Speed Is the Essence of War

On the afternoon of the third day after Xueya and his Wolf Tribe plotted, in the council hall of the camp on the south bank of the Great Rock River, Xueya stood at the door, his back to the two nearly burnt-out ceramic lamps inside. His fingers rested on the doorframe, his fingertips pressing against the rough wood grain before releasing them. His gaze fell on the figures coming and going in the camp. The camp was filled with the sounds of cattle and horses mingling with shouts. Dozens of flatbed carts were parked in front of the warehouse, and people were loading sacks of grain onto them, the sacks landing on the flatbeds with a dull thud. Nearby, a flock of sheep was being... Several teenagers hurried towards the south side of the camp. The sheep were huddled together, heads facing the same direction, hooves pawing the ground. Suddenly, one ram stopped, followed by the others, the entire flock like a winding river blocked by a Shitou. Xueya watched for a moment, then pulled his hand from the doorframe and spoke to Duzhu standing in the yard. His voice was hoarse, carrying a long-suppressed urgency, and his speech was a beat faster than usual. "Duzhu, how are our preparations going? We're leaving tomorrow morning."

Duzhu stood in the middle of the courtyard. Today, she wore a grayish-brown linen robe, the cuffs and collar trimmed with leather strips. Two hemp ropes were tied around her waist, and she wore straw sandals. Her hair was held back with a bone hairpin, a few stray strands fluttering in the wind beside her ears. The thin layer of grass juice on her face had been washed away, revealing her sallow complexion. Her eye sockets were slightly sunken, and there was a faint layer of dark circles under her eyes, as if left by days of poor sleep. In her hand, she held a wooden tablet, densely covered with the quantities of various supplies. Hearing Xueya's words, she put the tablet down. He flipped it over and checked it again, then looked up and spoke in a clear but not loud voice, a beat slower than usual. "Chief, we're almost done with preparations. Almost all the supplies we can take are packed up, and the cattle, horses, pigs, and sheep are all packed away. Yesterday we checked everyone's belongings, taking what we could and separating what we couldn't. The cattle and horses were herded together yesterday afternoon, and we counted them again this morning. A dozen or so sheep are missing, most likely stolen by people from the affiliated tribes in the chaos. I'm too lazy to investigate; we can't take that many anyway."

She paused, tapping her fingers lightly on the edge of the wooden tablet, then continued, her voice lower than before, "We can't easily take those large supplies, like the dozens of large earthenware jars in the warehouse, and those stone mills and mortars. We can't take them, so they'll stay at the camp. But we have a lot of supplies, hundreds of cartloads of grain alone, plus pots and pans, bedding, clothing, weapons, tools, tents, and straw mats. I estimate our movement won't be quick; the column will stretch for several miles."

Xueya's expression didn't change much after hearing this, but his fingers tapped lightly on his belt, the knuckles making a short, muffled sound. His gaze shifted from Duzhu's face to the sacks of grain being loaded onto the trucks in the camp, then returned to his own. His voice was hoarse, carrying a ruthless edge born of being cornered, and his speech was a beat faster than before: "Then discard a few more. Don't take anything of low value or difficult to carry. I've been having a sudden, unsettling feeling lately, and it's getting stronger. Last night, lying in my room, I kept feeling movement outside. I got up twice to check, but there was nothing there. But when I went back to bed, my heart was pounding, like something was pressing on my chest. We must evacuate on time, and quickly. Don't delay; the longer we delay, the more trouble we'll cause." "How's Yexiao's preparation going?"

Duzhu tucked the wooden tablet into her bosom, then pulled a small wooden tablet from the cloth bag at her waist. It contained a message from the north bank. She glanced at it, then spoke, her voice steadyer than before. "Yexiao, from the camp on the Great Rock River, also sent word this morning that they can evacuate on time tomorrow morning. They have less supplies and fewer people than us, but they're preparing faster. They sent someone this morning to say that the food and tents will be loaded onto the carts tomorrow morning, and they'll leave as soon as they're done. He said he'll personally lead the way tomorrow, and they won't stop along the way, only resting at the foot of Stone Ridge Mountain."

