Years turn into wind

After the spies were eliminated, order gradually returned to Ling Xiaotian's army. However, the depth of the hidden forces exposed during the investigation made him even more vigilant, knowing that the enemy's forces were far more powerful than he had anticipated. Although the atmosphere in the mansion relaxed slightly, secretly, no one dared to let their guard down.

Late one night, Ling Xiaotian was in his study, gazing at a battle map, pondering his next move. Cheng Yuwei quietly approached with a cup of warm tea, gently placing it on the table. Seeing his furrowed brow, she asked with concern, "Xiaotian, are you staying up so late today too?"

Ling Xiaotian looked up and saw that she was showing a hint of concern. The coldness between his brows softened a little. He sighed softly and said, "Yuwei, although the enemy has been temporarily pacified, the real behind-the-scenes has not yet surfaced. I am worried... they may have a bigger conspiracy."

Cheng Yuwei nodded slightly, sat down next to him, and said softly: "Xiaotian, why don't you tell me your ideas first. Maybe we can find the enemy's loopholes together."

Ling Xiaotian was silent for a moment, then slowly expressed his doubts: "The enemy has deployed so many spies, and their purpose is not just to gather intelligence. They are likely planning a large-scale military operation to completely destroy our forces."

Cheng Yuwei seemed to be thinking about something, and whispered, "That is to say, they may still have a final trump card hidden, just waiting for a critical moment to strike."

Ling Xiaotian nodded, his eyes deep: "We must find out where the enemy's main force is as soon as possible, so that we can prepare in advance and avoid being passive."

Cheng Yuwei pondered for a moment, and suddenly said: "I have a way that may help us locate the enemy's position faster."

Ling Xiaotian turned to look at her, his eyes filled with anticipation: "Tell me about it."

Cheng Yuwei smiled slightly, her eyes gleaming with wisdom. "We can fabricate a report about your departure and deliberately let the enemy's spies know about it, making them mistakenly believe that you will personally lead the troops into battle, thus luring them into an ambush. This way, their core strength is likely to be exposed."

Ling Xiaotian thought for a moment and nodded in praise: "Great idea! In this way, we can not only find out the enemy's strengths and weaknesses, but also take the initiative." He looked at Cheng Yuwei with admiration in his eyes.

The next day, Ling Xiaotian secretly ordered the spread of false intelligence, suggesting he would personally lead his troops into battle. He also deployed sentries along strategic routes, closely monitoring any suspicious individuals. Upon hearing the news of Ling Xiaotian's impending departure, the enemy, undeterred, quickly dispatched a team of elite soldiers for a surprise attack.

Cheng Yuwei led a group of spies hidden in the mountains and forests, quietly observing the enemy's movements. When the enemy approached their ambush circle, she waved her hand, signaling her men to take immediate action. In an instant, the ambushing soldiers launched attacks from all sides, quickly surrounding the enemy.

The enemy realized they had fallen into a trap and tried to escape, but Cheng Yuwei blocked their way one by one. After a fierce battle, all the enemies were finally captured. One of the captives, under Ling Xiaotian's intimidation, confessed the enemy's true core stronghold and commander.

That night, Ling Xiaotian and Cheng Yuwei discussed the location of the enemy's command center in their study, examining a map. They realized that the enemy's main force was stationed in a mountain fortress that was easily defended and difficult to attack. Their forces were formidable, and a forced attack would inevitably be costly.

Cheng Yuwei calmly analyzed: "If we want to break the enemy's defenses, we can't rely solely on a frontal attack. We can consider a surprise attack at night and try to destroy their core forces before they can react."

Ling Xiaotian agreed with her suggestion and patted her shoulder: "Yuwei, if it weren't for you, I wouldn't have come up with such a brilliant idea."

Cheng Yuwei smiled and shook her head: "Xiaotian, we are fighting side by side. Besides, this battle is also to bring peace to all the people."

A few days later, Ling Xiaotian personally led an elite squad on a silent march, launching a nighttime assault on an enemy stronghold. Cheng Yuwei commanded from the shadows, keeping a close eye on the enemy's movements and ensuring the safe advance of Ling Xiaotian's troops. Ultimately, with their tacit cooperation, they successfully breached the enemy's defenses and reached the command center.

The raid was a resounding success, with Ling Xiaotian personally capturing the enemy commander while he was fleeing. With the core of the enemy's forces disintegrating, Ling Xiaotian's army finally achieved a true victory.

As news of the victory spread back to the city, the entire Grand Marshal's Mansion erupted in jubilation. Ling Xiaotian and Cheng Yuwei's names were circulated among countless soldiers, boosting morale and confidence. Cheng Yuwei gazed upon all this with immense pride and joy.

That night, Ling Xiaotian hosted a banquet at his residence to celebrate the victory of his troops. At the banquet, he raised his glass to Cheng Yuwei, his eyes filled with gratitude and affection. "Yuwei, our resounding victory today is inseparable from your wisdom and courage. I think... no matter how difficult the future may be, I hope to walk this journey with you."

Cheng Yuwei listened to his words, her heart trembling slightly. She raised her wine glass, clinked it lightly with his, and whispered, "Xiaotian, I feel the same way. No matter what the road ahead holds, I am willing to walk side by side with you."

The two looked at each other and smiled. The noise around them seemed to disappear at this moment, and what remained was only the promise in their hearts.

After the banquet, Ling Xiaotian took Cheng Yuwei to the mansion garden. The two stood side by side, gazing up at the starry sky. The night breeze blew gently, the fragrance of flowers filled the air, and Cheng Yuwei felt a sense of peace and warmth she had never felt before.

Ling Xiaotian suddenly gently grasped her hand and whispered, "Yuwei, I know that as a warlord, I'm destined to bear many responsibilities and dangers. But since you came to my side, I've realized that beyond the flames of war, there's such a gentleness that's worth protecting."

Cheng Yuwei's heart trembled slightly. Looking at his determined eyes, she whispered back, "Xiaotian, no matter how difficult the future is, I will always be with you."

The two embraced each other under the starry sky, and their hearts were closer to each other at this moment, as if in these turbulent years, they finally found a harbor to rely on each other.