Upon hearing the news, Chen An immediately sensed trouble. After all, the handwriting on this letter was unmistakably Master Ji's, and the two of them had delivered quite a few of his letters before. Even though they never really knew what the contents were, the handwriting on the envelope was always familiar. The script on this piece—even if a bit hasty—could in no uncertain terms be attributed to Master Ji.
Chen An quickly put on a friendly smile and, stealing a glance at Li Yin, received a slight nod in return—an unspoken confirmation that there was nothing wrong with the letter.
"Sir, as you said," Chen An began, "I just feel that since you've only just returned, you're bound to have to set off again. Had this matter been known in the city earlier, you wouldn't have had to trouble yourself. You must be worrying about something else—allow me to go and prepare a horse for you."
At the North Gate the soldiers on duty watched the backs of the riders entering the city. One guard commented, "Lord Li is really busy today. He just went back and now he's already on his way out again—this is something we used to see only once every couple of months."
After the trio entered the city, they hustled toward the military camp. Yet beneath his calm exterior, Li Yan's heart was in turmoil. He had no control over Master Ji's whereabouts; there was always the possibility that the master might return unexpectedly or even cross his path on the busy street.
They soon reached the camp's outer gates. Without a word, Li Yan leapt from his horse and, tossing his reins aside, strode straight toward the gate. Chen An and Li Yin hastily led their horses along as well. Glancing back at them, Li Yan said, "Once you're inside, tie your horses in the stable and wait here."
Both Chen An and Li Yin had already seen the letter, and knowing that Master Ji had come solely to see Li Yan, they felt completely reassured. Now that he was inside the camp, they were more than willing to slack off, eagerly agreeing with his orders.
Li Yan walked deeper into the camp. Having been here many times before, he was quite familiar with his surroundings. He maneuvered around several tents and encountered a few patrolling squads. Each time, the soldiers merely checked his identification before letting him pass. When he glanced back along the route he had taken, he saw that Chen An and Li Yin were no longer in sight—and so he turned a few more corners until he reached Liu Chengyong's tent.
Inside his tent, Liu Chengyong paced around. It was roughly three-quarters of an hour past noon when he suddenly felt his sight dim for a moment. Looking up, he saw someone dart into the doorway—it could only be Li Yan.
"Brother Li, you've finally arrived," Liu Chengyong said bluntly as he opened the door.
"Captain Liu, sorry for keeping you waiting. From here on, the matter is in your hands," Li Yan replied quickly.
"Very well. Come with me," said Captain Liu in a tone that left no room for idle chatter. Clearly, after receiving a secret order he knew this was a matter of utmost importance for the Marshal. He wouldn't ask further questions—he only knew that the details were not meant for outsiders. Li Yan followed closely behind.
The two exited the tent and made their way into the inner part of the camp. After winding their way past several rows of tents—having already encountered a number of patrol teams along the way—Captain Liu, holding a token in his hand, received permission from each patrol after inspection.
Before them now stretched a large compound occupied by several expansive tents draped in dark felt. At this point, their path was blocked by a long, interlaced fence of wooden spikes. The soldiers stationed here were markedly different from those they had met earlier; clad entirely in dark armor with impassive expressions, they watched the pair with intense vigilance. No sooner had Li Yan and Liu Chengyong approached than a guard bellowed, "Halt! Stand down—this is a military stronghold!"
Seeing this, Captain Liu leaned toward Li Yan and whispered, "Brother Li, please wait a moment." Retrieving half a tiger tally from his waist, he strode forward.
Li Yan watched as Captain Liu approached and handed the half tiger tally to a man who appeared to be the team leader. That man examined it carefully for quite a while before quietly conversing with Captain Liu. Then, Liu Chengyong beckoned Li Yan forward. As Li Yan moved closer, the team leader turned to another soldier nearby, exchanged a few words, and passed the tiger tally on. The soldier then stepped forward, cast a measuring glance at Liu Chengyong and Li Yan, and without saying a word, continued deeper into the camp.
"Captain Liu, what exactly is this area for? Why is it secured so tightly that we must even use the Marshal's half tiger tally? Why aren't our earlier tokens sufficient?" Li Yan asked in a low voice, his anxiety evident despite his eagerness to know—the nuances of military regulations, the system of roll calls, command arrows, and tiger tallies were not lost on him from his recent visits.
