On the first day of the tenth month, winter had theoretically begun, but the weather had not changed in the slightest. Even the traces of the previous day's light rain had vanished without a trace.
That day, the Exorcising the Dragon Army dug cooking pits and prepared its meals early, just as it had four days before. The army slowly marched out and took up the same formation as before: the cavalry projected forward on one wing, while the remaining twenty-odd camps spread into a Crane-Wing Formation before their newly substantial encampment.
Yet the Western Pass army kept its gates shut and refused to emerge.
The Exorcising the Dragon Army immediately sent forward the three camps of its Central Army, which had just been organized into a command under one Marching Army General Manager. These were Wang Xiongdan's Camp, with its highly mixed troop types but emphasis on close combat; Kan Leng's Camp, primarily armed with long spears and particularly skilled at assaults; and Jia Runshi's Camp, likewise highly mixed but weighted toward ranged attacks... The three camps advanced beyond the formation, with Wang Xiongdan's Camp in front, Kan Leng's Camp in the middle but distinctly offset to one side, and Jia Runshi's Camp behind. They immediately occupied the Western Pass army's Central Army position from the previous battle, then sent scout cavalry forward to wave banners and challenge the enemy.
They even called out Xue Ting, Xue Li, Xue Liang, Xue Wanbei, and Xue Ren by name, demanding that all five come out and declaring that these three camps alone could slaughter everyone surnamed Xue on the other side in one go.
Fortunately, Xue Wanquan, Xue Wannian, and Xue Wancheng, the three chiefs who had surrendered to the Exorcising the Dragon Gang, were absent. Otherwise, who knew what trouble