He tricked his amnesiac partner into becoming crippled.

Chapter 225 The Marquis Has No Clever Heart 2

It would have been better not to investigate; the more you investigate, the more alarmed you become.

Liang Jinglan threw down the reins and rushed into the tent, his eyes bloodshot: "Enemy ambush!"

"You still have the leisure to drink tea! We've been surrounded by the enemy and are being used as target practice!"

Liang Jinglan was so angry that she felt a surge of anger, her eyes trembled in disbelief, and her heart ached terribly.

He thought of his uncle, of the soldiers who had fought alongside him through thick and thin, their youthful faces so vibrant and innocent. His eyes stung with tears, his voice was tight and painful, and he whispered:

"I'll send someone to take you away first."

After saying this, he turned and headed to another camp, intending to gather his trusted confidants to discuss how to break through the encirclement.

When Wen Yan saw that he was about to leave, she tried to pull him by the hem of his clothes to stop him, but she was dragged several meters away and her vision went blurry.

Liang Jinglan turned his head and saw him on the ground. He scooped him up and stood him up. Wen Yan, under his "I'm in a real hurry" look, silently took out a ruler from his sleeve and slapped it on his hand.

Liang Jinglan pulled her hand back, looking aggrieved: "Strategist, why did you hit me?"

"The more critical the situation, the more you must remain calm. If you panic, your men will panic too. You are the pillar of the army's morale. Do I need to repeat the principle of capturing the leader first? Why do you think I risked my life to come here?"

Wen Yan spoke quickly and urgently, as if afraid that this person would run away halfway through and not finish speaking.

Liang Jinglan's eyes lit up: "The strategist has made a preparation?"

Wen Yan gave him a "that goes without saying" look, helped him stand up by his arm, and her head started to throb again.

I'll go back and figure out a way to recover this broken body, so that every breath I take feels like I'm halfway into a coffin.

Thinking about this, she admired the original owner of the body. It was truly amazing that she could climb so high despite her sickly body.

Liang Jinglan didn't dare to breathe loudly, afraid that the airflow would rush towards the person beside him who needed his support to stand. He held his breath and listened to Wen Yan continue.

"Go and summon a few of your trusted men."

After saying that, he sat back down on the military chair and waited for Liang Jinglan to bring his men.

Several tall, muscular, dark-skinned men squeezed into the tent, making the air feel cramped. Wen Yan took a bundle, spread it on the table, and took out a small telescope that he had just assembled, distributing it to the men.

"This is called a telescope. It can see clearly from kilometers away, making it suitable for spying."

Wen Yan looked at Liang Jinglan, who understood and distributed the telescopes one by one.

"As you all know, we are already surrounded by the enemy. They have set up ambushes in these places, and the original plan is no longer valid."

Someone anxiously asked, "What should we do? The Xiongnu have already blocked our retreat. They will notice any slight movement during our army's relocation."

"So, does that mean we have no choice but to risk our lives on this path?"

"Who said we have to risk our lives?" Wen Yan smiled, unhurriedly: "This is both a dangerous situation and an opportunity; we must put ourselves in a life-or-death situation to survive."

She pointed out a few more places, explaining them clearly and logically:

"The Xiongnu have buried oil here. Zuo Lang, take a dozen strong men, the strong ones. Oh, and find a dozen archers, lots of arrows and good accuracy. Head in the direction I'm pointing."

"Wang Er, take ten men to the ambush site. Remember, don't go in. Just circle around the perimeter a few times."

"Wang Da, you're doing this..."

"And, most importantly, all the arrowheads must be coated with oil."

Although Liang Jinglan was not good at scheming, he was a master at fighting. He understood immediately and was overjoyed, feeling a surge of heat rush to the top of his head.

Yeah, how could he not have thought of that?!

Turning my head, I saw that Wen Yan seemed to be enveloped in holy light.

Wen Yan only gave a general overview; the specific details still needed to be discussed among these people. Her face grew paler as she sat on the military chair that Liang Jinglan had handed her to calm down, with freshly added hot tea beside her.

The men in the barracks didn't like this stuff; it was bitter and unpleasant, unlike the refreshing feeling of hot wine burning their throats.

Liang Jinglan thought the same, but then he realized that scholars loved this green stuff, calling it elegant. So he threw a few more handfuls of tea leaves into the hot water, shook it a few times, poured out the tea that Wen Yan had already cooled down, and poured a fresh cup.

