Across the vast saline marshland, the Exorcising the Dragon Army began moving through the drizzle-they changed their previous plan, no longer immediately establishing defensive lines to the north, but drawing their forces tightly together while urging the various groups of refugees and prisoners sandwiched between them to hurry onward, slightly north of their original route.
This move served two purposes. First, the combat troops would act as bait and a rearguard, ensuring that as many refugees and prisoners as possible could leave the battlefield and return west... it was only a little over a hundred li, with rudimentary supply camps established by the Exorcising the Dragon Gang along the way, and no shortage of freshwater streams and channels even in this saline marshland. Without pursuers, even if some people were lost along the way, nothing would prevent the majority from returning to Dengzhou. Second, they would concentrate their forces while attempting to lure the enemy deeper in, then act as circumstances allowed.
In fact, only another two hours passed before the Fan siblings to the north sent fresh intelligence-Fan Lihua had personally charged the enemy formation to reconnoiter. Through observation and questioning prisoners, she established that the approaching enemy's main force should be the Northern Great Camp the Dongyi people had established at the northern end of Fallen Dragon Shoal, while Wang Yuande, the Dongyi royal general commanding this army, had brought additional reinforcements.
"Judging by the Southern Great Camp's fighting strength before, we can absolutely fight them." As the military situation grew serious, Ma Wei became invigorated instead. "Once Wang Yuande advances deep enough, we can concentrate our superior fighting strength and scatter the northern force in one blow. Even if that doesn't break the deadlock, we'll have plenty of room to maneuver."
"Fine. Follow that plan for now."