Too many female prisoners, a special forces soldier transmigrates and marries wildly.

The atmosphere was heavy inside the council tent of the Eastern Suburbs Camp.

On a large wooden table, instead of a map, lay densely packed statements, a list of physical evidence, and a complex network of relationships drawn with charcoal.

Lin Feng slowly spoke: "In other words, in Shuofeng City, those grasshoppers on Master Gu's line who couldn't jump around, we caught; those who could jump around, Master Gu and Yunshang, escaped."

Han Tao, Yan Qing, and Lei Bao nodded.

"But the root, we didn't touch it. Third Master Gu is the manager, Yunshang is the envoy, they are both just 'hands'. The 'arm' that holds those hands is still hidden in the shadows, and may not even be in Shuofeng, or in the Northern Frontier."

Silence fell inside the tent.

He glanced at the three men and said, “Based on the clues, it is inferred that Prince Jing has been in exile for a long time, and his whereabouts are uncertain. He may have been to Jiangnan, Hexi, and even the Western Regions.”

Han Tao seemed to understand something: "General, are you saying that instead of getting entangled with the 'hands' and 'claws' he left behind in the north wind and the quicksand sea, we should go find his 'roots,' find the place where he started?"

"Yes." Lin Feng nodded.

"The Flowing Sand Sea is his lair, easy to defend and difficult to attack; we've learned this the hard way. The North Wind is one of his hunting grounds, and now we've disrupted it. But a man like him wouldn't have only one lair or one hunting ground. Yunshang is the clue we brought from the south to the north. Her accent, skills, clothing, and even her possible background all point to..."

Yan Qing's eyes lit up: "General, are you heading south?"

"Yes," Lin Feng replied decisively.

"The connection with the north is temporarily broken. We're on the defensive over the Flowing Sand Sea. But the connection in the south is still there. Since we can't break through in the north for now, let's go and see what's going on in the south. Prince Jing's reach is so far, we can also follow his lead and reach back."

"But General, you are a border general, and you are not to be sent south without orders..." Han Tao reminded him again.

"So I won't go in a big way," Lin Feng had already decided.

"I'll pose as a northern gentryman going south to visit relatives and friends and incidentally acquire some ancient books and antiques. Lei Bao, pick a few clever, tight-lipped brothers, preferably those who can speak some southern dialect or are familiar with the situation in the south, to act as my attendants and guards. We'll travel light and return quickly."

"Han Tao, you and Yan Qing stay in Shuofeng to assist Commander Zhao in stabilizing the border defenses and keeping a close eye on the movements of the Di Rong and Liusha Hai. We will maintain single-line contact."

"This is too risky!" Lei Bao exclaimed anxiously. "The south is unfamiliar territory, and it's also a possible stronghold of Prince Jing..."

"That's precisely why he might not have expected us to come. We're unfamiliar faces in the south, which makes it easier for us to investigate secretly," Lin Feng said.

He looked at Yan Qing: "Are those two undercover agents you had in the south still usable?"

"It works," Yan Qing replied.

"Okay. Notify them in advance so they can prepare."

Five days later, at the east gate of Shuofeng City.

As dawn broke, the city gates were about to open but had not yet.

An inconspicuous mule cart with a blue canopy, escorted by three riders, silently drove out of the city gate, crunching over the thin frost on the official road, and headed southeast.

Inside the mule cart, Lin Feng changed into a slightly worn dark blue silk robe, with a gray squirrel fur vest over it, and a common six-cornered hat on his head, the brim pulled down slightly to cover half of his face.

Outside the car, Lei Bao, disguised as a driver, wore a tattered felt hat, and the fake scar on his face looked particularly ferocious in the morning light.

The other three chosen brothers were dressed as江湖人士 (jianghu figures, wandering swordsmen) or merchants, riding horses and scattered around the mule cart. One of them, called "Old Nian," was an old scout under Yan Qing, originally from Huguang, and could speak some southern Mandarin. He was the guide and translator for this trip.

The journey was relatively peaceful. Occasionally, small groups of bandits would peek out, but upon seeing the size of Lei Bao and his companions, their eyes, and the faint aura of menace emanating from them, most of them wisely retreated.

That day, a heavy rain began to fall after nightfall.

The mule cart struggled along the muddy official road, its wheels frequently getting stuck in potholes, and the old mule pulling the cart panting and puffing out white steam.

"Master, there are lights ahead!" Lei Bao wiped the rain off his face and shouted, pointing to the faint lights in the rain ahead.

