Schemes

Deep in the night, all things fell into silence.

The encampment of Suleiman's soldiers was brightly lit. The sentries on duty remained in formation at the fortifications, standing guard with an air of grim lethality.

Suleiman had ordered the squads of Lushen and Roslyn to rotate shifts, with one group resting in place.

However, they had to be ready to reach the front lines the moment the horn sounded!

Inside Suleiman's temporary command tent.

Suleiman looked toward Roslyn: "How were our casualties in today's battle?"

Roslyn took a deep breath: "Two men died."

"One was unlucky; a Burned Men wildling charged over, threw an axe that cleared the first three ranks, and it struck him right in the head as he stood in the fourth rank."

"The other was a poor soul who, in his panic as the wildlings charged, ran headlong into the wooden barricade."

Warfare truly required a measure of luck. Suleiman said quietly: "I will keep my oath. Record their information; if their land is ever seized, their families shall be brought to Foulkeep."

"Yes, Master Suleiman!" Roslyn replied loudly, but he immediately scratched his head and asked with confusion: "Master Suleiman, when the Burned Men wildlings retreated, why didn't we pursue them?"

He was clearly still brooding over it, even though he had resolutely carried out Master Suleiman's orders.

In his view, wasn't the enemy's rout the perfect opportunity to beat a drowning dog and expand their victory?

Suleiman set down the map in his hand and looked up at Roslyn.

"Why?" Suleiman's voice was calm, devoid of the slightest ripple.

"Exactly, Master Suleiman! They were in total disarray. If we had chased them then, we surely could have slaughtered them all!" Roslyn said with some urgency, his face showing an eager expression.

Suleiman smiled, a smile tinged with a hint of understanding and even more helplessness.

It seemed he would have to make them read more books in the future; perhaps he could even write a simple manual on military law.

"Who are they?" Suleiman gestured toward the soldiers resting or standing guard outside.

Roslyn was stunned, not knowing why such a question was asked, but he replied immediately: "We are your soldiers, Master Suleiman!"

Suleiman nodded, but his tone shifted abruptly: "What did they do before? What did you do before?"

Roslyn scratched his head and said: "They were all farmers and craftsmen."

"Lushen and I were farmers who tilled the land for you, Master."

"Exactly!" Suleiman's voice rose slightly as he looked into Roslyn's eyes.

"You are all farmers and village craftsmen. You only picked up weapons a few days ago."

"This is the second time you two have been on a battlefield, and for them, it is the first. Most of them have likely never seen this much blood."

He paused, as if waiting for his words to sink into Roslyn's mind.

"Pursuit on the battlefield!" Suleiman raised his voice and continued. "Is a highly dangerous and risky act!"

"It requires a force with discipline, coordination, and the ability to maintain formation and a clear head amidst chaos!"

"Can the squad you lead do that?"

The eager expression on Roslyn's face vanished upon hearing this, and he fell into silence, as if lost in thought.

Suleiman paused and pointed toward the brightly lit fortifications: "We were able to hold our ground behind the barricades, relying on the wood and the trenches, relying on standing shoulder to shoulder, and relying on my orders and your command."

"We blocked the first charge of the Burned Men wildlings because we held the geographical advantage and utilized our defenses."

"Most importantly, we gathered individuals who were weaker than the wildlings and forged them into a single entity."

"They only needed to stand there, follow orders, thrust their spears, and loose their arrows."

"But pursuit?" Suleiman looked at Roslyn and countered.

"Pursuit means leaving the fortifications we are familiar with and safe behind, entering open ground, and moving into areas where the Burned Men wildlings might have set traps or prepared a counter-attack."

"As green recruits who have only just learned to hold a formation, once you charge out, you will easily scatter and become individuals fighting for yourselves!"

"Once that happens, our advantage will vanish entirely, and the close-quarters combat prowess of the Burned Men wildlings will be fully unleashed!"

"Can your soldiers guarantee they can win in a melee against the wildlings?"

Suleiman suddenly thought of various idioms from his past life.

Watching the sudden, deep disappointment on Roslyn's face.

Suleiman patted Roslyn on the shoulder and looked at him with a smile:

"I must also tell you one most important thing."

"As a commander, you must observe—observe from every detail."

"I ask you, at our defensive line, were the corpses of the wildlings left behind?"

"Do you know what that signifies?"

Roslyn clutched his hair tightly with both hands, falling into distress; this was Master Suleiman testing him again.

Suleiman watched him with a smile, saying nothing.

Roslyn slapped his forehead, as if he had discovered something of monumental importance.

"I understand! I understand everything now!"

Suleiman frowned: "What is it that you understand!"

Roslyn straightened his posture, his eyes no longer filled with mere confusion, but with a glimmer of realization:

"When the Wildlings retreated, they dragged and carried their wounded—regardless of whether they were dead or alive—back with them!"

"This proves that this force wasn't routed, but was conducting an orderly retreat! Isn't that right, Master Suleiman!"

"Fine, you have indeed understood." Suleiman's cheek twitched.

Suleiman pulled out a map, ignoring the excitedly self-congratulating Roslyn, and began to contemplate their next move.

There was only one reason they were currently here.

They could not enter Valleydeep Town; according to the refugees, the town was completely surrounded, with at least a thousand Wildlings encircling it.

Trying to lead these men inside would be harder than ascending to heaven, and attempting to lift the siege would be like throwing a meat bun at a dog—a one-way trip with no return.

There was only one way: use the methods the Mountain Clans Wildlings were best at to deal with them—guerrilla warfare.

Go and pick off the Wildling units scattered about to pillage for supplies.

Or even use the "besiege a point to strike reinforcements" tactic.

Therefore, he could only hope that the allies he had never met in Valleydeep Town would remain strong.

Having a small number of men had its own benefits and advantages; three hundred men could be commanded quickly, react rapidly, and maneuver with speed.

As long as they figured out the movement patterns of the small Wildling detachments.

Then, utilizing their own advantages, they would eliminate those enemies who were isolated or wandering the perimeter, whittling down their strength and dividing their focus.

They could not directly save Valleydeep Town, but they could create trouble on the outskirts, making it impossible for the besieging Wildlings to rest easy.

This was the only thing he could do for now.

Even if it meant the allies in Valleydeep Town might view them as friends who stood idly by while they were in distress.

He folded the map and stood up; the night breeze brought the scent of the distant, silent forest, a feeling that was relaxing and comforting.

His gaze grew firm.

As long as Valleydeep Town held fast! There would be a way!

Roslyn had been keeping a close eye on Master Suleiman's movements.

Seeing Master Suleiman put away the map and finish his contemplation, he immediately walked over, curious about the master's next move.

"Master Suleiman," Roslyn rubbed his hands together, "what shall we do about those Burned Men in the village?"

Suleiman turned around to face Roslyn.

Reflected in the flickering firelight, a smile appeared on his face.

Watching the smile illuminated by the flames, Roslyn felt a twinge of fear; he felt that his Master Suleiman's smile was somewhat sinister, carrying an inexplicable sense of dread.

This smile was different from the gentle demeanor Master Suleiman usually displayed; it held an indescribable expression, as if a hunter were calculating how to trap his prey.

"The Burned Men in the village?" Suleiman repeated Roslyn's words, his smile deepening as he looked at him. "Haven't you all been wanting to attack! To have a good, hearty fight with them!"

"The opportunity!" Suleiman's voice dropped a few notches, carrying an even stranger hint of amusement. "Is coming very soon!"