After listening, Xueya nodded, then spoke in a lower voice, his pace slow. "That's good. Send someone to the north bank and tell them to discard some of the less portable supplies there as well. Don't bring everything; leave the junk behind. We'll deal with that when we get to the base. Don't let a few pieces of junk slow down the whole team. Also, send someone on horseback back to the base and have Xueshou send troops to meet us."

After listening, Duzhu nodded, put away the wooden tablet, and said, "Okay, I'll arrange it right away. Send someone to the north bank to deliver the message, and send someone back to Stone Ridge Mountain to have the Second Chief send troops to meet us." After she finished speaking, she turned around and called out to the outside of the courtyard. A young soldier ran in from the shadows at the door. She whispered a few instructions to him, and the soldier nodded, turned around and ran out, his footsteps fading into the distance on the gravel road.

Xueya watched the soldier's figure disappear around the corner of the camp, then turned his gaze back to Duzhu. His voice was lower than before, but each word carried a weight of determination, as if he had been cornered and had finally found his footing. He slowed his pace. "Tomorrow, I will lead three thousand soldiers to guard the area. You will lead the soldiers' families and some able-bodied women to escort the supplies and evacuate."

Duzhu nodded, put the things in her hand into her cloth bag, and then turned to walk out of the courtyard. She walked faster than usual, and when she reached the courtyard gate, she paused, glanced back at Xueya, and her lips moved as if she wanted to say something, but in the end, she turned around and walked out quickly. Her figure was soon swallowed up by the figures of people and livestock coming and going in the camp.

Just as Xueya was giving these instructions, Daya, Shinian, and Julang from the Fire Tribe had already quietly led their men to the outskirts of the Wolf Tribe's camp south of the Great Rock River. They led several dozen men through a path in the woods to the east. The woods were more difficult to traverse than they had anticipated, filled with dense, impenetrable bushes and thorny vines. A thick layer of decaying leaves lay beneath their feet, soft and yielding; sometimes a single step would sink up to their ankles, leaving their shoes covered in leaves and insects. In some places, they had to cut through the vines to get through, white ooze from the cuts. The sap was a sticky, discolored substance that wouldn't wash off. Julang walked in the middle of the group, his clothes torn in several places by thorns, and a few shallow cuts on his arms. He muttered under his breath, his voice tinged with annoyance from being constantly scratched. "This forest is really difficult. The vegetation is dense, full of thorns and traps, and it's located at a higher elevation. No wonder there aren't any Wolf Tribe patrols; they themselves don't bother coming in. We almost stepped into three huge pits along the way. Luckily, the guide knew their locations and avoided them beforehand, otherwise many of us would have perished there today."

Daya walked ahead of him, wearing a dark gray leather armor over a linen robe. The hem of the robe was torn by branches, revealing the edge of the leather armor underneath. His face was red from the scratches, but he was full of energy, his eyes bright. Hearing Julang's words, he turned his head and spoke in a low but clear voice, "That's how we were able to sneak here to observe their camp. We're only about 300 meters away. At this distance, if we hide well, they won't be able to spot us, and we can get a general idea of their movements. Let's check the situation of the Wolf Tribe on the Great Rock River before making any plans."

The three men, guided by their guide, soon arrived at a secluded high ground—a small, shrub-covered hill with a flat Shitou at its summit. Several crooked pine trees grew beside the Shitou, their branches twisting and turning, completely obscuring the hilltop and making it impossible to see anyone hiding inside. Daya crouched behind the Shitou, keeping his body low, his gaze peering through the gaps in the pine branches towards the Wolf Tribe's camp. The camp was just over 300 meters away. The camp on the south bank stretched from the riverbank to the eastern edge of the forest, occupying a large flat area. It was surrounded by two layers of thick wooden stakes; the inner layer was a fence woven from thin wooden strips, filled with soil and gravel, impenetrable to arrows. Behind the fence were rows of wooden huts and tents, followed by stables and cattle pens. Next to the stables, a flatbed cart was parked, piled high with grain sacks tied with hemp rope; people were loading things onto the cart.

