Starting with a Wei Wu soldier

In the deepest darkness before dawn, campfires were still strictly forbidden. Only the cold moonlight occasionally pierced through the clouds, sparingly casting a few weak spots of light that barely outlined the silhouettes of a few figures gathered in the forest.

Chen Xing, Chen Wei, Zhao Tiezhu, and Wang Jian, who had been specially summoned, sat around the gnarled roots of a massive ancient tree that required several people to encircle, as if performing some ancient ritual. The air was filled with the damp chill of dew, the earthy smell of soil, and a solemn atmosphere known as "the eve of the decisive battle."

Chen Wei's voice was deep and swift, like the murmur of an owl, as he meticulously presented the intelligence gathered during the night's reconnaissance to everyone.

"My lord, gentlemen," Chen Wei said, quickly drawing a rough sketch of the warehouse on the slightly leveled mud in front of him with a thin twig. It was a much more detailed sketch than the one Chen Xing had drawn before. "The water source outside the north gate has been confirmed. It is located on a shallow beach at a bend in the stream, about sixty paces from the side gate. There is a clearly visible path that has been worn into it. There are no fixed sentries here at night, but an hour ago, a patrol of five men passed by, stopped for about half a cup of tea's time, and seemed to be chatting idly. Their discipline was extremely lax."

His branch tapped the sketched wall: "The damage to the wall is even worse than observed during the day. In the southeast corner, there is a section of wall about two zhang wide. Due to the impact of a landslide, a large area of ​​the rammed earth on the outside has peeled away, exposing the wooden fence inside. Although it has not completely collapsed, the structure is very fragile and should be the weakest point of the entire wall. In addition, near the back of the mountain on the west wall, there is a drainage ditch. It is narrow, but Li Shu is certain that a small person could crawl in." He glanced at the small Li Shu beside him, and Li Shu quickly nodded in confirmation.

"Regarding the situation inside the stronghold," Chen Wei continued, "By the end of Xu hour, most of the noise had stopped, except for the largest wooden house in the center, which should be the bandit leader's residence, and two other places next to it, where there were still lights and the sounds of drinking and playing drinking games, which continued until the beginning of Zi hour. The patrol team last passed through the north gate at Chou hour, and after that, we did not see any more patrols until we left. The sentries were still lax, and we could hear the snoring of the sentries in the corner towers."

Finally, he planted the branch heavily on the large house in the center of the sketch: "The bandit leader and main leaders should undoubtedly live here. The two brightly lit houses next to it are probably the residences of the minor leaders or their confidants."

The intelligence report was completed, and its detail far exceeded Zhao Tiezhu and Wang Jian's expectations. Looking at the clear sketch on the ground and listening to Chen Wei's precise description down to the hour, they felt as if they were seeing the sleeping bandit's lax defenses with their own eyes.

Chen Xing listened silently, his brain working like a high-speed computer, rapidly integrating and analyzing every detail Chen Wei reported with his observations during the day, the system map, and his own military knowledge.

Weaknesses have been clearly exposed: the water access route at the north gate, the vulnerable wall at the southeast corner, the hidden drainage ditch at the west wall, the long and lax intervals of night patrols, and the clear location of the bandit leader's residence.

The question now is how to exploit these weaknesses to devise a lethal attack plan.

Chen Xing raised his head, his gaze sweeping over the blurred faces of the other three in the darkness. He spoke slowly, his voice not loud, but carrying an undeniable decisiveness:

"The situation is clear. My plan is: a night raid to breach the stronghold at midnight tomorrow!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Tiezhu's breath caught in his throat, and his fists clenched instinctively. Wang Jian also held his breath.

Without pausing, Chen Xing began to deploy the plan, his words like precise surgical scalpels, dissecting every aspect of the mission:

"This battle will be fought on three fronts."

"First route, main assault team." His gaze fell on Chen Wei. "You will personally lead seventy Wei Wu soldiers, carrying all shield carts, battering rams, and two flying bridges. Your mission is to attack the main direction, but not to storm the main gate."

Chen Wei's gaze sharpened, and he listened intently.

"Your attack will begin at the southeast corner of the warehouse, outside that structurally weak section of the wall!" Chen Xing slammed the tree branch heavily on the southeast corner of the sketch. "Use the cover of night to approach silently. Use the shield carts in front to defend against any stray arrows. Once you reach the wall, don't bother building a flying bridge. Use battering rams directly, concentrate your strength, and smash that section of the wall! It's an earthen and timber structure, with exposed wooden palisades inside. With the power of the battering rams, combined with your strength, I'm confident I can break through in a very short time!"

