The northern territories, Yanmen Pass.
A moonless night, strong winds blowing.
One hundred thousand city guard troops marched under the stars, a dark serpent slithering silently across the black northern wilderness, heading east.
Night vision was a basic skill for the city guards. While other nations focused on powerful cultivation techniques and combat prowess, Fan Li had different training requirements for his troops.
Aside from night vision, they trained in heat resistance, cold resistance, and poison resistance.
His unorthodox training methods proved their worth at this moment.
The one hundred thousand troops marched swiftly through the night, their speed undiminished. They were cultivators, after all. Even though their cultivation levels were generally low, they could easily travel hundreds of miles in a single night.
Fan Li studied the map, calculating their progress.
“At most, one more night, and we’ll reach the northern outskirts of Yunzhou City.”
Dawn was approaching.
Fan Li had already issued an order. Regardless of whether the troops were still energetic, they had to rest during the day.
They would only march at night, ensuring their movements remained hidden.
As the first rays of sunlight pierced the horizon, the order was relayed throughout the army.
Scouts dispersed in all directions, monitoring the surroundings, preventing any cultivators from approaching and discovering their encampment.
“Another day of sitting around doing nothing.”
Fan Li retrieved a deckchair from his storage pouch, setting it up and lying down comfortably.
“I wonder how the allied forces are doing. Yunzhou City has four hundred and fifty thousand Great Ming troops, defending a fortified city. Only a fool would attempt a direct assault.”
Zhuge Liang, Zhou Yu, and Guo Jia.
These three weren't fools. They were brilliant strategists, known for their cunning and resourcefulness.
Fan Li was even curious what kind of plan they had devised to deal with Crown Prince Wanli in Yunzhou City.
“Bring me the Yunzhou sand table.”
The Fan Clan Trading Company had branches all over the world, even in enemy nations like the Great Ming. They conducted business lawfully but also took the opportunity to gather information, even meticulously surveying the terrain.
A sand table provided a more intuitive and detailed representation of the landscape than a map, especially for a semi-amateur commander like Fan Li who relied on theoretical knowledge.
Zhao Tieniu carried a heavy sand table, several hundred pounds, and placed it on the ground.
A scale model of Yunzhou City, reduced by a factor of one hundred thousand, lay within.
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“Be careful, you oaf! Do you know how expensive this sand table is?” Fan Li scolded.
The craftsmanship of the sand table was secondary. The key lay in the accuracy of the geographical information.
Identical copies of the Yunzhou City sand table had been sold to the Three Kingdoms – Wei, Han, and Wu – by the Fan Clan Trading Company at a "friendship price" of ten million spirit stones each.
And they didn't provide any after-sales service.
If a sand table was damaged, they had to purchase a new one at the original price.
A true merchant either monopolized the market or possessed irreplaceable skills and knowledge.
The Fan Clan Trading Company possessed both, making them the wealthiest organization in the world.
Zhao Tieniu, unfazed by the scolding, chuckled good-naturedly. “Don’t worry, My Lord. This sand table is sturdier than you. It’s not easy to break.”
Fan Li, speechless, laughed.
“Fine, you win. Tell me, if you were the commander of the allied forces, facing four hundred and fifty thousand Great Ming troops in Yunzhou City, how would you defeat them?”
He asked casually, not expecting an answer, lost in his own thoughts.
Yunzhou City was the northern gateway to the Great Ming Dynasty. It defended against external enemies from the north, while its southern side was connected to the prosperous heartland of the Great Ming.
This terrain made it impossible to besiege the city.
With a steady supply of resources flowing from the Great Ming’s heartland, Yunzhou City could withstand a siege for decades.
“This is troublesome. Yunzhou City truly is the most important fortress in the Great Ming’s northern territories. As long as they remain within the city, the allied forces won’t be able to capture it. In the end, they’ll have no choice but to retreat.”
The more he studied the sand table, the more worried he became.
From the Great Ming’s perspective, this was a guaranteed victory without even fighting. A very stable situation.
He remembered that in his previous life, Hu Zongxian, alongside Yu Qian, had been hailed as one of the two most meritorious officials in history. His abilities were undeniable.
Hu Zongxian had definitely considered this strategy of achieving victory through defense.
“I traveled such a long distance. I hope it wasn’t a wasted effort. Well, at least I’ll get to meet this famous figure.”
He spoke to himself softly. But the moment he finished speaking, a familiar voice, filled with surprise and a hint of jealousy, drifted down from the sky.
“You traveled all the way to this desolate northern wilderness to meet whom?”
Fan Li looked up in shock.
A figure hovered above him.
Dressed in green robes, her hair tied back, she had a feminine face but a masculine demeanor.
Fan Li swallowed hard, forcing a smile. “Han Yue, long time no see. What a… coincidence.”
Coincidence my ass! He cursed inwardly.
After half a month of painstakingly marching at night, they had still been discovered!
With Han Yue’s cultivation at the fourth rank of the Great Vehicle realm, it was no wonder the city guards’ elite scouts had failed to detect her. She had easily found their encampment.
“Indeed, a coincidence,” Han Yue said, lightly biting her lower lip. A faint blush appeared on her fair face. She turned slightly, removing the green cloth that held her hair back.
Her long hair cascaded down her back, and she retied it into a ponytail.
Her previously androgynous appearance was now softer, more feminine. The blush on her ears added to her beauty. She was breathtaking.
She turned back to Fan Li, frowning. “I thought… you came to see me.”
Fan Li stared at her, speechless.
What kind of suggestive remark was that?
Was he seeking death?
Traveling thousands of miles to this desolate wilderness just to be stabbed by her?
He didn’t understand.
She was a revered Sage Ruler of the Great Ci Dynasty and Xiang Chong’s adoptive mother.
Although they hadn't seen each other in a long time, Fan Li had assumed she was either enjoying a comfortable life in the Great Chu imperial palace or cultivating in the Pure Land. Why was she in the northern territories?
“You haven’t answered my question,” Han Yue said, her tone insistent. “You’re the Duke of the Great Chu. You lowered yourself to travel to this desolate land. Which beauty lured you here?”
Fan Li stared at her, puzzled.
Did he look like a lustful fiend?
And could she not see the one hundred thousand troops accompanying him?
He struggled to answer, then noticed Zhao Tieniu standing nearby.
“You oaf! Can’t you see I have a distinguished guest? Prepare some wine and food! And summon Zhao Da, Zhao Er, and Zhao San… to keep us company.”
He actually wanted to say, "Assemble the entire army to protect me!"
But he wouldn't dare to utter those words.
Han Yue, hearing that she was considered a distinguished guest, smiled sweetly.
“You… Have you forgotten my habits? You’re all the company I need. There’s no need for others.” Her voice softened. She waved her hand dismissively at Zhao Tieniu. “Just bring the wine and food. No need for anyone to accompany us.”
Zhao Tieniu looked at Fan Li, then at Han Yue, and nodded. “My Lord, when you’re drinking with your wife, we won't intrude.”