Endless Winter: My Camp Infinite Upgrades

Chapter 536 Illusionary Techniques and Divine Speed: Qin Feng's Unease

The first day of the first month of the thirteenth year of the Great Xia Dynasty, just after nightfall.

“Cai Qianshan refuses to back down and wants to continue supporting Jinshan and Wuchuan towns to fight against us. According to what Cai Qiuhu just said, there should be more to Qin Feng’s 50,000 troops. The Minister of Works has already gone to Wuchuan town to personally oversee the situation. The lord asked me to come and remind you to keep an eye on Qin Feng’s 50,000 troops. Of course, if possible, it would be best to get rid of them!”

Above Donggu City, Xu Ning, who had just arrived, quickly told Luo Yuan everything that had happened in Aikou City during the day, and then told him Xia Hong's last instructions.

Although Luo Yuan was listening to him, his eyes were always fixed on the Wuchuan military tent, which was two or three kilometers away from the north of Donggu City. After Xu Ning finished speaking, he nodded and said with a smile, "Qin Feng's 50,000 troops have no chance. Last night, they brought all the supplies from Donggu City with them. Now, they can't go anywhere except to return to Zhencheng to reinforce it."

He had considered this before he occupied Donggu City. Longgu and Beishuo had changed hands, and Yangqu Caoqian was leading his men to withdraw. Currently, in the northern battlefield, only Jinshan and Wuchuan towns remained. Qin Feng's 50,000-strong army with supplies could not go far in a short time. Apart from heading north to reinforce the towns, there was no other way to go.

"As soon as we captured Donggu City last night, I sent someone to Wuchuan Town to inform the 20,000 elite troops under Si Cheng. Right now, there are spies everywhere. If Qin Feng's 50,000 men make a move, news will come over at any time."

Upon hearing this, Xu Ning's face immediately broke into a smile.

Donggu City is only 20 kilometers away from Wuchuan City. The 50,000-strong army can arrive in as little as two hours. Logically speaking, as soon as Donggu City fell last night, Qin Feng should have immediately led the 50,000-strong army north to reinforce Wuchuan City.

In reality, six hours had passed since Donggu City changed hands, and Qin Feng's 50,000 troops had remained stationed three kilometers north of the city without moving an inch.

“If Qin Feng moves north, Si Cheng’s 20,000 elite troops will head south. Then, our 40,000 troops will pour out of the city and attack from both the north and south. He will only suffer a more gruesome death. If he stays here, keeps an eye on us, and waits for the developments in the Jinshan battle, there is still a sliver of hope. Qin Feng has been a lord for so many years; he's not stupid after all…”

Before Luo Yuan could finish speaking, a biting gust of cold wind suddenly blew in from the north, and he immediately stopped speaking, his expression slightly stunned.

"wind?"

Xu Ning noticed it too, and after saying something, he realized that the cold wind was blowing from the Wuchuan military camp in the north, and his expression immediately changed.

"There's something wrong with the wind!"

Before he could finish speaking, Luo Yuan leaped forward.

Seeing this, Xu Ning also realized what was happening and quickly followed behind him, heading towards the location of the Wuchuan military tent to the north.

The military tent of Wu Chuan was only two or three kilometers away from the north of Donggu City. Although the two of them were in the air, they were worried that Qin Feng was treacherous, so they did not dare to get too close. It took them more than twenty breaths to slowly approach the military tent and get it to within three or four hundred meters.

"The military tents are fine, the campfire is burning, and the soldiers are here..."

However, upon getting closer, the two were immediately stunned.

There was nothing wrong with the military tent in Wuchuan, at least visually. However, the tent was constantly blowing cold winds outwards, and the wind speed was getting faster and faster. Gradually, the snow on the ground was swept up to form snow fog, which covered the tent and continued to spread outwards.

"Covering up the military tent, what are they trying to hide?"

Upon hearing Xu Ning's words, Luo Yuan frowned, then took the lead and landed on the ground, finding Xia Jun's outpost.

As soon as they landed on the ground, their expressions changed drastically.

The reason is simple: just now, high in the sky, they clearly saw a cold wind blowing out of the military tents, and it was so strong that the sky was almost completely blocked out, making it nearly impossible to see the military tents below.

Upon landing, they discovered that the military tent in front of them was completely calm and undisturbed, without any unusual air currents.

The location of Wuchuan's military tent is nearly three kilometers away from Donggu City. In an extremely cold and gloomy environment like Bingyuan, three kilometers is not short. The perception range of ordinary Xianyang-level beings cannot even reach that distance. Fortunately, the army of 50,000 is quite large, and the military tents on the ground block out the sun, so Xianyang-level beings can observe the general outline of the military tents with the naked eye from high altitude.

However, this was wartime, and it was not enough to just look at the general outline. Therefore, Luo Yuan had already set up eight outposts around the Wuchuan army camp, so that the Xia soldiers could keep an eye on the Wuchuan army's movements at all times.

