Late at night, during the hour of the Tiger, in Great Qian's central command tent.
"Report!"
An urgent cry rang out as a messenger rushed into the tent, dropped to his knees, and shouted, "Reporting to the marshal! Seventy thousand troops have marched out of Juma Pass under the Wuyao Kingdom's Second Prince. They're heading straight for our vanguard camp. They'll engage our forces within half an hour at most."
More than twenty generals stood inside the tent, all armored and armed. They had been discussing the attack on Juma Pass with Han Liang.
The messenger's report left them visibly startled, throwing the tent into an uproar.
"The enemy actually took the offensive?"
"There must be a plot behind this."
"...!"
Everyone discussed it, their expressions grave.
Standing beside a table spread with a map of Ba and Shu, Han Liang slowly raised his head. "Where are the enemy's remaining troops gathered?"
"They're all still inside Juma Pass," the messenger replied.
After a moment's thought, Han Liang immediately ordered, "Send word to the vanguard camp-have Lu Fang lead fifty thousand men out to meet the enemy at Min Mountain. Light the signal fires in all directions and relay orders to each camp to hold position for now."
"Yes, sir!"
The messenger saluted and immediately ran out, notifying more than a dozen fellow messengers to carry orders to the camps.
Inside the tent, Han Liang turned to an old general. "General Zhao, take twenty thousand men down the left flank and join Lu Fang in probing the enemy's strength."
"As you command."
Standing ramrod straight, the old general cupped his fist. "I'll go cut down that Southern Border Second Prince and consecrate our banner with his blood!"
"Don't act rashly."
"I'm not being rash," the old general said. "If I can't