A glint of light flashed in Chen Wei's eyes, and he instantly understood his lord's intention. To avoid the enemy's strength and strike at their weakness, directly attacking their vitals! This was far superior to a direct assault on the main gate, which was defended by trenches and wooden bridges! He clasped his hands in a deep fist salute: "Yes, Your Majesty! Your subordinate will open a passage for the army in the shortest possible time!"

"The second team, the surprise force." Chen Xing's gaze turned to Zhao Tiezhu and Wang Jian. "Zhao Tiezhu will lead the team, with Wang Jian as his assistant, and will lead all eight able-bodied men under your command, as well as... Li Shu."

Li Shu, whose name was called, straightened his thin body with a start.

"Your mission is crucial, yet also the most dangerous," Chen Xing said with a hint of gravity. "You will carry a flying bridge and sneak to the north gate. Taking advantage of the gap after the patrol passes, silently set up the bridge over the moat. Then, Li Shu will lead two of the most agile and slender young men through the drainage ditch to infiltrate the village!"

Zhao Tiezhu and Wang Jian's hearts were in their throats. Infiltrate the enemy camp? This...

"Once you've infiltrated, don't act rashly. Stay hidden and wait for the right moment," Chen Xing continued. "When you hear the loud crash of wood breaking through the wall in the southeast corner, chaos will erupt inside the stronghold, drawing all attention there. That's when you'll act! You have three tasks, in order of priority: First, take advantage of the chaos to open the north gate and receive any necessary reinforcements; second, if the opportunity arises, storm the bandit leader's residence and behead him! Create even greater chaos; third, set fires throughout the stronghold to fuel the chaos!"

Zhao Tiezhu's blood boiled, and he felt an unprecedented pressure. He pounded his chest, and although he lowered his voice, the determination in it was still evident: "Rest assured, my lord! Even if it costs me my life, I will complete this mission!"

Wang Jian nodded nervously, his palms sweating profusely.

"The third route is a reserve and blocking force." Chen Xing finally looked at Chen Wei. "You will assign the remaining ten elite Wei Wu soldiers, led by a capable platoon leader, to lie in ambush in the dense forest outside the main gate. Their tasks are: first, as a reserve force, ready to support your two routes at any time; second, if possible, to block the main gate to prevent the bandit leader or a large number of bandits from escaping through the main gate; third, and most importantly, to be vigilant against any enemy outposts that we have not yet discovered, or interference from other forces in the vicinity."

Chen Wei immediately accepted the order: "Understood! I will arrange the most reliable person."

The core framework of the plan is now clear. It involves a three-pronged approach, combining real and virtual strategies, with a central breakthrough coupled with an outer blockade.

Chen Xing surveyed the three men and emphasized, "The key to this battle lies in 'speed,' 'accuracy,' and 'ruthlessness!' The assault team must breach the wall quickly, the surprise attack team must infiltrate and launch its attack precisely, and all participants must be ruthless and merciless once they engage the enemy! We want to decide the outcome in one battle, to completely crush them, and to give them no chance to breathe or organize a counterattack!"

"Furthermore, all actions must be carried out strictly according to the appointed time. At midnight (11 PM to 1 AM), all actions will commence simultaneously!"

"Do you understand everything?"

"Understood!" Chen Wei, Zhao Tiezhu, and Wang Jian replied in unison, their voices low, their eyes burning with fighting spirit.

"Alright." Chen Xing stood up, his tall figure seemingly radiating boundless power in the hazy moonlight. "Go back and prepare, check your equipment, and conserve your energy. Tomorrow during the day, Chen Wei, you take the core members of the assault team to closely observe the southeast corner of the wall, making sure you have a clear understanding of it. Zhao Tiezhu, you, Wang Jian, and Li Shu, repeatedly practice setting up the pontoon bridge and infiltration maneuvers. I need absolute certainty!"

"promise!"

The three accepted the order and quickly dispersed, blending into the surrounding darkness to begin their intensive preparations.

Chen Xing stood alone, gazing into the deep darkness in the direction of the warehouse.

The plan has been formulated, and the sharp blade is about to be drawn.

At midnight tomorrow, this bandit's lair at the foot of Black Wind Ridge will surely welcome its new master amidst chaos and flames.