Bai Xiaowen merely studied the terrain. He did not urge his army to attack the pass, and two days passed without incident.
On the third day, Bai Xiaowen again led his troops out to inspect the enemy camp.
None of his generals understood why.
Ma Yunlu said, "The Duke of Yan looked the day before yesterday, looked yesterday, and now he's looking again today. Can he stare the two Yangs to death and take the pass?"
Ma Dai hurriedly reined in his younger sister.
Bai Xiaowen smiled. "We'll raid the camp tonight. Victory is certain."
He then secretly assigned the troops their orders.
The generals accepted their orders, but disbelief showed on every face.
The pass stood on perilous ground, with the defenders holding the heights. The army had little room to deploy; in such a narrow, crowded approach, a single volley from the Zhang Lu Army could stop the Yuan Army in its tracks.
What good would a night raid do? Surely the two Yangs weren't foolish enough to leave the camp without sentries.
During the second watch, Bai Xiaowen ordered Han Qi (Camille), Li Shuyi, Qiao Rui, Han Xu, Cecilia, and the others to lead an elite squad toward the Zhang Lu Army's camp.
The other generals had little faith in this assignment.
Zhang He advised, "Both Yangs are capable commanders from Hanzhong. Their camp is sure to be heavily guarded. If you send people to infiltrate it, my lord, they may fail and lose men for nothing."
"Don't worry," Bai Xiaowen said with a smile. "I've already planted someone inside the Zhang Lu Army's camp. They'll succeed."
Zhang He and the other generals remained skeptical.
During the third watch, Zhang Xiu and Zhang He followed Bai Xiaowen's orders and quietly led a force toward the camp at