Once the wind and snow had settled, Li Ding was in no hurry to eat or summon his generals. Instead, he inspected the area around the landing harbor.
Clearly, although the crossing itself had suffered one setback after another, the advance forces under Su Jingfang and Hou Junshu had resolutely carried out Dragonhead Li's orders. Using the existing harbor and tribal buildings, they had erected numerous makeshift fences inside and out, pitched tents, and covered everything with felt, turning the place into something of a fortress.
Meanwhile, dense screens of scout cavalry concealed the entire area around the landing site, and the two tribes with close Northern Lands connections whom they had bribed beforehand were kept firmly under local control.
Clearly, everyone understood the purpose of these orders: secrecy.
"The heavy snow has stopped. Starting tomorrow, the vanguard-that is, the forces that crossed first and have already rested-will immediately disperse and attack. You must defeat every Wu Clan tribe and scattered battle regiment within a hundred li. Afterward, accept their surrender wherever possible. Otherwise, take their able-bodied men and women prisoner and send them here along with as much livestock and provisions as possible.
"Every battalion, contingent, and battle regiment must support the others. Any commander who has strength to spare but delays answering a nearby ally's appeal for help in a hard fight will be executed if the delay exceeds half a day.
"Military secrecy is mandatory. Recording troop strength or positions in plain writing is strictly forbidden. Tell surrendered tribes only that we have fifteen battalions and seven battle regiments.
"If you clear the hundred-li radius without any major military developments, automatically expand it to a hundred and fifty li. But you must not attack large forces directly subordinate to their royal court without authorization, much less cross