The Zhou camp outside Sishui Pass.
"Has the Monthly Appraisal arrived?"
Nangong Shi was still in the central command tent, racking his brains for a good plan to defeat the enemy.
The messenger lowered his head. "It has. The officers and soldiers are all excited, morale is high, and the army's spirit is ready to be put to use."
Nangong Shi nodded. "Did His Majesty say how we should handle it?"
The messenger said, "His Majesty gave no further instructions, but the Chancellor did say that Great Zhou still has dozens of renowned generals who haven't made the list. We can spread word of them and fill out this Monthly Appraisal."
"There's nothing wrong with the Chancellor's approach of elevating our own men to boost morale. I'll do what I can." Nangong Shi smiled bitterly. Before coming here, he had never imagined that a mere Sishui Pass would be so difficult to take. Not one of the Infiltrators previously planted within Great Shang had managed to send word back.
If they wanted to send messages into Xiqi, they could only go through other passes. Sishui Pass was like a solid slab of iron, without a single opening.
"You may leave."
Nangong Shi dismissed the messenger and sent someone to fetch Lei Zhenzi.
More than half a month had passed, yet there was still no movement within Sishui Pass. If this dragged on any longer, the force marching toward Jiameng Pass really would become a laughingstock.
A short while later, Lei Zhenzi entered the tent, drenched in sweat.
"Thank you for your efforts, General."
Hearing Nangong Shi's words, Lei Zhenzi replied as though it went without saying, "Not at all. To fulfill my father's dying wish, I specifically came down from the mountain under orders to assist in the Conquest of