"This is the munitions depot—our lifeline," responded Captain Liu curtly.
Li Yan mused silently, "No wonder the security is so tight. It must mean that Chen An and Li Yin, knowing I'm here, cannot enter."
After a short while, as the soldier disappeared inside, Liu Chengyong led the way further, twisting through several turns until they reached another gate deep within the camp. This gate, however, was firmly closed, guarded by a squad of soldiers in black armor. Thick iron chains—about as thick as an adult's arm—wrapped around it, and a bronze lock roughly the size of half a human head secured it.
One of the guards strode forward and whispered with an approaching comrade clad alike. He then produced the half tiger tally and handed it over. The fellow soldier examined it carefully before gesturing to Captain Liu and Li Yan to come forward.
Once they had advanced, the guard returned the half tiger tally to Captain Liu and ordered his men to release the iron chain. With a cacophony of creaks and groans, four soldiers exerted all their might to push open the heavy gate until a narrow passage—just wide enough for one person—appeared. Captain Liu called to Li Yan, and together they stepped through.
Moments later, the heavy sound of the gate moving echoed again, and with a resounding "clang," it closed behind them. Soon after, the clattering of iron chains could be heard. Li Yan surveyed his surroundings; he now found himself in a broad corridor with a straight path stretching ahead that soon rounded a corner and disappeared from view.
Captain Liu smiled as he explained, "Brother Li, this is the exit of the depot for the camp's munitions and supplies. No one will come here. If you keep going a little further, you'll encounter a small guard post. Continue on and you'll exit—your way out is not far from the North Gate entrance."
At these words, Li Yan recalled that when one first entered through the North Gate, there were three roads paved with large bluestones. The central main road was the one they commonly took when coming and going, while the other two winding side roads led deeper into the city with unknown destinations. It appeared that this corridor was an extension of one of those routes.
After confirming that the area was deserted, Li Yan asked Captain Liu, "How has Marshal Hong arranged the next move?"
Captain Liu looked at him and replied, "The Marshal said that after leaving the camp through here, they will take you to the back door of the Marshal's Mansion. Someone will be waiting to receive you."
Hearing this, Li Yan shook his head. "Captain Liu, then I can't go along. Instead, please deliver this bottle and letter to the Marshal." With that, he produced a small porcelain bottle and a folded letter from his own pockets and handed them over.
Captain Liu accepted the bottle with a puzzled expression. It was small—roughly thumb-sized—with its mouth sealed in wax. He wasn't sure what its purpose might be. As for the letter, it was clear that it was something Li Yan had written for the Marshal. Although this wasn't the first time he'd been tasked with delivering correspondence, his latest order was that, no matter what, Li Yan must reach the Marshal's Mansion today.
"Brother Li, you've really put me in a bind," Captain Liu said as he tucked the items away, emphasizing every word while staring into Li Yan's eyes.
"Hehe, Brother Liu, to be frank, what I'm giving you is exactly what the Marshal needs. Once you deliver it, he'll consider your mission completed. But, brother, this is the only way we can do it," Li Yan insisted seriously.
Looking deeply into Li Yan's eyes, Captain Liu sensed sincerity and not even a hint of deceit. He sighed heavily and said, "Then it will have to be this way. I only hope I don't end up taking the full brunt of a military flogging." He was seething inside—if he resorted to force, he knew he couldn't handle it by himself, and calling reinforcements would expose everything, ensuring that many more would learn of this matter. What had all his previous caution been for then?
"Then let's leave," Li Yan said, extending his hand in a respectful bow. With a long sigh, Captain Liu took the lead. "Brother Li, you mustn't be so cautious about every little detail. Do you think that I, your elder brother, could surreptitiously turn against you?"
"Hehe, Brother Liu, that isn't quite right. I'm unfamiliar with the route, and besides, once we get further ahead, I won't have the token or the tiger tally to pass through," Li Yan replied with a wry smile.
Moments later at the alley's entrance, watching Li Yan speed off toward the North Gate, Captain Liu sighed once more, patted the porcelain bottle and letter in his pocket, and set off toward the Marshal's Mansion.