Reborn and returned, sisters swapped

Chapter 112 Shut up! Have you forgotten military discipline?

Zhao Lingfeng did not linger in front of her. He turned and left, his steps as firm and steady as ever, as if this brief exchange had exhausted all his time.

Gu Jinyan's gaze involuntarily followed his departing figure, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

She slowly lowered her head, raised her hand to gently touch her sleeve, and concealed her slightly trembling fingertips.

“Miss…” Hongye beside her called her softly and cautiously, and whispered:

"Miss, military affairs are demanding, and General Zhao is probably too busy, which explains his somewhat aloof demeanor..."

As Hongye spoke, she couldn't help but feel sorry for her young mistress's hard work traveling thousands of miles.

Gu Jinyan composed himself, smiled faintly, as if his earlier aloofness had caused no ripples, and said softly:

"It's alright. Since this is the military, we can't judge it by ordinary standards."

She knew in her heart that she was a rare woman in the army and probably of no use to the soldiers.

This cold welcome ceremony not only made her feel the seriousness and coldness of the military, but also made her clearly realize her status as an outsider.

She concealed a hint of displeasure, raised her head, her gaze cold and clear. Hongye silently followed the camp's arrangements and stepped into the military camp of Hesha City.

Gu Jinyan and his entourage slowly made their way deeper into the camp, and the atmosphere around them gradually became oppressive.

The soldiers, who had been busy with their work, put down their tasks and all eyes turned to her.

Although her clothes were simple, they couldn't hide her natural dignified demeanor, but she seemed out of place in the eyes of the soldiers.

"Tsk, such a pampered young lady actually came to the army to broaden her horizons. Does she want us to do the work for her?"

The burly soldier muttered under his breath, his eyes filled with disdain.

He raised the corners of his mouth slightly, his gaze sweeping over Gu Jinyan with unbridled scorn and provocation.

"Haha, yeah, just because you have supplies doesn't mean you're a hero, do you? You've probably never even seen a battlefield."

The soldiers beside him echoed, arms crossed, a cold smile playing on their lips.

Although their voices were not loud, they made sure she could hear them clearly.

These comments pierced Gu Jinyan's ears like thorns.

Although she had witnessed the coldness and warmth of human relationships throughout her life, she had never suffered such undisguised contempt.

But her expression remained calm and her eyes showed no emotion.

Knowing that arguing was pointless at the moment, she silently kept these cold words in mind.

She lowered her eyes slightly, concealing the sting in her heart, and calmly continued walking without making any response.

As she walked forward calmly, several soldiers stared directly at her, their eyes meeting hers unintentionally, their coldness and hostility clearly visible.

She was slightly taken aback. These people made no attempt to hide their hostility and rejection of her, even showing a hint of resistance, as if she were not a helpful source of supplies, but rather an eyesore and a "burden" in their eyes.

Gu Jinyan vaguely understood that in the eyes of these people, she was nothing more than a "delicate young lady".

The supplies she brought might have alleviated the army's immediate needs, but her arrival did not convince anyone and even aroused unnecessary hostility among the soldiers.

Thinking of this, she took a deep breath, suppressing the stinging pain and helplessness in her heart, trying her best to remain calm and not let her inner turmoil show on her face.

Just as she was deep in thought, the figure of Vice General Zhao Lingfeng appeared beside her.

He glanced coldly at the soldiers around him, a hint of displeasure flashing in his eyes. His gaze was stern as he spoke in a low, harsh voice:

"Shut up, all of you! Have you forgotten military discipline?"

How can someone who doesn't know what's important be called a soldier?

His tone was icy, carrying an undeniable authority, and the surrounding soldiers immediately fell silent, not daring to utter another word.

However, although the soldiers lowered their voices, their faces still showed disdain, and their eyes did not reveal any real respect. They did not seem to change because of Zhao Lingfeng's reprimand.

Gu Jinyan sensed the hostility in those gazes and felt a heaviness in his heart.

She showed no sign of backing down; instead, she stood tall and composed, her face calm and her eyes undisturbed, as if she were completely unaffected.

Zhao Lingfeng snorted coldly and continued to lead the way, his steps steady and indifferent.

Gu Jinyan followed behind him, watching the soldiers fall silent instantly, and couldn't help but smile bitterly.

This initial disregard is just the beginning; winning their trust and respect in the military will likely not be easy.

She silently memorized the cold words, took a deep breath, turned and nodded slightly to her entourage, signaling them to follow quietly.

Her entourage remained silent, keeping their heads down as they followed her, as if afraid of causing any further discussion.

Upon entering the camp, the soldiers quickly began unloading the supplies, and Gu Jinyan, seeing this, also intended to step forward to assist.

However, after taking only a few steps, a soldier in charge of supervision immediately stepped forward to stop her, and said with a cold smile:

“Miss Gu, you are of noble status. How can we let you do such rough work yourself?”

It's better to rest on the sidelines.

His words were outwardly respectful but inwardly sarcastic, deliberately excluding her and suggesting that her status and strength were insufficient for any practical task.