"Who is it... who pays respects to the Commander-in-Chief!"

The two soldiers on duty at the outpost on the south side were clearly competent. When they saw someone approaching, they immediately raised their voices to warn others. When they saw that it was Luo Yuan and Xu Ning, they quickly bowed and saluted.

Luo Yuan didn't waste any words. He waved his hand, indicating that the two didn't need to be so polite, and asked directly, "After watching for so long, have you found anything?"

Both men shook their heads upon hearing this. The soldier on the left spoke up, "An hour ago, there was a large plume of smoke coming from the Wuchuan army tent. They must have been cooking. I have already sent the message back to the city. Apart from that, there has been no unusual activity in the Wuchuan army tent. Even the noise inside the tent is getting quieter and quieter."

The sound is getting quieter?

Luo Yuan keenly grasped the scout's words, turned his head to look at the Wuchuan military tent to the north, his expression slightly serious, and then suddenly thought of something, took out a yellow candle from his pocket and lit it.

Sizzle sizzle...

The moment the yellow candle was lit, a faint sound emanated from within a three-meter radius. The previously calm environment suddenly became swept by a cold wind, and a small but thick snow mist began to appear.

The snow and mist had clearly blocked the view from the general's tent, and the scene they saw now was completely different from when the yellow candles hadn't been lit.

"This……"

The two scouts turned deathly pale upon seeing this scene.

"Damn it, they've already escaped! A trick to deceive those who are investigating at close range. Wu Chuan couldn't come up with such a method. Cai Qiu really did make a move."

Xu Ning spoke with a gloomy expression, and the two scouts immediately knelt down to beg for forgiveness, their faces full of self-reproach and guilt.

"General, please forgive me, your subordinate..."

"Are you all brainless idiots? Before the war, all of you scouts were equipped with yellow candles. After watching them for so long, you still don't know how to use them. Go back and receive thirty lashes each, and then you'll be stationed in the supply camp!"

Before the two scouts could finish speaking, Luo Yuan interrupted them.

He waved his hand to dismiss the two men, and walked toward the Wuchuan military tent with a furious expression.

Xu Ning's expression was also not good, and she followed behind him.

Holding a yellow candle, Luo Yuan walked to the vicinity of the military tents. As the candlelight covered them, the tents, which had previously appeared to be blazing with flames, vanished completely. Seeing this, Luo Yuan's expression turned even more grim. He continued forward, and as one tent after another disappeared, he suddenly slammed the yellow candle forward.

"We've been tricked! This illusion is even more powerful than my Misty Fog Technique. Go and inform the Minister of War immediately. I'll go back and muster the troops and set off right away. Qin Feng has definitely taken his men to Wuchuan Town!"

Luo Yuan looked anxious and flew directly towards Donggu City after speaking. Xu Ning didn't waste any words and immediately took off towards Wuchuan Town in the north after answering.

The two of them instantly became tense.

The scouts just reported that there was activity of cooking and lighting fires an hour ago. Considering the initial signs of the cold wind spreading, Qin Feng's 50,000-strong army has only been gone for a little over an hour at most.

It's only about 20 kilometers from here to Wuchuan Town. In a little over an hour, we might be almost there. If these 50,000 troops were to return to Wuchuan Town without a sound and then coordinate with the garrison in the city, wouldn't the 20,000 elite Xia troops in Xiachuan be in danger?

………………

However, just as Luo Yuan and Xu Ning were reacting quickly...

It is about 15 kilometers east of Donggu City.

A hazy, cold wind swept quickly eastward.

The biting wind carried towering snow and fog, covering an area of ​​more than five kilometers in length and width, making it impossible to see anything clearly from the outside.

Above the snow and mist, about a dozen figures stood suspended in mid-air.

Qin Feng was among them, but he was positioned far back. He looked down at the 50,000-strong army below, his brows furrowed with struggle and helplessness.

"Lord Qin, don't worry. Wuchuan City is your stronghold. Although there are only 10,000 garrison troops inside, there are still 170,000 Digging Realm cultivators. In addition, my senior brother is personally leading the troops to oversee the city. Not to mention the 20,000 elite troops of Great Xia, even if all 40,000 troops from Donggu City went there, they wouldn't be able to break through in a short time..."

The leader noticed Qin Feng's expression and spoke in a deep voice to comfort him. After a pause, he continued, "My Caiqiu army has already started its southward march from the Bone-Eating Road. The crux of this battle lies in the pass. As long as we can defeat the Xia army at the pass, the Jinshan army can get out, and the siege of Wuchuan will be easily resolved. At that time, the two sides will join forces, and with the support of my Caiqiu army, the Xia army's idea of ​​overthrowing your two towns will be wishful thinking!"

Hearing the leader's words, Qin Feng nodded slightly, a glimmer of hope rising in his eyes, though it was clearly a strained one.

