The General Says She Won't Marry - Chapter 58 Part 2

Once she realized, she was instantly mortified. However, she only ever turned beet red in front of Yun Yan. When facing Lu Sheng, she managed to keep her composure. Though her expression remained stern, she still looked quite at ease. Her eyes narrowed slightly, and she scolded, “What nonsense are you spouting?!”

Lu Sheng wasn’t the least bit intimidated by her. He burst into laughter, waggling his eyebrows and making his meaning even clearer.

“Look, Doctor Yun is thoughtful and gentle. She washes your clothes, cooks for you, and comes running whenever you call. Whenever you’re injured, she stays by your side without leaving for even a moment. And this time, when she thought you were dead, she took all of your things with her. Isn’t that as good as declaring you hers? A girl like that—you won’t find another even if you search with a lantern! Duwei, stop being so stubborn and just go with it already!”

Lin Aoxue was utterly flustered, her face stiff as she stood there in silence for a long time.

She was well aware of Yun Yan’s kindness—far more than what Lu Sheng had observed. If even outsiders could see how good Yun Yan was to her, yet she remained hesitant, then it truly seemed ungrateful.

Lin Aoxue understood this herself, but there was still a long road ahead for her and Yun Yan.

Feeling cornered by Lu Sheng’s words, Lin Aoxue glared at him and feigned anger. “Perhaps your recent training intensity hasn’t been sufficient. I could put in a request to double your regimen!”

Now that Lin Aoxue had been promoted to duwei, she commanded ten thousand soldiers. Lu Sheng, on the other hand, was merely a baihu. Though still under her command, Lin Aoxue had become increasingly preoccupied with military affairs, making it impossible to oversee Lu Sheng’s training as closely as before. As her responsibilities grew, the gap between them widened, and Lu Sheng had to rely more on his own initiative to improve. Lin Aoxue had less and less direct involvement.

But at the end of the day, she was still his superior. If she ordered it, Lu Sheng would have no choice but to endure. So the moment Lin Aoxue threatened him, he immediately surrendered, hopping on his feet and loudly apologizing.

Lu Sheng had come to congratulate Lin Aoxue on her promotion, but upon seeing her return from outside the camp—most likely from visiting Yun Yan—and looking so cheerful, he figured she must have feelings for Yun Yan. So, he wanted to help bring them together.

In Lu Sheng’s eyes, Lin Aoxue was no longer young. It was only a matter of time before she settled down. Stationed at the northern border, where battles were brutal, they never knew when their lives might end. It was better to leave behind a legacy. Moreover, the military was an environment with little free time. For Lin Aoxue to find mutual affection with Yun Yan was already a rare opportunity.

It wasn’t as if Lin Aoxue was afraid of damaging her own reputation by taking Yun Yan as a wife. If that were the case, she wouldn’t have smashed a wine jug over someone’s head for making crude jokes about Yun Yan, an act that had even resulted in her being placed under house arrest by Beichen Long.

Not understanding what Lin Aoxue was thinking, Lu Sheng grew anxious on her behalf. Seeing that she had dropped the topic of training, he cautiously added, “Ah, sir, if you ask me, opportunities like this don’t come twice. Why are you hesitating?”

Lin Aoxue glanced at him, lowered her gaze, and simply replied, “I know.”

Lu Sheng instantly jumped. “Then why are you still—?”

Lin Aoxue shook her head, unwilling to continue the conversation. “You wouldn’t understand.”

Lu Sheng fell silent. After a while, he sighed, gave a helpless smile, then changed the subject. “Boss Lin, you got promoted, but since you’re still recovering and can’t drink, why don’t we order some side dishes and celebrate?”

Since Lin Aoxue didn’t object, she nodded in agreement.

Just as they were about to leave, they ran into Beichen Ji. Every time Lin Aoxue received a reward, these two would show up without fail to celebrate with her. Lin Aoxue was used to it by now and invited them along to Fuyun Manor, where they ordered a few dishes and observed the usual rituals of a celebration.

***

A few days later, Lin Aoxue’s life returned to normal. Though many in the camp still grumbled about her sudden promotion, and a few petty soldiers spread rumors, she never concerned herself with such matters. She focused entirely on training her troops and recovering from her injuries.

