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

"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. Everything is fine at home," Lin Feng replied, his mind on the matter. The Empress Dowager's sudden inquiry about family affairs was probably not just ordinary concern.

"It's good that you're all well." The Empress Dowager nodded, seemingly casually saying, "That boy Pingyang seems quite curious about the scenery of the northern border lately, often asking the palace servants about it. Qingqiu, the girl from Grand Tutor Shen's family, is also a book lover and seems to have some interest in military affairs and geography. It's a good thing that you young people can get along. However, the capital is not like the border, with many people and eyes watching. You need to be careful with your words and actions, lest you attract unnecessary gossip."

This was even more direct. The Empress Dowager was reminding him to be mindful of the boundaries in his interactions with Princess Pingyang and Shen Qingqiu, so as to avoid attracting gossip that could damage the princess's and Miss Shen's reputation, and could also bring trouble upon himself.

"Your Majesty's reminder is correct. I will certainly be careful in my words and deeds, and abide by my duties as a subject. I will never dare to overstep my bounds in the slightest," Lin Feng said solemnly.

"Hmm, you're a sensible person." The Empress Dowager seemed satisfied and waved her hand. "I'm a little tired, you may leave."

"Your subject takes his leave." Lin Feng bowed and slowly withdrew from the Buddhist hall.

On this day, Shen Qingqiu sent her personal maid to deliver to Lin Feng several volumes of geographical notes and local customs from the previous dynasty, which she had carefully copied and annotated.

Beside a page describing "Fulong Ridge," Shen Qingqiu wrote a few lines of annotations in neat small regular script: "The Records of Strange Tales of the Former Dynasty states that the area below Duanlong Cliff on Fulong Ridge was anciently known as the 'Land Where Dragons Fell.' Whenever there was an earthquake or a full moon, strange lights would occasionally appear in the pool below the cliff, which the locals called 'the opening of the dragon's eyes.' There are also old men who say that there are many red crystals in the ridge, which are hot in nature and can be used as medicine, and also... to start fires. However, the records are scattered and it is difficult to distinguish between truth and falsehood."

Shen Qingqiu had clearly paid special attention to Lin Feng's mention of the Battle of Fulong Ridge and knew that Lin Feng was extremely interested in the "Red Abyss" and the sacrificial ceremony, so he made annotations and reminders while reading.

This attention to detail and care touched Lin Feng's heart.

His gaze fell on the phrase "red crystal, hot in nature, can be used in medicine, and can also be used to start a fire," and he thought of the strange reddish-brown ores seized from the "Red Abyss," and how those ores seemed to have a special reaction to flames when Lei Bao used oil to burn the Northern Desert Suicide Squad during the Battle of Graywater River...

"Xiao He, go and check if there are any scholars in or around the capital who specialize in the study of metals and minerals." Lin Feng had a feeling that what Shen Qingqiu had mentioned unintentionally might be a breakthrough.

"Chi Yuan's" obsession with Fulong Ridge and those crimson ores is not merely for sacrificial purposes. Those ores may have some special use, or even be related to the "divine power" that "Chi Yuan" seeks.

"Yes." Bai Xiaohe accepted the order and was about to leave when Chen Heng burst in, his face filled with barely suppressed excitement.

"On guard! Detection!"

"speak."

"Near 'Chen's Grocery Store' in the West Market, a stranger, disguised as a chamber pot collector, went into the back alley of the store and didn't come out for a long time. My men found it suspicious and risked getting closer. They heard faint arguing coming from the backyard, mentioning things like 'the goods don't match the description,' 'the north is pressuring us,' and 'the situation is too tense to transport them.' Not long after, the chamber pot collector came out pushing his cart, and the buckets of excrement on it seemed much heavier than when he went in. Our men followed him at a distance and discovered that he didn't go to the place where he dumped the chamber pots, but instead pushed the cart into an abandoned brick kiln at the foot of the west city wall!"

"A brick kiln?" Lin Feng's eyes narrowed. "Did you go inside and take a look?"

"Not yet, afraid of alerting them." Chen Heng rubbed his hands together. "Guard, are you in or not? What's in that latrine bucket is probably something shady!"

"Don't move yet." Lin Feng shook his head. "Continue monitoring. Also, investigate the details of that brick kiln; see if there's been anything unusual recently."

"Yes!" Although Chen Heng was eager to join in, he knew that the defense had been well thought out.

In the afternoon, a trusted eunuch from the emperor's side came to the palace to deliver an imperial edict summoning Lin Feng to the palace immediately to discuss the defense of the northern border.

Lin Feng quickly changed his clothes and followed the eunuch into the palace.

Inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation, the emperor stood before a massive map of the northern border, his brow slightly furrowed. Several high-ranking officials, including Prime Minister Li, the Minister of War, and the Minister of Revenue, were also present.

Upon seeing Lin Feng arrive, the emperor gestured for him to come closer. "Minister Lin, you've come at the perfect time."

The emperor pointed to a mountainous area on the map where Longxi bordered the northern frontier. "According to a secret report from the military governor of Longxi, several groups of unidentified armed refugees have recently been discovered in the border mountains within his jurisdiction. These refugees, colluding with local bandits, have attacked caravans on official roads and even stormed several smaller fortified villages. These refugees are exceptionally fierce and seem extremely familiar with the terrain, striking and fleeing quickly, making them difficult to eradicate. The Longxi authorities suspect that some of them may be former subordinates of Prince Lin."

Lin Feng looked at that area, which was the place mentioned in Lei Bao's secret report where traces of Lin Wang's former subordinates had been discovered.

"Your Majesty, this is indeed a sign of rebellion by the remnants of Prince Lin," Lin Feng said. "I suggest that the military governor of Longxi be ordered to mobilize elite troops to conduct a sweeping operation in that mountainous area, while simultaneously sealing off border crossings to cut off its connection with the outside world. The 'Falcon Battalion' of the northern border can also send small teams to infiltrate the area for reconnaissance and guidance, assisting Longxi in capturing the ringleader."

"Hmm." The Emperor nodded. "Prime Minister Li, Ministry of War, proceed with this proposal and draft a strategy. It must be prudent; we must suppress the bandits, but also avoid inciting a larger popular uprising."

"Your Majesty, we obey your command," replied Li Xiang and the Minister of War.

"Furthermore," the Emperor changed the subject, looking at Lin Feng, "although the Zhou family case has been closed, the 'Crimson Abyss' demon leader 'Grey Falcon' and bandit leader Liu Mang are still at large, remaining a serious threat. My esteemed minister, investigate them thoroughly and strive to capture them all. However, the capital is a crucial location, and our actions must be meticulous. We cannot act rashly, nor can we... implicate too many others." The last sentence was loaded with implications.

"Your Majesty understands. I will act with caution and investigate according to the law." Lin Feng understood the Emperor's intention.

"Hmm." The emperor seemed somewhat weary, waving his hand. "The northern border is the foundation; you will need to devote more attention to it, my dear minister. Report back to me once the matter in the capital has been resolved. You may leave."

"Your subject takes his leave."

Leaving the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Lin Feng encountered Princess Pingyang outside the palace gates, who seemed to have "just happened" to be passing by. Today, she was dressed in a light purple palace gown, with a silver fox fur cloak over it. In the early winter chill, her skin appeared even more fair and her beauty unparalleled.

Upon seeing Lin Feng, she dismissed her attendants and approached him alone.

"Grand Commander." Her voice was soft, her beautiful eyes filled with concern. "Did Father summon you for the Northern Frontier? Recently, there seem to be some rumors circulating in the palace about unrest in Longxi."