Qin Feng's heart was filled with complex emotions. After being tricked by Luo Yuan in Donggu City last night, he had actually considered surrendering to the Great Xia, but he couldn't let go of the obsession in his heart.

Just then, someone from Caiqiu arrived!
The two who came this time were no ordinary people either. One was Cai Qiuhong, the son of Baishui County Prefect and Fangbo Cai Qianshan, and the other was Zhu Huorong, the chief general of Cai Qiu's army and Cai Qianshan's eldest disciple. Both of them were at the Tribulation Realm.

The two men solved two major problems for him as soon as they arrived.

First, there is the danger to Wuchuan Town. As soon as Zhu Huorong arrived last night, he took people to Wuchuan Town and assured him that Wuchuan Town would not be captured by the Xia army within a month.
Secondly, there was the question of where to go with his 50,000 troops. Zhu Huorong led his men to help him defend Wuchuan Town, while Cai Qiuhong suggested that he lead 50,000 troops eastward into Aikou City.

Yuwen Tao's 40,000-strong right flank army was confronting Jinshan Town at the foot of Aikou City. The purpose of sending him with 50,000 troops to Aikou City at this time was self-evident.

Qin Feng didn't even think about it; he immediately wanted to refuse.

He can't even protect Wuchuan City, so where would he find the time to help Jinshan Town?
But at this point, he had no choice but to accept.

With the arrival of two great beings, Cai Qiuhong and Zhu Huorong, and the presence of over a hundred Xianyang-level beings, how could he possibly refuse?

In reality, from the moment those two arrived, his control over the 50,000-strong army was already nominal.

As the lord of Wuchuan, he certainly had the ability to incite an army of 50,000 to rebel, but the question is, even if he did do so, what would happen?

Last night, Luo Yuan tricked Donggu City, and he lost all his prestige. Several non-Cai Qiu Xianyang-level soldiers are already restless. If he dares to cause trouble, Cai Qiuhong and Zhu Huorong might just kill him. At this time, it is not difficult to replace him with someone else to lead the army.

Furthermore, the best time to surrender to the Great Xia has passed, and if he were to fall out with Cai Qiu now, the consequences would only be more dire.

“Something must have happened last night. Cai Qiu was only thinking about helping me defend the city at first, but now three people at the Tribulation Realm have arrived, and even those at the Manifestation Realm who weren’t very interested before have started to contribute…”

Qin Feng looked up at the sky and saw a person holding a giant palm-leaf fan, frantically waving it downwards. With each wave of the fan, a large amount of biting cold wind was blown out, which then formed a snow mist that covered the marching army.

Once the marching column was enveloped by the cold wind, not only did it disappear completely, but its marching speed also increased several times over, which was truly miraculous.

He noticed that Cai Qiu and his group had been acting strangely since last night. Previously, they had mostly been disdainful or even contemptuous of the Great Xia, but since last night, they seemed to have become much more serious, and they had started to use some of the methods they had previously been unwilling to employ.

"This smokescreen can only fool people for a short while. Luo Yuan probably already knows we've left. He probably thinks we're heading north to reinforce Wuchuan City, but we're actually going to the pass. Cai Qiuhong plans to use this time difference to have my troops join forces with the garrison at the pass to defeat Yuwen Tao's right flank army..."

Having been a lord for so many years, Qin Feng was naturally not stupid. Although Cai Qiuhong had not yet revealed his clear intentions, he could guess the other party's plans from the movement of the army.

"Right now, we have no choice but to go all the way. If we can defeat Yuwen Tao's right flank army and liberate Jinshan Town from Aikou City, the combined forces of the two towns will have the strength to contend with the Xia army. As long as we can hold out until Cai Qiu's army marches south through the Bone-Eating Road, Wuchuan will truly be saved!"

After much deliberation, Qin Feng concluded that this was the only path he could take.

The idea Cai Qiuhong gave him wasn't actually a big problem.

Even if he returned to Wuchuan Town with 50,000 troops, and even if he truly defeated 20,000 elite Xia troops, Luo Yuan's 40,000 troops could still immediately march north and besiege Wuchuan City. Now that the entire northern region belongs to Great Xia, Xia Hong can continuously send troops over. At that time, as long as Wuchuan Town is sealed off, they will ultimately be unable to escape defeat.

On the contrary, if everything really developed as Cai Qiuhong predicted, defeating Yuwen Tao's right wing army and dragging it out until Cai Qiu's main army marched south, then Jinshan and Wuchuan towns would truly have a way out.

But if that were the case, could the two towns still exist independently within the southern foothills?

The question suddenly popped into Qin Feng's mind, and his expression immediately darkened. He then looked up and saw Cai Qiuhong and his group of Xianyang-level cultivators in front of him, and quickly suppressed the thought.

What happened next can only be discussed later.

The most urgent task is still the Great Xia!

(End of this chapter)