Wen Yan nodded inwardly; he was thoughtful.

She picked up the teacup and took a sip, her face turning ashen. She couldn't spit out or swallow the tea in her mouth; she felt like she was going to faint from the bitterness.

"My lord...did you brew this tea?"

Liang Jinglan, eager for praise, asked with a hint of smugness in her eyes, "Yes, how does it taste?"

"...barely passable."

Liang Jinglan was overjoyed, his lips curled up, and he ran over excitedly to pour Wen Yan another cup.

Wen Yan looked down at the tea soup, which was as green as moss, without saying a word, and simply moved away a little.

It looks like poison.

Liang Jinglan was already engrossed in discussing the details and didn't notice Wen Yan's subtle actions.

"This operation was a stroke of luck; unexpected events could happen at any time, so be prepared to adapt. Remember, you must come back alive." After giving his instructions, Liang Jinglan left with his men.

Wen Yan called out to him, "My lord, please wait a moment."

The surrounding subordinates stopped and looked at Wen Yan in unison, as if to ask if the strategist had any further instructions.

Wen Yan said in a calm tone, "The Marquis will go with me."

Liang Jinglan: ? ? ? ?

All subordinates:! ! ! !

"Strategist, this is no joke. Just rest here and recuperate. I'll send a few quick-witted people over to take care of you. War is no small matter; your body can't handle it..."

Liang Jinglan tried to reason with her, but he was afraid that Wen Yan would ruin his temper and give him a hard time.

Wen Yan also sighed. She knew that taking her along was really a stretch, but she had to go. She still had to clean up the mess the original owner had made. The maps and letters were in the enemy's hands, and she had to find a way to destroy them.

Once a person has a criminal record, no matter how hard they try to cover it up, it's never the same again.

Therefore, she must completely absolve herself of any responsibility for colluding with the enemy.

"My lord, please listen to me," Wen Yan had to interrupt Liang Jinglan's rambling, ignoring his gloomy expression, and slowly began to speak, only to cough as soon as she opened her mouth.

Now everyone is even more worried.

"Strategist, you..."

Wen Yan coughed a few times, her head throbbing. Just then, a soldier brought over some medicine, and Liang Jinglan quickly called him in, watching Wen Yan take a few more sips with concern.

He sighed, "Strategist, I know you care deeply about the army, but you must also act within your capabilities..."

"My lord, wait a moment. Do you know why I want you to come with me?"

Liang Jinglan, interrupted, followed her question: "Why?"

Wen Yan: "We're going to pull off something big. You all know how important supplies are, right?"

Liang Jinglan was puzzled, as were his subordinates, who all replied, "We know."

"Do you know where the Xiongnu's grain supplies are?" Wen Yan curled her lips, a glint of cunning flashing in her eyes.

Everyone in the camp was shocked, their breathing quickening involuntarily. Liang Jinglan was the first to react, calming his wildly beating heart: "Strategist, do you know?"

Wen Yan nodded. "So now you know why I went along, right?"

Liang Jinglan's face was filled with eager joy, and he nodded with great certainty.

Seeing that he had fooled her, Wen Yan turned around and picked up the remaining medicine to put it to her mouth. The bitter medicine made her even more determined to get rid of her broken body.

I drink medicine like water every day, and I have no interest in even the most delicious food.

Liang Jinglan took a moment to react, "Strategist, since you know the address, you could just tell me and let me go. Why do you have to make the trip yourself?"

Wen Yan paused, still holding the bowl of medicine that was keeping him alive...

She continued, "The Xiongnu were divided into the Southern Xiongnu and the Northern Xiongnu, and they migrated westward regularly. Their trade mainly consisted of wool and dairy products, and horses and sheep were their most important livestock. In battle, they often wrapped their horses' hooves with felt to prevent slipping. They had an object similar to a military tally, with intricate patterns engraved on a round hole, which could be used to command troops..."

Wen Yan showed everyone some basic knowledge and secrets about the Xiongnu, leaving everyone speechless.

She asked calmly, "Should I go now?"

“…I guess so.” Liang Jinglan almost couldn’t find her own voice.

Wen Yan wore a simple, thick fur coat, and the unadorned wooden hairpin in her dark hair accentuated her extraordinary temperament. Her gaze was calm and composed, revealing her unwavering determination.

"No one understands the Xiongnu better than me. If we are to win this battle, I must go."