Reborn and returned, sisters swapped

Chapter 132 Empty

She returned to her tent and wrote down all the details she had observed. Dipping her brush in ink, she slid it across the paper, recording the soldiers' behavior patterns and the unusual activity in the warehouse.

She couldn't help but wonder: if they were truly enemy spies, why didn't they just destroy the supplies directly, instead choosing to leave notes during shift changes? Could it be that their target wasn't the supplies, but some kind of secret message?

The espionage scenarios described in military strategy books flashed through her mind, further strengthening her resolve to continue observing.

Having calmed down a bit, she went back to the warehouse, deciding to investigate further in the next few days.

Over the next few days, Gu Jinyan continued to casually patrol the granary and secretly observe the soldiers' every move when they changed shifts.

These soldiers behaved in a highly regular manner, and even had a clear division of labor.

After each note was buried, a soldier would stand guard at the warehouse entrance, while the others would pretend to be busy within a set time to try to conceal their presence.

Through observation, Gu Jinyan gradually realized that these soldiers did not seem to be acting alone, but rather were part of the city's internal agents.

Their actions were not complicated, but through tacit cooperation, they formed a kind of covert collaboration.

Their eye contact and gestures were not only used to exchange intelligence, but also as coded signals to confirm each other's actions.

She secretly rejoiced that she had maintained enough patience before discovering this, otherwise she might have alerted the enemy.

Through days of observation and recording, Gu Jinyan gradually pieced together a picture of the enemy's actions. Gu Jinyan became increasingly convinced that the soldiers' actions were by no means accidental.

Their actions closely coincided with the arrival and departure times of the grain and fodder, and they would almost always appear around the warehouse, as if waiting for some kind of signal.

She calmly pieced together these clues one by one, gradually sketching out a "hidden line" leading to the enemy in her mind.

The enemy's actions revolved around the patterns of grain entering and leaving the granary; their goal was not simply to steal it.

Instead, they disrupted the army's supply lines by manipulating the amount of provisions, thereby weakening the defenses of Hesha City during the war.

Gu Jinyan gained a clearer understanding of the conspiracy: the enemy planned to gradually take control of the granary's operation through spies scattered throughout the city, thereby weakening the morale and combat effectiveness of the soldiers in the city.

The next morning, Gu Jinyan arrived at the main camp with his record book, explained his purpose to the guards at the entrance, and was allowed to enter after a short wait. Inside the camp, several generals were sitting around a table, discussing the battle situation.

Lieutenant Wu Qi was dressed in armor, and his brows exuded a heroic air;

General Zhao Lingfeng, on the other hand, had a relaxed demeanor, his eyes revealing a touch of honesty and simplicity.

Several civil officials were organizing documents on the side, making the atmosphere inside the tent exceptionally solemn and serious.

"Manager Gu, what is it you wish to report?" Zhao Lingfeng looked at her with a slightly probing gaze, but his tone revealed a hint of impatience.

After bowing, Gu Jinyan said in a deep voice, "Reporting to the generals, I have noticed something amiss in the operation of the granary. Recently, there have been several unreasonable errors in the weight, quantity, and timing of the movement of the grain supplies..."

After several days of observation, I suspect that someone is secretly passing intelligence within the city, and may even be attempting to undermine morale by manipulating the supply of provisions.

She spoke with utmost seriousness, a hint of wariness in her eyes.

However, before he could finish speaking, General Zhao Lingfeng chuckled and said dismissively, "It's just a few bags of grain, why make such a fuss?"

There are many trivial matters in the military, and some errors are inevitable. Commander Gu, aren't you overthinking it?"

Gu Jinyan felt a pang of anxiety, knowing that he hadn't taken it seriously.

She steadied herself and continued, "General Zhao, this is no accident. Several soldiers in charge of supplies within the city have been behaving strangely; their communication methods and the timing of their contact are unusual..."

I even witnessed them secretly passing intelligence at night. This was no simple error; it was an organized operation.

Her words were resounding and carried a firm conviction.

Zhao Lingfeng revealed a mocking smile and said calmly, "Manager Gu, the affairs in the city are complicated. It's not possible to draw any conclusions simply by suspecting a few people of abnormality."

Furthermore, military affairs are mostly handled by soldiers; it would be somewhat...unnecessary for women to concern themselves with these matters.

The deputy general Wu Qi coldly interjected, "Women should stay in the rear camp and not meddle in these matters."

The granary was a vital military location, with the entry and exit of supplies managed by dedicated personnel. How could it be so easily infiltrated by the enemy?

Furthermore, to suspect enemy spies for the slightest mistake made by a few soldiers is rather alarmist.

His words carried a hint of indifference and contempt, clearly showing that he didn't take her analysis seriously.

Gu Jinyan felt a wave of humiliation, and his chest ached slightly, but he forced himself to endure it.

She took a deep breath, suppressed her anger, and calmly continued, "Lieutenant General, the stability of the granary is a matter of life and death on the front lines."

