Boshan Commandery, the seat of Huizhou.
The main hall of the Commandery Office, temporarily serving as headquarters, blazed with lights and overflowed with people.
Over a hundred generals of third rank and above gathered around the military map, while several thousand fourth- and fifth-rank officers stood in formation outside.
In this war over Huizhou, which had lasted nearly two years, Great Ning and the Extreme Eastern Ice City had each committed five to six million troops. The front stretched 6,700 li, dividing all of Huizhou in two.
Yet the main battlefield had always been Boshan Commandery. Great Ning alone stationed over three million troops here, confronting the Ice City army on the vast plains north of the commandery city. Their lines interlocked like dogs' teeth; they contested every inch of ground and fought a hundred battles a day.
Now, almost every officer of Thousand-Household Commander rank or above in the Boshan army had gathered here.
"-The Embroidery Guard is spreading word throughout the Ice City army that the Extreme Eastern Ice City has disbanded and Wen Suyi has sealed herself away. This news will need time to ferment. By the Chen Hour tomorrow, their soldiers' resolve will surely waver, and their people will be panic-stricken!
"That will also be our best opportunity to break them. Tomorrow, we cook at the Yin Hour, break camp at the Mao Hour, and march at the Chen Hour! Follow the strategy the Grand Preceptor just devised and attack fiercely to the east! In this battle, our army must overwhelm and crush the Ice City army with the force of toppling mountains and overturning seas, sweeping away rotten wood!"
At the head of the hall, Grand Preceptor Dugu Shou held a cup of tea, resting with his eyes closed in a Grand Tutor's Chair.
Beside