Chapter 59

Jinling was situated south of the Yangtze River, hundreds of miles away from the northern border at Beiping. Currently, Prince Yue was stationed in Beiping, while General of Cavalry Cao Meng was stationed at the Northern Camp about a hundred miles away, facing off against the Mongol and Tatar tribes.
In the 59th year of Chenxia, Yan Yiming roughly calculated, this was the first year Prince Yue had requested to go to Beiping, less than a month after completing the first world conquest.
At this time, it had only been about half a year since Shao Jingyu set out on his campaign.
Having been established for several decades, the ‘Power and Majesty’ was now stable and the national treasury abundant. However, because the emperor had neglected the northern borders in recent years, the Mongol and Tatar tribes had grown increasingly rampant in the north. With the border unstable and constantly harassed by barbarians, the emperor finally reached his limit. In the spring, he dispatched 100,000 troops, specifically appointing General of Cavalry Cao Meng as the commander-in-chief, along with three other generals, each leading their own armies beyond the frontier.
Cao Meng had been enfeoffed as General of and was also the son of the Duke of Ning. Back in the day, both the Duke of Ning and the Duke of Ding had fought bravely to establish the empire for the founding emperor. After the dynasty was established, they were highly trusted and valued.
During Yan Yiming's first conquest of Nan Gongxuan, her identity was the granddaughter of the Duke of Ding, so she had heard many stories about the Duke of Ning. In his youth, the Duke of Ning was not only exceptionally brave but also well-versed in military strategy, commanding troops with divine skill. Although the younger generations of the Ning family were skilled in archery and horsemanship and extremely courageous, they still couldn't compare to the Duke of Ning.
The Duke of Ding had spoken euphemistically, but Yan Yiming understood his meaning.
The Cao family was prominent, and the Duke of Ning was renowned for his bravery. Among the military officials, the Duke of Ding and the Duke of Ning were the two leaders. However, after the empire was stabilized, the Yan family of the Duke of Ding's residence gradually shifted toward civil official roles. Nowadays, few of their younger generations practiced martial arts, whereas the Cao family still strictly enforced archery and horsemanship training for their descendants.
Thus, when it comes to martial prowess, the Cao family holds a slightly more imposing reputation.
With such prestige, the Cao descendants inevitably grew arrogant. As the Duke of Ning gradually retreated from the public eye, his eldest son, Cao Meng, slowly took over his father's mantle, rising to the third rank as General of the Guards, commanding the imperial troops and participating in state affairs.
Though this was Cao Meng's first campaign, his high position, authority, and the halo of the Duke of Ning earned him immense military prestige in the camp. The remaining three generals were all seasoned veterans. The emperor dispatched a hundred thousand troops, underscoring the importance he placed on this campaign.
Yan Yiming reviewed the background in the darkness.
Shao Jingyu came from an extraordinary background. His grandfather, the head of the Shao family, held one of the Three Excellencies, a first-rank official position, while Shao Jingyu's aunt was the Imperial Consort, second only to the Empress in the imperial harem.
Despite having only one daughter, she had climbed to the position of Imperial Consort. While her family's prominence in the court played a role, it was clear the emperor held her in high favor.
Thus, though Shao Jingyu was only eighteen and had never led troops before, the emperor personally appointed him as Commandant of the Tuntian Cavalry, permitting him to join the expedition to the Northern Wastelands.
However, he was still a young and inexperienced lad, and the Shao family, being a scholarly household, had no expertise in military affairs. No one believed this young nobleman had any real capability. Cao Meng was even displeased that the emperor had placed this “little ancestor” by his side, if anything happened to him, how could he explain it to the emperor?
So, Shao Jingyu arrived on the battlefield full of fervor, only to be brushed aside by Cao Meng as a child. Since arriving in Beiping, Cao Meng had maintained a wait-and-see attitude. Though there had been minor skirmishes, no large-scale offensive had been launched.
Thus, Shao Jingyu had yet to make a name for himself.
But Yan Yiming remembered that it was in this very year, when Nan Gongye went to Beiping, that Shao Jingyu made his debut, killing thousands of enemies in his first battle and stunning the entire court.
The time seemed to be approaching soon.
Yan Yiming never expected the system to make her play the role of Mulan. This was the most shocking revelation since she had received her memories.
Her previous experience of being sold to an opera house while pursuing Jian Yuyan was tragic, but it paled in comparison to this identity. Her entire family, and even the entire village, had been slaughtered by the Mongols. The original owner of this body happened to be in the mountains at the time and thus escaped the massacre. But when she returned, she found only corpses strewn across the land.
Later, by a twist of fate, this young woman, despite her gender, ended up in the military camp. Though her tall and slender frame allowed her to go unnoticed, she was still a woman, with delicate features and fair skin. Soon after entering the camp, she nearly fell victim to assault but was fortunately spotted by a passing centurion.
There were no women in the camp, and men with delicate appearances who were timid often faced humiliation. The centurion immediately understood the situation and, out of pity, took her under his wing.
This girl, though only eighteen, possessed remarkable resilience. After following the centurion, she killed many enemies, proving more efficient and ruthless on the battlefield than many men who were new to combat. Step by step, she used the barbarians to eliminate every man who had humiliated her.
Yan Yiming watched this with bated breath. She knew this body bore countless scars, large and small, with a particularly gruesome wound on the back. It was this injury that had claimed the girl's life, and Yan Yiming had taken over, becoming the blood-stained female warrior she now was.
Because of the hatred in her heart, she was even more zealous than others in killing the barbarians. The more she killed, the higher her position rose, and now she was considered a notable figure in the small camp. Her skin remained fairer and more delicate than that of any man, her features still exquisite, yet no one dared to make advances on her anymore.
