The female anchor turned into the dean of an ancient academy

The next day, Cen Jiexiao and Chen Zigui set off for Li Yusheng's camp.

As the General of Zhenxi, Li Yusheng commanded tens of thousands of troops, stationed on a vast plain west of the city. The camp stretched for miles, with flags fluttering and military tents standing in rows, creating an atmosphere of solemnity and majesty. Cen Jiexiao and Chen Zigui, riding their horses, slowly advanced along the official road. From afar, they could see the towering watchtowers surrounding the camp. Soldiers, atop them, held banners, vigilantly observing the surroundings.

Every hundred steps around the camp, a sentry post stood, built from stout logs and covered with thick thatch to provide protection from wind and rain. Inside, two fully armed soldiers sat at attention. They wore heavy iron armor, wielded sharp spears, and wore long swords and bows and arrows at their waists. Their eyes, sharp as hawks, warily observed the passersby.

Cen Jiexiao and Chen Zigui arrived at the camp's main gates, only to find two massive wooden doors tightly shut. The doors were covered in thick iron sheets and covered with rivets, making them appear exceptionally sturdy. Four sturdy soldiers stood before them, dressed in uniform, wielding rifles and sabers at their waists. Each of them wore a solemn expression, their gaze fixed fixedly on the ground as they guarded the gates impenetrably.

"Who are you? What do you want?" One of the soldiers stepped forward and asked sternly, his tone cold and without a trace of emotion.

"I am Cen Jiexiao, the chief executive of this East China Sea sacrificial ceremony. I have come to visit General Li Yusheng to discuss important matters." Cen Jiexiao smiled slightly, her tone gentle, but revealing an unquestionable majesty.

"Do you have an invitation token?" The soldier still had no expression on his face and asked in a businesslike manner, not being at all relaxed because of Cen Jiexiao's identity.

"No." Cen Jiexiao shook her head. "However, our visit this time is of great importance. Please inform the two of you that Yuyang Province's Academic Envoy Cen Jiexiao and Inspector Chen Zigui are seeking an audience."

"No one will be seen without an invitation token." The soldier still insisted on his principle and refused to let him go, with a hint of impatience in his tone.

"Thank you for your hard work, brothers," Cen Jiexiao saw this and pulled out a silver ingot from her sleeve. She calmly put it into the hand of one of the soldiers and whispered, "Please be flexible. After all, General Li and I are both responsible for the sacrificial ceremony. Moreover, we do have important matters to discuss with General Li. It's a matter of great importance. If we delay, we won't be able to explain to His Majesty..."

The soldier weighed the silver in his hand, a hint of hesitation appeared on his face, and his eyes flickered, as if he was weighing the pros and cons.

"This……"

"Thank you for your hard work, brothers." Seeing this, Cen Jiexiao took out another ingot of silver from her sleeve and put it into the hands of another soldier. With a warm smile on her face, she said sincerely, "Please do me a favor, brothers."

"Alright," the soldier finally smiled after receiving the silver, and his tone became much more polite. "Please wait a moment, I'll go in and report."

After saying this, one of the soldiers turned and walked back to the camp, leaving the three of them waiting there. Cen Jiexiao and Chen Zigui looked at each other, each seeing the helplessness in the other's eyes.

A moment later, the soldier returned and said to Cen Jiexiao and Chen Zigui, "You two, the general invites you in."

Cen Jiexiao and Chen Zigui followed the soldiers into the camp. They saw that the road inside the camp was wide and flat, paved with bluestone slabs. On both sides were neatly arranged military tents. Outside the tents stood soldiers with guns, each of them in high spirits and with strict discipline.

After passing through several sentry posts, they arrived at a spacious tent. Outside the tent hung a flag embroidered with a black tiger, fluttering in the wind. A soldier lifted the heavy tent curtain, gestured to Cen Jiexiao and Chen Zigui to come in, then retreated and stood guard at one side of the curtain.

Cen Jiexiao and Chen Zigui entered the tent, which was spacious and bright, with simple and elegant decorations. In the center of the tent sat a large mahogany desk. Behind it sat a middle-aged man in armor. He was a burly figure with a resolute face and a short beard, imposing and imposing without even anger. He was none other than General Zhenxi, Li Yusheng.

Li Yusheng was sitting on a large tiger-skin chair, holding a cup of tea, seemingly lost in thought. Hearing footsteps, Li Yusheng looked up and saw Cen Jiexiao and Chen Zigui, a hint of surprise on his face.

"Master Cen, Master Chen," Li Yusheng put down his teacup, stood up, and bowed to the two of them. His tone was inexpressible. "How come you two have time to come to my military camp today?"

"General Li," Cen Jiexiao smiled faintly and asked instead of answering, "How are you?"

"Thanks to Lord Cen, everything is fine." Li Yusheng said with a forced smile, a hint of alienation in his tone.

"General Li, you're too kind," Cen Jiexiao said, her lips curled up slightly, a meaningful smile forming. Her eyes flickered, as if filled with a thousand words, yet she kept her composure. "I'm just a woman, how can I possibly be blessed?" She paused, her gaze fixed on the steaming cup of tea, and spoke steadily, "It's General Li who guards the border, protecting our country, and truly deserves the highest honor."

There was a subtle hint of sarcasm in Cen Jiexiao's words, and Li Yusheng naturally picked it up. He set down his teacup, his battle-hardened eyes narrowing slightly, a flash of coldness flashing across them, but he quickly concealed it, his face maintaining its usual dignity and coolness. "Lord Cen, you're too kind," Li Yusheng said calmly, his tone impassive. "This general is merely following orders."

"General Li is certainly worthy of it," Cen Jiexiao followed Li Yusheng's words, but her eyes never left Li Yusheng's face, trying to catch the slightest change of emotion from his face, "With the protection of the Zhenxi Army, Your Majesty will certainly be safe." She emphasized the four words "safe and sound", as if she had some hidden meaning.

Li Yusheng's fingers gripping the teacup tightened slightly, their joints turning bluish-white, but he remained calm and simply replied, "Of course."

Cen Jiexiao took in every subtle movement Li Yusheng made. She sneered inwardly, but remained expressionless. She gently played with the strands of hair hanging by her ear and said casually, "It's just..." She deliberately prolonged the last syllable, her clear eyes staring directly at Li Yusheng, a hint of a half-smile on her lips. "I wonder if General Li has ever considered that the enemy is within this iron wall?"

Li Yusheng's pupils shrank upon hearing this, and his grip on the teacup tightened, nearly spilling the tea. He raised his eyes to look at Cen Jiexiao, his gaze as deep as water, as if he wanted to see through her, trying to discern something from her calm face.