After several days, the army Zi Shou led was only forty li from Sishui Pass.
Suddenly, Zi Shou woke with a start from a dream. He groggily asked where they were, then summoned Lu Renjie.
Lu Renjie immediately urged his horse forward and said to Zi Shou, "Your Majesty, another eighteen li ahead lies the old general's encampment. Since our two armies will be joining forces, we might as well send word ahead so the old general can come out to welcome Your Majesty."
Lu Renjie knew King Zhou had taken the blame for Lu Xiong's defeat and was deeply grateful. There was little else he could do, but he could certainly arrange a proper reception and give King Zhou all the honor he deserved.
"That won't do!" Zi Shou shook his head and looked around. "Have scouts been sent out to survey the surrounding terrain?"
"Yes. General Li already dispatched scouts," Lu Renjie replied. "This is the only mountain forest outside Sishui Pass. After his earlier defeat, the old general considered stationing his army here, but it was still rather far from Sishui Pass, so he abandoned the idea."
Zi Shou pondered for a moment, then said, "Since this is the only mountain forest outside Sishui Pass, why not make camp here? With mountain ridges to our left, right, and rear, the enemy could only attack from one side. Wouldn't that leave us safe against every contingency?"
We're retreating anyway. Just show our faces and run. Defense comes first.
"Well..." Lu Renjie looked troubled. Camping against the mountain forest would indeed make their position easy to defend and hard to attack, but they were on a Western Expedition! A campaign of conquest naturally called for offense. What sense was there in taking a defensive stance before they had even