Daya looked closely and saw that the Wolf Tribe had gathered all their cattle, sheep, horses, and pigs at their camp on the Great Rock River. The cattle in the pens had been driven together, a dark mass, their horns gleaming dully in the sunlight. The sheep were kept inside the fences, bleating incessantly. The horses were tethered to the posts, and grain and other supplies had been loaded onto carts. Flatbed carts were lined up in a row, stretching from the warehouse entrance all the way to the southern exit of the camp. Each cart was piled high, the flatbeds slightly sagged, and the wheels were stuck in the dirt. Soldiers stood guard beside the carts. People were also gathering. Groups of people came out of the wooden houses throughout the camp and converged on the open space in the center of the camp. Some carried bundles. The clothes worn by the soldiers' families were neater than those of the ordinary members of the affiliated tribes, made of thicker fabric and darker in color.

After watching for a while, Daya pulled himself out from behind the Shitou, turned his head to the Julang and the Shinian, and whispered, "What is this Wolf Tribe doing? Are they trying to escape? Look, they've driven out all the cattle, sheep, horses, and pigs, loaded all the grain onto carts, and are gathering their people. What else could this be but an evacuation?"

Julang peered down through the gaps in the pine branches. After watching for a while, he pulled back, squatted beside the Shitou, and his expression shifted slightly. The lines at the corners of his mouth tightened, and when he spoke, his voice was lower than Daya's, and his speech was a beat slower. "Yes, the Wolf Tribe seems to be migrating. Look at those vehicles, they're all parked towards the southern exit, with their fronts facing south. This means they're going through the southern gate. The road to the south turns east towards Stone Ridge Mountain, and their lair is on the Stone Ridge Mountain. They're probably planning to retreat back to their lair."

Upon hearing this, Shinian took the short knife from his belt and gripped it tightly in his hand. The cloth strip on the hilt was crumpled from his grip. He said in a low, urgent voice, "We can't let the Wolf Tribe get away. That would be too good for them. We've been waiting for this day for years. We can't let them slip away right under our noses. How many people have they killed? How many houses have they burned? How much grain have they stolen? We haven't settled that score yet!"

Daya thought for a moment, took the wooden tablet out of his robes and then put it back. He spoke, his voice low but clear, his pace slow. "The Wolf Tribe is very likely to migrate or flee. They've suffered heavy losses recently due to our Fire Tribe's continuous harassment and attacks, and they've also harvested a crop this year. They must have sensed something and are afraid we'll be moving troops here recently. They want to withdraw before we make a move. They're scared and want to run!"

Julang nodded, planted the branch he was holding in the ground, stood up, dusted off his knees, and said, "It's pretty much it. The Wolf Tribe is extremely treacherous and cunning. They often treat weaker forces with ruthless cruelty, committing all sorts of evil deeds. They tend to avoid stronger forces, hiding whenever possible, running away whenever they can, and avoiding them whenever they can. Our Fire Tribe is powerful now, and we've been cracking down on them recently. Seeing his strength waning, he's definitely scared and wants to escape."

Shinian the short knife in his hand onto his belt, making a dull thud. His voice rose slightly, and his speech quickened. His face contorted as if burned, his brows furrowing and the lines around his eyes tightening. "What do we do now? We only brought a few dozen men this time; they won't be of much use! A few dozen men rushing in would just be suicide. We can't move them, we can't stop them. Watching them walk away like this... I'm not willing to accept it!"

Daya pressed his hand in front of him, signaling Shinian lower his voice, and then he said, "The Wolf Tribe probably can't leave today. They have so many people and so much to prepare. Look, those carts aren't even full yet, and the people are still gathering. It won't be half a day to prepare all this stuff. Besides, they're carrying a lot of things, so even if they leave in the next couple of days, they'll be very slow. Hundreds of carts and thousands of livestock—they'll be lucky to travel a dozen miles a day. They won't go fast. We'll leave a few brothers here to keep an eye on them. We'll ride back immediately and ask the young chieftain for reinforcements. As long as the main army catches up with them before they get too far away, they won't be able to escape."