"I learned military strategy from my father from a young age, and I know that it says: 'When the enemy's situation is unclear, one should not act rashly; however, one should not ignore even the slightest clue.' If I had not witnessed this matter with my own eyes, I would never have spoken of it so lightly."

Wu Qi chuckled and said indifferently, "I never expected that Prince Gu would teach his daughter like this."

However, in military affairs, one must understand one's own responsibilities and duties, and never let trivial matters disrupt military order.

Looking at the indifferent expressions of the generals, Gu Jinyan felt a surge of anger and helplessness.

She knew she was a woman, and most of the military leaders were prejudiced against her and never truly recognized her abilities.

However, she could not back down, nor could she abandon her duty because of the other party's contempt. Supplies were a matter of life and death for the soldiers; if the matter was not thoroughly investigated, the consequences would be unimaginable.

She bowed again and said solemnly, "This humble officer is merely fulfilling his duty. I hope you will all reconsider. The morale of the soldiers is the most difficult thing to bear. If the supplies are lost, I fear the morale of the army will waver."

However, the generals remained indifferent. General Zhao Lingfeng waved his hand, signaling her to step back, and said in a calm tone, "Commander Gu, military campaigns are a man's business, so don't bother with it."

Gu Jinyan could barely contain her anger. She clenched her fists, bowed her head, and took her leave.

As she stepped out of the tent, she felt a gust of cold wind hit her face, and a sense of powerlessness washed over her.

Despite her best efforts, she ultimately could not change these people's ingrained prejudices.

She silently reminded herself: no matter what obstacles she encountered, she would never give up her determination to find out the truth.

Gu Jinyan stood quietly outside the tent, the night breeze gently caressing her cheeks, the moonlight shining on her face, revealing a firm and profound expression.

She looked up at the night sky, and it seemed as if she could hear her father's words of advice from her childhood, those words becoming clearer in the quiet night.

She knew that many people in the military viewed her with prejudice.

The phrase "Women shouldn't meddle in military affairs" often haunted her, like a shadow she couldn't shake off.

However, she never backed down because of this.

She firmly believed that whether one was the son of a general or an ordinary soldier, as long as one was in the military camp, one should be loyal to one's duty.

Her identity cannot be changed, but she can prove herself with her strength and win the trust of her soldiers.

As she was lost in thought, a young soldier happened to walk outside the tent. He saw Gu Jinyan standing in the night, paused for a moment, and then saluted.

The soldier hesitated for a moment, then asked in a low voice, "Commander Gu, it's so late and you're still up. Is it because of the grain supplies in the city?"

Gu Jinyan smiled slightly, nodded, and said in a gentle tone, "Yes. There are no small matters in the army. Every bag of rations and every soldier is our responsibility."

Upon hearing this, the soldier's eyes showed admiration, and he said firmly, "Rest assured, Commander Gu, we will do our utmost to fulfill your orders!"

Gu Jinyan smiled and nodded.

She didn't tell the soldier anything more; this unspoken trust was precisely the reason she had to uphold it.

She gently patted the soldier's shoulder, watched him leave, and felt a renewed determination in her heart.

Unable to gain the support of the generals, she decided to act on her own.

The clues she had accumulated over the past few days swirled in her mind, and she had figured out the activity patterns of several suspicious soldiers—they often entered the granary late at night to exchange a note, seemingly to pass on intelligence.

Tonight, she is determined to personally infiltrate the granary, see these people's actions for herself, and find conclusive evidence.

After nightfall, Gu Jinyan changed into black clothes, carefully covering every inch of his skin to avoid any bright colors that might reveal his whereabouts.

She tiptoed around the soldiers' barracks, avoiding the sight of the sentries and patrols, and carefully made her way to the outside of the granary.

The moonlight illuminated the empty space around the warehouse. She took a deep breath and seized the opportunity to climb into the warehouse through a window on one side.

The granary was deserted and eerily quiet. The wooden shelves were piled high with neatly stacked sacks of grain and hay, and a faint scent of hay filled the air.

She quickly looked around, chose a secluded corner, held her breath, and waited quietly.

This spot faces the entrance to the granary, allowing her to clearly observe people entering and leaving from the shadows, yet remain easily undetected.

Her heart raced slightly, and she silently warned herself to stay calm, because the slightest carelessness could expose her whereabouts.

Time passed slowly, and the faint sound of footsteps could be heard outside the warehouse, causing Gu Jinyan's nerves to tense up suddenly.

Footsteps approached from afar, and several soldiers appeared at the door. After whispering to each other for a moment, they made sure no one was around before pushing the door open and entering.

Gu Jinyan narrowed her eyes slightly and stared intently at the group of people, who were the soldiers she had suspected for a long time.

They looked around, then tiptoed to one side of the warehouse, searched for a while, and sure enough, took out a note from a gap in the corner shelf.

One of the soldiers unfolded the note, quickly glanced at it, and the faint candlelight flickered on the paper, reflecting his focused expression.

The group then whispered among themselves. After a moment of discussion, they took out a knife, cut a corner of the paper, and lit it on fire. The paper turned to ashes in an instant.