Under Yun Yan’s care, her wounds healed quickly. One morning, after freshening up, she grabbed her silver spear and prepared to inspect the training grounds. But just as she stepped outside, a messenger soldier blocked her path.

“Duwei Lin! The general requests your presence!”

Lin Aoxue acknowledged the command, turned to the guards accompanying her, and instructed them to deliver her orders to the training grounds. Then, she followed the messenger to Beichen Long’s tent.

Inside, a number of officers were already seated, all of them duwei or higher-ranking commanders. As Lin Aoxue lifted the tent flap and entered, every gaze turned toward her. Some were friendly, others mocking—expressions varied.

Ignoring them, Lin Aoxue strode inside, saluted Beichen Long, and then took a seat in an empty corner.

More officers trickled in over time. After about the length of one incense stick, nearly everyone had arrived.

Clearing his throat, Beichen Long swept his gaze across the tent before speaking. “I’ve gathered everyone here today for two reasons.”

At his words, the entire tent fell silent, with all attention focused on him.

“The first matter concerns our recent battle against the barbarians. I had dispatched Duwei Lin to lead twenty thousand troops behind enemy lines to cut off their supply lines and disrupt their retreat. This victory was one of the most decisive we’ve seen in our years defending the border. Duwei Lin played a crucial role in this success. Originally, I intended to promote him directly to lieutenant general, but he personally requested not to accept the position. Thus, I only raised him to duwei instead.”

Beichen Long’s voice was firm and deep, resonating like rolling thunder in the ears of everyone present.

Everyone understood that he was sending a clear warning to those who had objections about Lin Aoxue’s promotion. With Beichen Long’s stance made explicit, no one dared to continue showing displeasure and risk provoking his wrath. One after another, they nodded and responded with a resounding “Yes.” Some even spoke up, praising Lin Aoxue’s consistent bravery on the battlefield.

For a while, the discussion revolved around Lin Aoxue’s merits. The generals took turns extolling her achievements, as if failing to mention her contributions would be an unforgivable injustice. Even those who had previously harbored jealousy toward her quickly concealed their resentment and instead followed Beichen Long’s lead, praising her to the skies.

Seated in the corner, Lin Aoxue found the atmosphere utterly strange. She pressed her lips together in silence, glancing around in bewilderment. Finding the situation absurd, she decided not to say a single word from start to finish.

Beichen Long suppressed the chaotic chatter before continuing, “Enough. You all understand Duwei Lin’s merits now, and that’s sufficient. The second matter I have gathered you here to discuss is this—the emperor has dispatched 100,000 troops of the Beichen Army to the northern frontier, aiming to suppress us as rebels.”

The moment these words fell, the entire room was thrown into turmoil. The assembled generals exchanged bewildered glances, whispering amongst themselves.

Even Lin Aoxue was shocked. Previously, as a mere county commandant, she had no right to participate in strategic discussions among the higher-ranked generals. As a result, she had remained unaware of the Fifth Prince’s assassination and Beichen Long’s subsequent consolidation of power through iron-fisted means. Now, hearing Beichen Long declare that the emperor intended to punish the northern forces, she found it difficult to believe.

It was only after listening to the hushed discussions in the room that she finally grasped the situation—during her absence, the Fifth Prince had died, and Beichen Long had already resolved not to follow the imperial court’s orders any longer. He intended to establish his own power in the northern frontier.

Paper cannot contain fire forever. The assassination and sudden death of the Fifth Prince was a matter that Beichen Long could suppress temporarily, but not indefinitely. Sooner or later, the news was bound to reach the emperor’s ears. Initially, the emperor had assumed that while Beichen Long harbored rebellious ambitions, he had yet to act upon them outright. But when the prince he sent to the border—intended to divide Beichen Long’s authority—suddenly perished, the emperor was furious.

Adding fuel to the fire, those in court loyal to the Prince of the First Rank exaggerated the situation, constantly goading and agitating the emperor’s already sensitive and fragile nerves. In a fit of rage, the emperor became convinced that Beichen Long had already turned traitor. Without further investigation, he decisively dispatched an army to subdue him.

