At the camp on the outskirts of the mountains, Ang's arrival thrilled the members of the First Brigade and the cavalry unit. They thirsted for battle and eagerly anticipated the coming operation. Ang had brought only two brigades, leaving the other two stationed in the rear so they could provide swift support if needed.
"Commander, Philip told me about it already. Are we really going to take the initiative and attack?" Mallory, captain of the First Brigade, asked anxiously the moment they met.
Ang smiled. "It doesn't exactly count as taking the initiative. We still don't know the Demons' exact situation, so we can only lure them out first. We'll decide on the specifics once we see how they move."
As they walked and talked, they eventually arrived at Mallory's tent. Ang had everyone sit down, then took out the large topographical map Burke had prepared in advance. Pointing with a wooden stick at a small canyon in Mount Verki, he said, "Our goal is to lure the Demons out from here. We'll first probe them with a small force, then gradually weaken them before they become fully alert."
Mallory voiced his concern. "Commander, Mount Verki's terrain is rough and uneven. Fighting there won't be easy, and riding will be even more difficult. Should we lure the Demons into the flatter Druviena region instead?"
Over the past few days, Mallory had personally led men to survey the surrounding mountain terrain. He had found that Mount Verki's steep slopes and uneven ground were unsuitable for the Green Mane Horses' charges. Ang nodded and said thoughtfully, "That's a good idea, but we can't be sure the Demons will be willing to chase us that far."
Next, Ang conducted pre-battle drills with everyone and discussed every possible scenario. In the end, they settled