He Guang nodded repeatedly in agreement. "Thousand-Household Officer Zhao is absolutely right! The grain-producing region is the Rebel Army's foundation. We must seize it as soon as possible. Having spent many years in Bing Province, I know the surrounding terrain quite well. The most convenient route from Pale Bear Ridge to the grain-producing region is through Golden Saber Gorge. Once we pass through it, we can strike straight into the region's heartland."
Yu Zhiyong nodded. "Lord He's view coincides with mine. That is what we shall do."
Zhao Feng frowned slightly at this. "Golden Saber Gorge? The terrain there is complex and treacherous. If the rebels lay an ambush there, our army could find itself at a disadvantage."
He Guang smiled. "You worry too much, Lord Zhao. Our army has just routed the rebels and caught them off guard. They must be busy mobilizing their troops right now, with no time to lay an ambush in Golden Saber Gorge. Besides, my forces have passed through the gorge many times while maneuvering against them. We know the route like the backs of our hands. With us leading the way, we will certainly get through safely." His tone was sincere and his gaze frank, betraying nothing unusual. "Speed is the essence of warfare. Taking a detour would not only delay us, but also give the rebels time to redeploy their defenses. We would lose more than we gained."
Yu Zhiyong pondered for a moment, then said, "Lord He makes a fair point. A detour would indeed be ill-advised. Still, Golden Saber Gorge is too treacherous for us to neglect precautions. How about this: I will send the vanguard ahead to investigate. Once they have confirmed safe passage, we will follow with the main force. What do you both think?"
"We defer entirely