Chapter 166 - Growth

Time passed swiftly.

Season changed as leaves started to wither. The temperature that was exceedingly hot grew cooler and colder as time passed by. Winter was approaching close, which meant that the border will be even more brutal than before.

"Strategist Liu, have you finished?" a soldier asked softly.

Wei Liuying was standing inside a tent with a large map before her. Her slender hand moved the piece to another location. "Yes. Send word to Commander Zhao that he can launch the last attack."

"Yes, Strategist Liu."

The soldiers saluted and left the camp. Wei Liuying sighed and walked out of the camp, letting the cool wind slapped her cheek. She had been at the border for five months by now. Staying here for this long allowing her to learn many more things that she previously couldn't. At the same time, she gained more experience as time passed by

The battles were all against the smaller tribes, who were more active than Xiong Tribe lately. It seemed that they were trying to take advantage to gain more fame now that Xiong Tribe had agreed to not attack.

Yet, there was no successful advance so far.

Only the relentless battles felt like it would never end in this situation. The two sides were completely matched, not giving anyone any chance to gain advantage in the slightest bit.

"Strategist Liu, there's a message from Prince Ji Sheng's City," a messenger rushed to her and kneeled on the ground.

Over the course of time, Wei Liuying was no longer called as apprentice. As news of her prowess in the battlefield resounded far and wide, no one dared to call her as mere apprentice. They felt as if they were seeing Yang Xian's shadow from the time he was on the offensive and continued to expand the north's border.

Now that Yang Xian focused on defense, it was Liu Ying's name that resounded far and wide at the north. After Prince Ji Sheng and Yang Xian, the soldiers were most familiar with her name other than any other names. The other commanders were quite pale in comparison since they didn't actively participate in battle as often as Wei Liuying because they had to take turns between defending and attacking. 

Taking the tube, Wei Liuying broke the seal and took the bamboo strip out. Upon seeing the line that looked like poem, she understood immediately that it was coming from Yang Xian. He was giving another order for her.

'Return back with the soldiers, huh?'

For the past week, Wei Liuying was staying outside Prince Ji Sheng's City with Commander Zhao and his soldiers. Thanks to his victory so far, he was promoted to become 4000 men commander and could lead his men even further away from Prince Ji Sheng's City.

Of course, Commander Zhao also trusted Wei Liuying a lot and allowed her to be the second in command here.

The soldiers also respected her a lot, especially with so many victories they gained with her strategy and command. By this time, there were also many other commanders who were eyeing her, wanting her to be in their station, but Prince Ji Sheng didn't let her move from her position.

She only moved to other platoons occasionally during offensive battles where she would be in charge to create the strategy. It was the reason why her name was known amongst the soldiers so much. 

"Tell Commander Zhao to meet me when he returns," Wei Liuying said.

"Yes, Strategist Liu."

Wei Liuying kept the message and returned inside the tent. She started to put her belonging back to her back including the large map. Her belongings didn't consist of so many things, but it was more than enough to keep her alive and well in the military camp for months.

It didn't take long for Commander Zhao to return back. His armors were dyed red with blood, but a broad smile could be seen on his aged face. It was clear that he was ecstatic.

"Hahaha, Liu Ying. With this, we have cleaned most of the smaller tribes around this area," Commander Zhao said in a good mood.

"There are still many others that didn't make their moves to pillage us. Also, Strategist Yang wished for us to return back," Wei Liuying informed.

"Ah, so soon?"

"He might have some order that he require us to return. There's no need to stay here with the enemies have already been defeated too, so we should return back."

"Alright. Let's go!"

Commander Zhao ordered his men to prepare and they set off not long afterwards. Wei Liuying had gotten used to ride the horse by now, so she didn't have any problem to fight on top of the horse. Even if her skill was still average at most, it was more than enough for her to protect herself.

"Liu Ying."

"Yes, Commander Zhao?"

"Do you think they're going to put you under another commander?" This was one of the few things that Commander Zhao most afraid of. He was thinking that it would be for the best that Wei Liuying was staying under the direct order of a general because that way, her skill and capabilities would be put to use the best. 

Wei Liuying frowned. "It's too early."

"Why?"

"I still have a lot that I need to learn."

Commander Zhao was speechless. Based on what he had seen on Wei Liuying's skill so far, he could say for certain that she was one of the best strategist among many others in Prince Ji Sheng's City.

Well, there was never any end to study.

Wei Liuying focused her attention to the view before her. it was so beautiful to be able to see everything around her so clearly like this. She simply wished that everything would be able to work for the best.

It didn't take long for them to return back to Prince Ji Sheng's City. Wei Liuying quickly made her way back to the center of the city and met with Prince Ji Sheng and Yang Xian, who was staying there.

"Strategist Liu is here."

"Let him in."

"General Sheng! Strategist Yang," Wei Liuying greeted loudly. After staying in the military for a long time, how could she not know that they were supposed to greet this loud? She was no longer the same young lady who had just came out of her residence back then anymore.

In addition, there was no need for her to be so formal with them.

She could relax a bit when there was no one else.

"Sit."

"Yes." Wei Liuying walked to the nearby chair and looked at Yang Xian, who was studying a bamboo strips. "Is there something important, Strategist Yang?"

Yang Xian pursed his lips. "Lady Gao will come here in a few days. I want you to be the one to bring her around and show her the situation in this place?"

"Me?"

"Also to become Lady Gao's study partner."

Wei Liuying: "…"

Thinking about her skill in embroidery, music, and painting, Wei Liuying felt like she was going to cry. It was all the skills that she was very unfamiliar with. Even after spending a long time to learn in her spare time back then, she couldn't learn a lot. Now that she hadn't touched them for a long period of time, how could she expect herself to still remember everything?

She would only make fun of herself if she became Gao Ling's study partner.

"Strategist Yang, why do you want me to be her study partner?" Wei Liuying asked in restrained voice. She was unwilling to learn everything that she had to learn as a young lady once more. It was so tiring and making it hard for her to learn everything.

Yang Xian smiled. "It'll be good for you to learn how to become a proper lady once more."

Wei Liuying: "…" do you think I'll believe such a poor excuse?

At this moment, it was not hard to guess that Yang Xian and Prince Ji Sheng have ulterior motives for calling her back from the camp. Even though she will return back soon too, she would not return back to Prince Ji Sheng's City this early.

Yang Xian sighed. "It's almost Winter, so it'll be better if you stay away from the frontline."

"You're talking about Lady Gao, aren't you?"

"That's…."

"In order to put her away from danger, you wish for Lady Gao to learn some other things before sending her away," Wei Liuying said unhurriedly. Her dark iris stared straight to the two men who were sitting not far from her. "Am I right, Strategist Yang?"

Yang Xian rubbed his forehead. "Is there nothing I can hide from you?"

"What do you think?"

"Why did you pick someone as smart as her, Xian?" Prince Ji Sheng asked in a low tone.

Yang Xian sent a glare at Prince Ji Sheng. "Do you think that I didn't ask that question so many times to myself? Anyway, just be blunt with her if you don't want to get surprised with… cough, I mean, it'll be better if you can be a bit blunt with your instruction, General Sheng."

Seeing the two of them trying to keep themselves acting formal, Wei Liuying shook her head. They often switched their gear so quickly when they were in private room. It only made her wonder if they never slip up, but with their habits of acting formal, she guessed that they would not. 

It seems that the approaching Winter caused them to be tenser than usual.

"Anyway, you're going to accept, right Liu Ying?"

"No."