Chen Zexu stood in the cold wind, his eyes as sharp as a hawk's, watching the Slavic cavalry's every move.

They moved through the night like ghosts, their horses' hooves echoing on the cold earth like the drumbeats of death.

Chen Zexu frowned, a sense of unease rising in his heart.

The cavalrymen did not engage their own infantry, but instead moved rapidly to the rear, clearly a feint attack.

However, Chen Zexu could not guess the true purpose of these cavalrymen.

"Does she intend to use these cavalry to cut off my retreat? Has Elena gone mad?"

Taking a deep breath, Chen Zexu ordered, "Keep a close eye on the cavalry's every move, don't give them any opportunity! Reserve troops, follow the enemy cavalry and hold the rear camp to the death!"

Following Chen Zexu's words, the reserve army quickly adjusted its formation, stretching slowly backward like a winding snake, preparing to meet a possible sneak attack.

As soon as Chen Zexu's order was relayed, a messenger rode a fine horse, like a lightning bolt cutting through the night, and galloped to his side.

The messenger's face was filled with anxiety as he sat on his horse and announced loudly, "General Chen, something terrible has happened! The Slavic army is pressing in from all sides, with 250,000 troops mobilized!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Zexu's heart tightened, and a look of shock flashed in his eyes.

After a pause, Chen Zexu quickly mounted his horse. The steed neighed and galloped away like a gust of wind, rushing back towards Ai Zijun's camp.

Back at the military camp, Chen Zexu shouted, "Your Highness! I have urgent intelligence!"

Ai Zijun was standing outside the tent, watching Chen Zexu rushing towards her, and already guessed what had happened.

Chen Zexu rode up to Ai Zijun and quickly dismounted.

"Your Highness, the entire Slavic army has been mobilized, and 250,000 troops are heading this way!"

Ai Zijun smiled slightly and nodded gently: "They've finally come. Order the army to retreat and avoid their sharp edge."

Chen Zexu nodded first, then hurriedly added, "Your Highness, the enemy cavalry is only feigning an attack on both sides. They are now heading towards our rear. I wonder if they are trying to surround us."

Ai Zijun was stunned when she heard this. The cavalry, with only eight thousand men on both sides combined, could not possibly surround her army of one hundred thousand, no matter how fast they were.

"No, they shouldn't be trying to surround me. What exactly does Elena want?"

Ai Zijun lowered her head and thought for a moment, then couldn't help but clench her fists.

"Chen Zexu, pass on my order: the garrison on both sides should let the enemy cavalry pass and clear the way for the Slavic army to enter."

Although she didn't know what Elena was planning, Ai Zijun had to play it by ear; getting to the Serga River was the most important objective.

However, Chen Zexu hesitated at this moment and couldn't help but ask, "Your Highness, if we open the road now, won't it arouse Elena's suspicion? Moreover, with the middle lane wide open, Elena might not let this opportunity pass and will definitely take down Kurokawa in one fell swoop."

Hearing Chen Zexu's doubts, Ai Zijun couldn't help but smile: "If she wanted to take down Kurokawa in one fell swoop, that would be great. Then I wouldn't have to go through all this trouble playing dirty tricks with her."

As she spoke, Ai Zijun reached into her breastplate, took out a map, and tossed it to Chen Zexu.

"Take the southern garrison, clear the way, and march ten miles south to shake off Elena's army. Follow the southern route on the map to the Serga River."

"The Serga River?"

Chen Zexu was taken aback again, but before he could ask anything, Ai Zijun waved her hand impatiently.

"Just follow the orders. Once you get to the Serga River, you'll know what's going on."

Chen Zexu pursed his lips. Although he didn't quite understand, he still said "Yes, sir" and rode back to the southern front.

After Chen Zexu left, Ai Zijun's expression suddenly turned serious.

"Someone, go and fetch Han Meng here!"

Soon, a general riding a white horse and holding a long spear arrived at Ai Zijun's camp and rushed to Ai Zijun's side.

"Your Highness, did you call me?"

Ai Zijun nodded slightly and pointed to the southwest.

"I want you to lead five thousand cavalry to catch up with Elena's eight thousand cavalry. Chen Zexu just said that the cavalry on the south side is heading towards our rear, and I think the cavalry on the north side should be doing the same."

Upon hearing this, Han Meng curled the corners of his mouth and held the spear horizontally in front of him.

"Your Highness, I don't need five thousand. I only need three thousand to wipe out his eight thousand cavalry."

"Tsk!"

Ai Zijun frowned slightly and said in a deep voice, "Now is not the time for you to show off. What I need is for you to hold them off and figure out the enemy cavalry's intentions. Leave the remaining cavalry to me. I need to cover the infantry's advance."

"Cover the infantry's advance? Your Highness, where are we headed? Where will I find you after tonight?"

"Selga River, don't tell anyone. If the enemy cavalry retreats, let them go. If they stay within Kurokawa territory, keep a close watch on them no matter where they go, unless they rejoin the main force."

Upon hearing this, Han Meng clasped his hands in a fist salute, then turned and left.

Following Ai Zijun's order, the garrison troops on both the north and south sides began to clear the way, and Han Meng led five thousand cavalrymen in a frantic pursuit of Sergei behind them.

As for the remaining five thousand cavalry, they all followed behind Ai Zijun, galloping northwards.

...

On the other side, Sergei led his cavalry, charging into Kurokawa territory like a whirlwind, the sound of their hooves rapid and powerful, as if the earth itself trembled beneath their iron hooves.

They moved with the speed of arrows, cutting through the night and leaving trails of dust in their wake.

Sergei originally thought that after a brief clash with Ai Zijun's infantry, even if the enemy discovered his presence, they would mistakenly believe that he was about to launch an encirclement tactic.

He estimated that Ai Zijun would at most mobilize cavalry and archers for defense, since in such a large-scale war, every general would prioritize protecting his flanks and rear.

However, to Sergei's surprise, just as he led his cavalry to break away from the Northeast Army, Han Meng, wielding a gleaming spear, followed closely behind like a vengeful ghost, leading countless cavalrymen.

Sergei frowned, a hint of surprise and unease flashing in his eyes. He hadn't expected Ai Zijun to value him so much, even going so far as to send cavalry to pursue him.

Ai Zijun's cavalry was the strongest fighting force, while Sergei's cavalry was not as strong as the Northeast Army's. Logically speaking, Ai Zijun should have deployed his cavalry to charge into battle from the front.

"Send orders to speed up, take Lishu directly, and cut off the Northeast Army's lifeline!"

The two sides had been at odds for a long time and knew the location of each other's granaries like the back of their hand. Ai Zijun's Northeast Army's granaries were located in Lishu County.

There is a large amount of grain stored there. Destroying Ai Zijun's granary would mean winning half the battle.