Wu Ziyu had traveled from the combat zone to Bianbo Camp, passing by Sha Three Camp and even visiting the Permanent Camp. Yet, in the eyes of the commanders of these operational camps, he was never considered a “commander.” In military discussions, his only role had ever been to transport supplies. During the eighth year of Xiande, the Northern Frontier trade had been ambushed by the Han Snake Division; the fastest responding unit had been the convoy team led by Wu Ziyu. That had been the only battle he had ever fought.
“Now, with the main force of Bianbo Camp heading north, you are the camp’s commander. The Imperial Army needs to scout Sha Three Camp, and I hope to get support from Bianbo Camp,” Xiao Chiye set down his bowl. “The Raven Division’s raid was clearly planned in advance, cutting off Sha Three Camp’s supply route. If Bianbo Camp withdraws now, the combat zone beyond Sha One Camp will be completely encircled by the Bian-Sha forces. Even with the reinforcements of Chaohui’s three Liuyang Camps, the army would have to split its forces to detour around the Great Boundary and reach the northeast combat zone for long-range support. By then, even if supplies remain sufficient, the front-line troops would already have been destroyed.”
The reason Xiao Jiming had chosen to use Bianbo Camp as a supply hub was its direct horse paths to Sha Three Camp and the northeast supply route. Supplies could be delivered quickly, and troops could move rapidly as well. If this camp were lost, Xiao Fangxu, still at the front, would be cut off from reinforcements. There were no direct paths from the northeast supply route eastward; Chaohui would have to take a detour, taking at least four days. During those four days, Xiao Fangxu would have the Han Snake Division to the east and the Raven Division to the south. Without reinforcements or supplies, the Bian-Sha forces could wear down his elite troops through attrition alone.
Wu Ziyu’s anger had already subsided. He fell silent for a moment before saying, “The Liuyang Camps in Chaohui’s hands are among the Northern Frontier Cavalry’s elite. If the Raven Division attempts a raid here, they won’t be able to stop him. He could abandon the northeast long line and move from here to the combat zone.”
“The Liuyang Camps, as the Northern Frontier’s elite, have fought the Han Snake Division the most. Amur knows them no less than we do. You know that Chaohui could break through from here to the combat zone, yet Amur only sent the Raven Division at the beginning of the raid. What do you think he’s planning?”
Wu Ziyu’s expression gradually darkened.
One of the Thirty-Six Stratagems is “Feign Weakness to Entice the Enemy.” Today, Wu Ziyu’s convoy at Bianbo Camp had been ambushed, and the guards would rush the supplies to the northeast route in the midst of the emergency. By the time Chaohui received these crucial supplies, it would be too late for long-range support. He would have to focus back on the captured Bianbo Camp, adjust according to the reported numbers of the Raven Division, and when he arrived, Amur would likely have withdrawn the Raven Division and replaced them with the elite Bian-Sha cavalry lying in ambush. Chaohui would then face Amur’s full force.
Win or lose, Chaohui would be delayed at Bianbo Camp, and Xiao Fangxu in the combat zone would be left completely unsupported. Amur knew the Northern Frontier Cavalry too well.
“Without Chaohui’s arrival, we can’t win either. The supplies at the combat zone are depleting quickly; in just a few days, Prince will still be forced into a bitter fight.” Wu Ziyu walked over to the rack, yanked a map down, and spread it forcefully on the ground. “Sha Three Camp is adjacent to Sha Two Camp. When Amur strikes north, he will hit Prince’s rear.”
Dan Taihu had just finished cleaning up, wearing his robe barefoot, and came in. Seeing them huddled over the map, he squatted beside them to observe.
“What do we do?” Wu Ziyu looked up at Xiao Chiye. “Advance or retreat, either way we lose. Any move is already anticipated by Amur.”
Dan Taihu touched the scar on his face. “Not necessarily. He doesn’t recognize the Imperial Army. We’re a force he can’t predict.” He pointed at Sha Three Camp. “This place is near Luoshan in Zhongbo—full of bandits. The Raven Division managed to avoid the Northern Frontier Cavalry’s scouts and bring siege engines to attack the south of Bianbo Camp. There must have been bandit assistance. I don’t understand all the tactics, but… Master said something very reasonable.”
Xiao Chiye raised an eyebrow. “What did Lan Zhou say?”
“Smart people don’t do unnecessary things,” Dan Taihu said gravely. “Why would Amur go to all this trouble to block Chaohui? If he were doing well in the combat zone with Prince, why would he split his forces here?”
Xiao Chiye leaned slightly over the map, turning his counting rings. “Exactly. Amur’s strategy shows he’s struggling in the combat zone too. It’s already July. If the war drags past autumn without progress, Amur will soon face winter’s harshness. Bian-Sha has put all its reserve grain into the battlefield; the longer the war drags on, the worse it is for them.”
