I was still wearing my rebel uniform, which made it easier to infiltrate the enemy camp, but I didn't know where Long Que's current camp was, or if it was still on the slope north of the city. So, I went up to the city wall first to observe. Indeed, it was a temporary camp; the dragon banner had been removed. I couldn't find the new camp's location for a moment, so I disguised myself as a messenger and asked a general for directions, saying I had an urgent military report for Commander Long.
The general instinctively told me, "Commander Long is in the Cold Sky Palace."
I knew that. It was the center of the Three Yin Hall city, originally Dongfang Jibai's station. She had been driven out and returned to her own residence to work.
Just as I was about to leave, the general realized something was off and asked me, "I've never seen you before? Who do you serve under?"
"I take orders from Commander Wu," I replied casually.
The general looked puzzled. "There's no commander named Wu in our army..."
Seeing that I was about to be exposed, I immediately used the Gale Force Technique to escape. Behind me, I heard shouts: "Catch... the... spy...!"
The Doppler effect of the sound was far more intense than a departing train.
I sprinted out of the south gate. Many troop formations were on the move on the road. I followed them for over a mile and finally saw the dragon banner, on the march. Behind the banner was a massive carriage pulled by sixteen horses, with a retinue similar to the emperor's. The front of the carriage had no curtains. Inside, the space was not small, almost like a restroom. A man and a woman, both in armor, were drinking.
I had seen the woman before; she was the one who led the troops to attack Snow Mountain. The man's helmet had a black tassel, and he looked exceptionally heroic, with sharp features, around thirty years old. He should be Long Que, matching the age he died in history.
In front of them was a large jar of wine. The female commander was also hearty, drinking from a large bowl just like Long Que.
I had tried the wine of the underworld before; it tasted like vinegar, and I had no interest. I found an opportunity to approach the carriage, blending in with the escorting troops, and tried to eavesdrop on their conversation.
At first, they didn't discuss the troop rotation of the Three Yin Hall army. They only talked about sending a strong force to intercept the Little King of Hell at his likely exit from Snow Mountain. They discussed several possible locations for a while but couldn't decide. Just then, a rider reported that the fire on the grand march had been basically controlled, but about half of the supplies had been destroyed.
The female commander asked who had set the fire and the scale of the surprise attack. The rider replied that they didn't know.
"What do you mean you don't know?" the female commander frowned and asked.
"We didn't see the arsonist, nor did we find any enemy spies who attacked. We only saw a disheveled fellow, dressed like a beggar, standing outside the stockade and giggling foolishly. By the time we sent people to capture him, he had vanished."
This was describing Li Yuanba's appearance. The kid was quite obedient and didn't force his way in, just set the fire.
Long Que sighed, "We lost so many supplies, lost the Second Prince, and Qin Shuyao escaped. It will be difficult to explain to Prince Qi."
It seemed they already knew Han Li had been dealt with.
"Commander Long, we can shift all the blame to Dongfang Jibai," the female commander said directly in front of others. Perhaps she felt everyone around was one of them. "According to your plan, when they arrive at the Three Yin Hall, we'll say they set the fire, that she killed the Second Prince, and that she's plotting rebellion. The hundred thousand Ghost Fang Hall troops ambushing nearby will join us in a breakout, surely annihilating Dongfang's fifty thousand men. Then, we'll slaughter the two hundred thousand in the Three Yin Hall, leaving no witnesses. Prince Qi will surely not blame us."
"I'm afraid Ha Yachaku won't cooperate," Long Que said. Ha Yachaku was the commander of the Ghost Fang Hall army, also a commander.
"Heh heh," the female commander sneered. "He can't escape responsibility for the Second Prince's death. If he wants to live, he can only cooperate with our plan and pin the blame on that little girl, Dongfang Jibai."
"That's true. Then, we'll proceed as planned. Has that girl received the orders yet?" Long Que asked.
"Commander Zhao hasn't returned yet."