The moment they occupied Poyan, they immediately set fire to the city’s grain stores and plundered every last resource.

This time, the barbarians’ tactics were entirely different.

They struck swiftly and retreated just as fast.

Unlike past invasions, they didn’t engage in mass slaughter after breaching the city gates. Instead, they focused solely on raiding the food supplies before withdrawing at full speed.

By the time reinforcements from Xingbei Pass arrived later that night, the barbarian forces were already gone—vanished without a trace.

When the news reached Xingbei Pass, Beichen Long was so furious that he slammed his palm onto the table, shattering it into pieces. The veins on his forehead bulged as he roared, “Those cunning bastards!”

Once again, the military report had arrived far too suddenly. There had been no prior warnings.

By the time Zheji had led Lin Aoxue to Xingbei Pass for the prisoner exchange, Poyan had already fallen. Her entire scheme had been a diversion—keeping Beichen Long’s attention fixed on the pass, delaying the urgent message from reaching him by at least half an hour.

That half-hour had been just enough time for the barbarian forces to complete their plunder and escape without a trace.

Even without thinking too hard, Beichen Long knew—there was a traitor inside their ranks. Someone with incredible access and knowledge. Someone who not only understood the defenses of Poyan but also had a perfect grasp of Xingbei Pass’ internal operations.

Zheji used the intelligence provided to her with the intent of seizing Poyan’s grain stores while using Lin Aoxue as a decoy to divert Beichen Long’s attention. The entire sequence of plans was meticulously linked together without a single flaw.

As Beichen Long recalled the events, he couldn’t shake the feeling that Zheji’s departing smile held deeper meaning. She had calculated every aspect of the battle, down to how he would react, with absolute clarity and precision.

A chill ran down his spine. This bizarre turn of events filled him with a profound sense of unease. If the barbarians had not held back this time—if their goal had been to take Poyan for a massacre rather than just its grain stores—the losses would have been immeasurable.

Grinding his teeth, Beichen Long felt like one crisis had barely passed before another erupted. This Boka princess was a cunning opponent, more formidable than any barbarian general they had faced before. The feeling of losing control, of always being at risk of a betrayal from the shadows, pressed on him with an almost suffocating weight.

He could not rely on the hope that the barbarians would show mercy and refrain from invading northern lands. With such a formidable Boka princess among them, they had surely been eyeing these lands for a long time, just waiting for the right moment to strike again. He could not afford to sit idly by.

“Advisor, how do we resolve this situation?”

After dismissing the messenger, Beichen Long braced himself against the damaged table, his expression cold as he posed the question.

***

Meanwhile, Lin Aoxue returned to her old quarters. No new recruits had been assigned in the past two months, so her tent had remained empty. Yun Yan had taken away her belongings, but the setup inside remained unchanged. As Lin Aoxue entered, she was struck by the emptiness of the space.

Seeing this, Lu Sheng immediately volunteered to fetch a fresh set of bedding and military attire.

Once Lu Sheng had left, Lin Aoxue sat on the wooden bed, still feeling a sense of bewilderment. After a moment, she let out a quiet chuckle and shook her head.

So, her life had been worth ten carts of grain.

It wasn’t long before Lu Sheng returned, carrying bedding, military clothing, and other essentials. Lin Aoxue took them, but Lu Sheng quickly pushed her aside, muttering under his breath, “The general said you were dead. Miss Yun waited for you, but when you didn’t return, she brought your nameplate and sidearm over and packed up all your belongings. She probably took them to the clinic.”

Standing by the bed, Lin Aoxue listened, a strange, overwhelming emotion welling up in her chest. Her nose tingled, and her throat felt dry—she didn’t know what to say.

Having spent over a year in the military camp, Lin Aoxue was well aware of the rules: when a soldier died in battle, and no one came to claim their belongings, everything was burned. Only the deceased’s closest kin were permitted to collect their effects in person. Yun Yan had deliberately taken her things, binding their fates together—acknowledging her as family.

Her eyes reddened. She discreetly wiped at them with the back of her hand, quietly dispersing the tears. Then, as if offhandedly, she asked, “Is Miss Yun Yan still at the clinic?”

Lu Sheng didn’t suspect anything and quickly nodded. “I heard she’s still there. Hasn’t gone anywhere these past two months.”

Lin Aoxue breathed a small sigh of relief. She planned to visit later.

After Lu Sheng finished setting up her bedding and told her to rest well, he left. Lin Aoxue changed out of her tattered uniform and into the fresh one Lu Sheng had brought her.

Just as she was about to leave to see Yun Yan, an urgent report sounded from outside the tent.

Lifting the entrance flap, Lin Aoxue saw a messenger rushing toward Beichen Long’s command tent. Soon after, soldiers began rapidly assembling, preparing to march. Glancing toward the pass, Lin Aoxue noted that Zheji had not returned—it must have been trouble elsewhere.

Lowering her gaze, she hesitated before stepping back into her tent. She neither left the camp nor went to see Yun Yan.

Although Beichen Long had given her a few days to recover, there was now military action underway. Her status already made her a subject of suspicion—if she left the camp now, it might draw unnecessary trouble to Yun Yan.

She knew Yun Yan was backed by powerful forces, but even the slightest suspicion from Beichen Long could set off a storm.

At such a critical moment, Lin Aoxue chose to suppress her emotions. She had waited two months already; waiting a few more days wouldn’t be difficult.

Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to calm down, then threw herself onto the bed and fell asleep.

***

The next morning, groggily waking up, she was met by a messenger outside her tent.

“The grand general has summoned you.”

Guessing that he wanted to question her about what had happened after she was captured, Lin Aoxue quickly tidied herself up and followed the messenger to his command tent.

However, Beichen Long did not mention the previous day’s battle in Poyan or the stolen grain supply. Instead, he only asked about the situation beyond the pass—how she had been captured two months ago and what had happened to her after falling into the hands of the barbarians.