Chisang raised his hand and pushed open the tent flap. The snowflakes that swirled in hit the map and quickly turned into several wet patches.
He pushed the wooden token inscribed with "Yi Prefecture" to the center of the map and looked up at the scout who had just returned from the south.
"How long will it take for those new weapons in Yi Prefecture to be ready for use? You've been in the city for so long, you must have heard some useful information."
The scout knelt beside the felt rug and recounted what he had heard from the Yi Prefecture caravan.
"They are still repeatedly testing the process. The medicine, ironware, and bamboo tubes are all being guarded by different people, and even the porters don't know the full picture. According to rumors in the city, it will take at least several more months before it can be used stably."
Chisang did not ask any more questions about the absurd claims of the Ghost Shadow Witch Soldiers. Instead, he took out three black tokens from the wooden box and placed them on the outside of Black Wind Pass, North Post, and Salt Road, respectively.
After escaping from Yi Prefecture, Lalong spent his days talking about heavenly fire, poison, and monsters that were impervious to swords and spears. Some in the army believed him, while others thought he was crazy.
Chisang only recognized the passes, supply lines, and troops on the map.
If Yi Prefecture truly possesses a new weapon capable of destroying cities and breaking through enemy lines, the sooner we ascertain its strength, the less cost Silver City will incur.
After the deputy general in charge of supplies entered the tent, Chisang pushed a black token toward the North Post and gave the order directly.
"Select three thousand light cavalrymen familiar with the mountain roads, each carrying ten days' worth of dry rations and emergency bean feed; subsequent supplies will be delivered to the old village in batches."
They will not attack Yi Prefecture City, but will only investigate the troop strength at the North Post and the roads outside the pass. If they can take the pass while the garrison is weak, they will hold the pass and wait for reinforcements.
The lieutenant did not rush to accept the order, but instead bent down to examine the snow markings near the mountain pass, pointing along the old road on the south side of Silver City.
"Chief, two heavy snowfalls have hit the high places, making it impossible for packhorses to cross the dangerous slopes, and even the warhorses cannot find grass;
Three thousand lightly armed men could manage to get through, but if they occupied the pass and awaited reinforcements, Yi Prefecture blocked their retreat, the food supplies in the old village wouldn't last long.
Chisang moved the black tokens outside the North Post back a bit and added another retreat line next to the old village.
Therefore, the main players should not move, and the forwards should not linger in the fight;
If the snowstorm worsens, immediately retreat to the old camp. If the defenses are weak, block the gates and force them to bring their troops out of the city.
After hearing the instructions, the lieutenant clasped his hands in acceptance, but then asked another question.
"If the forwards encounter enemy scouts, should we spare their lives?"
Chisang used wooden tokens to block the mountain road leading from North Post to Yi Prefecture.
"Capture them if you can, kill them if you can't, but we can't delay our journey for a few scouts."
I need the number of troops guarding the North Post, the time of the troop rotation, the location of the arrow tower, and the amount of grain stored in the granary. Missing any one of these will disqualify me from fulfilling my military orders.
After the lieutenant left the tent, the bugle call outside soon sounded.
Several teams of guides familiar with the snow-capped mountains went to the stables to identify the horses, while the cavalrymen removed their heavy armor, keeping only their bows and arrows, short blades, and warm felt coats.
Chisang sat back down in front of the map, no longer mentioning the 100,000-strong army's direct attack on Yi Prefecture.
The fact that the main force can't cross the snow-capped mountain doesn't mean Yi Prefecture can close its doors and sleep soundly.
If the Silver City cavalry seizes North Post first, Great Yan will have to send in more troops to retake the pass.
The same snow also fell in Yi Prefecture.
Gu Moran spread the map of Jiannan Circuit all over his desk, and with his vermilion brush, he circled the three old roads that could be used by light cavalry to travel south, following the route through Black Wind Pass, North Post, and Yandao.
Shen Ling'er is experimenting with making Rhodiola Blood-Invigorating and Qi-Boosting Pill. This medicine can alleviate headaches, shortness of breath, and fatigue during marches on high ground, but it cannot conjure up food, winter clothing, guides, or camps for the army.
The medicine can only reduce the number of deaths.
What truly determined whether the Yi Prefecture Army could enter the snow-capped mountains were the supply lines, passes, and resupply along the way.
Gu Moran put the prescription aside and turned her gaze to Mount Qingcheng.
The Eye of Detection could only recognize Pu Yunshan and his subordinates, but he had not yet met the old abbot who preserved the old records of the Liu Clan, so he could not confirm Pu Qinghe's attitude towards the Liu Clan and the Prince Yi's Residence.
Pu Yunshan endured all sorts of torment by the public toilet, preferring to wear a Hongxiu armband and clean up the night rather than reveal his identity as the young master of Green City. His patience far surpassed that of Gu Mochen and Gu Moyuan.