None of those who had once humiliated her were still alive. Though she hadn't killed them herself, it still sent chills down people's spines.
Moreover, unlike the rough men who would jump into a lake to bathe or sit around swapping dirty jokes and crude stories, she kept to herself. Despite her current importance, gradually, aside from the centurion, no one spoke to her anymore.
Her hands, long accustomed to gripping a blade, had lost the softness a woman's hands should have. Yan Yiming sighed. After so many transmigrations, this was the first time she had lost sleep.
A life too thrilling.
She woke at dawn. The few people sharing her tent ignored her as usual. Compared to her previous identities, this life on the edge of a blade made her more cautious. Now, she was grateful that the original owner of this body had a cold personality.
Even if she didn't speak, no one would notice anything amiss.
Leaving the tent, she saw a crowd gathered outside, eating dry flatbread and drinking cold water. Yan Yiming washed down the bread with cold water, expecting it to upset her stomach, but perhaps this body was already used to it, she felt no discomfort at all.
Later, during training, when Yan Yiming swung her blade, the soldier sparring with her actually stumbled back two steps.
He was clearly sturdier than her, yet she had forced him back. Even Yan Yiming was startled, this body seemed to possess immense strength, no less than that of a man.
No wonder, then, that as a slender woman, she had outperformed a crowd of burly men.
Yan Yiming didn't know how the generals fared, but the common soldiers led exceptionally hard lives. Having dry flatbread to stave off hunger was considered a blessing. On lucky days, if someone hunted game, they might get a taste of meat.
Little A finally couldn't bear it any longer and began secretly supplementing Yan Yiming's diet with extra nutrition to keep her from suffering too much.
A few days later, while speaking with the centurion, he noticed keenly, “Hey? You seem to be looking much better lately.”
“Perhaps summer is approaching,” Yan Yiming maintained her previous persona, offering a cold and brief excuse.
The centurion didn't suspect a thing. The north was cold, and spring remained chilly, but as summer gradually set in, everyone felt more comfortable.
The centurion trusted her a great deal. While the common soldiers heard little, he was privy to some news, for instance, after waiting quietly for so many days, General Cao finally seemed to be making a move.
If the higher-ups were taking action, it meant a battle was imminent. The centurion sounded quite excited, as killing the enemy offered opportunities for advancement. Yan Yiming guessed he had some connections.
Two days later, the centurion summoned her again. The moment he spoke, Yan Yiming's eyes lit up.
Cao Meng had finally decided to launch a military campaign.
“I called you here mainly for another matter. Did you know that the young master of the Shao family is joining the expedition this time, and His Majesty has even granted him the title of Tuntian Commandant?”
Yan Yiming’s heart stirred, and he nodded.
“This young master Shao specifically requested to join the battle. General Cao initially disagreed, but he couldn’t resist the insistence, so he agreed to assign him seven hundred cavalry.”
Cavalry, wasn’t that exactly what he was now?
The centurion sighed. “These young masters from prominent families have no idea of the hardships of military life or the brutality of the battlefield. They can’t even lift a spear or wield a blade properly, yet they insist on coming here. If he dies alone, that’s one thing, but he’ll drag us down with him. In the next couple of days, this young master is sure to come here to select soldiers. You look like a scholar on the surface, so he probably won’t take a fancy to you. When the time comes, stay in the back and make sure you don’t get chosen.”
Yan Yiming responded with a detached “Mm.” The centurion knew this was just his nature and didn’t take offense, saying a few more things before letting him return.
After nearly half a month here, she was finally going to meet Shao Jingyu.
‘To be honest, she was a bit excited.’ Yan Yiming thought expressionlessly.
When he returned, the others had likely also heard about Shao Jingyu coming to select soldiers. Most of them shared the centurion’s view, believing that following this young master would lead to certain death. However, some were calculating their own gains.
Shao Jingyu was of noble status, and Cao Meng would undoubtedly prioritize his safety, so he probably wouldn’t be sent to the front lines. Thus, there might not be much danger. Moreover, he was an influential figure, being chosen by Shao Jingyu as a personal guard could be a good opportunity.
But the latter idea lacked the bold spirit expected of men. A group of grown men felt somewhat ashamed even considering it. After voicing the thought, one of them laughed loudly and said, “Even if I die in battle, I’d never stoop to such cowardice!”
“Right!”
Several others chimed in agreement.
Amid this atmosphere, they finally welcomed the much-discussed Shao Jingyu.
He arrived on a fine horse, clad in military attire that accentuated his already striking and handsome features, making him even more dazzling. His tied-back black hair fluttered in the wind. With the clip-clop of hooves, Shao Jingyu sat high on his horse, looking down at the assembled soldiers. His dark eyes held the spirited confidence befitting his youth.
Everyone had assumed he was just a pampered noble from the capital, but they hadn’t expected such an imposing presence. His voice was clear and resonant, his words passionate and powerful. By the time he uttered the final phrase, “Who dares to join me on the battlefield?” some were already itching to step forward.
The soldiers glanced left and right, hesitating, when a young, slightly built soldier with a youthful face stepped out from not far away. His voice was clear and crisp, yet carried undeniable force.
“I will!”
Everyone turned to look. Yan Yiming stood tall and straight, her gaze locking directly with Shao Jingyu, who wore a faintly amused expression.
Though physically weak, his eyes showed no weakness.
Shao Jingyu looked down at the first youth to step forward, a bold and exhilarated smile curling at his lips. He shouted, “Excellent!” and made a promise before the crowd: “Since you dare to be the first, I pledge this, for every enemy you slay, I will record a merit for you. I will not go back on my word!”