Yet the Emperor, being timid, feared that removing too many troops from the capital’s defenses would leave him vulnerable. As a result, the forces he sent to attack Beichen Long were drawn from the Beichen Army stationed south of the region. Between them and Xingbei Pass lay the entire northern expanse of the territory, requiring a march of at least two months to reach their target.

From the moment the army was mobilized, Beichen Long had already calculated his response. Those 100,000 troops posed no real threat to him. Regardless of their combat ability, the grueling two-month journey alone would weaken them considerably. More importantly, the northern frontier was Beichen Long’s domain—he had spent decades entrenched there and knew every blade of grass, every river, and every mountain like the back of his hand.

Given these conditions, Beichen Long held both the geographical and tactical advantage. It was already evident how well the southern troops would fare against the battle-hardened northern army when the time came.

His gaze swept across the faces of those present. Once the murmurs of discussion gradually subsided, he finally spoke again. “I have informed you of this matter because I want to hear your thoughts. How should we respond to the emperor’s deployment of 100,000 troops?”

The gathered generals looked at one another in confusion. Then, a scoffing laugh broke the silence. As all eyes turned toward the source, the man arched a brow and sneered. “The Southern Army marching 100,000 strong to attack Xingbei Pass? Do they not realize how laughable that sounds? Do they truly believe they stand a chance? The south and the north are completely different worlds. Do they think their soft-bellied, gluttonous layabouts can suddenly become warriors? And that commander—what’s his name again? Yuan Wei? Does he really believe that putting on a general’s robe makes him a real general? Ridiculous!”

The speaker was Pei Qing, a veteran officer under Beichen Long’s command. He had followed Beichen Long for slightly fewer years than Guo Wencheng and Yang Jin, but he was still a seasoned warrior with an indomitable spirit. Holding the rank of fourth-rank deputy general, he was known for his daring leadership in battle. Often employing unconventional tactics, he had repeatedly led his troops to victory, earning Beichen Long’s appreciation.

Lin Aoxue glanced at him briefly before withdrawing her gaze. She still didn’t fully grasp the situation, so she chose to remain silent, observing instead. She wanted to gauge the state of affairs and Beichen Long’s stance before making any comments of her own.

At Pei Qing’s remark, the entire tent erupted into laughter.

Indeed, as he had said, the southern garrison troops had long since lost their fighting edge. With no external enemies threatening their borders, they had grown complacent and accustomed to luxury. Even if they were forced to march north, setting aside their adaptability to the climate and terrain, their physical endurance alone would make it nearly impossible for them to sustain such an arduous campaign.

A faint smile flickered in Beichen Long’s eyes, but he quickly schooled his expression. Tapping his fingers lightly on the table, he produced a crisp, rhythmic sound that gradually quieted the rowdy atmosphere. Clearing his throat, he spoke again. “While the southern garrison may indeed be weak, we must not underestimate the situation. Now that His Majesty has labeled us as traitors, who is to say that after this force of 100,000, there won’t be 200,000 or even 300,000 more? We cannot afford to let our guard down.”

Pei Qing, far from feeling embarrassed at being contradicted, remained as respectful and obedient as ever. The moment Beichen Long finished speaking, he promptly bowed deeply and responded in a clear voice, “The general speaks with great wisdom!”

Beichen Long nodded in approval before asking, “What do you all think? How should I respond to this situation?”

His gaze lifted slightly and landed on Lin Aoxue, who had remained silent since entering the tent. Sensing his attention, she finally raised her own eyes, locking onto his.

“Duwei Lin, why don’t you share your thoughts?”

Seeing that Lin Aoxue had met his gaze, Beichen Long smiled, deliberately calling her out to voice her opinion.

Lin Aoxue was momentarily stunned. Almost instantly, all the advisors and generals turned their attention toward her. She raised an eyebrow and sighed inwardly—this was yet another test from Beichen Long, forcing her to take a public stand and eliminating any possibility of defection.