The information Zhao Wuxu gave him was a mixture of truth and falsehood, yet Pu Yunshan still personally went to Yi Prefecture to investigate, which shows that although this person is suspicious, he will not let others lead him by the nose.
Pu Yunshan is a bit more troublesome than the previous ones.
There was a knock at the door. After entering the room, Uncle Fu first moved the charcoal brazier next to the desk, and then handed over the message from the South City Medical Clinic.
"Your Highness, that outsider who calls himself Pu Hua has suffered another attack of his stomach ailment. Tuoba Mang has already taken him to the clinic; the doctor examined him and said there's nothing seriously wrong, he just needs to take two doses of medicine and avoid cold and raw foods for a few days."
Gu Moran's gaze remained fixed on the map.
"What Pu Hua? That's just a fake name. He's Pu Yunshan, what a troublesome fellow."
"Have Tuoba Mang continue to follow, and prevent Pu Yunshan from approaching the Prince's workshops, military camps, and the old granary in the north of the city. Record who he sees and what he asks."
Uncle Fu wrote down the instructions and then took out a quarry work order from his sleeve.
"The eight men from West Mountain are working very quickly; they've already moved two cartloads of bluestone today. The foreman has assigned them to different stone sheds as you instructed, and their food and medicine are being provided as usual. So far, no one has tried to send a message out."
"They are the suicide squad trained by Pu Yunshan; they won't be content to stay in the quarry and wield hammers forever."
Gu Moran flipped through the work list and marked each of the eight people's names.
"The guards must not relax their vigilance, and they must not stop anyone from passing on messages. Just keep an eye on the person receiving the message; the more anxious they are to find the young master, the more Green City's undercover agents will be exposed."
Uncle Fu put away the work order and was about to leave when Gu Moran tapped the old road outside the North Post with his vermilion pen.
"Judging by the days, Lalong should be back in Silver City by now."
"Go and ask Zhen Daijin immediately send scouts out of the pass to investigate the depth of the snow, hoofprints, and the grain stored in the old stockade."
The main Tubo force is bogged down by heavy snow, but their Chisang is not going to wait idly, he will make his move in the next few days.
Uncle Fu saw the three red circles on the map, put away the work order, and walked out the door.
Gu Moran called him back and added another order.
"The garrison at the North Post should not make any major moves for the time being, lest the Tubo scouts discover something amiss; first, send the arrows, dry rations, and warm felt clothing there, and then have Zhen Daijin lead a team of veteran soldiers disguised as grain transport laborers into the pass."
After Uncle Fu left, Gu Moran placed the last red circle on the outside of the North Post.
Of the several routes south of Silver City, this is the shortest and most suitable for cavalry to seize the pass.
If Chisang wants to test Yi Prefecture, his first strike will most likely land here.
Study of the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner's Office.
Zhao Wuxu had taken baths more than ten times, but he still smelled strongly of it. He was sitting by the charcoal brazier drinking tea.
The butler pushed open the door and urged him to go see Yun Zhengze.
News of last night's commotion has spread throughout the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner's residence; even the kitchen servants who deliver meals to him cover their noses and avoid him when they see him.
Zhao Wuxu dared not retaliate, and could only hold Pu Yunshan responsible for the matter.
The young master of Green City claimed to be a hidden dragon in the abyss, but before he could finish his article, he was punished by being sent to pick night soil, and all eight of his followers disappeared without a trace.
He had originally hoped that Pu Yunshan would take away the old Liu Clan from Gu Moran, but now he was not even sure if Pu Yunshan could get away smoothly.
Seeing that he was still sitting still, the butler urged him again.
" Lord Yun has been waiting for a long time. He orders the young master to go immediately and not to make any excuses to delay."
Zhao Wuxu had no choice but to put down his teacup, straighten his robes, and hurry to Yun Zhengze's study.
Yun Zhengze didn't offer him a seat, but instead pushed a Waterworks Team penalty notice to the edge of the desk. It clearly stated the location where the manure bucket had been overturned the previous night, the points lost, and the details of the chase.
"You said you went to inspect the night market in the south of the city, but the Waterworks Team's ticket said that a masked man kicked over a manure bucket, refused to pay compensation, and even injured a shopkeeper with his internal force before escaping."
Zhao Wuxu, which version of events are you going to make me believe?
When Zhao Wuxu glanced at the size of the footprint on the ticket, he dared not use "just passing by" as an excuse anymore and had to change his story.
"Godfather, I went to the south of the city to see Pu Yunshan."
He was humiliated by Prince Yi, and I was worried that he might be narrow-minded and target Prince Yi, so I wanted to take advantage of the night to offer a few words of advice.