In the Commander’s residence at Yanchi Pass
A middle-aged man sat in the main hall, listening as his subordinates reported the outcome of the battle.
"...And with the grain and supplies in this city, we could hold out for half a year, even if we just defend the city and don’t invade any further," a deputy general reported.
"How could we just sit and defend?" The general chuckled lightly. "Our king’s ambitions go far beyond a small place like Yanchi Pass."
After speaking, the general paused, idly twisting the blood-red jade thumb ring on his finger. He softly said, "Taking Yanchi Pass is like driving a stake into the Ruen Dynasty’s heart. We now have the option of pressing south into Jibei or westward to Ningye. Now we’ll see how their peerless strategist plans to respond."
"Haha! General, General!" A booming laugh echoed from outside. Just as the voice trailed off, Wang Yuepi arrived in the doorway, blocking the entrance with a large shadow.
Still dressed in his armor, Wang Yuepi strode in and casually grabbed a stool, sitting down. The chair groaned under his weight.
The general smiled wryly, shaking his head as if resigned to Wang Yuepi’s mannerisms. He looked up and asked, "Black Bear, what is it?"
"Nothing, nothing..." Wang Yuepi waved his massive hand, chuckling. "I just wanted to ask if there’s been any word on orders. Where are we fighting next?"
The general glanced at Wang Yuepi, but he shook his head as he replied, "Orders should be on their way, but our options are likely to press westward to Ningye or southward to Jibei. Don’t be too eager for a fight... Our soldiers have fought two battles in three days and marched long hours this entire time. We should take this opportunity to rest. Not everyone has your robust constitution."
"What are you saying, General!" Wang Yuepi’s eyes widened in anger, but he quickly remembered who he was talking to and lowered his voice. "That was hardly a battle. My soldiers’ blades are still sharp, there's barely a drop of blood on them...
"And those two thousand men... if you hadn’t given the order to let them go, my boys could have crushed them in a charge or two. There's no way anyone could have escaped at all."
The general shook his head with an amused smile and pointed at Wang Yuepi. "You fool, what do you know? If fighting a war was that simple, wouldn't you be able to take my place?"
The words startled Wang Yuepi, who quickly waved his hands.
"No, no, I wouldn’t sit there. I’m afraid of the fire under your seat roasting my behind."
"However..." The general tapped the table, pausing for a moment before he said, "If you truly want to fight, I do have a mission for you."
Wang Yuepi’s eyes lit up, and he quickly responded, "General, just give the order, and I’ll make sure it’s done perfectly!"
The General’s gaze turned distant, as though lost in thought. He said in a low voice, "The Ruen Dynasty must be aware of our movements by now. They’re likely already on their way to Yanchi Pass... I’ll give you the fastest horses. Lead a group of scouts and report back to me every day on the Ruen army’s progress."
"That’s easy enough! General, this task is nothing for me!" Wang Yuepi grinned, holding up a finger. "Not only will I bring you daily reports on the Ruen army’s movements, but I’ll also bring you the heads of ten of their scouts each day!"
The general’s expression darkened. "Black Bear, don’t underestimate the enemy. The Ruen Dynasty’s army is at least as large as ours. With just a scouting party, even a small mistake could lead to your being completely wiped out. I’d rather not see the head our men bring back on a spike be yours."
Seeing that the general was truly upset, Wang Yuepi chuckled awkwardly. "Heh heh, I understand, General. But Strategist Keo is being awfully inefficient. If the orders take this long to arrive, are we supposed to just wait here forever?"
The General shot Wang Yuepi a glance and replied calmly, "Don’t underestimate him. Keo Gu’en, the World’s Greatest Strategist, didn’t give himself that title... at the very least, his plan has brought us to Yanchi Pass, hasn’t it?"
Wang Yuepi licked his lips, grinning. "Heh, fair enough..."
When Qi Zongbi reopened his eyes, his head felt foggy. Judging by the bumpiness beneath him, he was likely in a carriage. After a brief moment of confusion, his last few memories surged back, and he jolted into full awareness.
He turned over and pulled aside the curtain.
The soldier driving the carriage turned at the sound and saw Qi Zongbi leaning out. "Your Excellency, you’re awake?"
The soldier quickly reached out to steady him. "Be careful, Your Excellency. Don’t hurt yourself."
Ying Gutong had been riding alongside the carriage and moved closer at that moment, intending to speak, but Qi Zongbi cut him off and urgently asked, "Where are we now?!"
"We’re, of course, on the way to Yanchi Pass," Ying Gutong replied, frowning at Qi Zongbi’s abruptness. "If the Northern Qiang army has advanced westward, their destination is surely Yan—"
"Stop!" Qi Zongbi leapt off the carriage shaft, nearly falling to the ground. He raised his hand to block Ying Gutong and shouted loudly, "Halt! Have the entire army stop at once!"
Ying Gutong almost crashed into Qi Zongbi but reined in his horse in time, angrily demanding, "Qi Zongbi, have you lost your mind?! Yanchi Pass has surely fallen to the enemy by now! What are you trying to do by stopping us?!"
"Yanchi Pass is not where we should go!" Qi Zongbi grabbed Ying Gutong, pulled him off his horse, and shouted, "Quickly, order the army to change course and split into two, heading for Ningye and Jibei provinces!"
"Change course?!" Ying Gutong shoved Qi Zongbi back, pointing at him. "Have you gone mad, Qi Zongbi? Yanchi Pass is under Northern Qiang’s control, and you want to flee the battlefield?"
Qi Zongbi seemed slightly calmer now. He took a deep breath, staring into Ying Gutong’s eyes as he said, "Ying Gutong, think carefully. Yanchi Pass has already fallen! The Northern Qiang army occupies it, and their next move will be toward Jibei and Ningye provinces. Once those routes are open, they can strike straight into the heart of our Central Plains!"
"Nonsense!" Ying Gutong cut him off with a sweeping gesture. "How could they have so many troops?! We’ve gathered eighty percent of the Grand Ruen’s forces here, how can we not hold Yanchi Pass?!
"Are you suggesting those barbaric Northern Qiang somehow knew of our massive deployment and brought their entire country’s army as well?"
He spoke with great force, but then he leaned in closer, gritting his teeth as he whispered to Qi Zongbi, "Minister Qi... Don’t forget why I chose to side with you! We have no victory, no glory, and right now... right now, Yanchi Pass is our only path forward. If we don’t take it back, we’re finished!"