Jiangnan Circuit. Yunyue Marsh.
It was already afternoon, beneath the lingering glow of the setting sun.
Before the camp bearing the Qi character, crimson banners snapped fiercely in the northern wind, their corners curling with waves of murderous chill.
On the high slope, three riders on red-maned warhorses stood abreast.
"Father, we have trapped them in the valley for half a month already. Are we still not attacking? They should have exhausted their arrows and provisions by now."
The armored middle-aged man in the center spoke coldly. "What should you call me in the army?"
"There are no fathers and sons in the army. Address me by my military rank."
The young general immediately straightened his back. "This subordinate acknowledges his error. Please give your orders, Grand General."
An old man dressed like a scholar spoke from the left. "Commander Xie, we have besieged them for many days. Though one should not pursue a cornered enemy, this is precisely when the enemy's morale is at its lowest. We should strike with our entire force."
"The art of war says: when besieging a city, one must leave an opening."
"Though our army has left them the Yulan River route, elite troops have already been secretly stationed along the western bank. The rebels are now beasts fighting from a cage. We should wait until their morale is utterly spent, then wipe them out in one stroke."
The middle-aged man was imposing in stature, with a nose like suspended cinnabar, lips like painted vermilion, and a face like polished jade. At first glance, he looked more like a well-read scholar.
Yet beneath those sword-like brows, his gaze flashed like lightning. A stern, murderous air hung between his brows, utterly scattering that frail scholarly impression.
Had anyone else been present, they would have been