Chapter Eleven: Counting People at Home, Searching for Someone in the Mountains

As soon as the words "Commander-in-Chief" were spoken, Wu Ping's spine seemed to be instantly drained of strength, and he collapsed to the ground, desperately kowtowing.
"I dare not, sir!"
Seeing Sun Dehai fiercely defending Chen An, Wu Ping naturally dared not speak further and could only obediently comply.

In the side chamber beside the central military tent, candlelight flickered, casting shadows of Sun Dehai and Chen An. Sun Dehai first dismissed those around them, leaving only the two men inside. The atmosphere grew solemn for a moment.
"Chen An—no, I should address you as His Highness, the Heir Apparent of Northern Liang," Sun Dehai spoke first, his tone respectful yet tinged with admiration for the young man before him.

Chen An lifted his gaze, showing little surprise, as if he had long anticipated the day his identity would be revealed.
He rose slowly and nodded slightly to Sun Dehai. "Since Chief Guard Sun already knows, I shall no longer conceal it."

Chen An shook his head. "Although the three provinces of Northern Liang appear peaceful and impregnable, behind the scenes, sordid matters like today's are all too common."

Sun Dehai straightened up and produced a golden token from his bosom. The token was smooth and lustrous, set with two dark green gemstones that gleamed under the candlelight.
"Your Highness, this is the Commander-in-Chief’s personal guard token. Possession of this will make your affairs much easier."

Handling the token that symbolized his status, Chen An smiled. "You came all this way just to deliver a token? Surely not."

Caught in his true purpose, Sun Dehai did not bother to deny it.
As a close bodyguard of Fan Jin, his presence here was itself a signal.

In the house of the Tiger Sun Pass commander, Wu Ping looked around reluctantly at every detail inside.
Having served at Tiger Sun Pass for many years, he had finally secured himself a small inheritance, only to suffer a great setback at the end.

The situation was irreversible, and he had no choice but to console himself.
"At least I earned a future for myself and preserved my life..."

Just as Wu Ping murmured this, a personal attendant pushed open the door.
"Captain, something bad has happened."

"Speak plainly. At this point, what worse could there be?" Wu Ping replied indifferently.

"I just saw Chen An go into Lieutenant Sun’s quarters."
The attendant shivered, "I feared they might be old acquaintances, so I followed. Guess what I saw!"

Wu Ping grew anxious. "Enough suspense! Tell me quickly!"

"Through the door crack, I saw Lieutenant Sun hand Chen An a token! Moreover..." the attendant trembled, "I heard Lieutenant Sun address Chen An as His Highness, the Heir Apparent!"

Upon hearing this, Wu Ping felt his vision darken, his legs grew weak, and he collapsed back into his chair.
"His Highness, the Heir Apparent... So he really is the Heir Apparent..."

His body first froze, then convulsed violently, spewing a mouthful of blood! Darkness engulfed him as he fell to the ground.

Early the next morning, grim news spread through Tiger Sun Pass.
The former commander and captain, Wu Ping, had died suddenly of heart failure, according to the military physician.

Amidst the mourning, former scout battalion captain Qiao Dafang was appointed as the new commander and captain.

Before departing, Sun Dehai also revealed another reason for his arduous journey.
"A group of refugees have infiltrated the Tiger Sun Mountains," he explained. "Ordinary refugees pose little threat, but these marauders have ransacked the tribute meant for the Commander-in-Chief from the Yuling tribe, one of the eighteen tribes on the grasslands."

Qiao Dafang gasped, realizing the gravity of the situation he had inherited.
Robbing tribute was a serious offense!

"Rest assured, Lieutenant Sun, I will recover the tribute within seven days," Qiao Dafang vowed confidently.

His first official act was to clear Chen An’s name.
"Where is Chen An, the scout sentinel of the Rat unit?"

"Your case has been thoroughly investigated. You uncovered Zhao Qingshan’s collusion with the enemy, a great merit. I hereby commend you with three military honors and appoint you as the new marker captain of the scout battalion!"

Qiao Dafang looked at Chen An with appreciation. "With bandits rising and war looming, the country needs talented young men like you to serve."

"I obey, sir!"

Hearing Chen An’s reply, Qiao Dafang showed a satisfied expression.
"Then the task of dealing with the bandits falls to you. According to scout battalion protocols, you may select six men from the entire pass."

This was an opportunity!

Chen An’s eyes lit up, and he promptly saluted. "I obey, sir!"

At the Rat Outpost.

"Report, Captain, someone is here to see you."

Hearing the recruit’s report, Zhang Xiaojing, who was training new soldiers, was momentarily stunned.
In such a desolate place as Rat Outpost, someone actually came to seek them out?

"Who is it? Can’t you see I’m training recruits?"

"The man’s name seems to be Chen An."

"Chen An?!" Zhang Xiaojing was overjoyed. "So this kid finally remembered to come see us."

When Zhang Xiaojing hurried outside the watchtower, he found Chen An standing motionless, holding a tray in both hands.

"You brat, you really have guts. Why don’t you come up? Waiting for me to salute you, or just putting on airs here?"

Unexpectedly, Chen An’s expression was solemn. "Captain, by order of the Commander-in-Chief, I have come to Rat Outpost to summon Zhang Xiaojing, Wu Ergou, and Xiao Guisan back."

His businesslike tone immediately aroused the curiosity of the three men.

"Chen An, what on earth brings you all this way?" Wu Ergou asked first.

Chen An spoke clearly and deliberately, "Zhang Xiaojing, Wu Ergou, and Xiao Guisan have served for years and earned great merits. You are hereby ordered to return to the scout battalion."

The sudden opportunity caught the three off guard.

Zhang Xiaojing never imagined his long-held wish would be fulfilled by this young man.

Touching the paper pulp armor on the tray, tears streamed down Zhang Xiaojing’s face.

Perhaps not wanting to embarrass him, Chen An muttered to himself,
"The wind and sand are fierce today..."

Chen An did not reveal Zhang Xiaojing’s expression. "Captain, I must trouble you to serve as deputy captain for two days."

"You brat, are you insulting me?"

Zhang Xiaojing punched Chen An’s shoulder with force.

"Not at all. This time, you’ll accompany me on a trip deep into the mountains."

"We still haven’t settled the tribute matter," Chen An chuckled. "Whether I get promoted to deputy captain depends on you."

Beneath the Tiger Sun Mountains, Chen An frowned over a map.

As a scout, his most important mission was to locate the enemy’s activity range.

But this was easier said than done.

The vast mountains were so immense that even hundreds of men could search without success, let alone just their small group of seven.