Gu Jinyan silently stopped, his expression calm, offering no explanation, and retreated to the side to observe quietly.

Her gaze fell upon the ranks of those unloading provisions, where soldiers were busy carrying grain sacks, recording distributions, and so on.

Through her meticulous observation, she gradually discovered the oversights.

Some soldiers did not record the actual amount of rations when unloading them, and the amount of rations was obviously reduced. Some bags were even moved aside without being registered, and their eyes intentionally or unintentionally avoided those of their colleagues who were responsible for checking.

What's even more puzzling is that the soldiers frequently exchanged glances, seemingly tacitly agreeing to secretly embezzle supplies.

She observed all of this discreetly, silently noting down the characteristics and unusual behavior of these people.

He thought to himself, "The army's food and supplies are such a vital logistical support, yet there is such an obvious loophole. This undoubtedly leaves a hidden danger for the enemy."

Gu Jinyan frowned slightly, a few doubts creeping into his heart.

She remained silent, secretly noting these details in her mind, intending to investigate further in the future.

The unloading work continued for half an hour amidst the soldiers' busy work. During this time, Gu Jinyan never left his side, watching every detail and observing the soldiers' division of labor and efficiency.

Although the scene seemed trivial, she gradually realized that the chaotic situation of military supplies management was by no means accidental, and it might be the breakthrough for her to understand the operation of the military camp and find her own position.

After the unloading was completed, Gu Jinyan followed the soldiers in the camp and was soon led to a tent by a low-ranking officer.

The man simply said, "Miss Gu's residence is here," and then hurriedly turned and left without further explanation.

Looking at the tent in front of him, Gu Jinyan couldn't help but feel a sense of helplessness.

The tent was located in a corner of the camp, far from the core area, surrounded by sparse and lonely tents, and even the footsteps of patrolling soldiers were so distant that they could hardly be heard.

She entered the tent and found it extremely simple inside, with only a bed and a few pieces of wooden furniture, making it look cold and shabby.

The tent fabric swayed slightly all around, and the night wind occasionally blew through it, bringing a chill.

Gu Jinyan sighed softly. Although he felt a little lonely, he was also clear about his status in the military camp. He was just a "guest" and was far from being entitled to special treatment.

She put aside her distracting thoughts, gently placed the military treatise she carried with her on the table, sat down on her bunk, and her gaze gradually calmed.

Night had quietly fallen, and the noise in the camp gradually subsided. The night wind outside the tent grew colder and colder, occasionally lifting a corner of the tent flap. In the darkness, only a lone lamp flickered inside the tent.

Gu Jinyan sat upright in the lamplight, gazing at the book, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

Her fingers gently caressed the cover of the military treatise, but her mind was filled with the disdainful looks the soldiers had given her during the day, and their sarcastic remarks when she unloaded the book.

Well-versed in military strategy, she once believed everything written in the book and felt confident that she could secure a place in the army.

However, the reality before her made her realize that in a real military camp, the wisdom in military books, though theoretically sound, was powerless to overcome the indifference and estrangement in front of her.

A sense of powerlessness and confusion welled up within her, as if she were like this solitary lamp, appearing weak and insignificant in this unfamiliar land.

The wind grew colder, the lights dimmed, and she gently closed her eyes.

She came not only for her family, but also to break down those doubts and prejudices, and to prove to the world that she was not a "delicate woman".

A quiet determination gradually welled up within her.

The next morning, the fog had not yet lifted, and the camp was quiet except for the occasional sound of soldiers' footsteps.

Gu Jinyan got up early, still pondering the decision he made last night.

She stepped out of the tent, and as far as the eye could see, the morning light shone on the camp, and in the distance, the soldiers had already begun their morning training, a scene of bustling activity.

She had no intention of disturbing the troops; she simply wanted to wander around and observe the defenses of the military camp, hoping to find some clues.

She hadn't gone far when she saw Zhao Lingfeng walking from the center of the camp.

His steps were steady, and his expression remained cold and stern. Several personal guards followed behind him, patrolling the camp.

Seeing this, Gu Jinyan hesitated for a moment, but finally mustered up the courage to walk towards him.

Zhao Lingfeng noticed her approach and glanced at her slightly, but his expression didn't reveal much, clearly not surprised by it.

He stopped and waited for her to approach, then nodded slightly in greeting: "Miss Gu, how was your morning?"

Gu Jinyan bowed slightly in return, then raised his head, his tone calm yet tinged with a hint of probing:

"General Zhao, I had many thoughts last night. The war is urgent, and although the supplies have been delivered."

However, I also hope to participate in military deployment and assist with military affairs.

After all, although I have never been on the battlefield, I am confident that I have a good understanding of the principles of military strategy. If I can share the general's burdens, I will not have failed the trust placed in me by my family.

Her tone was sincere, and she tried to express her determination and ability.

I need an opportunity, an opportunity to prove my worth.

This was not only a response to last night's sarcastic remarks, but also a way to show Zhao Lingfeng that she was not just a woman who only knew how to talk the talk.