Outside the camp, after exchanging pleasantries, Huangfu Song led Huang Zhong and the other three into the central command tent.

After everyone was seated, Huangfu Song looked at Huang Zhong and the others and said in a deep voice, "Hansheng, I presume you have all seen His Majesty's urgent edict?"

Huang Zhong nodded, stepped forward, and said in a deep voice, "Yes! His Majesty requires us to obey Commandant Huangfu's orders and to annihilate the invading Northern Wuhuan within fifteen days of the imperial edict's arrival!"

Huangfu Song laughed and said, "Although fifteen days is a bit tight, I have a plan that may allow us to annihilate the invading Northern Wuhuan in less than fifteen days!"

"Oh? I wonder what Commandant Huangfu's plans are?"

Gongsun Zan couldn't help but ask, and the others also looked at Huangfu Song with expressions of seeking advice.

"Come and see!"

As they were talking, Huangfu Song led Huang Zhong and the other three to a map.

"This picture..."

Upon seeing the map clearly, Huang Zhong and the other three couldn't help but exclaim in surprise, especially Ma Teng and Gongsun Zan, who had ventured deep into the heart of the Northern Xiongnu territory and had also done mapping work.

However, the maps they had drawn before were vastly different from what they were seeing now.

This map was drawn by spies from Jia Xu's intelligence agency after much hardship and at great cost.

The map clearly marks the distribution of all rivers, mountains, and roads within the Wuhuan territory north of Youzhou in the Han Dynasty, including some little-known paths, and all are shown in strict proportion. At a glance, the entire geographical landscape of the Wuhuan territory is perfectly presented to everyone.

What shocked them most was that even small tribes with fewer than a thousand people, and the details of their populations, were clearly marked on the map.

"This cost someone a great deal of money to get it!!"

Huangfu Song smiled but did not explain the origin of the map. It wasn't that he didn't trust them, but rather that there were some things that he didn't need to know too much about.

"Alright, let's get down to business!"

Then Huangfu Song pointed to a plain in the northeast of Yuyang on the map.

"This is our garrison!" Huangfu Song then pointed to the right, moving towards the Youbeiping area. "This is the garrison of the Southern Wuhuan, about thirty li away from our army!"

"The Northern Wuhuan are stationed here... built along the river, about a hundred miles away from our army."

Huangfu Song then pointed to a river fifty miles north of Chengde.

Huang Zhong and his three companions frowned as they looked at the distribution of the three forces on the map.

According to Huangfu Song's explanation, these three forces are in a triangular standoff, and the center of this triangle is precisely the Chengde area.

Based on the map's depiction of mountains and rivers, Huang Zhong and his three companions immediately recognized the importance of the Chengde region, a strategically vital passage that offered both offensive and defensive advantages.

In the past, the Northern Wuhuan would pass through this area whenever they invaded the border. If the Han army occupied that area, it would become a barrier for the northwestern region of Youzhou. As long as an army was stationed there, the pressure on the defense of northern Youzhou would be greatly relieved.

"I plan to lure the Northern Wuhuan here, engage them in a direct battle, and then annihilate them in one fell swoop!!"

Just as Huang Zhong and the other three had guessed, Huangfu Song pointed his finger towards the Chengde area.

“This is indeed the best burial place for the Northern Wuhuan!” Huang Zhong and the other three nodded in unison.

"This humble general requests permission to lead my troops to defeat the enemy head-on!"

"good!"

As Ma Teng finished speaking, Huang Zhong and the other two looked intently at Huangfu Song.

"No! A frontal charge is enough with my troops and the Southern Wuhuan people!"

Huangfu Song refused the four men's request to fight without hesitation.

Just kidding, sending the emperor's personal guards to face the enemy head-on would probably make the emperor feel bad if even one more soldier died.

"And what about us? What are we supposed to do? Does Commander Huangfu think we came all this way just to watch the battle?"

Gongsun Zan, who was standing to the side, immediately objected and looked at Huangfu Song with displeasure.

At this time, Gongsun Zan was as arrogant as ever. Apart from the emperor, he really didn't take anyone seriously, including Huang Zhong, who had tormented him countless times.

His previous respect for Huangfu Song was not only because Huangfu Song held a higher position than him, but also mainly because they could be said to belong to the same faction.

But now that he heard that Huangfu Song was not going to send them to the battlefield, Gongsun Zan could no longer suppress his temper. No matter what the reason, if he was not allowed to fight and earn military merits, no one could stop him!

"Bo Gui, you mustn't act rashly! Before we left, His Majesty told us to follow Commandant Huangfu's arrangements. How dare you openly question Commandant Huangfu? Are you going against His Majesty's will?" Huang Zhong glared at Gongsun Zan and rebuked him.

"I...this humble general dares not!"

Faced with Huang Zhong's rebuke, Gongsun Zan dared not refute, knowing that if he said another word, Huang Zhong would really dare to beat him up.

Seeing Gongsun Zan lower his head, Huang Zhong looked at Huangfu Song and said respectfully, "Bo Gui was only focused on killing the enemy to repay His Majesty's kindness. He spoke out of turn in his haste, and I hope Commandant Huangfu will not take offense!"

Although Huang Zhong didn't quite understand why Huangfu Song didn't put them on the front lines, he knew that Huangfu Song must have other plans.

At the same time, Huang Zhong clearly realized that Huangfu Song was their commander-in-chief at this time. There can only be one voice in an army. The emperor had sent them to obey Huangfu Song, so he naturally had to consider the emperor's wishes and uphold Huangfu Song's authority.

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