Seeing no response from the others, Qin Zihui took out his detailed strategic map and laid it on the table. Unfurled, it covered a third of the tabletop.
The mountains and waterways, ridges and ravines, barren ground and woodlands were all clearly marked. Sand City lay to the west, Xuan City to the east, and the creek valley where the Vikings were currently stationed to the south.
Surprise appeared on their faces at the sight of the finely drawn, detailed map. They studied every inch of it, each feature fitting neatly into place, lifelike and accurate.
"The battle map is well drawn, but it lacks troop numbers." Chu Zilian spotted the blank spaces at a glance.
Qin Zihui smiled. "Heh, General Chu, you have a sharp eye. You spotted what was missing at once. Indeed, I deliberately left out the troop numbers when I drew it." He raised his hand, palm open, and Han Ling passed him a brush.
"General Chu, you said earlier that you brought three thousand six hundred and forty-seven soldiers, correct?"
"Correct," he confirmed.
Qin Zihui put brush to paper and added that figure above Xuan City. He then filled in the troop numbers for the Knights' Order and the Vikings, though only approximately, writing 1xxx and 2xxx respectively.
"Do you all see? Their current forces combined number only a little over three thousand. There might be some variation, bringing them to around four thousand, but they definitely won't exceed five thousand."
Their interest piqued, the others listened intently as he continued, "Including the soldiers originally stationed in Xuan City, we currently have three thousand nine hundred and sixty-one men. That doesn't include me or any of you generals."
"What exactly are you trying to say? What is your next strategic move?" the Qi Kingdom General