Reborn as Powerful Minister's Beloved-Chapter 532 - 511 First Update

"General—" Deputy General Geng immediately noticed something was off with General Wen Sheng’s expression and took a step forward.

Wen Sheng immediately stepped away from the watchtower’s observation deck to avoid being seen by the other party, and turned to walk down the tower, speaking as he went.

"It’s him, keep my men in the tents and don’t let the news leak out. Wait for the right moment." Wen Sheng immediately instructed, "Geng Liang, are there any eccentrics in the camp who know a bit about Spells and Illusion Techniques?"

"Yes, there are. Back then, among the Loyal Warriors of the Wen Family, there were those proficient in such arts, and they are now in the camp." Deputy General Geng said swiftly, these people were originally with the Marquis of Zhenbei to the Northern Border, where their skills were needed, but there was strife within the Loyal Warriors of Wen Family, and some were ostracized to the Eastern Border Army. However, because they were Loyal Warriors of the Wen Family, they naturally held a higher status than the rest.

Deputy General Geng quickly brought the person over. The man was thin and tall and didn’t know why he had been summoned, but he greeted Wen Sheng with respect.

Although Wen Sheng was unsure if he could trust the man before him, he had no other choice at the moment. It was better for fewer people to know about this matter, so he dismissed everyone else, leaving only his two trusted aides, Deputy General Geng, and the man.

It was only then that Wen Sheng recounted in detail the events of the previous night, from encountering that group of people upon entering the Heavenly Gorge to how so many soldiers met their fate without any sign of disturbance.

After Wen Sheng finished speaking, Deputy General Geng almost lost his footing. Even as a hardened veteran of many campaigns, he was stunned by such news, his mind blank and his gaze fixed in shock, unable to fully convey his state of mind.

That means the Southeastern Army...

Deputy General Geng could hardly believe this reality, whereas the tall thin man, after hearing Wen Sheng’s words, though surprised for a moment, was then shaken by something else.

"General, was there a thick fog in the valley? Dark mist? Or smoke?" The words trembled on the thin man’s lips, a flash of fear in his eyes as if he remembered something.

Wen Sheng immediately looked at the thin tall man; he had deliberately ignored this detail. All the way through, he had reflected at length, replaying the events of the night over and over in his mind—why they had later passed through the valley unscathed. The only difference was the light, the smoke had dissipated.

"Indeed—" Wen Sheng no longer hesitated and spoke promptly.

Upon hearing General Wen Sheng’s response, the thin tall man shuddered, his fear immediately spreading. General Geng clattered a water jug off the nearby table, and water spilled onto the fur.

Wen Sheng’s two subordinates saw General Geng’s panic and did not find it strange. They knew that they themselves had not even felt the desire to drink water up to that point; their throats felt as if blocked, their bodies lifeless, their essence gone, like walking corpses.

"What, what have you thought of?" Wen Sheng saw the thin tall man open his mouth several times as if wanting to say something but unsure how to begin, and asked somewhat anxiously.

"Do you recognize those people?"

"Or do you know what this is all about?"

Wen Sheng asked several questions in a row, which brought the thin tall man back into focus. The man looked at Wen Sheng, not knowing what his next words might mean for them, whether they could be of any help, or perhaps, whether he had simply made a mistake.

But it was the phrase Wen Sheng had asked just now that had brought back his train of thought. Indeed, he had seen it, not only seen it but remembered it vividly, still etched deeply in his mind to this day, leaving a profound impact. That’s why he couldn’t stay amongst the Loyal Warriors of the Wen Family any longer. He did not wish to go back to the Northern Border, which is why he ended up in the Eastern Border.

"General, indeed I have seen it, I encountered it in the Northern Border. When facing the Ghost Shadow from beyond the Northern Border, the disciples from Qiandao Temple used the Maze Formation exactly like this, there was a sweet and fishy smell in the mist. I speculate that the formation creates illusions, making people feel as though they are burning, drowning, being cut, or torn apart by monsters..."

The thin tall man had not finished speaking when General Wen Sheng immediately nodded, it was very similar, almost identical.

But the next moment, the tall and thin man’s words caused General Wen Sheng to freeze.

"But, General, that’s Qiandao Temple. Why would they go against our Wen Family Army?" the tall and thin man immediately added.

General Wen Sheng immediately became lost in thought, motionless for a long time. The relationship between their Wen Family and Qiandao Temple had started from...

However, the Empress’s side and the relation with Qiandao Temple, especially Zheng Congyuan, who had personally visited Qiandao Temple twice, might they have conspired anything?

Qiandao Temple had promised that at this time, they would not get involved. Since they were all descendants of the Nanzheng Imperial Clan, they all had an opportunity, but what if Zheng Congyuan had offered them substantial benefits?

Inside the main tent, quietness fell. The two trusted aides of General Wen Sheng glanced at each other, fully aware of the seriousness of the matter. It concerned the direction of events. If it was true, then their Wen Family Army...

"General—" Deputy General Geng became anxious. Those troops would soon reach the camp, and without a good strategy soon, it would be too late.

Wen Sheng immediately turned his head and realized that now was not the time to think profoundly and stood up at once.

"Follow the plan I stated before, hold our position and see what their intentions are. Come with me," Wen Sheng said to the tall and thin man.

"Go!" A group of cavalry galloped across the weedy plains, and the Eastern Border Army camp slowly came into view at the end. The group of riders did not slow down and headed straight for the camp.

Guards hurried to the gate of the camp, several of them working together to open the heavy wooden door, making way for the ten or so people who sped into the camp.

"Why have you returned so early?" the soldiers closing the door asked.

The horseman dismounted and nodded to the soldiers who had opened the gate.

"Yes, we came early. The troops from the Southeast Border are about to arrive. We rushed back to report to Deputy General Geng," the soldier threw the reins to the other side and immediately ran towards the camp.

"Wan Qing, you’re back. Did you meet General Wen Sheng?" Deputy General Geng immediately stepped forward to greet him, his expression unreadable as he asked anxiously.

"Yes, we left Heavenly Gorge early this morning, and now they’re heading this way. People from the Southeastern Army said they would rest for a few Shichen and march after noon. They will likely arrive before midnight," the man reported swiftly.

Deputy General Geng glanced at the comrade whom he was relatively familiar with on normal days and gave him a reassuring pat on the shoulder.

"You’ve worked hard. Take your men and rest. Leave the rest to me," Deputy General Geng said, and the other man nodded, gestured for his men to follow, and walked off without showing any sign of suspicion.

The moment he walked away, Deputy General Geng gave a signal to his own men. Two soldiers quietly followed after him, watching as he entered his own tent and did not come out again.

The sky gradually darkened, and to the outward eye, there was no unusual activity in the camp. Deputy General Geng even continued with the original plan, preparing the supplies for the Southeastern Army’s march.

Only when darkness had completely fallen, a soldier hurried into the main tent.

"General, they’ve come out." Suddenly everyone in the main tent tensed up.

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