"Ran?"
Gong Yu frowned. "Hadn't they only set up camp in the past few days? They withdrew as soon as they stabilized. Could someone among us have leaked word in advance? No, even we ourselves didn't know beforehand. There simply wasn't time."
"Tong Xiaochu must have sensed something."
Zhong Wuxin said gravely, "As the saying goes, 'Mend the fold after the sheep are lost, and it is not yet too late.'"
"This was not the handiwork of that brat surnamed Tong."
An unexpected development had arisen in Han Xiang's scheme. Yet he was neither angry nor annoyed. Instead, a glimmer of excitement showed in his eyes. "The true chess player has finally arrived."
"A chess player?"
Zhong Wuxin asked, "Immortal Master, do you mean Chen Sanshi? Has he come?"
"Impossible."
Gong Yu said with certainty, "According to the intelligence we received, the Sheng court feared that Chen Sanshi's achievements would overshadow his lord, so they did not deploy him this time at all. Most of the Northern Liang Army has now been transferred east, but Chen Sanshi and his Hongze Camp remain within Liang Province."
"Do you know?"
Han Xiang gazed at the distant blaze, his tone carrying the air of one who held everything in his palm. "When a powerful chess player discovers an excellent game waiting for him, he will come and take a seat no matter what. Especially when he sees that a mediocrity is sitting in that seat now."
"Immortal Master, it is a good thing if Chen Sanshi does not come." Zhong Wuxin said anxiously. "We should strike while the iron is hot. Immortal Master, please give the order."
"This time."
With his hands behind his back, Han Xiang strolled leisurely. "Although that brat surnamed Tong came to his senses under Chen Sanshi's reminder and