The army had been camped on the grasslands fifty li outside Zhamur City for a full month.
During that month, Zhao Feng had dispatched two detachments according to the plans laid out beforehand.
One, led by a veteran general under Qin Zhongwu, had pushed deep into the west, occupying several passes on the route toward the Northern Desert Royal Court. They had built crude forts and chevaux-de-frise, sealing off that vital route completely. The other, ten thousand elite cavalry personally led by Helan Tie, had skirted the mountains north of Zhamuer City and established defenses along the upper reaches of a tributary of the Hun River, cutting off the escape route to the ice fields.
Zhamuer City was surrounded by mountains on three sides. Its only open side, to the south, was firmly blocked by Zhao Feng's main army. By all reasonable estimates, the city's provisions could last no more than a month or so. Once that time was up, Na Hachu would have to march out for a decisive battle, open the gates and surrender, or starve to death inside.
Yet a month had passed, and the sentries on Zhamuer City's walls were still changing shifts in an orderly fashion, looking reasonably spirited. According to the scouts, order also prevailed within the city, with no incidents of people fighting over food.
Zhao Feng summoned Qin Zhongwu and Helan Tie to his command tent. The three stood around the map in silence for a long time.
"It's been a month." Qin Zhongwu finally spoke, his voice slow and hoarse. "By our estimates, the provisions in the city couldn't possibly have lasted this long."
Helan Tie lowered his arms and walked up to the map, tapping Zhamur City's location hard twice. "Unless there's a granary in the city that we don't