Julang and Shinian nodded simultaneously. Shinian sheathed his knife, and Julang pulled the branch from the ground and threw it aside. The two of them retreated in the direction Daya had come from. Daya Tooth waved to the soldiers following behind, selecting three to stay behind. He lowered his voice and said to them, "You stay here and keep watch. Check on them every now and then to see if they make any moves during the night. Before dawn, one of you go back to report. The rest of you continue to keep watch. Don't get too close, don't light any fires, and don't make a sound. If anything happens, run back." The three nodded and each found a hiding place. One crouched behind a pine tree, one lay prone in the bushes on the other side, and the other retreated behind Dashi at the bottom of the embankment. The three of them stood motionless like three Shitou thrown into the forest.

Daya led the rest of the group back along the path they had come from. They walked much faster than they had come from, the decaying leaves and broken branches crunching under their feet. They hacked at thorns and vines with their knives, ignoring the fresh cuts on their faces and arms. By the time they were halfway there, it was already dark, and the forest was even darker, almost pitch black. The guide led the way with a tinderbox, the light illuminating a short stretch of the path ahead. They followed that light, stumbling and sinking into the darkness as they emerged from the forest. Once outside, the horses were tied to trees by the roadside. Daya was the first to mount, spurring his horse and galloping off towards the main road. Julang and Shinian followed behind, and the rest of the group mounted as well. Dozens of horses kicked up a cloud of dust in the twilight as they raced toward the Fire Tribe's temporary outpost.

They finally found Yan after dinner, riding at breakneck speed. Yan's army had already set up camp a day's distance from the Wolf Tribe's territory. Several campfires were lit in the camp, illuminating the warriors eating and feeding their horses. Dried vegetables and meat were stewing in pots, steam rising from the rim of the lids. Some people squatted by the fire, whittling wooden skewers with knives, while others lay on straw mats to rest. The horses were tied in a row, grazing with their heads down. Yan sat by the largest campfire in the center of the camp, a wooden tablet spread out in front of him, a bone needle in his hand, discussing tomorrow's marching route with Gubang and Jia Li. Hearing the approaching sound of hooves, he looked up and saw Daya jump off his horse, trotting towards them. His leather armor was covered in leaves and mud, and there were several red scratches on his face from branches. Beads of sweat glistened on his forehead in the firelight.

Daya stopped in front of Yan, taking a few deep breaths, his chest heaving. He wiped the sweat from his brow with the back of his hand, then spoke, his voice filled with a urgency born of time, his words a beat faster than usual. "Boss, we saw them gathering cattle, sheep, horses, and pigs in the woods outside the Wolf Tribe's camp on the south bank of the Great Rock River. They've loaded the grain onto trucks, and people are gathering too. It's obvious they're preparing to leave. All the trucks are facing the southern exit, and that road turns east towards the Wolf Tribe's lair, Stone Ridge Mountain. They're probably planning to retreat back to their lair. They hadn't moved when we left, but judging from their posture, they'll definitely be leaving in the next couple of days!"

After listening, Yan put down the wooden tablet in his hand and placed it on his lap. He tapped the edge of the tablet with his fingers, pressed his fingertip against the wood grain, and then released it. He then said, "It seems that Xueya and the Wolf Tribe are scared of us and are preparing to retreat and escape. That's good. If they were hiding in their camp, I would have had to spend more effort dealing with them. Their camp had two layers of fences and was filled with earth and stones. If we attacked them head-on, our losses would be considerable. Now that they are preparing to retreat and escape, without the protection of the fences, it will be easier for us to fight them on the road. Daya, can you estimate when they will retreat?"

