Remarried to a top-tier playboy, her reborn ex-husband is filled with regret.

After the army left the city, Xiao Fang slowed down the march.

After traveling for two days, we passed through a vast plain.

The official road was straight, with farmland and weeds on both sides, stretching as far as the eye could see.

The Northern Hu spies followed from a distance, not daring to go any further.

Further ahead, there wasn't even a dirt mound to hide on; a group of people riding horses along the official road were too conspicuous.

"Go around it."

The leader lowered his voice.

"We can't follow them from here. Let's take the side path and get ahead of them."

The main force only has this one route; we can't lose them.

The group immediately turned their horses and veered into a side path.

That road is indeed short, but it's a bit overgrown.

Once they had ridden quickly around to the front, they ducked into a grove of low trees by the roadside and waited for the main group to pass.

But when the main force arrived, the more they looked, the more something seemed wrong.

"Why isn't Xiao Fang here?"

"And what about the people from the Inspection Department? They're all gone?"

"It was here when we first entered the plains! How did it disappear in the blink of an eye?"

As they were whispering among themselves, they suddenly heard very light footsteps behind them.

Then, a lazy voice came from behind.

"Who should we look for?"

The spies froze, then turned around abruptly.

Xiao Fang rode out slowly from behind the woods on his horse.

Behind him, more than a hundred纨绔 (sons of wealthy and powerful families) had already dispersed, completely surrounding the grove of trees.

Those men turned pale with fright.

Some people immediately knelt down.

"Commander Xiao..."

Xiao Fang didn't move, only looking down at them from his high position.

"Aren't you tired from following me all this way?"

Lu Zhao spurred his horse forward and lashed the leader with his whip.

"You lowly thing! You're so happy to be a dog for those Northern barbarians?!"

Those men trembled like leaves, kowtowing repeatedly.

"We are merely merchants passing through this area! Not spies!"

Xiao Fang was too lazy to waste words with them and glanced at Ming Rui.

Mingrui stepped forward, pulled a bamboo tube off one of the men, and poured out the still-dry paper rolls inside.

"Still trying to argue."

Mingrui threw the rolled-up paper on the ground, and the men were completely paralyzed.

"Speak, who sent you?"

Xiao Fang asked in an icy voice.

"Yes, yes..."

"It's okay if you don't want to talk about it."

Lu Zhao chuckled and drew his knife.

"We're not in a hurry, we'll just stay here and have some fun with you."

Those men were so frightened they ran away in terror, waving their hands frantically.

"Speak! We'll speak! It was Bei Hu's side who told us to keep an eye on them!"

"We were forced into it!"

Xiao Fang hummed in agreement.

"Okay. Now, you report back exactly what I say."

Where are the carrier pigeons?

"Yes, yes, right away!"

Xiao Fang looked at Lu Zhao.

"Tie him up and take him with you."

Lu Zhao waved his hand, and several纨绔 (sons of wealthy and powerful families) rushed up, knocked the man to the ground, tied his hands behind his back, and bound him tightly.

"These pigeons are now ours."

Lu Zhao smiled and said:

"What news the Northern Hu will get this time depends entirely on what we want to tell them."

Xiao Fang pulled on the reins and turned the horse around.

"Let's head to the North first."

I have instructed the main force to continue along the original route at a slow pace.

After saying that, he rushed out of the dwarf forest first.

The group changed course and headed north, like a swift sword drawn from its sheath, heading straight for the border.

Seven days later, at the Northern Hu King's tent.

The curtain was lifted from the outside, and a bodyguard strode in and knelt on one knee.

"Your Majesty, the second message sent by carrier pigeon has arrived."

The Northern Hu King was sitting on a tiger-skin chair when he heard this and reached out his hand.

"Bring it here."

The guards handed over the bamboo tube.

The Northern Hu King unfolded the document and examined it closely, his brows furrowing more and more with each glance.

A moment later, he chuckled and slammed the letter onto the table.

"This Xiao Fang, what a big name he is, but if it really comes down to it, he's nothing special."

Princess Saren was standing next to the map when she heard this and turned her head.

"What did the letter say?"

The Northern King picked up his wine bowl and took a sip.

The letter said that Xiao Fang's army had only traveled less than two hundred li in seven days since leaving the capital.

At this pace, it would take at least another month and a half to reach the North.

Princess Saren frowned.

"Xiao Fang has fought several tough battles in the northern border; he shouldn't be dragging this out."

The King of the Northern Barbarians put down his wine bowl, his face full of contempt.

"Those civil officials in the capital keep calling for peace talks, and the old emperor has just signed a peace treaty."

Even if Xiao Fang wanted to fight, he couldn't openly defy him.

These 50,000 imperial troops might not be willing to take his command.

Princess Saren listened and then remained silent.

The Northern King stood up and walked to the map.

"Since you've given us so much time, let's make good preparations."

"Reorganize the troops, and three days later, attack their three passes simultaneously."

The Northern King pointed heavily at the map with his finger.

"Two of them are only to be harassed, not to be attacked."

The main force will still start from the lower city.

The autumn harvest there should already be over; let's grab a handful and leave, no need to linger.

The surrounding generals responded in unison.

Just then, Gu Jinghuai, who had been standing in the corner, suddenly spoke up.

"Your Majesty, the marching speed mentioned in this letter is somewhat incorrect."

The Northern Hu King turned to look at him.

"What's wrong?"

Gu Jinghuai frowned.

Xiao Fang is not the kind of person who would deliberately delay.

If he doesn't want to come, he'll find a way not to.

Now that I've taken command of the troops, I'll definitely act quickly.

If he slows down even a step, the situation at the border becomes more uncertain, and Xiao Fang is certainly aware of this.

Traveling only two hundred li in seven days is not like him.

The smile on the face of the Northern Hu King faded slightly.

"What do you mean? Do you think my own spies would send back false information?"

Gu Jinghuai could tell that the Northern Hu King was getting angry, but he had no choice but to speak up.

"Could this be a deliberate deception? After all, what the eyes can see is not always the truth."

The Northern Hu King scoffed.

"Gu Jinghuai, are you scared out of your wits by him? You think everything you see is part of his scheme."

This is a spy I've been raising for many years. He followed the army all the way from the capital and reported everything clearly at every stop.

You sit in your tent and, based solely on guesswork, declare the letter fake?

Gu Jinghuai lowered his eyes.

"Your Majesty, I just feel..."

"Alright."

The Northern Hu King interrupted him.

"Just do your job well. If you continue to spread rumors and mislead the public, don't blame me for being impolite."

Gu Jinghuai pursed his lips and ultimately said nothing more.

He bowed to the Northern Hu King and silently retreated to the corner of the tent.

Soon, the sounds of the Northern Hu King and his generals discussing sending troops could be heard again from inside the tent.

But Gu Jinghuai wouldn't listen to a single word.

He clutched his sleeve, his chest tight and anxious.

That feeling began the moment the first letter arrived.

It felt as if an extremely thin rope had quietly wrapped around his throat.

It made him feel that death was approaching step by step.