Infiltrate enemy camp to gather intelligence
On the night the Xiongnu withdrew, the camp was brightly lit with bonfires, yet the atmosphere was heavy. Shen Qingci stood outside the command tent, gazing at the faint firelight of the Xiongnu camp in the distance, his brow furrowed—the enemy had retreated, but their strength was not diminished, and they would surely return within three days. He turned and stepped into the command tent, where the generals were already standing at attention, waiting. On the table, a sand table outlined the border terrain, with dense markings indicating the enemy's and his own defenses.
“The Xiongnu are cunning, and this retreat is by no means a genuine withdrawal.” Shen Qingci pointed to the grassland area on the sand table. “We know nothing about their troop deployment, food supplies, or subsequent battle plans. If we wait for them to launch an attack, our army will inevitably be put on the defensive.”
As soon as the words were spoken, the generals in the tent volunteered one after another: "General, your humble servant is willing to lead the troops deep into the enemy camp to spy!" "Your humble servant is familiar with the grassland terrain and will surely be able to find out the enemy's strength and weaknesses!"
Shen Qingci's gaze swept over the generals, finally settling on his deputy, Zhao Wu. Zhao Wu came from the border army and was not only highly skilled in martial arts but also proficient in the Xiongnu language and the art of tracking across the grasslands. He had successfully completed numerous reconnaissance missions in dangerous situations. "General Zhao," Shen Qingci said in a deep voice, "this mission is best left to you."
Zhao Wu knelt on one knee, clasped his hands in a fist and accepted the order: "This subordinate obeys! Please rest assured, General, I will bring back the enemy's intelligence!"
Shen Qingci bent down to help him up, handing him a specially made tiger tally token: "This is an emergency troop deployment token. You may use it if you encounter danger. I will select one hundred elite soldiers for you, all skilled in infiltration and close combat. Remember, the priority on this mission is reconnaissance. Do not engage the enemy's main force. Once you have succeeded, return immediately." He paused, then added, "The Xiongnu camp is heavily guarded. Night patrols are conducted every half hour. You must infiltrate during the midnight shift change and be sure to evacuate before dawn."
At the third watch of the night, Zhao Wu led a hundred soldiers, dressed in night clothes, and silently left the camp. The grassland night was as black as ink, with only the faint starlight illuminating their path. The soldiers, wearing soft boots, avoided the Xiongnu checkpoints along the way, using the terrain for cover and advancing rapidly. Halfway there, a soldier accidentally kicked a stone, and immediately, the shouts of Xiongnu sentries echoed from afar. Zhao Wu acted decisively, raising his hand to signal his men to lie low, while he himself mimicked the call of an owl, cleverly defusing the crisis.
As dawn approached, they finally reached the outskirts of the Xiongnu camp. The camp stretched for dozens of miles, with tents scattered like stars in the sky. The campfires had not yet completely died down, and the figures of soldiers changing shifts could be vaguely seen. Zhao Wu signaled his soldiers to lie in ambush on the nearby sand dunes, while he himself, with two personal guards, quietly approached the edge of the camp under the cover of the morning mist.
They lay prone in the grass, observing intently. They saw Xiongnu soldiers busily moving provisions, large quantities of weaponry piled outside the tents, and the wolf-head insignia on their banners fluttering in the wind. By eavesdropping on the patrolling soldiers' conversations, Zhao Wu gradually pieced together the situation: the Xiongnu had deployed 50,000 troops, divided into three routes—central, left, and right—each led by one of the Chanyu's three sons. Their plan was to launch a three-pronged attack on the important border town of Yuncheng at dawn three days later. Furthermore, they had concealed an elite cavalry force on the western side of their camp, intending to ambush their rear during the siege.
Having ascertained the situation, Zhao Wu dared not delay and immediately signaled his personal guards to retreat. However, just as they turned around, a Xiongnu soldier suddenly noticed the movement in the bushes and charged forward shouting. Zhao Wu acted decisively, raising his hand and shooting a hidden arrow, silently felling the soldier. But this brief commotion still alerted a nearby patrol, and a large number of Xiongnu soldiers, carrying torches, surrounded the sand dune.
"Damn it, we've been discovered!" Zhao Wu shouted in a low voice. "Break through according to the original plan, and be sure to bring the intelligence back to the camp!"
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