Wu Ziyu recalled something.
Xiao Chiye continued: “After our elder brother was injured, Amur changed his battle strategy of the past few years. When I was in Cizhou, I heard the Bian-Sha cavalry had reached the Tudalong Banner. Previously, their cavalry would strike and retreat. This time, they didn’t. They’re advancing steadily. Amur is losing patience in the desert; he’s slowly consuming the Northern Frontier, aiming to seize our pastures and camps. From this perspective, Bianbo Camp is crucial. Losing it would set the Northern Frontier back significantly. Sha Three Camp would collapse, and our eastern defensive line would crumble. But if we hold Bianbo Camp, our father regains morale; with him in the combat zone, Amur can’t push this line.”
Xiao Chiye pointed to Bianbo Camp on the map. “If you hold until the first snowfall, it will be a heavy blow to Amur. Bianbo Camp must not fall. We can only pull the line forward, never retreat.”
Wu Ziyu said, “If Amur wants to trap Chaohui’s Liuyang Camps here, how can we possibly stop him with just 25,000 troops? Sha Three Camp is vital; if he station the Han Snake Division there, we have no chance to counterattack.”
Xiao Chiye lowered his arm, thinking for a moment. “The Bian-Sha cavalry is used to the Northern Frontier’s passive tempo. Amur is betting that the troops in Bianbo Camp won’t dare strike eastward on their own. The raiding troops will be taken by surprise; based on their travel time, they’ll only return to Sha Three Camp by tomorrow morning. We will depart before dawn, reaching the Sha Three Camp boundary just as they rest.”
Wu Ziyu shifted his numb legs, staring at the map in silence for a long time before resolutely saying, “If the commander is determined to go, the remaining horses in Bianbo Camp can be used by the Imperial Army.”
“They’re not cavalry; they don’t need horses. Besides, the Northern Frontier horses are heavy and noisy—unsuitable for raids.” Xiao Chiye’s eyes swept over Dan Taihu, Chen Yang, and Gu Jin before finally addressing Wu Ziyu. “This time, let the Imperial Army just send a message to Amur.”
The next morning, before dawn, the Imperial Army set out.
Gu Jin, though still injured, acted as a scout. Dan Taihu followed Xiao Chiye, while Chen Yang stayed behind at Bianbo Camp. Wu Ziyu didn’t understand why, but seeing Chen Yang didn’t complain, he didn’t ask either.
The morning dew had not yet dissipated; the Imperial Army’s armor was already wet from the grass. They avoided the main horse paths, instead following the path taken by the retreating Raven Division.
“This place isn’t far from Zhongbo’s border. Master, why isn’t there a courier station?” Dan Taihu looked south. “Crossing this grassland will take a full day and night to reach Luoshan.”
“The Northern Frontier Cavalry’s defenses were built against the Bian-Sha cavalry,” Xiao Chiye replied, holding his sword at his side. “Bandits never dared come here before, but times have changed.”
“Whoever sides with that Bian-Sha bald one is screwed,” Dan Taihu swore, shoving the grass.
The Imperial Army moved swiftly. By the time they reached the vicinity of Sha Three Camp, it was already afternoon.
Gu Jin lay low in the grass, motionless for a while. Dan Taihu crawled beside him, waiting, then asked, “Can you see anything?”
Gu Jin brushed aside the grass. “Wu Ziyu was right. Sha Three Camp has Han Snake cavalry—the horse droppings are fresh. They’ve set up patrols around the camp, even more alert than Bianbo Camp.”
He turned over, squinting at the sky.
“No sentries, no hunting falcons. The Raven Division’s raid on Bianbo Camp yesterday was indeed a decoy.”
“This place is tough,” Dan Taihu said. “Open grass all around, nowhere to hide.”
“This is Sha Three Camp,” Gu Jin said, chewing his tobacco. “No hiding spots; the camp is surrounded by ironbrush, anti-cavalry stakes, and watchtowers at the corners.”
“Could we use the drainage channels?” Dan Taihu whispered to Xiao Chiye. “People still have to eat, drink, and relieve themselves.”
Xiao Chiye didn’t respond. Gu Jin looked embarrassed, whispering, “There used to be external drainage channels, but when Master fought in the Eastern Mountains, he breached the Bian-Sha camps this way. The heir thought it was a loophole, so later all channels were dug deeper and maintained regularly. Years later, it’s become my problem.”
Dan Taihu fell silent and lowered himself into the grass as well.
Choosing camp sites and planning for sanitation is crucial. Typically, waste channels should not be near supplies or tents, and should be deep or lead outward. Sha Three Camp, being a regularly used site, made external channels convenient. But Xiao Chiye’s thorough measures left the Imperial Army with a tricky problem.
Xiao Chiye looked at the sky. “No rush… there’s a way.”