Daya thought for a moment, switched the empty wooden tablet in his hand to his other hand, and then spoke, his voice steadyer and his pace slower than before. "Judging from the movements of their camp, they'll probably evacuate in the next couple of days, or even tomorrow morning if things go smoothly. They've already loaded most of their supplies onto the carts during the day, and with a final push at night, they can pack up and leave tomorrow morning. Moreover, their evacuation is very orderly and well-prepared. The grain has been distributed by cart, the livestock by herd, and the personnel by formation. It's likely that they had a comprehensive plan in place long ago, not a last-minute decision. Their forces on the Great Rock River will probably also evacuate at the same time, traveling together from both the north and south banks to support each other. Their scouts must have already figured out the route."

After listening, Yan nodded, put away the wooden tablet on his lap, and then said, "Your analysis makes perfect sense. Since they were so well prepared, it means that Xueya had already planned their escape route. The Stone Ridge Mountain and mountain paths over there are dense and narrow, making it difficult to find them once they've gone in. If they retreated there, it would be a lot of trouble for us to chase after them. Your timely return this time is a great achievement."

He paused, then turned to Gubang and Jia Li beside him and said, "You two, take the boat and sneak to the Great Green River Mouth Outpost dock tonight. Have Shibang transport the three thousand cavalry from the Great Green River Mouth Outpost Great Rock River on the east bank of the Fish River. Have Shibang and his men find advantageous terrain to ambush them. Once Yexiao's troops gradually leave the camp, give them a heavy blow. If Yexiao's thousand men leave the camp, they'll be like a long snake on the road, unable to support each other. Shibang can cut them in half, and they won't be able to escape."

Gubang and Jia Li nodded simultaneously. Gubang took the dagger from his belt and then hung it back up, while Jia Li tucked the wooden tablet under his arm into his robes. The two stood up and walked towards the camp's dock. Their steps were quick and steady, and they soon disappeared into the darkness beyond the reach of the campfire.

Yan turned to Julang and said, "The Wolf Tribe is probably retreating towards their old lair on the Stone Ridge Mountain to the east. The road goes east from their camp on the south bank of the Great Rock River. After crossing the river bend, there's a narrow path with forests on both sides, and only one lane wide enough for a vehicle. Julang, you take a thousand cavalrymen and ambush them where they're sure to pass. After I lead the main force to defeat Xueya and his men, if any remnants try to escape that way, you're responsible for intercepting them. Don't let a single one get away."

After listening, Julang's expression shifted slightly, his lips tightening. He opened and closed his palms in front of him, as if gathering the words into his hands, before speaking in a low but steady voice, "Young Chief, rest assured, I will cut down anyone who comes. The woods on both sides of that narrow road are very dense; horses can't run freely, and people are crowded together. As long as we block the way from the front and back, they won't be able to escape."

Yan nodded, then turned his gaze to Shinian, his voice lower than before. "The remaining five thousand men, Daya, you take one thousand men and ambush them in the woods east of the camp on the south bank of the Great Rock River. Shinian and I will each take two thousand men and head there. As soon as Xueya and the others leave the camp, we'll give them a head-on attack. They can't move fast with so many men. We'll rest for three hours and set off overnight, getting there before dawn to prepare. When they leave the camp, we'll catch them off guard."

Daya and Shinian responded simultaneously. Shinian the knife off his belt, clenched it in his hand for a moment, then hung it back up. He turned and walked towards his own troops. Daya also stood up, put the wooden tablet into his pocket, nodded to Yan, and then turned to arrange the troops.

Yan sat by the campfire, glancing again at the wooden tablet lying on his lap. It depicted the terrain of the Great Rock River banks, drawn with charcoal. He marked a few spots on the tablet with a bone needle, then put it away, stood up, and shouted to the soldiers eating and resting in the camp, "Stop resting! Pack your things, feed the horses, load the carts! We'll set off after three hours of rest!" The camp immediately sprang into action. Some poured the remaining rice from the pots into wooden buckets and covered them; others untied the horses from the hitching posts and resaddled them; some rolled up and tied up straw mats; others counted weapons and arrows. The campfire was extinguished, sparks flying and falling in the night. Rows of torches lit up the camp, their light flickering in the darkness, casting long and short shadows of the busy figures. Yan stood in the center of the camp, watching the figures come and go, his fingers clenching and unclenching at his sides before he strode towards his warhorse.