Lin Feng lifted the carriage curtain and looked out.

In the rainy night, two dim lanterns hung in front of the dark outline of a building, swaying in the wind and rain. It was a temple, and it looked quite large.

"Let's go hide for a while." Lin Feng lowered the curtain.

The mule cart moved forward another hundred paces or so and stopped in front of the temple gate.

It was an abandoned mountain god temple, with the temple door half-closed, but the porch was wide enough to shelter carriages and horses.

What's even more remarkable is that there was a faint light coming from inside the temple, and the sound of people could be heard—someone had already arrived.

Lei Bao tied up the mule cart, and the group got off and pushed open the temple gate.

The temple was more spacious than I had imagined.

Although the main hall was dilapidated, the roof was intact, and a large bonfire was burning in the center, crackling and burning, dispelling the chill of the rainy night.

There were seven or eight people around the fire, men and women, dressed smartly, unlike ordinary people.

Four burly men, each with a knife at their waist, stood on the perimeter, their eyes sharp.

In the center stood three women: two maidservants stood on either side, and a young woman in a snow-white fox fur coat sat in the middle, plucking the strings of a guqin on her lap. The music flowed gently, creating a uniquely clear and melodious sound amidst the rain and fire.

Hearing the door open, everyone turned to look.

The guard's hand rested on the hilt of his sword, his eyes wary. The woman playing the zither also looked up.

In the firelight, she appeared to be about seventeen or eighteen years old, with exquisite features, fair skin, and bright, clear eyes like autumn water, exuding a refined and elegant air.

Although she sat on a pile of straw in a dilapidated temple, dressed in simple clothes with an expensive fox fur coat over them, her overall demeanor clearly indicated that she was a young lady carefully raised by a wealthy family.

Lin Feng's gaze lingered on her face for a moment, then he nodded slightly: "Excuse me. It's raining heavily, may I ask for shelter here for now?"

The woman glanced at Lin Feng and saw that although his clothes were worn, he had a calm demeanor and clear eyes. The people following him did not seem malicious either. She nodded slightly and said in a voice as clear as pearls falling on a jade plate, "Please do as you wish, sir. It is only right to be accommodating when traveling."

As soon as she finished speaking, an older guard leader stepped forward, clasped his hands in greeting to Lin Feng, and said, "Young master, my young lady prefers quiet. Please rest in that corner over there for everyone's convenience."

He pointed to the other side of the hall, to a corner farther from the fire.

"Of course." Lin Feng nodded, led Lei Bao and the others to a corner, found some dry grass to lay down, and started a small fire.

The two groups each occupied one side, clearly separated.

The sound of a zither rose again, playing the melody of "Three Variations on Plum Blossom," its clear, aloof tune perfectly complementing the night rain in the dilapidated temple. Meanwhile, Lin Feng and the others silently warmed themselves by the fire, eating their dry rations.

About half an hour later, amidst the sound of rain outside the temple, the rapid sound of horses' hooves and shouts suddenly came from afar and came to a sudden stop in front of the temple gate.

"Brother, there's a temple here, and a fire!"

"Let's go in and take a look! Damn, this awful weather!"

Amidst the rude shouts, the temple door was kicked open with a bang, and seven or eight men rushed in.

They were all dressed in straw raincoats and hats, covered in mud and water, with knives at their waists and fierce eyes.

The leader was a one-eyed giant with a hideous scar across his face. His other intact eye swept across the temple and landed on the woman playing the zither by the fire, instantly lighting up.

"Wow! I never expected to find such a stunning beauty in this desolate mountain temple!"

The one-eyed giant grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth, his gaze sweeping over the woman with undisguised greed.

"Who are you people?" the head of the guards beside Miss Shen shouted sternly, blocking the woman's way.

The other three guards also drew their swords and stood guard around the perimeter.

"Who goes there?" The one-eyed giant chuckled, took off his straw hat, and revealed his bald head.

"I am Zhao Tianba, the 'River Dragon' of the Seventy-Two Linked Forts of the Ying River! Little lady, playing the zither in this dilapidated temple in the dead of night, what refined taste! How about having a couple of drinks with your brothers?"

"How dare you!" the guard leader roared.

"My young lady is the daughter of the Shen family of Jinling. How dare you scoundrels be so disrespectful! Retreat at once, or don't blame the swords for being merciless!"

"The Shen family of Jinling?" Zhao Tianba was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter.