Three days later, at dawn, before the sky was even light, a well-trained force silently departed the royal court, like a sword drawn from its sheath, heading straight for the northwest. Helian Jue led only three hundred elite guards, a few core generals including Batu, and Su Nian, who held a special position. The force was lightly armed and moved with incredible speed, their horses' hooves shattering the pre-dawn silence and kicking up a trail of dust.
Su Nian was placed in a reinforced and relatively comfortable carriage, a rare "preferential treatment" from Helian Jue. Even so, several days of bumpy and rugged travel left her feeling like her bones were about to fall apart. She forced herself to adapt, spending most of her time leaning against the window, carefully observing the terrain along the way.
The further northwest you go, the more desolate the scenery becomes. The lush grasslands are gradually replaced by sparse shrubs and exposed yellow earth. The sky becomes high and distant, and sandstorms begin to rise, their rough texture brushing against your face, dry and cold. The air is filled with a desolate and boundless atmosphere, completely different from that of the royal court, belonging to the frontier.
'This is the border…' Su Nian looked out the window at the boundless wilderness and the faint outline of distant mountains, her heart filled with shock. This was unlike any fictional scene she had ever written; it was a real, heavy, oppressive feeling, tinged with rust and blood. She took out a charcoal pencil and rough paper (a thick, tough type of straw paper used by artisans to record drawings) and began to sketch the important terrain features along the way—mountain passes, water sources, and potential locations for ambushes or outposts.
[Host, your occupational hazard has come at just the right time! But it really does come in handy; these topographical maps might just be a lifesaver in a critical moment!] 088 said, mimicking the crunching sound of potato chips. [It's just that the sandstorm is too strong; the system's virtual sensors are almost completely obscured!]
Su Nian ignored the system's witty remarks and focused intently on taking notes. She knew that Helian Jue had brought her here for more than just sightseeing. Her value had to be demonstrated in these tangible ways.
Several days later, the team arrived at their first stop on the journey – Panshi Military Town, located on the front line of the border.
The military town was built against the mountain, its walls constructed of massive stones. Though not particularly tall, they exuded a sense of resilience and vicissitude, forged through the trials of war. The garrison commander was an old general with scars on his face and eyes as sharp as an eagle, named Tuoba Ye. He led his men to greet Helian Jue outside the town, their demeanor respectful yet bearing the characteristic fortitude of a soldier.
Upon entering the military town, the atmosphere grew even more somber. Soldiers' armor was dusty, their eyes wary, and the patrols moved in orderly formation, exuding an air of grim determination. The town's facilities were rudimentary; aside from essential barracks, warehouses, and fortifications, there was virtually nothing for leisure or enjoyment.
Helian Jue didn't rest and went straight to the highest observation tower in the military town. Su Nian, as an "accomplice," was also allowed to follow behind.
Standing on the observation platform, the view suddenly opened up. In the distance lay an even more desolate, ravine-ridden Gobi Desert, a buffer zone bordering the Gray Rock Tribe and the area where conflicts most frequently occurred. Several winding dirt roads, like scars etched into the earth, connected several water sources and possible passageways.
"What did you see?" Helian Jue's voice rang in her ears, interrupting Su Nian's observation.
Su Nian withdrew her gaze and pointed to a hill in the distance that was slightly higher and overlooked the intersection of several roads: "If a hidden beacon tower or sentry post is set up there, and it is used in conjunction with fast horse relay, the warning time can be advanced by at least half an hour."
She then pointed to another area that appeared flat but was intersected by several dry riverbeds: "The terrain there is complex, making it easy to hide small groups of people. It's a good place to set up an ambush, but we also need to be wary of the enemy using the same place."
Her analysis was concise, clear, and to the point, based entirely on military geography considerations, without any embellishment.
Tuoba Ye listened from the side, his initially scrutinizing gaze gradually revealing surprise and a hint of approval. He hadn't expected this seemingly delicate and frail woman from Southern Xia to possess such keen insight into military terrain.
Helian Jue didn't speak, but looked in the direction Su Nian pointed for a moment, his eyes deep.
Over the next few days, Helian Jue led Su Nian on a tour of the fortifications, armory, and soldiers' drills at Panshi Military Town. Su Nian followed quietly behind, observing carefully and taking notes silently.
She found that the town's defenses were generally solid, but some details had vulnerabilities. For example, some watchtowers had blind spots, and the crenellations in certain sections of the city wall were poorly designed, hindering the defenders' counterattacks. Although the armaments used her improved arrows, the stock was limited, and their condition varied.
While watching the soldiers drill, she noticed that while the individual bravery of the soldiers was undeniable, the coordination and cooperation between squads seemed to lack a more efficient tactical command and signaling system.
She carefully recorded these findings, but did not present them immediately. She was waiting for the right opportunity.
That afternoon, Helian Jue summoned Tuoba Ye and other military generals to the command post to discuss countermeasures against the recent unusual movements of the Gray Rock Tribe. Su Nian remained standing in the corner.
The generals were divided into two factions. One faction, led by Tuoba Ye, advocated a proactive attack, sending elite squads deep into the Gobi Desert to scout and seize opportunities to strike the outposts of the Gray Rock tribe as a show of force. The other faction was more conservative, believing that the defenses should be held, patrols strengthened, and engagements with the enemy in unfamiliar terrain should be avoided.
The two sides were deadlocked.
Helian Jue tapped his fingers on the table, his gaze sweeping over everyone, and finally, to everyone's surprise, landed on Su Nian in the corner.
"What do you think?" he suddenly asked.
In an instant, all the generals' eyes were focused on Su Nian. Some were surprised, some were disdainful, and some were curious.
Su Nian felt a chill run down her spine, knowing that this was yet another test from Helian Jue, and also an opportunity for her to demonstrate her worth.
She took a deep breath, stepped forward, and without looking at the generals, faced Helian Jue, speaking calmly: "Your Majesty, I believe that taking the initiative to attack and holding the defensive are not entirely contradictory."
She paused, organizing her thoughts, and said, "Perhaps we could adopt a strategy of 'relaxing on the outside but tightening on the inside, luring the enemy deep into our territory'."
"Outer Song?" Tuoba Ye frowned.
“Yes.” Su Nian nodded. “Deliberately feign weakness, relax patrols and vigilance in some seemingly unimportant areas, and create the illusion of defensive loopholes. At the same time, set up elite ambush troops behind these areas, and use the terrain to set up some… simple traps, such as tripwires, pits, or use improved crossbows to set up trigger-activated hidden arrows.”
As she spoke, she sketched a few points on the map spread out on the table with a charcoal pencil: "The 'internal tension' refers to the core defense line and the key supply areas, which need to be doubled in vigilance, and a faster and more effective early warning and support mechanism should be established. For example, setting up flag signals or bugle signals with different meanings to ensure that information can be transmitted quickly and reinforcements can arrive in time in the event of an attack."
Her ideas combine defense and counter-attack, with a greater emphasis on tactical flexibility and the use of terrain.
As the generals listened, some fell into deep thought, while others remained unconvinced.
Helian Jue looked at the dots and lines Su Nian had drawn on the map, his eyes flickering slightly. He realized that this woman's thinking was indeed different from ordinary people; she always seemed to be able to break out of the established framework and find some seemingly simple but potentially effective methods.
"A trap? A sneak attack? That's a bit petty!" a young, hot-blooded general muttered.
Su Nian looked at him calmly: "General, on the battlefield, survival and victory are the most important things, no matter what methods you use."
The general felt a little embarrassed by her gaze and shut his mouth.
Helian Jue pondered for a moment and finally made a decision: "Let's go with her idea. Tuoba Ye, you make the arrangements. The ambush troops should be highly skilled, the traps should be cleverly set up, and the signal transmission should be absolutely foolproof."
"Yes!" Tuoba Ye clasped his hands in acceptance, and his gaze toward Su Nian held a different expression.
As night fell, the border winds became exceptionally fierce, making the tents whistle loudly.
In her small tent, by the dim light of an oil lamp, Su Nian organized her notes and thoughts from the day. Her fingers were stiff from holding the pen for so long and being exposed to the cold.
The tent flap was lifted, and a blast of cold air rushed in.
Helian Jue walked in. He was still wearing the same outfit he wore during the day, as if he had just returned from patrolling outside, carrying the chill of the night wind and a hint of barely perceptible fatigue.
Su Nian quickly stood up and bowed.
Helian Jue waved his hand, his gaze falling on the sketches and notes she had spread out on the simple wooden table. He picked one up casually; it contained a diagram of improved flag signaling, with detailed annotations beside it.
"Is all of this what you thought?" he asked, his voice low in the cramped tent.
"Yes," Su Nian replied softly, "just some immature ideas."
Helian Jue remained silent, flipping through her notes page by page. The notes contained not only terrain analysis and suggestions for improving defenses, but also some scattered ideas on improving soldiers' winter clothing and diet.
The tent was quiet, with only the occasional crackling of the lamp flame and the rustling of him turning the pages.
After a long while, he put down his notebook and looked up at Su Nian. The flickering lamplight cast shadows of light and shadow in his deep eyes.
“You are very good,” he said suddenly, his voice soft but carrying a heavy weight.
Su Nian was stunned for a moment, then looked up and met his gaze.
His gaze was no longer as cold and inscrutable as usual, but carried a complex emotion that she couldn't understand, like scrutiny, like inquiry, and also like... a subtle approval.
“It’s even better than I expected,” he added, taking a step forward.
The towering figure instantly brought a strong sense of oppression, making the space inside the tent seem cramped.
Su Nian subconsciously took half a step back, her back pressed against the cold tent wall.
Helian Jue reached out, but instead of touching her, he picked up the box of wound medicine she had placed beside him, his fingertips tracing the cold lid.
"Is your hand better?" he asked, his gaze falling on her still somewhat red and swollen fingers.
Su Nian's heart inexplicably quickened, and she nodded somewhat helplessly: "I'm... much better, thank you for your concern, Your Majesty."
Helian Jue looked at her slightly flushed cheeks and sparkling eyes, and the corners of his mouth seemed to curve up almost imperceptibly, but the curve quickly disappeared.
He put the medicine box back in its place, gave her a deep look, said nothing more, turned around, lifted the curtain, and disappeared into the cold night.
Silence returned to the tent, leaving only Su Nian and the faint, cold, and powerful aura he left behind.
She leaned against the tent wall, slowly slid down, and unconsciously ran her fingers over the box of wound medicine, her mind a jumble of thoughts.
What did that look in his eyes mean?
Meanwhile, in the dark Gobi Desert outside the military town, several ghostly figures, under the cover of night, were silently making their way towards the town. Their objective was clear, their movements swift, and their eyes gleamed with a bloodthirsty, fanatical light.
In the wind, one could hear the faint clanging of weapons clashing, and suppressed, beast-like panting.
(End of Chapter 108)
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