On the northern wall of Panyu City.
Wei Zhaodu stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the sea of black humanity moving in the north, his eyes sinister.
Xue Rengui stood half a step behind him, his left arm suspended against his chest. The fresh scar on his face was especially conspicuous in the morning light.
He, too, watched that black tide of people, a trace of complicated emotion in his eyes.
Lin Mo's twenty thousand men were the strangest army he had ever seen.
They had no banners, no horns, no insignia of any kind. Even their marching formation appeared loose and casual, utterly lacking in order.
Yet the chilling killing intent and overwhelming might of those twenty thousand troops seemed fused into one whole, and could be felt from over a dozen li away.
"My lord," Xue Rengui said softly, "Loyal Valor Earl is no simple man."
Wei Zhaodu did not respond. He merely watched the black tide draw ever closer.
"Report—" A mounted scout came galloping from below the city wall. He reined in at the gate and raised his head to shout:
"Military Governor! Loyal Valor Earl's vanguard has reached ten li north of the city! They have halted in place and are constructing a camp!"
Wei Zhaodu frowned slightly. "They're making camp? They have not continued advancing toward the city?"
The scout bowed and shook his head.
"They have not advanced. The vanguard stopped ten li away, felling trees, digging trenches, and pitching tents. From the look of it... they have no intention of entering the city to provide aid."
Xue Rengui frowned as well.
"Ten li north of the city. It is a distance suitable for both advance and retreat.
They can respond to Panyu at any time, yet keep themselves out