With full awareness of his intent, she clasped her hands in salute, first bowing slightly toward Beichen Long, then respectfully addressing the gathered officials. Only then did she speak. “Since the general has asked for my opinion, I will humbly share my unrefined thoughts. I hope my esteemed colleagues will guide me if I err.” After a brief cough, Lin Aoxue took a moment to organize her thoughts before continuing, “As the saying goes, ‘He who wins the hearts of the people wins the world.’ The emperor wages this campaign under the pretense of quelling traitors, hoping to rally the people to his cause. However, all of you have followed the general through life and death in the northern frontier, shedding blood and sweat for this land. And yet, His Majesty does not see this. The moment the barbarian invaders retreat, he immediately turns his forces against the north. This is the very definition of ‘killing the hound once the hunt is over’—a ruler who discards his loyal servants after using them to achieve his goals. The emperor does not act for the greater good of the empire. At a time when the barbarian tribes still eye our borders with malice, he chooses instead to incite internal strife. In this, the fault does not lie with the general—it lies with the emperor!”

Her words struck like a hammer, and the assembled generals wore expressions of deep contemplation. At the head of the tent, Beichen Long did not conceal his admiration. Lin Aoxue, meanwhile, remained steadfast, her voice clear and unwavering as she pressed on.

“If the emperor is unjust, how can the general simply sit and await destruction? How could you betray the trust of the northern people? His Majesty’s decision to attack the frontier without concern for the thousands of lives at stake is proof of his disregard for his subjects. The general, once a meritorious servant of the empire, has now been slandered and condemned by the ruler himself. How is this fair?”

As her voice fell silent for a brief moment, her gaze sharpened. She swept her eyes across the room, her expression cold as she continued.

“In my opinion, the general must act first. Before the emperor’s forces even arrive at the northern border, we should issue a declaration—one that lists His Majesty’s transgressions and makes them known to the people. We must seize the people’s hearts before he does. And not just in the north—this proclamation should reach every citizen of Beichen! Let them see with their own eyes how the ruler they revere treats those who have faithfully served him!”

At first, she had spoken with a composed demeanor, but when she mentioned “killing the hound once the hunt is over,” an inescapable sorrow welled up within her. It was impossible not to recall her father—Nation’s Protector Grand General Duke Ning—and the fate he had suffered. Grief swelled within her chest, and her words grew ever more impassioned. By the time she finished, her voice resonated with fervor, carrying the weight of genuine indignation.

Unconsciously, Beichen Long’s fingers had stopped tapping against the table. He looked at Lin Aoxue with a hint of surprise, caught off guard by the passion in her words. Until now, he had assumed her stance was still uncertain. Even though she had always conducted herself with obedience, he had remained wary and deliberately excluded her from the core military discussions.

But now, seeing her speak with such conviction, he began to reassess his perception of her.

At this moment, Lin Aoxue’s words had truly moved Beichen Long. He felt reassured that he had not misjudged her—Lin Aoxue was a talent with great potential, fiercely loyal, and worthy of being entrusted with important responsibilities.

After she finished speaking, the tent fell into a brief silence. Soon, the gathered generals snapped out of their daze, still carrying traces of astonishment in their eyes. Lin Aoxue rarely spoke, but when she did, it shook the entire room.

Every word she had uttered was filled with sincerity and aligned perfectly with the reality of their situation, leaving no room for rebuttal. Moreover, those present were not blind—they could clearly see the unreserved admiration in Beichen Long’s gaze. Considering Lin Aoxue’s meteoric rise since joining the military, no one was foolish enough to step in at this moment and contradict her.

After a brief pause, it was Pei Qing who suddenly nodded with a hearty laugh. Rising to his feet, he saluted Lin Aoxue and said, “Duwei Lin’s insight is truly remarkable—I am deeply impressed. I wholeheartedly agree with his assessment.”

With Pei Qing taking the lead, the others quickly followed suit, voicing their agreement. One after another, they expressed that Lin Aoxue had spoken precisely what they had all been thinking.

The smile in Beichen Long’s eyes deepened. His sharp gaze swept across the faces of those present, taking in their reactions. After scanning the room, his eyes finally settled back on Lin Aoxue. The corners of his lips curved upward slightly as he said with a chuckle, “I, too, agree with Duwei Lin’s view. Since that is the case, why not have Duwei Lin draft the proclamation? What do you all think?”